Football

Former Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri has expressed his support for defender Anwar Ali, who recently faced a four-month ban for contract violations. Chhetri urged players to avoid controversies and focus on their performance.Ali's ban stemmed from his termination of a contract with Mohun Bagan and subsequent signing with East Bengal. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) deemed his actions unjust and imposed a ban along with a compensation demand of Rs 12.90 crore.Despite the controversy, Chhetri believes Ali is a valuable asset to the national team. "He's one of the assets of the national team. I would want him to stay away from controversies as much as possible," Chhetri said.Chhetri emphasized the importance of avoiding distractions for young players. "All the national team boys, especially the ones who are upcoming and young, I want them to stay away from controversies as much as possible," he said.Chhetri also discussed his retirement from international football in June. He admitted to missing the game but is still adjusting to his new life. "It's not been nice, I miss it," he said.Chhetri expressed confidence in India head coach Manolo Marquez's ability to balance his roles with the national team and FC Goa. "He'll be able to handle it," he said. "He will know exactly what team to pick."Chhetri shared his experiences of fatherhood with fellow athlete Virat Kohli. "We talk a lot about kids, that's a common topic now," he said. However, they have not yet discussed post-retirement plans.Chhetri remains committed to playing in the Indian Super League as long as he can contribute to his club, Bengaluru FC. "As long as I'm enjoying, as long as I'm adding value to the club, I'm here," he said.

Real Madrid's impressive unbeaten streak came to an abrupt end with a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Lille in the Champions League. Coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged the team's subpar performance and welcomed the criticism that followed.Ancelotti admitted, "The criticism we've received for today's game is fair and accurate. We must accept it. We played poorly." Jonathan David's penalty just before halftime sealed Lille's well-deserved victory.This defeat marked Real Madrid's first loss in 37 games across all competitions since January and their first in the Champions League since May 2023. Ancelotti, who led the team to victory in last season's final, acknowledged, "This hasn't happened to us much lately. Our opponents outplayed us and deserved to win."Despite having chances towards the end, Ancelotti recognized that a draw would have been undeserved. "We need to learn from this. There are areas we need to improve."Ancelotti dismissed concerns about the potential consequences of the defeat in the new Champions League format, which features 36 teams in a single pool. "The disappointment stems from the team's performance. You can lose games, but the way we played was not acceptable," he said.Real Madrid had previously defeated VfB Stuttgart 3-1 in their opening game but now joins Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Atletico Madrid in losing one of their first two matches. The top eight teams after eight games will advance directly to the last 16, while the remaining spots will be determined through play-offs.Jude Bellingham, a Ballon d'Or candidate, had a disappointing performance for Real Madrid. Ancelotti noted, "He's playing in the same position as last season but without the same success. It wasn't a good night. We need to improve."In contrast, Lille coach Bruno Genesio expressed his delight at overseeing one of the club's most significant European victories. "It's a fantastic performance from everyone and a wonderful reward for the club and our fans," Genesio said. "This shows what we're capable of, but we need to build on it."Genesio added, "It demonstrates that we can challenge the best teams in Europe over 90 minutes," acknowledging that Lille's next matches will be away to Atletico and at home to Juventus.

Arne Slot's Liverpool reign has begun with an unprecedented eight wins in nine matches, as the Reds secured a 2-0 victory over Bologna in the Champions League. Slot's tactical acumen has seamlessly transitioned from Feyenoord, where he guided the Dutch club to the Champions League knockout stages.Alexis Mac Allister, who has flourished under Slot's more flexible approach, opened the scoring in the first half. The Argentine midfielder's incisive run and clinical finish showcased his newfound freedom. Liverpool's dominance continued, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Darwin Nunez threatening to extend the lead.However, Bologna emerged from their slumber and nearly equalized. Riccardo Orsolini's header was blocked, Dan Ndoye's drive struck the woodwork, and Kacper Urbanski forced a fine save from Alisson Becker. Liverpool's defense, led by Trent Alexander-Arnold, was tested but held firm.In the second half, Liverpool regained control and Salah delivered the knockout blow. The Egyptian maestro cut inside from the right flank, effortlessly glided past Juan Miranda, and curled a superb strike into the far corner. Salah's 49th Champions League goal sealed the victory and extended Liverpool's unbeaten start to the season.Slot's understated approach has ensured Liverpool's seamless transition from Jurgen Klopp's successful era. The Dutchman has deftly maintained the team's attacking prowess while instilling a renewed sense of discipline and tactical flexibility.Liverpool's victory against Bologna is a testament to Slot's managerial acumen and the team's unwavering belief in his vision. As the Reds embark on another Champions League campaign, they will be buoyed by the confidence and momentum gained under their new manager.

Atletico Madrid suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday, their worst performance of the season. The Portuguese side dominated the match from start to finish, leaving Diego Simeone's team shell-shocked and outplayed.Benfica took the lead in the 13th minute through Kerem Aturkoglu, who fired past Jan Oblak after a quick counterattack. Former Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria doubled the lead from the penalty spot early in the second half after Conor Gallagher fouled Vangelis Pavlidis.Alexander Bah headed home the third from a corner in the 75th minute, and Orkun Kokcu completed the rout with another penalty late on after Zeki Amdouni was tripped. Atletico barely troubled Benfica throughout the match, with Oblak and Axel Witsel enduring a tough evening against their former club.Simeone admitted that his team was "not up to it" and displayed an uncharacteristic lack of grit. "This is nothing good and I can't say much more than that -- today we weren't up to it and it was a bad game, the worst game of the season," Oblak said.Atletico's defeat was their joint biggest European defeat, tied with five other occasions they have been beaten by the same margin. It also extended their poor away record in the Champions League, with just one win in their last 10 matches on the road.Benfica, on the other hand, were efficient and clinical in their performance. They took advantage of Atletico's errors and punished them ruthlessly. The victory gives them a second win in two matches in the competition and puts them in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages.

Antonio Conte's Napoli have surged to the summit of Serie A, but the pragmatic manager remains grounded despite the fans' title aspirations. Napoli's next challenge comes on Friday against Cesc Fabregas' in-form Como.Napoli's resurgence is partly attributed to their absence from European competition, which allows them to focus solely on domestic matters. However, Conte acknowledges both the advantages and disadvantages of this situation."There is an advantage and a disadvantage," Conte said. "The advantage is that you can train the team all week, the disadvantage is that the squad is not as competitive as those that do play in Europe."Despite Napoli's impressive start, Conte emphasizes the need for patience and realism. "Not even three months have passed," he said. "The president is the first to have spoken of a total reconstruction."Conte's cautious approach stems from the recent departures of Victor Osimhen and Piotr Zielinski. "I know there are high expectations for me because I have done important things," he said. "Let's let the fans dream, but I have to keep my feet on the ground."Meanwhile, Fabregas' Como have impressed in their first two Serie A matches, winning both 3-2. Patrick Cutrone has been in fine form, scoring four goals in the campaign. However, Fabregas is concerned about his defense, which has conceded 11 goals."We can't keep conceding two goals in every match," Fabregas said. "We should keep analyzing our mistakes and improve."

Lionel Messi's brace propelled Inter Miami to a thrilling 3-2 victory over the reigning MLS champions, the Columbus Crew, securing the Supporters' Shield for the best regular season record.Messi, who had been relatively quiet in the first half, came alive in the 45th minute. A long ball into the box found its way to the Argentine maestro, who chested it down and benefited from a fortunate bounce off Crew defender Malte Amundsen before poking the ball home.Just minutes later, Messi doubled Inter's lead with a stunning free-kick. Taking advantage of a poorly organized wall, he curled a laser-precision shot into the corner, leaving Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte rooted to the spot.However, Columbus refused to go down without a fight. Just 20 seconds into the second half, Diego Rossi pulled a goal back with a clever curling shot from inside the box.Straight from the restart, Miami gifted Columbus a third goal. Schulte rushed off his line but collided with defender Rudy Camacho, dropping the ball to Luis Suarez, who headed into the unguarded net.The Crew continued to battle and reduced the deficit to 3-2 through a Cucho Hernandez penalty after Noah Allen handled the ball in the box.But Miami's momentum was short-lived as Camacho was sent off for a second yellow card after a reckless challenge on Federico Redondo.With seven minutes remaining, Columbus had a golden opportunity to equalize and deny Miami their celebration when a penalty was awarded for handball against Ian Fray after a VAR review. However, Hernandez's penalty was weak, and Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender made a diving save to preserve the victory.The MLS Cup playoffs will determine the ultimate champion, and a potential rematch between Eastern Conference rivals Inter Miami and the Columbus Crew could be on the cards.

Aston Villa, the English Premier League club, is set to host German giants Bayern Munich in a highly anticipated UEFA Champions League clash on Wednesday, October 3. The match will mark Villa's return to the top tier of European football after a 41-year absence.Villa's European adventure began with a resounding 3-0 victory over Swiss side Young Boys two weeks ago. However, the upcoming match against Bayern Munich evokes memories of the club's greatest triumph: the 1982 European Cup final victory over the same opponents.Villa manager Unai Emery is hoping his team can channel the spirit of that historic night and pull off an upset against the Bundesliga champions. Bayern Munich, led by star striker Robert Lewandowski, will be a formidable opponent, but Villa will be buoyed by the support of their home crowd at Villa Park.The match will be a clash of styles, with Villa's attacking flair likely to be tested by Bayern's renowned defensive solidity. Villa will need to be clinical in front of goal and minimize their mistakes to have a chance of victory.The match will be telecast live on the Sony Sports Network in India at 12:30 AM IST on Thursday, October 3. It will also be streamed live on SonyLiv.

Lille vs Real Madrid: Champions League Holders Face French ChallengeReigning UEFA Champions League champions Real Madrid will travel to France on Thursday to face Lille at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in their second group stage match. The Spanish giants will be looking to maintain their winning start to the competition, while Lille will aim to bounce back from their opening day defeat.Mbappe Returns, Camavinga StartsParis Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe has recovered from a thigh injury and will be available for selection, although he is expected to start on the bench. French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who has been out with a long-term injury, will make his first start of the season for Real Madrid.Real's Strong StartReal Madrid began their Champions League title defense with a convincing 3-1 victory over Stuttgart at home two weeks ago. Mbappe was among the scorers in that game, along with Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior. The Spanish giants will be confident of extending their winning streak against Lille.Lille's Redemption MissionLille, on the other hand, will be eager to make amends for their disappointing 2-0 loss to Sporting Lisbon in their opening Champions League match. The French champions will be looking to their star players, such as Jonathan David and Renato Sanches, to inspire them to a positive result.Match Details* Date: Thursday, October 3 (IST)* Venue: Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille* Time: 12:30 AM IST* Live Telecast: Sony Sports Network* Live Streaming: SonyLiv

Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has made a stunning return to football, signing for Spanish giants Barcelona on Wednesday. The 34-year-old, who retired from international duty after Euro 2024, has agreed to a contract until June 30, 2025.Szczesny's arrival at Camp Nou comes as a timely boost for Barcelona, who have been without first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen since September 22 due to a severe knee injury. The German international is expected to be sidelined until the end of the season, leaving Barcelona in need of a reliable replacement.Szczesny, who has over 600 appearances for club and country, brings a wealth of experience to Barcelona. He has won three Serie A titles and three Italian Cups with Juventus, as well as two FA Cups with Arsenal. His impressive performances for Poland at Euro 2024 also showcased his ability to perform at the highest level.Despite retiring from international football, Szczesny has now decided to return to the game and make his La Liga debut. He had previously stated that his "heart was not there anymore" to play football, but the opportunity to join Barcelona has reignited his passion for the sport.Szczesny's signing is a significant coup for Barcelona, who have been struggling with injuries in recent weeks. The Polish goalkeeper is expected to slot straight into the starting lineup and provide much-needed stability between the posts.