Football

Bayer Leverkusen's star midfielder Florian Wirtz is set to make his home debut in the Champions League on Tuesday against seven-time champions AC Milan. The 21-year-old German international is widely regarded as one of the most promising young players in Europe and will be crucial to Leverkusen's hopes of success in the competition.Wirtz missed Leverkusen's last Champions League campaign due to an ACL injury, but he has returned to the team in impressive form this season. He has scored four goals in five Bundesliga games and is the team's designated penalty taker.Wirtz is known for his creativity and goal threat, but he is also a hard worker and a team player. Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso has praised Wirtz's ability to unlock defenses and create chances for his teammates."Flo is a special player," Alonso said. "He has the vision, the technique, and the intelligence to be one of the best midfielders in the world. We need to give him the freedom to express himself and create."Wirtz will be a key target for Milan on Tuesday, but he will be confident of making an impact. He scored a first-half double in Leverkusen's 4-0 win over Feyenoord in their Champions League opener and will be looking to add to his tally against the Italian giants.If Wirtz can continue to perform at a high level, he will be a major asset to Leverkusen in the Champions League and beyond. He is a player with the potential to become one of the best in the world, and Leverkusen will be hoping that he can help them achieve success in Europe.

Marseille's resurgence under Roberto De Zerbi hit a roadblock on Sunday as they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at Strasbourg. Diego Moreira's first-half strike condemned Marseille to their first loss of the season, preventing them from joining Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco at the top of Ligue 1.Despite Marseille's dominance in possession, Strasbourg's resolute defense held firm. Moreira's clinical finish just before the break proved decisive, as Marseille failed to find an equalizer despite several chances.Meanwhile, Lyon snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory at Toulouse thanks to a 95th-minute winner from Malick Fofana. Yann Gboho had given Toulouse an early lead, but Lyon fought back with an own goal from Rasmus Nicolaisen and Fofana's late heroics.Reims continued their impressive start to the season with a 3-1 away win over Angers. Keito Nakamura and Junya Ito gave Reims a commanding lead within the first 25 minutes, and Marshall Munetsi sealed the victory in the second half. Angers remain rooted to the bottom of the table, the only team yet to win a match.Saint-Etienne earned a valuable away point against Nantes, thanks to a second-half brace from Ibrahim Sissoko. Johann Lepenant and Sorba Thomas had given Nantes a 2-0 lead, but Sissoko's goals in the 57th and 67th minutes secured a draw for the promoted side.

Napoli's resurgence continued on Sunday as they ascended to the summit of Serie A with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Monza at home. The triumph marked their fourth win in six outings under the guidance of coach Antonio Conte, who has revitalized the team after a disappointing 10th-place finish last season.Matteo Politano opened the scoring for Napoli in the 22nd minute, showcasing his clinical finishing by slotting the ball past the goalkeeper from a tight angle. Georgian star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sealed the victory just 11 minutes later, capitalizing on a loose ball in the box to emphatically slam home from a central position.Conte's impact on Napoli has been evident since his arrival, with the team now sitting atop the table for the first time since June 2023, when they claimed the Scudetto. However, the former Italy boss remained cautious, dismissing talk of title aspirations."I have to look at the reality and that says we are very far from flying high," Conte told DAZN. "We've got to sweat it out game after game, like we did today where we had to sweat hard to earn those points."Napoli's 13 points after six matches put them one point ahead of Juventus in second spot and two ahead of AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Torino.Meanwhile, Torino's bid to regain top spot was thwarted as they suffered their first league defeat of the season, falling 3-2 at home to Lazio. Matteo Guendouzi and Boulaye Dia gave Lazio a commanding lead, but Torino's Che Adams reduced the deficit before Tijjani Noslin sealed the victory for the visitors.Other notable results included Roma's come-from-behind 2-1 home win over Venezia, inspired by goals from Bryan Cristante and Niccolo Pisilli. Como, managed by former Arsenal and Spain star Cesc Fabregas, claimed a second successive victory with a 3-2 triumph over 10-man Verona, thanks to a brace from Patrick Cutrone.

The Madrid Derby, a fierce rivalry in football, will witness Real Madrid's visit to Atletico Madrid's Civitas Metropolitano on Monday (IST). Real Madrid, undefeated in their last 50 matches across La Liga and the Champions League, will face Atletico Madrid, who have strengthened their squad with key additions.Real Madrid's last defeat came against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey at the same venue. Since then, they have embarked on an impressive 33-match unbeaten streak. Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, have bolstered their team with the signings of Julian Alvarez, Alexander Sorloth, and Conor Gallagher.Real Madrid manager Carlos Ancelotti believes the match will be a "spectacle" and has suggested that Atletico Madrid will be contenders for the title this season. The match will be played on Monday, September 30, at the Civitas Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain, and will start at 12:30 AM IST.While there will be no live telecast of the match in India, it will be streamed live on the Galaxy Racer (GXR) website (gxr.world). The match promises to be an intense battle between two of Spain's top clubs, with both teams eager to secure a victory in this prestigious rivalry.

India's U20 football team secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over hosts Laos in their final Group G match of the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, the Blue Colts struggled to find the net in the first half.However, the second half saw a more determined Indian side. In the 69th minute, Gwgwmsar Goyary broke the deadlock with a well-taken finish from inside the box. Substitute Thanglalsoun Gangte sealed the victory with a second goal in the 84th minute.India finished second in the group with six points from three matches, behind Iran (9 points). The top teams of the 10 groups, along with the five best second-place finishers, will qualify for the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 in China. India's fate now depends on the results of other groups to determine if they have secured a spot in the final rounds.Despite the victory, India's performance was far from convincing. They squandered a host of chances in the first half and were fortunate not to concede against a spirited Laos side. The Blue Colts will need to improve their finishing and defensive organization if they want to make a deep run in the competition.

Aston Villa's pursuit of a top-two finish in the Premier League suffered a setback as they were held to a 2-2 draw by newly promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Liam Delap's brace canceled out goals from Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins, leaving Unai Emery's side frustrated.Villa started brightly and took the lead through Rogers in the 15th minute, but Delap equalized for Ipswich just eight minutes later. Watkins restored Villa's advantage in the 32nd minute, but Delap struck again in the 72nd minute to earn Ipswich a deserved point.The result leaves Villa in fifth place, two points behind leaders Liverpool, while Ipswich remain in the relegation zone but have shown signs of improvement under Kieran McKenna.Villa dominated the first half, controlling possession and creating several chances. However, they were unable to maintain their momentum after the break, and Ipswich grew into the game.Delap, a 21-year-old striker signed from Manchester City in the summer, was a constant threat to the Villa defense. His pace and finishing ability caused problems throughout the match, and he deservedly earned his side a point.Villa will be disappointed not to have taken all three points, but they will have to quickly regroup for their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Ipswich, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their performance and will hope to build on it in their upcoming matches.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, two of the Premier League's most storied clubs, will clash at Old Trafford on Sunday, September 29, in a highly anticipated match. Both teams have had mixed starts to the season, with United sitting in 11th place with 7 points and Tottenham in 10th with the same number of points.United's recent form has been inconsistent, with a 1-1 draw against FC Twente in the Europa League followed by a 2-1 victory over Sheriff Tiraspol. Tottenham, on the other hand, have shown more promise, winning their Europa League opener 3-0 against Qarabag FK.The match will be a test of both teams' attacking prowess. United have struggled to find the back of the net consistently, with only 6 goals in their first 5 Premier League matches. Tottenham, meanwhile, have been more prolific, scoring 9 goals in the same period.Key players to watch in this match include Cristiano Ronaldo for United and Harry Kane for Tottenham. Ronaldo has scored 3 goals in the Premier League this season, while Kane has netted 4. Both players will be looking to add to their tallies and lead their teams to victory.The match is expected to be a close and competitive affair, with both teams desperate for a win to improve their league standings. United will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing draw in the Europa League, while Tottenham will be aiming to continue their winning ways.

Champions League Resumes with Key Injuries Sidelining Star PlayersThe UEFA Champions League resumed on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, with a wave of injuries casting a shadow over the competition. Kylian Mbappé's hamstring injury is expected to keep him out beyond Wednesday, when defending champion Real Madrid faces Lille. Manchester City midfielder Rodri is out for the season with a serious knee injury, while Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen will miss most of it. Inter Milan's Nicolò Barella, who impressed against Rodri on September 18, will miss at least one Champions League game due to a thigh strain.These injuries have reignited the debate about player workload in a congested calendar. The expanded Champions League format, which was pushed by influential clubs, has resulted in 18 games this week, leaving each team with six more to play through January.Rematches and Crowd SizeThe first week of the new Champions League format featured two repeats of past finals. Manchester City and Inter drew 0-0, while Liverpool defeated AC Milan 3-1. Another rematch is scheduled for Wednesday when Aston Villa hosts Bayern Munich, a giant of the European Cup era that was shocked 1-0 in the 1982 final.Crowd size and fan fervor have varied in the opening week. Celtic Park witnessed a pulsating atmosphere for a rare European win by the Scottish champion, while the attendance was lower for the Inter-Manchester City game. Milan-Liverpool was far from sold out, with fewer than 60,000 fans at San Siro.Key MatchupsDespite Mbappé's absence, Real Madrid is expected to have too much firepower for Lille. Premier League leader Liverpool hosts Bologna, while Girona's first European visitor to the Montilivi stadium is Feyenoord. Dinamo Zagreb fired its coach after a drubbing at Bayern and brought back Nenad Bjelica for a second spell. He starts in the Champions League hosting Monaco.Tuesday's Games* Celtic vs. Borussia Dortmund* Bayer Leverkusen vs. AC Milan* Inter Milan vs. Red Star Belgrade* Arsenal vs. Paris Saint-Germain* Barcelona vs. Young BoysWednesday's Games* Real Madrid vs. Lille* Liverpool vs. Bologna* Girona vs. Feyenoord* Dinamo Zagreb vs. Monaco

Osasuna's stunning 4-2 victory over Barcelona on Saturday shattered the Catalan giants' perfect start to the La Liga season. The defeat marked a significant setback for Barcelona, who had won all seven of their opening fixtures.Osasuna's triumph was orchestrated by Ante Budimir, who scored a brace, and Bryan Zaragoza, who netted the opening goal. Pau Victor briefly gave Barcelona hope with a lifeline goal, but Budimir's second-half penalty and Abel Bretones' sensational strike sealed the victory for the hosts. Lamine Yamal pulled one back for Barcelona, but it was too little, too late.Barcelona coach Hansi Flick took full responsibility for the defeat, acknowledging that his heavily rotated side had made numerous mistakes in the first half. "We had a lot of changes in the team and this is maybe one reason for that," Flick said. "I think it was necessary. We had so many matches, a lot of players had so many minutes, I have to take care about that. This is my responsibility."Flick's decision to rest key players ahead of Tuesday's Champions League match against Young Boys backfired, as Barcelona failed to ignite in the first half. Osasuna, on the other hand, seized the opportunity, with Zaragoza playing a pivotal role in the opening two goals.Barcelona's struggles continued in the second half, despite the introduction of Yamal and Raphinha. Top scorer Robert Lewandowski was taken off with 20 minutes remaining after a disappointing display. Osasuna capitalized on Barcelona's defensive lapses, with Budimir converting a penalty and Bretones adding a fourth goal.The defeat leaves Barcelona with a four-point lead over second-place Real Madrid, who face Atletico Madrid in a derby clash on Sunday. Osasuna, meanwhile, climbed to sixth place in the standings.