Football

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has launched a scathing attack on critics of the Premier League champions, accusing them of wanting the club "wiped from the face of the Earth" over alleged breaches of financial rules.City, who have dominated English football since Guardiola's arrival in 2016, face a hefty points deduction or even expulsion from the league if found guilty on some or all of the 115 charges relating to financial regulations. A long-awaited hearing into charges brought by the Premier League in February 2023 finally began at the start of the week.Guardiola has claimed previously that some of the club's rivals hope to see them found guilty and he appears in no doubt they would expect punishment to be severe. He brought up the matter unprompted ahead of Sunday's clash with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium while talking about the tendency of people to overly criticize isolated bad performances."During a season, you can say, 'Oh, it was a bad season'," said Guardiola. "But for performances some people say, 'Oh, it's a disgrace, it is a disaster, it's unacceptable'. No, during 90 minutes it's one bad afternoon when they were better.""But I would say - I'm sorry, I want to defend my club, especially in these modern days when everyone is expecting us not (only) to be relegated, to be disappeared off the face of the Earth, the world - that we have better afternoons than the opponents. That's why we win a lot."City face 80 breaches of financial rules between 2009 and 2018, plus a further 35 of failing to cooperate with a Premier League investigation. The club stand accused of failing to provide accurate financial information, including revenue from sponsors and salary details of managers and players.However, City have vehemently denied any wrongdoing.Guardiola's comments come amid a backdrop of intense scrutiny on City's finances. The club has been accused of using creative accounting to inflate its revenue and reduce its losses in order to comply with UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations.If found guilty, City could face a range of punishments, including a points deduction, a fine, or even expulsion from the Premier League. The club could also be banned from European competition.The outcome of the hearing is likely to have a significant impact on the future of Manchester City. If found guilty, the club could face a lengthy ban from European competition and a significant points deduction in the Premier League. This could seriously damage the club's reputation and its ability to attract top players.

Bayern Munich continued their dominant start to the Bundesliga season with a resounding 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen on Saturday. Michael Olise, the summer signing from Crystal Palace, was the star of the show, scoring twice and assisting on two more goals. Harry Kane also got on the scoresheet, continuing his impressive form since joining Bayern from Tottenham.Olise opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, finishing off a pass from Kane. He then turned provider, setting up Jamal Musiala for Bayern's second goal shortly after. Kane extended Bayern's lead in the 57th minute, tapping in a pass from Olise. Olise then scored his second goal of the game, before Kane set up Serge Gnabry to make it five.The win was Bayern's fourth in four Bundesliga matches this season, and they now sit top of the table. Werder Bremen, on the other hand, have lost their last three league games and are now in the relegation zone.Olise's performance was particularly impressive, as he showed his versatility and creativity in attack. He was a constant threat to the Werder Bremen defense, and his goals and assists were crucial in Bayern's victory.Kane also continued his fine form for Bayern, scoring his 10th goal in six games in all competitions. The England captain is now Bayern's leading scorer this season, and he is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Munich.Bayern will now turn their attention to next Saturday's match against Bayer Leverkusen. Leverkusen are one of Bayern's main rivals for the Bundesliga title, and the match will be a key test of Bayern's credentials.

Juventus and Napoli played out a goalless draw on Saturday in a highly anticipated Serie A clash that saw two title contenders cancel each other out. The match marked the return of former Juventus coach Antonio Conte to his old stomping ground, but the Italian tactician's Napoli side failed to break down a resolute Juventus defense.Despite a fiercely contested battle, the match at the Allianz Stadium in Turin lacked excitement, with few clear-cut chances created. Juventus maintained their unbeaten start to the season under new coach Thiago Motta, but their third consecutive league stalemate denied them top spot.Torino currently lead the Serie A standings after their 3-2 win at Verona on Friday, followed by Udinese and Napoli, who are both a point ahead of Juventus. Conte's Napoli, despite their impressive defensive display, remain in third place.Conte, who won eight Serie A titles and the 1996 Champions League during his time with Juventus as a player and coach, received a low-key welcome from his former supporters. His team effectively shut down the match, creating the two best chances of the game.Michele Di Gregorio made a fine save from Matteo Politano's free-kick in stoppage time, while Politano also slammed a shot over the bar shortly after the break. Before kick-off, fans paid tribute to former Juventus striker Toto Schillaci, who passed away at the age of 59.However, the moment of remembrance was marred by Napoli supporters in the away end, who were loudly whistled by home fans after yelling out insults. The match itself lacked goalmouth action, with the first real chance coming in stoppage time when Di Gregorio tipped away Politano's free-kick.Politano was again involved in the last major incident of the match, cutting inside and firing a curling shot just over the bar nine minutes after the break. Both teams seemed content with a draw, unwilling to risk defeat to a direct rival so early in the season.In other Serie A action, Venezia claimed their first win since being promoted, defeating Genoa 2-0 at home.

Thiruvananthapuram Kombans, despite playing with a numerical disadvantage for much of the match, managed to salvage a 1-1 draw against Kannur Warriors FC in the Chandrasekharan Nair stadium on Saturday.The match started with Warriors dominating possession and creating early chances. Praygan Sundar Gogoi's free-kick in the fifth minute was tipped over by Kombans goalkeeper Michel Santos. However, Kombans' defense held firm, despite the relentless pressure from the visitors.The turning point of the match came just before half-time when Kombans captain Patrick Mota received two yellow cards in quick succession for needless fouls. This gave Warriors a numerical advantage and they capitalized on it in the second half.In the 56th minute, Warriors' Cameroonian player Ernesten Lavsamba scored a spectacular volley from the top of the box to put his side into the lead. Kombans, now playing with 10 men, faced an uphill battle.However, the home team showed great resilience and determination. They fought back and created several chances of their own. In the 86th minute, substitute Ganesan scored a crucial equalizer for Kombans. He crashed in a rebound from a free-kick, much to the disappointment of the Warriors.The goal came against the run of play and gave Kombans a valuable point. The draw keeps them in contention for a playoff spot, while Warriors remain in the hunt for the championship.

Kerala Blasters, eager to bounce back from their season-opening loss, will face East Bengal FC at the Nehru Stadium on Sunday. However, the Kochi-based side will once again be without their midfield maestro Adrian Luna, who remains sidelined due to illness.In the absence of Luna, Blasters struggled to find their rhythm in a 1-2 defeat against Punjab FC. "We came out pretty poor, it was a hard loss in the dying seconds, hard to handle but we have to move forward," said Blasters head coach Mikael Stahre.Stahre emphasized the need for improvement in several areas, particularly in crossing and creating chances inside the box. "We have to cross the halfway and more often, with control, so that we can bring more numbers higher up, create more crosses and have more players inside the box," he said.East Bengal FC, who also lost their season opener, will be under pressure to perform in front of the Blasters' home crowd. "We have to do a good job in front of the Blasters fans. Kerala is going to be under pressure, they have to fight a lot too," said EBFC coach Carles Cuadrat.Both teams will be desperate for a victory to kick-start their ISL campaigns. Blasters will rely on the likes of Dimitrios Diamantakos and Sahal Abdul Samad to provide attacking impetus, while EBFC will look to their experienced players such as Cleiton Silva and Antonio Perošević for inspiration.The match promises to be an intriguing battle between two teams eager to prove their worth. Blasters will be determined to make amends for their poor start, while EBFC will be keen to show that they can compete with the top teams in the league.

Punjab FC finally broke the jinx against Odisha FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) on Friday, registering a hard-fought 2-1 victory at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai. The win propelled Punjab to the top of the table alongside Bengaluru FC, both with six points from two games.Odisha started the match strongly, but Punjab gradually grew into the game, led by Croatian midfielder Filip Mrzljak. Mrzljak was instrumental in Punjab's first goal, assisting Nihal Sudheesh in the 28th minute. Sudheesh's shot found the far post, giving Punjab the lead.After the break, Punjab continued to press for a second goal. Mrzljak set up Mushaga Bakenga in the 48th minute, but the Norwegian forward sent the ball wide. Abhishek Singh also missed a chance to double Punjab's lead, despite beating the Odisha defense.Punjab's profligacy in front of goal nearly cost them dearly. Asmir Suljic had a golden opportunity to equalize for Odisha in the 78th minute, but he shot straight at goalkeeper Amrinder Singh. Amrinder was in fine form throughout the match, making several crucial saves to keep Odisha in the game.However, Odisha's resistance was finally broken in the 89th minute. Ricky Shabong's assist found Leon Augustine, who slotted the ball into the far post from an acute angle. It looked like Punjab would keep a clean sheet, but Hugo Boumous hit the upright in extra time, with the ball brushing past Ravi Kumar's head.Despite the late scare, Punjab held on for the victory, their first-ever against Odisha in the ISL. The win is a significant boost for Punjab, who are aiming to make a strong start to the season.

Hardik Pandya Set to Return for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Eyes Ranji Trophy ComebackIndian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is poised to make his return to action in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India's domestic T20 tournament. The tournament will serve as a warm-up for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a Test series against Australia. Pandya has expressed his desire to also play red-ball cricket for his state in the Ranji Trophy.Real Madrid's Ancelotti Defends Team's Style Amidst CriticismReal Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has defended his team's style of play despite criticism that they have been riding their luck in recent matches. Ancelotti insists that he is more concerned with results than aesthetics, stating that Real Madrid fans prefer "rock and roll football" and winning over playing well.Ancelotti also rejected claims that his team lacks balance, arguing that collective work is more important than individual positions. He highlighted the versatility of players like Jude Bellingham and Vinicius, who can play both attacking and midfield roles.Espanyol Face Real Madrid in Good FormEspanyol will travel to Madrid in good form for their match against Real Madrid on Saturday. The Catalan club secured a 3-2 home win over Alaves last weekend, with Javi Puado scoring a hat-trick. Espanyol traditionally struggles in Madrid, but their recent form suggests they could pose a challenge to the league leaders.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledges the "advantage" his team will have when they face Arsenal on Sunday, given their extra day of rest. However, the champions are concerned about the fitness of Kevin De Bruyne ahead of the crucial clash.City played at home in their Champions League draw with Inter Milan on Wednesday, while Arsenal traveled to Italy for their goalless stalemate against Atalanta on Thursday. Guardiola believes the additional 24 hours of recovery could be crucial in the first meeting this season between the two clubs that have finished first and second for the last two seasons.City won both of those title races, leaving Arsenal still waiting for their first English crown since 2004. A victory at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday would be a significant boost to City's hopes of an unprecedented fifth successive Premier League title.However, City's recovery time advantage might be offset by the potential absence of De Bruyne, who limped off during the draw against Inter. Guardiola said the Belgian midfielder "feels a bit better today" and will be assessed in training on Saturday.Fueled by Erling Haaland's nine goals, City have established themselves as the team to beat once again this season. The champions, who boast a 100 percent record after four league games, sit two points ahead of Arsenal, who have won three and drawn one.Guardiola has a healthy respect for the threat posed by Arsenal, who took the title fight down to the final day last season. "They are a complete team, which is why they've been our biggest rivals in the last two seasons," he said.Although they finished above them, City failed to beat Arsenal last term, losing 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium, drawing 0-0 in Manchester, and suffering a penalty shoot-out defeat in the Community Shield."It's always been a tight game in the last few years," Guardiola said. "Every season they are better and better. Both years have been close, but we have been so strong and we are still strong."City would move five points clear of Arsenal with a first victory over them since April 2023. However, Guardiola insists it is far too early in the season for the result to be regarded as significant."In this early stage of the season, nothing more than the mood over the next few games will be decided. In terms of the table, it's not really important," he said. "It'll be more important when we go to London in the second half of the season."

Defending champions India kicked off their SAFF U17 Championship campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bangladesh in a Group A encounter at the Changlimithang Stadium. Despite dominating the match, India struggled to break down a resolute Bangladesh defense until defender Sumit Sharma's late header in the 90th minute secured the win.Substitute Manbhakupar Malngiang, introduced in the 78th minute, played a pivotal role in the goal. His precise cross from the right flank found a host of Bangladesh defenders out of position, allowing Sharma to head the ball into the net.India's dominance was evident throughout the match, with wing-backs Renin Singh Chingtham and Yaipharemba Chingakham providing constant overlaps and wingers Vishal Yadav and Samson Ahongshangbam posing a constant threat. However, the Bangladesh defense, aided by some luck, managed to keep the Indian attackers at bay for most of the match.In the final 20 minutes, India intensified their attack, with Samson's long-range effort hitting the crossbar and Yaipharemba's header narrowly missing the target. Despite the Bangladesh defense's resilience, Sharma's late goal proved decisive, giving India a crucial three points in the three-team group.While the victory was a positive start for India, they will be disappointed with the narrow margin of victory given their dominance. The team will need to improve their finishing and efficiency in front of goal if they are to retain their title.