Football

Mohun Bagan Super Giant, an Indian football club, has withdrawn from their AFC Champions League match against Tractor FC in Iran due to safety concerns amid the ongoing tensions in the region. The club's decision was prompted by the unwillingness of its players to travel to Iran following the death of a prominent Iranian general in an Israeli air strike.Mohun Bagan was scheduled to face Tractor FC on Wednesday in Tabriz, Iran. However, the club received letters from its 35 registered players, including seven foreigners, expressing their reluctance to play in Iran at this time. The players cited the volatile situation in the country and the state of mourning declared by the Iranian government."We have decided to not travel to Iran keeping our players' safety and security in mind, because that is paramount," said a Mohun Bagan source. "We have also written to the ministry of external affairs as their advisory states that you can go to Iran or Israel on your own responsibility."The club has requested the Asian Football Federation (AFC) to either reschedule the match or move it to a neutral venue. Mohun Bagan had booked flights and arranged hotel accommodation for the trip, but the safety concerns of its players took precedence.In their first match of Group A, Mohun Bagan played out a goalless draw against Tajikistan's FC Ravshan. Tractor FC leads the standings with a 3-0 win over Qatar's Al-Wakrah SC.The decision by Mohun Bagan highlights the challenges faced by sports teams traveling to regions with political instability. The safety and well-being of players and staff must always be the top priority, and clubs must make informed decisions based on the latest information and advice from relevant authorities.

Carles Cuadrat, the former head coach of Emami East Bengal, has resigned from his position after the team's dismal performance in the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL). The decision was announced by the club in a media statement on Monday.Cuadrat, who previously guided Bengaluru FC to its only ISL title in 2019, took charge of East Bengal at the start of the 2023 season. Under his leadership, the team reached the Durand Cup final in 2023 and won the Kalinga Super Cup earlier this year.However, the East Bengal squad struggled to make any significant progress in the new season. They crashed out of the Durand Cup in the quarterfinals and have lost all three matches they have played so far in the ISL.The team's poor form has led to mounting pressure on Cuadrat, and the club management has decided to part ways with him. Assistant coach Bino George will take over as the interim coach until a replacement is found.Cuadrat's departure marks the end of a disappointing chapter for East Bengal, who were hoping to challenge for the ISL title this season. The team's struggles have raised questions about the club's recruitment strategy and the quality of its squad.It remains to be seen who will replace Cuadrat as head coach, but the club will need to make a quick decision if they want to salvage their season.

Antoine Griezmann, the 2018 World Cup-winning star, has announced his retirement from international football, marking the end of a remarkable 10-year career with the French national team.Griezmann, 33, made his France debut in 2014 and has since become one of the most decorated players in the country's history. With 137 caps, he ranks third behind Hugo Lloris (145) and Lilian Thuram (142). He is also fourth on France's all-time scoring list with 44 goals, trailing only Olivier Giroud, Thierry Henry, and Kylian Mbappe.Griezmann played a pivotal role in France's 2018 World Cup triumph, scoring in the 4-2 victory over Croatia in the final. He was also instrumental in the team's run to the Euro 2016 final, where he finished as the tournament's top scorer with six goals.Despite his impressive achievements, Griezmann's recent performances for France have been less than stellar. He struggled to find his best form at Euro 2024, where the team reached the semi-finals. His last appearance for Les Bleus came in a UEFA Nations League win over Belgium earlier this month.Griezmann's retirement is a significant moment for French football, as it marks the end of an era for the national team. Lloris, Varane, and Giroud have all recently retired from international duty, leaving a void in the squad.Coach Didier Deschamps will name his next France squad this Thursday ahead of Nations League matches against Israel and Belgium. It remains to be seen who will step up to fill the void left by Griezmann and the other departed veterans.

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.