Football

The Indian men's football team, under the guidance of new head coach Manolo Márquez, embarks on a fresh chapter as they prepare for the Intercontinental Cup opener against Mauritius on Tuesday. The tournament serves as a crucial dress rehearsal for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, which hold immense significance for India's long-term goal of qualifying for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.Márquez, who has had limited time with the squad due to pre-season commitments, has emphasized the importance of securing positive results in the upcoming FIFA international match windows to maintain India's position in Pot 1 ahead of the December draw. The team's performance in the Intercontinental Cup will be a key indicator of their progress and readiness for the challenges ahead.The Indian squad features a blend of experienced players and promising newcomers, including Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Yasir Mohammad, Asish Rai, Roshan Singh Naorem, Kiyan Nassiri Giri, Lalthathanga Khawlhring, and Prabhsukhan Singh Gill. Márquez will be eager to see how these players perform and integrate into the team's system.India's opponents, Syria and Mauritius, are no strangers to Indian soil. Syria has participated in previous editions of the Intercontinental Cup and the Nehru Cup, while Mauritius competed in the 2017 Tri-Nation Series. Both teams will pose different challenges, and India will need to adapt and execute their game plan effectively.Mauritius, ranked 179th in the world, has shown resilience in their FIFA World Cup Qualifiers group, securing a home win over Eswatini and a draw against Angola. They will be led by French coach Guillaume Moullec and key players such as captain Kevin Jean-Louis, defender Dylan Collard, and midfielder Lindsay Rose.The Intercontinental Cup provides India with an opportunity to assess their current standing and identify areas for improvement. Márquez will be keen to instill his philosophy and tactics into the team while also evaluating the players' individual abilities and team chemistry. The tournament will be a valuable stepping stone on India's journey towards the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers and their ultimate goal of continental success.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) extended their lead atop Ligue 1 to two points with a convincing 3-1 victory over Lille on Sunday. The defending champions faced their toughest test of the season so far but emerged victorious, showcasing their dominance in the French league.PSG took the lead in the first half through a penalty converted by Vitinha. Bradley Barcola doubled their advantage with a well-executed goal, assisted by Marco Asensio. Lille fought back in the second half, with Edon Zhegrova pulling one back to give the home crowd hope. However, Randal Kolo Muani's stoppage-time header sealed the win for PSG.Despite the absence of Kylian Mbappe, PSG have started the season in impressive fashion, winning all three of their matches and scoring 13 goals in the process. Their Spanish coach, Luis Enrique, praised his team's performance, calling it "magnificent."Lille, on the other hand, were left to rue their missed opportunities, particularly a disallowed goal by Tiago Santos due to a marginal offside call. Coach Bruno Genesio acknowledged the high level of competition in the Champions League, where mistakes can prove costly.PSG's victory sets them up for a strong start to their Champions League campaign, which begins in mid-September. They will face Girona, Arsenal, and Manchester City, among others, in the group stage. Lille, meanwhile, will host Real Madrid and Juventus in the coming weeks.Other notable results from Ligue 1's weekend fixtures include Marseille's 3-1 win over Toulouse, Nantes' victory by the same scoreline at Montpellier, and Monaco's 1-1 draw with Lens. Nice claimed their first win of the season with a 4-1 triumph at Angers, while Le Havre and Reims both secured victories in their respective matches.

Juventus' perfect start under Thiago Motta came to an end on Sunday as they were held to a goalless draw by Roma at the Allianz Stadium. The match was short on action and goalmouth incident, leaving Juve with seven points from their first three matches of the new Serie A campaign.Motta's team are behind champions and league leaders Inter Milan on goals scored after a much less inspiring performance than the two three-goal wins which preceded it. "It was an even match and the right result," said Motta to Sky Sport."We're only on our third game and today we played a team which is hard to play against, with a good coach and good players... There are lots of things we can improve. It's very early in the season, let's see where we are at the business end of the season, for now it's too early to talk about our objectives for the season."A draw at Juve, where Roma traditionally struggle, gives coach Daniele De Rossi some breathing room for the international break after a difficult opening fortnight. His team showed a level of defensive discipline which had been lacking in their first two fixtures of the campaign but offered very little else for fans to cheer about.The closest the away side came to scoring was a speculative distance effort in the final minute from full-back Angelino which whistled past the post. "We're under a lot of pressure for right now and it was important to get away from here with a point," said De Rossi."This is a good starting point. It wasn't the best performance as we could have done better with the ball, but Juve brought on some brilliant players in the second half and we held out."Earlier Fiorentina came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 thanks to Moise Kean and debutant Robin Gosens, who looped in his new team's equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Como fell to a 1-0 defeat at Udinese -- who won of four teams level with Inter -- after Patrick Cutrone smashed a stoppage-time penalty wide, leaving Cesc Fabregas' promoted side bottom of the division on a single point.

Erik ten Hag's Manchester United reign has hit a major roadblock after a humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool. The Dutchman, who was appointed in May, is already facing immense pressure after losing three of his first four games in charge.Ten Hag's tenure began with a promising 2-1 victory over Brighton in the Premier League opener. However, that optimism quickly evaporated with a 4-0 thrashing at Brentford and now the Liverpool debacle.The former Ajax boss has been backed with a significant transfer budget, spending over £200 million on new players. But the results have not matched the investment, leaving Ten Hag under scrutiny.In his post-match press conference, Ten Hag acknowledged the challenges facing his team. "It's not like I'm Harry Potter, that is what you have to acknowledge," he said. "We just had a third game in the season, again we have to build a new team."Ten Hag pointed to the inexperience of his squad, with several key players still adapting to the Premier League. He also defended Casemiro, who was at fault for Liverpool's first two goals."I think that in football everyone has to take responsibility," Ten Hag said. "He's a great character. He has won everything in his career. I'm sure he will keep contributing to our team."Despite the setbacks, Ten Hag remains confident in his team's ability to challenge for trophies this season. "At the end of the season I'm quite confident that we will have a big chance to lift another trophy," he said.However, United's hopes of competing for the Premier League title appear slim. They are already six points behind defending champions Manchester City and Liverpool.The defeat to Liverpool has exposed the deep-rooted problems at Old Trafford. Ten Hag has a lot of work to do if he is to turn things around and restore United to their former glory.

Real Madrid, the reigning LaLiga champions, face a crucial home match against Real Betis on Monday, August 2, with the opportunity to close the gap on league leaders Barcelona. Despite signing Kylian Mbappé, Madrid have struggled for consistency, drawing their last two away games and conceding sloppy goals.Coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledges the need to find the right balance in his star-studded attack, but he remains optimistic, recalling Madrid's slow start last season before their eventual Champions League triumph.Real Betis, currently in fifth place, pose a significant threat to Madrid's title hopes. They have won their last two league games and boast a dangerous attack led by Borja Iglesias and Nabil Fekir.Madrid's defense has been a concern, with Eder Militão and David Alaba struggling to form a solid partnership. The return of Antonio Rüdiger from injury could provide some stability, but he is unlikely to start against Betis.In midfield, Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos remain influential, but they need more support from the likes of Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga.Up front, Karim Benzema is still Madrid's main goal threat, but he has not been at his best in recent weeks. Mbappé has yet to fully integrate into the team, and Vinícius Júnior has been inconsistent.Ancelotti will be desperate for a victory to boost his team's confidence and close the gap on Barcelona. However, Betis will be no pushovers, and Madrid will need to be at their best to secure all three points.

Chelsea's inconsistent start to the season continued with a frustrating 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace, while Newcastle United secured a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.Enzo Maresca's Chelsea, despite a significant summer overhaul, have managed only one win in their first three league matches. After a disappointing loss to Manchester City in the opening weekend, Chelsea bounced back with a 6-2 triumph at Wolves. However, their UEFA Conference League campaign began with a 2-1 defeat to Servette on Thursday.Despite the inconsistent results, Maresca remains confident in his team's progress. The arrival of Jadon Sancho from Manchester United was the final piece in Chelsea's summer rebuild, and the winger was introduced to the crowd before the Palace match.Chelsea took the lead in the 25th minute when Nicolas Jackson converted a pass from Cole Palmer. However, Palace refused to be disheartened and equalized in the 53rd minute through a superb curling finish from Eberechi Eze.At St James' Park, Newcastle took the lead in spectacular fashion when Harvey Barnes unleashed a sublime volley into the far corner. Tottenham equalized through an own goal by Dan Burn, but Newcastle regained the lead in the 78th minute when Alexander Isak tapped in a pass from Joelinton.Newcastle's second win in three league games condemned Tottenham to their first defeat of the season. The north London derby against Arsenal awaits Tottenham after the international break.Meanwhile, Liverpool will travel to Old Trafford for a highly anticipated clash with Manchester United on Sunday. Reds boss Arne Slot will experience his first taste of the bitter rivalry with United, while Erik ten Hag faces pressure after United's defeat at Brighton last weekend.

Manchester United, seeking redemption after a disappointing loss to Brighton and Hove Albion, will face a formidable challenge against Liverpool in a highly anticipated Premier League clash on Sunday, September 1. Liverpool, under the guidance of Arne Slot, has enjoyed a perfect start to the season, securing victories over Ipswich and Brentford without conceding a single goal.Erik ten Hag's Manchester United, on the other hand, endured a setback last week after their narrow opening-day win over Fulham. The Red Devils will be eager to bounce back and prove their mettle against one of the league's most formidable opponents.Liverpool's impressive start has been built on a solid defensive foundation, with goalkeeper Alisson Becker yet to be breached. The Reds' attacking prowess has also been on display, with Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Luis Diaz all contributing to their early success.Manchester United, meanwhile, will need to find a way to break down Liverpool's resolute defense. Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford, will be under pressure to deliver for his team. Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford will also be key figures in United's attack.The match will be played at Old Trafford, Manchester, and will kick off at 8:30 PM IST. It will be broadcast live on the Star Sports network and streamed on Disney+ Hotstar.With both teams desperate for a positive result, the stage is set for an enthralling encounter that could have significant implications for the Premier League title race.

Romelu Lukaku's debut for Napoli was a memorable one, as he scored the equalizer that set up a dramatic 2-1 victory over 10-man Parma. The Belgian striker, who joined Napoli from Chelsea on Thursday, came off the bench in the second half and made an immediate impact.Parma had taken a shock lead through Ange-Yoan Bonny's penalty in the 19th minute. Napoli struggled to break down the Parma defense, but Lukaku's introduction changed the game. The former Manchester United and Inter Milan forward scored his first goal for Napoli in the 92nd minute, lashing home a shot past Enrico Delprato, who was playing in goal after Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki was sent off in the 76th minute.Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa then headed home the winning goal four minutes later, giving Napoli a dramatic victory. The win was Napoli's second in three matches, while Parma remain winless after three games.In another Serie A match, AC Milan were held to a 2-2 draw at Lazio. Milan coach Paulo Fonseca made several changes to his team following two disappointing opening displays, but the Rossoneri still struggled to find their rhythm.Lazio took the lead in the 66th minute through Valentin Castellanos and Boulaye Dia, but Milan fought back with goals from Strahinja Pavlovic, Rafael Leao, and Tammy Abraham. The draw leaves Milan in 14th place on two points, while Lazio are in seventh place on four points.

Mason Greenwood's blistering start to his Marseille career continued on Saturday as the former Manchester United striker fired two goals in a minute to propel his new club to a 3-1 victory over Toulouse. The 22-year-old, who has now scored five goals in three games for Marseille, pounced on a loose ball in the 16th minute and added a second a minute later to give the visitors a commanding lead.Greenwood's goals came after a promising start for Toulouse, who had created several chances in the opening minutes. However, the hosts' hopes were dealt a blow when forward Frank Magri was sent off for a foul on Geoffrey Kondogbia in the 27th minute.Marseille took full advantage of their numerical superiority, with Brazilian forward Luis Henrique providing the assists for both of Greenwood's goals. Henrique thought he had scored himself seven minutes into the second half, but the goal was later awarded as an own goal to Charlie Cresswell.Toulouse managed to find some consolation just before the end when Gabon striker Shavy Babicka slotted home a through ball from Djibril Sidibe. However, it was too little too late for the hosts, who remain winless after three games.Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi praised his team's performance in the first half but admitted that they need to improve their speed and mentality. "We had a good first half, scoring two goals," De Zerbi told DAZN after the match. "It gave us an advantage to have an extra player and we relied on our strength in one-on-ones, particularly Greenwood, to score the brace.""We still need to improve the speed and mentality of this team. We shouldn't have conceded the goal, should have won 3-0."Marseille's victory takes them to the top of the Ligue 1 table with seven points, level with Nantes who won 3-1 away at Montpellier. Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, who have six points, can go top of the table with victory at Lille on Sunday.