Real Madrid battled to a narrow but crucial 1-0 win over Getafe in a tense Madrid derby at the Coliseum, returning to the top of the La Liga table after a hard-fought encounter.
Xabi Alonso made a bold selection call by benching Vinicius Junior and Arda Guler, opting instead to start Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes alongside Kylian Mbappe.
The hosts, however, nearly broke the deadlock through Alex Sancris, whose fierce volley narrowly missed Thibaut Courtois’ post. Despite efforts, both teams went into halftime without a goal.
Madrid increased their pressure after the break, and the introductions of Guler and Vinicius Junior changed the game.
Moments after coming on, Vinicius was involved in a clash that saw Getafe’s Allan Nyom receive a red card for an off-the-ball incident.
Getafe’s frustration grew when Alex received a second yellow card for a reckless tackle on Vinicius, reducing the hosts to nine men.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Getafe came close to snatching an equalizer deep into stoppage time, but Courtois produced a vital save to deny Abu Kamara.
The win sends Real Madrid back to the top of La Liga, two points ahead of Barcelona.
Harry Maguire’s dramatic late goal earned Manchester United their first victory at Anfield in nearly 10 years, sealing a 2-1 win and condemning Liverpool to a fourth consecutive defeat.
The match began in chaotic fashion as United took the lead inside two minutes.
United capitalized immediately, with Bryan Mbeumo slotting home past stand-in goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who was deputizing for the injured Alisson.
Gakpo’s persistence finally pays off
Liverpool responded with intensity, but Cody Gakpo endured a frustrating evening, striking the woodwork twice before halftime and again after the restart.
Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has shared a cryptic Instagram post believed to be directed at striker Victor Osimhen.
It comes just days after a tense on-field clash involving Nwabali, Wilfred Ndidi and Calvin Bassey during Nigeria’s 4-0 win over Benin Republic in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.
Osimhen scored a hat-trick as the three-time African champions made it into the continental playoffs.
However, there were criticisms aimed at Nwabali and some of his antics, especially after his mistakes in a 2-1 win over Lesotho last week.
While a lot of observers called for Nwabali to be dropped, head coach Eric Chelle kept with him.
But the Chippa United stopper was involved in flash incidents with his own team-mates.
First, he pushed Ndidi who tried to calm him down after he confronted a Benin player.
At half time, as the players trudged off the pitch, he was seen arguing with Bassey.
He has now added a layer to the incident by writing on his Instagram story: “I never fake care anyone.
“What I give, I give from my heart. Choose a good heart.
“People change so fast… I believe you VO9.”
Nigeria’s Super Eagles moved up four places in the latest men’s ranking released by the Federation of International Football Association, FIFA, on Friday.
Eric Chelle’s side rose from 45th to 41st position.
The Super Eagles also moved into the top five in Africa.
The three -time African champions are behind Morocco, Senegal, Egypt and Algeria on the continent.
The Super Eagles won their recent two fixtures against Crocodiles of Lesotho and Squirrels of Benin Republic.
Spain remain at the top of the ranking, while Argentina moved to second position.
France, England, and Portugal complete the top five in the world.
Brazilian football icon Zico has named former Super Eagles captain and midfield maestro Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha as his greatest African footballer of all time.
Zico made the revelation during an appearance on John Obi Mikel’s “Obi One” Podcast on Thursday, where he praised Okocha’s exceptional talent, describing his style of play as “fantastic” and highlighting his unmatched creativity and flair on the pitch.
Zico, a legendary Brazilian footballer known for his playmaking brilliance in the 1970s and ’80s, is highly respected globally for his insight into the game.
His opinion carries weight in football circles, especially when evaluating individual talent.
The Brazilian legend said he admired Okocha’s style of football, which he described as ‘fantastic’.
He said that Okocha’s creativity and flair made him stand out among his peers.
Speaking to Mikel about the best African player he has ever seen, Zico said, “I like Okocha, a fantastic player. Number 10, Okocha. Eto’o, fantastic. George Weah, Drogba.”
Zico is a Brazilian football legend known for his vision, technical skill, and goal-scoring ability.
Often called the “White Pelé,” he played primarily in the 1970s and 1980s and is widely regarded as one of the best attacking midfielders of all time.
After retiring, he transitioned into coaching and football commentary, remaining an influential voice in the sport.
William Troost-Ekong has shared his thoughts on the Super Eagles’ ongoing struggles in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
Nigeria secured a place in the playoffs after a comfortable 4-0 victory over the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Tuesday night.
After a slow start, the Super Eagles recorded three wins and one draw from their last four games to make the playoffs.
Troost-Ekong said it has been a tough campaign for the team.
“I think it’s time that we continue to support this team. It’s easy to celebrate good moments, but it’s been a really tough ride these last months. That’s down to us, but we’ve come out now and achieved something that many said was impossible,” the captain told reporters in Uyo.
Gabon, Cameroon, and Democratic Republic of Congo are the other countries that will feature in the playoffs.
Nigeria cruised to a dominant 4–0 victory over Benin Republic on Tuesday night at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, wrapping up their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in emphatic fashion.
Despite the one-sided win, the Super Eagles narrowly missed out on automatic qualification but secured a playoff berth, keeping their World Cup dream alive regardless of results elsewhere in Group C.
Victor Osimhen was at his ruthless best, opening the scoring in the 3rd minute after connecting with Samuel Chukwueze’s cross.
The Napoli forward doubled the lead in the 37th minute with a towering header, again assisted by Chukwueze, before completing his hat-trick six minutes into the second half from a precise Moses Simon delivery.
Frank Onyeka capped off the dominant display in stoppage time, firing into the top corner from another Simon assist to seal the 4–0 rout.
Nigeria controlled the contest from start to finish, combining sharp attacking play with disciplined defending.
Benin struggled to cope with the Super Eagles’ high press and tempo, resorting to a series of fouls that earned them multiple yellow cards.
Coach Eric Chelle’s well-timed substitutions, introducing Tolu Arokodare and Onyeka helped maintain intensity and focus until the final whistle.
The result saw Nigeria finish second in Group C with 17 points, just one behind South Africa, who topped the table on 18.
While they fell short of direct qualification, the Super Eagles’ convincing win ensures momentum heading into the CAF playoff round, where they will fight for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
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