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Salah breaks Champions League record in Atletico victory

Mohamed Salah sealed his legendary status at Liverpool by setting a unique Champions League record during the Reds’ thrilling 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

The Egyptian forward produced both a goal and an assist inside the opening six minutes, a feat never before achieved by a player representing an English club in Europe’s elite competition.

Andy Robertson, restored to the starting lineup, bundled home Salah’s free-kick for the first goal.

Two minutes later, Salah, through his trademark brilliance, weaving past defenders to finish clinically from Ryan Gravenberch’s pass.

Historic milestones for Salah

Salah’s strike was more than just a decisive contribution on the night. It marked his 250th goal in English football, a tally that includes two during his brief Chelsea spell before his Anfield career flourished.

In addition, his appearance against Atletico was his 74th in the Champions League for Liverpool, surpassing Steven Gerrard’s record of 73.

Only Jamie Carragher, with 80, now stands ahead in the club’s European appearance charts.

Beyond Salah’s individual exploits, Liverpool’s sharp start against Atletico offered encouragement for manager Arne Slot, whose new-look squad has yet to fully gel.

The visitors grew into the contest and forced Liverpool into defensive work, but the hosts held firm to secure another dramatic win under the Anfield lights.

Focus turns to Merseyside derby

Attention now shifts to domestic duties, with Everton visiting Anfield on Saturday.

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UCL: Mbappé brace secures Real Madrid win over Marseille

Real Madrid have kickstart their UEFA Champions League with a 2-1 win over Marseille at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday night.

Club star, Kylian Mbappé scored twice from the penalty spot to cancel out Timothy Weah’s opener.

The French forward’s goals ensured Los Blancos avoided an upset against a spirited Marseille side, who played with belief in their first Champions League outing since 2023.

The result, however, was overshadowed by controversy after a late handball call went against the visitors.

Weah strikes first for Marseille

Marseille silenced the home crowd midway through the first half. Mason Greenwood created the opening, slipping a clever pass into the path of Weah, who calmly finished past Thibaut Courtois in the 22nd minute.

The goal sent the 4,000 travelling OM fans into celebration as Roberto De Zerbi’s men took a shock lead.

But Real responded fast. Minutes later, Rodrygo was brought down by Geoffrey Kondogbia inside the box, leaving the referee no choice but to award a penalty.

Mbappé stepped up and converted confidently in the 29th minute to restore parity.

Red card drama and late penalty

The match remained finely balanced after the break, with both sides creating chances. Marseille’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang went close, while Courtois was forced into saves from long range efforts.

The contest took a twist in the 65th minute when Real full-back Dani Carvajal was shown a straight red card for a headbutt on goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, leaving Madrid with ten men.

Marseille pressed for a winner, but their move was halted by a contentious decision.

In the 81st minute, Facundo Medina was penalised for handball inside the box, despite protests from OM players. Mbappé converted the resulting penalty for his second of the night, giving Madrid the lead.

Marseille fall short despite late push

In the closing stages, Marseille threw men forward in search of an equaliser. Greenwood came closest, blasting over from close range, but Real Madrid held on to secure all three points.

The victory puts Xabi Alonso’s side on course in Group Stage action, while Marseille will be left to rue the chances they couldn’t convert.

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Arsenal begin Champions League campaign with hard-fought 2-0 win in Bilbao

Arsenal opened their 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Athletic Club at San Mamés on Tuesday night.

The Premier League side struggled to break down a well-organised Spanish defence in the first half, with chances at a premium.

Despite dominating possession, Mikel Arteta’s men lacked the incisiveness to turn control into goals.

Substitutes change the game

It was Arteta’s changes from the bench that proved decisive in the second half. Belgian forward Leandro Trossard and Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli combined to devastating effect, delivering the breakthrough in the 72nd minute.

Trossard released Martinelli with a perfectly timed pass, and the Brazilian showed composure to control with his head before racing through and drilling low past goalkeeper Unai Simón.

The pair linked up again minutes later to secure the result. This time Martinelli turned provider, cutting back smartly for Trossard, who calmly slotted home for his first goal of the season.

Depth proves decisive

The two goals highlighted Arsenal’s strength in depth, as Arteta’s tactical substitutions swung the game in their favour after a cagey opening hour.

The Gunners had circulated the ball patiently without reward, but the introduction of direct, pace-driven play ultimately broke Athletic’s resistance.

Appreciation for travelling fans

At the final whistle, Arsenal players made their way towards the travelling supporters high in the stands to applaud their backing.

The victory sets Arsenal off to a strong start in Group Stage action.

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Tobi Amusan Wins Silver at World Athletics Championships

Nigeria’s sprint hurdler Tobi Amusan has come second in the women’s 100 metres hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Monday, September 15.
The Nigerian star sprinter took home the silver medal after narrowly missing out on gold to Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji.
Kambundji, 23, stunned the field with a blistering run of 12.24 seconds, setting a new national record and securing Switzerland’s first-ever world title in the event.
Amusan, the 2022 world champion and world record holder, followed closely in 12.29 seconds to earn Nigeria’s 12th medal in World Championships history.
The bronze medal went to American Grace Stark, who clocked 12.34 seconds. Her teammate Masai Russell, hampered by the slowest reaction time in the race at 0.240 seconds, finished fourth in 12.44.
Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska equalled her season’s best with 12.49 seconds to take fifth place, just edging out Bahamian Devynne Charlton, who posted the same time. Jamaica’s Danielle Williams, the 2023 world champion, crossed in 12.53 seconds for seventh, while the Netherlands’ Nadine Visser completed the line-up in eighth with 12.56.
Amusan, 28, had entered the final as one of the favourites after dominating her semi-final heat with a time of 12.36 seconds, finishing ahead of Visser and Skrzyszowska. However, despite a strong start in the final, she was unable to hold off Kambundji’s late surge.
The Nigerian sprint star adds silver to her collection after her historic victory in Eugene in 2022, when she set the world record of 12.12 seconds, a mark that still stands.
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Haaland double inspires Manchester City to derby win over United

Erling Haaland continued his high flying form as Manchester City beat rivals Manchester United 3-0 in Sunday’s Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Phil Foden’s early header put the hosts ahead, before Erling Haaland struck twice in the second half to seal the victory for Pep Guardiola’s men.

Foden strikes first

City took the lead inside the opening 20 minutes when Jeremy Doku’s clever wing play carved open United’s defence, allowing academy graduate Foden to nod in from close range.

The goal gave City the edge as they controlled possession and kept United pinned back.

Haaland takes charge

The pressure paid off after the restart. A flowing move saw Haaland finish clinically to make it 2-0 just after half-time.

The Norwegian capitalised again midway through the second half, latching onto a midfield error from United before rifling home his second of the day.

Haaland’s brace took his tally to five goals in four games against United this campaign.

Emotional tribute at the Etihad

Before kick-off, both clubs joined in a minute’s applause to honour former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton, a lifelong City supporter who was found dead at his home in Manchester earlier in the day at the age of 46.

United left searching for answers

For United, the loss piles pressure on Ruben Amorim, whose side continue to carryover their struggles from last campaign.

They currently occupy the 14th spot with just one win from their last four league outings. They play host to Chelsea next weekend in another challenging encounter.

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Manuel Neuer rules out German national team return

German veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has poured cold water on speculation linking him with a return to the national team.

The 39-year-old made it clear after Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga clash on Saturday night that his international career is over.

Rumours had gathered earlier last week following comments attributed to his agent, who hinted Neuer would “not say no” if head coach Julian Nagelsmann opted for a recall.

The veteran had already been quizzed about the possibility during a Bayern media session three days ago.

Neuer, however, has now closed the door emphatically, insisting his focus lies solely with Bayern Munich.

‘A conscious decision to step away’

“It was a conscious decision for me to step down from the German national team,” Neuer said post-match.

“Accordingly, that’s not something that’s an option for me. I’m concentrating on my club. I was with the national team since 2009.

“I think the European Championship [in 2024] was a nice conclusion, though it wasn’t the best way to end things, losing against Spain in my own country.”

Looking back with pride

Neuer stressed he has no regrets about his international journey, which included lifting the 2014 World Cup. “I think I gained a lot from German football and hopefully gave enough back.

“I had a very successful and nice time. I’m not thinking about returning at all. I can’t visualize Manuel Neuer returning to the German national team.”

Final word on the matter

Addressing media speculation, Neuer added: “I haven’t talked about it with my agent. But the fact remains that I have decided not to return to the German national team. That is my final decision.”

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2025 World Championships: Tobi Amusan Cruises Into 100m Hurdles Semi-Finals

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan has advanced to the semifinals of the women’s 100m hurdles at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

The defending champion, who won gold at the 2022 edition in Oregon and finished sixth at Budapest 2023, looked in sharp form as she dominated heat six with a time of 12.53 seconds to advance comfortably on Sunday, September 14..

Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton, the world indoor champion and one of Amusan’s main rivals, came second in 12.69s, while Italy’s Elena Carraro placed third in 12.86s to also secure qualification.

Amusan, who holds the world record of 12.12s set in 2022, is aiming to reclaim her world title after losing it last year. Her progression to the semis keeps Nigeria’s medal hopes alive in Tokyo.

Elsewhere, Nigeria’s Kanyinsola Ajayi and Israel Okon will feature in the men’s 100m semi-finals later today (Sunday), as the country continues its push for podium finishes at the Championships.

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Victor Osimhen Is Still In Pain — Galatasaray Manager Reveals

Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has disclosed that Victor Osimhen is still struggling with pain from an injury picked up during international duty with Nigeria but is expected to make a return to action soon.

The 26-year-old striker picked up the knock last week while representing the Super Eagles and immediately returned to Turkey for treatment. Galatasaray confirmed his situation in a statement on their official website.

Osimhen was unavailable for the Yellow and Reds’ 2-0 victory over Eyupspor on Saturday, but Buruk remains optimistic about his recovery ahead of their crucial UEFA Champions League opener.

“Osimhen’s condition will be determined within a few days. We’re hopeful he’ll play. We think he will, but of course, he’s in pain,” Buruk told the club’s official media.

Galatasaray face Eintracht Frankfurt away on Thursday in their first Champions League group stage match of the season, and Buruk will be eager to have his star forward available.

Osimhen, who joined Galatasaray from Napoli this summer in a high-profile transfer, is seen as central to the Turkish champions’ European ambitions. He arrived after a successful spell in Serie A, where he fired Napoli to their first Scudetto in 33 years in 2023 and won the African Footballer of the Year award.

His fitness will be closely monitored in the coming days, with Nigerian fans also anxious about his availability ahead of next month’s World Cup qualifiers.

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La Liga: Barcelona thrash Valencia 6-0

Barcelona returned from the international break in style with a 6-0 demolition of Valencia in La Liga on Sunday, delivering a statement performance under Hansi Flick at the Estadi Johan Cruyff.

Forced to continue away from the Camp Nou due to ongoing renovation delays, the Catalan giants showed no signs of discomfort as they overwhelmed Los Che with a dominant second-half display.

Lopez sets the tone

Fermin Lopez gave Barça the perfect start, finding the net in the opening period to settle any early nerves.

The midfielder’s energy in attack proved crucial, with Flick’s side dictating the game throughout the first half despite Valencia holding firm for long spells.

Second-half rout

After the break, Flick’s substitutions turned the contest into a rout.

Raphinha doubled the lead shortly after coming on, before Lopez struck again to make it 3-0. Valencia, unable to contain the waves of pressure, collapsed further as Raphinha added his second.

Robert Lewandowski, gradually working back to full fitness after injury setbacks, entered the fray late on and showed his clinical edge with a quick-fire brace that sealed the 6-0 result.

Champions League focus next

The emphatic win lifts Barcelona’s spirits after a frustrating 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano prior to the international break and keeps the pressure on leaders Real Madrid, who have won all four of their opening matches.

Attention now shifts to Europe, with Barça set to open their Champions League campaign away at Newcastle United on September 18.

Meanwhile, club officials remain hopeful of completing their Camp Nou return in time to host Getafe on September 21, though uncertainty lingers.

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Andre Onana Joins Trabzponspor

Andre Onana has signed for Turkish side Trabzonspor for the entire 2025/26 season.

He signed a loan deal pending international clearance and registration.

The 29-year-old Cameroon international has featured 102 times for United since joining from Inter Milan in July 2023.

During his debut season, he was part of the squad that lifted the Emirates FA Cup with a 2-1 win over Manchester City at Wembley. Onana went on to make 50 appearances in his second season before agreeing to the move.
The deal was finalised just before the close of the Turkish transfer window on Friday. Manchester United wished him the best of luck for his time in Turkey.

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