Category: Football

Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to return to action for Al Nassr after bringing an end to his recent dispute with the Saudi Pro League club, sources told ESPN Brasil.

The Portugal captain had missed two matches, Al Nassr’s 2-0 victory over Al Ittihad on Friday and last week’s win against Al Riyadh, amid reported frustration over issues involving Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and its role in the club’s affairs.

Sources indicated that Ronaldo has now decided to rejoin the squad and is set to feature in Al Nassr’s league clash against Al Fateh on February 14.

The Riyadh-based side are also scheduled to play Arkadag in the AFC Champions League Two on Wednesday.

Reports suggested Ronaldo’s absence stemmed from dissatisfaction with the PIF’s involvement in transfer dealings and broader club management.

The situation intensified after Al Nassr’s rivals, Al Hilal, also majority-owned by the PIF, secured the signing of Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate, Karim Benzema, from Al Ittihad during the January transfer window.

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However, the matter appears to have been resolved after Ronaldo’s key concerns were addressed.

According to sources, overdue salaries at Al Nassr were cleared, and authority was restored to the club’s senior management.

Sporting director Simão Coutinho and CEO José Semedo, who had previously been suspended, have reportedly resumed their duties.

Ronaldo has been in impressive form this season, scoring 18 goals and providing three assists in 22 appearances across competitions.

Al Nassr currently sit second in the Saudi Pro League standings, just one point behind leaders Al Hilal, keeping the title race finely poised.

Last week, the Saudi Pro League issued a statement stressing that no individual player could influence decisions beyond their club, reiterating that all teams operate independently under the same regulatory and financial framework.

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Erling Haaland struck a stoppage-time penalty to earn Manchester City a dramatic 2-1 win at Liverpool on Sunday to reduce Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League back to six points.

City were heading for defeat at Anfield with six minutes to go before Bernardo Silva cancelled out Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick to spark an incredible finale.

Haaland put City in front from the spot before the visitors had another goal ruled out, and Szoboszlai was sent off in the same incident after a VAR review.

Victory was City’s first away to Liverpool in front of a crowd since 2003 and applies some pressure to Arsenal’s quest for a first title in 22 years.

“I feel the whole team knew before the game, if we lost it then the title race was probably over,” said Silva. “We felt like we needed to win.”

Defeat delivered another blow to Liverpool’s hopes of Champions League football next season.

The defending champions remain down in sixth and four points adrift of the top five.

These two clubs have combined to win the last eight Premier League titles, but both showed the flaws which have opened the door for Arsenal to potentially end their long wait to be crowned champions of England once again.

Haaland has scored just once from open play in his last 13 games, and an uncharacteristic lack of confidence from the Norwegian showed with the best chance of the first half inside the opening two minutes.

Silva’s clever pass split the Liverpool defence, but Haaland’s shot lacked conviction under pressure from Milos Kerkez, and Alisson Becker was able to save low to his left.

Second-half slumps have been a consistent feature of City’s season and the visitors again faded in the second period until a late flurry saved their title challenge.

“Second half we pressed really high and played good football,” said Liverpool boss Arne Slot. “We have improved so much, but we need to improve the results.”

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Marc Guehi was relentlessly booed after his proposed move to Liverpool from Crystal Palace broke down on transfer deadline day in September.

City took advantage to swoop in last month when they lost two key centre-backs to injury.

Guehi was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card when he dragged down Mo Salah just outside the box in a decision that infuriated Slot.

But it was City who were left fuming at the award of the free-kick, which led to the opener when Ryan Gravenberch went down under minimal contact.

Szoboszlai scored the only goal with an outrageous free-kick when Arsenal visited Anfield in August and produced another stunning strike which clipped the inside of the post before finding the net.

However, the Hungarian went from hero to villain when City levelled six minutes from time.

Szoboszlai played Silva onside as he slid in to volley home Haaland’s header for City’s first second-half goal in the Premier League this year.

Alisson then wiped out Matheus Nunes to concede a penalty, and Haaland kept his cool from the spot to put City in front.

Pep Guardiola’s men then needed a stunning save from Gianluigi Donnarumma to tip behind Alexis Mac Allister’s deflected shot.

With Alisson remaining forward from the resulting corner, the Liverpool goal was open when Rayan Cherki took aim from the halfway line to roll the ball into an empty net.

However, Haaland and Szoboszlai’s grappling as the ball trickled towards the goal saw the strike ruled out, with a free-kick awarded to City instead, and the Liverpool player given his marching orders.

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Alvaro Carreras and Kylian Mbappe’s goals earned Real Madrid a battling 2-0 win at Valencia on Sunday to close the gap to La Liga leaders Barcelona to one point.

After the Spanish champions had beaten Mallorca on Saturday, Alvaro Arbeloa’s side eked out a tight victory at Mestalla to keep the pressure on their arch-rivals.

Missing suspended forward Vinicius Junior and injured midfielder Jude Bellingham, Los Blancos lacked sparkle but did just enough to claim three points on Spain’s east coast.

England international Trent Alexander-Arnold made his return after injury as a substitute in the second half of Madrid’s victory.

Arbeloa’s side had the better chances in the first half but failed to create danger on a consistent basis in a gritty encounter.

Arda Guler’s shot deflected narrowly wide, while Valencia stopper Stole Dimitrievski saved well with his legs from Mbappe’s fierce drive.

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Real Madrid right-back David Jimenez, from the club’s youth academy, came closest to scoring after French superstar Mbappe teed him up, but the Macedonian goalkeeper denied him, too.

Midway through the second half, Carreras conjured a goal out of nothing to give Madrid the lead.

Drifting inside from the left of the box, the defender used his weaker right foot to stroke the ball inside Dimitrievski’s near post.

Valencia might have levelled but Lucas Beltran’s effort on the stretch beat Thibaut Courtois and clipped the post.

Arbeloa brought on Alexander-Arnold for his first appearance since early December following a thigh injury, as Madrid looked to close out the game.

They eventually secured the three points in stoppage time as Brahim Diaz teed up La Liga’s top scorer Mbappe, who finished calmly for his 23rd goal in the competition this season.

Valencia’s fans, some of whom had waved white handkerchieves during the match in protest at the club’s situation, headed for the exits with Los Che 17th, one point above the drop zone.

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Ismaila Sarr’s second-half goal helped Crystal Palace end a woeful 12-match winless run with a 1-0 Premier League victory away to bitter rivals Brighton on Sunday.

Senegal international Sarr, who scored twice in Palace’s 3-1 win at the Amex last season, scored the only goal of the game in the 61st minute.

The Eagles’ victory was their first in all competitions since December 11 and took them to 13th place — a point above the Seagulls.

Brighton were booed off at full-time by their own fans, with head coach Fabian Hurzeler on the receiving end of chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” following a defeat that meant Albion have won just two of their last 12 Premier League matches.

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Palace gave a debut to £48 million ($65 million) club-record signing Jorgen Strand Larsen, while 17-year-old Brighton midfielder Harry Howell made his first Premier League start.

A mediocre first half saw Sarr fire wide in the 43rd minute after being played in by Daniel Munoz.

But Sarr eventually broke the deadlock just after the hour.

Palace substitute Evann Guessand, who arrived on loan from Aston Villa on January 30, made a memorable impact on his Palace debut with the Ivory Coast forward slipping in Sarr after a poor clearance from Lewis Dunk.

Sarr then finished in style with a shot beyond Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.

Minutes later, Eagles keeper Dean Henderson then saved with his legs from Charalampos Kostoulas to deny Brighton an equaliser.

Strand Larsen twice nearly doubled Palace’s lead before they comfortably held on during six minutes of added time to seal a first Premier League win since a 2-1 success at Fulham on December 7.

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Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal scored as Barcelona eased to a comfortable 3-0 win over Mallorca on Saturday to move four points clear at the top of La Liga.

The champions extended the gap to Real Madrid in second before Alvaro Arbeloa’s side visit Valencia on Sunday, with Marc Bernal also on target late on at the partially reopened Camp Nou stadium.

Barcelona’s first-half display was sluggish, even though Lewandowski’s goal had them ahead at the break.

“I was not happy… we were not on our level, the playing and passing were too slow,” admitted Flick, who demanded more from his side going forward.

“The first half was not how Barca wanted to play, (but) the second half was much better.”

Mallorca target man Vedat Muriqi came close early on as he slid in at the back post but hit the side netting, while Jan Virgili’s shot was saved by Joan Garcia.

Marcus Rashford added some urgency to Barca’s game after a listless start, curling inches wide of the far post after cutting in from the left.

A blocked shot from the England international led to the opener, with Dani Olmo knocking the rebound to Lewandowski to finish from close range.

Rashford’s dangerous free-kick was tipped onto the bar by Mallorca stopper Leo Roman, and Yamal missed from point-blank range as Jules Kounde sent the rebound into his path.

The 18-year-old made amends in the second half with a superb shot from outside the area, which left Roman with no chance.

It was his fourth goal in four games, with Yamal in his best form of the season.

“He kept his energy for the second half and the goal. Lamine is fantastic,” said Flick.

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Midfielder Marc Casado struck the crossbar with a deflected effort as Barca could have opened up a wider lead.

At the other end, Garcia earned his clean sheet with a good save to thwart Antonio Sanchez, before Bernal rounded off Barca’s victory.

The 18-year-old midfielder broke in behind the Mallorca defence, showed composure to open up a shooting angle and finished with the aid of a deflection, his first goal for the club.

Bernal broke into the first team at the start of last season, but a severe knee injury in August 2024 kept him out for around a year and delayed his progress.

“It’s a great joy for him, when a player has such a bad injury, we all feel it, we suffer with him… I’m very happy for him,” Casado told Movistar.

Bernal, who usually plays at the base of the midfield, admitted scoring for the first time for the club was an emotional moment after his injury struggle.

“When I scored, I thought a lot about how tough the last year was for me, so it’s really satisfying, for my family too, I thought of them too,” said Bernal.

Flick handed 19-year-old midfielder Tommy Marques his debut late on, as another youngster from the club’s feted La Masia academy made the jump to the first team.

“His technique is unbelievable, his body language is top,” said Flick, adding that the Spaniard may be able to start playing regularly for Barca next season.

In the late match, Real Sociedad moved up a place to eighth, just four points behind Real Betis in fifth, after a 3-1 win at home to Elche.

Earlier on Saturday, La Liga postponed Rayo Vallecano’s home match against Real Oviedo because of the condition of the pitch at Madrid’s Vallecas stadium.

They later moved Sevilla’s home game against Girona, scheduled for a 1730 GMT slot on Saturday, to Sunday because of adverse weather conditions.

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Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo missed his second consecutive match for Al Nassr on Friday, with reports linking his absence to an ongoing dispute involving the Saudi Pro League and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The 41-year-old Portuguese forward has not featured since Al Nassr’s 2-0 win over Al Ittihad and was also unavailable for Monday’s victory against Al Riyadh.

While the club had expected their star striker to return, international media suggested Ronaldo remained unhappy over unfulfilled promises regarding changes to Al Nassr’s management structure.

Speculation around his absence had already surfaced earlier in the week, with some reports pointing to frustration over the club’s activity, or lack thereof, in the January transfer window.

Ronaldo was reportedly disappointed by the level of support provided to strengthen the squad, particularly after his former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema joined rivals Al Ittihad.

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Despite the uncertainty, Al Nassr supporters made their feelings clear at Al-Awwal Park. In a show of loyalty, fans raised yellow placards bearing Ronaldo’s name and iconic No. 7 during the seventh minute of the match.

Amid the growing narrative, the Saudi Pro League released a firm statement on Thursday, stressing that no individual player holds influence beyond his own club.

“The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules,” the statement read.

On the pitch, Al Nassr continued their strong run, climbing to second place in the standings with their latest win, just one point behind leaders Al Hilal.

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Colombian national team captain James Rodriguez has signed a short-term contract with Minnesota United ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the MLS club announced on Friday.

The 34-year-old former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder, who last played for Mexican side Leon, has a guaranteed contract through June with a team option through December.

“I’m very happy for this new chapter in my life,” Rodriguez said. “I want to win, I’m a guy who loves to win.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve arrived at a nice and good club from what I have seen. I always live for football. It’s a sport I love and I do with passion and a lot of desire.”

United sporting director Khaled El-Ahmad addressed US government deportation efforts in Minnesota that have led to two killings and numerous large protests.

“In terms of the overall energy around our state, James and his team are aware,” El-Ahmad said. “It’s something we touched on but we really try to think about like ‘OK, come and bring good energy to the community.’

“From a personal perspective I think it’s horrible, I think it’s unfortunate, I think it’s a tough situation to be, but we hear it, we feel it, we’re behind our community.

“The addition of James brings a bit of positive energy and attention to community that’s strong, united, just like our football principles.”

Rodriguez hoped to brighten supporters.

“I hope to be at my best so I can bring joy to this city and to all of the people who are putting their faith in me,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to meeting all of the passionate Minnesota fans because I’m also a passionate player who wants to give everything on the field.”

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The Loons went 16-8 with 10 draws last year to finish fourth in the Western Conference and fell in the playoff quarter-finals.

“James is a player whose quality, vision, and experience at the highest levels of the game are unquestioned,” El-Ahmad said.

“We’re excited to add his creativity and football intelligence to our group.”

Rodriguez said he wanted to play in MLS after star turns in Europe and Latin America and exposure to MLS clubs in last year’s Leagues Cup.

“I’ve played for big clubs but I wanted this league, I wanted to play here,” he said. “When the opportunity to be with this great club came along, everything was a little slow, but it happened. We have made efforts on both sides.”

Rodriguez did not see Minnesota’s cold climate as a worry.

“I’ve already been to a cold city like Munich,” he said. “I think there’ll be no problem with that.”

Rodriguez said he has been training for just over a month and will be ready when Minnesota’s MLS campaign kicks off on February 21 at Austin.

MLS clubs “are tough, physical teams, but football is the same everywhere,” he said. “When you arrive at a new house you have to adapt to the rules.”

Rodriguez is also set to compete for Colombia in June at the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

“I’m in a unique stage,” he said. “In five months I have the World Cup. I’m at a stage where I can’t fail, I have to do things right. I’m very focused on that.”

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Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will undergo surgery on his injured hamstring on Friday, his club Girona confirmed on Wednesday.

Ter Stegen injured his hamstring while playing for the La Liga club last weekend.

Girona posted on social media that the 33-year-old “will undergo surgery this Friday for the hamstring injury he sustained in his left thigh”.

Girona added that a recovery timeline will be determined after the operation.

Ter Stegen had moved to Girona from parent club Barcelona in January in hopes of additional game time in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup, which gets underway in just over four months.

Spanish media reported that Girona were considering sending the injured goalkeeper back to Barcelona and were permitted to do so under the loan agreement.

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The news is the latest setback for Germany’s number one keeper, whose participation at the World Cup is in doubt.

Germany’s number one since the retirement of Manuel Neuer in 2024, Ter Stegen has suffered a series of injury setbacks.

On Tuesday, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann backed Ter Stegen after the “unbelievably cruel” injury.

“Right now all that matters is that he gets healthy in peace, without any additional pressure. We’re all behind him,” Nagelsmann said.

Nagelsmann confirmed Ter Stegen would be out until at least April, missing two Germany friendlies in March.

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Manchester City will face Arsenal in the League Cup final after ending Newcastle’s reign as holders with a first-half blitz in their 3-1 victory on Wednesday.

Pep Guardiola’s side were already in pole position after winning the semi-final first leg on Tyneside in January and they finished the job in ruthless fashion at the Etihad Stadium.

Omar Marmoush struck twice in the first half of the second leg before Tijjani Reijnders put the result beyond doubt.

Anthony Elanga reduced the deficit after the interval, but City’s 5-1 aggregate win sent them back to the League Cup showpiece for the first time since 2021.

City’s final date with Arsenal is set for March 22 at Wembley after the Premier League leaders knocked out Chelsea on Tuesday.

Reaching the final was a welcome tonic for Guardiola following the frustration of blowing a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at Tottenham on Sunday that delivered a major blow to their title challenge.

With a crucial trip to Liverpool looming this weekend, City trail Arsenal by six points in the Premier League title race.

The League Cup was the first silverware of Guardiola’s City reign when they beat Arsenal in the 2018 final, with current Gunners boss Mikel Arteta then working as the Spaniard’s assistant.

City went on to win the competition for the following three years, but haven’t lifted the League Cup since 2021.

“We will travel to London again, they will wait for us there. They never travel to the north (for finals) but I am really happy to be back. Five (League Cup) finals in 10 years is a big milestone,” Guardiola said.

“It will be good. You have to live this experience. The first title we won here was in the League Cup.

“When you win something, it helps to win more. It’s a pleasure to play against Arsenal, the best team right now in Europe and maybe the world.”

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe added: “Really annoyed with the first half display. We pride ourselves on being really organised and tactically we want to be able to handle any problem the opposition gives us.

“That first half we weren’t good enough individually and our duels were off and it gave us huge problems.”

Guardiola used sarcasm and statistics this week to defend City against claims the club’s success has been due to the financial muscle of their Abu Dhabi-based owners.

The City manager pointed out six English clubs have spent more than his side over the past five years, but he knows he will never win over the critics.

Guardiola’s only way to silence the outside noise — and mounting suggestions that City are a team in decline — is with silverware.

And after finishing last season without a trophy for the first time in eight years, Guardiola would love to end City’s barren spell at Arsenal’s expense.

Marmoush put City ahead with a stroke of luck in the seventh minute.

He raced into the Newcastle penalty area and when Dan Burn made a last-ditch tackle, the ball bounced off the Egypt forward and looped into the net.

James Trafford preserved City’s lead, saving from Joe Willock and Anthony Gordon in quick succession.

Marmoush struck for the second time in the 29th minute, heading home from virtually on the goal-line after Kieran Trippier made a hash of clearing Antoine Semenyo’s cross.

That was the culmination of an incisive City counter-attack and they pulled Newcastle apart again with another rapid raid in the 32nd minute.

Reijnders led the break, picking out Semenyo and racing into the area to finish the Ghanaian’s return pass with a clinical low drive from 12 yards.

City barely got out of first gear in the second half and Elanga got one back in the 62nd minute, curling into the far corner after slaloming through the defence.

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Lamine Yamal and Ronald Araujo’s goals helped Barcelona reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals with a nervy 2-1 win against Albacete Balompié at Carlos Belmonte Stadium on Tuesday.

The record 32-time cup winners were pushed to the end in a tight quarter-final clash by their second division opponents, who stunned Real Madrid in the previous round.

Yamal fired Barca ahead just before half-time, and Araujo headed home the second early after the break on his first start since taking a month-long mental health break at the end of last year.

Albacete created several chances in the last half hour, and Javi Moreno headed home with three minutes to go to give Hansi Flick’s Barca a scare.

“The last few minutes… it’s normal, they got a goal, the cup is like this,” Araujo told Barca’s media channel.

“I’m very happy (to start again), it was an important step… a hug to the coach, he helped me a lot.”

Holders Barca spurned some fine chances, just as they did in their win over Elche in La Liga on Saturday.

“It was a tough match at the end, it was very hard. We could have made it much easier for ourselves; we missed many chances, but I think also we deserved (to win),” said Flick.

“I’m happy, proud of the team, and we’re in the semi-finals, and that’s the best thing.”

Barcelona controlled the game in the first half but could not easily break down Albacete’s resistance.

Marcus Rashford spurned a couple of decent openings in the opening few minutes, and after that, the hosts shut up shop against Flick’s side.

Spanish champions Barcelona’s brightest player was, as usual, teenage star Yamal, and he struck in the 39th minute.

Rashford pressed well to win the ball back, and Frenkie de Jong’s pass bobbled into Yamal’s path for the 18-year-old to curl home.

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Antonio Puertas got in behind Barcelona’s defence at the other end but took a heavy touch, and goalkeeper Joan Garcia was able to snag the loose ball.

The stopper accidentally gave away a corner as he walked off the pitch with it to pat Araujo on the head, in a comical moment before the break.

Dani Olmo should have doubled Barca’s lead early in the second half when Rashford put the ball on a plate for him, but his shot was blocked.

Puertas’s volley deflected off De Jong and just over Garcia’s goal as the hosts threatened sporadically.

Araujo headed in Rashford’s corner as Barcelona doubled their lead and seemed set to cruise to victory, only for some late Albacete resistance to threaten an upset.

Jefte Betancor, who scored Albacete’s stunning winner against Real Madrid, cut inside Araujo and whipped a shot just wide.

Puertas put the ball in the back of Barca’s net with seven minutes to go, but an earlier offside disallowed it.

Albacete finally scored in the 87th minute when Moreno’s powerful header from Jose Lazo’s free-kick flew past Garcia, but they could not find another to force the game to extra-time.

Gerard Martin headed Fran Gamez’s effort off the line as Barca endured a nervy five minutes of stoppage time to triumph.

“We have to finish with more conviction,” said Flick, who said he was happy that Araujo netted on his return to the starting line-up.

“He scored a very important goal for us; it could help him to get more confidence and believe in himself,” added the German coach.

In the other quarter-finals, Valencia welcome Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad visit Alaves on Wednesday, while Atletico Madrid travel to face Real Betis on Thursday.

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