Manchester United claim vital Champions League victory, Bellingham strikes again for Real Madrid

Manchester United's Andre Onana celebrates with Sergio Reguilon after saving a penalty missed by FC Copenhagen's Jordan Larsson during their Champions League Group A match at Old Trafford. (Reuters)
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Updated 25 October 2023
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Manchester United claim vital Champions League victory, Bellingham strikes again for Real Madrid

  • Before kickoff at Old Trafford, United held a minute’s silence in memory of Bobby Charlton after the Red Devils legend died on Saturday at the age of 86
  • Arsenal beat Sevilla in the rain in Spain and Harry Kane was on target as Bayern Munich won a tough assignment against Galatasaray

PARIS: Andre Onana’s last-gasp penalty save secured a vital Champions League win for Manchester United against FC Copenhagen on Tuesday, while Jude Bellingham scored again for Real Madrid in their victory over Braga.

Elsewhere, Arsenal beat Sevilla in the rain in Spain and Harry Kane was on target as Bayern Munich won a tough assignment against Galatasaray.

Before kickoff at Old Trafford, United held a minute’s silence in memory of Bobby Charlton after the Red Devils legend died on Saturday at the age of 86.

They marked the occasion by claiming their first points in Group A as Harry Maguire’s 72nd-minute header secured a 1-0 win.

The result keeps alive their chances of advancing to the last 16 but they needed Onana to produce a brilliant save from Jordan Larsson’s 97th-minute penalty to see the game out.

The spot kick was awarded when Scott McTominay caught Mohamed Elyounoussi as he tried to hook a ball clear in the box, but Larsson — whose father Henrik briefly played for United in 2007 — could not convert the chance.

“It is incredible and a great night. Especially in the dying second when you concede a penalty, but a brilliant save from Andre Onana,” coach Erik ten Hag told broadcaster TNT Sports.

United are now back in contention to qualify but Bayern look set to run away with the group after making it three wins out of three with a 3-1 victory in Istanbul.

Kingsley Coman’s early opener for the German champions was canceled out by a Mauro Icardi penalty on the half-hour mark.

But Bayern pulled away in the second half, with Kane finishing in the 73rd minute to restore the visitors’ lead with his 11th goal in 12 games for his new club.

He then set up Jamal Musiala to wrap up the win.

Bayern have now won 16 consecutive matches in the Champions League group phase and have not lost at this stage in over six years.

“I don’t know how many group stage matches I’ve done as a coach, but it’s always super difficult — so it’s great to find ourselves with nine points after three matches,” said Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel.

Madrid, the record 14-time European champions, also have three wins out of three in Group C after Rodrygo and Bellingham scored in a 2-1 victory over Braga in Portugal.

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti was taking charge of his 200th game in the competition and he saw Rodrygo open the scoring on 16 minutes before Bellingham fired in just past the hour mark.

It was the England midfielder’s third goal in as many Champions League games for his new club, and his 11th in 12 matches altogether since signing from Borussia Dortmund.

Alvaro Djalo pulled one back for Braga, but Real can secure qualification for the last 16 when they host the Portuguese side next.

Napoli are second in the group after a 1-0 win at Union Berlin, who are still without a point.

Giacomo Raspadori scored the only goal in the second half as the Italian champions won without star striker Victor Osimhen.

In Group B, Arsenal bounced back from losing 2-1 to Lens in France in their last game as they beat Sevilla by the same scoreline on a sodden surface at the Sanchez Pizjuan.

Gabriel Martinelli ran clear to open the scoring in first half stoppage time and a fantastic strike by Gabriel Jesus made it two.

Nemanja Gudelj pulled one back for Sevilla but last season’s Europa League winners have won just twice in 13 games in this campaign.

“There are not many teams to have won here in the last ten years in Europe and we’ve done it,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told TNT Sports.

Lens are second, a point behind Arsenal, after coming from behind to draw 1-1 at home to PSV Eindhoven with Elye Wahi canceling out Johan Bakayoko’s opener.

Last season’s beaten finalists Inter Milan are joint top of Group D with seven points after defeating Red Bull Salzburg 2-1 at San Siro.

Hakan Calhanoglu’s second-half penalty won it for Inter after Alexis Sanchez’s opener was canceled out by young Israeli Oscar Gloukh.

Real Sociedad are level with Inter thanks to a 1-0 win over Benfica in Lisbon secured by a Brais Mendez goal.

Benfica are still without a point and staring at an early exit.


AC Milan forward Leao praises ‘incredible’ Riyadh support after Italian Super Cup win

Updated 07 January 2025
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AC Milan forward Leao praises ‘incredible’ Riyadh support after Italian Super Cup win

  • Milan came back from 2-0 down to beat rivals Inter 3-2 at Al-Awwal Park on Monday
  • ‘I must thank the Saudi fans; they have been incredible. They created a beautiful vibe’

RIYADH: AC Milan players praised the support they received in Saudi Arabia for helping to inspire an incredible 3-2 comeback victory in the EA Sports FC Supercup final over holders and rivals Inter Milan in Riyadh on Monday.

Tammy Abraham’s injury-time winner sparked joyous scenes from the AC Milan players, bench and fans packed into Al-Awwal Park, united in celebration of sporting drama at its most thrilling.

Having fallen behind to goals from Inter strikers Lautaro Martinez and Mehdi Taremi, the Rossoneri produced a turnaround for the ages. Theo Hernandez curled in a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area in the 52nd minute before Christian Pulisic struck home from an angle with 10 minutes remaining.

Pulisic’s exquisite injury-time pass was then latched onto by substitute Rafael Leao to play in fellow sub Abraham for the easiest and most satisfying of tap-ins, providing new manager Sergio Conceicao with a trophy in just his second match in charge following another comeback in the 2-1 win over Juventus in the semifinal on Friday.

“It was not easy, especially the first half but I really believed in the signs the guys gave me during the week,” Conceicao said. “I changed just a few things, and they were good ones; I truly believe in my work and in my staff. We need to have the right mentality to change the rest of the season. I accepted AC Milan and I’m happy. We have been hosted in a wonderful way in Saudi and I want to thank all the organizers and fans.”

Conceicao took over from Portuguese compatriot Paulo Fonseca at the helm of the San Siro side on Dec. 30.

Leao, the Milan No.10 who played a key role in the comeback, said: “I must thank the Saudi fans; they have been incredible. They created a beautiful vibe. Winning something with Milan is full of emotion. It’s a collective win, I also thank all of my team-mates and the coach too. The coach brought a fresh mentality and new energy. We believed it till the end. This trophy is an opportunity to change the rest of the season.”

For Inter, there was only disappointment in a city that has served them so well over the past few years. The Saudi capital has hosted of two of the Nerazzurri’s last three Italian Supercup triumphs, meaning Inter were thwarted in their bid for a treble in Riyadh to crown a record four wins in succession.

Simone Inzaghi, the Inter manager, told the post-final press conference: “We reopened the game with our mistakes and Milan did a few strategic changes. We had to do something more in the last 20 minutes. We will go back with a defeat, but we will do better. We missed good players, but this is football at the end. Losing a derby is hard, but we will react positively and be ready as soon as possible for our following games.”

The Supercup final defeat for Inter followed a late-goal loss in Serie A to AC Milan in September. Serie A champions Inter are currently third in the league, with their city rivals eighth.

Federico DiMarco, the Inter Milan left wing-back, said: “A team like us can’t lose from 2-0. We did a few mistakes and congratulations to Milan. All defeats help us to improve. Losing the derby in a final is not easy, but we will improve and make it better. The team give everything, the opponent was strong. It’s the second time they have scored against us in the final minutes. We will wake up and get ready for the following games. We won the last three Supercups. Everything was beautiful, the vibes were good, but this time I can’t say I’m fully happy.”


Inter Milan coach maintains optimism despite Italian Supercup loss

Updated 07 January 2025
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Inter Milan coach maintains optimism despite Italian Supercup loss

  • Simone Inzaghi working to regain ‘focus’ as team look to the future

RIYADH: Inter Milan will focus on boosting morale for future games following defeat in the Italian Supercup, Simone Inzaghi, the club’s manager told Arab News on Monday.

AC Milan secured a 3-2 comeback victory over city rivals Inter Milan at Riyadh’s Alawwal Park on Monday.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Inzaghi said: “We should work on motivating the players and the fans. Cheering them up and boosting their morale.

“Defeat is a hard feeling I know but we should work on regaining conscience and focus. We wanted to win the title, but it is what it is.”

Prior to the derby, Arab News interviewed devoted AC Milan fans.

Waleed Alahmed said: “Milan is going to win because of their new manager, (Sergio) Conceicao. I think his way of playing is very good and if (winger Rafael) Leao is there, Milan is going to win.”

After just one week at the helm, Conceicao has now earned his first trophy.

The hosting of the 37th Italian Supercup aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Quality of Life program and the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. It is a part of the country’s plan to continue hosting major global sporting events.

The Ministry of Sports organized the event, which was hosted by the Kingdom for the fifth time.


Forest tame Wolves to maintain unlikely Premier League title challenge

Updated 07 January 2025
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Forest tame Wolves to maintain unlikely Premier League title challenge

  • Forest remain third in the table but move level on points with Arsenal

WOLVERHAMPTON, United Kingdom: Nottingham Forest’s stunning season continued with a 3-0 victory at Wolves on Monday to give manager Nuno Espirito Santo a winning return to Molineux.
England international Morgan Gibbs-White and the in-form Chris Wood struck before half-time to take Forest to within six points of leaders Liverpool, who they host in their next Premier League game.
Substitute Taiwo Awoniyi rounded off the scoring and a sixth consecutive win for Forest in stoppage time.
Defeat leaves Wolves outside the relegation zone only thanks to goal difference as they suffered a first defeat under new boss Vitor Pereira.
Forest remain third in the table but move level on points with Arsenal.
Even if a shock title challenge proves beyond Espirito Santo’s men, they are building up an impressive cushion in the race for Champions League football next season.
They are five points clear of fifth-placed Newcastle and six in front of struggling champions Manchester City in sixth.
A top-four finish would guarantee a return to the continent’s elite competition for the first time in 45 years for the two-time European champions.
However, fifth could also be good enough depending on how English club fare in European competition this season.
“We need to stay humble. We haven’t achieved anything yet, we need to work until the end and this can lead us to good moments,” said Espirito Santo.
Gibbs-White savoured his return to the club where he spent the early part of his career.
In front of the watching new England manager Thomas Tuchel, the midfielder did his case for further international recognition no harm with a cool finish from Antony Elanga’s pass.
Forest’s unexpected rise from battling relegation until the final day of last season into Champions League contenders has been build on a solid defense and Wood’s purple patch.
The New Zealand international turned in Callum Hudson-Odoi’s low cross for his 12th goal of the season to double the visitors’ lead just before half-time.
Wolves pressed and probed for a way back into the game after the break but were toothless in the absence of talisman Matheus Cunha through suspension.
Mats Sels was forced into one brilliant save to deny Jorgen Strand Larsen to preserve a ninth clean sheet of the season and fourth in a row.
That solidity is familiar to Wolves fans from Espirito Santo’s time in charge of their club between 2017 and 2021.
The Portuguese coach led Wanderers from the Championship into Europe for the first time in 39 years.
Now after troubled spells at Tottenham and Saudi club Al-Ittihad, he is recreating that magic to leave Forest fans in dreamland.
“As coaching staff we have this natural ambition of improving the players, this is what we are obsessed with,” he added.
“If we improve the players then the team will improve and if the team improves then the club will improve and the city will be happy.”


Leao, Pulisic and Abraham inspire AC Milan comeback in 3-2 win over Inter in Italian Super Cup final

Updated 07 January 2025
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Leao, Pulisic and Abraham inspire AC Milan comeback in 3-2 win over Inter in Italian Super Cup final

  • It was the fifth time in the last seven years that the competition was played in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: It took exactly one week on the job for Sergio Conceicao to earn his first trophy as AC Milan’s coach — with two comeback wins no less.
Milan came back from two goals down to beat city rivals Inter Milan 3-2 and win the Italian Super Cup on Monday.
Rafael Leao came off the bench and played a part in all three of Milan’s goals from Theo Hernandez, Christian Pulisic and Tammy Abraham.
Conceicao was hired to replace the fired Paulo Fonseca last Monday and also led the Rossoneri to a comeback win over Juventus in the semifinals.
This time, Lautaro Martinez and Mehdi Taremi put Inter ahead with goals on either side of halftime.
Leao then earned a foul that resulted in a free kick which Hernandez curled in around Inter’s wall.
Then Pulisic finished off a counterattack by shooting through Augusto’s legs on a play that began with Leao.
For the third goal, Leao provided a through ball for Pulisic, who crossed to Abraham, who tapped into an empty net in stoppage time.
It was the fifth time in the last seven years that the competition was played in Saudi Arabia, and the second year of an expanded four-team format.
A throw-in led to Inter’s opener as Taremi fed the ball inside the area to Lautaro, who cut back before shooting through Hernandez’s legs on Inter’s only real chance of the half.
Taremi, who was playing in place of the injured Marcus Thuram, finished off a counterattack right after the break.
Milan play their first Serie A match under Conceicao against Cagliari on Saturday. The Rossoneri are in eighth place but will return to league action with much more confidence.


Tammy Abraham says it would mean everything to win first trophy for AC Milan in Saudi Arabia

Updated 06 January 2025
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Tammy Abraham says it would mean everything to win first trophy for AC Milan in Saudi Arabia

  • AC Milan play city rivals Inter in Riyadh on Monday night in Italian Super Cup final
  • Abraham says victory would be ‘amazing’

RIYADH: Tammy Abraham said it “would mean everything” to win his first trophy for AC Milan.

The former Chelsea striker, on loan at the San Siro from Roma, played a key role in AC Milan qualifying for the Italian Super Cup final against city rivals Inter in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday night.

England striker Abraham came off the bench for the final half-hour against Juventus in Thursday’s semifinal with AC Milan 1-0 down. But his forward play helped the Rossoneri overturn the deficit to win 2-1, with the equalizer netted by fellow former Chelsea player Christian Pulisic.

Having won trophies at both Stamford Bridge and Roma — who loaned him out to AC Milan at the start of the season — the 27-year-old, 11-times capped England striker dearly wants to add to his medal collection in Riyadh.

“It would mean everything to me to win my first trophy in a Milan shirt. I’m a player who always wants to win. I’ve won a few trophies in the past, and I want to keep building the cabinet. It would be amazing to lift my first trophy for Milan,” Abraham said.

“I’m a player that always wants to win. I want to help my team as much as possible. Against Juventus in the second half, I had to bring my energy and bring some belief to my team. I’m proud of my team but the job is not finished, and we have a really big job in the final.

“We played Inter earlier in the season and we won. We are ready and we have to be ready. They had a day extra to recover and prepare, but that’s no excuse for us. We want to go back home with the trophy.”

Inter beat Atalanta 2-0 on Thursday with a double from Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries to qualify for the final. All matches are taking place at Al-Awwal Park — the home of Cristiano Ronaldo and his Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr. Inter are going for three Super Cups in a row in Riyadh and a record four wins in succession.

The Italian Super Cup is being staged in Saudi Arabia — where some 80 percent of the population either play, attend, or follow football — for the fifth time.