NEWCASTLE, England: AC Milan and Newcastle were eliminated from the Champions League on Wednesday after the Italian team’s 2-1 win at St. James’ Park that ensured Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappé qualified for the round of 16 instead.
Milan at least claimed the consolation prize of dropping into the Europa League playoff round after Samuel Chukwueze’s 84th-minute winner lifted last season’s Champions League semifinalist above Newcastle into third place in Group F.
Milan joined PSG on eight points after the six group games, but finished behind the French team courtesy of an inferior head-to-head record.
“It’s a massive accomplishment,” said Christian Pulisic, who equalized for Milan in the 59th minute to become the first US international to score for three different teams in the Champions League, after Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea.
“We have a chance to win a great competition. Of course we wanted to continue in the Champions League but we look forward to competing in the Europa League.”
Newcastle’s first Champions League campaign in 20 years — and its first under Saudi ownership — ended in disappointment as it finished bottom of a tough group and out of Europe altogether, just like Manchester United on Tuesday.
It’s a big blow to the northeast club with its new-found status as a potential disruptor for the established elite. Expect Newcastle, which has the richest owners in club soccer following its 2021 takeover by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, to be a force in European soccer for years to come, but it won’t be this season.
“We are absolutely devastated not to go through,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said.
“I couldn’t be prouder of what they have given me, physically and mentally. I do think we left everything on the pitch and we can’t have any regrets. Of course, we will learn from it and try to absorb everything we need to take into the Premier League.”
With PSG drawing 1-1 at Borussia Dortmund, a win for Newcastle would have qualified the English team for the knockout stage.
And it looked on when Joelinton gave the hosts the lead with a rasping drive in the 33rd minute.
Pulisic equalized after Olivier Giroud’s brilliant pass across the edge of the six-yard box, putting him on eight Champions League goals — twice as many as any other American. DaMarcus Beasley and Weston McKennie have scored four each.
After Rafael Leao struck a shot against the post, Chukwueze — on as a substitute for just 68 seconds — grabbed the winning goal on the break with a curling finish.
“We’re disappointed to have ended our run in the Champions League,” Milan coach Stefan Pioli said. “We knew the group was tough but I believe we deserved more — we should have taken our chances in the other games.”
Milan is a seven-time European champion and also has won the now-defunct European Cup Winners’ Cup, in 1968 and ‘73. The club has never won the Europa League or its predecessor, the UEFA Cup.
Newcastle will rue the moment Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan flung himself to his left and tipped a goalbound shot from Bruno Guimaraes onto the crossbar when the score was 1-1.
The hosts started running out of ideas and energy, with Howe have selected the same defense and midfield for the sixth game in a row in all competitions amid an injury crisis.
“The value of the squad first and foremost, that’s what’s exposed us — the fact we haven’t had the ability to utilize the squad we’ve created,” said Howe, who was leading a team in a Champions League campaign for the first time. “We’ve gone into games very limited in what we can do and that hasn’t helped us.”
With only two Premier League teams — Manchester City and Arsenal — advancing to Monday’s draw, it’s the weakest round-of-16 challenge for 11 years by a country widely considered to have the strongest top flight in European soccer.
AC Milan beat Newcastle 2-1 but both teams are eliminated from the Champions League
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AC Milan beat Newcastle 2-1 but both teams are eliminated from the Champions League
- Milan joined PSG on eight points after the six group games, but finished behind the French team courtesy of an inferior head-to-head record
- With PSG drawing 1-1 at Borussia Dortmund, a win for Newcastle would have qualified the English team for the knockout stage
We will ‘do our best’ for Barcelona’s Saudi fans, says Raphinha ahead of Spanish Super Cup start in Jeddah
- Barcelona face Athletic Club in Wednesday’s first semifinal, with winners tackling either Real Madrid or Mallorca in the final at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah
JEDDAH: Raphinha says Barcelona are determined to repay local fans for their support by winning the Supercopa de Espana in Jeddah.
La Liga runners-up Barcelona and Copa del Rey winners Athletic Club will contest the first Supercopa semifinal on Wednesday at King Abdullah Sports City, with kickoff at 10 p.m. local time.
The winners will face either La Liga champions Real Madrid or Copa del Rey finalists Mallorca in Sunday’s final at the same stadium.
Barcelona have an enormous fanbase in Saudi Arabia, a country with a thriving football culture that has been the hosts of the Supercopa de Espana since 2020.
The Catalans are sure to enjoy the majority of the support in Jeddah on Wednesday evening and Raphinha wants to ensure their fans are treated to a spectacle.
Raphinha, 28, said: “I would like to thank them for the love. We know how difficult it is for fans to be able to go to Barcelona and watch one of our games there, so to be able to come here, play in a semifinal and (possibly) a final is great, it’s exciting. What we can do is appreciate the love and do our best to try and win two matches.”
Raphinha arrives in Jeddah as one of Barcelona’s standout players this season, scoring 17 goals and creating 10 assists in 25 matches in all competitions.
The team, however, enter the Supercopa in mixed form. Following a blistering start to the season, Barcelona have lost three of their last seven matches, including consecutive defeats in La Liga.
Barca’s pedigree in the Supercopa is unrivalled, though, having won a record 14 trophies. They last won the competition in Riyadh in 2023, and Raphinha believes success in Jeddah this week can provide a vital boost for the rest of the season.
“A title gives confidence to any team,” the Brazilian forward said. “We have to be ready to fight for everything. We have the opportunity to win the first title of the year. It will give us a lot of confidence.”
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick echoed Raphinha’s comments by insisting his players are raring to go and are fully focused on achieving more Supercopa success in Saudi Arabia.
Flick said: “I can feel with the team everyone is ready for this tournament. The semifinal against Athletic is a tough match and we focus on that and not think about the days after that, only focus on this match.
“Of course, when you win titles, it’s very good for the club, very good for the team, for every player and also for us coaches, because we all work hard and train hard.”
If Barcelona are to add to their 14 Supercopas, they will need to get past extremely tough opposition, starting with semifinal opponents Athletic Club.
The Catalans edged the Basque club 2-1 in their most recent meeting at the start of the Spanish Liga season, although Athletic enter the tie with the better overall form, going unbeaten in their last 15 matches in all competitions and winning 11.
Athletic have also won their last two Supercopa matches against Barca, claiming a 3-2 victory after extra time in the 2021 final, and a comprehensive 5-1 aggregate win in 2015 before the format was expanded to four teams.
Athletic captain Oscar De Marcos is aware of the task against Barcelona, but insists they are ready for the challenge.
“We’re looking forward to being in another semifinal,” he said. “We know we’re facing a very tough opponent, but whenever you’re close to a title you have the hope of being able to win it. We need a great game to be able to win it.”
Athletic also have stellar Supercopa experience in the dugout. Manager Ernesto Valverde has been in charge for two of Athletic’s three Supercopa triumphs, while he is familiar with the tournament in Saudi having led Barcelona in the inaugural four-team tournament in 2020.
“We are excited about the Supercopa,” the Spanish coach said. “Our intention is to make the most of our chances. We are not favorites from the start, but we have to play like it. We will give everything to win it because we have travelled here for a reason.”
On the fans in Saudi Arabia, Valverde added: “There are more Barcelona fans than our own. That’s for sure. There will be a good atmosphere and we hope people can enjoy a good match. I know it well because it was my last match with Barcelona.”
The Supercopa de Espana is being staged in Saudi Arabia as part of a long-term partnership with the Royal Spanish Football Federation, which will keep the competition in the Kingdom until 2029.
Isak strikes again as Newcastle beats Arsenal 2-0 in League Cup semifinal 1st leg
- Isak struck in the 37th minute to continue his outstanding scoring run with his 14th goal in 15 games
Newcastle moved a step closer to a first major domestic trophy since 1955 with a 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the first leg of the English League Cup semifinals Tuesday.
Goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon at the Emirates Stadium put Newcastle within reach of the final at Wembley Stadium in March. The second leg is at St. James’ Park on Feb. 5.
It was Newcastle’s first win at the Emirates since 2010 and Arsenal’s first home defeat since April.
Isak struck in the 37th minute to continue his outstanding scoring run with his 14th goal in 15 games. The Sweden international was involved in Newcastle’s second in the 51st, when his shot was saved by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and the rebound was converted by Gordon.
Despite being bought by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund in 2021, Newcastle hasn’t won a major domestic trophy since lifting the FA Cup almost 70 years ago. But it is close to second League Cup final in three years after losing to Manchester United in 2023.
Newcastle is also pushing for a return to the Champions League after missing out last season — sitting fifth in the Premier League standings and one point outside of the automatic qualifying places for European club soccer’s elite tournament.
Victory against Arsenal was a seventh straight win in all competitions for Eddie Howe’s team, which has been inspired by Isak’s brilliant goal-scoring form.
He fired in off the underside of the crossbar from close range after a long free kick was played into his path by Jacob Murphy.
It was Isak’s seventh goal in his last five games.
Despite in-stadium referee announcements being trialed for the match, an apparent push in the buildup to his goal did not result in referee Craig Pawson reviewing the sideline monitor.
It was Isak’s sharpness that led to Newcastle’s second. His effort from inside the box six minutes into the second half was parried by Raya, but Gordon was the quickest to react at the far post to fire home.
Arsenal was unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions and is second in the Premier League standings.
It had the chance to take the lead when Gabriel Martinelli burst through in the 29th and fired against the post.
Kai Havertz wasted a golden opportunity to pull a goal back when his attempted header from directly in front of goal came off his shoulder and went wide.
Tottenham plays Liverpool in the other semifinal, with the first leg being staged at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday.
Rajkovic, Benzema star as Al-Ittihad dump Al-Hilal out of King Cup
- Thriller goes to penalties after sides finish level
- 120 minutes of football saw the sides end all-square at 2-2
RIYADH: Al-Ittihad defeated Al-Hilal 3-1 in a penalty shootout on Tuesday to move into the semifinal of the King Cup after 120 minutes of action in Riyadh had ended 2-2.
Predrag Rajkovic was the hero for the Jeddah club, saving three of Al-Hilal’s penalty kicks.
The first half was an even affair, although it started badly for Al-Hilal with the Saudi Pro League’s top goalscorer Aleksandar Mitrovic leaving the pitch after 13 minutes with what seemed to be a hamstring injury.
Three minutes later, Al-Hilal almost took the lead but Salem Al-Dawsari’s shot from just inside the penalty area hit the foot of a post.
After 26 minutes, Karim Benzema started asking questions, forcing a good save from Yassine Bounou with a curling shot from outside the area.
The French striker had the ball in the net just before the break, shooting home after Bounou had got a hand to a low shot from N’Golo Kante, but he was ruled offside.
There was still time in the first half for Benzema to shoot tamely at the Moroccan goalkeeper from close range.
The former Real Madrid star finally broke the deadlock just after the hour, just moments after Malcom had hit the post for Al-Hilal. Benzema controlled a right-sided cross from Muhannad Al-Shanqiti and then fired home from close range.
Al-Hilal were back on level terms with 18 minutes remaining. The ball fell to Salem Al-Dawsari just inside the area and the 2022 Asian Player of the Year made no mistake to shoot past Rajkovic.
The game went into extra-time and after 101 minutes Al-Hilal moved ahead for the first time. Moteb Al-Harbi produced a perfect diagonal low cross from the left to find Marcos Leonardo at the far post and the Brazilian did the rest.
However, it did not take long for Benzema to equalize, sweeping the ball high into the net from close range to take the game to penalties.
A dismal effort from Al-Hilal followed from the spot as they scored just once.
Mohamed Kanno took the first, which was saved by Rajkovic, and when Benzema scored, Al-Ittihad were in the driving seat, especially as the Serbian goalkeeper also blocked Leonardo’s attempt.
Fabinho made it 2-0 to The Tigers and after Danilo Pereira scored to make it 3-1, Malcom had to hit the back of the net for the match to stay alive but Rajkovic saved once more.
Al-Ittihad and their traveling fans celebrated as they joined Al-Qadsiah, who defeated Al-Taawoun 3-0 earlier on Tuesday, in the last four. They join Al-Shabab and Al-Raed in the semis.
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
- 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.
