RIYADH: Al-Nassr will face fellow Saudi Pro League side Al-Fayha in the last 16 of the Asian Champions League with four-times winners Al-Hilal due to take on Iran's Sepahan when the continental club championship returns in February.
Al-Nassr emerged unbeaten from the group phase of the competition earlier this month and will meet the tournament debutants over two legs, the first on Feb. 12 or 13 with the second one week later.
Al-Hilal, who won the most recent of their record four titles in 2021, will travel to Iran for the first leg against Sepahan before hosting the side from Isfahan in Riyadh.
Karim Benzema will lead Jeddah's Al-Ittihad, the tournament's fourth Saudi Pro League outfit, into the last 16 where they will face Uzbekistan's Navbahor.
Nasaf, also from Uzbekistan, were drawn to play former champions Al-Ain from the United Arab Emirates.
The eastern side of the draw will see South Korean sides Jeonbuk Motors and Pohang Steelers, who have won five Asian Champions League titles between them, face off in the next phase of the competition.
Another former champion from South Korea, Ulsan Hyundai, will take on Japan's Ventforet Kofu, who have become the first second division outfit to progress to the competition's knockout rounds.
Chinese Super League side Shandong Taishan will host Japan's Kawasaki Frontale in the first leg of their last 16 meeting on Feb. 13 or 14 while Thailand's Bangkok United take on 2022 J.League champions Yokohama F Marinos.
Teams from the western and eastern regions will continue to be separated through the quarter-finals and semi-finals, which are due to be played in March and April respectively.
The successful teams on each side of the draw will face off over two legs in the final, which will be played on a home-and-away basis on May 11 and 18.
Al-Nassr set for all-Saudi showdown in Asian Champions League
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Al-Nassr set for all-Saudi showdown in Asian Champions League
- Al-Nassr emerged unbeaten from the group phase of the competition earlier this month
Brighton leave out joint top-scorer Pedro from Spurs trip over training incident
- Pedro did not play in Monday’s 3-2 win over champions Liverpool
- “With Joao we had a small issue in training,” Huerzeler told reporters
LONDON: Brighton & Hove Albion will be without their joint top-scorer Joao Pedro when they visit Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, with manager Fabian Huerzeler saying the Brazil striker has been left out due to a “small issue in training.”
Pedro, who equals Danny Welbeck with 10 league goals this season, did not play in Monday’s 3-2 win over champions Liverpool, with a report by The Athletic later attributing the 23-year-old’s absence to an altercation he had with a teammate during training.
“With Joao we had a small issue in training, a type which isn’t uncommon from time to time in all football clubs. We dealt with it internally and the matter is closed,” Huerzeler told reporters on Friday.
“Joao is an incredible football player. He is a match winner for us. That’s why we invested in him. But there are principles, there are values... they are non-negotiable.
“Joao is still a young player, and (there’s) still a lot of potential that he will grow. I’m sure he’ll learn from this and come back stronger next season.”
Pedro last played for Brighton on April 19, when he was sent off for flicking his hand into Brentford defender Nathan Collins’ face during a 4-2 loss, an act which got him a three-match suspension for violent conduct.
With ninth-placed Brentford three points below Brighton, a draw at Spurs will ensure Huerzeler’s men finish eighth, which could earn them a place in next season’s UEFA Conference League provided some other results go their way.
UEFA apologizes after running out of medals during Europa League final ceremony
- Spurs captain Son Heung-min and two other players, the last to line up for individual medals, were left empty-handed
- Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester United 1-0 to win the club’s fourth European title on Wednesday
UEFA has apologized for running out of winners medals during the Europa League final trophy ceremony on Wednesday after more Tottenham Hotspur players than expected lined up to receive their individual prizes.
Spurs captain Son Heung-min and two other players, the last to line up for individual medals, were left empty-handed after their team beat Manchester United 1-0 to win the club’s fourth European title on Wednesday.
Son lifted the trophy without a medal around his neck.
“To our great displeasure, we did not have enough medals available on stage during the trophy ceremony presentation due to an unexpected discrepancy in the player count ...” British media quoted European soccer’s governing body as saying on Thursday.
“More team members – including injured players – participated in the ceremony than initially anticipated.
“The missing medals were promptly delivered to the winning team in the dressing room, along with our sincerest apologies for the oversight.”
Real Madrid great Luka Modric leaving club after 13 years. Exit to follow Club World Cup
- Madrid will pay tribute to Modric in their last match of the season Saturday against Real Sociedad in La Liga at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
- In 13 seasons, Modric helped the club win 28 titles: six European Cups, six Club World Cups, five European Super Cups, four Spanish leagues, two Copas del Rey and five Spanish Super Cups
MADRID: Real Madrid and midfielder Luka Modric — the most decorated player in the club’s history — have agreed to part ways after the Club World Cup.
The 39-year-old Modric will leave after an “unforgettable time as a player at our club,” the club said in Thursday’s announcement.
Madrid will pay tribute to Modric in their last match of the season Saturday against Real Sociedad in La Liga at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The Club World Cup starts in mid-June in the United States.
“The moment has arrived,” Modric said on social media. “The moment I never wanted to come, but that’s football, and in life everything has a beginning and an end. On Saturday, I’ll play my last game at the Santiago Bernabeu.”
Modric arrived at Madrid in 2012 and became a key player during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.
“Real Madrid wishes to express its immense gratitude and appreciation for a player who has become a true legend both of our club and world football,” the club said.
In 13 seasons, Modric helped the club win 28 titles: six European Cups, six Club World Cups, five European Super Cups, four Spanish leagues, two Copas del Rey and five Spanish Super Cups.
“Luka Modric will forever remain in the hearts of all madridistas (Madrid fans) as a unique and exemplary footballer who has always embodied the values of Real Madrid,” club president Florentino Perez said. “His football has captured the imagination of madridismo and fans all over the world. His legacy will live on forever.”
The Croatia international has made 590 appearances for Madrid — eighth on the club’s all-time list — and has scored 43 goals. He had been playing fewer minutes in recent seasons under coach Carlo Ancelotti.
He is one of only five players to have won six European Cups.
In 2018, Modric won the Ballon d’Or, was named FIFA’s best men’s player and UEFA’s men’s player of the year. Twice he’s been named the best midfielder in the Champions League.
“I’m leaving filled with pride, gratitude and unforgettable memories,” Modric said. “And although after the Club World Cup I won’t wear this shirt on the field again, I’ll always be a madridista.”
Modric did not indicate his post-Madrid plans, but a motivating factor could be that the 2026 World Cup is only a year away.
Modric’s 186 matches for Croatia make him the nation’s record-holder for international appearances. He won the Golden Ball at the 2018 World Cup in Russia — where Croatia lost the final to France — and the Bronze Ball at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Raphinha extends Barca deal until 2028
- “Barcelona and Raphinha have reached an agreement for the renewal of his contract,” said the Catalan giants
- Raphinha, a candidate to win the Ballon d’Or, has scored 34 goals and provided 25 assists
BARCELONA: Barcelona winger Raphinha signed a contract extension until 2028 on Thursday after a spectacular season.
The Brazilian, whose previous deal was set to expire in 2027, was vital as Barcelona won a domestic treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
“Barcelona and Raphinha have reached an agreement for the renewal of his contract, which will link him to the club until June 30, 2028,” said the Catalan giants in a statement.
Raphinha, a candidate to win the Ballon d’Or, has scored 34 goals and provided 25 assists in 56 matches across all competitions.
The 28-year-old is the joint top goalscorer in the Champions League with 13, but Barcelona were knocked out in a thrilling semifinal tie against Inter Milan.
He netted a hat-trick in Barca’s group stage win over Bayern Munich and a brace in the recent Clasico win over Real Madrid which took Barca to the verge of their La Liga conquest.
Raphinha’s contract renewal follows coach Hansi Flick’s on Wednesday, with the German penning a new deal until 2027.
Teenage winger Lamine Yamal, 17, is also expected to sign a new contract in the coming weeks.
His agent Jorge Mendes told reporters “he will renew (his deal) soon,” after having lunch with Yamal on the outskirts of Barcelona on Thursday.
Raphinha and Yamal have been devastating on the flanks for Barcelona, either side of veteran striker Robert Lewandowski.
The Catalans have scored 99 goals in 37 La Liga matches and are hoping to pass a century on Sunday when they visit Athletic Bilbao in the last match of the season.
Raphinha arrived in 2022 from Leeds United for around £55 million ($74 million) and helped Barcelona win La Liga in his first season.
However he came close to leaving the club after a disappointing 2023-24 campaign, but was convinced to stay by Flick.
Pulisic leads list of US absentees for Gold Cup
- Pulisic plans to take a break following a demanding season with his Serie A club
- Fellow Milan midfielder Yunus Musah and Fulham defender Antonee Robinson were also left out of the squad
ROME: AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic will miss next month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, leading a group of notable absentees from Mauricio Pochettino’s 27-man US squad announced on Thursday.
Pulisic plans to take a break following a demanding season with his Serie A club, where he featured in 49 matches across all competitions, tallying up 17 goals and 12 assists, while dealing with some minor injuries.
“Christian and his team approached the federation and the coaching staff about the possibility of stepping back this summer, given the amount of matches he has played in the past two years at both the club and international level with very little break,” US Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker said in a statement.
“We made the collective decision that this is the right moment for him to get the rest he needs. The objective is to ensure he’s fully prepared to perform at the highest level next season.”
Fellow Milan midfielder Yunus Musah and Fulham defender Antonee Robinson were also left out of the squad, while Juventus pair Weston McKennie and Tim Weah, along with Borussia Dortmund’s Gio Reyna, will be unavailable due to their clubs’ participation in the Club World Cup in the US which starts on June 15.
Defenders Alex Freeman and Quinn Sullivan, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and forward Damion Down have all received their first senior call-ups.
“As we continue preparations for the World Cup, this is a fantastic opportunity to work with this group of players for an extended period and it’s important we take advantage of every moment,” Argentine manager Pochettino said.
“Of course, we want to win and to perform in a very good way. These players have earned the chance to compete for our fans and to show their quality and mentality.”
The US host Turkiye on June 7 before facing Switzerland three days later, with both friendlies serving as warm-ups ahead of the Gold Cup which runs from June 14 to July 6 in the US and Canada.
