LONDON: Harry Kane got his customary goal against Arsenal on his return to north London, but Bayern Munich couldn’t leave with the win this time.
Leandro Trossard’s second-half equalizer rescued a 2-2 draw for Arsenal against Bayern in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals Tuesday after Kane had scored against his old rival yet again.
Trossard rolled in a low shot in the 76th minute to cancel out Kane’s first-half penalty and leave the teams evenly balanced ahead of next week’s second leg.
“It was a tough game. Of course we are never happy when we don’t win,” said Kane, who now has a competition-high seven goals in the Champions League this season and 15 against Arsenal in his career.
The hosts had taken a 12th-minute lead through Bukayo Saka and dominated the early stages until former Arsenal player Serge Gnabry made it 1-1 in the 18th following a mistake by defender Gabriel.
Kane then put Bayern ahead from the penalty spot in the 25th, but two of Arsenal’s substitutes combined for the equalizer as Gabriel Jesus teed up Trossard in the area.
“We started so well. We could have scored two or three goals after taking the lead,” Trossard said. “You can see what kind of quality Bayern Munich have to hurt us.”
The last time these two teams played, Bayern routed Arsenal 10-2 on aggregate after two 5-1 wins in the round of 16 in 2017. There was, however, a sense that things would be very different this time as Arsenal is top of the Premier League while Bayern is having its worst Bundesliga season in more than a decade and has ceded the title race to Bayer Leverkusen.
But Kane, who scored a record 14 goals in north London derbies between Tottenham and Arsenal before joining the German powerhouse this season, made sure Bayern returns to Germany with at least a slight advantage for the second leg at home next Wednesday.
Kingsley Coman nearly scored a 90th-minute winner for Bayern, but his flick-on from close range hit the post, while Saka had a penalty appeal turned down in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
The game went ahead as scheduled despite an alleged Islamic State terror threat against Champions League matches this week, and there were no incidents at the Emirates before or during the game.
In the other quarterfinal Tuesday, Real Madrid and Manchester City drew 3-3 in Spain.
Bayern got the draw despite playing without any away fans in the stadium because of a UEFA sanction against the club, which meant Arsenal was able to fill all 60,000 seats with home supporters.
And that crowd was raucous after a strong start for Arsenal.
The opening goal came when Ben White teed up Saka inside the area and the England winger rolled a low shot between two defenders and inside the far post, out of reach of the diving Manuel Neuer.
White had a great chance to double the lead in the 16th after Bayern failed to clear the ball and Kai Havertz set up the defender in the area, but his shot went straight at Neuer.
Soon after, a sloppy Arsenal mistake led to the equalizer.
Gabriel turned the ball over in midfield to give Bayern a quick counter, and Leon Goretzka slipped the ball through for Gnabry to slide in and slot the ball past goalkeeper David Raya.
Bayern was then awarded the penalty when William Saliba tripped Leroy Sane in the box, and Kane — who was greeted by a chorus of boos every time he touched the ball — sent Raya the wrong way before rolling the ball into the right corner.
“In the Champions League you cannot give anything to the opponent,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “We have given them two goals today.”
Raya saved two penalties in a shootout against Porto in the round of 16, which had given Kane plenty of material to study before the game.
“It was one of them where I have done a bit of research of his games against Porto,” Kane said of Raya. “It was nice to see him go early and make it easier for me.”
After Trossard’s equalizer, there was still some late drama as Saka had a chance to round Neuer deep into stoppage time but collided with the goalkeeper and went to the ground. However, referee Glenn Nyberg waved play on and replays suggested Saka stuck his leg out to initiate the contact.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel, meanwhile, was fuming that his team didn’t get a second penalty for handball when Raya played a short goal kick to Gabriel, who inexplicably picked up the ball and retook the goal kick.
Tuchel said Nyberg told his players that Gabriel had made “a kid’s mistake” and that he wouldn’t give a penalty for that in a Champions League quarterfinal.
“This is a horrible, horrible explanation,” Tuchel said.
Arsenal rescues 2-2 draw with Bayern in Champions League after Kane scores against old rival
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Arsenal rescues 2-2 draw with Bayern in Champions League after Kane scores against old rival
- The hosts had taken a 12th-minute lead through Bukayo Saka and dominated the early stages until former Arsenal player Serge Gnabry made it 1-1 in the 18th following a mistake by defender Gabriel
Real Madrid to play Manchester City in standout clash of Champions League knockout playoffs
- Manchester City, the 2023 champion, will host the first leg on Feb. 11 or 12 and the return game in Madrid is on Feb. 18 or 19
NYON, Switzerland: Real Madrid will play Manchester City in the Champions League knockout playoffs round in a standout clash of the past two title winners after the draw was made Friday.
Man City, the 2023 champion, will host the first leg on Feb. 11 or 12 and the return game in Madrid is on Feb. 18 or 19. Madrid won a record-extending 15th European title last season.
The winner over two legs advances to the round of 16 to face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen, who placed in the top eight of the new 36-team league standings that ended Wednesday.
Teams that finished from Nos. 9 to 24 in the standings dropped into the two-leg knockout playoffs. Madrid placed 11th and Man City barely qualified in 22nd, after rallying to beat Club Brugge 3-1 in a must-win game.
Man United and Tottenham reach Europa League round of 16. Mourinho’s Fenerbahce into playoffs
- Lazio, the only team that qualified to the round of 16 with a game to spare, was handed their first defeat, 1-0, away at Braga
- Frankfurt completed the league phase in fifth despite a 2-0 loss at Roma
- Rangers squeezed in to complete the top eight by beating Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1
LONDON: Manchester United and Tottenham put their inconsistent domestic campaigns aside and advanced to the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday.
Diogo Dalot tapped in a precise cross by Kobbie Mainoo on the hour mark and Mainoo netted eight minutes later for a 2-0 victory over Romanian champion FCSB in Bucharest.
Tottenham got goals from academy graduates to beat Swedish club Elfsborg 3-0 in London. Spurs waited until the 70th minute for substitute Dane Scarlett to break the deadlock before adding two more through substitute Damola Ajayi and 17-year-old Mikey Moore.
Of the 36 teams in the revamped competition, the top eight go directly to the round of 16 in March. Teams ranked ninth to 24th go into the two-legged knockout playoffs on Feb. 13 and Feb. 20 with the winners making the last 16.
The draw is scheduled for Friday.
United, who are 12th in the Premier League, competed the league phase of the second-tier European competition in third place and undefeated with five wins and three draws, trailing the top by one point.
“Kobbie (Mainoo) played very well in that position, with more freedom and not so much responsibility running back all the time,” United manager Ruben Amorim told TNT Sports. “The lads did a good job, another clean sheet.”
Amorim’s squad has shown signs of improvement since he said the team was “the worst, maybe, in the history of Manchester United.”
Thursday’s victory was the third straight in one week after beating Rangers in the Europa League a week ago and Fulham in the Premier League three days later.
Tottenham are languishing in 15th place in the Premier League. Their seven-match winless run in the league is their worst since 2008. But they won five, drew two and lost one for the fourth place in the Europa League.
Lazio, the only team that qualified to the round of 16 with a game to spare, was handed their first defeat, 1-0, away at Braga. Still, the Portuguese team was eliminated.
Lazio still topped the standings with 19th points, the same as the second Athletic Bilbao.
Bilbao secured the second place after a 3-1 home win over 10-man Viktoria Plzen, who have a playoff spot.
Frankfurt completed the league phase in fifth despite a 2-0 loss at Roma. Angeliño and Eldor Shomurodov lifted Roma with the goals at Stadio Olimpico.
Lyon were sixth despite being held 1-1 at home by Ludogorets.
Olympiacos in seventh after routing Qarabag 3-0.
Rangers squeezed in to complete the top eight by beating Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1.
Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce avoided an embarrassing early exit with a 2-2 away draw at Denmark’s Midtjylland. The result sent both into the playoffs. The hosts were 20th while Midtjylland took 24th, giving Mourinho a chance to add to his European trophies.
Ajax ended a three-game losing streak by handing Galatasaray thir first defeat, 2-1 with both teams making the playoffs.
Hoffenheim’s 4-3 away win at Anderlecht was not enough for the Bundesliga team to advance. The Belgian club finished 10th.
Real Sociedad, FCSB, Porto, AZ Alkmaar, Twente and PAOK are among other teams that advanced.
Neymar confirms return to Brazil: ‘Only Santos can give me the love I need’
- "Only Santos can give me the love that I need to prepare for the challenges I have in the next few years,” Neymar said
- “I hope you all follow me in this new phase of my life”
SAO PAULO: Neymar has confirmed he will sign what is expected to be a short-term contract with his boyhood club, Santos, as the Brazil striker aims to recharge his career ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The 32-year-old Neymar said Thursday that he's returning to the Sao Paulo club, and local media reported that the deal will extend only to June 30.
"Only Santos can give me the love that I need to prepare for the challenges I have in the next few years. All of you, no matter who you support, know well what I am talking about,” Neymar said on his social media channels.
“I hope you all follow me in this new phase of my life.”
Santos used their social media channels to respond Neymar’s video: “Your home awaits. Your people awaits." Neymar left Santos nearly 12 years ago to join Barcelona.
The striker's return follows the termination of his contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal. Neymar had returned in October from an ACL injury sustained while playing for Brazil only months after he joined Al-Hilal. He played only seven matches and scored once for the Saudi team.
Neymar also left Paris Saint-Germain under criticism from fans, who accused him of not caring enough about his fitness. In 2017, his exit at Barcelona was also frustrating for club supporters, who hoped he could help Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez win more trophies.
A Santos official told AP that Neymar is expected to arrive at Sao Paulo's international airport at 9 a.m. on Friday. He will then board a helicopter to go to the club's Vila Belmiro Stadium. After he signs his contract, he will be reintroduced to fans during the evening.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly.
Neymar has already played 225 matches with Santos. He scored 138 goals for the club, many of which key for the six titles he won at the Brazilian giant, which were relegated in 2023 and returned to the country's top division last year.
Neymar became the most expensive player in soccer history when he transferred from Barcelona to PSG for 222 million euros (then $262 million) in 2017.
Neymar’s most recent match was played in November. Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus had repeatedly cast doubts about the striker’s form to play.
His contract with Al-Hilal was due to expire after this year’s FIFA Club World Cup, which will be played between June 15 and July 13 in the United States.
The striker joined the Saudi club from PSG in August 2023 for 90 million euros ($94 million).
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time top goalscorer with 79 goals in 125 matches, also said he is focused on getting more playing time so he can prepare for the World Cup in North America next year in what could be his last shot at winning the tournament.
Ronaldo shines again to send Al-Nassr third
- 39-year-old scores, makes another to give Yellows fourth win in last 5 games
- Ronaldo grabs 15th league goal of season after 35 minutes
RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo was the star of the show once more as Al-Nassr won 2-1 at Al-Raed on Thursday to move within five points of Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad.
The 39-year-old scored one and made another to give the Yellows a fourth win from the last five.
Ronaldo got his 15th league goal of the season with 35 minutes on the clock, and while it was not the most spectacular, it could end up being crucial. Marcelo Brozovic floated a free-kick from deep, the defenders mistimed their runs but Ronaldo did not, and nipped in to stab home from close range.
It was 2-0 early in the second half. Ronaldo picked up the ball on the left side and produced a slide-rule pass into the area, but there was still a lot of work for Nawaf Boushal to do. The 25-year-old beat a defender for pace, jinked inside and then slotted past the goalkeeper for a very well-worked goal.
The hosts got themselves back into the game with 14 minutes remaining, scoring with a strike Ronaldo himself would have been proud of. Yousri Bouzok found Amir Sayoud on the edge of the area and the Algerian twisted and turned to make space for a shot and then curled the ball into the top corner.
It was a goal that deserved more than being a mere consolation, but the relegation-battling hosts could not quite get the second despite Al-Nassr looking rattled.
The visitors managed to hang on for what could be three very big points, although they are going to have to play better to really trouble the top two.
However, for now, the Yellows move to third, five points behind Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad, but the top two can restore their eight-point advantage when they are next in action later in the week.
Earlier, fifth-placed Al-Ahli defeated Al-Orubah 2-0 to make it eight wins out of the last nine. Ziyad Al-Johani opened the scoring after just nine minutes. The Jeddah giants went on to dominate much of the game but struggled to find the second. With 13 minutes remaining, Firas Al-Buraikan had a goal ruled out for offside but then, deep inside added time, Ivan Toney secured the win from the penalty spot.
Leipzig sign in-demand Xavi Simons from PSG until 2027
- German media reported Leipzig paid a club record of around $52 million for the 21-year-old Netherlands international
- “I feel very comfortable in Leipzig and have felt honored by the great appreciation I receive at the club,” Simons said
BERLIN: RB Leipzig have made Xavi Simons’ loan from Paris Saint-Germain permanent, breaking the club’s transfer record to sign the attacking midfielder until 2027.
The Red Bull-owned club announced the transfer on Thursday, making it Leipzig’s first big signing since Jurgen Klopp took over as its parent company’s Global Head of Soccer in early January.
German media reported Leipzig paid a club record of around 50 million euros ($52 million) for the 21-year-old Netherlands international.
Simons was reportedly in the sights of several European giants including Bayern Munich and Manchester United, making the deal a coup for Leipzig.
“I feel very comfortable in Leipzig and have felt honored by the great appreciation I receive at the club,” Simons said in a statement.
Leipzig signed the Barcelona youth product on loan in the summer of 2023 and extended the loan by a year the following summer.
Simons has 15 goals and 19 assists in 60 games in all competitions for Leipzig.
At international level, Simons has played 24 times for the Netherlands, scoring three goals including the opener against England in the Euro 2024 semifinal.
Leipzig’s sports CEO Marcel Schaefer said the club had “worked for a long time” on the deal.
“Xavi has developed extremely well with us and underlined that RB Leipzig is the right club for young, exceptional players.”
Leipzig were eliminated at the group stage of the Champions League and sit fifth in the Bundesliga, 16 points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
The winners of two of the past three German Cups, Leipzig host Wolfsburg in the quarter finals of the competition in February.
