MANCHESTER: Manchester City snapped a seven-game winless streak as Kevin De Bruyne played a starring role in a 3-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
The Belgian created Bernardo Silva’s opening goal and then scored the second before Jeremy Doku rounded off a much-needed victory for the English champions.
City’s barren run included six defeats to leave them 11 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool before kick-off.
However, De Bruyne’s return to the starting line-up for the first time in nearly three months helped resume normal service at the Etihad Stadium.
City move back into the top four and within nine points of Liverpool after their 3-3 draw at Newcastle.
Pep Guardiola had to shoot down suggestions of a rift with De Bruyne on the eve of the game after bedding him back into action slowly with a series of substitute appearances.
The 33-year-old showed what City have been missing as he rolled back the years and could well have had more than just one goal.
Guardiola reacted to Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool by making four changes as Josko Gvardiol, Doku and Jack Grealish also came into the team.
It took just eight minutes for City to make the breakthrough.
Ilkay Gundogan’s cross was headed back toward goal by De Bruyne and Silva was in the right place to tap home from centimeters out.
Guardiola claimed pre-match that Ederson remains his number one goalkeeper but the Brazilian was again benched in favor of Stefan Ortega.
The German made a big save to deny Morgan Gibbs-White before Forest missed a glorious chance to put the Etihad crowd back on edge.
Chris Wood’s fine goalscoring form has been the catalyst to a fabulous season so far for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.
But the New Zealander was wayward as he fired wide with just Ortega to beat.
De Bruyne settled City nerves on 31 minutes when he collected Doku’s pass inside the area and coolly slotted into the top corner.
Erling Haaland has now failed to find the net in his last three Premier League games.
But the Norwegian did play a part in the third goal with the assist for Doku, who cut inside and fired into the far corner.
De Bruyne saw a free-kick curl just wide and was then denied a second by his international team-mate Matz Sels.
He was given a standing ovation when he departed 15 minutes from time.
City spectacularly collapsed from 3-0 up to draw 3-3 against Feyenoord in the Champions League eight days ago.
However, there was never any sense of a repeat as they controlled the closing stages to add a clean sheet to an all-round restorative night for Guardiola’s men.
Defeat leaves Forest still in sixth but now four points off the top four.
De Bruyne masterclass helps Man City end seven-game winless streak
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De Bruyne masterclass helps Man City end seven-game winless streak
Jeddah gears up for the AFC Champions League Elite finals
- The finals feature seven matches taking place in a new format
- Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli topped their groups with 22 points each
JEDDAH: Football fans throughout Asia are turning their eyes to Jeddah, as the coastal city known as the Bride of the Red Sea gears up to host the AFC Champions League Elite finals from April 25 to May 3,2025.
The finals feature seven highly anticipated matches taking place in a new format with all matches played in King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City.
Saudi clubs secured their places in the final rounds after impressive performances in the group stage. Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli topped their groups with 22 points each, undefeated, while Al-Nassr finished third with 17 points after just one loss.
Four-time Asian champions Al-Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia will face Gwangju FC from South Korea.
Yokohama F. Marinos of Japan will face Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, with both sides aiming to win the title for the first time.
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli, will be at home to take on Thailand’s Buriram United while Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale will meet 2011 champions Al-Sadd SC of Qatar.
The winners of the Al Hilal-Gwangju tie will meet the winners of the Al Ahli-Buriram clash while the victors of Marinos-Al-Nassr will square off against the Frontale-Al Sadd winner in the semi-finals.
The first quarterfinal is scheduled for April 25, with the second and third last-eight ties on April 26, and the final one to be played on April 27.
The semifinals will be contested on April 29 and 30 with the final at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on May 3, with ultimate glory on the line and a record prize worth $12 million.
Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Al-Nassr, is one of the tournament’s most prominent players and is out to add the AFC Champions League title to his impressive record.
Despite being 40 years old, Ronaldo as scored seven goals to date, proving his value to his team in its bid for the title.
As the matches draw closer, Jeddah is preparing to welcome thousands of fans from across the Kingdom and beyond.
Quarterfinals
Al-Hilal vs. Gwangju FC
Al-Ahli vs. Buriram United
Yokohama F. Marinos vs. Al-Nassr
Kawasaki Frontale vs. Al-Sadd
Semifinals
Al-Hilal or Gwangju FC vs. Al-Ahli or Buriram United
Yokohama F. Marinos or Al-Nassr vs. Kawasaki Frontale or Al-Sadd
Champions League spot would be ‘Premier League trophy’ for Man City: Nunes
- The Portugal international scored a last-gasp winner against Aston Villa on Tuesday
- Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Chelsea are the other sides in the mix for a top-five finish
LONDON: Matheus Nunes says Champions League qualification would be Manchester City’s “Premier League trophy” after a poor campaign by their stellar standards.
The Portugal international scored a last-gasp winner against Aston Villa on Tuesday to lift Pep Guardiola’s men to third in the table, four points ahead of seventh-placed Villa.
With Liverpool on the brink of the Premier League title and Arsenal sitting comfortably in second place, five clubs are battling for the three remaining places in Europe’s top club competition next season.
Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Chelsea are the other sides in the mix for a top-five finish.
City, who were hunting a fifth straight league title at the start of the season, suffered a costly collapse in form from late October.
But they can still end their season on a high, with Sunday’s FA Cup semifinal against Forest at Wembley coming hot on the heels of their vital win against Unai Emery’s Villa.
“This is our Premier League trophy now, to qualify for the Champions League,” Nunes said after scoring his first league goal for City in his second season at the club.
“I think it’s massively important for us, in terms of everything, the club, in terms of the players, the mentality.”
The 26-year-old admitted though that Champions League qualification for the 15th season running and FA Cup glory would not equal a good campaign.
“The club’s standards are much higher than this,” he said. “We know that there is not the standards we want this club to be at.
“But this is our reality now and we have to accept it. And we just have to go for it like it’s the Champions League, the Premier League trophy.”
Al-Qadsiah confident ahead of SPL showdown with Al-Khaleej in Dammam
- Al-Qadsiah arrive in Dammam off the back of a 2-1 win over Al-Nassr
- Teams have met five times before in the Pro League, with Qadsiah winning twice, Al-Khaleej once, and two matches drawn
RIYADH: Al-Qadsiah travel with confidence for their Saudi Pro League showdown with Al-Khaleej, today, 9pm, at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam.
Al-Qadsiah arrive in Dammam, for matchday 29 of the SPL, off the back of a 2-1 win over Al-Nassr, returning to winning ways after two draws against Al-Ittihad and Al-Ettifaq, and two losses to Al-Fayha and Damac.
Meanwhile, Al-Khaleej continue to drop points, suffering three defeats, against Al-Hilal, Al-Fateh, and Al-Wehda, in their last four matches, while accounting for Al-Raed.
The two teams have met five times before in the Pro League, with Qadsiah winning twice, Al-Khaleej once, and two matches ending in draws. Their most recent game, in matchday 12 of this season, ended in a 1-0 win for Qadsiah.
Qadsiah currently sit in fifth place with 55 points, tied with fourth-place Al-Ahli, and trail league leaders Al-Ittihad by 13 points. Al-Khaleej lie tenth with 33 points.
Esports World Cup 2025 features $70m prize pool, 25 tournaments and global club showdown in Riyadh
- A $27 million share of the prize pool is allocated to the EWC Club Championship
- Team Falcons won the 2024 title with 5,665 points and three tournament wins
Riyadh: The Esports World Cup Foundation has finalized the full lineup of games, tournament schedule and club championship rules for the Esports World Cup 2025, the world’s largest electronic sports event, scheduled to return to Riyadh from July 7 through Aug. 24.
It will feature 200 clubs, 2,000 players, 25 tournaments across 24 titles, and a record-breaking prize pool of more than $70 million — the largest in e-sports history.
Organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation, the event includes established and newly added games such as Valorant, Crossfire, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and chess. Competitions will be held at four dedicated arenas, with select titles offering last chance qualifiers during the opening EWC Festival. Finals will be held on weekends to maximize viewership and reduce schedule conflicts.
A $27 million share of the prize pool is allocated to the EWC Club Championship, which awards points for top-eight finishes and tournament wins. To win the title, a club must place in the top eight in at least two tournaments and win at least one. Joint ventures between organizations are ineligible, with all teams required to compete under a single name.
Game-specific tournaments will distribute more than $38 million in prizes, while MVPs will be awarded from a $450,000 pool. The club champion will be crowned during the closing ceremony on Aug. 24.
Team Falcons won the 2024 title with 5,665 points and three tournament wins, ahead of Team Liquid and Team BDS. Other top performers included Gaimin Gladiators, T1, Virtus.pro, Team Vitality, Gen.G, LOUD, and Twisted Minds. Tickets for EWC 2025 are now available.
Rally Jameel gets underway, route expands beyond Saudi Arabia’s historic sites
- Event reveals region’s evolving landscape of opportunity for women
- Five-day rally takes a 1,600km route through two countries
PETRA: Starting in the ancient city of Petra, Rally Jameel, the first women-only navigational rally in the Middle East, got underway on Tuesday with the participation of 41 teams from 37 countries.
The official ceremony for the 4th edition of Rally Jameel was attended by prominent Jordanian figures, including Dr. Fares Braizat, chief commissioner of Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority.
Spanning five days and covering a 1,600-kilometer route through two countries, this year’s rally is a historic expansion beyond Saudi Arabia.
The route begins in Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and winds through Tabuk, a city framed by striking mountain ranges and ancient trade routes; AlUla, renowned for its dramatic rock formations; Hail, long considered the heart of the Arabian Peninsula’s caravan trade; and concludes in Qassim, a region celebrated for its rich agricultural traditions — offering participants a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Munir Khoja, managing director at Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, said: “The launch of Rally Jameel 2025 in Petra marks a pivotal step in our ambition to elevate women’s motorsport and expand Saudi Arabia’s presence on the global sporting stage.
“As we expand beyond borders, we remain committed to empowering women through world-class sporting opportunities that challenge and inspire, in line with Vision 2030. This year’s edition reflects the spirit of exploration, resilience, and cross-cultural connection that has always defined Rally Jameel, and we are extremely proud to support this journey and the incredible women driving it forward.”
Zaid Balqez, CEO of Jordan Motorsport said: “Hosting the launch of Rally Jameel here in Petra is a proud milestone for us, one that underscores the strength and potential of regional partnerships. Our collaboration with Jameel Motorsport reflects a shared vision to elevate the profile of motorsport across the region, not only as a competitive discipline, but as a platform for empowerment, cultural exchange, and adventure tourism. Together, we aim to create a more inclusive and globally connected motorsport ecosystem that positions the Middle East as a leading destination for world-class sporting experiences.”
The five-day event continues to set new benchmarks in global motorsport. With growing international participation and expanded geographic reach, the rally is carving out a lasting legacy. It reveals not only elite navigational talent, but also the region’s evolving landscape of opportunity, ambition and leadership for women.
