MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Manchester City saved themselves from an embarrassing early Champions League exit with three second-half goals to beat Club Brugge 3-1 on Wednesday.
However, it may be a stay of execution for Pep Guardiola’s men as they will face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the play-off round.
Despite a first defeat in 22 games for Brugge, they also sneaked into the next round in 24th place and will take on Atalanta or Borussia Dortmund next.
The Belgian champions were on course to send City packing before the knockout stages for the first time since 2012 when Raphael Onyedika fired the visitors into the lead just before half-time.
City needed all three points after winning just two of their opening seven matches in the competition’s new format and turned it around just in time.
Mateo Kovacic levelled from the edge of the box before the unfortunate Joel Ordonez turned in Josko Gvardiol’s cross.
Substitute Savinho then drilled in the third to ease the nerves of Pep Guardiola, who anxiously prowled the touchline throughout and was booked for protesting toward the officials.
The drama at the Etihad on a nervous night began before the action even got underway as a merchandise stand caught fire on the perimeter of the stadium shortly before the teams arrived.
Brugge were not daunted by the task that faced them against a diminished version of the English champions and started brightly with Christos Tzolis a constant menace.
City slowly warmed to their task as Ilkay Gundogan slotted home but was flagged offside from Bernardo Silva’s header.
But Brugge remained a persistent threat on the counter-attack and got their reward just before half-time.
Tzolis was again the creator as the Greek’s cross was this time swept home by Onyedika.
Guardiola responded by introducing Savinho for Gundogan at the break in what proved to be an inspired change as City posed far more attacking threat in the second period.
John Stones headed wide a glorious chance to equalize just seconds after the restart.
Kovacic then provided much-needed drive from the City midfield as the Croatian powered forward and slotted in from the edge of the box to level on 53 minutes.
But in the nine minutes between City’s first and second goals, Brugge could have sent the 2023 champions to an early exit.
Tzolis fired too close to Ederson, drilled a shot inches wide and was prevented another clear sight of goal by Gvardiol’s last-ditch intervention with a hat-trick of big chances.
At the other end, it was Brugge who did the hard work for City as Gvardiol’s low cross was turned into his own net by Ordonez.
Guardiola furiously kicked a water box during his celebration.
The City boss’ mood was not helped when Erling Haaland wasted his one huge chance of the evening as Simon Mignolet saved a one-on-one and Savinho’s follow-up effort was cleared off the line by Brandon Mechele.
But Guardiola was finally able to offer a smile of relief 13 minutes from time when Savinho took down Stones’ cross on his chest and blasted in his first Champions League goal.
Guardiola even embraced his counterpart Nicky Hayen before the match finished as the two exchanged a handshake during stoppage time.
But the City manager will be under no illusions that his side will need to be much better if they are to have aspirations of conquering Europe again in the coming months.
Man City rally to avoid Champions League exit, face Madrid or Bayern next
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Man City rally to avoid Champions League exit, face Madrid or Bayern next
Spurs edge Man Utd to win Europa League and end trophy drought
BILBAO: Brennan Johnson’s scrambled goal ended a 17-year Tottenham trophy drought with a battling 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final on Wednesday.
Spurs, who had not won European silverware since 1984, will play in next season’s Champions League, while failing to qualify for it is a severe financial set-back for Manchester United.
Despite their triumph in Bilbao, manager Ange Postecoglou’s future is still on the line following a shambolic domestic campaign, with Spurs sitting a place below United in the lower reaches of the Premier League table.
The Australian furiously insisted he was “not a clown” on the eve of the final and had the last laugh on a nerve-racking night at the San Mames, as he made good on his claim to always win a trophy in his second season in charge of a club.
“This is what it’s all about, this club hasn’t won a trophy for 17 years, honestly, this is what it means, it means so much,” Wales winger Johnson told TNT Sports.
“Ever since I came here it’s been (people saying) ‘Tottenham are a good team, but they never get it done’ — we got it done!“
Fans came from far and wide to pack Athletic Bilbao’s stadium, some taking quite preposterous routes and sleeping in cars to avoid eye-watering prices, but they could not escape a final lacking in quality.
It was a match between teams languishing in 16th and 17th place respectively after dismal Premier League campaigns and that was the essence of it too, played at high intensity but with low confidence, and a prize on the line so big it overawed.
There were a large number of turnovers, neither side keeping the ball with any ease, moves ending in panicked defending and balls being thumped to safety, or a litany of clumsy fouls.
Harry Maguire blocked well from Tottenham’s Pape Sarr early on after Johnson nipped in ahead of Luke Shaw to break in down the right.
Manchester United fans chanted Ruben Amorim’s name, backing their Portuguese coach despite the club’s worst Premier League season in half a century.
At the other end, 22-year-old United winger Amad Diallo, one of the few players high on self-belief, flashed a shot across goal and then left Destiny Udogie spinning, trying in vain to find him as he dribbled past.
Spurs made the breakthrough after 42 minutes and, perhaps fittingly, it came in the form of an extremely scrappy goal.
Tottenham midfielder Sarr, who had completed just a single pass to this point, curled in a cross to the near post for Johnson.
The winger’s attempted flick bounced off Shaw’s shoulder, brushed Johnson’s boot again and crossed the goal-line in slow motion with Andre Onana unable to claw it out with a desperate arm.
Spurs sat back in the second half, trying to protect their slender advantage and look for opportunities to strike again on the counter-attack.
They nearly found one when Yves Bissouma played in Dominic Solanke, but the striker could not control the pass and the chance went to waste.
Manchester United almost equalized when Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario came off his line but failed to claim a set-piece pounded forward from deep.
The ball dropped for Rasmus Hojlund but his header over the stranded Spurs stopper was sensationally cleared in acrobatic fashion by Micky van de Ven.
Spurs sent on captain Son Heung-min for the ragged Richarlison, with the South Korean international a surprising non-starter.
Manchester United turned to Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee to try and dig them out of their hole, but fell to a fourth defeat against Spurs this season.
Shaw had a chance to redeem himself at the end for his part in Johnson’s goal but his header was pushed to safety by Vicario.
Amorim said winning the trophy would not solve United’s many deep-lying problems but could set the club up well for the future, however United leave Bilbao without even that.
For the first time since the 2014-15 season they will not play European football next term.
Zverev suffers early exit in French Open warm-up
- Muller, ranked 40th in the world, beat a top-five ranked opponent for the first time in his career
- The German said sickness was behind his lacklustre showing
BERLIN: World number three Alexander Zverev blamed illness after a last 16 elimination by Frenchman Alexandre Muller in the Hamburg Open on Wednesday botched his French Open dress rehearsal.
Muller, ranked 40th in the world, won 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5) to reach the quarter-finals, beating a top-five ranked opponent for the first time in his career.
The German struggled in the opening set, taking just two games as Muller won in 34 minutes. Zverev opened strongly in the second and broke his opponent twice.
In the third, Zverev and Muller broke each other once before forcing a tiebreak. Zverev held the advantage until Muller won the final three points to take the match.
A last-minute sign-up to the clay court event, Zverev had hoped to use his hometown tournament to gain momentum for the French Open.
The German said sickness was behind his lacklustre showing. “It was OK considering I threw up 37 times and had a fever of 39.4 degrees (Celsius, 102.9 Fahrenheit) all night.
“I was two points away from winning the match. There’s a lot to be said in my favor.”
The 28-year-old said his opponent had taken advantage of his poor condition.
“When I had to walk it was difficult. He then realized at some point I wasn’t feeling well and made the points last as long as possible.”
Still looking for a breakthrough Grand Slam victory, Zverev lost in the most recent Australian and French Open finals, along with the US Open in 2020.
After an inconsistent start to 2025, Zverev broke through to win the Bavarian Open in April, his third victory on the Munich clay. The German was however eliminated at the quarter-finals in Rome in straight sets last Wednesday.
Zverev won the tournament in 2023 and made the final last year, losing to France’s Arthur Fils in a third-set tiebreak.
The German was considered the favorite for the tournament after world number one Jannik Sinner’s late withdrawal.
Earlier on Wednesday, American second seed Frances Tiafoe was eliminated by Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut and fourth-seeded Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo lost to Czech Jiri Lehecka.
Saudi Dodgeball Federation hosts introductory event for wheelchair users
- First-of-its-kind event in the Kingdom is part of federation’s efforts to promote and expand participation in the sport across the country
- Organization says it is committed to helping disabled persons develop their talents and abilities in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030
RIYADH: The Saudi Dodgeball Federation this week hosted an event to introduce wheelchair users to a version of the sport they can take part in.
The federation said the first-of-its-kind event, which took place on Monday at Riyadh Club for Persons with Disabilities, was an example of the social programs and activities it offers as part of its efforts to promote and expand participation in the sport across the Kingdom.
This reflects the organization’s commitment to helping disabled persons develop their talents and abilities, it added, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, the national plan for development and economic diversification.
Federation officials present at the event included its president, Prince Saud bin Abdulaziz, and its executive director, Abdulaziz Al-Hazani.
Prince Saud thanked the Riyadh Club for its constructive cooperation with federation in staging the event, and praised it for the work it does to support and train athletes with disabilities.
“The event is a continuation of the federation’s ongoing efforts and commitment to working with various entities and organizations across the Kingdom to serve Saudi sports and contribute to the realization of Vision 2030 objectives,” he added.
Liverpool to unveil new Heysel memorial marking 40th anniversary of disaster
- "Titled 'Forever Bound', the new memorial will replace the existing plaque
- The memorial will be unveiled later in the English summer
LIVERPOOL: Liverpool will unveil a new memorial at Anfield to mark the 40th anniversary of the Heysel Stadium disaster where 39 supporters were killed, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.
The fans, mainly Italian Juventus supporters, were killed when a wall collapsed after Liverpool fans charged them before the European Cup final in Brussels in 1985.
More than 600 were also injured in one of the worst disasters in soccer stadiums, leading to a five-year ban for English clubs from European competition.
"Titled 'Forever Bound', the new memorial will replace the existing plaque currently situated on the wall of the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand and will move to a new location at the stadium," Liverpool said in a statement.
"The newly designed memorial will feature two scarves knotted together and gently tied - symbolising the unity and solidarity between the two clubs and the bond formed through shared grief and mutual respect in the aftermath of the disaster."
Liverpool said the plans for the new memorial were shared with Juventus and the families who lost loved ones.
The memorial will be unveiled later in the English summer. Juventus are unveiling their own near their Allianz Stadium on May 29, the anniversary of the disaster.
"To see a new memorial created with such care means a lot and it's incredibly important to have a fitting tribute to remember the 39 fans who lost their lives," the Liverpool statement cited Ian Rush, who played for both clubs and also witnessed the tragedy in 1985, as saying.
"We must never forget why this matters and why we continue to stand together in solidarity, all these years later."
Zamzam Al-Hammadi: UAE teen fighter making history in the cage and beyond
- Martial artist prepares for professional debut in PFL MENA as she inspires a new generation of Arab female athletes
Riyadh: At just 17, Zamzam Al-Hammadi is rapidly emerging as one of the Middle East’s most promising athletes and a trailblazer for women in combat sports.
The Emirati martial artist recently took center stage at the Fortune Most Powerful Women International Summit in Riyadh, where she joined an elite panel of regional sports pioneers to discuss the evolving role of women in athletics.
The summit, hosted at the St. Regis Riyadh, was aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and brought together more than 125 influential women from across sectors.
Al-Hammadi spoke during the “Playing to Win: Women, Sports, and Breaking Barriers” panel alongside motorsport driver Mashael Al-Obaidan, boxing advocate Rasha Alkhamis, and Aalia Al-Rasheed, head of the women’s football department at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.
A decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts competitor, Al-Hammadi has already clinched global youth titles under the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation and JJIF World Youth Championships. Now, she is poised to make history as the first female fighter from the UAE to sign a professional MMA contract with the Professional Fighters League.
“Joining the PFL is a dream come true,” Al-Hammadi said. “Being a part of the PFL MENA roster means that I’ll be competing on a bigger platform, and more eyes will be on me. That reach opens the door for global sponsorships, endorsements and partnerships, and that’s going to be a massive deal for me and my family.”
Her rise reflects a broader momentum in women’s sports across the region. With an unbeaten amateur record and a growing following, Al-Hammadi is set to debut in the second season of PFL MENA, a league that has already reshaped the regional MMA landscape.
Being the first female fighter from the UAE to become a professional in MMA comes with a responsibility, Al-Hammadi said. “I want to be one of the best to ever step foot inside the PFL SmartCage. I want to become a champion, and I want to be able to inspire young athletes, young girls like myself, to follow their dreams and work toward achieving their goals, especially in an industry where there aren’t a lot of female fighters that come from the Middle East.”
Al-Hammadi’s passion for martial arts runs deep. She comes from a family of fighters, with her sister Ghala also training in combat sports and her mother, Nada Al-Nuaymi, a seasoned judo and jiu-jitsu practitioner. This generational dedication emphasizes her position as both a pioneer and a role model.
Speaking at the summit, Al-Hammadi highlighted the rapid growth of MMA, particularly for women. She said that the sport has never let them down. “Now, if we watch, all around the world, the fans are cheering for the females more than the males, so this is something good,” she said.
She also praised SURJ Sports Investment, whose partnership with the PFL has been central to the success of the league’s expansion into the Middle East.
“For me, SURJ Sports Investment is really helping the PFL to organize, especially now that we have four events in the Middle East,” Al-Hammadi said. “When it comes to martial arts, most people are thinking outside of the Middle East, but now after seeing and discovering the talent that we have here in the Middle East, and also in Africa, for me it’s just awesome.”
As she prepares for her professional debut in the PFL SmartCage, Al-Hammadi remains focused on both performance and purpose. Her goal: Not only to win titles but to pave the way for a new generation of female fighters in the Arab world.
“More than just making history,” she said, “I want to make an impact.”
