Category: Sports

Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final on Wednesday night.

The Gunners came into the game unbeaten in the competition and looking to pick up back-to-back wins for the first time in the month.

And it was Mikel Arteta’s men who led at the break, thanks to Viktor Gyokeres’ penalty late in the first half.

Gyokeres was fouled in the area, before picking himself up to lash the ball past Jan Oblak.

But Atletico were level 12 minutes after the break from the spot, after Ben White was punished for handball.

Julian Alvarez stepped up and smashed in the equalizer, to leave the tie delicately poised ahead of the second leg at the Emirates on Tuesday.

Champions League: Arsenal hold Atletico Madrid at home in semi-final first leg

Kwara United have received a cash motivation ahead of the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, matchday 36 encounter with Niger Tornadoes.

The Harmony Boys will be up against Niger Tornadoes at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna this weekend.

Former handler of the team ,Abdullahi Biffo made a pledge of N1m to the team for a win or draw in the game.

Biffo said the pledge is aimed at boosting morale as the team battle to avoid relegation.

It would be recalled that Kwara United suffered a 2-1 defeat to Niger Tornadoes in the same fixture last season.

The Ilorin-based side sit in 15th position on the league table with 43 points, while Niger Tornadoes occupy 14th position with 43 points.

NPFL: Biffo pledges N1m to Kwara United ahead of Niger Tornadoes clash

Paris Saint-Germain face a major setback as they prepare for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, following a severe injury to one of their key players.

Achraf Hakimi, who is the club’s best and most dependable fullback, will miss the second match because of a hamstring injury, as reported by football expert Fabrizio Romano.

The Moroccan player is reported to have a hamstring injury and will not be in PSG’s team next week, according to Romano’s quote from Fabrice Hawkins.

PSG defeated Bayern Munich 5-4 in the first leg of the semi-final on Tuesday night.

Bayern scored first at the Parc des Princes when Harry Kane stepped up and scored from the penalty area.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored to equalize the game at 1-1, and then Joao Neves headed the ball to give PSG the lead.

Michael Olise thought he had scored before halftime, but PSG got another opportunity from a penalty, which Ousmane Dembele successfully converted.

After the break, PSG scored two goals, one each from Kvaratskhelia and Dembele, and then Bayern responded with goals from Upamecano and Luis Diaz.

UCL: PSG suffer major injury blow ahead of second leg clash

Ola Aina has declared Nottingham Forest’s readiness for the UEFA Europa League semi-final clash against Aston Villa, DAILY POST reports.

The Tricky Trees will host Unai Emery’s men in the first leg at the City Ground on Thursday night.

Villa head into the game as the overwhelming favourites going by their performance in Europe last term, and Premier League this season.

Aina insisted that they are not under pressure, and will go all out to get a positive result in the first leg.

“I don’t think there’s that much pressure,” the Nigeria international told a press conference on Wednesday.

“The team and club are all proud to be in this situation in the semi-final. We just want to work hard and get the best result we can, which is hopefully a win tomorrow.”

Europa League: Nottingham Forest ready for Villa showdown — Aina

Former Atletico Madrid assistant coach Luis Tevenet has labelled Ademola Lookman the signing the club has made in the last seven years.

Lookman linked up with the Red and Whites from Serie A club Atalanta during the winter transfer window.

The Nigeria international has registered seven goals, and four assists in 18 matches across all competitions for Diego Simeone’s side.

Tevenet the winger has added more creativity to Atletico team.

“For me he (Lookman) has been one of the club’s most important signings in the last six, seven years: now Atleti is much more ambiguous on both sides,” Tevenet told AS.

Lookman will be action when Atletico Madrid take on Arsenal in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League clash at the Metropolitano later tonight.

LaLiga: Tevenet hails Lookman as Atlético’s best signing in seven years

Nigeria’s Super Falcons will take on the winner of the first-round tie between Sudan and Comoros in the second round of the qualifiers for the 2028 Olympic Games.

Sudan and Comoros will battle for a place in the second round between June 1 and June 9.

The winner of the two-legged fixtures will then keep a date with the Super Falcons between October 5 and 13.

The qualifiers will be played across five rounds.

Two teams will represent Africa in the women’s football event of the 2028 Olympic Games.

Nigeria, and Zambia represented the continent at the last edition of the Olympics staged in Paris , France.

The Los Angeles Olympic Games will take place from 11 to 29 July, 2028.

2028 Olympic qualifiers: Super Falcons to battle winner of Sudan, Comoros clash

Benfica manager, Jose Mourinho, has played down speculations linking him with a shock return to Real Madrid.

Madrid President, Florentino Perez, has reportedly made Mourinho his preferred candidate for the role.

Alvaro Arbeloa, who stepped in on an interim basis after Xabi Alonso was sacked, is expected to leave in the sumer.

Mourinho has now responded to those links, insisting that he is focused on qualifying Benfica for next season’s Champions League.

He told reporters: “My next goal is to get Benfica to the Champions League.

“If we win the next three matches, we’ll play in Europe’s biggest competition. That’s the only thing on my mind.”

Mourinho was in charge of Real Madrid for three seasons between 2010 and 2013, and during that spell, he won the LaLiga and the Copa del Rey.

That’s the only thing on my mind – Mourinho speaks on Real Madrid return

Bayern Munich manager, Vincent Kompany, has named Paris Saint-Germain as the best team in Europe at the moment.

Kompany spoke to Amazon Prime on Tuesday night after the Bavarians’ Champions League semi-final first leg 5-4 defeat to PSG in Paris.

The Belgian also insisted that the encounter remains wide open despite his side’s loss to the Parisians.

“We’re against the best side in Europe, because they’re the reigning champions,” Kompany stated.

“The result is still in the balance. But we need the stadium to have an impact (in the second leg); it is a legendary place, where this club has achieved so many great things. We can’t hope for anything better.”

Bayern will host PSG in the return leg next Wednesday at the Allianz Arena.

UCL: Vincent Kompany names best team in Europe

Paris Saint-Germain superstar, Ousmane Dembele, has revealed how Luis Enrique’s side will play Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final second leg clash in Germany next week.

Dembele scored twice as PSG defeated Bayern Munich 5-4 in the Champions League semi-final first leg encounter on Tuesday night in Paris.

Speaking to Canal+, the France international said the French Ligue 1 champions will attack the Bundesliga giants at the Allianz Arena.

“We are happy with the result. It was an incredible match,” Dembele said.

“We will go to Munich to try to win and qualify. We aren’t going to change our philosophy, we’re going to attack.”

UCL: Dembele reveals how PSG will play Bayern Munich in second leg

Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry, has revealed the strength of his old club ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg fixture with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday night’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Diego Simeone’s side, Henry broke down what makes the Gunners dangerous despite their attacking limitations.

In an interview with CBS Sports, Henry pinpointed set-pieces as Arsenal’s strength, adding that they are solid.

He said, “Arsenal play a certain way, Mikel Arteta plays a certain way, we are on set-pieces, solid, we don’t create a lot.

“I would just like to see a win against Atletico Madrid, that’ll do for me and bring something to The Emirates.”

Arsenal and Atletico had qualified for the Champions League semi-final stage after beating Sporting CP and Barcelona, respectively, in the quarter-final stage.

UCL: ‘They don’t create a lot’ – Thierry Henry reveals Arsenal’s strength