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An Erling Haaland double on Wednesday did not enough to earn Pep Guardiola’s side a 2-2 draw in the Champions League, so Eric Dier’s late penalty gave Monaco a 2-2 draw with Manchester City.

The Norwegian striker added 11 goals in eight games overall to his season total for the season with two goals in the first half for City, either side of a Jordan Teze stunner.

The 2023 European champions had the opportunity to leave the principality with a second victory in the league phase of the season, but a 90th-minute spot-kick denied them.

After a protracted VAR check, Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano eventually pointed to the spot after Nico Gonzalez was fouled inside the area by a Monaco free-kick.

READ MORE:   Arsenal Gets Perfect Start In Champions League With Win Over Olympiakos.

As Monaco won the Champions League title defense with a penalty kick and City moved onto four points after defeating Napoli last time out, Dier stepped up to send Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way.

Haaland now has 52 career Champions League appearances, including 52 with the 2-0 defeat to the Italian champions, after a half-century of goals in Europe’s elite club competition.

The Norwegian made it a quarter of an hour before the game’s final score of 5-1 Premier League victory over Burnley last Saturday.

After Josko Gvardiol tipped a ball over the top of the Monaco defense, Haaland escaped the attention of his marker before lobging the ball over Philipp Koehn’s home goal.

The teams’ first meeting since a memorable last-16 tie in 2017, which the principality side won on away goals after the score came in at 6-6 on aggregate.

Bernardo Silva, who was also wearing City’s captain’s armband this time, was also in that Monaco team.

Krepin Diatta cut the ball back for Teze in the 18th minute before firing a brilliant right-foot shot past Donnarumma from 20 meters high into the net.

Paul Pogba, a former Manchester United midfielder, is currently training with Monaco and hoping to make his Monaco debut once the season is over.

Without him, they struggled to contain the visitors, with City retaking the lead just before the break when Haaland headed in a cross from Nico O’Reilly.

As a result of Gabriel Martinelli’s outstanding Champions League debut, the Brazilian forward led Arsenal to a 2-0 victory against Olympiakos on Wednesday.

Arsenal defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-0 to keep their 100 percent league record in place after sealing victory at Athletic Bilbao in their Champions League opener.

In the closing moments, Bukayo Saka scored the points and Martinelli scored in the opening period.

Although the north Londoners struggled to perform at their best, they did manage to record a seventh win out of nine games this year.

READ MORE: Ramos Snatches Late Champions League Success For Holders PSG At Barca

In their final 13 matches, Mikel Arteta’s men have recorded their 10th clean sheet, improving their impressive home record in the Champions League.

As part of their bid to close the two-point deficit with Premier League leaders Liverpool, the Gunners will play again on Saturday against West Ham.

Arteta, who faced Jose Luis Mendilibar, one of his childhood coaches, took a welcome trip down memory lane with Olympiakos.

Arteta, age 14, was a youth athlete for the Athletic Bilbao program under Mendilibar, who is now the Olympiakos’ coach.

Arteta continues to use the lessons he learned from his football education in Spain to benefit his mentor at Arsenal.

As a result of Martin Odegaard’s return to the starting lineup following a shoulder injury, England trio Saka, Declan Rice, and Eberechi Eze were all called off by Arteta.

Sublime Odegaard &nbsp

Arsenal should have taken the lead within 90 seconds thanks to Arteta’s squad rotation, which had the desired effect.

Myles Lewis-Skelly ran unchallenged across the unmarked Martinelli, who fired wide from six yards in the direction of the Olympiakos penalty area.

In the 12th minute, Martinelli made amends for his error.

A pin-point pass from Odegaard to Viktor Gyokeres cut through the Olympiakos defense.

Gyokeres snipped his marker away and fired a fierce strike that could have saved Martinelli from close range.

Odegaard’s importance to the Gunners was highlighted by the sublime ball that launched the comeback in a 2-1 win over Newcastle on Sunday.

Arsenal deserved more for a lively start than Martinelli’s third goal this season, but they were fortunate to hold on for good.

For a volley that forced a superb save from David Raya, former Wolves winger Daniel Podence eluded the Arsenal rearguard.

Gyokeres was being prepped for a more dangerous raid by Odegaard, but the striker’s shot went over.

After the break, Leandro Trossard, who had a chance to double the lead, was denied by the Olympiakos keeper who had pushed him in from close range.

Olympiakos were only denied an equalizer by a tight offside decision that ruled out Chiquinho’s finish despite only scoring once in their previous six Champions League matches.

In stoppage time, Saka came off the bench to add a flattering gloss to the scoreline before Tzolakis made a brilliant double save to stop Odegaard.

Saka was found by Odegaard for a powerful shot that should have been îndreptated at Tzolakis, who made it squirm through his legs into the net.

Newcastle won their first Champions League game 4-0 away at Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday thanks to Anthony Gordon’s two penalties.

On a comfortable night for Eddie Howe’s men, Nick Woltemade slotted in Sandro Tonali’s shot to give Newcastle the lead in Brussels before Gordon converted twice from the spot.

Newcastle successfully bounced back from a stinging Premier League defeat suffered by Arsenal on Sunday and from Barcelona’s opening European defeat two weeks prior.

Woltemade and Anthony Elanga, Newcastle’s most expensive summer signings, made their first appearance together with Gordon as they prepared to move past the club’s agonizing transfer from Liverpool to Newcastle.

With a touch on Tonali’s volley to wrong-foot home goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, Woltemade scored his third goal since joining the Stuttgart club for a club-record $69 million ($92 million) fee to give Newcastle the lead on 17 minutes.

READ MORE: Kane Shines Once More In Pafos Win, Jackson Opens Bayern Account

At Anderlecht’s stadium, Union’s temporary home as their own does not adhere to UEFA standards. Shortly before half-time, Elanga scored a penalty after he was clattered by Fedde Leysen, and Gordon tucks it away to double Newcastle’s lead.

Before Union enjoyed their best season, Elanga, a Swedish international, immediately tested Scherpen. Moments after Anan Khalaili steered just wide for the Belgian champions, Nick Pope made a good save from Adem Zorgane and Ousseynou Niang.

After a VAR review of a handball by Kamiel Van de Perre, Newcastle were given a second penalty, and Gordon delivered a second-half clinical spot kick just in time.

One of the most entertaining and well-known players on the ATP tour, French tennis player Gael Monfils, announced on Wednesday that he will retire at the end of the year.

The former world number six, 39, has played on the ATP tour since making his Open de Moselle debut in October 2004.

He said on social media that he would like to let everyone know that the year ahead will be his final year as a professional tennis player.

I’m very happy that I chose to retire at the end of the 2026 tennis season, despite the fact that this sport means the world to me.

Read more about Alcaraz defeats Fritz for the eighth season title in Tokyo.

Monfils has won 13 ATP titles throughout his distinguished career, but he has never won a Masters 1000 title, having lost three finals at the Paris Indoors in 2009 and 2010, and at Monte Carlo in 2016.

He is currently ranked 53 in the world, making two Grand Slam semi-finals: at Roland Garros in 2008 and at the US Open in 2016.

He claimed that while I did well, I never won a Grand Slam in my career.

“Believe me when I tell you, I don’t regret anything,” I yell.

And he continued, “I’ve had the opportunity to play alongside some of the greatest names in the history of our sport: (Roger) Federer, (Rafael) Nadal), Novak Djokovic, and (Andy) Murray.

His imminent retirement follows Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet, and Gilles Simon, three other Frenchmen of his generation, who he described as “my three musketeers and best friends for life.”

Monfils was not a member of the team in 2017 when France defeated Belgium to win the title, but he participated in the 2010 and 2014 Davis Cup finals, which France lost to Serbia and Federer’s Switzerland, respectively.

Monfils, who was born in Paris on September 1, 1986, is renowned for his athleticism and court slam.

Segun Odegbami, a former Nigerian international, believes that the 2026 World Cup will give Africa a voice on the global stage.

In a speech on the “Role of Sports in Global Geo-Politics,” Odegbami asserted that sports had the power to neutralize the geopolitical games of the superpowers and win Africa the support needed for negotiations in a new world order.

Read more about South Africa holding Nigeria to a 1-1 draw as the team’s hopes for the World Cup are held.

“To ensure that Africa will have a voice at the 2026 World Cup, it is very important for the Super Eagles to qualify.” So, over to you, Victor Osimhen, Lookman Ademola, Troost William-Ekong, Tolu Arokodare, Simon Moses, Ola Aina, Tobi Amusan, Anthony Joshua, Ese Brume, and the others, the former football player said.

According to him, African athletes have established themselves as a leader in international competitions by putting money into the over $2 trillion global sports economy. &nbsp,

Therefore, he urged African countries to speak out against injustice and equality in global sports.

“Africa must also emerge as a unique superpower,” Odegbami remarked.

Will anyone ever question what sports have to do with geopolitics if that were to happen? or whether the country’s economic gains won’t have an impact on the fish market’s local prices.

If necessary, Africa, led by Nigeria, must be prepared to revisit the resolute geopolitical alliance of 1976 and declare that we must all celebrate the liberties and equality of all people at the World Cup.

In this envisioned new world order, he continued, “The continent must rise with one voice and in one accord to confront such injustice at the table of civilisations.”

Odegbami retired from international football in 1981 after making 47 appearances between 1976 and 1981.

The winger, known as “Mathematical,” was well-known for his brilliant play and precise crosses.

Nigeria’s hopes for a 2026 World Cup were thwarted by the Super Eagles’ failure to secure maximum points on September 9, 2025 against South Africa in Bloemfontein.

Following a sanction against Bafana Bafana for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho, Nigeria is now four points ahead of Benin Republic and three points ahead of South Africa with two remaining matches to play.

The South Africans, who had previously led Group C, were awarded three points and three goals.

READ MORE: FIFA Sanctions South Africa For Fielding Ineligible Player In World Cup Qualifier

In the action from FIFA, Rwanda leads the group with 14 points, while Bafana Bafana is second with 14 points and second behind Benin Republic.

With seven straight victories, Liverpool threatened to sweep them all before them, but subsequent defeats highlight pressing issues that Arne Slot must address.

The Reds made the trip to Galatasaray on Tuesday, looking to recover from their 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace over the weekend, which ended their perfect Premier League record.

Despite dominating possession and having 16 shots in Istanbul, a Victor Osimhen penalty gave the home side the lead, but Liverpool were unable to respond.

Slot should not be alarmed because Liverpool still leads the Premier League by two points and won their first match in the Champions League division.

Osimhen On Target As Liverpool Fight To Lose In The Champions League At Galatasaray

However, a number of dramatic late winners have come under scrutiny for unconvincing performances since Slot’s first managerial position in charge of the club since Jurgen Klopp’s replacement, an expensive rebuild of the squad, which won the Premier League last year.

As Liverpool attempted to develop from a strength-based foundation, the club uncharacteristically spent close to £450 million ($606 million) on new signings.

Florian Wirtz hasn’t yet scored or even contributed to a goal in the Premier League or Champions League since joining Bayer Leverkusen for £116 million.

Alexander Isak, a record-breaking signing for the club after a drawn-out transfer from Newcastle, is still not fully fit.

Hugo Ekitike has scored three Premier League goals for Liverpool so far, but he was not with them when they lost to Crystal Palace after receiving a red card in their League Cup win against Southampton. He is arguably the only newcomer to do so.

Wirtz, who has earned praise as one of the most promising players in world football, has been the main subject of attention at Anfield.

However, former England captain Wayne Rooney has questioned where the German fits into, claiming on his BBC show that his actions “damage the balance of Liverpool and how they play.”

Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool defender, says Wirtz needs to be let out of the firing line because he believes the team’s balance is wrong.

He told CBS Sports, “He’s just not at the races at all.” He has plenty of time to play for Liverpool because he is a young boy entering a new league.

However, I believe he needs to leave the team right away, and Liverpool needs to return to where they were last season, and proceed accordingly.

“Because it’s a mess right now. Not the losses, but the victories are not the losses. This has been happening since day one.

Mohamed Salah’s form has declined in addition to the attack’s issues, compounding the issues from his stellar season so far. The Egyptian was eliminated from Turkey’s starting lineup.

defensive issues

Ibrahima Konate, a French centre-back, has received harsh criticism for his performance against Palace, making Liverpool look vulnerable in defense.

After missing out on signing Palace’s Marc Guehi on the transfer deadline day, the club has few options in central defense with Virgil van Dijk as captain.

Giovanni Leoni, 18, who has been signed as an Italian defender, suffered a knee injury last week that will keep him out for a year, giving Slot an additional headache, while Joe Gomez has been a distant player thus far.

After years of excellent service from Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool are now accustomed to a new pair of full-backs.

Jeremie Frimpong has been replaced by Alexander-Arnold at right-back by Slot, and Milos Kerkez has been preferred over Andy Robertson, who is a veteran left-back.

The Dutch manager criticized Frimpong&nbsp for his positioning in the late Selhurst Park defeat, and he played as a winger in Turkey.

Alisson Becker, a renowned goalkeeper, will miss Saturday’s difficult trip to Chelsea due to an injury sustained in Istanbul while Ekitike is recovering from a limp.

It would be absurd to suggest Liverpool are in crisis after such a brief blip, according to Van Dijk, and Van Dijk said “there shouldn’t be panic.”

Slot’s first significant challenge on the pitch since arriving at Anfield is undoubtedly one to consider.