Category Sports News

Novak Djokovic advanced in Athens while Cameron Norrie defeated Frenchman Arthur Cazaux in three sets to advance to the Moselle Open quarter-finals.

In Metz, France, British No. 3 Norrie won a close match 7-6 (7-6), 6-2, to advance to his fifth tour-level quarter-final since Wimbledon in July.

The 30-year-old will next face French victors Kyrian Jacquet and Dan Added, who were both defeated on Wednesday.

In the opening match, world number 27 Norrie broke the 69th-ranked Cazaux’s serve, which came in second place last year.

However, Norrie had to survive a break point to end the first set, which the home favorite dominated, after Cazaux levelled the set.

The second set also headed toward a tie-break, but Norrie held on for the lead once more and eventually seized his fourth set point with a stunning forehand winner.

After a struggling Cazaux’s fading energy with an immediate break, Norrie raced to the finish line at midnight local time, capitalising on that momentum into the decider.

He is a very talented player, and it’s always a battle. I had to work hard to enter the match, and I had to choose some self-defense maneuvers,” Norrie said.

“I just told myself I wanted to be here and play.”

Alejandro Tabilo defeated Djokovic for the first time at the Athens Open, making it to his 225th tour-level quarter-final.

Tabilo, a Chilean, and Djokovic had previously won both of their previous meetings, but Roger Federer is the only player to have gone 3-0 head-to-head against the record-holder 24-time men’s Grand Slam champion.

The 38-year-old Serb increased his record of winning every match that he has won the first set this season to 28 with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 victory after prevailing in a first-set tie-break.

In a dominant finish to the match, Djokovic won 20 of the final 23 points.

Handball or handball not? On Tuesday night, VAR penalties were decided between Arsenal and Liverpool.

When a free-kick went down as a dropped ball just as they thought they had a penalty against Real Madrid, Liverpool fans were left completely perplexed.

Despite a Slavia Prague handball coming from the defender’s head, Arsenal were the ones who were saved.

Was Brennan Johnson’s dismissal against FC Copenhagen unfortunate for Tottenham Hotspur?

In the 30th minute, Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni blocked a shot that Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai made on goal.

The Real Madrid player was shown a free kick for handball by the referee, which appeared to be very close to being inside the area.

When the referee jogged over to the pitchside monitor, where the VAR was located, Liverpool fans inside Anfield erupted, anticipating a penalty would be given.

Except that’s not what was going on.

The VAR, not the referee, would make a factual decision about the location of the handball, not the referee.

A referee serves as the judge for a subjective decision, such as handball, to the monitor. The referee was therefore overturning his decision to handball by going to the screen.

But how did we start off with a dropped ball for goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after receiving a free kick from Liverpool?

It’s a penalty because the handball actually occurred inside the box. Additionally, the VAR has the authority to review a penalty.

The free kick would have remained in place regardless of whether it had been proven to be correct or incorrect if the handball had been determined to be outside the area.

Although it was overturned in a Uefa competition, the outcome was acceptable. Kovacs likely noticed that Tchouameni’s arm was farther out, but when the Real Madrid player hit him, he had the ball very close to his body, without creating a horizontal barrier.

Play restarts with the goalkeeper, which effectively leaves Liverpool with their attacking possession because it was an overturned penalty.

Why did the VAR get involved when the ball landed on Provod’s head and was later transferred to the ball?

There is a distinction to be made between deliberately heading the ball and deflection in the Premier League, which is highly unlikely to have been a VAR penalty.

A defender shouldn’t receive a penalty if they nod their own raised arm when they receive a firm contact on a header.

He pressed in unaided to get the ball away from Marcos Lopez, and after his boot came up off the ground, the ball landed on Lopez’s leg.

Was the yellow card that the referee showed really a clear and obvious error, according to Erik Lambrechts?

Watch highlights of every Champions League game on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport, and the BBC Sport website and app from 12:00 to eve of the match.

Next summer, Vinicius Jr. will be sold to Real Madrid, Rodrigo is wanted by Tottenham, and Manchester United is willing to let Jadon Sancho leave for free.

Vinicius Jr, 25, who was substituted against Barcelona, has been given a two-year deal by Real Madrid. (German) (Bild)

Real Madrid and Tottenham are interested in signing Brazilian forward Rodrigo, who wants to leave in January. (Fichajes – Spanish)

England winger Jadon Sancho, who is currently on loan at Aston Villa, will leave Manchester United for free the following summer. (Talksport)

In January, Roma are considering acquiring Netherlands international Joshua Zirkzee, 24, for a fee. (Calcio Mercato, Italian)

Germany defender Yann Bisseck, 24, is interested in moving to England, with West Ham and Tottenham potential matches. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian)

In January, Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Juventus will compete for Nathan Ake, a 30-year-old Netherlands defender, to join Manchester City. (Caught Offside)

England midfielder Elliot Anderson is “very interested” in moving to Old Trafford, according to Manchester United, who will increase their pursuit in January. (Teamtalk)

Due to interest from Barcelona, Arsenal are unable to let Norway’s 26-year-old midfielder Martin Odegaard leave the team. (Fichajes – Spanish)

Before the 34-year-old signed a new contract with Liverpool (AS-in Spanish), Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk discussed moving to Real Madrid.

Despite Manchester United interested in the 23-year-old, Everton won’t sell England defender Jarrad Branthwaite in January despite the club’s $70 million bid. (Teamtalk)

Max Dowman, a substitute for Max in the 3-0 win over Slavia Prague, has become the youngest player to play in a Champions League game.

The forward, who was 15 years and 308 days old, broke the record set by Youssoufa Moukoko when the German played for Borussia Dortmund against Zenit for 16 years and 18 days.

In the 72nd minute, Dowman replaced Leandro Trossard in the absence of Dowman, whose record-breaking league run-off was set in 1903, as Arsenal recorded its 10th win in a row and eighth clean sheet in a row.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta praised the team’s performance, saying: “Max, at 15, immediately looked on and won free kicks. It doesn’t get any harder than this competition.”

He plays in a way that makes people very eye contact. He masters precisely timing the ball’s movement. There is a significant player there.

Six days prior to Dowman becoming the youngest Arsenal player to start a game since winning the EFL Cup against Brighton, he made a landmark.

Since he was 14 years old, Dowman has joined the first team for a warm-weather camp in Dubai in January 2024. He has been training with Arsenal’s first-team squad.

In the second half of last year, Arteta lacked attacking options due to the injuries of several key players, and supporters were already calling for the Englishman to get a chance.

Dowman, who won the Under-17s European Championship with England in May, is no stranger to setting records.

He also became England Under-19s’ youngest goalscorer last month.

So it should come as no surprise that he has been included in Arteta’s plans this term as the Gunners battle for success on four fronts.

Arsenal has taken steps to ensure both his career advancement and safeguarding with a player with such high potential competing in senior football.

In addition to these, he is given opportunities to get changed, his education is strongly prioritized, and his team-mates give him good support in an adult team setting.

Arteta and the club have taken caution in guiding Dowman’s development.

Moukoko broke the 26-year mark by becoming the youngest player in the world’s elite competition five years ago.

Celestine Babayaro, a former Chelsea full-back, was the youngest player at the age of 16 years and 86 days when he first competed for Anderlecht at Steaua Bucharest in November 1994.

Lamine Yamal started for Barcelona in September 2023, starting against Antwerp with a time of 16 years and 68 days, second on the list.

Champions League players’ youngest:

1. Max Dowman (Arsenal) – 15 years and 308 days, 4 November 2025

2 Youssoufa Moukoko – 16 years 18 days, 8 December 2020

3. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) – 16 years and 68 days, 19 Sept 2023

4. Celestine Babayaro (Anderlecht) – 16 years and 86 days, 23 Nov 1994