Category sport-news

Luka Modric scored his first goal for AC Milan in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Bologna, the veteran star making his mark at the San Siro days after turning 40 years old.

Modric, who celebrated his birthday on Tuesday, netted the winning goal at the end of a flowing move he started in midfield before meeting Alexis Saelemaekers’ low cross with a perfect first-time finish.

The six-time Champions League winner, who arrived at Milan as a free agent after 13 years at Real Madrid, wheeled away in delight at the decisive strike in a match which ended with coach Massimiliano Allegri sent off for his furious reaction at the hosts not being given a late penalty.

New signing Christopher Nkunku looked set to have a chance at scoring his first Milan goal from the penalty spot seconds after replacing Santiago Gimenez when he went down under challenges from Jhon Lucumi and then Remo Freuler.

But after looking at the pitch-side monitor, referee Matteo Marcenaro overruled his own decision to give the spot-kick for the Freuler foul, which sent Allegri into a rage on the touchline, his rant to officials costing him a red card.

READ ALSO: Allegri Vows To Restore AC Milan, Bets On Modric

Sunday’s was also a successful start for new arrival Adrien Rabiot with an impressive performance alongside Modric in midfield for Milan, who also struck the woodwork three times.

However, his fellow France international Mike Maignan was forced to limp off with what Milan have confirmed is a problem with his right calf, the latest in a long line of injuries for Les Bleus’ goalkeeper.

Milan’s first home win of the season moved them to fifth, level on six points with Cremonese and Roma, who fell to a shock 1-0 home defeat to Torino earlier on Sunday.

– No PSG For Lookman –

Earlier, Ivan Juric confirmed that Ademola Lookman will sit out Atalanta’s Champions League opener at Paris Saint-Germain as the Nigeria forward continues to be sidelined following a protracted attempt to leave the Serie A club.

Atalanta warmed up for Wednesday’s clash with the European champions in Paris by beating Lecce 4-1 without star man Lookman, who hasn’t featured this season after trying and failing to force a move to Inter Milan in the summer.

Charles De Ketelaere struck twice in the second half, with Giorgio Scalvini and Nicola Zalewski netting Atalanta’s other goals.

It’s the second time in as many years that Lookman has tried to find the exit door after attempting to leave for PSG the summer after he helped win the Europa League for Atalanta in 2024.

“I don’t think so; it’s an unpleasant situation,” said Juric when asked if Lookman would travel to the French capital.

“He has given a lot to Atalanta, but Atalanta has given him a lot as well. We need players who are ready, who want to play for the shirt and improve… Looking ahead, we’ll see what happens.”

London-born Lookman has become one of the best players in Europe since signing for Atalanta three years ago after a middling early career in England and Germany.

The 27-year-old has scored 52 times in 117 matches for Atalanta, most famously netting a hat-trick in last year’s Europa League final, when the Bergamo club won their first European trophy by thumping previously unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen 3-0.

Lookman scored 20 times in all competitions last season, with five coming in seven Champions League appearances, but he soured his relationship with the club by abandoning team training in the hope that Inter would meet Atalanta’s asking price of 50 million euros ($59 million).

That never happened, and Lookman, whose contract doesn’t expire until the end of June 2027, was forced to return to Atalanta, where he has since been frozen out by Juric, who has replaced Gian Piero Gasperini in the dugout.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim insisted he will not change his formation or tactics but said he is suffering more than the club’s supporters after a 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.

The Red Devils have taken just four points from their opening four Premier League games and been dumped out of the League Cup by fourth-tier Grimsby.

Since Amorim took charge in November last year, United have won just eight of 31 Premier League games, finishing 15th in the table last season.

However, the Portuguese bristled when asked whether he has to rethink his preferred 3-4-3 system.

“I understand that and I accept it. It’s not a record that you should have in Manchester United,” said Amorim.

“I’m not going to change. When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the men (players)…. I play my way, and I’m going to play my way until I want to change.”

The former Sporting Lisbon boss has so far received steadfast support from the United hierarchy.

But after being backed with a £200 million ($271 million) investment in a new forward line, time is running out for the 40-year-old to show results.

READ ALSO: Man City Humiliate Woeful Man United As Pressure Mounts On Amorim

United have scored just four goals in the Premier League so far this season, two of which were own-goals by the opposition and one from the penalty spot.

Of the new signings, Matheus Cunha was sidelined by injury against City, but £74 million striker Benjamin Sesko was ineffectual on his first start.

“My message is that I’m going to give everything. I will do everything, always thinking about what is best for the club,” Amorim added on his future.

“Until I’m here, I will do my best. I really want to win games. I’m suffering more than them (the fans).”

United went into the derby above City in the table for the first time in five years.

Pep Guardiola’s men had shown their frailties in back-to-back defeats to Tottenham and Brighton before the international break.

City remain six points behind leaders Liverpool, but Guardiola is hoping the good feeling created by a derby win can be a launching pad for their season.

“I would love it to (be the start of a good run) but I would say we started last season winning four games in a row, and look how we struggled in October, November, and December.

“We have to improve, but it’s true that winning games, especially in the derby, you see the faces of our fans, the joy, and the happiness after the game always helps.”

A Bradley Barcola brace earned Paris Saint-Germain a 2-0 win over Lens in Ligue 1 on Sunday, while Kylian Mbappe’s brother Ethan scored deep into second-half added time to give Lille a last-gasp victory.

The result sent PSG back to the top of the table as the reigning champions secured their fourth win from four outings this term.

However, the match threw up some injury headaches for coach Luis Enrique ahead of the start of PSG’s Champions League defence next week, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lee Kang-in, and Lucas Beraldo all limping off.

Barcola sent PSG ahead on the quarter-hour with an elegant curling finish from 20 yards.

New PSG signing Illya Zabarnyi came close to turning into his own net on 27 minutes following a rare Lens foray forward.

READ ALSO: Man City Humiliate Woeful Man United As Pressure Mounts On Amorim

But things did then go wrong for the dominant hosts as star winger Kvaratskhelia was forced off two minutes later with a calf issue, casting a doubt over his presence on Wednesday as PSG open their Champions League title defence against Atalanta.

Barcola doubled PSG’s lead six minutes after half-time when he drove in from the left before arrowing a right-footed finish from distance past the dive of goalkeeper Robin Risser.

But PSG’s injury woes accumulated in the second period when first midfielder Lee, then defender Beraldo had to be replaced.

Lille late show 

Earlier in Lille, 18-year-old Ethan Mbappe volleyed home eight minutes into injury time to give Lille a 2-1 home win over Toulouse despite the hosts being a goal down as the clock ticked past 90.

A penalty at the very start of injury time converted by Nabil Bentaleb had brought the hosts level before Mbappe lashed home a late winner.

Both goals came courtesy of late substitutes introduced by coach Bruno Genesio, after Toulouse were reduced to 10 men on 80 minutes.

Following his departure from PSG in the wake of his elder brother Kylian’s acrimonious free transfer to Real Madrid, Mbappe joined Lille in July last year.

The midfielder’s first strike for the 2020/21 Ligue 1 winners came on his 11th league appearance as he ghosted in at the far post to thrash Osame Sahraoui’s stood-up cross past the helpless visiting goalkeeper.

“Last year was a bit of a difficult year for me, with a lot of injuries,” said Mbappe. “Coming back with a goal, honestly, there’s no better way to start a new season.”

Frank Magri opened the scoring for Toulouse early in the second period before Lille’s late show.

The last-gasp win provisionally took Lille to the top of the Ligue 1 table, on 10 points, before PSG won to knock them down to second.

Lyon, the only other club to boast a 100 percent record in Ligue 1 this season, could take top spot with a victory in the weekend’s final match away to Rennes.

Elsewhere, Liam Rosenior’s youthful Strasbourg side grabbed a 1-0 win at home to Le Havre thanks to Joaquin Panichelli’s 92nd-minute spot-kick.

Paris FC claimed their second win of the campaign, holding out 2-1 at last-placed Brest, while Metz drew 1-1 with Angers.

Debutant Kelechi Iheanacho scored a last-gasp penalty as Celtic returned to the top of the Scottish Premiership on Sunday with a 2-1 win against Kilmarnock following a fan protest.

Supporters, dissatisfied with the lack of new signings and angry at an early Champions League exit at the hands of Kairat Almaty, decided to boycott the opening 12 minutes of the fixture at Rugby Park.

Daizen Maeda eased some of the tension when he put the reigning champions in front with only his second goal since April, diving to glance home Marcelo Saracchi’s brilliant cross.

It appeared that club bosses would come under further pressure when David Watson headed Kilmarnock level from Greg Kiltie’s corner in the 83rd minute.

The home side looked the likelier winners as they laid siege to the Celtic goal, but the visitors were awarded a penalty following a VAR intervention after substitute James Forrest’s shot was adjudged to have been handled by Lewis Mayo.

READ ALSO: Man City Humiliate Woeful Man United As Pressure Mounts On Amorim

A late win for the Bhoys in Ayrshire!#KILCEL | #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/tg49zJoXZJ

And with virtually the last kick of the match, Iheanacho, a free-agent signing after the transfer deadline, smashed home his spot-kick.

“I’m delighted for the players first and foremost, because all eyes were on them today,” said Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.

“I’d spoken to the players at the hotel before, and I mentioned it (the protest) yesterday, the importance of concentration. I talk a lot about the first five minutes, but today was about the first 12 minutes and how we had to manage the situation.

“There’s been a lot said and written and talked about, but ultimately, if we get on to the pitch, we can control that. I’m just so pleased for them that they could get a win to get us going again on this next round of games.”

The win moved Celtic level on 13 points with Hearts, but they are top of the table on goal difference.

Erling Haaland struck twice as Manchester City inflicted another damaging defeat on Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim with a comprehensive 3-0 win on Sunday.

Phil Foden opened the scoring before Haaland took centre stage with a second-half double, either side of an incredible miss from the Norwegian, as City bounced back from two consecutive Premier League defeats.

United went into a derby ahead of City in the table for the first time in five years.

But that owed more to City’s early-season struggles than signs of progress for Amorim’s men, who have taken just four points from their opening four games and been dumped out of the League Cup by fourth-tier Grimsby.

To cap a fine City display, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma marked his debut with a stunning save from Bryan Mbeumo to deny United a foothold in the game at 2-0.

READ ALSO: History Maker Crawford Shocks Alvarez, Claims Undisputed Super Middleweight World Title

City remain six points adrift of leaders Liverpool, but victory is a huge confidence boost for Pep Guardiola’s side ahead of facing Serie A champions Napoli and Premier League title rivals Arsenal next week.

Before kick-off, both sets of fans put rivalry aside to pay tribute to boxing legend Ricky Hatton, who died on Sunday at the age of 46.

A massive City fan, Hatton’s face was displayed on big screens during a minute’s applause.

Foden, a fellow boyhood City supporter, said before kick-off the news gave the home side extra motivation to win in Hatton’s honour.

And the England international was central to a much-needed victory after a difficult start to the campaign for Foden and City.

The 25-year-old was the Premier League player of the season in the 2023/24 campaign, but his form dipped drastically last season.

Fitness issues meant he had not started a game this season until Sunday, but took just 18 minutes to make his mark.

United’s defence allowed Jeremy Doku to bundle his way to the by-line and the Belgian’s cross picked out Foden, completely unmarked, to head in the opening goal.

Both goalkeepers were under the spotlight as Ruben Amorim kept faith with Altay Bayindir over new signing Senne Lammens.

Donnarumma decisive 

Tijjani Reijnders fired straight at Bayindir when presented with the chance to quickly double City’s advantage.

Doku was the creator once more when City did double their lead on 53 minutes.

Haaland showed his power, pace and incredible precision to dink the ball over the onrushing Bayindir.

City’s number nine went from the sublime to the ridiculous moments later when he missed an open goal with the chance to double his tally.

United were architects of their own danger as Matthijs de Ligt’s poor pass set up a City counter-attack.

Reijnders’ dummy set Haaland clear on goal, but after rounding Bayindir, he could only hit the post on the stretch.

Moments later Donnarumma produced his moment of magic to prevent what could have been a turning point.

Mbeumo’s sweetly-struck volley was arrowing into the bottom corner until the Italian reached out a giant right hand to turn it behind.

What could have been 2-1 was soon 3-0 thanks to another United gift.

Harry Maguire this time gave away possession to Bernardo Silva, who set Haaland racing away into the vacant United half and he kept his cool to score for the eighth time in nine appearances against United.

Reijnders should have rubbed further salt in the Red Devils’ wounds when the Dutch international slotted wide with just Bayindir to beat.

But that did not stop the City fans goading Amorim with chants of “sacked in the morning”.

Oblique Seville won Jamaica’s first world 100m title in 10 years after outpacing Kishane Thompson and Noah Lyles for gold in Tokyo on Sunday.

Seville timed a personal best of 9.77 seconds for the victory, with Thompson taking silver in 9.82 seconds while defending champion Lyles claimed bronze with a time of 9.89 seconds.

READ ALSO: History Maker Crawford Shocks Alvarez, Claims Undisputed Super Middleweight World Title

It was the Caribbean island’s first world sprint title since Usain Bolt, watching from the stands, won the 100m and 200m double at the 2015 world championships in Beijing.

Bolt, an 11-time world champion, had bet on a Jamaican 1-2 in this 100m, outspokenly backing both Thompson and Seville to beat Olympic champion Lyles.

And it proved to be an astute reading of form and technique.

Bolt erupted in cheers when the Jamaican duo raced through the line.

Bob Marley’s “Buffalo Soldier” soon followed over the tannoy as the sizeable Jamaican fan contingent cheered in delight, Seville responding by ripping the top of his one-piece sprint suit down.