Sports
Barcelona coach Koeman says rumors of firing 'probably true'
Ronald Koeman said Friday that Barcelona's leadership has not spoken to him about his future, but that he has "eyes and ears" to catch the rumors swirling about his possible firing.
Spanish media has been rife with reports that Barcelona president Joan Laporta is close to making a coaching change after Wednesday's 3-0 loss at Benfica, the team's second loss in as many Champions League games this season.
"It is a complicated situation," Koeman said the day before his team visits defending champion Atlético Madrid.
"The president was here this morning, but I didn't see him because I was preparing for the game," he added. "Nobody has told me anything, but I have eyes and ears and I know that things are being leaked. They are probably true, but nobody has told me."
Koeman will not be in the dugout for what could be the former Barcelona defender's last match in charge while he serves the second of a two-game suspension for complaining at the end of their recent 0-0 draw at Cádiz.
The top names linked to replacing Koeman are led by former Barcelona star Xavi Hernández, Italy great Andrea Pirlo and Belgium coach Roberto Martínez.
Martínez brushed off questions about Barcelona on Friday when he announced Belgium's squad for the Nations League final four.
"I'm not going to comment on my personal situation because I never do it as a coach," Martínez said. "Now we are facing an incredible opportunity of being at the Nations League finals, so that's the only thing that matters. Anything that you could ask about myself or rumors is not relevant for this press conference."
The Atlético match is the last before an international break in the club calendar. That window could give the club time to bring in a new coach.
Bruzon era starts brightly as Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in SAFF opener
Bangladesh got the start they hoped for in the 5-nation SAFF Championship with a comfortable win against Sri Lanka in Male on Friday, although new head coach Oscar Bruzon will be concerned at the failure to convert their much greater possession and chances in open play into goals.
Ultimately they had to rely on a second half penalty for a 1-0 victory, after Lankan defender Duckson Puslas handled inside the box. It was Duckson's second yellow card offense, meaning the Lankans were also down to 10 men.
Defender Topu Barman stepped up to coolly convert from the spot in the 55th minute. Sri Lanka never really looked like troubling the Bangladeshi goalkeeper, and Bruzon's men had the 3 points they craved to start the tournament.
The Spaniard, who came to the job with extensive knowledge of Bangladeshi football after three successful years managing BPL champions Bashundhara Kings, made good on his promise of a more modern and attractive style of play in his team's very first outing under him.
Read: SAFF Championship: Bangladesh kick off against Sri Lanka in opener Friday
Bangladesh bossed possession (58% to 42%) throughout the match and created waves of chances, with 20 shots on goal against 9 for Sri Lanka, none of which were on target. Bangladesh had 4 shots on target.
The failure to convert more of those chances into direct threats for the Lankan goalkeeper will be an area Bruzon will surely work to improve. Although dominant in midfield, some of the play in the final third left a lot to be desired.
SAFF Championship: Bangladesh kick off against Sri Lanka in opener Friday
Bangladesh booters start their campaign in the five-nation SAFF Championship 2021 when they face Sri Lanka in the tournament opener on Friday (Oct 1) at the National Football Stadium in Male, capital of the Maldives.
The match will kick-off at 5pm Bangladesh time. T-Sports will telecast the match live.
Bangaladesh’s following fixtures in the group phase would be against India (Oct 4 at 5pm), hosts Maldives (Oct 7 at 10pm) and finally Nepal (Oct 13 at 5pm). All games of this year’s championship will be held at the same venue in Male.
Earlier on Tuesday, a 34-member Bangladesh football team, comprising 23 booters and 11 officials, reached the Maldives airing high hopes of success in the quest for regional bragging rights.
It will be Bangladesh’s first assignment under Spaniard Oscar Bruzon, who made the switch from managing BPL champions Bashundhara Kings to take over as interim head coach of the national team
Meanwhile, Bangladesh team had their 2nd Covid -19 tests in the Maldives and all the players tested negative.
Midfielder Sohel Rana and defender Rezaul Karim however will not feature in Friday’s matchday squad, both down with fever.
The team made practiced at the Henveiru training pitch on Thursday for 90 minuites. Later they visited the National Football Stadium.
READ: Bangladesh team to leave for Maldives Tuesday in hunt for SAFF title
In a pre-match press conference, Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuiyan spoke with purpose and positive intent. “We want to start the tournament getting the full 3 points by playing a good match against Sri Lanka,” said the midfield general.
Since replacing Englishman Jamie Day, Bruzon has certainly talked a good game and exuded a confidence rarely seen around the green-and-reds. One clear plus he enjoys over previous foreigners in the job is that after three years in charge of the Kings, he already has extensive knowledge of football in Bangladesh.
Add to that the success he has enjoyed, taking Bashundhara to the pinnacle of Bangladesh football with not just the silverware to prove it, but also an attractive, modern brand of football that puts the onus on technique – as you’d expect from Spaniards of his generation.
”We want to show our ability tomorrow with the available players in our squad,” the 44-year-old said in the pre-match presser.
In early September, Bangladesh toured Kyrgyzstan and played three matches-- two as part of a tri-nation tournament with the hosts and Palestine, and a friendly against the Kyrgyz U-23 team.
Over the course of those three games, all ending in hopeless defeats, it became clear that the national team was going nowhere under Englishman Day, with his gimmicky selections of diaspora Bangladeshis plying their trade in semi-professional leagues as far away as Canada proving a damp squib.
While diaspora picks such as captain and talisman Jamal Bhuiyan are of course welcome, playing in any foreign league and almost any division should be no ticket to the national team.
Bruzon’s more comprehensive football philosophy is what BFF needs to develop the game nationally. But his assignment for now remains temporary, covering the short term.
Members of Bangladesh squad (footballers) are:
Shahidul Alam Sohel, Anisur Rahman and Ashraful Islam Rana (Custodians), Rahmat Miah, Bishwanath Ghosh, Topu Barman, Tariq Raihan Kazi , Riyadul Hasan, Yeasin Arafat, Tutul Hossain Badsha, Rezaul Karim and Mohammad Hridoy (Defenders); Jamal Bhuiyan, Atiqur Rahman Fahad , Sohel Rana, M Saaduddin and Rakib Hossain (Midfielders), Mahbubur Rahman Sufil, Mohammad Ibrahim, Matin Miah ,Jewel Rana, Biplo Ahmed and Sumon Reza (Forwards).
Jatiya Press Club announces 67th anniversary programmes
The Jatiya Press Club (JPC) will observe its 67th founding anniversary on October 20 after a gap of one year due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
The two-week programmes will begin on October 6 with a remembrance meeting for the late club members, who died in the last one year.
An eye camp will be held on October 7 at the club premises, followed by Shishu Ananda Mela on October 8 and 9, chess competition on October 10 and 11, an airgun shooting on October 12, spade trump on October 13 and 14.
Ludo competition for female members will take place on October 14, table tennis on October 16 and 17 and mini marathon on October 20 in the early morning and a cultural function on the same day in the evening.
Participants of Shishu Ananda Mela and sports competitions will have to make their entry into the competitions by October 6.
Man Utd vs. Villarreal: Cristiano Ronaldo’s late goal gives Manchester United a dramatic win
Cristiano Ronaldo’s last-minute winning goal aided Manchester United to seal the first win of this season's Champions League at Old Trafford. Manchester United enjoyed the most ball possession, but Villarreal produced greater opportunities during the contest. After two games, Atalanta rose to the top of Group F's points table with four points. Young Boys are now in second place with three points, ahead of Manchester United (3) and Villarreal (2). The match report of Man Utd vs. Villarreal is discussed in this article.
Match Report: Man Utd vs. Villarreal
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his second Champions League goal of the season against Villarreal, and this time it wasn't in vain. Manchester United triumphed against their most difficult opponent in the group. After playing this match, Cristiano Ronaldo now has the most appearances (178) and goals (136) in UEFA Champions League history.
Manchester United's defense struggled to deal with Villarreal's well-organized counter-attack in the first half. Paco Alcacer, Pino, and Groeneveld had distressed the United defense throughout the match. They had several chances to equalize and should have scored two goals before halftime.
Read PSG vs. Man City 2021: Messi Scores as Paris Saint-Germain Beat Manchester City
Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea had a busy time with the gloves. He made some routine saves, but they were fortunate not to concede any goals in the first half.
As the game progressed, Villarreal gained confidence and scored within the opening 10 minutes of the second half. Villarreal took the lead in the 53rd minute. Paco Alcacer guided the ball into the net upon receiving the ball from Danjuma's low cross inside the penalty area.
Manchester United players had shown desperation to equalize after conceding the goal and discarded the lead within 7 minutes. Full back Telles netted the crucial goal from outside the D-Box with a beautiful volley. United's Portuguese star Bruno Fernandes deserves applause for his brilliant cross ball to Telles, which made the task easy for the Brazilian left-back.
Read Salah, Firmino both score twice as Liverpool routs Porto 5-1
IPL 2021: Shakib's Kolkata leads over Mustafiz's Rajasthan in the playoffs race
Kolkata Knight Riders are ahead of Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2021 round-robin league points table. Kolkata Knight Riders resumed their campaign with a thumping win over Royal Challengers Bangalore, moving them into fourth place in the points standings. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals resumed with a narrow victory against Punjab Kings before losing three consecutive matches. Any defeat from this stage onward will be a huge setback for both teams. Let's have a look at who has the best chance of making it to the next round.
Read: IPL 2021: Will Shakib Al Hasan Play in a crucial MI vs. KKR match?
IPL 2021 Playoffs Race: Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Rajasthan Royals
Kolkata Knight Riders have accumulated 10 points in 11 games. While Rajasthan Royals have 8 points in the same number of matches. Among others, Mumbai Indians have 10 points, but Kolkata have better run rates than Mumbai. On the other hand, Punjab Kings have 8 points, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have only 4.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders were behind Rajasthan Royals in the points table before the IPL 2021 resumed in mid-September in UAE. However, they made an encouraging start in the UAE phase, winning three of their past four league games. They are now in fourth place, ahead of the defending champion Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals.
Kolkata defeated Bangalore by a crushing 9-wicket margin on September 20. They defeated Mumbai Indians by 7 wickets on September 23. However, they were defeated by Chennai Super Kings by a mere 2-wicket margin on September 26. Kolkata fought back strong against Delhi Capitals, winning by three wickets on Tuesday (September 28).
Read:IPL 2021: Scenarios of Playoffs Qualification for Eight Teams
Kolkata's current team combination has looked solid, and they are on track to maintain their domination over their opponents. Bangladesh's star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has yet to play a match in the UAE phase, and he is unlikely to do so before the end of the round-robin league.
So far, Rahul Tripathi has scored the most runs (315 in 10 innings) for Kolkata with a strike rate of 144.49. On the other hand, Prasidh Krishna has 12 wickets in 10 innings at a strike rate of 19.2 for the Knight Riders.
Kolkata Knight Rider’s remaining fixtures:
01/10/2021: Punjab Kings (at Dubai)
03/10/2021: Sunrisers Hyderabad (at Dubai)
07/10/2021: Rajasthan Royals (at Sharjah)
Independence Cup Football kicks off Nov 27
The Independence Cup Football, the season's curtain-raiser, will begin on November 27.
Sixteen teams – twelve from the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and four others – will lock horns in the competition.
The inter-club player transfer will begin on October 1 and will continue till November 25. During this time, participating clubs will be able to recruit and register local and foreign booters.
The upcoming BPL football matches will take place at six venues across the country, and one venue will be the home venue of a maximum of two clubs.
The decision was taken at a sub-committee meeting of the Bangladesh Football Federation's professional league management committee Wednesday with committee chairman Abdus Salam Murshedy in the chair.
Asian TT Championships: Bangladesh men beat Afghanistan, women Nepal
Both the Bangladesh men's and women's teams earned victories Wednesday on the second day of the Asian Table Tennis Championships, a qualifier for the World Cup in Qatar's Doha.
The top 12 countries of the 31 participating nations will qualify for the team events of the World Table Tennis competition.
Bangladesh men's team beat Afghanistan 3-2 while the women's team outplayed Nepal 3-0. This is the first victory for the Bangladesh women's team against Nepal.
In the women's group, Sadia Rahman Mou overcame Sikka 3-2, Sonam Sultana Soma defeated Elina 3-2, and Nowrin Sultana Mahi beat Evana 3-1.
In the men's group, Ramhim lost 0-3 in the first set; Hridoy won the second set 3-1. Sajib won the third set 3-1; Hridoy lost the fourth set, and finally, Ramhim won the fifth set 3-1 to win the match.
Bangladesh made a frustrating start to the continental competition, losing the men's and women's team match to Sri Lanka on the first day – Tuesday.
Bangladesh football team reaches Maldives; to play Sri Lanka in opening match
A 34-member Bangladesh national football team reached the Maldives Tuesday evening at 7:50 pm (Bangladesh time) to participate in the five-nation SAFF Championship' 2021 beginning on Friday (October 1) at the national football stadium in Male.
The Bangladesh team comprises 23 booters and 11 officials.
In the five-nation South Asian regional football, Bangladesh will play Sri Lanka in the opening match on Friday (October 1) at 5 pm (Bangladesh Time) at the national football stadium in Male.
In the remaining matches, Bangladesh will play India on Oct 4 at 5 pm , hosts Maldives on Oct 7 at 10 pm and Nepal on Oct 13 at 5pm , all at the National Stadium in Male.
The difference of the Maldives and Bangladesh time is one hour where Maldives is one hour ahead of the Bangladesh.
Read: SAFF football: Bangladesh leave for Maldives fancying their chances under Bruzon
Soon after reaching the Maldives Tuesday evening, all the players of Bangladesh team had their Covid-19 Test and all were found negative.
All the members of Bangladesh team are in sound health and staying at Hotel Jen in Male. Local weather is also comfortable between 28 to 30 degree celsius.
The Bangladesh team is scheduled to make their first practice session at the Henveiru Training pitch in Male today (Wednesday) afternoon, said a BFF media release on Wednesday.
It will be the first assignment for the newly appointed Spanish interim Head Coach of national football team Oscar Bruzon, a head coach of BPL champions Bashundhara Kings.
Earlier this month, Bangladesh football team, toured Kyrgyzstan to play three matches-- two in the Three Nations Cup and one friendly against Kyrgyz U-23 team as part of their preparation for the SAFF Championship, but lost all the three matches.
Visiting Bangladesh conceded 0-2 goals defeat against Palestine in their first match of the Three Nations Cup.
Hosts Kyrgyzstan clinched three nations cup title with all-win record outplaying Bangladesh by 4-1 goals in their 2nd and match after beating Palestine by 1-0 goal in tournament opener.
Relieved coach Jamie Day's Bangladesh team completed their Kyrgyzstan tour with frustrating note losing all the three matches, after conceding a 2-3 goals defeat against Kyrgyzstan U-23 team, all at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek.
Members of the Bangladesh football team are:
Shahidul Alam Sohel, Anisur Rahman and Ashraful Islam Rana (Custodian);
Rahmat Miah, Bishwanath Ghosh, Topu Barman, Tariq Raihan Kazi , Riyadul Hasan, Yeasin Arafat, Tutul Hossain Badsha, Rezaul Karim and Mohammad Hridoy (Defender);
Jamal Bhuiyan, Atiqur Rahman Fahad , Sohel Rana, M Saaduddin and Rakib Hossain (Midfield),
Mahbubur Rahman Sufil, Mohammad Ibrahim, Matin Miah ,Jewel Rana, Biplo Ahmed and Sumon Reza (Forward)
PSG vs. Man City 2021: Messi Scores as Paris Saint-Germain Beat Manchester City
Manchester City dominated the ball possession, but host Paris Saint-Germain won the important UEFA Champions League group stage match 2-0 against the English premier league Champion yesterday (Tuesday, 28 September 2021)) at Parc des Princes. With four points after two games, PSG climbed to the top of Group A's standings. PSG's superstar footballer Lionel Messi scored his first goal for the new club after arriving in the summer transfer window 2021. The match report of PSG vs. Man City 2021 is discussed in this article.
Match Report: PSG vs. Man City 2021
Paris Saint-Germain have secured the top spot in Group A with a 2-0 victory against Manchester City at the end of the second match of this round. Club Brugge are in the second position in this group followed by Manchester City and RB Leipzig.
Lionel Messi scored his first PSG goal in this match after three appearances, making it a memorable night for the football sensation. Messi has been under pressure to put up his usual master class performance since joining the French club this summer. He is surely now relieved after scoring this goal.
Read: Newcomer Sheriff stuns Real Madrid 2-1 in Champions League
Lionel Messi’s Stunner
Messi remained relatively quiet in the contest until the 74th minute. He ran down the opposition half with his customary dazzling pace and delivered a quick pass to Kylian Mbappe from just outside the D-box. Mbappe didn't make a blunder as he delivered Messi a superb pass. Lionel Messi then did what he does best, smashing the ball into the top right corner of the net with his left foot, netting his first goal for Paris Saint-Germain. Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson had no choice but to watch the ball go into the net.
Lionel Messi has a knack for playing well against Pep Guardiola's team, as he displayed with a thunderous goal yesterday. Messi now has scored 27 goals in 35 outings against English clubs.
Read: Messi scores superb 1st goal for PSG in 2-0 win against City
Idrissa Gueye Strikes Early for PSG
PSG had a dream start to the game, scoring in the eighth minute thanks to a stunner from midfielder Idrissa Gueye. Neymar's unsuccessful attempt landed the ball to Gueye just inside the penalty area. Idrissa Gueye found the ball and did the rest.
PSG looked confident after equalizing early in the game, and Verrati tried to reinforce the midfield. On the other hand, Man City had a chance to discard the lead in the 26th minute but they utterly wasted it.
Raheem Sterling's header from Kevin De Bruyne's cross struck the crossbar. Then Bernardo Silva's shot again hit the bar. It was a big miss for the Citizen.
Read: PSG vs. Man City: Preview and Prediction
After that, both teams generated chances but were unable to convert on them. PSG's Italian goalkeeper Donnarumma had a fantastic game as well. He made a few saves during the game to keep PSG in the lead. Idrissa Gueye was named player of the match for his first goal of the game.
PSG will play RB Leipzig in their third match of Group A on Thursday (October 19) at Parc des Princes. Manchester City will meet Club Brugge at Jan Breydel Stadium on the same day.
Read: Arsenal vs. Tottenham 2021: Match Preview and Prediction
Bottom Line
Mauricio Pochettino's team has struggled to gel as a team since the beginning of the season. Players from Paris Saint-Germain struggled to cope with Manchester City's fluid attack at times during the PSG vs. Man City 2021 match. PSG had excelled in counter-attacking strategy. They had the luxury of adjusting their formation because they have the finest front three in the world. PSG must put forth more effort to develop a solid team. On the other hand, it was a wake-up call for Manchester City. They must identify their weaknesses and come up with the right tactics on the return legs against PSG.
Read:Salah, Firmino both score twice as Liverpool routs Porto 5-1