United News of Bangladesh

 Vinícius Júnior missed a penalty and Real Madrid conceded an injury-time goal in a stunning 2-1 home loss to Valencia that shook its La Liga title defense on Saturday. The shock result for Madrid was softened hours later when league leader Barcelona was held at home by Real Betis to 1-1. That meant Hansi Flick’s side extended its lead to only four points over its fierce rival. There are eight rounds left including a clasico in May. Hugo Duro came off Valencia's bench and headed home the winner that silenced Santiago Bernabeu Stadium deep in stoppage time. Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili saved Vinícius' early penalty and moments later Mouctar Diakhaby headed the visitors in front in the 17th minute. Vinícius scored from close range to equalize in the 50th, but Mamardashvili and the defense held on until Duro struck and gave Valencia its first away win of the season. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti defended his team's effort, even saying that Madrid “deserved" to win the game and Vinícius' penalty was one of the match's “details that doomed us.” But the Italian manager conceded that the unexpected loss was a blow in the title race. “It is much harder now to fight for the league, but we only have one idea and that is to fight until the end because we still have a chance after this game,” Ancelotti said. He had to play third-string goalkeeper Fran González, who made his first-team debut for Madrid at age 19, because Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin were injured. Ancelotti said he hopes both of his more experienced goalies will be fit in time to face Arsenal. “We hadn’t won on the road and there is not a better place to do so than here,” Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra said. “There are three vital points for us and at a stadium where very few teams get a good result.” Thomas Muller to leave Bayern Munich after 25 years The victory confirmed the team's improvement since Carlos Corberán replaced Ruben Baraja in December. It has risen from the relegation zone to 15th place and seven points from danger. “When you see that from start to finish your players compete with the personality that you have to show at a ground like this, with the character you need to roll with the punches you get here, and that this attitude pays off, you have to be satisfied,” Corberán said. Vinícius flops at the spot — again Some jeers were heard from Madrid fans after Vinícius missed the penalty earned by Kylian Mbappé when his low and centered shot was easily saved by Mamardashvili. The Brazil forward also missed a penalty in a recent Champions League game against Atletico Madrid. Ancelotti said he didn’t believe that the fans' reaction would affect his player. “Vinícius is very focused on what he is doing, regardless of how he plays. He always gives it his all,” the manager said. Two minutes later, Diakhaby, who returned from a serious leg injury in January, rose over Antonio Rudiger and headed in André Almeida’s corner kick. Vinícius partly redeemed his penalty miss when he was left unmarked at the far post to stab in a corner headed on by Jude Bellingham. But Madrid pressed for the win and instead ended up losing the game when it was unable to defend a quick attack that finished with Rafa Mir’s tight cross that Duro thumped past a flailing González. Barcelona held by Betis In a matchup of the hottest teams in La Liga, Betis rallied to pull level and then withstood a second-half onslaught at Barcelona. Gavi Páez drilled a low strike home after a nice set-up by Ferran Torres to give Bacelona the lead in the seventh. Fifth-placed Betis leveled though Natan’s header 10 minutes later, and goalkeeper Adrian San Miguel and former Barcelona defender Marc Bartra turned back a slew of shots by the hosts to split the points. Zambia’s US-Based soccer players withdrawn from China tournament due to travel restrictions “It’s clear if we had won we would be further ahead, but this is soccer,” Gavi said about missing the chance to move six points clear. “We had our chances but couldn’t covert and leave with a bitter taste in our mouths.” Barcelona hosts Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday in the Champions League quarterfinals. Also, Celta Vigo won at Mallorca 2-1, while Alaves won at Girona 1-0.

Thomas Muller will bring his "incredible journey" with Bayern Munich to a close this summer after spending 25 years at the club. The 35-year-old midfielder, whose contract expires at the end of the season, made the announcement on Saturday in a joint statement with Bayern. Zambia’s US-Based soccer players withdrawn from China tournament due to travel restrictions Muller expressed, “It’s clear that today is not like any other day for me. My 25 years as an FC Bayern Munich player will come to an end in the summer. It’s been an incredible journey, filled with unique experiences, great encounters, and unforgettable triumphs. I feel immense gratitude and joy for having had this career with my beloved club. The special bond with the club and our amazing fans will always stay with me. What I hope for as a farewell is clear: titles we can celebrate together and moments we’ll cherish for a long time.” Having joined the club's academy at the age of 10 in the summer of 2000, Muller has been integral in Bayern’s success, helping them win 33 trophies. He also holds the club record for most appearances, with 743 matches played. Bayern announced that Muller’s final match for the club will be at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States in June and July. Bangladesh rise two spots in latest FIFA rankings “Thomas Muller embodies a Bavarian fairytale career; he grew up in Bavaria and with Bayern,” said club president Herbert Hainer. "No one has won more Bundesliga titles, and 33 trophies in total speak volumes. He is among the most remarkable figures in FC Bayern history.”

The Zambia Football Association (FAZ) has announced that four of its players based in the United States have been pulled from the squad traveling to China for an upcoming tournament due to U.S. travel regulations. FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga stated that Barbra Banda, Rachael Kundananji, Prisca Chilufya, and Grace Chanda will not be part of the Yongchuan International Tournament, an invitational women's event, due to "additional travel measures introduced by the new administration in the United States." Banda, the team captain, along with Chanda and Chilufya, play for Orlando Pride, while Kundananji is under contract with Bay FC in San Jose, part of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). FAZ did not specify which travel policies affected the players. However, the U.S. government’s tightened immigration policies, increased scrutiny of foreign visa holders, and possible restrictions on travelers from certain countries have raised concerns among international athletes regarding potential difficulties in returning to the U.S. More players line up to follow Hamza’s path into Bangladesh football A recent executive order signed by President Trump in January directed officials to review countries with inadequate vetting systems and determine whether partial or full travel suspensions should be imposed. The U.S. State Department’s ongoing review has yet to finalize any country-specific restrictions, leaving uncertainty over whether China could be included. Kamanga noted that after evaluating the situation, the decision was made in the players' best interests to forgo the tournament. “They will definitely be available for future assignments, just as they were in the last window when we played Malawi. The technical team has already selected replacements to maintain the squad’s competitiveness,” he added. Source: With input from agency 

Bangladesh have climbed two spots in the latest FIFA men’s world rankings, moving from the 185th to 183rd following their goalless draw against India in the Asian Cup qualifying third round. Javier Cabrera’s side now holds 904.16 ranking points, reflecting slight but welcome progress for the South Asian team as they aim for stronger performances in continental football. Meanwhile, reigning world champions Argentina have maintained their top position after successive wins over Uruguay and Brazil in the World Cup qualifiers as their points increased to 1886.16, further solidifying their lead. Spain jumped to second place in the global standings after securing one win and one draw in March. With 1854.64 points, they narrowly overtook France, who dropped to third with 1854.71 points after a mixed run against Croatia. More players line up to follow Hamza’s path into Bangladesh football England remained in fourth position with 1819.2 points, while Brazil held on to fifth, unchanged, with 1776.03 points despite recording one win and one loss during the international window. The Netherlands moved up to sixth place with 1752.44 points, pushing Portugal down to seventh (1750.08), also on the back of a win and a defeat. The rest of the top 10 includes Belgium (1735.75) in eighth, Italy (1718.31) in ninth, and Germany (1716.98) rounding off the list in tenth place. In Asia, Japan remain the continent’s highest-ranked team, holding the 15th position with 1652.64 points.

Will Bangladesh football see more expatriate footballers who are eager to wear the green and red jersey? This question is surfacing around Bangladesh’s football arena as many are trying to follow the path of English League player Hamza Choudhury. The recent debut of Premier League midfielder Hamza for Bangladesh has sparked a surge of interest among expatriate footballers eager to represent the national team. Bangladesh football team returns home from India on Wednesday after playing  AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers According to Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Vice President Fahad Karim, 32 Bangladeshi origin players from 13 countries have formally expressed interest in donning the Bangladesh jersey. Among the most notable names are England-based Karim Hassan Smith, Ilman Matin, and Ashiqur Rahman; France’s Farhan Mahmud; Canada’s Nabid Ahmed; and US-based Amir Sami. One standout is Canadian midfielder Samit Som, who has previously played for Canada’s youth and senior teams. The BFF is keen to include him in the national team, pending FIFA clearance. Hamza leaves to rejoin his EPL club  To streamline the selection process, the BFF is set to host a three-day trial in Dhaka starting June 25, primarily aimed at strengthening youth squads. The initiative is supported by Sakib Mahmud, a Denmark-based volunteer who has helped identify eligible players, many through social media. While five players have already arrived in Bangladesh for youth team trials, Samit remains the only one currently being considered for the senior squad. The BFF hopes to finalise his inclusion before the June 10 Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore in Dhaka.

Nathan Ordaz scored in the 57th minute, and Los Angeles FC kept Lionel Messi off the scoresheet Wednesday night in a 1-0 victory over Inter Miami in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal matchup. Messi had produced a goal (5) or an assist (2) in each of his first six Champions Cup appearances since joining Miami two years ago, including three goals in the early rounds of this year's tournament. After returning from injury only last weekend, Messi played the entire match in Los Angeles. He put two of his five shots on target, but Hugo Lloris stopped both chances. “I think (Messi) always had a black jersey in front of him, and that’s the point,” LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said. “You can’t always defend him, nor can you always shut down Jordi Alba, (Sergio) Busquets, (Luis) Suárez. … Those guys are going to get a chance or two, and the only way to defend players of that quality and teams of that quality is with a collective effort.” The loss was the first of 2025 for Miami, which had won seven straight matches across all competitions while starting 8-0-1 under new coach Javier Mascherano. “It was a game that we expected,” Mascherano said after his first defeat with Miami. “We know LA. They have good players, and they have players in front that can (make) the difference. But I think we controlled them almost all the game in a good way. Obviously, we didn’t have the best night tonight, but in the end, it’s the first leg. We have the next game next week, and we will see. I believe that we can do the right things to (get) through.” Argentina and Brazil seek replacements for Messi and Neymar in World Cup Qualifiers The clubs meet again in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, April 9, for the second leg of the quarterfinal. The aggregate winner advances to the semifinals to face MLS’ Vancouver Whitecaps or Liga MX’s Pumas, who played to a 1-1 draw in their first leg. LAFC, which finished as the runner-up in this tournament in 2020 and 2023, ended its 0-4-1 skid over the previous 3 1/2 weeks with a strong performance on both ends against powerhouse Miami, which leads the MLS standings at 4-0-1. “I think we saw a complete performance, a good one from the guys,” Cherundolo said. “They invested a lot. We need to be a little sharper, a little more focused in the final third with our chances against good teams, and Miami is certainly a good team, maybe the best team.” The 37-year-old Messi has been slowed in recent weeks by an adductor injury, forcing him to miss duties with the Argentine national team last month. But he returned to MLS play last Saturday with a goal as a substitute in Miami’s win over Philadelphia, and he was in the Herons’ starting lineup in Los Angeles. Messi took two free kicks in dangerous areas in the first half, but he sailed his first over the bar and sent the second directly to Lloris. He had a good chance in the 80th minute, but his quick turnaround shot above the penalty area was also too high. He fired another low shot at Lloris in the 86th minute, and the French keeper smothered it after a bobble. Messi earned one last free kick off a foul on a dribble in second-half injury time, but also sailed it high. “Sometimes (we) couldn’t find the spaces,” Mascherano said. “They did very well in defense also, so sometimes you have to accept. Maybe we had some (chances) in the second half. ... At the end, I think we were not clear in attack, but the players tried until the end in many ways.” Suarez and Messi lead Inter Miami to CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals The 21-year-old Ordaz put LAFC ahead when he eluded Busquets and hammered a swift shot into the bottom corner of the Herons' net from well outside the penalty area. The promising homegrown player and Los Angeles native also scored against Columbus in a Champions Cup match last month. Ordaz had narrowly avoided a red card in the first half when he became entangled with Maxi Falcón. The Uruguayan defender went down from what Miami felt was a punch by Ordaz, who was given only a yellow upon video review. “There’s contact, (and) there’s contact prior to that from the opposing player,” Cherundolo said. “I applaud the decision not to send guys off the field, and I would say the same thing if it was the reverse, if it was a Miami player in question.” The packed crowd included NBA stars Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, whose Golden State Warriors play the Lakers on Thursday night.

Experts involved in Diego Maradona’s autopsy testified on Tuesday at the trial of seven health professionals accused of negligent homicide that the Argentine soccer star had an abnormally large heart, suffered from cirrhosis, and showed no traces of alcohol or drugs at the time of is death. Forensic expert Alejandro Ezequiel Vega told the court that Maradona’s heart was “enlarged” and weighed about 503 grams, when the average weight is between 250 and 300 grams. Maradona, who led Argentina to the World Cup title in 1986, died on Nov. 25, 2020. He was 60. Vega explained that the examination of Maradona’s heart showed that the former star suffered from “long-standing ischemia,” with “lack of blood flow and oxygen.” The autopsy concluded that Maradona died of acute pulmonary edema secondary to congestive heart failure. Maradona died in a house on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, days after undergoing surgery for a hematoma that formed between his skull and brain. Autopsy Expert: Maradona suffered agony for hours before his death According to the prosecution, the seven professionals charged in the case — a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, doctors, and nurses — who were caring for the former soccer great failed to provide adequate care, which may have led to his death. During the testimony, forensic expert Ezequiel Gustavo Ventosi stated that the blood and urine samples taken from Maradona showed no traces of alcohol or drugs. Meanwhile, Silvana De Piero, from the same police task force, said that the liver analysis detected “conditions compatible with cirrhosis,” and that the kidney “had altered function and lacked a good blood supply to carry oxygen.” Argentina puts 7 healthcare workers on trial over Maradona’s death Among those on trial is Leopoldo Luque, Maradona’s personal physician during the last four years of his life; and psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, who prescribed the medication Maradona took until the time of his death.

Bangladesh-origin English Premier League-playing midfielder Hamza Dewan Choudhury guided English club Sheffield United to the top of the 24-team English Football League (EFL) Championship, beating Coventry City by 3-1 goals at the home ground in Bramall Lane on Saturday. With the feat, Sheffield United dominated the Championship, securing 83 points from 39 matches to topple Leeds United, who is in the 2nd slot with 80 points from 38 encounters. After returning to England, conquering the hearts of millions of Bangladeshis with his brilliant performances in his first-ever appearance in the Bangladesh national football team, Hamza Choudhury also displayed his mettle in the English league too, contributing a big role for the team’s goal on Saturday. Bangladesh’s first and only English Premier League-playing footballer Hamza Dewan Choudhury left Dhaka for Manchester Thursday by a Bangladesh Biman flight to join his club Sheffield United. Hamza Choudhury’s Bangladesh played a goalless draw with India in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers on March 25 in the hill city of Shillong. Hamza leaves to rejoin his EPL club  In the day’s match, Hamza came close to scoring against Coventry City, but his shot outside from the box narrowly missed the target. Although he was deprived of a goal in the match, his performances in both the defence and attacking zones were appreciated by the fans. In the day’s match, Sheffield United dominated the match 2-0 with goals in the first half. In the match, G Hammer put Sheffield United ahead in the 19th minute (1-0). T. Campbell doubled the margin in the 30th minute (2-0), while R. Brewster scored the 3rd goal for the winners in the 62nd minute (3-0). J Rudini scored a consolation goal for Coventry City in the added time of the match (90+2 minutes). Sheffield United will play their next match against Oxford United on April 5.

Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo struck early as Barcelona cruised to a 3-0 victory over Osasuna on Thursday, extending their lead at the top of La Liga. Head coach Hansi Flick rested Robert Lewandowski until the final moments, but the Polish striker made an instant impact, heading in a cross from Fermin López to seal the win. It was Lewandowski’s 23rd goal of the season, keeping him at the top of the league’s scoring charts. Barcelona Pulls Ahead in Title RaceOriginally scheduled for March 8, the match was postponed following the sudden passing of a Barcelona first-team doctor just hours before kickoff. With this victory, Barcelona moved three points ahead of Real Madrid and widened the gap over Atletico Madrid to seven points, with 10 rounds remaining in the season. Early DominationBarcelona wasted no time asserting dominance, opening the scoring in the 11th minute. Alejandro Balde set up Ferran Torres, who finished a precise team move for his 14th goal of the season. Hamza leaves to rejoin his EPL club  Torres nearly doubled his tally late in the first half when his free kick rattled the crossbar. Just ten minutes after the opener, Dani Olmo won a penalty after being fouled by Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera. While Herrera initially saved the spot-kick, Olmo was given a second chance after Osasuna’s Jon Moncayola was penalized for early movement in the box. Olmo converted on his second attempt, doubling Barcelona’s lead. However, his night ended early due to an apparent leg injury, raising concerns for Barcelona’s upcoming fixtures. Lewandowski Seals the VictoryOsasuna introduced Ante Budimir, their top scorer, in the final half-hour, but the Croatian forward failed to make an impact. Lewandowski, coming off the bench in the final stretch, headed home a Fermin López cross, putting the game beyond doubt. Villa Defender Tyrone Mings joins Euro 2028 Board of Directors Barcelona remains unbeaten in 2025, extending their streak to 19 consecutive games across all competitions. Source: With input from agency 

Bangladesh’s first and only English Premier League-playing footballer Hamza Dewan Choudhury left the country for Manchester Thursday noon by a Bangladesh Biman flight, to join his club Sheffield United. He left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka for Sylhet at 9:45am and from there he again flew for Manchester at 11:45am by the same flight. On the eve of  his departure, Hamza Choudhury thanked the soccer crazy Bangladeshi fans for their warm reception and said he will come again Bangladesh to play their AFC Asian Cup qualifiers home match against Singapore on June 10. Bangladesh football team returns home from India on Wednesday after playing  AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Hamza arrived in  Sylhet on March 17 amid huge enthusiasm among the soccer loving fans to play for Bangladesh national football team in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers against India in Shillong on March 25 and spent 10 days in Bangladesh and India with celebrating mood. After reaching the Sylhet Airport on March 17 at noon, Hamza directly moved to his village home in Shnangath under the Bahubal Upazilla of Habiganj on the same day. On the following day (March 18), Hamza left Habiganj for Dhaka to join the national team’s camp, he addressed the Bangladesh team’s official press on March 19 at a local hotel alongside head coach Javier Cabrera  and captain Jamal Bhuyan before flying for Indian hill city on Shillong on March 20. AFC Asian Cup: Hamza's Bangladesh dominate India in Shillong but waste chances as game ends goalless Hamza was the main inspiration and engine of the Bangladesh team in their first and away Group C match of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers against India last Tuesday which ended in a goalless draw after spoiling four to five good chances. In the match, Hamza also guarded properly Indian celebrated footballer Sunil Chhetri, who returned back to the Indian national team from retirement to play against Bangladesh and made him inactive all through the match as result Sunil Chhetri was replaced in the 81st minute of the match.