United News of Bangladesh

After a slow start to his Real Madrid career, Kylian Mbappé has already surpassed one of the club greats. Mbappé scored twice in Madrid's 2-1 comeback win over Villarreal on Saturday to take his tally to 31 goals in all competitions this season — one more than Brazil striker Ronaldo managed in his first campaign at the club. It also helped Madrid open up a three-point lead atop the Spanish league over Barcelona, which has played two games less. Long gone are the scoring troubles Mbappé endured in his first months at Madrid. Having surpassed Ronaldo's tally from 2002-03, the former Paris Saint-Germain player is now closing in on the 33 goals that Cristiano Ronaldo scored in his first season with Madrid in 2009-10. “They are legends who marked eras with the club,” Mbappé said about the two Ronaldos. “If I score more goals than Ronaldo and Cristiano it doesn’t mean that I am better, just that my first season is better. Scoring goals is important, but it is even more so if we win La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.” His double at fifth-placed Villarreal took Mbappe’s La Liga tally to 20 goals, only one fewer than Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski in the domestic competition. Leading the comeback Villarreal made it a pulsating game as it attacked in waves with Alex Baena and Nicolas Pepe helping create a series of chances. Thibaut Courtois made three good stops for Madrid to deny Pepe, Ayoze Pérez, and Pape Gueye in the first half. Suarez and Messi lead Inter Miami to CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals But Villarreal paid at the other end where Mbappé ruthlessly exploited the holes in the Yellow Submarine’s defense. “Mbappé didn’t participate much, but he was lethal,” Villarreal coach Marcelino Toral said. A one-handed save by Courtois to deny Ayoze led to a corner kick that resulted in Villarreal’s eight-minute opener. Juan Foyth swept home a ball that fell to him inside the six-yard box after it had ricocheted off players in a packed area. Mbappé leveled in the 17th after he teed up teammate Brahim Díaz for a shot that was saved by goalkeeper Diego Conde, and the ball fell to the France striker to rifle home. Mbappé was on the scoreboard again in the 23rd when Villarreal’s defense lost track of him at the top of the area. He received a pass from Lucas Vázquez and had all the time he needed to place a shot into the right corner. Halftime substitute Thierno Barry and Foyth both squandered scoring opportunities early in the second half before Madrid tightened its defense to see out the game. Carlo Ancelotti left Vinícius Júnior and Antonio Rudiger on the bench until the final half hour – with Luka Modric going on shortly after – as the Madrid coach rotated his lineup three days after its grueling Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid that went to a penalty shootout. “This was an important and difficult game against one of the best teams in the league,” Mbappé said. “After the game against Atletico and its added time it was very tough today but we knew we had to win. We showed character and that we wanted this win.” Barcelona is three points behind Madrid ahead of its visit to third-placed Atletico Madrid, which is four points back, on Sunday. It also has a postponed game versus Osasuna still to be played. Madrid complains about schedule Ancelotti said that Real Madrid was upset that the game in Villarreal wasn't pushed back as it had requested to give its players more rest. As a result the club said it won’t agree to play another game without 72 hours of rest between matches. Madrid’s game at Villarreal game kicked off at 6:30 p.m. local time (1730 GMT) on Saturday. Madrid had played a Champions League game against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday that started at 9:00 p.m. and lasted 120 minutes plus a penalty shootout. “This is the last time we will play within 72 hours,” Ancelotti said. García saves, Muriqi decides Vedat Muriqi made up for an own goal and a missed penalty kick by converting a stoppage-time penalty to complete Mallorca's 2-1 comeback win over Espanyol. Espanyol goalkeeper Joan García delivered another top performance by saving two penalties. García stopped Muriqi’s second-half penalty and appeared to have secured a point for the visitors when he also denied Abdon Prats in injury time, but the referee ordered the penalty to be retaken after an Espanyol player had entered the area ahead of time. Real Madrid beats Atletico on penalties in Champions League Muriqi, whose early own goal was canceled out by teammate Takuma Asano, stepped back up to the spot and redeemed himself by finally beating García with his team’s third attempt from the spot. Also, former Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso converted a late penalty to give Celta Vigo a 1-0 win at last-place Valladolid, while Cristhian Stuani scored to salvage Girona a 1-1 draw at home with Valencia. Source: With input from agency

Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi found the net as Inter Miami secured a 2-0 victory over Jamaica’s Cavalier SC on Thursday, advancing to the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals. Suarez, the 38-year-old Uruguayan forward, scored from the penalty spot in the 11th minute. Messi, who entered early in the second half, sealed the win with a stoppage-time goal, ensuring a 4-0 aggregate triumph for Miami. Inter Miami will now face Los Angeles FC in the quarterfinals, aiming for their first-ever semifinal appearance in the tournament. “Lio hadn’t played regularly in the last three or four games. We wanted him on the field, but we had to choose the right moment. Tonight was that moment,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said. “He felt good, and the fans in Jamaica got to see him. It was a fantastic night for everyone.” Messi’s official debut in the Caribbean generated significant excitement. Upon arrival, he and his Miami teammates were welcomed by Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport, Olivia Grange. Real Madrid beats Atletico on penalties in Champions League Cavalier SC, which typically plays in a 3,000-seat venue, relocated the match to the 35,000-capacity National Stadium to accommodate the enthusiastic crowd. “The reception from the people here was incredible,” Mascherano added. “I’m pleased with our performance—it was a big step forward for us.” Jamaican fans erupted in celebration when Messi, the World Cup-winning Argentine, capped the match with a close-range goal in the final minute, converting a cross from Santiago Morales. Source: With input from news agency

Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid in a Champions League penalty shootout — again — to keep its title defense alive Wednesday and advance to the quarterfinals. Defender Antonio Rüdiger scored the decisive spot-kick in a 4-2 shootout win after two Atletico players missed. Marco Llorente's shot struck the bar after Julián Álvarez's score despite slipping was disallowed on video review because he touched the ball twice. Madrid also beat Atletico in a shootout to win the 2016 final — part of a streak of eliminating its city rival in the knockout rounds for four straight years. That hard-luck run started with the 2014 final when Atletico gave up an equalizing goal in stoppage time. Madrid moves on to the quarterfinals to face Arsenal, which also advanced Wednesday along with Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund. The quarterfinals lineup was completed with Madrid’s win in a tense derby that had ended 2-2 on aggregate score. Atletico led 1-0 after 90 minutes and extra time in a typically tenacious performance at its Metropolitano Stadium to cancel out Madrid’s 2-1 advantage from the first leg last week. “When you get knocked out, it is not easy to digest," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said, “but I go out with a feeling of peace.” Two key incidents defined regulation time. Atletico Madrid scored within 30 seconds and Real Madrid missed a penalty in the 70th minute. Atletico took the lead with its first attack when England midfielder Conor Gallagher pounced on the ball from close range when a cross by Rodrigo De Paul was deflected into the goalmouth. Madrid star Vinícius Júnior blazed a penalty kick high over the Atletico goal when he could have sent the 15-time champion through. He was substituted in extra time for his teenage fellow Brazilian, Endrick. Does Liverpool's Champions League exit to PSG reveal a flaw in the revamped competition? Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham stepped up to score Madrid's first two spot-kicks, and Fede Valverde also scored before Lucas Vazquez's kick was saved by Jan Oblak. It was more relaxed in London, where Arsenal rested some regulars in a 2-2 draw with PSV Eindhoven to run up a 9-3 aggregate score. Aston Villa also had a stress-free evening at home to ensure England has two teams in the quarterfinals, one night after Premier League leader Liverpool was beaten at Anfield by Paris Saint-Germain in a shootout. Villa won 3-0 against Club Brugge, which played with 10 men from the 17th, after a 3-1 win in Belgium last week. Brugge defender Kyriani Sabbe was sent off for pulling back Marcus Rashford when running clear on goal. Substitute Marco Asensio, on loan at Villa from PSG, scored twice in the second half to ensure his temporary club will meet his parent club next. Borussia Dortmund rallied with two second-half goals to win 2-1 at Lille and advance 3-2 on aggregate. The beaten finalist last season now faces Barcelona.

An Argentine court on Tuesday commenced the trial of seven healthcare professionals accused of negligence in the death of football legend Diego Maradona at the age of 60. Maradona suffered a cardiac arrest on November 25, 2020, while under their care at a house near Buenos Aires. A panel of three judges will determine whether the defendants—including a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, and several other medical staff—are guilty of manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. Prosecutors argue that the accused failed to provide proper medical treatment. Patricio Ferrari, leading the prosecution, claims that between November 11 and 25, 2020, Maradona was placed in home care in a private neighborhood in Tigre, Buenos Aires, without full mental capacity to consent. Ferrari described the hospitalization as reckless and lacking proper oversight. Court allows transfer of soccer great Diego Maradona's remains to public mausoleum “They condemned him to isolation in that house... then deliberately and cruelly let him die,” Ferrari stated. He presented an image of Maradona lying in bed with a visibly swollen abdomen at the time of his death. Maradona’s family, including his eldest daughters Dalma and Giannina, his former partner Verónica Ojeda, and another daughter, Jana, attended the trial. Before proceedings began, Ojeda shared a video of their son Diego Fernando wearing a T-shirt featuring Maradona’s image and the word “justice.” The trial, expected to last up to four months, will have three hearings per week. Neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, Maradona’s personal doctor for four years, is a key defendant. He had operated on Maradona to remove a blood clot from his brain just weeks before his passing. Also on trial are psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, who prescribed Maradona’s medication; psychologist Carlos Díaz; Nancy Forlini, a coordinator from the medical company overseeing his care; Mariano Perroni, a representative of the nursing service provider; Dr. Pedro Di Spagna, who monitored his treatment; and nurse Ricardo Almirón. Maradona’s Golden Ball trophy set for auction: Butcher’s jests and Ardiles’ reverence at Hampden Park Another nurse, Gisela Madrid, who was also indicted, will face trial separately later this year.

On top of Europe in January. Out of the Champions League by early March. Liverpool's reward for dominating the competition's new-look league format was to run into a roadblock in the shape of Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16. Liverpool coach Arne Slot described his team as “so, so, so unlucky” to come up against “one of the best teams in Europe” after losing 4-1 in a penalty shootout at Anfield on Tuesday. “That’s the format we are in and we have to accept it,” he said. The round-of-16 contest finished 1-1 on aggregate after Ousmane Dembele's first-half goal Tuesday cancelled out Liverpool's 1-0 win in Paris in the first leg. It is one of the quirks of the revamped Champions League that despite topping the league phase with wins against European giants Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan, Liverpool then had to face a resurgent PSG squad that had to rely on the lifeline of the playoffs to advance to this stage. International labor union says FIFA blocking access to Azteca Stadium for inspection “We go out in a way that I think we’ve impressed Europe. But it is something now to take into consideration how much worth it is to end up first in the league table if you can face Paris Saint-Germain in the next round,” Slot said. “But in the end, if you want to win the tournament, you have to beat teams like Paris Saint-Germain and that’s what we didn’t do today.” The PSG performance that triumphed at Anfield looked markedly different to the one that struggled in the early stages of the competition - when the team lost to Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich, as well dropping points against PSV Eindhoven. The French champion showed it was a threat by beating Manchester City 4-2 in January and had dominated Liverpool in Paris before falling to a late sucker punch from Harvey Elliott. It had to ride a storm at times in the second leg — including surviving a Jarrell Quansah header that hit the post — but Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson also had to pull off a string of saves to keep the home team in contention. “It was the best game of football I was ever involved in,” Slot said. PSG coach Luis Enrique later said both teams were in position to advance before Gianluigi Donnarumma saved penalties from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones in the shootout. Manchester United announces plans for "World's Greatest" soccer stadium “Today we showed the sort of team we are. We have huge personality,” he said. “We put in top, top performance, which is exactly what we needed to do.”

An international federation of labor unions on Tuesday said FIFA denied it access to the Azteca Stadium to inspect conditions of construction workers doing renovations ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Ambet Yuson, the general secretary of the Building and Wood Workers’ International, said FIFA told them that they didn't need inspections because the local workers already have a union and that there have been no incidents so far. “The World Cup is global, and we must play by global rules and the global labor standards,” Yuson said at a news conference. “The role of an international organization as BWI is to come and to be an independent inspector to see if what they are saying is true or not.” The Azteca has been temporarily closed for renovations since May 2024 and stadium owner Emilio Azcarraga Jean recently said the plan is to reopen sometime this year. Azcarraga Jean hasn't fully disclosed what modifications will be made to the Azteca for the World Cup that Mexico will co-host with Canada and the United States. The stadium, which opened in 1966, will host five games at the tournament and will become the first to host three World Cup opening matches. It also hosted the tournament openers of the 1970 and the 1986 World Cups. FIFA chief plans to visit Bangladesh by March to support women's football “Building on past cooperation with FIFA, an agreement for joint inspections in Mexico, U.S. and Canada was negotiated, but FIFA pulled out before signing, blocking independent oversight at dangerous construction sites,” the BWI in a statement. The Azteca Stadium director, Felix Aguirre, did not immediately respond to a request for an interview. A FIFA spokesperson told The Guardian that the stadium's renovation “is not managed by FIFA” but that the the governing body “strives to respect and promote the highest international labor standards and seeks to ensure that the rights of workers in the various activities directly related to its operations are upheld.” FIFA added that in cooperation with the Azteca Stadium, it is “actively engaging with stakeholders and monitoring the conditions offered to the workers.” BWI claims to have inspected working conditions for the past four men's World Cups, as well as the past three summer Olympics. According to the BWI, only 7% of the construction workers in Mexico belong to a union, making them vulnerable to poor conditions and wages. Hamza Choudhury cleared by FIFA to play for Bangladesh “In all World Cups, construction workers die and we have not heard that somebody died in a construction site in Mexico," Yuson said. "Should we wait for someone to die? Or should we do the inspection now so we can prevent a single death?”

  LIVERPOOL, England, mar 12  (AP/UNB) — Liverpool, which dominated the revamped Champions League group stage, found itself eliminated from the tournament by early March after a narrow loss to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the round of 16. Despite topping the league phase with victories over top clubs like Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and AC Milan, Liverpool faced a tough draw against a resurgent PSG squad that barely made it past the playoffs. The two-legged tie ended 1-1 on aggregate, with PSG ultimately winning 4-1 in a penalty shootout at Anfield. Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed frustration, calling his team “so, so, so unlucky” to face “one of the best teams in Europe” so early in the knockout stage. “That’s the format we are in, and we have to accept it,” he said. Slot questioned the value of finishing first in the league stage if it meant facing an opponent like PSG in the next round. “We impressed Europe, but now we must consider whether topping the table really gives an advantage,” he said. “Ultimately, to win the tournament, you have to beat teams like PSG, and we didn’t do that today.” PSG, which had struggled earlier in the competition—losing to Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, and Bayern Munich—showed its strength by defeating Manchester City 4-2 in January and dominating Liverpool in Paris before conceding a late goal. At Anfield, the French side endured Liverpool’s pressure, including a Jarrell Quansah header that struck the post. Meanwhile, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson made several crucial saves to keep his team in the game. PSG coach Luis Enrique acknowledged the tight contest, noting that both teams had chances to advance. In the end, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s penalty saves from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones secured PSG’s victory. “Today we showed our personality and delivered a top performance when we needed it most,” Enrique said.

Manchester United revealed its plans on Tuesday to construct the "world's greatest" soccer stadium. The proposed 100,000-seater venue would surpass Wembley as the largest stadium in the United Kingdom. The club, 20-time English champions, said it intends to build the new stadium next to its historic Old Trafford ground, likely avoiding the need to relocate during construction. "Our current stadium has been excellent for us over the past 115 years, but it no longer matches the top venues in global sport," said part-owner Jim Ratcliffe. "By building adjacent to the existing site, we can maintain Old Trafford's legacy while creating a cutting-edge stadium that will elevate the fan experience just steps from our iconic home." United did not disclose the cost or timeline for the project, though architect Norman Foster indicated that construction would take five years. British billionaire Ratcliffe, who acquired a 25% stake in the club for $1.3 billion last year, has made the new stadium a key priority. While redevelopment of Old Trafford was considered, the preferred option was to build a completely new venue. "Today marks the beginning of an exciting journey toward creating the world's greatest football stadium," Ratcliffe said. Injured Neymar criticised for skipping Santos' semifinal after Carnival The club envisions the stadium as part of a broader initiative to rejuvenate the surrounding Old Trafford area, a project that could contribute £7.3 billion ($9.4 billion) to the U.K. economy. The British government has expressed support, though funding details remain unclear. Wembley, the current largest stadium in the U.K., has a capacity of 90,000 and is home to England’s national team. Twickenham, home to rugby’s national team, holds 82,500. Old Trafford, the largest soccer-specific stadium in the U.K., holds just over 74,000, but it is now considered outdated compared to more modern venues like the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which also hosts NFL games. "Our long-term goal is for our club to have the world's best football team playing in the world's best stadium," said United CEO Omar Berrada. Legendary manager Alex Ferguson emphasized the need for boldness, stating the club must seize the opportunity to build a new, future-proof home for making new history. This announcement comes just days after thousands of United fans protested against the club's ownership, citing concerns over cost-cutting, rising ticket prices, and ongoing on-field struggles. The club is majority-owned by the American Glazer family, which also owns the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ratcliffe, upon investing, promised to return United to the top of European soccer after more than a decade since its last Premier League title. However, his first year overseeing soccer operations has been challenging, as the team suffered its worst-ever Premier League season last year and currently struggles in the lower half of the standings.

Neymar faced criticism for skipping a semifinal with Santos after being spotted at Carnival last week. On Sunday, Santos were defeated 2-1 by their long-time rivals Corinthians in the semifinals of the Sao Paulo state championship, with Neymar remaining on the bench for the entire match. The following day, he stated he had a minor injury but did not provide further details. A few days prior, the striker was photographed at Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome, the iconic venue for the lavish Carnival parade. Having rejoined his childhood club Santos in January, Neymar attended the Carnival parade just hours after being substituted in the second half of another Sao Paulo state championship match on March 2 due to what appeared to be a left thigh injury. BCL Football: Arambagh KS beat Dhaka Rangers FC 1-0 He had only recently recovered from an ACL tear that had kept him sidelined for over a year. Santos did not disclose any injury concerns regarding Neymar ahead of Sunday’s semifinal. “All I wanted was to be on the pitch and support my teammates in any way possible,” Neymar posted on Instagram. “But last Thursday, I experienced discomfort that kept me from playing. We conducted a test this morning, and I felt it again.” Santos coach Pedro Caixinha explained that, despite the injury, he asked Neymar to stay on the bench. “It was only discomfort, but it prevented him from playing. I requested that he remain with the squad, and he agreed,” Caixinha said at a press conference following his team’s elimination. “He’s a unique player, gifted and full of positive energy. Neymar suffered a lot from not being able to participate in the match.” However, many pundits accused Neymar of not prioritising his career as he attempts to revive it at the Brazilian club following stints at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Al-Hilal. “He chose Carnival over the semifinal,” remarked well-known pundit Walter Casagrande Jr. on his social media platforms. “Neymar’s behaviour over the past five or six years has resurfaced. He keeps prioritising pleasure and entertainment over professionalism.” Santos president Marcelo Teixeira told local media that Neymar underwent multiple examinations between Friday and Sunday, all confirming he was unfit to play against Corinthians. “As a precaution, we decided not to field him,” Teixeira stated. “This isn’t about the national team; he simply wasn’t in the right condition to play. He is still in the recovery process, and we must acknowledge that.” Spanish newspaper Marca described Neymar’s week as “his saddest Carnival yet—discarded by Barcelona, left on the bench, and eliminated.” In response to the intense criticism surrounding their star player, Santos later released a video showing an emotional Neymar addressing his teammates in the dressing room before the semifinal. “It is incredibly difficult to be sidelined at moments like this. I am doing my best to stay composed and not show how much sadness I feel,” Neymar said. “If you can, run for me. I wish I could be out there, running for each of you. You have no idea how desperate I feel inside.” Since his return, the 33-year-old forward has scored three goals and provided three assists in seven matches for Santos. His performances were enough to convince Brazil coach Dorival Jr. to recall him for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina. Bangladesh footballers, camping in Saudi Arabia, perform Umrah Neymar is expected to return to action for Santos on March 29, following the international break, in the opening round of the Brazilian league against Vasco da Gama. Santos earned promotion back to the top tier after being relegated in 2023.

Arambagh Krira Shangha earned a 1-0 goal victory over Dhaka Rangers Football Club in the Bashundhara Group Bangladesh Championship League’ 2024-25 at the Fortis FC ground here on Monday After a barren first half, Nikson Chakma scored the match-winner for the old horse Arambagh KS in the 47th minute (1-0). In the day’s other league match. City Club defeated BTRC Sports Club also by the same margin at the Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur Monday afternoon. Akash Shaikh netted the match winning goal for the City club in the 78th minute.