Football
Ronaldo set to face PSG, Messi in first game in Saudi Arabia
Cristiano Ronaldo’s first game in Saudi Arabia is set to be against Paris Saint-Germain and a possible reunion with his career-long rival Lionel Messi.
PSG said Monday it will play a Jan. 19 friendly in Riyadh against a composite team of players from Ronaldo’s new club Al Nassr and Al Hilal, the current Asian Champions League title holder.
Read: What can Ronaldo expect from Saudi Pro League soccer?
Ronaldo should have to wait until Jan. 22 to make his formal debut for Al-Nassr in a league game against Al Ettifaq.
World soccer rules require the 37-year-old star to finish serving a two-match suspension imposed by the English Football Association in November ahead of the World Cup. Ronaldo slapped a mobile phone out of a fan’s hand following a game against Everton last April.
Read: Deschamps extends contract as France coach to next World Cup
Qatar-owned PSG is visiting Saudi Arabia during a two-day break in the region, including a visit to Doha for promotional work with the club’s portfolio of Qatari sponsors.
Bangladesh Championship League: Wanderers, Swadhinata play out 1-1 draw
Dhaka Wanderers Club and Swadhinata Krira Sangha split points Sunday after their Bangladesh Championship League (BCL) Football 2022-23 clash in the capital ended in a 1-1 draw.
At the Birshreshtha Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur, Sourav put Dhaka Wanderers Club in front in the 21st minute in the day's only BCL match.
Read: Dhaka Abahani drop more points in BPL Football
Sagor found the back of the net for Swadhinata Krira Sangha in the 90th minute.
Deschamps extends contract as France coach to next World Cup
After leading France to another World Cup final, coach Didier Deschamps is signing up for another shot at the title, prolonging his contract to July 2026.
The French Football Federation announced the contract extension on Saturday.
Deschamps, a World Cup winner as a player, took over as coach of Les Bleus in July 2012 and led France to the World Cup title in 2018, beating Croatia in the final.
Under Deschamps, France then came within a whisker of successfully defending its title at the World Cup in Qatar, losing an epic final to Argentina. Argentina won its third World Cup title by beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw featuring two goals from the 35-year-old Lionel Messi and a hat trick by his heir apparent, France forward Kylian Mbappé.
Deschamps has close working relationship with FFF president Noël Le Graët.
REad: Who will win Ballon d'Or 2023?
“In Qatar we almost achieved what we wanted to do, winning the World Cup. There were a lot of positives to take,” Deschamps said Saturday.
France’s players were despondent after losing such a tense final, but were touched by the reception they received when they arrived home.
“Coming back to France, I realized how much emotion and passion a World Cup can generate,” Deschamps said. “We had a lot of support. You can count on me to keep France at the highest level.”
The FFF said Deschamps’ right-hand man, assistant coach Guy Stéphan, is also staying on with Les Bleus, as are goalkeeping coach Franck Raviot and physical trainer Cyril Moine.
Read: 2022 Football Year Review: A Flashback of the Major Events
In 139 matches under Deschamps, France has won 89, drawn 28 and lost just 22, scoring 279 goals and conceding 119.
France reached the final of the European Championship on home soil in 2016, losing 1-0 to Portugal in extra time.
But Euro 2020 was disappointing as Les Bleus went out to Switzerland on penalties in the round of 16. Germany is hosting Euro 2024.
The United States, Mexico and Canada are hosting the 2026 World Cup, which begins in June of that year.
Late goals help PSG beat 3rd-tier Châteauroux in French Cup
Paris Saint-Germain needed two late goals to scrape a 3-1 win at third-tier Châteauroux in the French Cup round of 64 Friday.
PSG coach Christophe Galtier rested star forwards Kylian Mbappé, Neymar and Lionel Messi yet still started with seven international players against a side sitting in a lowly 14th place in the third division.
PSG have won the cup a record 14 times but were knocked out in the round of 16 last season.
With no extra time in the early rounds, Châteauroux were getting on top of the game and a penalty shootout loomed.
But PSG midfielder Carlos Soler pounced from close range in the 78th minute and left-back Juan Bernat ensured victory with a neat finish in stoppage time.
Also Read: Man United beats Everton 3-1 to advance in FA Cup
Galtier hinted at some complacency within his team.
"Imagine if we hadn't qualified. At one stage our team was split in half and that gave them confidence," Galtier said. "Did we think things would be easy once we took the lead? Perhaps."
Galtier picked three teenagers: 16-year-old Warren Zaïre-Emery started in midfield alongside 18-year-old Ismaël Gharbi, with 17-year-old El Chadaille Bitshiabu in central defence.
The match started well enough for PSG when Gharbi threaded a neat pass for striker Hugo Ekitiké to score in the 13th.
But poor defending gifted Châteauroux an equaliser in the 37th, when veteran forward Nolan Roux's cross from the left caused panic and Bitshiabu deflected the loose ball past goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Roux nearly scored moments later with a speculative shot just past the post, with Navas stranded.
Dhaka Abahani drop more points in BPL Football
Dhaka Abahani again dropped points in the eleven-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football after being held to a goalless draw by Bangladesh Police FC in their fourth match Saturday.
Former champions Dhaka Abahani also made a frustrating start to their league campaign after playing out a 1-1 draw against newcomers Fortis SC in their first match.
After the day's match at the Rafiquddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh, the Sky Blue Brigade shared the second spot in the league table with Sheikh Jamal DC, securing eight points each from four matches.
Read: BCL Football:Fakirerpool YC beat Gopalganj SC 3-2; Brothers Union beat Little Friends 2-1
Defending champions Bashundhara Kings have so far dominated the league after securing 12 points from four straight league matches.
In the day's other match, Rahmatganj MFS tasted their first victory in the BPL in their fourth match after defeating newcomers, winless Azampur FC Uttara 1-0 at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj in the afternoon.
Colombian player Valencia scored the match-winning goal for Rahmatganj in the 78th minute.
BCL Football:Fakirerpool YC beat Gopalganj SC 3-2; Brothers Union beat Little Friends 2-1
Fakirerpool Youngmen's Club managed a 3-2 goal victory over Gopalganj Sporting Club in the Bangladesh Championship League (BCL) Football' 2022-23 at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur Saturday afternoon.
Forward Mohammad Musa struck twice in the 10th and 17th minutes (2-0) while Shanto netted the other goal for Youngmen's Club in the 28th minute (3-0) to dominate the first half comfortably.
Later, striker Iftesham Rahman Zidan netted two successive goals for Gopalganj SC in the 2nd half--first in the 66th minute from a penalty and other in the 76th minute (3-2), but failed to avoid defeat.
Read: BPL Football: Bashundhara Kings, Sheikh Russell KC win
Rubel of Youngmen's Club received direct red card in the match.
In the day's other match, Brothers Union Club defeated Little Friends Club by 2-1 goal at the same venue.
After a barren first half, Ziku and Shohag scored one goal each for the Gopibagh outfit Brothers Union while Raihan netted the lone goal for Little Friends.
Man United beat Everton 3-1 to advance in FA Cup
Marcus Rashford scored his fifth goal in as many matches after creating two others to help Manchester United beat Everton 3-1 and reach the fourth round of the FA Cup Friday.
Rashford set up Antony's early opener and saw a second-half cross turned into his own net by Conor Coady, scorer of Everton's equaliser.
Then, in stoppage time, Rashford kept his scoring run going by sending Jordan Pickford the wrong way from the penalty spot after Ben Godfrey fouled Alejandro Garnacho.
United were hardly ruthless, grateful to see a potential Dominic Calvert-Lewin equaliser ruled out for a tight offside call. But United did enough to make it seven straight wins in all competitions for the first time since 2019 when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in caretaker charge.
Read more: Chelsea beats Leicester to go 3rd in PL, avenges FA Cup loss
For Everton, there was consolation in a better performance after losing to Brighton 4-1 midweek left them 18th in the Premier League, the pressure firmly on manager Frank Lampard.
Erik ten Hag named a strong side for his first taste of the FA Cup but notably selected Luke Shaw at centre-back while Lisandro Martinez – without a start since Argentina's World Cup group match against Mexico on November 26 – joined Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof on the bench.
After the horror show of Tuesday night, Lampard reverted to the 3-5-2 system used to frustrate Manchester City last weekend.
Read more: Liverpool vs Chelsea 2022: Who is the favourite to win the FA Cup?
The 9,000 travelling Everton fans arrived in Manchester still fuming over the latest capitulation, the first chant of "Sack the board" coming 15 minutes before kickoff. Their mood did not improve much.
BPL Football: Bashundhara Kings, Sheikh Russell KC win
Star-studded Bashundhara Kings and Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra won their respective matches in the eleven-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football at two separate venues across the country on Friday.
Coming from behind, league champions Bashundhara Kings maintained their winning run in the league beating Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra by 3-1 goals at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj Friday afternoon.
Burundi defender Selemani put the freedom fighters team Muktijoddha ahead in the 10th minute (1-0).
Read: Bangladesh Championship League: BFF Elite Academy beat Wari Club 2-1
Brazilian striker Dorielton Gomes struck twice in the 36th and 45+1 minutes (2-1) while medio Matin Miah netted the other goal for the Kings in the 88th minute (3-1).
In the day's other match, Independence Cup runners-up Sheikh Russell KC beat traditional Dhaka Mohammedan SC by 2-0 goals at their home ground --Bashundhara Sports Complex in Dhaka Friday afternoon.
Nigerian forward Sunday Udoh scored both the goals for Sheikh Russel KC in the 30th and 90+1 minutes.
Earlier, Sheikh Russell KC made a frustrating start after conceding 1-2 goals defeat against Bangladesh Police FC while Mohammedan SC made a good start in the league beating Muktijoddha Sangsad KC by 2-0 goals.
Bayern Munich back in Qatar amid sponsorship uncertainty
The Bayern Munich team flew to Qatar on Friday for its winter training camp amid uncertainty over the club’s contentious sponsorship agreement with the Persian Gulf country.
State-owned Qatar Airways’ lucrative advertising deal is due to expire at the end of the season and there is pressure on the Bavarian powerhouse from its own fans not to extend it. Many Bayern supporters feel it’s damaging to the club’s reputation to take money from a country associated with human rights abuses.
The issue has long been a source of contention between Bayern and its own fans, who have consistently campaigned against the sponsorship agreement. Members of the Bayern ultra-fan groups, Munich’s Red Pride and Club. No. 12, displayed banners at games condemning what they say is the “sports washing” of human rights abuses in Qatar through Bayern’s publicity for the sheikhdom.
“We continue to stand by our position that we’re absolutely against an extension of the sponsorship agreement,” Alexander Salzweger from Club No. 12 told The Associated Press this week. “In contrast to previous years, it’s no longer about an early termination, which would have been more than complicated, but not extending the sponsorship.”
Bayern did not respond to requests for comment.
Fans previously called on Bayern to prematurely end the sponsorship deal. The club’s 2021 AGM ended in tumult and anger when members booed the club’s directors for refusing to discuss the issue.
Bayern president Herbert Hainer apologized at the following AGM last November when he said he made “mistakes” in not allowing a discussion at the previous meeting.
Read more: Bayern Munich vs Barcelona 2022: Match preview, lineups, predictions, where to watch
Club No. 12 organized a public meeting in Munich in 2020 titled “Qatar, human rights and FC Bayern” featuring two migrant workers who spoke of their experiences constructing stadiums for the World Cup. Bayern was invited to send a representative but did not respond to organizers.
The team plays with Qatar Airways on the sleeves of the players’ jerseys. The club receives 10 million euros ($10.5 million) a year from its five-year deal with the Qatari carrier. That arrangement was signed in 2018, replacing Bayern’s previous sponsorship deal with Doha Airport.
The club has been holding mid-season training camps in the Persian Gulf country since 2011, though plans to train there in 2022 and 2021 were scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn said in November that the club was deferring its decision on whether to extend its deal with Qatar Airways.
“We will continue to discuss the issue intensively after the World Cup and find a solution for FC Bayern,” Kahn told members at the AGM.
Read more: Barcelona set to sign striker Lewandowski from Bayern Munich
There has been no news on the issue from the club since.
What can Ronaldo expect from Saudi Pro League soccer?
As Cristiano Ronaldo was quick to point out, he has spent his storied career playing for the “most important” clubs in Europe.
That also meant playing in the most popular leagues in the world in England, Spain and Italy for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.
His move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, however, signals a step into the unknown.
The Saudi Pro League is unlikely to have been on the radar of the majority of his loyal following, but it is where the next and likely last chapter of his career will be played out after signing a 2 1-2 -year contract with Al Nassr.
He will also hope to compete in the Asian Champions League next season if his new club qualifies for the biggest competition in Asian soccer.
“In Europe my work is done,” Ronaldo said when presented by Al Nassr in Riyadh on Tuesday.
But what can the 37-year-old five-time Champions League winner expect from Saudi soccer?
“I know the league is very competitive. People don’t know that, but I know because I saw many games,” he said.
He joins a team that is aiming to become Saudi champions for the 10th time, having last won the title in 2019.
Read more: Ronaldo joins Saudi Club Al Nassr: End of an Era in European Football
The Saudi Pro League, in its current guise, was established in 2008, but the competition dates to 1976. Current champion Al Hilal is the most successful team, having won 18 titles and four Asian Champions Leagues.
Like Al Nassr, it is also based in the Saudi capital of Riyadh and was linked with a move for Ronaldo. While Saudi soccer may not be widely watched in the western world, it is hugely popular in Arabic countries.
More than 1.25 million spectators attended matches in the 2021-22 season, according to official statistics, with a television audience of more than 215 million during that campaign.
And Ronaldo is not the only international player to make his way to Saudi Arabia, with Brazilian former Bayern Munich midfielder Luiz Gustavo already at Al Nassr, as well as ex-Arsenal and Napoli goalkeeper David Ospina.
Former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo plays for Al Hilal.
Ever Banega, who has played for Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Inter Milan and Sevilla, is now at Al Shabab.
Statistics produced last year stated the league of 16 teams has 128 international players.
But none as big as Ronaldo.
“Cristiano is one of the best players in the world. In the history of football he is a legend,” Al Nassr coach Rudi Garcia said on Tuesday. “It is an honor for sure for me, but also for Al Nassr to welcome Cristiano."
Read more: Ronaldo's career at Manchester United may be over
Saudi officials and fans will hope Ronaldo’s arrival prompts more elite players to follow in his footsteps — and that could be his lasting legacy beyond whatever trophies he wins in his time in the country.