United News of Bangladesh

Barcelona entered the pitch at Balaídos aware that Real Madrid had dropped points against Rayo Vallecano. They successfully capitalized on the situation, closing the gap on La Liga summit to three points. The Catalans secured an important 4-2 victory over Celta Vigo on Sunday night thanks to a hat-trick from Robert Lewandowski. Lamine Yamal netted the other goal, while Marcus Rashford provided two assists. Despite falling behind twice, Celta fought back each time before succumbing after Barcelona’s third goal. Lewandowski gave Barcelona the lead with a perfect spot-kick in the 10th minute after Marcos Alonso of Celta handled the ball in the box. However, Sergio Carreira took no time to equalize for the hosts through a counterattack. The Polish striker scored again in the 37th minute to make it 2-1, but defensive lapses haunted Hansi Flick’s side as Borja Iglesias restored parity six minutes later. Barcelona regained the lead before halftime when young sensation Lamine Yamal scored a superb goal. Barcelona resumed the second half with greater composure, controlling the tempo and piling pressure on Celta’s defense. Lewandowski sealed the victory in the 72nd minute, heading home a well-placed corner from Rashford with a spectacular back-header. The victory was slightly marred as Frenkie de Jong received a red card late in the match, ruling him out of the next game. Barcelona head into the international break sitting in second place with 28 points from 12 matches, three behind leaders Real Madrid. After the break, the Catalan giants will host Athletic Bilbao at Camp Nou on November 22.

Manchester City celebrated Pep Guardiola’s 1000th match as a manager with a commanding 3-0 win over defending champions Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. With the victory, the Citizens moved up to second in the Premier League table, closing the gap with leaders Arsenal to four points. Liverpool came into the with a midweek Champions League victory against Real Madrid, but lost rhythm immediately after kick-off. Aside from an early penalty save, Arne Slot’s men struggled to create anything meaningful, while City stretched the lead through Erling Haaland, Nico González and Jérémy Doku. City earned a penalty in the 9th minute when Doku weaved past two defenders and went down after contact with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. Following a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot, but Mamardashvili dived to his left to deny Haaland. With Mamardashvili’s save, City have now failed to score from four of their last five penalties against Liverpool. In contrast, no goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues has saved more penalties than the Georgian shot-stopper (6) since the start of the 2023-24 season. The miss did not keep City waiting long. In the 29th minute, Matheus Nunes whipped in a cross from the right and Haaland headed in to break the deadlock. The 25-year-old Norwegian, the league’s top scorer, has now netted 14 goals in 11 Premier League matches, and 28 in 18 games across all competitions for club and country this season. His league tally now stands at 99 goals in 108 matches.

Real Madrid tasted their first defeat of the season in all competitions on Tuesday in the Champions League, losing 1-0 to Liverpool. Just three days later, they dropped points in La Liga against Rayo Vallecano. Xabi Alonso’s men were held to a goalless draw on Sunday in Vallecas after a colourless performance. With this result, their grip on the La Liga summit loosened as arch-rivals Barcelona can move within reach again with a win away at Celta Vigo. Los Blancos attempted a total of 21 shots with 54 percent possession but managed only five on target, while Rayo registered only two on target from 13 attempts. Arda Güler tested Batalla early with a 3rd-minute strike from outside the box. In the 20th minute, Andrei Ratiu missed a golden chance for Rayo, shooting straight at Thibaut Courtois despite having an unmarked teammate in front of goal. Two minutes later, Vinicius Junior’s dipping effort was kept out by Batalla’s sharp reflexes. Raul Asensio then failed to convert a close-range header in the 23rd minute. Neither side produced notable chances afterward in the first half. The tempo increased after the break. Jorge de Frutos’ shot went wide from a tight angle in the 50th minute, while Güler missed by inches three minutes later. In the 55th, Jude Bellingham’s near-post effort was denied by Batalla again. Real kept pressing but struggled to create clear openings inside the box. Fede Valverde’s 69th-minute long-range strike was pushed away by Batalla, and Éder Militão’s 87th-minute header was also gathered by the Rayo keeper. Güler’s final attempt in added time deflected wide. With the draw, Real Madrid still remain top with 31 points from 12 matches. Villarreal sit second with 26 from 12, while defending champions Barcelona are third with 25 from 11. They will play against Celta Vigo with an eye to narrowing the gap at the top.

Lionel Messi was unstoppable as Inter Miami cruised past Nashville SC 4-0 on Saturday, securing a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the MLS playoffs. Messi scored twice and assisted two more goals in the decisive Game 3 of the first-round series, which Inter Miami won 2-1. Tadeo Allende added a brace in the second half, both set up by Messi, helping the third-seeded Herons dominate Nashville, outscoring them 8-3 across the series. Messi was involved in all eight goals, scoring five and assisting three. Inter Miami will face FC Cincinnati in a single-elimination semifinal on Nov. 22 or 23. The teams split their regular-season meetings, with Cincinnati winning 3-0 at home and drawing 0-0 in Fort Lauderdale. “This is the first time Inter Miami has advanced this far in the playoffs,” said coach Javier Mascherano, praising a near-perfect team performance. Messi’s brilliance has propelled the club to uncharted territory in South Florida’s MLS history. Manchester United earn a deserved point after stoppage-time drama Messi, MLS’ leading scorer and Golden Boot winner, recently signed a three-year contract extension through 2028 and is the frontrunner for a second consecutive MVP award. The Eastern Conference final will feature the Inter Miami-Cincinnati winner against either Philadelphia Union or NYCFC, with the MLS Cup final set for Dec. 6. Source: AP

Richarlison thought he had clinched a victory for Tottenham in the first minute of stoppage time, but the drama was far from over. Five minutes later, in the penultimate minute of the match, Matthijs de Ligt silenced the home fans with a stunning header to earn Manchester United a well-deserved point. The Red Devils drew 2-2 with Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday. The visitors took the lead when Bryan Mbeumo, who was named Premier League Player of the Month on Friday, came back to haunt his former manager Thomas Frank, guiding in Amad Diallo’s cross in the 32nd minute. That was the only shot on target for either side in the first half, although the hosts dominated possession with 55 percent. After the break, Tottenham piled pressure on the United defence, creating chances one after another. However, Ruben Amorim’s men stayed well-organised, denying all attacks and looking for a second goal whenever they regained possession. But it was Mathys Tel who found the equaliser for Tottenham six minutes before time. Richarlison then thought he had won it for the hosts with a clever flicked header a minute into stoppage time, but de Ligt ensured the Red side of Manchester would return with at least a point from north London. With the result, United stretched their unbeaten run to five matches, while Tottenham have now gone eight games without defeat against United. The draw saw Tottenham move up to third place with 18 points from 11 matches, seven points behind leaders Arsenal ahead of the rest of the weekend fixtures. United also have 18 points but sit seventh due to an inferior goal difference. The Premier League will pause for the international break over the next fortnight. When it returns, Tottenham will face leaders Arsenal on Sunday, November 23, while United will host Everton the following evening.

Nicolás Fernández scored twice in stoppage time while Alonso Martínez added another as New York City FC defeated Charlotte FC 3-1 on Friday night, winning the decisive third match of their best-of-three first-round MLS Cup playoff series. With the victory, fifth-seeded NYCFC advanced to face top-seeded Philadelphia Union away in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The date and time for the match are yet to be announced. Fernández, a 25-year-old midfielder in his debut season, broke the deadlock with an unassisted goal in first-half stoppage time to give New York a 1-0 lead at the break. Just five minutes into the second half, Martínez doubled the advantage, converting a pass from Maxi Moralez. It was Martínez’s second goal of this postseason and his third in seven playoff appearances, while the assist marked Moralez’s first in 21 playoff outings — all with NYCFC. Charlotte FC, seeded fourth, pulled one back in the 81st minute through first-year forward Idan Toklomati, who netted his maiden postseason goal off assists from Archie Goodwin and Harry Toffolo. Fernández sealed the victory with his second goal of the night in the 10th minute of stoppage time, assisted by Hannes Wolf, who recorded his first playoff assist in seven appearances.   NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese, making his seventh postseason start, did not face a shot on target. Charlotte’s Kristijan Kahlina made four saves in his seventh playoff start, but his team struggled to recover momentum after losing Pep Biel to a season-ending injury during the Leagues Cup. Source: AP

World champions Argentina have announced their final squad of 2025 ahead of a friendly against Angola, with coach Lionel Scaloni opting for a mix of experience and youth as part of his long-term World Cup preparations. The 24-man roster, unveiled Thursday, includes captain Lionel Messi and introduces two newcomers — Gianluca Prestianni and Joaquín Panichelli — both earning their first senior call-ups. Young talents Máximo Perrone and Valentín Barco also retain their spots as Scaloni continues to broaden his player pool. Panichelli, 23, who plays for French side Racing Strasbourg, has been in outstanding form this season with nine goals in 11 Ligue 1 appearances, making him the league’s top scorer. The 6’2” forward, a River Plate academy graduate, also netted on his Europa Conference League debut. Goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez has been rested, while no players from Argentina’s domestic league were included — a decision reflecting Scaloni’s strategy to test new combinations and rest key regulars ahead of a busy international calendar leading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The upcoming friendly carries symbolic value for hosts Angola, marking the country’s 50th year of independence. According to reports, the Angolan government paid around €12 million to bring the World Cup winners to Luanda for the match on November 14. Foden shines, Haaland’s form continues as City beat Dortmud 4-1 Argentina squad: Goalkeepers: Gerónimo Rulli (Marseille), Walter Benítez (Crystal Palace) Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth), Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon), Valentín Barco (Racing Strasbourg) Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Thiago Almada (Atlético Madrid), Máximo Perrone (Como), Nicolás Paz (Como) Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid), Nicolás González (Atlético Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atlético Madrid), José Manuel López (Palmeiras), Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica), Joaquín Panichelli (Racing Strasbourg).

China’s appointment of former international Shao Jiayi as the national coach has been welcomed at home and abroad. Shao, aged 45, played at the 2002 World Cup — China’s only appearance at the tournament — and is considered one of the nation’s most successful exports after spending nine years in Germany. As a coach, Shao previously served as an assistant with the national side and took over Qingdao West Coast in 2024. The club is ninth in the Chinese Super League. “I support the decision,” former China international Mao Jianqing said. “Shao Jiayi is capable, and his personality and other aspects are suitable. The national team can’t be changed by one coach immediately, it takes time.” China has been without a permanent coach since June when Branko Ivankovic of Croatia departed following the team’s elimination from 2026 World Cup qualifying. As a player, Shao made nearly 200 appearances for German clubs 1860 Munich, Energie Cottbus and MSV Duisburg from 2002-11 then returned to his original club Beijing Guoan, where he ended his playing career in 2015. The German Football Association congratulated Shao on the appointment: “We look forward to seeing China’s national team reach new heights under his leadership, and the Bundesliga remains committed to long-term cooperation and supporting the sustainable development of Chinese football.” Shao is the third member of China’s 2002 World Cup squad to coach the national team following Li Tie, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence on corruption charges, and Li Xiaopeng. His first task is to prepare for the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Manchester City continued their impressive run in the Champions League as Pep Guardiola’s men defeated Borussia Dortmund 4-1 at the Etihad on Wednesday. Phil Foden rediscovered his rhythm, scoring a brace, while Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki contributed the other two of City’s four goals. On the other hand, Waldemar Anton scored Dortmund’s only goal in the 72nd minute. With the victory, Manchester City extended their unbeaten run in the competition, while Dortmund suffered their first defeat of the campaign. After four rounds, City climbed to fourth place with 10 points from three wins and a draw. Bayern Munich lead the standings with maximum points (12), while the next two sides, Arsenal and Inter Milan, also have 12 points each. City dominate from the start Guardiola’s men put Dortmund on the back foot from the opening whistle with a series of well-coordinated attacks. City took control of the match inside the first 30 minutes with two goals. They nearly went ahead in the 10th minute, but Foden’s powerful low strike went straight to Gregor Kobel. Six minutes later, the Dortmund goalkeeper denied him again, this time saving a shot from outside the penalty area. In the 22nd minute, Foden finally found the breakthrough. Receiving a pass from Tijjani Reijnders, the England midfielder advanced a few steps and fired a low diagonal drive that sneaked inside the far post. Five minutes later, Haaland almost made it 2-0 as he set up Nico O’Reilly, but Kobel produced a superb reflex save, tipping the fierce attempt over the crossbar with one hand.

Barcelona dominated possession by 76 percent and produced 23 attempts, but spent almost the entire match chasing equalizers as a defensive nightmare sank the Catalans in Belgium. Hansi Flick’s men dropped points again, this time in a 3-3 draw against a promising Club Brugge side. It was a match where the Blaugrana could easily have returned home with a big win, but their recurring defensive woes haunted them from the opening whistle to the last minute. In fact, they could have lost the match 4-3 had Brugge’s stoppage-time goal not been ruled out. The home side started brightly, taking the lead in the 6th minute after creating a couple of early chances. On their third attempt, Carlos Forbs initiated a counter-attack and squared the ball to Nicolo Tresoldi in front of Barca’s box. The 21-year-old Italy-born German international slotted the ball under Wojciech Szczęsny to give Brugge the opening goal. However, the visitors wasted no time in responding, as Ferran Torres equalised just two minutes later. Fermín López carried the attack through the right channel and delivered a delicious low cross across the six-yard box. The Spanish forward made no mistake in connecting and finding the net. After the quick exchange of goals, Barca took complete control of the match and began to pile pressure on the Brugge defence. Fermín nearly put the visitors ahead in the 11th minute, but his long-range shot struck the outside of the left post and bounced away. Despite Barcelona’s dominance, it was the home team who struck again, capitalising on another counter-attack in the 17th minute. Barcelona’s defensive line was pushed too high, allowing Christos Tzolis to break from midfield on a solo run. The winger squared the ball to Forbs, who beat Szczęsny without facing any challenge to restore Brugge’s lead.