United News of Bangladesh

Alonso Martínez ended a three-game goal drought with a 34th-minute strike as New York City FC defeated Charlotte 1-0 on Tuesday night to take the lead in their best-of-three playoff series. NYCFC became the first visiting team to claim a victory in the 2025 MLS playoffs, after the first eight away sides were defeated. The second game of the series is scheduled in New York City on Saturday. Martínez, who scored 17 goals in the regular season, received a headed pass from Andrés Perea, advanced to the edge of the 18-yard box, and calmly slotted the ball past Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina. Goalkeeper Matt Freese, who recorded eight clean sheets during the regular season, made four key saves to preserve the shutout. Charlotte played without forward Wilfried Zaha, who was serving a suspension following a red card. Source: AP

Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal is set to miss the remainder of 2025 after undergoing successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, the Spanish club confirmed on Tuesday. The 33-year-old defender experienced discomfort following his 72nd-minute substitute appearance in Madrid’s 2–1 El Clasico win over Barcelona on Sunday. It was his first match since recovering from a calf injury sustained during the 5–2 loss to Atletico Madrid on September 27. “Following tests carried out on our captain, Dani Carvajal, by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a loose joint in his right knee. Carvajal will undergo arthroscopy,” the club said in an earlier statement. Real Madrid later announced that the operation was successful, though no official recovery timeline was provided. According to ESPN, the club is expecting Carvajal to be out for two to three months, effectively ruling him out for the rest of the calendar year. Meanwhile, Los Blancos received a boost as Trent Alexander-Arnold, who had been sidelined with a hamstring injury, is expected to return to the starting lineup at right back. Real Madrid will host Valencia at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday in their next La Liga fixture.

Lionel Messi has said he hopes to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, while acknowledging that his age and physical condition will determine his role in defending Argentina’s 2022 title. The 38-year-old recently extended his contract with Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami until 2028, indicating he is not yet ready to retire. Speaking to NBC News, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said he will evaluate his fitness next year before deciding on his participation in the tournament across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. “It’s something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup, and I would love to,” Messi said in the interview released on Monday. “I would like to be there, to be well, and be an important part of helping my team, if I am there. I’m going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start preseason next year with Inter, and see if I can really be 100 percent, if I can be useful, and then make a decision. “I’m really eager because it’s a World Cup. We’re coming off winning the last one, and being able to defend it on the field again is spectacular, because it’s always a dream to play with the national team.” Messi, who began his professional career with Barcelona at 17 in 2004, later played for Paris Saint-Germain before joining Inter Miami in 2023. His move to the MLS generated renewed interest in the league ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Although Messi has achieved numerous club and individual honours, international success had eluded him until winning the Copa America 2021, followed by Argentina’s victory over France on penalties to claim the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. “It was the dream of my life,” Messi said of the World Cup triumph. “It was also true that it was the only thing missing at a professional level because I had been lucky enough to have achieved everything at an individual level, at a team level with Barcelona, and I think that’s every player’s dream. When you ask a player what their dream is, it’s to be world champion.” Messi has featured in 195 matches for Argentina, scoring a record 114 goals. If he plays in 2026, it will be his sixth World Cup appearance. With inputs from Al Jazeera

Slumping Juventus fired coach Igor Tudor on Monday following three straight losses and an eight-match winless run. Juventus hasn’t won since Sept. 13 and the announcement came a day after the team’s latest loss, a 1-0 defeat to Lazio — its fourth straight match without scoring a goal. That left Juventus eighth in Serie A, six points below joint leaders Napoli and Roma and three below fourth-place Inter Milan. Juventus also has just two points from its three Champions League matches. Juventus said that reserve team coach Massimo Brambilla will take temporary charge of the team, including for Wednesday home match against Udinese. “Juventus announces that it has today relieved Igor Tudor of his duties as head coach of the men’s first team, along with his staff consisting of Ivan Javorcic, Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci,” the Serie A team said in a brief statement. “The club thanks Igor Tudor and his entire staff for their professionalism and dedication over the past few months and wishes them all the best for their future careers.” Tudor was appointed in March to replace the fired Thiago Motta and initially given a contract until the end of the season — including the Club World Cup in the United States. It was confirmed in June that the 47-year-old was to stay on after guiding Juventus to fourth place and the final Champions League spot with five wins in nine games in Serie A. Tudor played for Juventus for nearly a decade from 1998-2007 and he previously coached Udinese, Hellas Verona and Lazio in Italy. The Croatian was also an assistant coach to Andrea Pirlo at Juventus in 2020-21. Pirlo and Tudor were fired at the end of the season.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Sunday announced the launch of a new regional football competition for Southeast Asia during the ASEAN summit in Malaysia. The region currently hosts the biennial ASEAN Championship, with Vietnam crowned champions in January. However, Infantino said the newly proposed tournament will be scheduled in FIFA’s international match window, ensuring participation of national team players based in leagues around the world. “With the FIFA ASEAN Cup, we are bringing nations closer, and this tournament will be a major success,” Infantino said. “It will strengthen national team football in the ASEAN region and contribute to the wider growth of the sport across Southeast Asia.” His announcement came just hours after East Timor officially became the 11th member of ASEAN. Over 1 million tickets sold for 2026 World Cup in North America: FIFA “The number 11 has special meaning in football since each team fields 11 players,” Infantino noted. Among ASEAN nations, Indonesia was the only side to progress beyond the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Organizers expect the new Southeast Asian competition to mirror the structure of the Arab Cup. FIFA said it will hold discussions with stakeholders, including the Asian Football Confederation, before finalizing the format and schedule. Source: AP 

Real Madrid snapped a run of four consecutive defeats to Barcelona by securing a tense 2-1 victory in the season’s first clasico on Sunday, extending their lead over the Catalans in La Liga. Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham struck in the first half at the Santiago Bernabeu, lifting Madrid five points clear of Barcelona after 10 rounds. The match ended with heated scenes, as players and substitutes clashed following a red card to Pedri in stoppage time. Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal and Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior were among those involved in the confrontation, both during and after the match. Yamal’s pre-game remarks had already drawn attention from Madrid supporters, and Vinícius repeatedly gestured that the teenager was talking too much. “It’s just the tension of a tight game,” Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said. “This is a clasico. Things happen. We don’t need to exaggerate.” Bellingham posted “Talk is cheap” on Instagram, pointing to the significance of the win and praising the team’s performance. The England midfielder also dedicated the result to supporters, noting Madrid’s previous struggles in big fixtures. Mbappé on target VAR played a major role early on. A second-minute penalty for Madrid and a long-range Mbappé strike minutes later were both overturned after video review. But Mbappé broke through in the 22nd, slotting home from Bellingham’s assist. Barcelona hit back through Fermín López in the 38th after Marcus Rashford capitalized on a Madrid turnover. Bellingham restored the advantage in the 43rd, tapping in from close range after Éder Militão kept a Vinícius cross alive. Wojciech Szczesny denied Mbappé from the spot early in the second half, but Madrid held firm to secure their 12th win in 13 matches across all competitions. The only blemish remains September’s 5-2 loss at Atletico Madrid. Meanwhile, Barcelona — hampered by injuries to key attackers including Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Dani Olmo — suffered their third defeat of the campaign. It was in stark contrast to last season, when they dominated all four clasico meetings. Real Madrid outclass toothless Barcelona to win season’s first El Clasico Yamal, in just his third match back from injury, found limited space against Madrid fullback Álvaro Carreras throughout the evening. Reserve goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was sent off after the final whistle, while Vinícius, furious when substituted in the 72nd minute, was booked amid the escalation. “We will address those emotions internally,” Alonso added. “Right now we celebrate a big win.” VAR drama from the start The referee reversed his early penalty call after deciding Vinícius had kicked Yamal’s leg himself. A later offside review also denied Mbappé. Pedri’s dismissal for a late challenge on Aurélien Tchouaméni in stoppage time capped the game’s fiery finish. Around La Liga Elsewhere on Sunday, Mallorca drew 1-1 with Levante, Celta Vigo earned a 3-2 win at Osasuna thanks to Pablo Duran’s late strike, and Alemão sealed Rayo Vallecano’s 1-0 victory over Alaves in stoppage time. Source: AP 

Barcelona entered the first El Clasico of the season having beaten their arch-rivals in all four meetings last season, but they fell apart at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday, suffering a 2-1 defeat against a fired-up Real Madrid side. From the opening whistle, Real Madrid’s hunger for victory was evident. Xabi Alonso’s men played with high intensity and purpose, while Hansi Flick’s Barcelona lacked the drive and sharpness needed to challenge Madrid on their home turf. In truth, the visitors were fortunate to avoid a heavier defeat. Barcelona were also missing the guidance of their head coach, as Hansi Flick served a one-match suspension following a red card in their previous game. Their woes were compounded by injuries to key players including Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Andreas Christensen, and goalkeeper Joan García. Madrid began the match on the front foot, pressing aggressively and creating early danger. They earned a penalty inside the opening five minutes, but it was denied after a VAR review. Moments later, Kylian Mbappé found the net with a stunning long-range strike in the 12th minute, but VAR again ruled the effort out for offside. Bayern break record, extend perfect run against 10-man Gladbach Despite the early setbacks, Real Madrid continued to dominate a disjointed Barcelona side. Their persistence paid off in the 22nd minute when Jude Bellingham split the defense with a precise through ball, allowing Mbappé to fire home a legitimate opener. Barcelona found a response in the 38th minute through Fermin, who capitalized on a superb build-up led by Marcus Rashford. However, Madrid restored their lead just five minutes later. Vinícius Jr. drove down the left flank and delivered a pinpoint cross, which Bellingham guided into the net from a clever pass by Éder Militão. Los Blancos went into halftime with a 2-1 advantage, and it could easily have been more. Barcelona struggled to cope with Madrid’s pressing. Barca’s young winger Lamine Yamal managed to touch the ball just once inside the opposition box during the first half. Early in the second half, Real Madrid were awarded another penalty after Eric García handled the ball with hand inside the box while attempting to block Bellingham. However, Wojciech Szczęsny denied Mbappé’s spot kick, keeping Barcelona in the competition. Sunderland stun Chelsea with stoppage time winner to go second in EPL Madrid thought they had extended their lead in the 68th minute when Bellingham finished off a swift counterattack, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Barcelona improved after the break, showing more energy and control in possession. Despite dominating the ball for long spells, they lacked pace and precision in the final third, failing to break through Madrid’s disciplined defense. So, Bellingham’s second goal remained the difference as Real Madrid fans left the stadium with a wide smile. With the win, Real Madrid moved five points clear at the top of the La Liga table, leading with 27 points from 10 matches. Barcelona remain second with 22 points.  

Manchester United finally appear to be heading in the right direction as they secured a third consecutive Premier League win, outclassing Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 at Old Trafford on Saturday. Ruben Amorim’s side provisionally climbed into the top four with 16 points from nine matches. This is the first time since the 2022–23 season that United have moved up to fourth place in the league table. The Red Devils went into halftime with a two-goal cushion, courtesy of two Brazilians, Matheus Cunha and Casemiro, who scored in the 24th and 34th minutes respectively. After the break, Bryan Mbeumo appeared to have ensured victory for the hosts, but substitute Charalampos Kostoulas revived Brighton’s hopes with a goal in the second minute of stoppage time after Danny Welbeck had pulled one back in the 74th minute. However, just four minutes later, Mbeumo struck again to complete his brace and seal the win for United. The victory extended Amorim’s best run of league results since taking charge last November. It was also the first time United had recorded three successive Premier League wins since February 2024. The result ended Brighton’s winning streak at Old Trafford, which had stretched back three seasons. While it may still be too early to say Amorim has completely turned things around after a difficult start, including United’s worst-ever Premier League campaign last season, recent performances suggest the team is gaining momentum. Following last week’s morale-boosting victory at Liverpool, the signs are clearly positive. “The result was very important, three wins in a row, great for the confidence of the team. We played a great game. We’re a bit disappointed to concede two goals, but the most important thing is the win, and we did it. It feels so good, the atmosphere is crazy here, the fans are unbelievable. It’s always good to score goals, but especially here,” said United’s two-goal hero Bryan Mbeumo in a post-match interview with Sky Sports.

Bayern Munich continued their relentless form in the Bundesliga, defeating ten-man Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-0 on Saturday to set a new league record for most goals scored in the opening eight matches of a season. The reigning champions have now won all eight of their Bundesliga fixtures, scoring 30 goals in the process — the highest tally ever recorded at this stage. With 24 points, Bayern remain firmly at the top of the table, five points clear of second-placed RB Leipzig. Gladbach’s woes deepened early when midfielder Jens Castrop was shown a straight red card in the 19th minute for a reckless challenge on Luis Díaz. Despite their numerical advantage, Bayern found it difficult to break down the hosts’ defense in the first half and went into the interval goalless. After the restart, the visitors increased their intensity. Michael Olise missed two clear chances around the 50th minute, and Harry Kane briefly thought he had given Bayern the lead before his effort was ruled offside. The breakthrough finally came in the 64th minute when Joshua Kimmich calmly finished from the edge of the box to put Bayern ahead. Five minutes later, Raphaël Guerreiro doubled the lead, timing his run perfectly to meet a through ball from Olise and slotting home with composure. Seventeen-year-old midfielder Lennart Karl added a third in the 80th minute with his first senior goal, sealing another dominant victory for the Bavarians. The result extended Bayern’s perfect record across all competitions this season. Germany’s most successful club have now played 13 matches in total — and won every single one of them.

Sunderland continued to impress on their return to the English Premier League after an eight-year absence, defeating Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge thanks to substitute Chemsdine Talbi’s curling strike deep into stoppage time. With this win, Sunderland climbed to second place in the points table with 17 points from nine matches, just two points behind leaders Arsenal. The Gunners, however, can extend the gap as they are set to play their ninth-round fixture against Crystal Palace on Sunday. Chelsea took the lead in the fourth minute through Alejandro Garnacho, but Wilson Isidor equalized in the 22nd before Talbi’s dramatic winner in the third minute of second-half stoppage time sealed the victory for the visitors. “We know we are Sunderland. We have a great team with great players. We knew we could do the job, and we showed it today,” Talbi said in a post-match interview. “We knew against Chelsea we would have a chance to score, and when Brian got the ball, I knew I had to follow. Then I had a good finish,” he added. Chelsea, who could have moved up to second with a win, slipped to seventh, behind their London rivals Tottenham.