The local football season 2024-25, which was schedule to start on October 11 through Challenge Cup Football, has been deferred by one and half month due to venue crisis and other prevailing circumstances. The local football season will now begin in the last week of November this year. The decision was taken at an online emergency meeting of the BFF Professional League Management Committee held Tuesday afternoon. The meeting, which was earlier scheduled for last Saturday, was cancelled in the dying moment due to heavy downpour in the capital. The day’s meeting decided to start the local football season under new standing committee to be formed after the upcoming BFF election on October 26. Read: Man City and Premier League claim a win after challenge of league's financial fairness rules League committee chairman and vice president of Bangladesh football federation Imrul Hasan said, “We need at-least five venues for the 10-team premier league, now we have only two available venues –Bashundhara Kings and Rafiquddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh.”  The other proposed venues in Cumilla, Munshiganj, Gazipur and Manikganj are not ready till date. “So, we decided to defer the league till last week of November, as all the match venues are not ready and as well as for the appeal of the participating teams and reviewing the existing situation”. Read more: Bangladesh Football Federation election on October 26 Earlier, the local football season due to start with Challenge Cup Football from October 11 at the Bashundhara Kings Arena, Federation Cup Football due to kick-off on October 15 and the Football League scheduled to begin on October 18. 

When Joan Monfort took photos of Lionel Messi with a baby for a charity calendar almost 17 years ago, he knew the long-haired young man would make it big in soccer. He could not have imagined the little boy would as well. The baby in the photos — which have gone viral — was none other than Lamine Yamal, the Spanish wunderkind, who at 16 is showing such promise that he’s already being compared to the greats. The youngest to have played for Spain, he became the youngest player ever in the ongoing European Championship in Germany. Messi’s 109th goal leads defending champion Argentina over Canada 2-0 and into Copa America final One of the long-forgotten photos from 2007 resurfaced after Yamal’s father posted it on Instagram last week with the text “the beginning of two legends.” Monfort, 56, who works as a freelance photographer for The Associated Press and others, said the photo shoot took place in the visitors’ locker room at Barcelona’s Camp Nou in the autumn of 2007, when Yamal was just a few months old. Barcelona players posed with children and their families for a calendar as part of an annual charity drive by local newspaper Diario Sport and UNICEF. Monfort was in charge of the photo shoots — and it just so happened that Messi was paired with Yamal’s family. His mother, who is from Equatorial Guinea, is next to Messi and the baby in one of the photos. “We made the calendar with the help of UNICEF. So UNICEF did a raffle in the neighborhood of Roca Fonda in Mataró where Lamine’s family lived. They signed up for the raffle to have their picture taken at the Camp Nou with a Barca player. And they won the raffle,” Monfort said. It wasn’t an easy assignment, he recalled, mainly because Messi wasn’t sure how to interact with baby Lamine, who was in a plastic tub for the shoot. “Messi is a pretty introverted guy, he’s shy,” Monfort said. “He was coming out of the locker room and suddenly he finds himself in another locker room with a plastic tub full of water and a baby in it. It was complicated. He didn’t even know how to hold him at first.” Messi was 20 at the time and already considered a big talent, but it would take a couple of years before he made his mark as the most outstanding player of his generation for Barcelona and Argentina. Sr. Division Football : Mohakhali Ekadosh beat Bangladesh Boys by 1-0 goal Like Messi, Yamal has gone through Barcelona’s renowned La Masia youth academy. Despite his age, he’s been one of Spain’s best players at Euro 2024, where his team will play France in the semifinals on Tuesday. Yamal will turn 17 on Saturday, the day before the final in Berlin. Monfort, 56, had no idea it was Yamal in those photos from 2007 until a friend messaged him as they started trending online. He’s had a long career as a sports photographer since 1991, following Barcelona around the world, but said he’s never experienced this level of excitement around any of his photos. “It’s very exciting to be associated with something that has caused such a sensation,” he said. “To tell you the truth it’s a very nice feeling.”

The Copa America 2024 is scheduled to take place from 20th June to 14th July. Ahead of it, CONMEBOL has published the fixture of the tournament which will take place in the USA. It is the 48th edition of the oldest, still-running international football competition in the world. Argentina are the defending champions of COPA America.  Host and Venues the Copa America 2024  CONMEBOL has a unique way of choosing the hosts for the Copa America. Usually, the responsibility of organizing the tournament is allotted by alphabetical rotational order. In that system, the Copa America 2024 was originally supposed to be hosted by Ecuador. However, Ecuador declined the opportunity. Then Peru and the USA showed interest, and the USA was selected as part of the new strategic partnership of CONMEBOL and CONCACAF.  Table: List of Stadiums Stadium Name Location (States) AT&T Stadium Texas Mercedes-Benz Stadium Georgia Q2 Stadium Texas Bank of America Stadium North Carolina MetLife Stadium New Jersey NRG Stadium Texas SoFi Stadium California Levi's Stadium California State Farm Stadium Arizona Allegiant Stadium Nevada Arrowhead Stadium Missouri Children's Mercy Park Kansas Hard Rock Stadium Florida Inter&Co Stadium Florida . Read more: 19-year-old Utshob taking Bangladesh to the global boxing ring Groups and Fixtures of the 2024 Copa America Tournament The Copa America 2024 will be contested by 16 teams. The teams are divided into 4 groups of four. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-final rounds. From there, single knock-out games in quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals will decide the champions. Table: Groups Group A Group B Group C Group D Argentina Mexica USA Brazil Peru Ecuador Uruguay Colombia Chile Venezuela Panama Paraguay Canada Jamaica Bolivia Costa Rica . Read more: Bangladesh v USA: Freak storm in Houston puts 3-match pre-World Cup series in doubt Table: Match Dates and Times adjusted in Bangladesh Standard-Times Date Team 1 vs Team 2 Time (BST) Stadium Group Stage 21-Jun-24 Argentina vs Canada 6:00 AM Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Georgia 22-Jun-24 Peru vs Chile 6:00 AM AT&T Stadium, Texas 23-Jun-24 Ecuador vs Venezuela 4:00 AM Levi's Stadium, California 23-Jun-24 Mexico vs Jamaica 7:00 AM NRG Stadium, Texas 24-Jun-24 USA vs Bolivia 4:00 AM AT&T Stadium, Texas 24-Jun-24 Uruguay vs Panama 7:00 AM Hard Rock Stadium, Florida 25-Jun-24 Colombia vs Paraguay 4:00 AM NRG Stadium, Texas 25-Jun-24 Brazil vs Costa Rica 7:00 AM SoFi Stadium, California 26-Jun-24 Peru vs Canada 4:00 AM Children's Mercy Park, Kansas 26-Jun-24 Chile vs Argentina 7:00 AM MetLife Stadium, New Jersey 27-Jun-24 Ecuador vs Jamaica 4:00 AM Allegiant Stadium, Nevada 27-Jun-24 Venezuela vs Mexico 7:00 AM SoFi Stadium, California 28-Jun-24 Panama vs USA 4:00 AM Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Georgia 28-Jun-24 Uruguay vs Bolivia 7:00 AM MetLife Stadium, New Jersey 29-Jun-24 Colombia vs Costa Rica 4:00 AM State Farm Stadium, Arizona 29-Jun-24 Paraguay vs Brazil 7:00 AM Allegiant Stadium, Nevada 30-Jun-24 Argentina vs Peru 6:00 AM Hard Rock Stadium, Florida 30-Jun-24 Chile vs Canada 6:00 AM Inter&Co Stadium, Florida 1-Jul-24 Mexico vs Ecuador 6:00 AM State Farm Stadium, Arizona 1-Jul-24 Jamaica vs Venezuela 6:00 AM Q2 Stadium, Texas 2-Jul-24 Bolivia vs Panama 7:00 AM Inter&Co Stadium, Florida 2-Jul-24 USA vs Uruguay 7:00 AM Arrowhead Stadium, Missouri 3-Jul-24 Brazil vs Colombia 7:00 AM Levi's Stadium, California 3-Jul-24 Costa Rica vs Paraguay 7:00 AM Q2 Stadium, Texas Quarter-Finals 5-Jul-24 A1 vs B2 7:00 AM NRG Stadium, Texas 6-Jul-24 B1 vs A2 7:00 AM AT&T Stadium, Texas 7-Jul-24 C1 vs D2 4:00 AM Allegiant Stadium, Nevada 7-Jul-24 D1 vs C2 7:00 AM State Farm Stadium, Arizona Semi-Finals 10-Jul-24 Winner of Quarter-Final 1 vs Winner of Quarter-Final 2 6:00 AM MetLife Stadium, New Jersey 11-Jul-24 Winner of Quarter-Final 3 vs Winner of Quarter-Final 4 6:00 AM Bank of America Stadium, North Carolina Third Place 14-Jul-24 Defeated Team of Semi-Final 1 vs Defeated Team of Semi-Final 2 6:00 AM Bank of America Stadium, North Carolina Grand Finale 15-Jul-24 Winner of Semi-Final 1 vs Winner of Semi-Final 2 6:00 AM Hard Rock Stadium, Florida Conclusion The Copa America 2024 will kick off on the 20th of June with defending champion Argentina taking on Canada at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Runner-ups Brazil will begin their journey on 24th June against Costa Rica at SoFi Stadium. Host USA will play their first match at AT&T Stadium against Bolivia. The tournament will close its curtains on the 14th of July at the Hard Rock Stadium.  Read more: Copa America 2024: Brazil Squad Analysis

Former Bangladesh national football team captain and Dhaka Abahani Club legend Sheikh Mohammad Aslam has expressed serious concerns about the decline of sports in his hometown of Khulna, declaring the scene "dead." Though retired from professional football, Aslam remains deeply invested in the sport, both in the Khulna region and across Bangladesh. In an exclusive interview with UNB, Aslam reflected on the stark contrast between Khulna's once thriving sports culture and its current state. Read more: Women's Football League: Bangladesh Army taste first defeat losing to Suddopuskorini JSC 1-2 “I was brought to Khulna Stadium by my father and uncles as a child. The stadium was packed with fans,” he reminisced. "People loved football! It wasn't just football but also athletics, weightlifting, and various other events—Khulna had a legacy, a great reputation. We had talented Khulna players at every level. I salute all those who helped Khulna achieve national recognition. Today, I feel that place is totally gone. There is practically no sports in Khulna now.”

Brazil lost the chance to win back-to-back Copa America after becoming 2nd best to Argentina at home in 2021. They will now look to regain their glory. For that, they have announced their 23-man squad ahead of Copa America 2024 which will kick off on the 20th of June. Brazil Squad for Copa America 2024 Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Éderson (Manchester City), Bento (Athletico-PR). Defenders: Danilo (Juventus), Yan Couto (Girona), Guilherme Arana (Atlético-MG), Wendell (FC Porto), Beraldo (Paris Saint-Germain), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), and Militão (Real Madrid). Midfielders: Andreas Pereira (Fulham), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), João Gomes (Wolverhampton), and Lucas Paquetá (West Ham). Forwards: Endrick (Palmeiras), Martinelli (Arsenal), Evanilson (Porto), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Savinho (Girona), and Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid).  Read more: From fan to hero, super sub Joselu lifts Real Madrid past Bayern and into Champions League final Analysis of the Brazil Squad for Copa America 2024 The new coach of Brazil, Dorival Júnior, has opted to go on the mission of winning Copa America with a fresh squad. As a result, many familiar and experienced faces over the years for Brazil have been left out of the team. The list includes Thiago Silva, Alex Sandro, Dani Alves, and Fabinho, the players Dorival did not pick from the squad for World Cup 2022.  He also left out some players because of form and injury issues. Therefore, star players like Neymar, Casemiro, Richarlison, and Gabriel Jesus make the list of prominent absentees from the squad. The wealth of experience missing in the squad can be a huge miss for Brazil as it is hard to replace. However, it has also allowed Brazil to test and get new winners for their team. Young Prodigy Endrick and Savio have been called up along with Yan Couto, Douglas Luiz, Beraldo, and João Gomes after impressive performances this season. Their attack on paper is one of the best in the world currently. Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo are on their way to leading Real Madrid to their 15th UCL and League-UCL double. Savinho has been performing brilliantly to take Girona to the UCL this season. He is one of the best dribblers in Europe this season as well. Endrick already has 2 goals in his first 92 minutes for Brazil. Martinelli, Raphinha, and Evanilson can also shine on their day. Their attack looks secure and blazing. It is the strongest unit of their team. Their defense also has a solid starting unit. Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães are a tested duo for them and quite reliable as well following their performances at PSG and Arsenal this season. Due to their form this season, Wendell and Yan Couto are possible starting full-back candidates. However, their backup of these players might be a point to worry about. Militão has been out for almost the whole season through injury. Beraldo is a solid CB but quite young as well. Yet their defense looks good to go. Goalkeeping is one of the least concerns for them having two of the best in business Alisson Becker and Éderson fighting for the spot. The midfield has been a problem for quite some years now for Brazil. Even after having some of the best players in the world, it just doesn’t seem to click for them. The coaches also often fail to figure out the best combination of midfield. The concern remains this time too.  Though they have names like Bruno Guimarães, Andreas Pereira, Douglas Luiz, and Lucas Paquetá in their arsenal who can create plenty from the midfield, they don’t have a specialist defensive midfielder to play the destroyer role in the team. This might be a big issue for them in the tournament. Bruno Guimarães has been starting regularly for them since the World Cup and is supposed to lead their midfield this time. He might join with two of Douglas Luiz, Andreas Pereira, and Lucas Paquetá. Nonetheless, it would be interesting to see what combination will Dorival Junior choose for the Copa America 2024. Read more: Maradona's 1986 Golden Ball heads to auction Key Players from Brazil Squad of Copa America 2024 Alisson Becker The goalkeepers always have a big role to play in such tournaments. Alisson Becker would have to do the same for Brazil. They should pass the group stage ahead of Columbia, Paraguay, and Costa Rica. But the knock-out stage can be tricky with the tie-breaker equation. Alisson has to be the biggest savior of Brazil here.  Bruno Guimarães With the absence of Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães has an enormous responsibility to lead and carry the Brazilian midfield. He is capable in every sense of doing the job. However, Brazil will largely depend on him to dominate the middle of the park which has not been working for quite some time now. Therefore, he will be a differentiating player for Brazil this time. Vinícius Júnior Vinícius Júnior is arguably the best winger in the world currently. He is going to be the spearhead of the Brazilian attack. After leading Real Madrid to the La Loga title this season and on the verge of winning the UEFA Champions League with 32 goal contributions, not many people would doubt him being the force to win the Copa America 2024 for Brazil. Rodrygo Rodrygo was the helping hand of Vinícius Júnior for what Real Madrid has achieved this season. He has overall 26 goal contributions and played a massive part in their success. If he can pair up with Vinícius Júnior for Brazil as he does at Real Madrid, great things are waiting for Brazil in this Copa America 2024. Endrick Endrick might be the trump card for Brazil. The new young prodigy of this great footballing nation has. He has taken the world by storm after scoring against England and Spain in back-to-back games this March. He scored 2 goals in 92 minutes of game-time for Brazil. With Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, he can cause havoc on the opponent's defense which is the best output for Brazil. Read more: César Luis Menotti, coach who led Argentina to its first World Cup title in 1978, dies at 85 Performance of Brazil Since the 2022 FIFA World Cup Table: Overview of Brazil’s stats after the last World Cup Brazil Since FIFA World Cup 2022 Played Won Loss Draw Goals Scored Goals Conceded 11 4 5 2 19 17 Brazil have been in a shaky position since the 2022 FIFA World Cup. They have played 11 games of which they have won only 4 while losing 5. They scored 19 goals but conceded 17 too. Additionally, the most productive player of the squad was Neymar in these games who will be unavailable for this game. Although, Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo are capable of filling that void. Yet they are not providing as much as fans would hope for them to.  Additionally, despite having a solid defensive core, their goal-conceded ratio is alarming which raises a question about Brazil’s defense. Adding to that, their midfield is not very strong this time. At least compared to the rivals, they may fall short in this department which can cause them woes. Compared to the solid performances of the teams like Argentina and Uruguay, they are not the top favorites this time. However, they should easily march on to the semi-finals of how the draw has gone. From there on, it is anybody's game. And you never write off Brazil, or the players they have this time. Verdict Brazil are supposed to go to the semis of Copa America 2024 quite comfortably. Considering the depth in attack, Brazil is one of the best in the world, and the defense created by in-form defenders remains their biggest strength. If these players click well, Brazil are very much on course for their 10th Copa America title. Read more: UEFA Champions League Final 2023/2024: Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid Prediction

The 2024 UEFA Champions League final will take place at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on 1 June 2024. The two finalists are German club Borussia Dortmund and Spanish club Real Madrid.  In this 69th season of Europe's premier club football tournament, Real Madrid will fight for their 15th Champions League trophy. On the other hand, Borussia Dortmund will look to add a 2nd UCL trophy to their cabinet, after their 1st one in 1997.  Road to the Final: How the finalists got there Stats of Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League 2023-24 Table: Match Results of Real Madrid in the ongoing Champions League So Far Round Opponent Home/Away Result Group Union Berlin Home 1-0 Win Napoli Away 3-2 Win Barga Away 2-1 Win Barga Home 3-0 Win Napoli Home 4-2 Win Union Berlin Away 3-2 Win Round of 16 RB Leipzig Away 1-0 Win RB Leipzig Home 1-1 Quarter-Finals Manchester City Home 1-1 Manchester City Away 3-3 Semi-Finals Bayern Munich Away 2-2 Bayern Munich Home 2-1 Win Real Madrid had an incredible run this season. They are yet to be beaten in this season’s Champions League. They were drawn into a group with Napoli, S.C. Braga, and Union Berlin, where they topped the group winning all the matches, the only team other than defending champions Manchester City to do it this season.  Read more: FIFA World Ranking: Bangladesh drops to 184th In the knockouts, they faced RB Leipzig in the round 16, winning the tie 2-1 on aggregate. Their quarter-final tie was their toughest this time when they clashed with Manchester City. After an exhausting tie of two legs which finished 4-4 on aggregate, they got the edge over City on penalties. They won the semi-finals in the most Real Madrid manner possible.  After getting a 2-2 draw from Allianz Arena, they trailed by 1-0 in the Santiago Bernabeu until the 88th minute. Then Joeslu scored two in a matter of 3 minutes to take them to the finals.  Stats of Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League 2023-24 Table: Match Results of Borussia Dortmund in the ongoing Champions League So Far Round Opponent Home/Away Result Group PSG Away 2-0 Loss AC Milan Home 0-0 Newcastle Away 1-0 Win Newcastle Home 2-0 Win AC Milan Away 3-1 Win PSG Home 1-1 Round of 16 PSV Eindhoven Away 1-1 PSV Eindhoven Home 2-0 Win Quarter-Finals Atletico Madrid Away 2-1 Loss Atletico Madrid Home 4-2 Win Semi-Finals PSG Home 1-0 Win PSG Away 1-0 Win Borussia Dortmund was drawn into the group of death this season with PSG, AC Milan, and Newcastle. They started their campaign with a 2-0 loss against PSG and a 0-0 draw against Milan but gradually gained momentum. They won their next three games and ended the group stage with a 1-1 draw against PSG to top the group.  Read more: SAFF U-16 Women's Champs: Bangladesh come from behind to beat India on penalties in final Later they came away with an aggregate 3-1 win against PSV Eindhoven in the round of 16. Their quarter-final battle was against Atletico Madrid. Atletico won the first leg by 2-1. But Dortmund turned things at home with a 4-2 win to proceed to the semi-finals where they were facing PSG. PSG had the upper hand in the group games between these two. But Dortmund fought all the odds and beat PSG by 1-0 in both legs to advance to their 3rd ever UEFA Champions League final. It is their first one since 2012-2013. Stats of Previous Finals  Table: Performances of the 2024 UEFA Champions League Finalists in Previous Finale Matches  Team Previous Final Appearances Wins  Borussia Dortmund 2 (1997, 2013) 1997  Real Madrid 17 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1981, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022) 14 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022) Note: Final matches until 1992 were in the European Cup era. Since 1993 the finals were in the UEFA Champions League era. Read more: FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh concede 0-1 goal defeat against Palestine in last moment debacle H2H Records between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund So Far in UEFA Champions League Table: Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund Head-to-Head Records Matches Played Real Madrid Win Draw Borussia Dortmund 14 6 5 3 Table: Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund Goal Records Goals Scored Real Madrid Borussia Dortmund 24 19 Full Squads of Real Madrid Goal Keepers: Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Diego Piñeiro, Fran González, and Lucas Cañizares. Read more: Real Madrid will be out for revenge against Man City in the Champions League. Expect fireworks Defenders:   Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, David Alaba, Nacho, Fran García, Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy, Rafel Obrador, Alvaro Carrillo, Marvel, Vinicius Tobias, Edgar Pujol, and Jacobo Ramón.  Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Toni Kroos, Luka Modrić, Eduardo Camavinga, FedericoValverde, Lucas Vázquez, Aurélien Tchouameni, Dani Ceballos, Brahim Díaz, Arda Güler, Mario Martín, Nicolás Paz, and Théo Zidane.  Forwards:  Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, Joselu, Álvaro Rodríguez, and Gonzalo.  Read more: FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh to play Lebanon in Qatar June 11 Full Squads of Borussia Dortmund Goal Keepers: Gregor Kobel, Silas Ostrzinski, Alexander Meyer, and Marcel Lotka. Defenders:   Nico Schlotterbeck, Ramy Bensebaini, Mats Hummels, Ian Maatsen, Emre Can, Niklas Süle, Julian Ryerson, Lion Semic, and Guillermo Bueno.  Midfielders: Salih Özcan, Felix Nmecha, Jadon Sancho, Marco Reus, Julien Duranville, Marius Wolf, Julian Brandt, Marcel Sabitzer, Abdoulaye Kamara, Kjell-Arik Wätjen, and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens. Forwards: Sébastien Haller, Niclas Füllkrug, Youssoufa Moukoko, Donyell Malen, Karim Adeyemi, Paris Brunner, and Samuel Bamba. Read more: César Luis Menotti, coach who led Argentina to its first World Cup title in 1978, dies at 85 Key Players for Real Madrid: Vinicius Junior Vinicius is a player who is made for big occasions and is a difference-maker for such games. He scored 5 and assisted 5 in this campaign. But 2 of his 5 goals came against Bayern in the semis and one came against Leipzig in the Round of 16. Similarly, 4 of his 5 assists came against Manchester City and Bayern Munich in the quarter and semi-finals. He has been the guy for Real Madrid to deliver at the big moments and he has to do it once again. Andriy Lunin The Ukrainian shot-stopper has been saving almost everything that has been thrown at him. He is a big factor for Real Madrid coming this far despite having all the injuries in the squad. He has the third most saves in this UCL. He has to step up in the final also. Key Players for Borussia Dortmund Gregor Kobel Borussia Dortmund has been progressing so far thanks to their defensive grit and resilience. Their Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel had played a big part in it. He conceded only 8, the lowest among keepers, playing at least 10 matches this season. He also has the most clean sheets and saves this season. Against a team with such attacking prowess as Real Madrid, Kobel surely has to bring out his best to win it for his team. Read more: Maradona's 1986 Golden Ball heads to auction Mats Hummels Borussia Dortmund conceded the 2nd least amount of goals amongst clubs who have reached at least the quarter-finals. Their defense has driven them to the finals this season. Mats Hummels is the leader of this defense.  He is the player with the most balls recovered, most tackles, most tackles won, and most clearances attempted. Therefore, if Dortmund is to win the game, he has to play a big part in it. Prediction and Final Words Real Madrid won 14 matches out of 17 finale matches so far. In the UEFA Champions League era, started in 1993, Real Madrid did not lose any final matches. Therefore, they always had the upper hand against any team in the Champions League because of their pedigree. Nobody has mastered the art of winning this competition like them. Not to mention, they are the favorites in the 2024 UEFA Champions League finale.  However, Borussia Dortmund cannot be written off as well for the performance and determination they have shown during this UCL 2023-24 season.  Therefore, it will be a tough battle and the winner is to be seen on the 1st of June. Read more: From fan to hero, super sub Joselu lifts Real Madrid past Bayern and into Champions League final

Bangladesh has not performed well in football, even though it is one of the most loved sports in the country. But recently, the national football team started to improve their performance. In 2023, Bangladesh participated in many competitive matches, including the SAFF championship, and Asian Games along with the qualifier games for FIFA World Cup 2026 and Asia Cup 2027. Here is an analysis of the Bangladesh men’s football team’s performance in the year 2023. 2023 Matches by Bangladesh Men’s Football Team The Bangladesh Football Team was impressive throughout the year 2023. It played 13 International matches and also secured victories against teams that rank higher than Bangladesh.  Performance Of Bangladesh Men’s Football Squad In 2023 Bangladesh vs Seychelles (2 Matches At Home) Bangladesh began their FIFA International Tier-1 matches, playing a two-match series against Seychelles in Bangladesh, starting on March 25 at 3:45 pm local time at the Sylhet District Stadium. In the first match, Bangladeshi defender Tariq Raihan Kazi scored the winning goal in the 43rd minute (1-0). It was also his first goal for the national team. On March 28, at Sylhet District Stadium, Seychelles surprised hosts Bangladesh with a 1-0 victory in the 2nd match.  The win was secured via Michael's penalty kick in the 62nd minute. Bangladesh won the opening game 1-0, and the series finished 1-1.  Read more: Bangladesh Men’s Test Cricket in 2023: Performance Analysis Bangladesh Vs Cambodia International Match (Away) On June 15, Bangladesh defeated the host Cambodia by a close 1-0 margin in a thrilling FIFA Tier-1 International Friendly game played at the Olympics Stadium in Phnom Penh.  The game-winning goal for Bangladesh was scored in the 24th minute by Mojibur Rahman Jony. Jony's effort came from the danger zone and he took advantage of a precise cross from Foysal Ahmed Fahim.  Anisur Rahman Zico, showed his skill by blocking at least three noteworthy tries by the opposition. Cambodia dominated attacking football, but they couldn't find the back of the net.  SAFF Championship 2023 The 14th edition of the SAFF Championship, South Asia's largest soccer festival, was held from June 21 to July 4 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, India. 1st Match Against Lebanon Bangladesh were placed in Group B of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship, alongside Lebanon, Maldives, and Bhutan.  Bangladesh opened their campaign against Lebanon on June 22 at the same location. Losing the match by 2-0, Bangladesh remained in the game until the 80th minute, when Tariq Kazi's error allowed Lebanon's Hassan Maatouk to score the game's first goal. In the 96th minute, with Bangladesh looking for an equalizer, Khalil Bader scored a goal on a counter-attack to give Lebanon their second goal and put the victory beyond doubt.  2nd Match Against Maldives Bangladesh played their second group stage match against Maldives on June 25 at the same location. In the 17th minute, Maldives's Hamza Mohamed claimed the first goal. But, at the stroke of the half time, Rakib Hossain equalized with a goal. The striker headed the ball inside the net to secure the equalizer with an empty net in front of him. Bangladesh took the lead in the 67th minute thanks to a header from Tariq Qazi. Bangladesh sealed the match 3-1 thanks to a goal by Sheikh Morsalin in the 90th minute, which also helped them qualify for the tournament.  Read more: Bangladesh Cricket in 2023: Men’s ODI Series- Performance Analysis 3rd Match Against Bhutan Bangladesh played their final match against Bhutan on June 28. Bangladesh qualified for the semi-final, beating Bhutan 3-1. Bhutan was in the lead, scoring a goal early in the match by Tsenda Dorji. Sheikh Morsalin and Rakib Hossain scored a goal each, on top of that, Phuntsho Jigme scored an own goal, which affected Bhutan, ending the match with a loss. Shekh Morsalin was judged man of the match for his excellent performance, also scoring his second International goal after his debut. 

The second round of matches of the 10-team ABG Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football will begin Friday, with two matches scheduled for the day at Mymensingh and Munshiganj. Federation Cup champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC will play Sheikh Russel KC at 2:30 pm at the Rafique Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh, while Rahmatganj MFS will also encounter Brothers Union Club at 2:30 pm at the Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj on Friday. BFF President Kazi Salahuddin undergoes bypass surgery On the following day (Saturday), three matches are scheduled to be held at three venues. Holders Bashundhara Kings will play Chittagong Abahani Ltd at the Bir Shreshtha Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj, Dhaka Abahani Ltd will face Fortis FC at the Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi, while Sheikh Jamal DC will meet Police FC at the Rafique Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh. All will kick off at 2:30 pm. National Junior Chess: Five players share top slot securing four full points The third round of matches will be held on January 12 and 13. On completion of the first round matches, holders Bashundhara Kings, Dhaka Mohammedan SC, Bangladesh Police FC and Sheikh Russel KC dominated the league table, securing the full three points from their first round matches. Earlier in the first round of matches, Bashundhara Kings outplayed Brothers Union Club 5-2, Dhaka Mohammedan SC beat Fortis SC 2-1, Police FC defeated Chittagong Abahani Ltd 2-0, Sheikh Russel KC beat Sheikh Jamal DC 2-1, and six-time champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd played a 1-1 draw with Rahmatganj MFS. Victory Day Waterpolo: Green Team beat Red Team by 7-4 goals The BPL matches are scheduled to be held every Friday and Saturday of the week.

Defending champions Bashundhara Kings will start their campaign in the  country's most prestigious football meet, the 10-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) taking on Brothers Union in one of the four opening day matches on Friday (Dec 22). The first round match will kick-off at 4:30 pm at their home venue --Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital on Friday. Showdown in Trinidad: Decider of the England-West Indies T20I Series Besides, three more first round matches will be held on the opening day (Friday) at three venues across the country. Former champions Dhaka Abahani Limited will play Rahmatganj MFS at 2:30 pm at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj, Mohammedan SC will face Fortis SC at 2:30 pm at Muktijoddha Smrity Stadium in Rajshahi while Bangladesh Police will meet Chittagong Abahani also at 2:30 pm at Rafique Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh in other first round matches on Friday. BPL Football begins Friday; four matches on opening day Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club will play Sheikh Russel KC in the remaining  first round match on Saturday (December 23) at 2:3O pm at the Bashundhara Kings Arena here. The 2nd round matches will be held on December 29 and 30. New Zealand cruise home to win ODI series, Soumya’s century in vain The BPL matches will be on every Friday and Saturday of the week while Federation Cup Football matches, will kick-off on  December 26, to be held on every Tuesday.

The country's most prestigious football meet, Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football, begins on Friday at four venues across the country. Four first-round matches of the 10-team league will be held on the opening day (Friday). Defending champions Bashundhara Kings will play Brothers Union Club at 4:30 pm in the first round match at their home ground, Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital, on the opening day. Former champions Dhaka Abahani Limited will play Rahmatganj MFS at 2:30 pm at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj; Mohammedan SC will face Fortis SC at 2:30 pm at Muktijoddha Smrity Stadium in Rajshahi; and Bangladesh Police will meet Chittagong Abahani at 2:30 pm at Rafique Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh in other first round matches on the opening day. Independence Cup Football: Bashundhara Kings clinch title beating Dhaka Mohammedan 2-1 in final Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club will play Sheikh Russel KC in the remaining first-round match on Saturday (December 23) at 2:30 pm at the Bashundhara Kings Arena. The second round of matches will be held on December 29 and 30. The BPL matches will be on every Friday and Saturday of the week, while the Federation Cup football matches will kick off on December 26, and be held every Tuesday. Meanwhile, the ceremonial draw of the 10-team Federation Cup Football Tournament was held earlier, with two arch-rivals, Dhaka Mohammedan SC and Dhaka Abahani Ltd, putting themselves in the same group. Europe's top soccer teams await draw for Champions League's round of 16 All 10 Premier League teams, split into three groups, will compete in the first phase of the Federation Cup of Football, initially on a league basis, beginning on December 26. The matches will be held in the country's three different venues: the Basundhara Kings Arena, Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni in Gopalganj, and Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj. Two matches will be held on the opening day (December 26). Bangladesh Police will play Rahmatganj MFS in a Group A match at the Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj, while Bashundhara Kings will face Fortis FC in a Group C match at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj. Both will kick off at 2:30 pm on the day. Independence Cup Football; Bashundhara Kings crush Dhaka Abahani 4-0 in semifinal Grouping are: Group A: Bangladesh Police FC, Sheikh Jamal DC and Rahmatganj MFS. Group B: Dhaka Abahani Ltd, Dhaka Mohammedan SC, Chittagong Abahani Ltd, Brothers Union Club. Group C: Bashundhara Kings, Sheikh Russel KC, and Fortis FC.