A 27- member preliminary squad of Bangladesh National Football team reached the Saudi Arabian city of Taif Thursday early morning to  undergo an intensive training there ahead of their AFC Asian Cup'2027 qualifiers match  against India in Shillong on March 25. Bangladesh team reached the Jeddah airport Wednesday midnight via Chattagram airport and moved to their final destination of Taif by road Thursday early morning. The team is expected to undergo a 12- day long intensive training there before they will return home on March 17. Bangladesh team will make their first practice session in Taif Thursday evening at 6 pm local time and 9 pm Bangladesh time.  The weather and condition of Taif are almost similar with the Shillong, the venue of Bangladesh’s first match with India on March 25.  Bangladesh team is also looking for playing some preparatory matches there within the period, at-least one with Sudan. Bangladesh-origin English Premier League footballer Hamza Dewan Chowdhury, who was included in the 30-member Bangladesh preliminary squad alongside Italian league player Fahamedul Islam, will arrive Bangladesh  on Match  17. Hamza will directly reach Sylhet from London by a Bangladesh Biman flight in the morning on March 17 and stayed one night at his home district Habiganj with  his wife and children.  He will join the India-bound national team's camp in Dhaka on the next day (Mar 18) with the Bangladesh preliminary squad which returned from Saudi Arabia in the evening on March 17. Another member of Bangladesh squad, the Italian league playing Fahamedul Islam is scheduled to join the national team's training camp in Saudi Arabia on March 10. Selected players are: Goalkeepers: Mitul Marma, Sujon Hossain, and Mehdi Hasan Srabon. Defenders: Shakil Ahad, Shakil Hossain, Rahmat Mia, Isa Faisal, Mohammad Tajuddin, Tariq Raihan Kazi, Topu Barma, Saad Uddin, Sushanto Tripura, Mohammad Ridoy, Papon Singh, and Syed Shah Quazem Kirmanee. Midfielders: Md Sohel Rana, Sohel Rana, Chandon Roy, Mojibar Rahman Jony, Shekh Morsalin, Jamal Bhuyan, Hamza Dewan Chowdhury, Foysal Ahmed Fahim. Forwards: Rakib Hossain, Shahriar Emon, Mohammad Ibrahim, Arif Hossain, Al Amin, Piash Ahmad Nova, and Fahamedul Islam.  

A 27- member of the 30-member preliminary squad of Bangladesh National Football team left the capital for Saudi Arabia today (Wednesday) afternoon for an intensive training there ahead of their AFC Asian Cup'2027 qualifiers match against India in Shillong on March 25. The Bangladesh team, which left the capital on Wednesday late after 2: pm, except the defender Rahmat Mia, is expected to undergo a 12- day long intensive training in the Saudi Arabian city of Taif and will return home on March 17. Bangladesh defender Rahmat Mia, who missed the day's flight due to visa problem, is expected to fly for Saudi Arabia on Thursday (March 6). Bangladesh team is also looking to play one or two preparatory matches within the period with Sudan or any other available countries there. Bangladesh-origin English Premier League footballer Hamza Dewan Chowdhury, who was included in the 30-member Bangladesh preliminary squad alongside Italian league player Fahmidul Islam, will arrive in Bangladesh on March 17. BFF announces preliminary squad for AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers against India Hamza will reach Sylhet from London by a Bangladesh Biman flight in the morning on March 17 and stayed one night at his home district Habiganj with his wife and children. He will join the India-bound national team's camp in Dhaka on the next day (March 18) with the Bangladesh preliminary squad which returned from Saudi Arabia in the evening on March 17. Another member of Bangladesh squad, the Italian league playing Fahmidul Islam is scheduled to join the national team's training camp in Saudi Arabia. Selected players are: Goalkeepers: Mitul Marma, Sujon Hossain, and Mehdi Hasan Srabon. Defenders: Shakil Ahad, Shakil Hossain, Rahmat Mia, Isa Faisal, Mohammad Tajuddin, Tariq Raihan Kazi, Topu Barma, Saad Uddin, Sushanto Tripura, Mohammad Ridoy, Papon Singh, and Syed Shah Quazem Kirmanee. Midfielders: Md Sohel Rana, Sohel Rana, Chandon Roy, Mojibar Rahman Jony, Shekh Morsalin, Jamal Bhuyan, Hamza Dewan Chowdhury, Foysal Ahmed Fahim. Forwards: Rakib Hossain, Shahriar Emon, Mohammad Ibrahim, Arif Hossain, Al Amin, Piash Ahmad Nova, and Fahmidul Islam.

After two consecutive matches without a win in the Premier League 2024-25 season, Arsenal were eager to succeed. They found the perfect opportunity against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League 2024-2025 season to unleash their full stamina and set a rare record in the process. On Tuesday night, Arsenal travelled to PSV’s Philips Stadium for the first leg of the Round of 16, where they dominated the hosts with a stunning 7-1 victory. With this historic win, Arsenal became the first team in Champions League history to score seven or more goals in an away match throughout the knockout stages. Read more: CONCACAF clears LAFC's Sergi Palencia of discriminatory language charge by Rapids' Chidozie Awaziem Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard led the way, scoring a brace, while Jurrien Timber, Ethan Nwaneri, Mikel Merino, Leandro Trossard, and Riccardo Calafiori each found the back of the net once. A Glowing Performance by Arsenal in the First-Half From the very start, Arsenal looked determined to put up a big score. Declan Rice thought he had opened the scoring in the 12th minute, only for his goal to be ruled out for offside. PSV then created a golden chance in the 16th minute, but Ismael Saibari’s close-range effort struck the crossbar. That miss proved costly as Arsenal swiftly punished the hosts. Goals from Timber in the 18th minute and Nwaneri in the 21st put Arsenal ahead. Read more: Real Madrid beats Atletico 2-1 in Champions League derby, Arsenal romps to record away win at PSV Mikel Merino added Arsenal’s third goal in the 31st minute. However, just before halftime, Thomas Partey conceded a penalty by fouling Luuk de Jong inside the box. Noa Lang converted a spot kick to goal in the 43rd minute to make it 3-1 at the break.

Los Angeles FC defender Sergi Palencia has been cleared of any discriminatory actions by CONCACAF's disciplinary committee following an argument he had with Colorado Rapids defender Chidozie Awaziem on the field last month. Palencia and Awaziem were involved in the dispute Feb. 25 in the second leg of their clubs' Round 1 matchup in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Afterward, Colorado coach Chris Armas said Awaziem was shaken after he claimed to have been called a derogatory term. The match briefly came to a standstill at the start of extra time in the second half following the argument. Awaziem, a Nigerian national team member who made his Major League Soccer debut last season with Cincinnati, also made the claim on social media after the match, saying he believed he “was subjected to abusive language on the field.” The Rapids issued a statement supporting Awaziem and decrying discriminatory language. But CONCACAF's investigation found no evidence to support the claim against Palencia, a Spanish veteran in his third season with LAFC. Real Madrid beats Atletico 2-1 in Champions League derby, Arsenal romps to record away win at PSV The disciplinary committee said it conducted "a thorough review of the match officials’ reports, available match footage and audios, and the respective positions of both clubs." “While the evidence confirms that the interaction between Palencia and Colorado Rapids player Chidozie Awaziem involved inappropriate language, it is clear to the Committee that the word reported by the Colorado Rapids in its official position to CONCACAF was not used,” the disciplinary committee said in a statement announcing the findings of its investigation. “CONCACAF will continue to urge teams, players and fans to participate in our sport positively and with respect for the opposition. There is no room for discrimination in our game.” Nottingham Forest reaches FA Cup quarterfinals after Sels stops Ipswich in shootout LAFC beat Colorado 1-0 in the second-leg match and advanced to host the Columbus Crew on Tuesday night in the opening leg of their round-of-16 matchup.

A superb goal from Brahim Diaz helped Real Madrid maintain its dominance of the Madrid derby on Europe’s biggest stage with a 2-1 victory over bitter rival Atletico in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday. Atletico has been beaten by the record 15-time European champion in both Champions League final matchups and has won only three of 11 meetings with their city rivals in UEFA competitions. Also Tuesday, Arsenal made a massive step toward a quarterfinal spot with a 7-1 win at PSV Eindhoven. It was the biggest victory in an away match in the knockout stage of the Champions League, UEFA said. “It’s a massive result away from home in a competition that we love, that we miss for so many years," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. "Today is a really special night for us.” On a good night for Premier League teams, Aston Villa won 3-1 at Club Brugge, and Borussia Dortmund drew 1-1 with Lille. A tense encounter in the Spanish capital was decided by a moment of individual brilliance. Diaz scored the winner for Real Madrid after squeezing past a couple of Atletico players and curling a low strike into the far corner in the 55th minute. Diego Simeone’s team could not change the script after losing its finals to Madrid in 2014 and 2016. It was also eliminated the other two times they faced off in the knockout rounds — in the 2015 quarterfinals and 2017 semifinals. Playing at home at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, Real Madrid took the lead on its first chance through a great goal from Rodrygo. After being picked up down the flank, he cut inside the box, was too fast for defenders and beautifully curled the ball into the back of the net. Real Madrid vs Atletico to kick off Champions League Last 16 “It stemmed from a nice ball from Fede Valverde,” Rodrygo said. “He absolutely read my movement and put the ball in behind the man covering me. I made a little dribble inside and then smashed it off my left.” Atletico patiently waited for an opportunity. It came in the 32nd minute and Julian Alvarez seized it with a spectacular strike. The forward collected the ball down the left, cut inside the box and curled the ball past Thibaut Courtois for his seventh goal in the tournament this season. “I leave with the feeling that we competed well," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. “We could have done more in terms of the goals we conceded. We must continue with this rhythm for the second leg, which will be tough and difficult, and in which we will have the support of our fans.” Gunners romp to emphatic win Arsenal, which returned to the Champions League after a six-year absence last season, got off a shaky start and Jurrien Timber scored against the run of the play with a header at the far post, just after PSV hit the woodwork. The London team never looked back after that and led 3-0 at the half-hour mark. Seventeen-year-old Ethan Nwaneri doubled the lead in the 21st after his teammates combined well in the area to set him up. Mikel Merino then made the most of the confusion in the box to make it 3-0 after PSV repeatedly failed to clear the ball. A silly foul from Thomas Partey on Luuk de Jong in the box gave PSV some hope before halftime and Noa Lang converted. But PSV crumbled once back from the locker room. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard scored twice, with Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori adding more luster to the win. Dortmund held Last season’s runner-up Borussia Dortmund is evenly matched with Lille ahead of the second leg after Hakon Arnar Haraldsson’s goal salvaged a 1-1 draw for the French team. Dortmund led thanks to Karim Adeyemi’s low shot from outside the box in the 22nd minute, but Canada forward Jonathan David sliced open the Dortmund defense with a through ball in the 68th for Haraldsson to level the score. Aston Villa wins away Aston Villa shook off its poor away form, and it was largely due to an own goal from a rival player. A turning point came in the 82nd minute when Club Brugge defender Brandon Mechele beat his own goalkeeper with the teams tied 1-1. Mechele slid to stop a cross from Morgan Rogers, only to deflect into the back of the net. Before that, the Belgian side had looked solid, enjoyed most of the possession and created the best chances in the second half. Juventus strikes twice in dominant second half to beat Verona in Serie A Looking demoralized, the hosts then conceded a late penalty that was converted by substitute Marco Asensio. Villa had suffered two away defeats in the group phase of the tournament, including one at Club Brugge. In the Premier League, the team has lost seven of 13 away matches. The visitors needed less than three minutes to take the lead when Leon Bailey swept the ball home. Club Brugge leveled two minutes later after a long ball in the back of Villa’s defenders found Christos Tzolis. He came into the area and delivered an excellent cut back pass for the unmarked Maxim De Cuyper, who beat Emiliano Martinez with his left foot, into the far corner. On Wednesday, it will be Paris Saint-Germain hosting Liverpool, Inter Milan visiting Feyenoord, Benfica taking on Barcelona, and Bayern Munich welcoming fellow German club Bayer Leverkusen.

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will renew their rivalry Tuesday as the Champions League returns to familiar territory after a new league phase and playoff stage. The remodeled tournament is back to the round of 16, which used to kick off the knockout stages until UEFA added the extra playoff round this season. In addition to the Madrid derby, the other matches on Tuesday will include Arsenal visiting PSV Eindhoven, Club Brugge facing Aston Villa, and Borussia Dortmund — last year's runner-up to Madrid — taking on Lille. On Wednesday, it will be Paris Saint-Germain hosting Liverpool, Inter Milan visiting Feyenoord, Benfica taking on Barcelona, and Bayern Munich welcoming fellow German club Bayer Leverkusen. The Madrid derby will take place at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, with Atletico taking on old nemesis Madrid, the record 15-time European champion that struggled in the league phase and needed to get past Manchester City in the playoff stage. Juventus strikes twice in dominant second half to beat Verona in Serie A Atletico secured an automatic spot in the round of 16 by doing well in the league phase, and more than ever it has the confidence that it can finally end its slump against its city rival in the Champions League. “We have a lot of respect for our rival,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. “But we also know our strengths." Simeone's team lost two finals to Madrid — in 2014 and 2016 — and was eliminated the other two times they faced off in the knockout rounds — in the 2015 quarterfinals and 2017 semifinals. Madrid hasn't beaten Atletico in four consecutive matches in all competitions, being eliminated in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey last season. “We know it will be an even match and we feel that it will be decided in the return leg,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "We can’t think about trying to take a big lead tomorrow, it’s not possible because our rival is competing very well and the tie will be even until the end.” Other matchups Arsenal finished third in the inaugural league phase behind Barcelona and fellow Premier League club Liverpool. It will visit a PSV Eindhoven side that handed Liverpool its only defeat in the league phase, then got past Juventus in the playoffs in extra time. Nottingham Forest reaches FA Cup quarterfinals after Sels stops Ipswich in shootout Borussia Dortmund, seeking a second consecutive final appearance, will host a Lille team that finished seventh in the league phase in a campaign that included victories over both Madrid and Atletico. Aston Villa also was a league-phase surprise, losing only once to finish eighth and set up the round-of-16 matchup against a Club Brugge squad that defeated Villa 1-0 at home in November and eliminated Atalanta in the playoffs

Juventus survived a first half scare to come back and beat lowly Verona 2-0 and move into fourth place in Serie A on Monday. Khephren Thuram, Federico Gatti and Randal Kolo Muani all had chances for Juventus in the first half and it almost went in a goal down at halftime but Tomáš Suslov's spectacular 30-meter strike was ruled out for offside. Instead, the home side was clinical in the second period and it got the all-important opener after 72 minutes. Verona had all 10 men in the penalty box but the defense left Thuram unmarked and he elegantly stroked home Andrea Cambiaso’s cut back from the left. Ronaldo and Al-Nassr chase Asian glory as Saudi clubs dominate Teun Koopmeiners scored the second a minute from time to secure a fifth straight Serie A win for the Turin club. Juventus moved two points above Lazio. Verona was in 14th place, four points above the relegation zone.

Goalkeeper Matz Sels was the hero for Nottingham Forest as he saved the last penalty in a shootout to take his team past Ipswich Town and into the quarterfinals of the FA Cup on Monday. The teams were tied 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra time and the first nine takers all converted their penalties in a nail-biting finale. Then Sels dived to his left to stop Jack Taylor’s kick and guarantee Forest a last-eight tie at Brighton. The shootout followed a gripping game at City Ground that was tighter than the teams' Premier League positions suggested. The home side has been the league’s surprise package and sits third on the table, above Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United. But it was Ipswich, third-to-last in the league, that took the lead eight minutes into the second half when George Hirst converted a back post header. BAR vs RSO: Barcelona crush 10-Man Real Sociedad to return to the La Liga summit Forest got back on level terms when Ryan Yates met Anthony Elanga’s inviting cross from the right and headed home. Yates had a second goal disallowed just minutes later, and Callum Hudson-Odoi hit the bar with a long-range effort seven minutes from time. Although both sides pushed forward for a winner, especially in the end-to-end half hour of extra time, it went to penalties. “It was the only penalty I was in the right corner (for)!" Sels said. "In penalties, one of the goalkeepers is going to be the hero. I am happy. Looking forward to the weekend now.”

The long serving general secretary of South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Anwarul Haque Helal of Bangladesh resigned from the hot seat of the regional football. Experienced football organizer Helal, who renewed his contract as the SAFF general secretary early this year, suddenly resigned from the post showing personal reasons. Pakistan's international soccer ban lifted in time to contest Asian Cup qualifiers Helal, who submitted his resignation letter on February 28 and which will be effective from the first day of April this year. Helal served as the SAFF general secretary since 2015 SAFF president Kazi M Salahuddin said “Helal resigned from GS post and he will explain the reason better than me”.

Pakistan is set to rejoin international soccer in time for Asian Cup qualifiers later this month after FIFA lifted a ban it imposed on Feb. 6. The Pakistan Football Federation was last month hit by a third international suspension in less than eight years after rejecting FIFA’s recommended amendments to its constitution. At an extraordinary congress in Lahore last week, the PFF unanimously voted to accept the reforms in time to be eligible to contest qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup. BAR vs RSO: Barcelona crush 10-Man Real Sociedad to return to the La Liga summit Pakistan is scheduled to kick off Group E of qualification against Syria on March 25. “We thank FIFA and the (Asian Football Confederation) for their continued support of Pakistan football and extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Pakistan football community” the PFF said in a social media post responding to Sunday's decision. The AFC had earlier informed Pakistan soccer administrators that the ban had to be lifted by March 4 for the men’s national team to be allowed to participate in 2027 Asian Cup qualification.