United News of Bangladesh

Arsenal winger Max Dowman could become the youngest player in Champions League history if he features for Athletic Bilbao when the revamped group stage kicks off on Tuesday. Dowman, who became the second youngest Premier League player last month, is 15 years and 259 days old. This is the second season under the league phase format, with 36 teams facing eight different opponents on a weighted schedule through January, all ranked in a single table. The first round of matches is spread over three days this week. Record 15-time champions Real Madrid host Marseille, needing just one win and two goals to reach milestones of 200 wins and 700 goals in the competition. Madrid has defeated Marseille in all four previous European encounters. Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise make their Champions League debut at PSV Eindhoven, while Qarabag travels to Benfica. Tottenham faces Villarreal, and new Juventus signing Jonathan David, who has scored seven goals in his last nine league matches, will feature as the Bianconeri host Borussia Dortmund. The top eight teams in the standings will advance directly to the round of 16, while the next 16 teams enter a two-leg playoff, with eight advancing to the knockout stage.

Athletic Bilbao suffered a major blow on the eve of their long-awaited Champions League return, as midfielder Benat Prados has been ruled out for the season with a serious knee injury. The Basque club confirmed Monday evening that the 24-year-old tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during training last week. “In the coming days we will decide the date for surgery,” Athletic said in a statement. A product of Athletic’s famed youth system, Prados made 45 appearances last season and 33 the year before, following his loan spell at second-tier Mirandes. Though considered the third-choice midfielder under coach Ernesto Valverde—behind Mikel Jauregizar and the injury-prone veteran Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta—Prados was expected to feature prominently this season, with the club competing in the Champions League, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup. Valverde is now likely to rely on experienced midfielder Mikel Vesga and B-team prospect Alejandro Rego to fill the gap left by Prados.

Former France defender Samuel Umtiti, a 2018 World Cup winner, has announced his retirement from professional soccer at the age of 31. Umtiti, who also won two La Liga titles and three Copa del Rey trophies with Barcelona, had been without a club since leaving French Ligue 1 side Lille at the end of last season. “After an intense career with its highs and lows, the time has come to say goodbye,” Umtiti wrote on Instagram Monday. “I gave everything with passion and I regret nothing.” He earned 31 caps for France and played in the 2016 European Championship at home. Umtiti scored four international goals, including the decisive header in France’s 1-0 win over Belgium in the 2018 World Cup semifinals. France coach Didier Deschamps praised Umtiti, saying, “Sam played an important role in our World Cup victory in Russia. Everyone will remember his headed goal against Belgium and his defensive partnership with Raphaël. Despite knee pain, he showed remarkable courage until the end.” Umtiti is the fifth member of France’s 2018 World Cup-winning squad to retire, following Blaise Matuidi, Adil Rami, Raphaël Varane, and Steve Mandanda. He began his career at Lyon, his boyhood club, where he won the 2012 French Cup. In recent years, persistent injuries limited his appearances, including during his time at Lille. “I tried everything to make a comeback at Lille,” Umtiti said. “Few people know how hard I tried, but my body could not keep up.”

Money raised from ticket sales at Norway’s 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Israel will go to Doctors Without Borders to support humanitarian work in Gaza. The Norwegian Football Association (NFA) announced Monday that it has partnered with the Nobel Peace Prize-winning health NGO ahead of the sold-out game on October 11 in Oslo. The funds are expected to total hundreds of thousands of dollars. “The money is designated for the organization’s relief efforts in Gaza and nearby areas affected by the war,” the NFA said. Norway’s decision to donate comes as Israel continues to face little pressure within international soccer to be suspended or boycotted, despite the conflict in Gaza since October 2023. By contrast, Russia was suspended from UEFA competitions after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Lise Klaveness, head of the Norwegian FA, said, “As a member of FIFA and UEFA, we must deal with Israel participating in their competitions. At the same time, we cannot ignore the humanitarian suffering, especially the attacks on civilians in Gaza.” Norway’s men’s national team, led by superstar Erling Haaland, is having its best run in years and is on track to qualify for its first World Cup since 1998, topping a qualifying group that includes Italy. Italy will host Israel in Udine on October 14. Italian Soccer President Gabriele Gravina said, “We are aware of public sensitivity and are deeply concerned about the human suffering in Palestine.” Israel intensifies strikes on Gaza City: 32 killed About 23,000 tickets will be sold for the Ullevaal Stadium game, with extra security for the Israel team. In addition, a private donor, one of Norway’s largest investment companies, pledged 3 million kroner ($305,000) to Doctors Without Borders. The NGO praised Norway’s action, with Secretary General Lindis Hurum saying it reflects MSF’s mission to save lives and ease suffering regardless of belief, origin, gender, or skin color.

Borussia Moenchengladbach fired coach Gerardo Seoane on Monday after a winless and goalless start to the Bundesliga season, just three games in. The Swiss coach could not improve the team’s poor form from last season. His final match in charge was a 4-0 defeat to Werder Bremen on Sunday, leaving Gladbach with one point and no goals from its opening three games. Sporting director Roland Virkus said the club “lost faith that a turnaround with Gerardo can succeed,” as Gladbach extended a winless run to 10 Bundesliga matches dating back to April. Seoane’s only victory in that period came against a fifth-tier team in the German Cup in August. The decision means another new coach for U.S. midfielder Gio Reyna, who joined Gladbach from Borussia Dortmund last month. Seoane, at the club since June 2023, is the second Bundesliga coach sacked less than a month into the season after Erik ten Hag’s brief stint at Bayer Leverkusen. Seoane has a history of early-season dismissals; he was also fired by Leverkusen in October 2022, replaced by Xabi Alonso, who led the team to Bundesliga and German Cup success the following season. Gladbach, once a Champions League team in 2020-21, has struggled in recent years and finished 10th last season under Seoane. The club said Under-23 coach Eugen Polanski will take charge “until further notice” ahead of Sunday’s match at Leverkusen.

England midfielder Jude Bellingham has been included in Real Madrid’s squad for their opening Champions League match against Marseille after recovering from shoulder surgery. Bellingham has not played for Madrid since the Club World Cup in the United States, after which he underwent surgery on his left shoulder on July 16. He had been managing the injury since 2023 but postponed the operation to avoid missing matches for both Madrid and England. The midfielder missed the first four Spanish league games this season, all of which Madrid won. Real Madrid, 15-time European champions, will host Marseille for their Champions League opener on Tuesday.

Uncertainty is growing among FC Barcelona fans as the team’s return to their home stadium, Spotify Camp Nou, continues to be delayed. The repeated postponements have forced the Catalan club to play their first home match of the season last night at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium. The Nou Camp has served as Barcelona's home ground since it opened in 1957. Renovation work began in June 2023, at a cost of around 1.3bn euros, with the goal of modernising the stadium and expanding its capacity to 105,000 - making it one of the largest grounds in the world. But the club has not provided a clear timeline for when they will be able to return to Camp Nou. On Thursday, club president Joan Laporta stated that “the stadium is almost finished and ready for hosting games.” An official statement was published regarding this as he added, “We will be back home soon,” but did not give a specific date, saying it depends on receiving the necessary permits from the authorities. The president assured fans that the club is working hard to make the return a reality as soon as possible.

A rookie card featuring Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi has been sold for a record-breaking $1.5 million in a private transaction, making it the most valuable soccer card ever sold. This new record surpasses the previous one held by a card of Brazilian legend Pele. According to Goldin Auctions, the card, a 2004-05 Panini Mega Cracks PSA 10, was sold through Fanatics Collect’s private sales network. This sale tops a similar card that sold for $1.1 million earlier this week in a deal also facilitated by Goldin. The previous record for a soccer card was set in 2022 when a 1958 Alifabolaget Pele PSA 9 sold privately for $1.33 million, according to Card Ladder. This latest record is part of a series of high-value sales for this specific Messi rookie card. Just last month, a different PSA 10-graded version of the card sold for $1 million through Fanatics Collect, a global digital sports platform that trades cards and collectibles. Prior to that, another copy sold for $825,000 at Goldin. The record for the card before August was reportedly $336,000, set in June 021. Messi scores twice in emotional farewell match for Argentina The sale marks a major milestone for Fanatics Collect's new private sales network, which is designed for high-value transactions of $10,000 or more. According to a source from Fanatics who spoke with ESPN, the network generated roughly $8 million in sales from 30 to 40 transactions during its first full month in August. Out of the 838 copies of the No. 71 Messi card that PSA has graded, only 20 have received the highest possible grade of Gem-Mint 10, making them extremely rare and valuable. The record-breaking $1.5 million card also includes a special “Mike Baker Authenticated Diamond” certification, which signifies its exceptional condition.

Luka Modric marked his 40th birthday in style, scoring the decisive goal to hand AC Milan a 1-0 victory over Bologna in Serie A on Sunday and join an elite list of scorers past that age. Having turned 40 on Tuesday, Modric became only the sixth player to find the net in Italy’s top flight after that milestone, following the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Fabio Quagliarella.“I hope someone next time will not remind me of my age anymore," Modric said with a smile. The match also saw Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri sent off late on for dissent after a penalty awarded to his side was overturned following a video review. In typical scenes reminiscent of his Juventus days, Allegri threw off his jacket in frustration and sarcastically applauded officials as he was led away.“At that moment I had some things to say to the fourth official, fortunately the jacket saved me,” Allegri remarked, while also showering praise on Modric. “Luka is an extraordinary player and it’s a pleasure to watch him, but he is also a really humble guy, and that’s a demonstration of what a great champion he is. He knows a minute before where the ball will go, and he has such extraordinary technique.” Pervis Estupiñán struck the post for Milan in the first half as the Rossoneri initially struggled to break down Bologna. The breakthrough came in the 61st minute, when Modric initiated a move from deep in his own half, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Alexis Saelemaekers combining before the veteran midfielder arrived to finish clinically from the edge of the area. Hat-trick of braces sees Barcelona cruise past Valencia Samuele Ricci, just off the bench, hit the post for Bologna, and Milan rattled the woodwork twice more, including through Santiago Giménez. The game also featured Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe meeting again after a locker room clash last month at Marseille, with Rabiot starting for Milan and Rowe appearing as a second-half substitute for Bologna. Elsewhere in Serie AGiovanni Simeone netted his first league goal in over a year as Torino stunned Roma 1-0 at the Olimpico, handing new coach Marco Baroni his maiden win. The Argentine forward, son of Atlético Madrid boss Diego Simeone, finished a brilliant counterattack in the 59th minute. Atalanta, under new coach Ivan Juric, claimed their first win of the season with a 4-1 rout of Lecce, powered by Nicola Zalewski’s goal, assist, and near-miss off the bar. Sassuolo finally got off the mark by edging Lazio 1-0, while Udinese stayed unbeaten with a narrow victory at promoted Pisa. Source: Agency 

Barcelona picked up where they left off last season against Valencia, securing another dominant victory in their first home game at the six-thousand-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium. Braces from young Fermin Lopez, Raphinha and veteran striker Robert Lewandowski provided a significant morale boost ahead of their first Champions League match away at Newcastle on Thursday. The Catalan giants took the field on Sunday night trailing table-toppers Real Madrid by five points after their Saturday night victory over Real Sociedad. However, they eased past the visitors with a dominant 6-0 victory. Despite the pressure and a list of key injuries—including to Lamine Yamal, Frenkie De Jong, Gavi, and Alejandro Balde—coach Hansi Flick rested regular starters like Raphinha and Lewandowski, giving opportunities to Roony Bardghji, Marcus Rashford, and Ferran Torres, who led the attack. Yet they eased past the opposition with a commanding performance. Barcelona's relentless pressure left Valencia’s defense in disarray from the start. They created their first major chance in the 10th minute when Ferran Torres narrowly chipped the ball over the crossbar. Five minutes later, Valencia's goalkeeper denied a shot from Lopez. Read more: Mbappe stars as 10-man Real Madrid secure hard-fought victory over Sociedad The breakthrough came in the 29th minute as Fermin opened the scoring with a clinical finish inside the box. Torres set him up perfectly with a first-time touch on a teammate’s cross, and the Spanish midfielder slotted past the keeper with a precise right-footed strike. That was the only goal of the first half, but it set the stage for a second-half onslaught. Barcelona found more rhythm in their attack with the halftime substitution of Raphinha. Replacing Roony on the right flank, the Brazilian's presence was immediately felt, as he netted the team’s second goal just eight minutes into the restart. Three minutes later, Fermin scored his second with a spectacular shot from outside the box.