United News of Bangladesh

Paris Saint-Germain will be without star winger Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia for Wednesday’s Champions League group match at Barcelona. Kvaratskhelia was substituted at halftime in Saturday’s home victory over Auxerre due to a reported thigh injury. However, Vitinha, who left the field late in the first half against Auxerre, and midfielder João Neves, sidelined for the last two Ligue 1 matches with a thigh problem, were both included in PSG’s squad announced on Tuesday. Captain Marquinhos remains out with a thigh muscle issue. PSG will face Barcelona with a depleted attacking lineup. Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and forward Désiré Doué are also still recovering from injuries sustained while representing France earlier this month.

Real Madrid embarks on a historic journey to Kazakhstan to face Kairat Almaty in the Champions League on Tuesday. Kazakhstan joined UEFA in 2002 after previously competing in the Asian Football Confederation. While the country’s western region lies in Europe, Madrid – a record 15-time European champion – travels nearly 4,000 miles (6,500 kilometers) east to the nation’s capital. “You have to adapt. The trip is not an excuse or a hindrance,” Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said. “It’s just another game.” Madrid, which opened the tournament with a 2-1 win over Marseille, aims to recover from a 5-2 defeat against city rival Atlético Madrid on Saturday, marking their first loss of the season. Kairat, who lost 4-1 to Sporting Lisbon in their tournament debut, boast a strong home record in Europe, with just four defeats in their last 30 matches in Almaty. Elsewhere in the Champions League, Bayern Munich visits Pafos in Cyprus, Atlético Madrid faces Eintracht Frankfurt, and Chelsea hosts José Mourinho’s Benfica at Stamford Bridge. Tottenham returns to Norway to play Bodø/Glimt, while Liverpool travels to Galatasaray, Marseille welcomes Ajax, and Club Brugge faces Atalanta as Inter Milan hosts Slavia Prague in Italy.

South Africa has been docked three points in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for fielding an ineligible player, Sports Minister Gayton Mckenzie confirmed on Monday. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee also fined the South African Football Association (SAFA) 10,000 Swiss Francs (around USD 12,540), with the ruling published on the same day. “This development is deeply regrettable and has embarrassed both our nation and the game of football. We acknowledge that this has brought South Africa into disrepute, and we must take full responsibility,” Mckenzie said in a statement. He thanked FIFA for acting swiftly, saying it spared the country a prolonged period of uncertainty. The minister also announced that the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture would launch an investigation into the “incompetence” that led to the sanction. Mbappe expected to succeed Messi and Ronaldo, but Ballon d’Or rankings show decline The punishment followed Bafana Bafana’s decision to field midfielder Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho on March 21, despite the 28-year-old being suspended for one match after picking up two yellow cards. As a result, FIFA declared the match forfeited, awarding a 3-0 victory to Lesotho. Mokoena was also issued a formal warning. SAFA has the option to appeal the decision within 10 days. The points deduction pushed South Africa to second place in Group C of the African qualifiers, level on points with Benin but behind on goal difference. However, Bafana Bafana remain well placed to qualify, with decisive matches against Zimbabwe and Rwanda still to come. “This deduction is just a bump in the road. We believe we are still firmly on track for qualification, and our confidence in the team’s ability to succeed remains unshaken,” Mckenzie added.

By 19, Kylian Mbappe had won the World Cup, become one of football’s most valuable players, and was widely regarded as the heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Seven years on, with Messi and Ronaldo past their peak, Mbappe has still not been officially recognized as the world’s best player. His latest Ballon d’Or ranking placed him seventh, while the 2025 award went to his France teammate Ousmane Dembele. Mbappe congratulated Dembele on social media, writing, “You deserve it x1000.” Second place went to 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, a teenage sensation already seen as a future Ballon d’Or contender, raising questions about whether Mbappe will dominate as once expected. Author Luca Caioli, who co-wrote a biography on Mbappe, said Yamal’s emergence and record-breaking early career could complicate Mbappe’s chances of winning multiple Ballon d’Or awards. “Also, the age starts to be interesting for Mbappe. He’s not 19 anymore,” Caioli added. Yamal has already led Spain to a European Championship and Barcelona to a La Liga title, winning the Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 player for the second consecutive year. Some argued he deserved the top prize, which would have made him the youngest-ever winner. Mbappe, meanwhile, was barely mentioned in discussions for the award despite claiming the Golden Shoe as Europe’s top scorer and surpassing Thierry Henry’s record of 51 goals for France. At 26, he is just six goals shy of overtaking Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading scorer. The Ballon d’Or often favors players in teams winning major trophies, which may have worked against Mbappe as he joined Real Madrid during a transition year. Nevertheless, with Madrid’s record 15 Champions League titles and his consistent scoring form—12 goals in 10 games this season—Mbappe is poised to claim the accolade in the near future. Experts say time is still on his side, and Dembele’s own late triumph at 28 shows that patience can pay off.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has reported pain in the same knee that sidelined him with an ACL injury last season, casting uncertainty over his availability for the team’s Champions League trip to Monaco. Rodri, last season’s Ballon d’Or contender, missed City’s 5-1 Premier League victory over Burnley on Saturday after withdrawing from the squad following Friday’s training session. “He said, ‘I’m not able to play, I have a lot of pain in my knee, I cannot play,’” City manager Pep Guardiola said after the Burnley match. “I said if you cannot play, you cannot play. Another one is going to play.” The Spanish midfielder was sidelined for eight months last season due to the ACL injury in his right knee, which Guardiola confirmed is causing him discomfort again. Earlier this month, Rodri featured in three matches over eight days, during which Guardiola noted that he did not feel fully comfortable either in training or in games. Rodri’s absence last season significantly affected City, contributing to their drop in form and failure to retain the Premier League title. City heads into its upcoming Champions League fixture against Monaco after opening the group stage with a 2-0 home win over Napoli.

The jersey that reigning World Cup champions Argentina will wear to defend their title in 2026 has surfaced online, featuring a modern, dynamic twist on the nation’s iconic design. The Adidas-designed home shirt is set for release in late 2025. The leak, courtesy of kit specialists Opaleak and OriolWarero, confirms that the kit will feature the traditional Albiceleste (the White and Sky Blue) look, enhanced by a contemporary aesthetic. The Adidas-designed home shirt maintains the classic white and sky blue vertical stripes but introduces an eye-catching gradient effect on the blue sections. Each blue stripe incorporates a two-tone fade, subtly transitioning from a lighter shade of sky blue to a darker one. This gradient shading creates a dynamic effect that refreshes the team’s historic pattern, a design element last seen on Argentina’s home kits in 2014 and 2018.

Barcelona secured a vital 2-1 comeback victory over Real Sociedad on Sunday at home, to climb above arch-rivals Real Madrid and claim the top spot in La Liga. Hansi Flick’s side controlled the match from the outset, dominating the opening half-hour with over 85 percent possession and registering multiple shots on target. However, against the run of play, the hosts were stunned in the 31st minute when Álvaro Odriozola finished a pass from Ander Barrenetxea, giving the visitors a shock 1-0 lead. The defending champions’ immediate pressure was immense. After goalkeeper Álex Remiro brilliantly intervened to prevent an Igor Zubeldia own goal, Barcelona finally found their equalizer in the 43rd minute. French defender Jules Kounde rose to head home a corner delivered by Marcus Rashford, sending the teams into the break tied at 1-1. Goals galore as Atletico stuns Real Madrid in fiery derby clash The decisive moment came early in the second half, driven by a strategic substitution. Coach Flick introduced 18-year-old forward Lamine Yamal for fellow teenager Roony Bardghji in the 58th minute, and Yamal immediately impacted the game. He burst into the box, shrugged off a challenge, and delivered a superb cross, which veteran striker Robert Lewandowski routinely headed home. Although that appeared to be the winning goal later, the battle continued until the final whistle. Barcelona had another goal from Lamine Yamal ruled out for a marginal offside, and in the 84th minute, both sides spurned golden chances within seconds. Takefusa Kubo rattled the crossbar for Sociedad before Lewandowski immediately hit the bar at the other end on a counter-attack. With this hard-fought victory, Barcelona extends their unbeaten start to the season. They now lead the league standings with 19 points from six wins and one draw in seven matches, moving one point ahead of Real Madrid, who drop to second after a shocking 5-2 derby defeat at Metropolitano a night earlier. Bad news for Barcelona: Gavi and Fermin sidelined with Injuries Next up, Barcelona will host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday. Real Madrid will visit Kazakhstan to face Kairat Almaty on Tuesday. Real Sociedad, not in European competition this season, will host Rayo Vallecano on October 5 in their next league match.

In a dramatic and highly charged encounter at St James’ Park, Arsenal staged a sensational late turnaround, scoring two headed goals in the final minutes to snatch a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United. The win sees the Gunners move to within two points of league leaders Liverpool, who suffered a surprising defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace. Arsenal, the Premier League runners-up for the past three seasons, started with intent in the sixth round of the league on Sunday. They appeared to have earned an early breakthrough when referee Jarred Gillett awarded a penalty for Nick Pope’s challenge on Viktor Gyokeres. But after a lengthy VAR review, the decision was controversially overturned, leaving the visiting camp furious. Despite that setback, Mikel Arteta’s men continued to press forward, with Leandro Trossard striking the post and Eberechi Eze forcing two fine saves from the inspired Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope. However, it was the home side who broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when record signing Nick Woltemade rose to head in Sandro Tonali’s cross from the left. Martinelli rescues Arsenal with stoppage-time strike against Man City That goal looked like it would be enough for the Magpies as they clung on deep into the second half. But Arteta’s men refused to relent. With six minutes of normal time remaining, substitute Mikel Merino flicked in a precise cross from Declan Rice to level the score. The equalizer ignited a fresh wave of belief for the visitors, who piled more pressure on the Newcastle backline. Deep into stoppage time, their persistence paid off. In the sixth minute of added time, Gabriel Magalhães rose highest to meet a right-wing corner from Martin Ødegaard, heading home the winner and sparking wild celebrations among the players and traveling fans. The victory lifts Arsenal back into second place in the Premier League standings. Crucially, it also ensured the north Londoners closed the gap at the top following Liverpool’s shock defeat at Crystal Palace a night earlier. The Gunners now have 13 points from six games, comprising four wins and a draw. Liverpool currently sit atop the table with 15 points from the same number of matches. For Newcastle, the defeat leaves them in 15th place with only six points. Both teams will now turn their attention to European competition. Arsenal return to Champions League action with a home tie against Olympiakos, while Newcastle travel to face Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday night.

Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain extended their lead at the top of Ligue 1 with a 2-0 home win over Auxerre on Saturday, though injuries to key players added to their concerns. Midfielder Vitinha, who set up the opening goal, limped off late in the first half, while Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was forced off at halftime with a suspected thigh injury. PSG are already without captain Marquinhos, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, forward Désiré Doué and midfielder João Neves. The Parisians face Barcelona away in the Champions League on Wednesday. Both of PSG’s goals came from defenders. Ukraine’s Illia Zabarnyi opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, netting his first goal since joining from Bournemouth in the summer. Two minutes later, Vitinha was substituted. Lucas Beraldo doubled the lead in the 55th minute with a header from Senny Mayulu’s cross. The victory lifted PSG to 15 points from six matches, three clear of Marseille, Monaco, Lyon and Strasbourg, who are all level on 12 points and separated by goal difference. Lyon can join PSG on top if they beat Lille on Sunday. Harry Kane hits 100 goals in 104 games as Bayern thrash Werder Bremen Monaco stumble at LorientEarlier in the day, Monaco missed the chance to keep pace with PSG, falling to a 3-1 defeat at Lorient. It was coach Adi Hütter’s second loss of the season as defensive frailties again proved costly. Monaco have conceded 10 goals in six league games and also suffered a 4-1 thrashing by Club Bruges in the Champions League. Captain Thilo Kehrer was sent off in the 38th minute for a second yellow card, and Lorient capitalized moments later through Mohamed Bamba. Pablo Pagis, son of former Ligue 1 striker Mickaël Pagis, added two more for the hosts in the second half. Substitute Ansu Fati scored a late penalty for Monaco, but it was little consolation. Lorient’s second win of the season lifted them to midtable. Toulouse hold NantesIn Saturday’s other fixture, Toulouse came from behind twice to draw 2-2 at home with struggling Nantes. Mayckel Lahdo and Louis Leroux netted for Nantes, while Yann Gboho and Aron Dönnum replied for the hosts. Source: Agency 

In a match defined by fierce rivalry between two of Madrid’s biggest clubs, Atletico Madrid delivered a statement win, handing Real Madrid their first defeat of the season with a resounding 5-2 victory at the Riyad Air Metropolitano. The win not only solidified Atletico’s dominance in the Madrid derby but also extended their unbeaten run against their rivals to six consecutive league meetings. The tension was palpable from the opening whistle. Atletico struck early through a Robin Le Normand header in the 14th minute, continuing their streak of scoring first in every league match this season. However, Real Madrid, who had been an impenetrable force this season, quickly found their footing. Kylian Mbappe and Arda Güler turned the game on its head with two quick goals, giving Real a 2-1 lead. For a moment, it seemed as though Los Blancos would maintain their perfect record. But Atletico refused to back down. Just before halftime, a towering header from Alexander Sørloth leveled the score at 2-2. The second half, however, belonged entirely to Diego Simeone’s men. The turning point came early when Julián Álvarez converted a penalty, restoring Atletico’s lead. Minutes later, the Argentine forward sealed his brace with a stunning curled free kick that left Thibaut Courtois helpless. As Real struggled to find a way back into the game, failing to record a single shot on target after halftime, Antoine Griezmann capped off the night with a final goal in extra time, completing the rout. Harry Kane hits 100 goals in 104 games as Bayern thrash Werder Bremen The loss raises serious questions for Real Madrid, who had conceded only three goals in their opening six matches, leaked five in one night. Though they edged possession, Alonso’s side managed just two shots on target, compared to Atletico’s seven. Despite the defeat, Real still provisionally sits at the top of the league table with 18 points, but their lead is now tenuous, as they are just two points ahead of Barcelona, who have a game in hand. Atletico climbed to fourth on 12 points from the same seven matches.