United News of Bangladesh

Real Madrid and Manchester City will meet yet again in the Champions League round of 16 after being paired together in Friday’s draw, marking the fifth consecutive year the two sides face off in the knockout stage. The clash pits the record 15-time European champion Real Madrid against the 2023 title winner Man City, with the victor potentially facing Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals. Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt, enjoying a remarkable run, will host Sporting Lisbon in the Arctic Circle next month. The team avoided a rematch with City after stunning the English champions with a 3-1 win during the league phase, sparking a four-match winning surge despite playing in the Norwegian offseason. Title holder Paris Saint-Germain were drawn against Chelsea, with the winner set to face either Liverpool or Galatasaray in the quarterfinals. Galatasaray had earlier beaten Liverpool 1-0 in September, contributing to a difficult spell for the English champions. The draw also produced two Spain vs England matchups: Barcelona will take on Newcastle, while Atletico Madrid meet Tottenham. The winners will face each other in the next round. Elsewhere, Bayern Munich were paired with Atalanta, the last remaining Italian side, and Arsenal will face Bayer Leverkusen. The winner of that tie will meet either Bodø/Glimt or Sporting in the quarterfinals. First-leg matches are scheduled for March 10 or 11, with return legs a week later. The draw also determined the bracket through to the final, set for May 30 at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.  

The violence that erupted in Mexico after the death of a powerful drug lord has left many questioning whether the country will be able to co-host the World Cup in just over three months. FIFA President Gianni Infantino thinks it can. “Of course, we are monitoring the situation in Mexico these days, but I want to say from the outset that we have complete confidence in Mexico, in its president, Claudia Sheinbaum, and in the authorities, and we are convinced that everything will go as smoothly as possible,” Infantino said late Tuesday in a press conference in Colombia. “Mexico is a great country, like in every country in the world, things happen; we don’t live on the moon or another planet,” Infantino added. “That’s why we have governments, police, and authorities who will ensure order and security.” The Mexican army killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” who led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, on Sunday, sparking several days of violence. Cartel members burned cars and blocked roads in nearly a dozen Mexican states and authorities report that at least 70 people have died. Four high-level soccer matches from the local leagues were postponed last Sunday, including one in the central city of Queretaro, where Mexico defeated Iceland 4-0 late Wednesday in a friendly match. Before the match, a minute of silence was held in the Corregidora stadium in honor of the soldiers who died during the operation to capture Oseguera. Thirteen World Cup matches are scheduled to be held in Mexico, including the opening game in Mexico City on June 11 between the co-host and South Africa. Guadalajara, the central hub for the Jalisco cartel, is scheduled to host four. Colombia is set to play one game in Mexico City and one in Guadalajara. “Our first two matches are in Mexico, but we know they will overcome this and move forward,” said Ramón Jesurún, the president of the Colombian Soccer Federation. “I have absolute and total confidence in my geopolitical thinking that this is an issue Mexico will overcome, and overcome very quickly.” Other nations have expressed more concern. The Portuguese soccer federation said Tuesday that it was closely monitoring developments ahead of a planned friendly against Mexico in March. Jamaica is set to play New Caledonia in Guadalajara on March 26 in an intercontinental playoff semifinal, with the winner advancing to face Congo for a World Cup spot. “The games are at the end of March, so we still have another month to see what happens; but it is making me very nervous, to be honest,” said Michael Ricketts, the president of the Jamaican Soccer Federation. "We will be listening out for CONCACAF and FIFA to give us instructions (on) whether they are playing the games or whether they are immediately looking for other options.” Another Mexican city, Monterrey, will host a playoff where Bolivia plays Suriname and the winner faces Iraq for a spot in the tournament. On Monday, Sheinbaum said there is “every guarantee” that the World Cup matches in Guadalajara will be played as planned and added that there was “no risk.” “We are in regular contact with the presidency and the authorities in Mexico and we are monitoring the situation,” Infantino said. “The World Cup is going to be an incredible celebration”.      

Manchester United strengthened their bid for a return to the UEFA Champions League as substitute Benjamin Sesko scored the decisive goal and goalkeeper Senne Lammens delivered a standout performance in a 1-0 Premier League victory over Everton on Monday night. United head coach Michael Carrick praised Sesko’s rapid development after the 22-year-old again made a decisive impact from the bench, continuing a remarkable run of form that has lifted United into fourth place in the league table. Sesko struck in the 71st minute at Hill Dickinson Stadium, finishing calmly after a lung-bursting run of nearly 70 yards. The goal followed his stoppage-time equaliser against West Ham earlier this month, underlining his growing influence despite not starting under Carrick. The Slovenian forward has now scored eight goals this season, six of them in his last seven appearances. Having managed only two goals earlier in the campaign following his £73.7m move from RB Leipzig, Sesko’s resurgence has been central to United’s recent surge. Carrick acknowledged debate over Sesko’s role but insisted the player’s mentality has been exemplary. He said the striker’s confidence and belief were clear, adding that he consistently delivers when called upon. While Sesko settled the contest at one end, Lammens proved equally decisive at the other. The 23-year-old goalkeeper made a series of crucial saves, including a powerful strike from Michael Keane, and dealt confidently with sustained pressure as Everton pushed for an equaliser. Everton manager David Moyes described Lammens as the best player on the pitch, highlighting his command of the penalty area and composure under pressure. Carrick also benefited from United’s recruitment decision last summer to trust Lammens rather than pursue a move for Emi Martinez. The Belgian, signed for £18.1m, has quickly justified that faith with assured performances. United have now gone 10 Premier League matches unbeaten for the first time since 2021 and sit three points behind Aston Villa, while holding a three-point advantage over Chelsea and Liverpool. With no European commitments, Carrick’s side are well placed to secure a top-four finish. Former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was among those drawing comparisons with Lammens, though Carrick cautioned against direct parallels, instead praising the young keeper’s calmness and reliability. At the start of the season, a Europa League spot was considered the realistic target at Old Trafford. However, following managerial changes and a sustained run of form, Champions League qualification is now firmly within reach.   With inputs from BBC

Arsenal showed superior quality and smart tactics to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in the north London derby on Sunday, taking full advantage of gaps in the home side’s system. Arsenal took control by attacking mainly down the right flank, where Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber caused constant trouble. Their movement and understanding stretched Tottenham’s defence and led to key chances. Tottenham, playing a 3-5-2 shape under new coach Igor Tudor, tried to press instead of sitting deep. That left space behind, which Arsenal used well, especially after the break. Arsenal scored twice through Viktor Gyokeres, who enjoyed one of his best games for the club. Eberechi Eze also impressed with his movement and goals from central areas. Midfielder Declan Rice played a key role with his energy and runs, helping Arsenal stay on the front foot even when they were ahead. Tottenham fought hard in the first half but faded later, with injuries and tired legs showing. Arsenal, by contrast, kept attacking and did not try to defend their lead. The win showed Arsenal are back to their best level and remain strong contenders in the title race, while Tottenham were left to reflect on defensive weaknesses exposed by their rivals.   With inputs from BBC

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF endured a disappointing start to their MLS Cup title defence after losing 3-0 to Los Angeles FC in the new season opener on Saturday night. David Martínez, Denis Bouanga and Nathan Ordaz scored for LAFC, who made a strong statement as early contenders for the title. Son Heung-min provided the assist for Martínez’s opening goal in the 38th minute, setting the tone for the home side’s dominant display. The match attracted 75,673 fans, the second-largest crowd in Major League Soccer history, creating a lively atmosphere for the high-profile clash between two of the league’s biggest clubs. Messi played despite recently dealing with a hamstring strain, drawing loud reactions from the crowd throughout the game. However, Miami looked less settled after the retirements of key players Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, while new signings are still adjusting to the team’s style. Bouanga doubled LAFC’s lead in the 73rd minute, finishing a long pass with a composed header and strike. Ordaz sealed the win deep into stoppage time after converting Bouanga’s assist. The victory continued LAFC’s perfect record in season openers and improved their head-to-head record against Miami to four wins from six meetings. For Miami, the heavy defeat highlights the challenge ahead as they attempt to defend their MLS title against strong and in-form rivals.  

Manchester City kept the pressure on Premier League leader Arsenal after beating Newcastle 2-1 on Saturday, cutting the gap at the top to just two points. City’s win at the Etihad Stadium comes just before Arsenal’s crucial north London derby against Tottenham, adding more tension to the title race. Nico O’Reilly scored both goals for Pep Guardiola’s side, extending their unbeaten league run to five matches. O’Reilly opened the scoring in the 14th minute, but Newcastle equalized through Lewis Hall eight minutes later. The young forward restored City’s lead with a header five minutes after that. City then defended strongly in the second half to hold on for the win. The result underlines City’s growing momentum, especially after three straight victories over Liverpool, Fulham and Newcastle. Arsenal, meanwhile, has struggled recently with only two wins in its last seven league games. City also moved further ahead of third-placed Aston Villa, which was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Leeds. Substitute Tammy Abraham scored a late equalizer for Villa after Aton Stach had given Leeds the lead. The draw leaves Villa seven points behind Arsenal and dents its title hopes. Chelsea stayed fourth after conceding a stoppage-time goal in a 1-1 draw with Burnley at Stamford Bridge. Joao Pedro had put Chelsea ahead early, but Zian Flemming struck in the 93rd minute to rescue a point for the visitors. Elsewhere, James Milner set a new Premier League record by making his 654th appearance, surpassing Gareth Barry’s previous mark. Brighton marked the milestone with a 2-0 win over Brentford. Tyler Adams also returned from injury, playing 66 minutes for Bournemouth in a goalless draw against West Ham.  

Arsenal squandered a two-goal advantage to draw 2-2 with bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday, giving Manchester City fresh momentum in the Premier League title race. Arsenal led 2-0 through early goals from Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapie, but Wolves staged a dramatic comeback after the break. Hugo Bueno reduced the deficit in the 61st minute before teenage debutant Tom Edozie struck in stoppage time to snatch a point at Molineux. The draw leaves Arsenal just five points ahead of second-placed City, having played a game more, with the top two still to meet later in the season. “We dropped our standards and got punished,” Saka said after the match. Manager Mikel Arteta admitted his side fell below expectations in the second half. “Incredibly disappointed that we gave two points away,” he said, urging his players to improve performances amid growing pressure. Arsenal, runner-up in the last three seasons, has now won only two of its previous seven league matches, tightening an increasingly unpredictable title race.

World Cup-winning footballer Mesut Ozil on Tuesday attended the inauguration of renovation works at the Shaheed Buddhijibi Dr Mohammad Mortoza Medical Centre of University of Dhaka. The event was also attended by Bilal Erdogan, son of the Turkish President, along with senior officials from Turkey and Bangladesh. The inauguration ceremony, held at 3pm, marked the opening of renovated facilities including a modern emergency unit, a state-of-the-art ambulance, X-ray and ECG machines, and other essential medical equipment at the university medical centre. Former Germany midfielder Mesut Özil retires at 34 The renovation was completed at a cost of Tk 27.5 million with financial assistance from the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency. Vice Chancellor of the University of Dhaka Prof Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan presided over the ceremony. Among others present were Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Ramis Sen, TIKA President Abdullah Eren, TIKA Bangladesh Coordinator Mohammad Ali Arman, teachers from different departments of the university and leaders of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU).

Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has condemned the alleged racist abuse of teammate Vinicius Junior during their Champions League match against Benfica, calling the incident a “disgrace to football,” while opposition coach Jose Mourinho faced criticism for his reaction. The match was halted for around 10 minutes after Vinicius reported alleged racist abuse by Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni to referee Francois Letexier. Vinicius and his teammates temporarily left the pitch following the complaint. The Brazilian forward, who has previously spoken out against repeated racist abuse during his career, later posted on social media saying racists are “cowards above all.” Benfica coach Mourinho claimed Vinicius had not celebrated his goal “in a respectful way” shortly before the incident at the Estadio da Luz, where Real Madrid secured a 1-0 win in the first leg. “There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium,” Mourinho said, adding that incidents seem to occur wherever Vinicius plays. Former Real Madrid midfielder Clarence Seedorf criticised Mourinho’s remarks, saying they risked justifying racial abuse. He stressed that racism can never be excused under any circumstances. Speaking after the match, Alexander-Arnold strongly denounced the abuse, saying it overshadowed an outstanding performance and goal. “There is no place for this in football or in society,” he said, describing the incident as “disgusting.” Mourinho later said he had been told different versions of events by Vinicius and Prestianni and insisted Benfica is not a racist club, pointing to club legend Eusebio as an example. Former England forward Theo Walcott said Mourinho should not have commented publicly on the matter, calling it a poor decision. Meanwhile, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe urged strong action, saying Prestianni should not be allowed to continue playing in the Champions League if the allegations are proven. He called on UEFA Champions League authorities to take the matter seriously. Prestianni has yet to respond publicly to the allegations. With the second leg set to be played in Madrid next week, Walcott and other former players called for swift action by UEFA, stressing that incidents of racism must be addressed immediately to protect players and the integrity of the game.   With inputs from BBC

Girona stunned Barcelona 2-1 in a heated Catalan derby on Monday as teenage star Lamine Yamal missed a first-half penalty, costing the visitors a chance to reclaim top spot in La Liga. Barcelona now trail arch-rivals Real Madrid by two points in the title race after substitute Fran Beltran struck late to secure all three points for Girona at the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi. The visitors briefly went ahead just before the hour mark when defender Pau Cubarsí headed home his first league goal from a cross by Jules Koundé. But the lead lasted only two minutes as Thomas Lemar equalised for Girona, tapping in from close range. Girona completed the comeback in the 86th minute through Beltran, whose goal stood despite Barcelona protests over a possible foul in the build-up. A brief VAR review upheld the decision. Earlier, Barcelona had squandered several clear chances. Yamal missed twice from close range before smashing a penalty against the post in first-half stoppage time. The home side were reduced to 10 men deep into added time when Joel Roca was sent off for a reckless challenge on Yamal, but Barcelona failed to take advantage and could not find an equaliser. The defeat is Barcelona’s second in a row in all competitions and their third league loss this season to regional rivals. Girona, meanwhile, ended a three-match winless run, easing relegation worries as they climbed to mid-table. Barcelona’s winning streak in the league ends at three matches, with pressure mounting ahead of their next fixture as the title race tightens.   With inputs from BBC