United News of Bangladesh

In a dramatic five-goal encounter at Anfield, Liverpool secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid, with captain Virgil van Dijk netting a last-gasp winner in stoppage time. On Wednesday night at Anfield, all eyes were on new British record signing Alexander Isak, who was making his highly anticipated debut for the Reds. However, it was Mohamed Salah who once again stole the show from the opening minutes. In just the fourth minute, Salah’s low free-kick was cleverly diverted by Andy Robertson that defeated Atletico keeper Jan Oblak, who was making his 500th appearance for the club. Two minutes later, Salah doubled the lead with a stunning solo effort that marked his 250th goal in English club football. Salah nearly struck again in the 19th minute, but his fierce angled shot narrowly missed the far post. On his debut, Isak also had a couple of good opportunities, including a 41st-minute effort denied by Oblak. Super subs combine to give Arsenal a 2-0 winning start at Bilbao Despite Liverpool’s dominance, Atletico Madrid showed their resilience. They clawed their way back into the match just before halftime when Giacomo Raspadori slipped a pass into the box, and Marcos Llorente fired a precise angled strike past Alisson, reviving the visitors’ hopes. The second half was a much more closely contested affair. Salah had a golden chance to seal the game in the 65th minute after being set up by Florian Wirtz, but his shot struck the post. In the 81st minute, Llorente sparked one more time to produce a stunning long-range volley that deflected and flew past Alisson. Levelling the score, Madrid side was focused to return with a point, what invited the home side to pile pressure on the Atletico defence. Liverpool started throwing everything forward, which resulted in a series of corners in the dying moments of the match. Then, in the second minute of stoppage time, a right-wing corner found Virgil van Dijk, who rose above the defenders with a powerful header to send the ball home. The late winner caused Diego Simeone to lose control and receive a red card. With this result, Atletico Madrid’s nightmare start to the season continues, while Liverpool’s perfect start extends to five games in all competitions. Next up, Atletico Madrid will host Eintracht Frankfurt on September 30th, while Liverpool will visit Turkey to face Galatasaray on the same night.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia returned from a calf injury to start against Atalanta as the French champions began their Champions League title defense on Wednesday. The Georgian winger sustained the injury during Sunday’s 2-0 Ligue 1 victory over Lens and was doubtful for the European clash at the Parc des Princes. Coach Luis Enrique named Lee Kang-in on the bench after he was forced off in the same match. PSG were also missing injured forwards Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué, which opened the door for 19-year-old striker Senny Mayulu to earn a rare start. Meanwhile, Brazilian defender Lucas Beraldo was ruled out with a left ankle sprain picked up against Lens. PSG lifted the Champions League trophy in May with a 5-0 win over Inter Milan, where Mayulu scored the final goal.

Real Madrid's newly signed defender, Trent Alexander-Arnold, is set to miss several weeks of action after sustaining a muscle injury. The English international was substituted early in last night’s match against Marseille and is now expected to miss his first-ever El Clasico. “Following tests carried out Wednesday by the Real Madrid Medical Services on our player, Trent Alexander-Arnold, he has been diagnosed with a muscle injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg. Further updates will follow,” an official club statement read. According to several Spanish media reports, Alexander-Arnold will be sidelined for at least six to eight weeks. If this turns true, he will be unavailable for some of Madrid’s most critical upcoming matches. This includes his debut El Clasico on October 26, when Los Blancos will host the Catalan club at Santiago Bernabéu. Within this timeframe, Real Madrid also has other significant fixtures, including the Madrid Derby on September 27 and a match against Villarreal on October 4. His absence will also be felt in the Champions League, especially in upcoming games against Juventus and Liverpool. Two Real Madrid defenders sanctioned The injury adds to the club's defensive woes. Earlier this week, another key defender, Antonio Rüdiger, suffered a serious muscle injury that will keep him out for approximately three months. The absence of two vital players on defense will undoubtedly cause a major headache for coach Xabi Alonso as he looks to manage his starting lineup. Alexander-Arnold pulled up while making a run just five minutes into the match against Marseille, which the hosts won 2-1 thanks to two successful penalties from Kylian Mbappe. The defender dropped to the ground, holding the back of his left leg, and was replaced by Dani Carvajal immediately. Carvajal was later sent off for headbutting an opponent and will miss Madrid's next Champions League match against Kairat Almaty in two weeks. Alexander-Arnold joined Madrid from Liverpool this summer and made his debut for the Spanish giants during the Club World Cup.

More bad news has struck Real Madrid. Following two recent injuries to key defenders, the club is now facing the loss of two more players—this time due to disciplinary sanctions. Young defender Dean Huijsen has been suspended for the next La Liga match against Espanyol, while club captain Dani Carvajal will be sidelined for three Champions League matches against Kairat Almaty, Juventus, and Liverpool. Both players received red cards in their respective recent matches. Carvajal’s Three-Match Ban Carvajal’s punishment was announced on Wednesday following his expulsion in the match against Olympique de Marseille. The right-back was sent off in the 69th minute for headbutting French side’s Argentine goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli. Initially, the referee did not signal for a foul, but after a VAR review, he showed Carvajal a red card. The referee’s report was crucial, as the Real Madrid captain faced potential sanctions under Article 15 of the UEFA Disciplinary Code, which addresses “unsportsmanlike conduct by players or coaches.” Under the best-case scenario, the incident would be classified as unsportsmanlike conduct rather than aggression. According to Article 15, section (d), such an offense carries a suspension of “two competitive matches or a fixed period for serious unsportsmanlike play.”

Arsenal kicked off their Champions League campaign in style on Tuesday, as two goals from substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard powered them to a 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao. In a match that was goalless for over an hour, both players came off the bench in the second half to turn the tide. The first half at San Mamés was a cautious affair, with both teams struggling to create clear opportunities. Bilbao had plenty of shots, but none tested the Arsenal goalkeeper, while the Gunners managed only one shot on target from striker Viktor Gyökeres, whose effort was easily saved. Gyökeres later suffered a head injury in a collision but continued to play with a bandage. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s tactical changes proved to be the difference-maker. He introduced Trossard in the 65th minute for Gyökeres, and then Martinelli for Eberechi Eze six minutes later. The move paid off almost immediately. Trossard initiated the first goal at 72nd minute with a clever flick to Martinelli, who then weaved past a defender before coolly slotting the ball into the net to give Arsenal the lead. Just three minutes from time, the two reversed roles. Martinelli cut inside from the left and delivered a precise pass to Trossard, who fired a powerful strike between two defenders to seal the victory. The late goals highlighted Arsenal's second-half resurgence, as they registered five shots on target in the final 45 minutes, while Bilbao failed to seriously threaten the visiting side's defense. Last season, Arsenal started their campaign with a 0-0 draw with Atalanta. They nearly faced a similar outcome this time, but this time, Arteta’s tactical masterclass allowed them to defeat an Athletic side making their first Champions League appearance since 2014. Arsenal will host Olympiakos in their next Champions League match on October 1, while Athletic Bilbao travels to face Borussia Dortmund on the same day.

A seemingly lifeless first half gave way to an electrifying second as Juventus and Borussia Dortmund traded spectacular goals in a dramatic Champions League clash at Allianz Stadium. Dortmund appeared set for victory, leading 4-2 until stoppage time, but Juventus struck twice in the stoppage time to snatch a precious point from the visitors in a breathtaking 4-4 draw. The hosts found themselves trailing 4-2 until the 93rd minute before late strikes from Dusan Vlahovic and Lloyd Kelly rescued them. All eight goals came in the second half—five in a chaotic 22-minute spell and the remaining three in just 10 minutes. The contest was evenly matched in possession, with Juventus attempting 19 shots (seven on target) compared to Dortmund's 10 (five on target). Vlahovic came off the bench to score a brace, while Kenan Yıldız and Kelly added the other goals for Juventus. Dortmund’s scorers were Karim Adeyemi, Felix Nmecha, Yan Couto, and Ramy Bensebaini. After a dull first half that saw only two shots on target—both from Juventus—Adeyemi put Dortmund ahead in the 52nd minute with a powerful strike from outside the box. Yıldız equalized in the 63rd with a stunning long-range effort, before Nmecha restored Dortmund’s lead two minutes later. Vlahovic quickly replied in the 67th, but Yan Couto's goal in the 74th and Bensebaini’s penalty in the 86th made it 4-2 for the visitors. Just as Dortmund looked to have sealed victory, Juventus roared back. In the fourth minute of added time, Vlahovic scored from close range, and two minutes later, Kelly headed home from his cross to level the match, sparking wild celebrations in Turin. In other matches on the opening night of the Champions League, Arsenal secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao at San Mames, thanks to two goals from their substitutes. Meanwhile, 10-man Real Madrid battled back to a 2-1 win against Marseille, with Kylian Mbappe scoring both goals from the penalty spot. Tottenham Hotspur also started with a win, sealing a narrow 1-0 victory over Villarreal after capitalizing on a defensive mistake in the visitors’ box. The first night also saw a couple of surprising upsets. PSV Eindhoven suffered a shocking 3-1 home defeat to the comparatively weaker Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise. Similarly, Benfica were stunned at home, losing 3-2 to Azerbaijani club Qarabag FK.

Real Madrid began their Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Marseille at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night, with Kylian Mbappe scoring two crucial penalties to overturn an early deficit. The match was filled with incidents from the very beginning. The hosts suffered an early setback when full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold limped off with an injury just five minutes in, replaced by Dani Carvajal. Despite this, Madrid dominated the opening half, showcasing a relentless attacking approach. They recorded an astounding 28 shots, with 15 on target, while holding just over 40 percent of possession. Mbappe nearly scored a spectacular overhead kick in the second minute, and Franco Mastantuono hit the post moments later. However, it was Marseille who took a surprise lead in the 22nd minute, as Tim Weah finished a swift counter-attack started by Mason Greenwood. Real Madrid's pressure paid off just six minutes later when a clumsy challenge on Rodrygo resulted in a penalty. Mbappe stepped up and coolly converted from the spot to level the score. Madrid continued to pepper the Marseille goal, but goalkeeper Jeronimo Rulli was in top form, making a series of impressive saves to keep the score level at the break. Arsenal's Dowman could become youngest Champions League player as Madrid chases milestones The game’s dynamic shifted dramatically in the 70th minute when Dani Carvajal was shown a straight red card for headbutting Rulli after a confrontation, leaving the hosts with 10 men. Despite going down to 10 men, Madrid continued to look the more likely to find a winner, and after substitute Facundo Medina handled inside the box while challenging Vinicius Junior, the referee pointed to the spot for the second time. Once again, Mbappe took the responsibility, and smashed home the spot-kick to secure his 50th goal for the club and put Madrid ahead with less than 10 minutes to play. Marseille pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages, but the 15-time European champions held firm to start their group stage with a valuable three points.

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.”