United News of Bangladesh

Chelsea is monitoring Cole Palmer’s fitness “day by day” and currently does not think the playmaker needs surgery for his groin injury, manager Enzo Maresca said Monday. Palmer was substituted in the 21st minute during Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday after a recurrence of a groin problem that had already kept him out of Premier League matches against West Ham and Fulham before the international break. Maresca said the club’s medical team is still assessing the situation. “It is more day by day, week by week, game by game, to see how he is and decide what we do,” the Italian coach explained ahead of Chelsea’s English League Cup match against third-tier Lincoln. Asked if surgery might be needed, Maresca added, “The medical staff didn’t mention surgery until today. I don’t know if it will be in the next days or weeks, but honestly, I don’t think so.”

FC Barcelona fans have received frustrating news regarding two of their young stars, Gavi and Fermin Lopez. Gavi is scheduled for surgery on his right knee, while Fermin Lopez will be out for around three weeks with a muscle injury. Gavi to undergo knee surgery Gavi has been dealing with persistent knee pain that caused him to miss Barcelona’s recent matches against Rayo Vallecano, Valencia, Newcastle United, and Getafe. After pulling out of the Spain national team and seeing no improvement, manager Hansi Flick pushed for an immediate resolution to the case. A more detailed examination revealed a meniscus issue in his right knee. On Monday, the club decided that the best course of action was an arthroscopic examination, particularly because it involves the same knee that was previously operated on. In an official statement, Barcelona announced, “Gavi underwent intense sporting stress tests after finishing his conservation course of treatment for the radial injury to the internal meniscus in his right knee. "The conclusion is that in order to guarantee the best possible recovery and return to competitive action, this Tuesday the player will undergo an arthroscopic examination.” Surgeon Joan Carles Monllau, who previously operated on Gavi’s serious cruciate ligament injury in the same leg, will perform the procedure again under the supervision of the club’s medical staff. According to Diario AS, the midfielder is expected to be sidelined for five to six weeks. This timeline means Gavi will likely target a return in November. He is expected to miss at least seven Barcelona matches, including the El Clasico against Real Madrid on October 26th. Playing in a high-stakes match of that magnitude so soon after surgery is unlikely. Fermin out for three weeks Barcelona also confirmed Fermin Lopez’s injury on the same day. He was substituted in the 60th minute of Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Getafe due to a muscle injury. According to the club’s medical report, Fermin Lopez has an iliopsoas muscle injury in his left leg and will be out of action for approximately three weeks. This setback will likely cause him to miss matches against Real Oviedo, Real Sociedad, PSG, and Sevilla. His name is also unlikely to appear on Luis de la Fuente’s squad list for the Spain national team’s matches against Georgia and Bulgaria in October. Due to their injuries, both players will miss key upcoming matches. Gavi is expected to miss fixtures against Real Oviedo, Real Sociedad, Paris Saint-Germain, and Sevilla before the international break. Before El Clásico, Barcelona will face Girona in La Liga and Olympiakos in the Champions League. After the Clásico, the club will host Elche, a game in which the 21-year-old’s availability is also uncertain.

A stoppage-time strike from Gabriel Martinelli rescued Arsenal as they held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. The result denied City a much-needed victory while keeping Mikel Arteta’s side firmly in the title race. Haaland’s early opener The visitors struck first in the ninth minute through Erling Haaland, who finished off a swift counter-attack. Starting from his own half, the Norwegian striker combined with Tijjani Reijnders before firing a low strike across goal. It was the first open-play goal Arsenal had conceded this season and their earliest concession in a Premier League match since September 2024. Arsenal take control Despite the early setback, Arsenal dominated possession, enjoying 68 percent of the ball and registering 12 attempts compared to City’s five. However, they struggled to create clear-cut chances against a disciplined defense. Barcelona closes gap on Real Madrid with commanding win over Getafe The Gunners’ first real opportunity came in the 32nd minute, when Noni Madueke headed off target. It was the first time since April 2021 that Arsenal had gone more than 30 minutes into a league match without a single attempt on goal. Arsenal piled on pressure after the break, forcing City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma into several key saves. City, however, nearly doubled their lead in the 57th minute when Haaland’s shot was parried and the rebound deflected over the bar. Martinelli’s late heroics Just as City seemed set to take all three points, Arsenal found their breakthrough. In the third minute of stoppage time, substitute Eberechi Eze slipped a precise through ball to Martinelli. The Brazilian forward kept his composure, lobbing Donnarumma with his first touch to secure a dramatic equalizer. The draw leaves Arsenal second in the table with 10 points from five games, five points behind leaders Liverpool. City, meanwhile, sit ninth with just seven points from their opening fixtures.  

Barcelona extended their unbeaten start to the 2025/26 La Liga season with a commanding 3-0 victory over Getafe at the Estadi Johan Cruyff on Sunday. Despite the frustration of playing in front of a reduced-capacity crowd, Hansi Flick’s men responded in style, thanks to a brace from Ferran Torres and a superb strike from Dani Olmo. Torres opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a first-time finish from Olmo’s clever back-heel. He doubled the lead in the 34th minute with a fierce long-range strike. The Spanish forward came close to completing his hat-trick before halftime, but his effort rattled the crossbar. Olmo sealed the win in the 62nd minute, calmly slotting home after Marcus Rashford’s cut-back. Rashford nearly got on the scoresheet himself during stoppage time, only to be denied by a fine save from the Getafe goalkeeper. Barcelona dominated possession with 71 percent, attempting 16 shots—seven on target—while limiting Getafe to just three attempts, including two on goal. Pellegrini's strike gives Roma the points over 9-man Lazio in fiery derby The result gave Barcelona back-to-back league wins, in which they have scored nine goals without conceding. With 13 points from four wins and a draw, the Catalan giants now sit second in the standings, two points behind leaders Real Madrid (15 points). Getafe, who had won three of their first four matches, slipped to eighth place after the defeat.

France Football will host the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards in Paris on Monday, with Barcelona well represented across multiple categories. However, two of the club’s biggest names, Robert Lewandowski and Pedri, will not be making the trip to the French capital despite their nominations. Spanish media confirmed over the weekend that both players have opted out of attending the ceremony. According to Spanish media outlet Sport, Pedri has mutually agreed with the club to skip the ceremony. The midfielder, who has enjoyed a standout year at club and international level, is reportedly prioritizing rest to manage a demanding schedule under new coach Hansi Flick. He is also not considered among the frontrunners for the men’s award this year. Lewandowski’s absence stems from fitness concerns following an injury sustained during the summer. The Polish striker has yet to fully rediscover his form this season and, like Pedri, is viewed as not a top contender for the prize. Barcelona’s main hopes for recognition lie with Raphinha and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who are widely tipped to feature on the podium alongside Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele. Their performances over the past year have put them firmly in contention for the Ballon d’Or. It will be interesting to see how Barcelona’s nominees get on during the Ballon d’Or ceremony. The Catalan club is well represented across different categories. Nominations include Lewandowski, Pedri, Raphinha, and Yamal for the men’s award, while Aitana Bonmati, Alexia Putellas, Claudia Pina, Patri Guijarro, Ewa Pajor, and Caroline Graham Hansen are all shortlisted for the women’s equivalent. Barcelona are also among the contenders for both the Men’s and Women’s Club of the Year awards. In addition, head coach Hansi Flick has been nominated for the Johan Cruyff Trophy, while goalkeeper Cata Coll is in the running for the Women’s Yachine Trophy. The club’s emerging talents have also earned recognition. Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí have been shortlisted for the men’s Kopa Trophy, while Vicky López is nominated on the women’s side.  

Roma emerged victorious in a fiery Derby della Capitale on Sunday, defeating Lazio 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico in a clash defined by relentless fouls, missed chances, and two red cards for the home side. The highly intense encounter showcased the depth of rivalry between the two city-giants. Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma capitalized on their opportunities, while Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio paid the price for indiscipline, ending the match with only nine men on the field. Lazio created the first scoring chance in the game, when Mattia Zaccagni shifted the ball onto his right foot from just inside the 18-yard box before curling an effort looking for the top corner, but Roma keeper Mile Svilar produced a sharp diving save to deny him. Despite early Lazio pressure, it was Roma who broke the deadlock in the 38th minute. Nuno Tavares lost possession on the edge of his own area, allowing Matias Soule to pick up the loose ball and lay it off to captain Lorenzo Pellegrini. Pellegrini’s low strike beat Lazio keeper Ivan Provedel and found the back of the net to give Roma the advantage. Severe weather forces postponement of highly anticipated Marseille-PSG derby clash Lazio had a golden opportunity to level the game up 10 minutes into the second half. Danilo Cataldi threaded an incisive through ball that split Roma’s defense, sending Boulaye Dia clear on goal, with only Svilar to beat. But he squandered the opportunity, blasting his effort high over the crossbar. Valentin Castellanos later came close for the hosts, dragging a shot narrowly wide, but Lazio’s hopes of a comeback were dented when Reda Belahyane was shown a straight red card for a reckless stamp on Manu Kone’s calf. Still, Sarri’s men pressed on, and Cataldi nearly rescued a point in stoppage time, only for his powerful effort to rattle the woodwork. Tensions boiled over after the final whistle, when Matteo Guendouzi confronted the referee angrily. The former Arsenal midfielder was promptly shown a red card, reducing Lazio to nine men. The result secured Roma’s third victory in four Serie A matches, leaving them just one point behind leaders Juventus. Lazio, meanwhile, have managed only one win in four games, slipping to 14th place with three points as their troubled start to the season continues.

The highly anticipated Ligue 1 match between arch-rivals Olympique de Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain has been postponed, disappointing French football fans worldwide. The decision was made due to severe weather warnings in the south of France, leading to the cancellation of the fixture just hours before it was set to begin. Liverpool postpones WSL match after death of former manager The match, the fifth round of the current season, was originally scheduled for this Sunday at 8:45pm local time (12:45 am Bangladesh time) at the iconic Velodrome stadium in Marseille’s city center. However, officials called off the game on Sunday afternoon after the French league, Ligue 1, issued a formal announcement following the severe weather alert. The Bouches-du-Rhône region, where Marseille is located, has been placed on an orange alert for heavy storms, flash flooding, and thunderstorms. According to police chiefs in the department, a significant risk of flooding exists in and around the 65,000-seat stadium, making it unsafe for both players and spectators. Zidane’s son switches allegiance from France to Algeria Nicknamed “Le Classique,” the fixture is one of the most significant events on the top-flight football calendar, symbolizing the fierce rivalry between the two clubs and their respective cities. The postponement is a missed opportunity for Marseille, who were hoping to narrow their point deficit against the visiting team, despite what has been a less-than-ideal start to their season. PSG, Inter start Champions League campaigns in style In contrast, Luis Enrique’s PSG side has enjoyed a flawless start, winning all four of their games to sit at the top of the Ligue 1 table with 12 points. Marseille, with two wins and two losses, currently lies in seventh place with six points. The match has been officially rescheduled for this Monday, September 22, with kickoff set for 8:00 PM local time.  

Liverpool postponed its Women’s Super League fixture against Aston Villa on Sunday following the death of former manager Matt Beard. The death of Beard, who had two spells in charge of Liverpool, was announced by the club on Saturday. Beard won back-to-back WSL titles with Liverpool in 2013 and 2014 during his first spell and rejoined the club in 2021 following stints with Boston Breakers in the United States, West Ham and Bristol City. He guided Liverpool to promotion to the WSL in his first season at the helm and remained in charge until February. “Following the sudden and tragic news of the passing of former LFC Women manager Matt Beard, the match at Villa Park ... will not take place," the team said. Liverpool described Beard as “not only an extremely committed and successful manager, he was also a person of real integrity and warmth.” He “will always be remembered with genuine fondness by everyone he worked with at the club,” Liverpool added. After leaving Liverpool, Beard was hired as Burnley manager in June but resigned in August. Burnley said its match against West Bromwich Albion, also scheduled for Sunday, was postponed. The WSL announced a minute’s silence will be held across all other games taking place in the league and WSL 2 on Sunday.

Liverpool extended their flawless start to the Premier League season with a 2-1 victory over Everton in a tense Merseyside derby at Anfield on Saturday. Goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike in the first half proved just enough, despite a second-half response from Idrissa Gueye that set up a nervy finish. The defending champions were not at their fluent best, lacking rhythm and sharpness in attack, but Arne Slot’s side still found the moments of quality required to secure a fifth straight league win. They had to endure a nervy final half-hour, having already let two-goal leads slip three times this season. Yet the hosts showed resilience to see the game out, denying David Moyes what would have been a rare Anfield victory — Everton have only won once there since 2000. Liverpool made a bright start and were rewarded in the 10th minute. Gravenberch, arriving from midfield, timed his run perfectly to meet Mohamed Salah’s clipped pass before steering a precise volley beyond goalkeeper Jordan Pickford into the far corner. Real Madrid extend perfect start with comfortable win over Espanyol The Dutch midfielder was at the heart of the second goal as well. In the 29th minute, he slipped a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of Ekitike, who controlled smoothly and fired low into the net for his third Premier League goal since joining the club in July. In doing so, Gravenberch became the youngest player ever to score and assist in a Premier League Merseyside derby. Everton had offered little in the first half, registering just one effort on target, but they returned with greater purpose after the interval. Their reward came in the 58th minute when Iliman Ndiaye cushioned Jack Grealish’s deep cross into the path of Gueye. The Senegal midfielder lashed a thunderous first-time strike into the top corner, becoming the oldest player to score in this derby since Gary McAllister in April 16, 2001. Scenting an equaliser, Everton pressed higher up the pitch, but Liverpool’s defense held firm. Slot responded with changes, introducing Florian Wirtz and Curtis Jones for Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister, before sending on record signing Alexander Isak for Ekitike midway through the second half. Despite the adjustments, Liverpool never fully rediscovered their attacking fluency and had to endure enough pressure from the visitors. However, finally they were able to hold it and secured a crucial win to defend the league crown. With 15 points from five matches, Liverpool sit clear at the top of the table, while Everton’s second defeat leaves them on seven points in seventh place. Arsenal, who have played a game fewer, trail the leaders with nine points.

Real Madrid continued their perfect start to the season on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu. The win, their fifth in five matches in La Liga and six wins out of six matches across all competitions, solidifies their position at the top of La Liga and provides a promising start to the tenure of manager Xabi Alonso. The visitors began the match on the front foot, with Edu Exposito forcing an early save from Thibaut Courtois. However, both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances until an unlikely source broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute. Picking up the ball some 30 yards from goal, Real defender Eder Militao unleashed a ferocious strike that soared past Espanyol goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic, leaving him with no chance. The goal was Madrid's only shot on target in a quiet first half. The host found their rhythm moments after the restart, and it was a familiar face who sealed the victory. Following a cutback from Vinicius Junior inside the box, Kylian Mbappe continued his fabulous form by drilling a powerful shot home from around 22 yards. The goal marked the French striker’s third consecutive game on the scoresheet, taking his tally to seven goals for the season. Lyon edge Angers, move level with PSG at top of Ligue 1 Madrid had multiple chances to extend their lead, with Mbappe and Vinicius both denied in quick succession by Dmitrovic, and Vinicius also striking the post. However, they had to content with the two goal lead. The comfortable win was further celebrated by the home crowd as Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham made their respective returns to action following lengthy spells on the sidelines. The result takes Real Madrid five points clear at the top of the standings with 15 points. Meanwhile, Espanyol, who suffered their first defeat of the campaign, sit in fourth place with 10 points. Barcelona, one game in hand, sit next to Real Madrid with 10 points, and goal difference, while Villareal sit at the third place with the same 10 points.