United News of Bangladesh

Reigning Copa del Rey champions FC Barcelona on Tuesday became the first side to book a place in the semifinals, edging second-division Albacete 2-1 away from home. Lamine Yamal gave Barcelona the lead in the 39th minute, bending a left footed effort into the far corner after Marcus Rashford won the ball in midfield. Fielding a reshuffled starting lineup, Barcelona initially found it difficult to penetrate a well organized Albacete defense before making the breakthrough. Rashford sent a low cross across the goalmouth in the third minute and squandered a clear opportunity five minutes later after being played in by Dani Olmo. Albacete posed threats of their own in the opening half. Agus Medina struck straight at goalkeeper Joan Garcia, while Antonio Puertas twice forced saves from Garcia following turnovers in the Barcelona half. Ronald Araujo extended Barcelona’s advantage in the 58th minute, heading home from a corner. Robert Lewandowski missed a chance to make it 3-0 soon afterward, shooting weakly at Raul Lizoain from a promising position. Read More: Raphinha, Yamal on target as leaders Barcelona beat Villarreal Lizoain later denied Ferran Torres after he replaced Lewandowski, as the match became more open. Albacete also missed chances, with Jefte Betancor heading over unmarked and later seeing a goal ruled out for offside in the 84th minute. Javi Moreno pulled one back in the 87th minute with a diving header to set up a tense finish. Torres had a goal disallowed for offside, while Barcelona defender Gerard Martin cleared Fran Gamez’s chipped shot off the line to secure the win. Two quarterfinals will be played Wednesday, with Alaves hosting Real Sociedad and Valencia facing Athletic Club. Real Betis meets Atletico Madrid on Thursday.

Liverpool have completed a deal to sign highly rated French defender Jeremy Jacquet from Ligue 1 side Rennes in a transfer worth up to £60 million, although the 20-year-old will only join the Premier League club in the summer. The agreement includes an initial £55 million fee, with a further £5 million in potential add-ons. Jacquet has agreed to a five-year contract running until 2031, with an option for an additional year. Liverpool see the France youth international as a long-term investment and a key part of their future defensive line, despite his relatively low profile at the start of the winter transfer window. The club’s recruitment team believe the centre-back has the physical and mental attributes to develop into an elite defender at the highest level. Rennes were unwilling to sanction a mid-season transfer, insisting any deal must exceed their previous record sale of £55.4 million, when Manchester City signed Jeremy Doku in 2023. Liverpool accepted those terms and agreed to wait until the end of the season. Jacquet has built a reputation in Ligue 1 for his strength and athleticism, winning more than 75 percent of his aerial duels this season, the highest rate among defenders in the French top flight. He has made 36 league appearances at senior level and has been a regular starter for Rennes in their push for European qualification. While his aggressive style has led to occasional errors, Liverpool’s data-driven assessment suggests his overall profile, including pace, height, composure and leadership qualities, makes him well suited to the Premier League in the long run. The defender has captained France at youth level and was named in the team of the tournament at the 2024 Under-19 European Championship, underlining his standing among his age group. Liverpool’s interest intensified after Jacquet expressed a clear preference for a move to Anfield, despite holding talks with Chelsea. Club officials believe the pathway offered at Liverpool, along with the long-term project under head coach Arne Slot, played a decisive role in his decision. The signing comes as Liverpool prepare for potential changes in defence, with several senior players approaching the final years of their contracts. Club insiders say Jacquet will benefit from regular playing time at Rennes for the remainder of the season before making the step up to English football. Liverpool acknowledge the risks involved in spending heavily on a young, developing defender, but remain confident they have identified a player capable of becoming a cornerstone of their defence in the years ahead.   With inputs from BBC

The Bangladesh Under-19 women's football team continued their dominant run in the SAFF U-19 Women's Championship, securing a convincing 2-0 victory over arch-rivals India at the Pokhara Rangasala Stadium in Nepal on Monday. Following a record-breaking 12-0 demolition of Bhutan in their opener, this victory places Peter Butler’s charges firmly at the top of the table with a maximum of 6 points from two matches. India, who won their opening game against Nepal, remains in second place with 3 points. Despite a spell of early pressure from India in the first 25 minutes, Bangladesh gradually took control of the game, relying on swift counter-attacks. The breakthrough came in the 29th minute courtesy of a goalkeeping error. Indian custodian Munni fumbled a clever free-kick from Mamoni Chakma, and Arpita Biswas, lurking on the goal line, made no mistake in tapping the loose ball into the net. Bangladesh doubled their lead just before halftime in the 40th minute. Trishna Rani made a blistering run down the right wing and delivered a precise cross into the box, which Alpi Akter coolly finished to make it 2-0. While the attackers secured the lead, goalkeeper Yearzan Begum ensured a clean sheet with a stellar performance under the bar. She denied India twice in the first half—saving a dangerous direct free-kick and blocking a long-range effort from Pritika Barma. Although India pushed hard in the second half to stage a comeback, the Bangladeshi defense remained organized and disciplined to seal the victory. Bangladesh and India are the defending joint champions of the tournament. With the top two teams from the round-robin stage set to face off in the final on February 7, this win significantly boosts Bangladesh's chances of retaining the title. They will face hosts Nepal in their final group match on Wednesday.

Manchester City’s repeated drop in second-half performance is raising concerns over their Premier League title ambitions after they surrendered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. City have now failed to hold leads in three of their last four league matches, including games against Chelsea and Brighton, highlighting a troubling pattern of complacency in the second half. Analysts attribute the turnarounds not to the opposition’s quality but to City’s drop in intensity and focus after halftime. The dramatic reversal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was fueled by Spurs’ renewed energy, tactical adjustments, and determination, which outmatched City’s performance levels. Former player and BBC commentator Danny Murphy noted that while City controlled the first half and dominated possession, their mindset and attitude faltered after the break, a scenario he described as “self-inflicted” and concerning given the squad’s experience. Pep Guardiola’s tactical tweaks, including a split front pairing of Antoine Semenyo and Erling Haaland and fluid midfield rotations, gave City an initial edge. However, Spurs adapted with personnel changes and a compact midfield, gradually reclaiming control and winning crucial duels, exposing City’s vulnerability. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s interventions prevented a possible defeat. City’s current form shows only one win in their past six league matches, leaving them six points behind leaders Arsenal. Experts argue that while City possess the talent and experience to recover, their inconsistent mindset and second-half lapses could jeopardize their title challenge if not addressed. Murphy emphasized that City’s decline in performance after gaining leads is not due to a lack of quality but “a mindset issue” among some players, which must be rectified to sustain a championship-winning campaign.                                                     With inputs from BBC

Teenager Lamine Yamal delivered another impressive performance as Barcelona defeated Elche 3-1 away on Saturday to strengthen their grip at the top of La Liga. Yamal opened the scoring in the sixth minute and later set up Marcus Rashford for Barcelona’s third goal, sealing the win at Martínez Valero Stadium. Ferran Torres scored the second just before halftime after Elche had briefly equalised in the first half. The victory allowed Barcelona to move four points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, who host Rayo Vallecano on Sunday. Yamal, 18, has now scored in three consecutive matches, having also found the net against Real Oviedo in La Liga and Copenhagen in the Champions League earlier this week. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised the young forward, saying he still has “another level” to reach. Elche, enjoying a solid season after returning to the top flight, showed attacking intent but struggled to contain Barcelona’s constant pressure. The hosts equalised through Álvaro Rodríguez, who finished calmly after breaking behind Barcelona’s high defensive line. Barcelona dominated the match, finishing with 30 shots compared to Elche’s nine. The visitors hit the woodwork several times through Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo, while Elche defenders made crucial goal-line clearances to keep the scoreline respectable. Torres restored Barcelona’s lead in the 39th minute, finishing a slick passing move involving Frenkie de Jong. Rashford, introduced after halftime, made it 3-1 in the 72nd minute after Yamal led a quick counterattack and provided the assist. Elsewhere in La Liga, Atletico Madrid were held to a goalless draw by struggling Levante, leaving them 10 points behind leaders Barcelona. Villarreal drew 2-2 with Osasuna thanks to a brace from Gerard Moreno, while Oviedo snapped a long winless run with a 1-0 victory over Girona.

Real Madrid will host Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday under mounting pressure from fans following recent inconsistent results. A 6-1 win over Monaco and a 2-0 victory at Villarreal initially lifted spirits after Xabi Alonso’s departure and a Copa del Rey exit to second-division Albacete. However, a 4-2 defeat at Benfica on Wednesday, highlighted by a stoppage-time goal from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, reignited tensions over perceived lack of commitment. The loss also placed Madrid in the Champions League playoff round against Benfica, depriving the squad of two midweeks without matches. Kylian Mbappe remains a bright spot, scoring 13 goals in the Champions League and 21 in La Liga — nearly half of Madrid’s 45 goals this season — underscoring the need for stronger support in attack. Madrid will be without central defenders Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger, as well as Trent Alexander-Arnold. Despite these absences, the visitors’ form offers some reassurance. Rayo Vallecano, coached by Inigo Perez, is struggling to juggle UEFA Conference League and domestic matches, dropping to 16th in La Liga after back-to-back defeats, including a 3-1 home loss to Osasuna sealed by two injury-time goals.  

Africa's soccer body issued fines worth more than $1 million and banned Senegal's coach and Senegalese and Morocco players Wednesday following a shambolic African Cup soccer final this month that involved a walk-off protest by one of the teams, fans trying to storm the field and fights among journalists. The bans only apply to African games and not the World Cup kicking off in June that Senegal and Morocco have both qualified for. The sanctions announced by the Confederation of African Football included fines totaling $615,000 for the Senegalese soccer federation and $315,000 for the Morocco federation for unsporting and improper conduct by their players, coaching staff and supporters, among other offenses. The Jan. 18 African soccer showpiece was marred by Senegal players walking off led by coach Pape Thiaw in protest against a penalty awarded late in regulation time to host Morocco. Thiaw was banned for five African games and given an individual fine of $100,000 for bringing the game into disrepute, the African confederation said. The game restarted after a delay of around 15 minutes, Morocco missed the penalty, and Senegal won the African title 1-0 after extra time. The heated final in Rabat also saw supporters trying to storm the field, Morocco and Senegal players scuffling on the sidelines, reporters from the two countries fighting in press areas, and a bizarre sequence where Moroccan ball boys attempted to seize a towel being used by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy — in an apparent bid to distract him and help their team win the continental title. That behavior by the home team's ball boys led to a $200,000 fine for Morocco's federation, which will be a co-host of the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal and has come under scrutiny for the chaotic African final. Morocco was hoping to host the 2030 World Cup final at the under-construction Hassan II Stadium, set to be the largest soccer arena in the world with a capacity of 115,000 after its planned completion in 2028. But this month's African final reflected badly on it. Morocco coach Walid Regragui said the game had given African soccer a “shameful” image. Senegal players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were banned for two African games, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi was also banned for two games, with one suspended, and Morocco's Ismael Saibari was banned for three games and fined $100,000 for unsporting behavior. The African soccer body dismissed an appeal by Morocco to have the result canceled and Morocco declared the winner because of the Senegalese walk-off. The game even strained diplomatic ties between Senegal and Morocco, prompting political officials in both nations to pledge to stay friends and call for calm. In Morocco, rights groups denounced what they called hate speech targeting sub-Saharan African residents in the country. Senegal Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said on an investment-related trip to Morocco days after the game that the reaction to it should be seen as “emotional outbursts produced by fervor and not as political or cultural rifts.”

The first stage of the 2025-26 Champions League has concluded, with eight teams qualifying automatically for the round of 16, eight entering the playoff round, and twelve eliminated. Automatically qualified for the round of 16: Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting Lisbon, and Manchester City. Playoff round: The remaining eight teams will compete for the final four spots in the round of 16: Monaco or Qarabag vs. Paris Saint-Germain or Newcastle (winner faces Barcelona or Chelsea) Club Brugge or Galatasaray vs. Juventus or Atletico Madrid (winner faces Liverpool or Tottenham) Bodo/Glimt or Benfica vs. Real Madrid or Inter Milan (winner faces Sporting Lisbon or Manchester City) Borussia Dortmund or Olympiakos vs. Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen (winner faces Arsenal or Bayern Munich) Eliminated teams: Marseille, Pafos, Union Saint-Gilloise, PSV Eindhoven, Athletic Bilbao, Napoli, FC Copenhagen, Ajax, Eintracht Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Villarreal, and Kairat. The playoffs promise intense clashes as clubs fight for the last spots in the round of 16, with high-profile matchups including Benfica or Bodo/Glimt against Real Madrid or Inter Milan, and Monaco or Qarabag facing Paris Saint-Germain or Newcastle. The round of 16 proper will see the top qualifiers taking on the winners from the playoff round.

Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a dramatic stoppage-time header to secure a 4-2 Champions League win over Real Madrid, keeping Jose Mourinho’s side alive in Europe. The victory also allowed Benfica to snatch a play-off spot at the expense of Marseille. Benfica led 3-2 deep into added time but still faced elimination on goal difference. For a final free-kick, Trubin was sent forward and powered a header into the net, sparking wild celebrations at the Estadio da Luz. The Ukrainian goalkeeper, 24, said it was his first career goal and described the moment as “crazy” and “completely new” for him. “Before, I didn’t understand what we needed. Then everyone pointed at me, and I went. We needed one more goal,” he said. Mourinho praised the goal, calling it “fantastic, historic and well deserved” and said beating Real Madrid, his former club, brought “incredible prestige” to Benfica. The win came after a challenging start to his second stint at the Portuguese club, where skepticism surrounded his appointment in September. Despite remaining unbeaten domestically, Benfica struggled in Europe, losing the first four matches of the league phase and suffering a domestic cup quarter-final defeat to Porto. Wins over Ajax and Napoli had kept hope alive, but a loss in the penultimate round had left Benfica on the brink of elimination. Trubin’s late heroics overturned that narrative, with European football analyst Julien Laurens calling the result “incredible,” highlighting the drama of Mourinho’s victory against his former club and former protégé, Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa. Looking ahead, Benfica could face either Real Madrid or Inter Milan in the play-off round. Mourinho, who won the Champions League with Inter in 2010, said he was eager for the challenge. For now, however, Trubin’s header will be remembered as a defining moment, preserving Benfica’s European ambitions and adding a remarkable chapter to Mourinho’s storied career. With inputs from BBC

A dramatic final day of the Champions League league phase on Wednesday will decide the fate of six English clubs as they fight for top-eight spots and a place in the last 16. Arsenal, already through to the last 16, lead the standings and can secure top spot with a draw at home against Kairat Almaty. Bayern Munich will also aim for a top-two finish with a match at PSV Eindhoven. Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle United, Chelsea, and Manchester City are all still in contention. A win could ensure direct entry to the last 16, while failure may force them into play-offs. Manchester City currently sit in a play-off position but are level on points with Newcastle and Chelsea, with goal difference deciding the ranking. The English clubs face notable challenges, including matches against former managers. Real Madrid will play Jose Mourinho’s Benfica, and Chelsea meet their former coach Antonio Conte’s Napoli. Liverpool host Qarabag, Spurs travel to Eintracht Frankfurt, Manchester City face Galatasaray, and Newcastle take on Paris St-Germain. A total of 16 teams are competing for the six remaining top-eight spots, making the final fixtures crucial. All 18 matches kick off at 20:00 GMT, with the top-two finishers guaranteed to play the second leg at home through the knockout rounds leading up to the final in Budapest. The Champions League table is tightly packed, with only Arsenal already certain of advancement. The remaining English sides will rely on matchday results and goal difference to avoid the play-offs and secure automatic qualification for the knockout stage.   With inputs from BBC