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Messi Skips Argentina’s Last Practice Before World Cup Qualifier in Bolivia 

Argentina's Lionel Messi, center, walks with his teammates after a national soccer team practice in La Paz, Bolivia, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. (AP)
Argentina's Lionel Messi, center, walks with his teammates after a national soccer team practice in La Paz, Bolivia, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. (AP)
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Messi Skips Argentina’s Last Practice Before World Cup Qualifier in Bolivia 

Argentina's Lionel Messi, center, walks with his teammates after a national soccer team practice in La Paz, Bolivia, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. (AP)
Argentina's Lionel Messi, center, walks with his teammates after a national soccer team practice in La Paz, Bolivia, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. (AP)

Lionel Messi skipped Argentina's last practice session on the eve of a World Cup qualifying match in Bolivia.

The 36-year-old Inter Miami striker left Argentina's match against Ecuador late last week complaining of fatigue, which could impact coach Lionel Scaloni's selections for Tuesday's match in challenging conditions at La Paz' altitude of 3,000 meters.

Scaloni told a news conference Sunday that he could leave a decision on Messi until a few hours before the match.

During Monday's training, Messi sat on a chair close to Scaloni and watched his teammates practice. He spoke to the coach as other players tried to adapt to the altitude and the quicker speed of the ball, which is a characteristic that makes it so hard for visitors to win at Bolivia.

Scaloni gave no hints at the practice session on what he will do if Messi doesn't play at the Hernando Siles Stadium against a team that was battered 5-1 by Brazil last week in its opening game of South American qualifying.

Messi scored from a free kick to give Argentina a 1-0 home win against Ecuador in its first official international since winning the World Cup last December.

The 2026 edition of the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada is expanding to a 48-team format. The leading six teams in South America will secure a direct spot. The seventh-place team will contest an intercontinental playoff for another spot at the finals.

If Messi doesn't play on Tuesday it will disappoint many Bolivians, including hundreds of local fans who turned out to welcome him to the country Sunday evening.

La Paz' city hall sponsored a sign close to the venue of the match with the Spanish inscription “Sos grande Messi” (You're great, Messi). The decision brought criticism to mayor Iván Arias.

Messi has never scored in La Paz, but has eight goals in 11 matches against Bolivia. If the star striker plays and scores on Tuesday, he will overcome Luis Suárez of Uruguay as the all-time leading goal scorer in South American World Cup qualifying.

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‘Special’ to Face Friend Perez in Champions League, Says Liverpool’s Iraola

UEFA Champions League - Liverpool Press Conference - AXA Training Centre, Liverpool, Britain - October 19, 2026 Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola during the press conference. (Reuters)
UEFA Champions League - Liverpool Press Conference - AXA Training Centre, Liverpool, Britain - October 19, 2026 Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola during the press conference. (Reuters)
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‘Special’ to Face Friend Perez in Champions League, Says Liverpool’s Iraola

UEFA Champions League - Liverpool Press Conference - AXA Training Centre, Liverpool, Britain - October 19, 2026 Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola during the press conference. (Reuters)
UEFA Champions League - Liverpool Press Conference - AXA Training Centre, Liverpool, Britain - October 19, 2026 Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola during the press conference. (Reuters)

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola says it will be a "special" experience to go up against a Villarreal side managed by longtime friend Inigo Perez when the teams meet in the Champions League at Anfield on Tuesday.

The two Spaniards first knew each other as young players making their way at Athletic Bilbao before Iraola recruited Perez as his assistant coach when in charge of Madrid club Rayo Vallecano.

"For me it is a special game because Inigo is my friend," Iraola told a pre-match press conference at Anfield on Monday.

"We know each other since the academy years in Athletic Club, we played with each other in the first team. As soon as he retired, I was quick enough to grab him to help as an assistant. We've been through a lot of things together.

"It is a privilege for me to face him in a Champions League game. He knows me very well, he knows everything. It is a team that I follow, I know the players and it is going to be a little bit strange but in a good way."

Iraola, asked if he had spoken to Perez lately, said Tuesday's game had put a temporary restriction on their friendship.

"When these things happen (facing each other in a match), it is not good for relationships," the 44-year-old Iraola explained.

"I talk to him a lot, but when you know you are going to face each other, you stop talking because you leave the distance, you don't want to... Lately, it is probably the moment we have talked less.

"We normally call time to talk about La Liga, the Premier League, about football, other stuff, about our families. But now when the game gets closer, we haven't been in touch."

Iraola is in his first season in charge of Liverpool, having arrived at Anfield from Premier League rivals Bournemouth -- where he tried to bring Perez only for his friend to be denied a work permit by British authorities.

"We tried to take him to England, he was here but he couldn't work," said Iraola. "He didn't receive the work permit. We tried to do everything to convince the panel. I complained in the moment because I came with just two guys, but it has worked well for him also.

"Now he is coaching in the Champions League with Villarreal and I am so, so happy for him."

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PSG-Barcelona Match in Champions League to Go Ahead Amid Shock Over France’s Violent Unrest

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian defender #05 Marquinhos (L) fights for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain's French defender #51 William Pacho during a training session at the Campus Paris Saint-Germain in Poissy, on October 19, 2026, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League first round day 3 football match against Barcelona. (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian defender #05 Marquinhos (L) fights for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain's French defender #51 William Pacho during a training session at the Campus Paris Saint-Germain in Poissy, on October 19, 2026, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League first round day 3 football match against Barcelona. (AFP)
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PSG-Barcelona Match in Champions League to Go Ahead Amid Shock Over France’s Violent Unrest

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian defender #05 Marquinhos (L) fights for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain's French defender #51 William Pacho during a training session at the Campus Paris Saint-Germain in Poissy, on October 19, 2026, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League first round day 3 football match against Barcelona. (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian defender #05 Marquinhos (L) fights for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain's French defender #51 William Pacho during a training session at the Campus Paris Saint-Germain in Poissy, on October 19, 2026, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League first round day 3 football match against Barcelona. (AFP)

The Champions League showpiece between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona will go ahead as planned on Tuesday in Paris, the French interior minister confirmed despite violent weekend protests.

Many French citizens have been left shocked by the images of violence that have drawn worldwide attention and highlighted the country's tense social climate. On Monday, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said he instructed prefects to impose “very limited” and “localized” curfews in cities to prevent more rioting and looting.

The violence targeted city halls, other public buildings and hundreds of businesses across the country, leading to more than 2,000 arrests.

Tuesday's match between PSG and Barcelona at the Parc des Princes will require a robust security deployment, with police forces already strained following weeks of student protests.

In May, Paris police detained dozens of people after violence disrupted celebrations of PSG's second Champions League title and a group tried to storm a police station.

Speaking after an emergency meeting with top government officials, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the possibility of calling off planned events was discussed, including football matches.

“But this does not apply to tomorrow’s match between PSG and FC Barcelona,” he said.

Nuñez added that other matches planned in European competitions this week would not be affected. He mentioned the match between Lille and Galatasaray scheduled on Wednesday in the northern city, where looters also vandalized shops over the weekend.

Asked whether the tensions in France could affect his team, PSG coach Luis Enrique said it would not, and that he was not scared.

“I'm not the right person to speak about this topic,” he added. “I'm here to speak about football. For sure we don't like this violence but that is how it is in society. So we just need to stay focused on the football match.”

Nuñez did not mention the NFL game in Paris between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints. The NFL said last week it remains scheduled as planned. The teams are set to play Sunday at Stade de France in what would be the NFL’s first regular-season game in Paris, where events are also planned for football fans during the week.

Nuñez offered his resignation on Sunday, but French President Emmanuel Macron asked him to stay to respond to police needs in an emergency situation. Macron instructed Nuñez “to take all necessary steps to ensure full transparency about the failures in planning and intelligence-gathering that led to the violence.”

Lecornu said details of the areas to be placed under curfew will be provided later.

Nuñez acknowledged that authorities “lost control” in some major cities on Saturday, when hundreds of businesses were looted.

Sports

Raya Proud of Arsenal’s ‘Incredible’ Reaction After Third Straight Win

Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya kicks the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal in Nottingham, England, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP)
Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya kicks the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal in Nottingham, England, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP)
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Raya Proud of Arsenal’s ‘Incredible’ Reaction After Third Straight Win

Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya kicks the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal in Nottingham, England, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP)
Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya kicks the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal in Nottingham, England, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP)

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya says the way the Premier League champions bounced back from their surprise defeat by Brighton last month with three straight wins since the international break has been "incredible".

Mikel Arteta's men, who visit Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday, had several weeks to ponder their 3-0 loss to Brighton.

But since getting back together, they have made it three wins from three, with Noni Madueke's late goal securing a 1-0 success at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

"We came back very, very strong, especially after that tough defeat against Brighton and having 19 days since then to play a game," Raya told Arsenal's website.

"The way we responded, the way we played, the way we came back, is incredible, you know.

"So, delighted with the performances we have put in every single game. There are things to improve, of course, as always, but we just take the positives and we're looking forward to Wednesday now."

Madueke's 80th-minute deflected strike was Arsenal's only shot on target at the City Ground, but the manner of Arsenal's victory demonstrated their ongoing ability to grind out results -- a quality much in evidence during last season's title-winning triumph.

"(We showed) maturity and a lot of desire," Raya said. "Keep doing the right things and the ball will get into the net.

"We had experiences in the last two years where we drew 0-0 here (Forest), so I think we showed a lot of character to keep digging the result and in the end with a few crosses and a few of Bukayo's (Saka's) balls, the ball went in thanks to Noni.

"He's a special player and it's going to be a special goal for him to get the win at such a difficult ground and such a difficult team. So, I'm delighted for him."