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Chelsea, Lyon and Roma Stay Perfect with Victories in Women's Champions League

Roma's Evelyne Viens, right, fights for the ball with Galatasaray's Berna Yeniceri during the women's Champions League group A soccer match between Galatasaray and Roma at Ataturk Olympic stadium in Istanbul, Türkiye, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Huseyin Yavuz/Dia Photo via AP)
Roma's Evelyne Viens, right, fights for the ball with Galatasaray's Berna Yeniceri during the women's Champions League group A soccer match between Galatasaray and Roma at Ataturk Olympic stadium in Istanbul, Türkiye, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Huseyin Yavuz/Dia Photo via AP)
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Chelsea, Lyon and Roma Stay Perfect with Victories in Women's Champions League

Roma's Evelyne Viens, right, fights for the ball with Galatasaray's Berna Yeniceri during the women's Champions League group A soccer match between Galatasaray and Roma at Ataturk Olympic stadium in Istanbul, Türkiye, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Huseyin Yavuz/Dia Photo via AP)
Roma's Evelyne Viens, right, fights for the ball with Galatasaray's Berna Yeniceri during the women's Champions League group A soccer match between Galatasaray and Roma at Ataturk Olympic stadium in Istanbul, Türkiye, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Huseyin Yavuz/Dia Photo via AP)

Chelsea, Lyon and Roma all stayed perfect in the Women’s Champions League by cruising to away victories on Thursday.
Roma routed Galatasaray at Istanbul 6-1, Chelsea beat Twente in the Netherlands 3-1 and eight-time champion Lyon won 2-0 at Wolfsburg.
Real Madrid claimed its first victory of the campaign by easing past Celtic 4-0, The Associated Press reported.
Roma and Lyon both have six points in Group A. Two-time champion Wolfsburg and Galatasaray, the first Turkish team to reach the group stage, have no points.
In Group B, Chelsea leads with six points, with Madrid and Twente on three and Celtic last bottom without a point.
Wolfsburg striker Alexandra Popp made her 100th competition appearance — becoming only the second player to reach the mark but it was Lyon defender Wendie Renard, the only one who has played more, who stole the show.
Renard’s header found the back of the net early on in her 118th game in the competition.
US international Lindsey Horan netted from the penalty spot in the second half.
Lyon is the competition’s record eight-time champion but last won the trophy in 2022. It was runner-up last season to Barcelona.
In a matchup between the Italian and Turkish champions, Roma dominated in Istanbul.
Summer signing Hawa Cissoko scored in the seventh minute to mark her debut game in the competition. The France defender who transferred from West Ham headed home off Manuela Giugliano's corner.
Valentina Giacinti made it 2-0 in the 24th minute when she was left unmarked near the spot to head in Verena Hanshaw's cross.
Giugliano failed to convert from the spot in the first-half stoppage time but Emilie Haavi got Roma's third with a right-footed blast past goalkeeper Gamze Yaman early in the second.
Giugliano finally found the back of the net from close range for a 4-0 lead before Andrea Staskova scored the consolation goal for the hosts. Roma substitutes Marta Pandini and Alice Corelli also scored.
Blues win again under Bompastor Chelsea struck early in another winning performance under new coach Sonia Bompastor, who joined from Lyon.
Agnes Beever-Jones put the Blues ahead with a long-distance deflected strike in the seventh minute and Maika Hamano made it 2-0 a short time later by lifting the ball over goalkeeper Olivia Clark from outside the area.
Substitute Guro Reiten added the third in the second from the spot just past the hour mark.
On Saturday, Chelsea beat city rival Arsenal 2-1 in the Women’s Super League.
Real Madrid scored three second-half goals in 11 minutes against Celtic in Group B.
The Spanish team had lost to Chelsea 3-2 in the first round and drew with Atlético 1-1 in the Madrid derby over the weekend.
Caroline Weir fired a long-range left-footer from outside the box into the far top corner in the seventh minute.
The visitors kept if close until the 72nd minute, when Signe Bruun headed home the second goal followed eight minutes later by Caroline Moller's lob of goalkeeper Kelsey Daugherty for a 3-0 lead. Linda Caicedo then converted from the penalty spot.
It's back-to-back losses for Scottish club Celtic, making its debut in the group stage. It has yet to score.

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Sports

Piastri Cool on Prospects of Breakthrough Win at Australian Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Pre-Season Testing - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - February 20, 2026 McLaren's Oscar Piastri during the pre season testing. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Pre-Season Testing - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - February 20, 2026 McLaren's Oscar Piastri during the pre season testing. (Reuters)
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Piastri Cool on Prospects of Breakthrough Win at Australian Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Pre-Season Testing - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - February 20, 2026 McLaren's Oscar Piastri during the pre season testing. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Pre-Season Testing - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - February 20, 2026 McLaren's Oscar Piastri during the pre season testing. (Reuters)

Oscar Piastri has moved to cool expectations of a drought-breaking win at his home Australian Grand Prix, insisting McLaren are not the dominant force that arrived at Albert Park 12 months ago.

After seven race wins last season and a third-placing in the drivers championship, Piastri has generated huge buzz in his hometown Melbourne and is expected to draw record crowds for his bid to become the first home winner since the race joined Formula One in 1985.

McLaren qualified both cars at the front of the grid last year ‌and Lando Norris ‌won the season-opener on a wet track, but Piastri ‌said ⁠he had "no idea" ⁠whether he could win this year as the team grapples with F1's biggest technical overhaul in decades.

"Based off testing, we seem like we’re in the mix at the front," he said.

"I certainly wouldn't be saying that we're favorite to be winning. The picture doesn't look quite as positive for us at the moment as it did 12 months ago.

"We're in the mix, but we need to ⁠find a bit more."

Piastri led last year's championship by ‌34 points before a mid-season slump opened ‌the door for British teammate Norris to claim his maiden title.

He said the disappointment of ‌missing out had faded and he had little time to dwell on ‌the past due to the short off-season and the need to get up to speed with the technical changes.

He also said he felt no extra burden to perform at his home race, a year after finishing ninth following a skid into grass.

"Obviously ‌last year's race didn't end how I wanted, but you know, there's no extra pressure to try and make ⁠up for that ⁠or anything," he said.

"We've got enough challenges to not be worrying about that."

Defending champion Norris may again loom as his toughest adversary, even with pre-season buzz surrounding Mercedes and Ferrari following their positive winter testing.

McLaren gave equal treatment to Piastri and Norris last year, although there were controversies involving the application of the team's so-called 'Papaya Rules'.

One involved the Australian letting Norris past after a botched pitstop by the team at Monza.

Piastri said any issues from last season had been dealt with internally and the team had moved on.

"We're not going to be swapping each other around for no reason (when racing)," he said.

"Again, if there's any issues or tense moments that arise, then we'll deal with it as a team, as we do and try to make some progress."

Sports

Coco Gauff Worried About Civilian Loss of Life in Middle East

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Coco Gauff of the United States fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Coco Gauff of the United States fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
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Coco Gauff Worried About Civilian Loss of Life in Middle East

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Coco Gauff of the United States fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Coco Gauff of the United States fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP

World number four Coco Gauff expressed concern about the situation in the Middle East on Tuesday and said innocent lives were being taken in the wake of the US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

US President Donald Trump's administration has given conflicting reasons for the attack, while Iran has said the US assault was unprovoked.

Iranian state media has said that among the civilian casualties were more than 160 killed in a strike on a girls' school on Saturday. Administration officials have said they are looking into the incident and that the US would not deliberately target schools.

"First off, ⁠what's happening is ⁠unfortunate, and my thoughts and prayers are out there for everyone affected and for the innocent lives being taken," American Gauff told reporters at the Indian Wells tournament.

"I think it's a lot of unnecessary violence going on."

The war in Iran has spilled over into the tennis world.

An ATP Challenger event in the United Arab ⁠Emirates was abruptly halted and then cancelled on Tuesday due to a security alert, which led to players and personnel fleeing the courts to designated safe areas.

Meanwhile some players, ATP staff, and coaches, including Gauff's coach Gavin MacMillan, have been stranded in Dubai following a tournament there as the conflict has led to widespread travel disruptions in the region.

The WTA has strong ties to the Middle East, with the season-ending WTA Finals being held in Riyadh last year and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) being ⁠the naming-rights sponsor ⁠the WTA women's rankings.

Gauff, 21, added that she has always felt safe competing in the region, and expressed gratitude for having left the area before the escalation of violence.

"I think it's just a lot of unfortunate circumstances that are happening right now," Reuters quoted her as saying.

"I am thankful that I was able to get out of that before things turned to where it is now."

Reflecting on the broader implications of global strife, Italian player Jannik Sinner said: "There are certain scenarios we cannot control, so I tried to be focused.

"But you also realize that there are much more important things in life than playing tennis."

Sports

More Asian Champions League Matches in Middle East Postponed Indefinitely

A full moon also known as the "Blood Moon" is seen above the Abu Dhabi skyline on March 3, 2026. (Photo by Ryan Lim / AFP)
A full moon also known as the "Blood Moon" is seen above the Abu Dhabi skyline on March 3, 2026. (Photo by Ryan Lim / AFP)
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More Asian Champions League Matches in Middle East Postponed Indefinitely

A full moon also known as the "Blood Moon" is seen above the Abu Dhabi skyline on March 3, 2026. (Photo by Ryan Lim / AFP)
A full moon also known as the "Blood Moon" is seen above the Abu Dhabi skyline on March 3, 2026. (Photo by Ryan Lim / AFP)

Next week's matches in Asian tournaments scheduled in the Middle East have been postponed until further notice due to the conflict in the region, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Wednesday.

The US and Israel's attack on Iran has affected countries throughout the Gulf, disrupting travel in some of the world's ⁠busiest transit hubs ⁠and forcing several sporting events to be cancelled.

Western region clashes in the Asian Champions League Elite, Champions League Two and the third-tier Challenge League, ⁠scheduled for next week between Monday and Wednesday, have been postponed, Reuters quoted the AFC as saying in a statement.

The AFC earlier postponed this week's Asian Champions League Elite round of 16 clashes in the Middle East, as Iran cancelled all sporting events and the Qatar Football ⁠Association ⁠suspended all matches in the country.

"The AFC’s priority remains the safety and security of all stakeholders including players, teams, officials, partners and fans and we are steadfast in our commitment to ensuring a secure environment for all," the continental body said in a statement.