Real’s Rudiger Set to Miss Man City Champions League Clash

Football - Champions League - Brest v Real Madrid - Stade de Roudourou, Guingamp, France - January 29, 2025 Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger. (Reuters)
Football - Champions League - Brest v Real Madrid - Stade de Roudourou, Guingamp, France - January 29, 2025 Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger. (Reuters)
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Real’s Rudiger Set to Miss Man City Champions League Clash

Football - Champions League - Brest v Real Madrid - Stade de Roudourou, Guingamp, France - January 29, 2025 Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger. (Reuters)
Football - Champions League - Brest v Real Madrid - Stade de Roudourou, Guingamp, France - January 29, 2025 Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger. (Reuters)

Real Madrid center-half Antonio Rudiger is a major injury doubt for the titleholders' Champions League clash with Manchester City.

The German international suffered a right thigh injury and limped off in the first half of Real's 1-0 La Liga defeat to Espanyol on Saturday.

"Following tests carried out by Real Madrid's medical service Antonio Rudiger has been diagnosed with a muscle tear in his right leg," the club revealed on Sunday.

According to Spanish media reports the player is set to be sidelined for a minimum of two weeks, ruling him out of next week's La Liga game against Atletico Madrid, and the first leg of Real's Champions League play-off with City on February 11.

Rudiger's absence if confirmed will be a major blow to Carlo Ancelotti, who is already having to cope with the season-long absences of Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, both out for the rest of the season.

Pep Guardiola's City host Real in the first leg with the return in Madrid on February 19.



Arsenal's Arteta Says he Has to Earn the Right to Get Contract Extension

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta kicks back a ball during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers, in London, Britain, 13 December 2025.  EPA/TOLGA AKMEN
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta kicks back a ball during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers, in London, Britain, 13 December 2025. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN
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Arsenal's Arteta Says he Has to Earn the Right to Get Contract Extension

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta kicks back a ball during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers, in London, Britain, 13 December 2025.  EPA/TOLGA AKMEN
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta kicks back a ball during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers, in London, Britain, 13 December 2025. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN

Mikel Arteta suggested he could extend his contract at Arsenal beyond 2027 but says he still has to earn the right to continue as manager by winning silverware at the Premier League club.

Arteta, who completes six years in charge of Arsenal on Saturday, won the FA Cup with the North London club in 2020 but has yet to taste success in the league, his side finishing runner-up in ⁠the last three campaigns.

They are currently two points clear this season and have also reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

Asked whether he could see himself extending his stay beyond the end of his contract in 2027, Arteta told ⁠reporters on Friday: "Yes, but it’s about today. And a lot of things have to happen in the next few months as well to earn the right.

"I think a manager has to earn the right to be here tomorrow. A lot of things have to happen in the next few months as well to earn the right (for an extension),” Reuters quoted him as saying.

The Spaniard said ⁠Arsenal's lack of trophies was not down to substandard performances.

"You look at the performances, all the records that we had that were broken in the history of the club. We still haven't managed to do that (win trophies)," he added.

"That tells you the level we are in, which is a level that the Premier League has never experienced in the past."

Arsenal travel to Everton later on Saturday.


Saudi King, Crown Prince Congratulate King of Morocco on Winning FIFA Arab Cup

Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi's jersey is displayed in a shop in Rabat, on December 19, 2025, ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 2 ACHRAF HAKIMI (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)
Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi's jersey is displayed in a shop in Rabat, on December 19, 2025, ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 2 ACHRAF HAKIMI (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)
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Saudi King, Crown Prince Congratulate King of Morocco on Winning FIFA Arab Cup

Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi's jersey is displayed in a shop in Rabat, on December 19, 2025, ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 2 ACHRAF HAKIMI (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)
Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi's jersey is displayed in a shop in Rabat, on December 19, 2025, ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 2 ACHRAF HAKIMI (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sent a cable of congratulations to King Mohammed VI of Morocco on the occasion of his country's national team winning the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques conveyed to the Moroccan King his sincerest congratulations and best wishes for continued progress and success, and to the people of Morocco steady progress and prosperity.

According to SPA, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, also sent a cable of congratulations to King Mohammed VI.

The Crown Prince conveyed to the King his sincerest congratulations and best wishes for continued progress and success, and to the government and people of Morocco steady progress and prosperity.


Blow for Algeria as Key Midfielder Ruled out of Cup of Nations

Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Nassr v Al Ittihad - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 7, 2025 Al Ittihad's Houssem Aouar REUTERS/Stringer
Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Nassr v Al Ittihad - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 7, 2025 Al Ittihad's Houssem Aouar REUTERS/Stringer
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Blow for Algeria as Key Midfielder Ruled out of Cup of Nations

Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Nassr v Al Ittihad - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 7, 2025 Al Ittihad's Houssem Aouar REUTERS/Stringer
Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Nassr v Al Ittihad - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 7, 2025 Al Ittihad's Houssem Aouar REUTERS/Stringer

Algeria have been dealt a blow to their Africa Cup ​of Nations hopes with the withdrawal of key midfielder Houssem Aouar on Friday.

He was injured in training on Thursday, an Algerian football federation ‌statement said, ‌and will ‌be ⁠replaced for ​the ‌tournament in Morocco by Himad Abdelli from French club Angers. No details of the injury were given, Reuters reported.

Aouar, who won a cap ⁠for France before switching his ‌international allegiance to Algeria, ‍played at ‍the last Cup of ‍Nations in the Ivory Coast two years ago where Algeria were shock early casualties.

In ​Morocco, Algeria compete in Group E, starting against ⁠Sudan in Rabat on Wednesday before playing Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea.

Abdelli was a surprise omission from Algeria’s initial 28-man squad list announced last week. The 26-year-old is French-born but has won four caps ‌for Algeria.