Juventus Deny Dortmund with Last-Gasp Fightback in Eight-Goal Epic 

Juventus' English defender #06 Lloyd Kelly celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League first round day 1 football match between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund at the Allianz stadium in Turin, northern Italy, on September 16, 2025. (AFP)
Juventus' English defender #06 Lloyd Kelly celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League first round day 1 football match between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund at the Allianz stadium in Turin, northern Italy, on September 16, 2025. (AFP)
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Juventus Deny Dortmund with Last-Gasp Fightback in Eight-Goal Epic 

Juventus' English defender #06 Lloyd Kelly celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League first round day 1 football match between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund at the Allianz stadium in Turin, northern Italy, on September 16, 2025. (AFP)
Juventus' English defender #06 Lloyd Kelly celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League first round day 1 football match between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund at the Allianz stadium in Turin, northern Italy, on September 16, 2025. (AFP)

Dusan Vlahovic and Lloyd Kelly scored in stoppage time to inspire a dramatic Juventus escape as they secured a 4-4 draw at home to Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League opener on Tuesday, with all eight goals coming after the break.

The hosts trailed 4-2 when substitute Vlahovic grabbed his second of the night in the fourth minute of stoppage time, before he set up Kelly two minutes later to secure a point.

Man-of-the-match Vlahovic, who came on just before the hour mark, was disappointed not to have completed his hat-trick.

"To prove yourself you always need hunger. I’m never satisfied and tonight I wanted a third goal," he told Sky Sport.

"The important thing is we didn’t lose, so we keep moving forward."

The first half gave little indication of the drama to follow, with Juventus going closest when Khephren Thuram’s deflected strike forced a sharp save from Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

A TALE OF TWO HALVES

Dortmund found the breakthrough eight minutes after the restart as Karim Adeyemi rifled a precise shot into the far corner from just outside the box.

They nearly doubled their lead when Serhou Guirassy was denied by a reflex stop from Juventus keeper Michele Di Gregorio.

The hosts drew level in the 63rd minute through Kenan Yildiz, who collected the ball on the edge of the area, steadied himself and bent a superb shot into the far corner to ignite the Juventus fans.

The celebrations were short-lived, however, as Felix Nmecha restored Dortmund’s advantage barely two minutes later with a crisp first-time finish from distance.

The game’s tempo showed no sign of slowing, and by the 68th minute Juventus were level once more, Vlahovic racing onto a perfectly weighted pass to slot past Kobel.

The frenzy continued in the 74th minute, when Yan Couto’s low strike squirmed between Di Gregorio and the post to put Dortmund back in front.

The visitors were awarded a penalty four minutes from time after Kelly was penalized for a handball, with Ramy Bensebaini converting from the spot.

Juve launched a last-ditch offensive and deep into stoppage time, Vlahovic struck again from a well-placed cross before turning provider for Kelly, who headed in the equalizer.

A lengthy VAR review for a possible offside held up the celebrations, before the Allianz Stadium erupted once more as the equalizing goal was confirmed.

Juventus scored four goals for a second straight match after their 4-3 league win over Inter Milan on Saturday, but coach Igor Tudor stressed the need for his side to tighten up defensively.

"I've already had enough of this type of match," he told Sky Sport Italia.

"We are conceding too many, at least we're scoring a lot too, but we cannot carry on like this. It was so difficult in the second half to keep the energy levels up three days after an incredibly tough match."



Man City's Rodri Keeps Door Open to Real Madrid Move

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FA Cup - Third Round - Manchester City v Exeter City - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - January 10, 2026 Manchester City's Rodri celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Peter Powell/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FA Cup - Third Round - Manchester City v Exeter City - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - January 10, 2026 Manchester City's Rodri celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Peter Powell/File Photo
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Man City's Rodri Keeps Door Open to Real Madrid Move

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FA Cup - Third Round - Manchester City v Exeter City - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - January 10, 2026 Manchester City's Rodri celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Peter Powell/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FA Cup - Third Round - Manchester City v Exeter City - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - January 10, 2026 Manchester City's Rodri celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Peter Powell/File Photo

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has kept the door open to a possible move to Real Madrid as he enters the final year of his contract with the Premier League club, saying he cannot turn down the world's top teams and that a return to LaLiga would appeal to him.

The 29-year-old Madrid native began his senior career at Villarreal before signing for Atletico Madrid in 2018. He moved to City a year later ⁠and has since ⁠enjoyed a highly successful spell in England, winning the Champions League once and four Premier League titles among a host of major honors.

"Would I like to play in Spain again, in LaLiga, in Madrid? I'd like to return, yes, obviously," Rodri told Onda Cero's Radioestadio Noche program ahead of ⁠Spain's friendly against Serbia on Friday.

"I have a year left on my contract; there will come a point when we'll have to sit down and talk."

Rodri, who is working his way back to top form after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in 2024, said having played for Atletico would not prevent him from making a move to their city rivals.

Former Atletico players to have made that switch include goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and forward Alvaro Morata.

"There are other players who have gone ⁠down that ⁠path - not straight away, but in time. You can't turn down the best clubs in the world," Rodri added, according to Reuters.

Rodri also played down any suggestion of rivalry with Vinicius Jr after Real boycotted the 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony, when the City midfielder won the award ahead of the Brazilian winger.

"I think they wanted to pit Vinicius and me against each other, but not at all," Rodri said. "I have great respect for him and for everything he did that year too. In the end, it's other people - third parties - who decide who wins the Ballon d'Or."


PSG's Ligue 1 Visit to Lens Postponed to Aid Champions League Preparations

FILED - 26 November 2024, Bavaria, Munich: Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi in action during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between PSG and Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena. Photo: Tom Weller/dpa
FILED - 26 November 2024, Bavaria, Munich: Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi in action during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between PSG and Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena. Photo: Tom Weller/dpa
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PSG's Ligue 1 Visit to Lens Postponed to Aid Champions League Preparations

FILED - 26 November 2024, Bavaria, Munich: Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi in action during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between PSG and Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena. Photo: Tom Weller/dpa
FILED - 26 November 2024, Bavaria, Munich: Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi in action during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between PSG and Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena. Photo: Tom Weller/dpa

Ligue 1 leaders Paris St Germain's visit to second-placed Lens, set for April 11, has been postponed to May 13 to allow them more time to prepare for their Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) said on Thursday.

Strasbourg's visit to Brest, scheduled for April 12, has also been moved to May 13 to help them prepare for ⁠their Europa Conference League ⁠last-eight clashes with Mainz, Reuters quoted the LFP as saying in a statement.

"These decisions are in line with the board of directors’ clear strategic aim of enabling France to retain its fifth place in ⁠the UEFA coefficient rankings, which secures four places in the UEFA Champions League," the LFP said.

PSG, the reigning European champions, host Liverpool three days before the Lens fixture and travel to Anfield for the second leg on April 14.

PSG and Lens are separated by one point in Ligue 1, with ⁠PSG ⁠having a game in hand. Lens had earlier pushed back against PSG's request.

"It seems to us, in fact, that a worrying sentiment is taking hold: that of a French league gradually being relegated to the status of an adjustment variable at the whim of certain parties' European imperatives," Lens said in a statement on Monday.


Asian Cup Draw Postponed

The draw for January's Asian Cup finals has been postponed (AFC)
The draw for January's Asian Cup finals has been postponed (AFC)
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Asian Cup Draw Postponed

The draw for January's Asian Cup finals has been postponed (AFC)
The draw for January's Asian Cup finals has been postponed (AFC)

The draw for January's Asian Cup finals, which was due to be held in Riyadh on April 11, has been postponed, the Asian Football Confederation announced on Thursday.

Officials have rescheduled the event to a later date "to ensure the undisrupted attendance of all stakeholders at the final draw ceremony," the governing ⁠body said in ⁠a statement.

"The AFC expressed its appreciation to the Local Organizing Committee for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ for their full readiness to host the draw as planned, and it appreciates the understanding and continued cooperation of its Participating Member Associations, fans and stakeholders," the statement added.

Saudi Arabia is due to host the 24-team quadrennial continental championship for the first time with the last remaining round of qualifiers taking place on Tuesday.

Qatar are the defending champions and have already secured their ⁠berth ⁠at the finals alongside four-times winners Japan, plus fellow World Cup qualifiers South Korea, Iran, Jordan, Australia and Uzbekistan.

The AFC announced on Tuesday that the latter stages of the Asian Champions League Elite would go ahead as planned in Jeddah, with matches running from April 13 to 26.