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Valencia Wins 2-1 at Sevilla on Spanish League’s Opening Day

Valencia's Guinean defender #04 Mouctar Diakhaby celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Spanish Liga football match between Sevilla FC and Valencia CF at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville on August 11, 2023. (AFP)
Valencia's Guinean defender #04 Mouctar Diakhaby celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Spanish Liga football match between Sevilla FC and Valencia CF at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville on August 11, 2023. (AFP)
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Valencia Wins 2-1 at Sevilla on Spanish League’s Opening Day

Valencia's Guinean defender #04 Mouctar Diakhaby celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Spanish Liga football match between Sevilla FC and Valencia CF at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville on August 11, 2023. (AFP)
Valencia's Guinean defender #04 Mouctar Diakhaby celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Spanish Liga football match between Sevilla FC and Valencia CF at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville on August 11, 2023. (AFP)

A Valencia team featuring young players earned a 2-1 win at 10-man Sevilla on the opening day of the Spanish league on Friday.

Twenty-year-old substitute Javi Guerra, who emerged as a talent last campaign, scored the 88th-minute winner after Sevilla had lost defender Loic Badé to a red card.

“I am very happy not just for the goal but for the win by the team," Guerra said. “There is no better way to start the season.”

Hugo Duro was key to the win. He was breaking clear when Badé fouled him from behind with only the goalkeeper to beat and saw the direct red card in the 80th. And the striker helped recover the ball near Sevilla’s box before he assisted Guerra to slot home the winner.

Valencia barely avoided relegation last campaign and lost several players in the summer with Samuel Lino, Edinson Cavani, Yunus Musah, Justin Kluivert, Ilaix Moriba, and Nico González all leaving the club. Few signings were made by the club owned by Singaporean businessman Peter Lim, who is repeatedly criticized by Valencia's fans for his lack of investment in the squad.

Valencia coach Rubén Baraja surprised by aligning central defender Mouctar Diakhaby as a box-to-box holding midfielder. The move paid off. Diakhaby was found by André Almeida arriving late to the area to score in the 59th minute.

“It was a position that I think he can play in because he has energy and likes to dispute the ball,” Baraja said about Diakhaby. “He did a great job for us and the goal was a bonus that we did not expect. We deserved this prize.”

Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri equalized for the hosts in the 69th by heading in a cross by Suso.

Valencia also got impressive performance from attacking players Diego López (21) and Fran Pérez (20) to help pull off the upset at Sevilla, last season’s Europa League winner.

Sevilla next faces Manchester City in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.

No offer for Bounou

Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou started for Sevilla amid speculation in the local media that Real Madrid could be interested in signing him to replace the injured Thibaut Courtois, who will miss several months after tearing a knee ligament on Thursday.

Sevilla president Pepe Castro said that Madrid has not made any moves to sign his club’s goalie.

“Sevilla has not received any offers (for Bounou) from any club,” Castro said.

Rayo wins

Rayo Vallecano forward Randy Nteka scored one goal and helped produce another in a 2-0 win at Almeria.

Rayo took control of the league’s inaugural match thanks to two early penalties in the debut of coach Francisco Rodríguez, who replaced the successful Andoni Iraola after he took over Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Midfielder Isi Palazón, Rayo’s leading scorer last season, converted a 20th-minute penalty after Almeria defender Edgar González fouled Nteka in the area while disputing a ball.

Nteka, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Elche, fired a second spot kick into the corner of the net eight minutes later after Almeria’s Sergio Akieme used his arm to block a cross by Nteka in the area.

Last season, Rayo flirted with a Europa League berth before finishing 11th. This summer it reinforced its squad with the arrival of central defender Aridane Hernández from Osasuna and left back Alfonso Espino from Cádiz.

Madrid opens its season on Saturday at Athletic Bilbao, while Barcelona is at Getafe on Sunday.

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Sports

A New Era for the Manchester Derby after Pep Guardiola's Departure

(FILES) Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola poses with the Premier League trophy after the presentation ceremony following the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 21, 2023. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
(FILES) Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola poses with the Premier League trophy after the presentation ceremony following the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 21, 2023. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
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A New Era for the Manchester Derby after Pep Guardiola's Departure

(FILES) Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola poses with the Premier League trophy after the presentation ceremony following the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 21, 2023. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
(FILES) Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola poses with the Premier League trophy after the presentation ceremony following the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 21, 2023. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Pep Guardiola's departure was expected to shift the balance of power in Manchester.

The early signs suggest otherwise, The Associated Press reported.

For the first time in 10 years on Sunday, Manchester United goes into the derby against a Manchester City no longer guided by the genius of Guardiola.

Yet, if City wins at Old Trafford, the team of new manager Enzo Maresca would open a 12-point lead on United only four rounds into the Premier League.

Even this early in the campaign that would be a huge gap for United to make up.

While City is still getting used to change at the top after a decade of Guardiola, United has endured a carousel of managers at the same time in a desperate bid to return it to former glories.

Michael Carrick is the seventh permanent manager since the retirement of Alex Ferguson in 2013.

United fans will hope Guardiola's exit will prove as profound as Ferguson's. United has not won the Premier League since Ferguson's final season in charge.

In theory, Guardiola's exit has removed the biggest barrier standing in the way of United's route back to the top following his dominance of English soccer. Though he left without the title in his last two seasons, his run of six league crowns in seven years underlined City's supremacy for the majority of his time at the club.

It would be asking a lot for Maresca — or anyone else for that matter — to emulate that level of success. Maresca, however, could not have made a better start to the season after a 100% winning record in the league and victory in City's opening Champions League game this week.

Erling Haaland also looks at the top of his game with five goals in his last three appearances.

It's been a different story for United after its resurgence under Carrick in the second half of last season led to a third place finish.

The opening day defeat to newly promoted Hull was an early blow. There was a win against another newcomer in Ipswich but a 2-2 draw at Everton after leading twice.

It is the type of inconsistency that has hindered United throughout the post-Ferguson years and something Carrick will need to quickly stamp out.

He has recent good memories of the derby. His first match in charge when appointed as Ruben Amorim's replacement was a 2-0 win against City in Guardiola's final Manchester derby.

Key matchups The Manchester derby is the big one of the weekend, with pressure on United to get the season going, while it would be a first statement win for Maresca at City. Defending champion Arsenal is at Sunderland on Saturday.

Players to watch Arsenal's Martin Odegaard is in outstanding form with four goals in five games in all competitions. Haaland also has five goals and looks unstoppable.

Out of action Cody Gakpo missed Liverpool's game against Atletico Madrid because of an adductor issue. Bradley Barcola limped out of that match after appearing to hurt his calf, but coach Andoni Iraola said it was cramp.

Off the field Manchester United fans plan to stage a protest ahead of the derby in opposition to a clampdown by the club on ticket touting.

The 1958 supporters group claims “loyal, generational” fans are being sanctioned or banned “without, clear and compelling evidence.”

United says its investigation has “uncovered significant and organized touting”.

Sports

Saudi Basketball Team to Begin Participation at Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games

Saudi Basketball Team to Begin Participation at Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games
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Saudi Basketball Team to Begin Participation at Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games

Saudi Basketball Team to Begin Participation at Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games

The Saudi national basketball team will begin participation in the 20th Asian Games, "Aichi–Nagoya 2026," on Thursday, when it faces Korea at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan. The game is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. Saudi time and 4:00 p.m. local time in Nagoya.

The match marks the opening game of Group A in the basketball competition, which also includes host Japan and Indonesia, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Saudi team arrived two days ago at a training camp organized by the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee in Fuji, Japan, as part of its preparations for the Games.

The Saudi delegation's preparations in Fuji will continue until October 3, with athletes from basketball, athletics, mixed martial arts, swimming, karate, fencing, squash, weightlifting, wrestling, taekwondo, and jujitsu participating in the camp.

The 2026 Asian Games are scheduled to officially open on September 19 and run through October 4, with 45 National Olympic Committees expected to participate.

Sports

Rybakina Takes Top Ranking, Gauff Battles Into US Open Semis

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan (L) shakes hands with Qinwen Zheng of China after winning their Women's Singles Quarterfinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 09 September 2026. EPA/SARAH YENESEL
Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan (L) shakes hands with Qinwen Zheng of China after winning their Women's Singles Quarterfinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 09 September 2026. EPA/SARAH YENESEL
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Rybakina Takes Top Ranking, Gauff Battles Into US Open Semis

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan (L) shakes hands with Qinwen Zheng of China after winning their Women's Singles Quarterfinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 09 September 2026. EPA/SARAH YENESEL
Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan (L) shakes hands with Qinwen Zheng of China after winning their Women's Singles Quarterfinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 09 September 2026. EPA/SARAH YENESEL

Elena Rybakina ensured she will leave the US Open as the new world number one following her victory over China's Zheng Qinwen on Wednesday, while 2023 champion Coco Gauff recovered from a slow start to set up a semi-final clash with the Kazakh.

A day after Ben Shelton took out defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the latest-finishing match at Flushing Meadows, Alexander Zverev wrapped up the action in double-quick time by thumping Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2 7-5 6-1.

The German top seed will take on Karen Khachanov in the next round after the Russian went through when Alexander Blockx retired while trailing ⁠6-2 7-5 3-2.

With ⁠Aryna Sabalenka (top seed), Rybakina (second), Jessica Pegula (third) and Gauff (fourth) all through to the final four, it marks the first time all four top-seeded women have reached a Grand Slam semi-final since Wimbledon in 2009.

Zheng had earned a reputation as a comeback artist at Flushing Meadows but ran out of gas on Wednesday, losing 3-6 6-1 6-4 as Rybakina chipped away at her defenses after overcoming early mistakes at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"It's tough to find words," ⁠said Rybakina, who will dethrone Sabalenka at the top of the world rankings on Monday. "It wasn't maybe the highest level but I'm glad I pushed through."

US fan favorite Gauff then got off to a dreadful start before recovering to beat Russian fifth seed Mirra Andreeva 2-6 7-6(7) 6-2.

Gauff improved her level dramatically as the match wore on, drawing inspiration from compatriot Frances Tiafoe's recovery from two sets down the previous evening as she saved two match points in the tiebreak.

"Elena - she's the new world number one so it's going to be a tough match," Reuters quoted Gauff as saying. "I'm looking forward to the battle. These are the moments you live for."

Zverev started his campaign with back-to-back ⁠five-set matches and made ⁠another sluggish start against his Dutch opponent.

"I think you saw in the first two rounds, I really didn't play well," Zverev said.

"In other tournaments I'd be out in the first round, but here I can fight back and play best of five sets, play 4-1/2 hours ... I'm definitely happy to be in the semi-finals."

The French Open champion was on the brink of losing the second set but held firm and faced little resistance thereafter to ease into his third New York semi-final.

With 23 Grand Slam match wins this year, Zverev surpassed Boris Becker's German men's record of 22 from 1989.

His next opponent Khachanov has made the final four at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2022 and can look forward to a rematch of their Tokyo Olympics final when Zverev won the gold medal.