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Sterling Scores 2 as Chelsea Beats Luton 3-0 in Premier League to Give Pochettino First Win

Chelsea's Argentinian head coach Mauricio Pochettino hugs Chelsea's English midfielder #07 Raheem Sterling as he walks off the pitch during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Luton at Stamford Bridge in London on August 25, 2023. (AFP)
Chelsea's Argentinian head coach Mauricio Pochettino hugs Chelsea's English midfielder #07 Raheem Sterling as he walks off the pitch during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Luton at Stamford Bridge in London on August 25, 2023. (AFP)
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Sterling Scores 2 as Chelsea Beats Luton 3-0 in Premier League to Give Pochettino First Win

Chelsea's Argentinian head coach Mauricio Pochettino hugs Chelsea's English midfielder #07 Raheem Sterling as he walks off the pitch during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Luton at Stamford Bridge in London on August 25, 2023. (AFP)
Chelsea's Argentinian head coach Mauricio Pochettino hugs Chelsea's English midfielder #07 Raheem Sterling as he walks off the pitch during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Luton at Stamford Bridge in London on August 25, 2023. (AFP)

Raheem Sterling scored twice and set up the third goal to help Chelsea beat Luton 3-0 in the Premier League on Friday and give Mauricio Pochettino his first win as Blues manager.

Nicolas Jackson added his first Chelsea goal in the 75th after being on hand to tap in a low cross from Sterling, helping ease concerns about Chelsea's scoring prowess following a loss and a draw in the team's opening two games of the season.

“I’m so happy because it is important to have that winning feeling again,” Pochettino said. "It is always good when the offensive players are involved in the goals.”

Sterling had been one of the few bright spots for Chelsea in those games and again looked back to his best in giving the hosts the lead with a superb solo effort in the 17th.

Picking up the ball wide on the right, he drove in from the wing with purpose, darting into the box and cutting inside three defenders before sliding a left-footed finish past goalkeeper Thomas Kaminsky.

His second came after more Chelsea pressure in the second half. Malo Gusto whipped a low ball into the box to a wide-open Sterling, who swept it home into the bottom corner.

Stamford Bridge suddenly found its mood transformed, and within minutes it was three. Enzo Fernandez sent a clever spinning ball up to Sterling, whose cross took a slight deflection before finding Jackson in front of the net.

Pochettino said he was pleased for Jackson to get off the mark, and predicted there are more goals to come for the forward, who was signed this summer and is the team's only fit striker at the moment.

“He’s amazing. It’s difficult to find a player like him in the market," Pochettino said. "For me he’s going to be one of the great strikers. He has the potential to be.”

It was a second straight loss for promoted Luton, whose first home game of the season was postponed last weekend because of ongoing work on its home stadium to get it up to Premier League standards.

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Sports

Barcelona Take Heart Despite 3rd Straight Defeat to PSG

PSG's Spanish headcoach Luis Enrique (L) speaks with PSG's Moroccan defender #02 Achraf Hakimi during the UEFA Champions League first round day 3 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Barcelona at the Parc de Princes stadium in Paris on October 20, 2026. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)
PSG's Spanish headcoach Luis Enrique (L) speaks with PSG's Moroccan defender #02 Achraf Hakimi during the UEFA Champions League first round day 3 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Barcelona at the Parc de Princes stadium in Paris on October 20, 2026. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)
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Barcelona Take Heart Despite 3rd Straight Defeat to PSG

PSG's Spanish headcoach Luis Enrique (L) speaks with PSG's Moroccan defender #02 Achraf Hakimi during the UEFA Champions League first round day 3 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Barcelona at the Parc de Princes stadium in Paris on October 20, 2026. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)
PSG's Spanish headcoach Luis Enrique (L) speaks with PSG's Moroccan defender #02 Achraf Hakimi during the UEFA Champions League first round day 3 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Barcelona at the Parc de Princes stadium in Paris on October 20, 2026. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

Midfielder Pedri said before Barcelona's clash with Paris St Germain that the game would show where his team stood in Europe. Their 4-2 defeat on Tuesday suggested Hansi Flick's side are not yet among the continent's elite, but they may be closing the gap.

Barcelona arrived in Paris with a perfect record across all competitions this season, yet there was a feeling in Spain that PSG would provide a truer measure of their credentials in the Champions League, the one major trophy that has eluded them under Flick.

Their attacking firepower has overwhelmed opponents in LaLiga, but doubts remain over whether Flick's aggressive approach leaves Barcelona exposed against stronger ⁠European sides. Those ⁠concerns resurfaced when Desire Doue opened the scoring in the 38th minute.

Barcelona had mitigating circumstances. Marc Bernal was a surprise starter in midfield, instead of Rodri, while Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde were missing from the defence through injury.
Joan Garcia's eight first-half saves underlined PSG's greater comfort with the frantic tempo Barcelona sought to impose.

After another excellent ⁠Garcia save to open the second half, Barcelona clicked into gear and began to take control.

Xavi Espart, 19, marked his first Champions League start with the equaliser, displaying composure beyond his years.

Lamine Yamal also emerged as the focal point of Barcelona's attack after a subdued first half.

PSG struggled to live with his incisive passing and looked vulnerable as Barcelona enjoyed more of the ball until Lucas Hernandez's set-piece goal in the 72nd minute.

Eventually, PSG delivered one too many blows and Barcelona's resistance was broken. Their confidence remained intact though.

"Despite today’s ⁠result, we ⁠competed well," said captain Raphinha on Movistar+, adding that "it was a good test and shows that we can compete."

Flick struck a similarly upbeat note.

"We need to analyse the match, but I saw some very good things and things that we should build upon. I don’t want to be negative; I’m feeling positive," Reuters quoted him as saying.

The German manager acknowledged that PSG were the better side. However, Barcelona avoided some of the failings that undermined their previous two European campaigns under him, particularly indiscipline and vulnerability to counter-attacks.

A third successive defeat by Luis Enrique's PSG will sting, but Barcelona return from Paris with reasons to believe they are moving closer to the European champions.

Sports

Arsenal Coach Arteta Always a Leader, Says Former Teammate Gnabry

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta applauds the fans following the English Premier League football match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on October 18, 2026. (AFP)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta applauds the fans following the English Premier League football match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on October 18, 2026. (AFP)
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Arsenal Coach Arteta Always a Leader, Says Former Teammate Gnabry

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta applauds the fans following the English Premier League football match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on October 18, 2026. (AFP)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta applauds the fans following the English Premier League football match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on October 18, 2026. (AFP)

Bayern winger Serge Gnabry is not surprised former teammate Mikel Arteta became a successful coach, saying the Arsenal boss was always a leader in the dressing room.

Gnabry, who started his club career at Arsenal, will go up against Arteta's Gunners at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday in the Champions League.

"He was certainly a leader within our team back then. He was the captain during the season we played together," Gnabry told reporters on Tuesday.

"I remember him helping us out. He shared a lot of advice with us. He was always very approachable and open.

"That just goes to show what a kind person he is. He led the team to great success. It's not that we saw it coming, but he's clearly developed further and has done a fantastic job."

The 31-year-old Germany international admitted it was "strange" to face a team coached by a former teammate, but added: "It's a special match for me -- playing against my former club.

"The club where I spent many years, I grew up there from the age of 16."

Already without the suspended Michael Olise and the injured Jamal Musiala, Bayern come into the match with doubts around coach Vincent Kompany, captain Manuel Neuer and midfielder Joshua Kimmich.

Kompany is suffering from a virus and may not be in the dugout, while Neuer is fighting to return from injury and Kimmich, who would captain the side in Neuer's absence, missed Tuesday's training due to personal reasons.

English assistant coach Aaron Danks took Tuesday's press conference and could step in for Kompany on Wednesday, but said there would be no extra personal motivation for the match.

"I think it's always Bayern Munich's victory. I know Vince would be really strong on this, it's never about anybody's individual achievements, it's always about the collective, about the group," he said.

"When you come to work with a club like Bayern Munich, you know it's much bigger than all of us."

Kompany was on the sidelines for Saturday's 6-1 win over RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga but had difficulty walking and did not take the post-match press conference.

"For me, not too much changes," Danks said.

"I plan the training sessions every day, and I take quite a lead on the grass. Obviously, when Vincent's not with us, we miss him, we miss having him around...

"You have to really get him to rest, but it's a challenge. You know him as a person, he's a real leader, he works hard, so it's important that he rests."

Sports

Infantino Set to Take his FIFA Re-election Campaign to Japan

FILE -FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrives to attend the opening game of the Women's U20 World Cup opening match between Poland and Argentina in Katowice, Poland, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Beata Zawrzel, File)
FILE -FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrives to attend the opening game of the Women's U20 World Cup opening match between Poland and Argentina in Katowice, Poland, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Beata Zawrzel, File)
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Infantino Set to Take his FIFA Re-election Campaign to Japan

FILE -FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrives to attend the opening game of the Women's U20 World Cup opening match between Poland and Argentina in Katowice, Poland, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Beata Zawrzel, File)
FILE -FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrives to attend the opening game of the Women's U20 World Cup opening match between Poland and Argentina in Katowice, Poland, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Beata Zawrzel, File)

Gianni Infantino's campaign for re-election as FIFA president is set to move this week to Japan and a meeting scheduled for Wednesday with the Asian Football Confederation.

This comes after Infantino apologized last week in Zurich, Switzerland, to FIFA's 37-member ruling council — which he chairs — for “mistakes” he made in assembling a now-scrapped $4.2 billion sell-off plan for the World Cup.

The council is the main decision-making body at FIFA with a global spread of officials.
The planned meeting with Asian soccer leaders is to be held in a five-star hotel in Tokyo with the media largely excluded.

Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the president of the AFC, expressed early opposition to Infantino and his plan to create a subsidiary to run the World Cup, but may have moved closer to Infantino, The Athletic has reported.

Infantino has offered to critics an open, independent review of how FIFA makes its decisions.

An Associated Press tally indicates Infantino is close to landing the simple majority of the 211 FIFA member federations he needs to win re-election in March to a fourth term. Some of the deciding votes could some from Asia.

The AFC had joined the criticism of Infantino in the wake of the proposed World Cup sell-off, but its members appear far from united. Qatar, the 2022 World Cup host, has expressed support for the FIFA leader while Jordan has declared its opposition.

The FIFA Council is scheduled to meet next on Dec. 16 in Doha, Qatar.

The Associated Press count shows 87 of the 211 FIFA Member federations have indicated support for Infantino – either in individual comments or by endorsing statements of support by their regional confederations. The largest block of opposition comes from Europe.

No sitting FIFA president has lost an election since 1974. The deadline for a candidate to file against Infantino is Nov. 18.

FIFA rules state candidates must have “played an active role in association football (e.g. as a player or an official within FIFA, a confederation or an association, etc.) for two of the last five years before being proposed.” They must have “declarations of support” from at least five of the 211 members.