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Fan Fervor Assured at Rare Champions League Home Games for Newcastle, Lens and Union Berlin 

Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Burnley - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - September 30, 2023 Newcastle United's Miguel Almiron celebrates scoring their first goal. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Burnley - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - September 30, 2023 Newcastle United's Miguel Almiron celebrates scoring their first goal. (Reuters)
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Fan Fervor Assured at Rare Champions League Home Games for Newcastle, Lens and Union Berlin 

Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Burnley - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - September 30, 2023 Newcastle United's Miguel Almiron celebrates scoring their first goal. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Burnley - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - September 30, 2023 Newcastle United's Miguel Almiron celebrates scoring their first goal. (Reuters)

For their first home games in the Champions League in more than 20 years, Newcastle and Lens will walk out to rousing ovations in their famously noisy stadiums this week.

Union Berlin makes its Champions League debut in the borrowed 75,000-capacity Olympic Stadium that will be a raucous home in the competition for a team that played in the German third tier as recently as 2010.

Don’t tell fans at these three clubs the Champions League group-stage format that is being dumped next year became stale and predictable.

Newcastle, Lens and Union were nowhere near the debate when the European Super League was plotted, launched and failed in 2021 by club owners who took the Champions League for granted and craved extra riches and control running their own show.

Exactly two years ago, Newcastle was still in a grim winless run in the Premier League relegation zone.

The Champions League survived the closed-shop Super League threat and now includes long-time absentees and a debutant that qualified on merit – fourth in the Premier League, runner-up in France’s Ligue 1 and fourth in the Bundesliga.

Newcastle will show Kylian Mbappé and Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday the atmosphere 52,000 create inside St. James’ Park.

Lens welcomes Arsenal on Tuesday to Stade Bollaert-Delelis where the capacity of 38,000 is bigger than the town’s population.

Union is using the Olympic Stadium – which hosted the 2015 Champions League final – because its intimate Stadion An der Alten Försterei (Stadium at the Old Forester’s House) is too small for home games in Group C, starting Tuesday against Braga.

“A Champions League for all Unioners,” club president Dirk Zingler explained to club members. “We were guided by this idea and we will try to ensure that as many people as possible can afford these games too.”

The interim move takes the club from the former East Germany into the west of once-divided Berlin.

Napoli and Real Madrid will later visit Union, and the group favorites first meet Tuesday at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

100th birthday

Few club homes that are 100 years old still host Champions League games. Fewer still waited more than 60 years between staging games in Europe’s top club competition.

Royal Antwerp hosts Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday at the Bosuil Stadium on the site where the club has played since 1923.

There were 45,000 fans there in October 1957 — most of them standing on steep curved terraces – at the venue once known as “Hell of Deurne” when defending champion Real Madrid won 2-1 in a European Cup first-round, first-leg game.

Antwerp’s wait for a next home game ended in August in the qualifying playoffs. Just over 13,000 were there in the compact seated stands to see a 1-0 win over AEK Athens.

Bosuil is not the oldest stadium site seeing Champions League action this week.

Manchester United hosts Galatasaray on Tuesday at Old Trafford where it moved 113 years ago. Celtic welcomes Lazio on Wednesday to Parkhead where the Scottish champion has been playing for 131 years, since 1892.

Rematches

Erling Haaland scored five against Leipzig in March when Manchester City won 7-0 in the second leg of the round of 16.

On Wednesday, Leipzig hosts the defending champion who managed without Haaland’s scoring in a 3-1 win over Red Star Belgrade two weeks ago.

Inter Milan eliminated Benfica in the quarterfinals on its way to losing the final last season and hosts the Portuguese champion Tuesday.

Old hand Pepe

European soccer can unite the generations if Porto captain Pepe makes a historic appearance Wednesday against Barcelona.

At 40 years, 220 days old on Wednesday, Pepe can become the oldest outfield player ever to play in the European Cup or Champions League. Only a few goalkeepers, including Gianluigi Buffon, will be ahead of him in the record book.

When Pepe made his Champions League debut in September 2004, Barcelona’s new 16-year-old starlet Lamine Yamal was still almost three years from being born. Gavi was six weeks old and Pedri was approaching his second birthday.

Pepe played the full game two weeks ago as captain in Porto’s 3-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk. Barcelona opened its campaign by beating Antwerp 5-0.

The current oldest outfield player in the competition’s 68-year history is AC Milan defender Alessandro “Billy” Costacurta. He played in a 1-0 loss at AEK Athens in November 2006 at 40 years, 211 days.

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Sports

Barca Have Shown ‘Winning Mentality’ in Champions League, Says Xavi 

FC Barcelona's striker Joao Felix celebrates after scoring the 2-1 goal during the UEFA Champions League group H soccer match between FC Barcelona and FC Porto, in Barcelona, Spain, 28 November 2023. (EPA)
FC Barcelona's striker Joao Felix celebrates after scoring the 2-1 goal during the UEFA Champions League group H soccer match between FC Barcelona and FC Porto, in Barcelona, Spain, 28 November 2023. (EPA)
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Barca Have Shown ‘Winning Mentality’ in Champions League, Says Xavi 

FC Barcelona's striker Joao Felix celebrates after scoring the 2-1 goal during the UEFA Champions League group H soccer match between FC Barcelona and FC Porto, in Barcelona, Spain, 28 November 2023. (EPA)
FC Barcelona's striker Joao Felix celebrates after scoring the 2-1 goal during the UEFA Champions League group H soccer match between FC Barcelona and FC Porto, in Barcelona, Spain, 28 November 2023. (EPA)

Barcelona manager Xavi said his side have shown a winning mentality in the Champions League after they sealed their return to the knockout stages of Europe's elite club competition for the first time in three seasons on Tuesday.

Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix scored in each half to earn Barcelona a 2-1 comeback win at home against Porto that took the Group H leaders to 12 points from five matches.

A draw against already-eliminated Antwerp in their final group fixture will be enough to seal top spot.

"We needed this after two years," Xavi said. "We reacted well and displayed a winning mentality on several occasions.

"This was an important step in the right direction. It means a lot to the club.

"That's the first of our targets achieved in the Champions League. It has calmed us down and boosted our confidence, especially that of the players."

Tuesday's win comes on the heels of a disappointing 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga, a result which saw them slip to fourth, four points behind arch-rivals Real Madrid.

"The feeling is of happiness and of doing things well. We are progressing. But I don't feel liberated, I feel happy," the Spaniard said.

"You never solve all the problems at Barcelona, but it's a day to congratulate the team and the club for advancing.

"There are many things to improve, of course. We have to be humble. We have done some things very well, others not so," said Xavi, adding that he hoped the victory would be a turning point.

Barca next host Atletico Madrid in the league on Sunday.

Sports

Dortmund Proved Doubters Wrong by Escaping ‘Group of Death’, Says Terzic 

Dortmund's players celebrate after winning the Champions League group F soccer match between AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. (AP)
Dortmund's players celebrate after winning the Champions League group F soccer match between AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. (AP)
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Dortmund Proved Doubters Wrong by Escaping ‘Group of Death’, Says Terzic 

Dortmund's players celebrate after winning the Champions League group F soccer match between AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. (AP)
Dortmund's players celebrate after winning the Champions League group F soccer match between AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. (AP)

Borussia Dortmund had proved the doubters wrong by securing qualification from a Champions League group of heavy hitters, head coach Edin Terzic said, after his side won 3-1 at AC Milan on Tuesday.

Drawn alongside Paris St Germain, Newcastle United and Milan, Dortmund got off to a woeful start in their campaign by taking just a point from their opening two matches, but then won three games straight to ensure a top-two finish in Group F.

"We all remember that evening after the draw when they reported about the 'Group of Death,'" Terzic told reporters.

"We also remember the first game in Paris when everyone told us after the defeat now it's going to be difficult.

"And then after the 0-0 at home against Milan, they said, yes, now it's over. And then we went there as leaders in this group," he added.

Terzic said injury issues made things difficult ahead of the Milan game.

"We didn't talk about it like that before the game, but you got a message almost every 30 minutes, every 60 minutes," he added.

"The (doctor) came with new information, who can make the squad, who can't, who can play a half and who can't... it wasn't easy and yet the lads fought their way through it today."

The three other teams remain in contention for a spot in the knockout rounds going into the final round of fixtures on Dec. 13, with Dortmund hosting PSG and Milan visiting Newcastle.

Sports

Early Qualification Delights Atletico Coach Simeone 

Players of Atletico Madrid celebrate scoring the 1-3 goal during the UEFA Champions League group E soccer match between Feyenoord and Atletico Madrid in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 28 November 2023. (EPA)
Players of Atletico Madrid celebrate scoring the 1-3 goal during the UEFA Champions League group E soccer match between Feyenoord and Atletico Madrid in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 28 November 2023. (EPA)
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Early Qualification Delights Atletico Coach Simeone 

Players of Atletico Madrid celebrate scoring the 1-3 goal during the UEFA Champions League group E soccer match between Feyenoord and Atletico Madrid in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 28 November 2023. (EPA)
Players of Atletico Madrid celebrate scoring the 1-3 goal during the UEFA Champions League group E soccer match between Feyenoord and Atletico Madrid in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 28 November 2023. (EPA)

Securing qualification for the knockout stage of the Champions League with one game still play in the group phase delighted Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone after their 3-1 away win over Feyenoord in Rotterdam on Tuesday.

Atletico remained top of Group E on 11 points after winning away in the competition for the first time since beating Manchester United at Old Trafford in March 2022.

Their victory also guaranteed a berth in the last 16 for Lazio, who advanced to 10 points after beating Celtic in Rome earlier in the day, and eliminated Feyenoord from the race.

"The game the team played made me very happy. An offensively correct and defensively effective match," Simeone said. "A game with very good positional play, knowing that we could create difficulty for the opponent and from that came the first goal."

Feyenoord gave away a strange own goal as no one in their penalty box attempted to get onto a lopping ball into the danger area and it bounced in off defender Lutsharel Geertruida after 14 minutes.

In the second half Atletico went 2-0 ahead through Mario Hermoso, who hooked the ball into the opposite corner of the goal on the volley, but Feyenoord initiated a fight back through Mats Wieffer with 13 minutes left, only to see Atletico restore their two-goal advantage four minutes later through another own goal.

"I don't remember how long it's been since we qualified for the round of 16 with an advance date. That is something to highlight. The situation in our group was tight but we have managed our progress very well," added Simeone.

Asked at the post-match press conference whether Atletico could go on and pose a real challenge for the Champions League, he said: "We are here to compete with whoever we have to compete with. With humility and wanting to improve, we know our defects and from there we try to enhance our virtues."

They can enhance their options for the draw on Dec. 18 by finishing top of the group and will need only a draw at home to Lazio on Dec. 13 to ensure that.

"It is always important to finish as high as possible. We have not reached the last 16 with this kind of tranquility for years," Simeone said.

Sports

Foden Inspires Man City to 3-2 Comeback Win Against Leipzig in Champions League 

Football - Champions League - Group G - Manchester City v RB Leipzig - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 28, 2023 Manchester City's Phil Foden celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Football - Champions League - Group G - Manchester City v RB Leipzig - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 28, 2023 Manchester City's Phil Foden celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
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Foden Inspires Man City to 3-2 Comeback Win Against Leipzig in Champions League 

Football - Champions League - Group G - Manchester City v RB Leipzig - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 28, 2023 Manchester City's Phil Foden celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Football - Champions League - Group G - Manchester City v RB Leipzig - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 28, 2023 Manchester City's Phil Foden celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)

Trailing 2-0 at halftime against Leipzig in the Champions League on Tuesday, Phil Foden couldn’t believe what he was seeing from Manchester City.

By the end he had inspired a rousing fightback as the defending champions won 3-2 to advance to the knockout stage of the competition atop Group G.

“First half was the worst I’ve seen us. Courage and motivation changed it around,” Foden said. “This team has great mentality and it’s so nice to see.

“We just needed that (first) goal to get going.”

Foden scored one and helped to create two more as Pep Guardiola’s team preserved an unbeaten home record in the Champions League that dates back to 2018.

The England forward set up a goal for Erling Haaland in the 54th minute and evened the score in the 70th. He then played a part in the buildup for substitute Julian Alvarez’s winner in the 87th to complete the comeback.

Haaland’s goal saw him set another benchmark by becoming the fastest player to score 40 Champions League goals by reaching that total in 35 games.

On Saturday the Norwegian had set a Premier League record by reaching 50 goals in 48 appearances.

But it was Leipzig forward Lois Openda who had looked like firing his team to an unlikely win with goals in the 13th and 33rd.

That was until City responded like champions after the break and turned the game around, with Foden at the heart of the comeback.

“We had to be (as) relaxed as possible and we reacted really well,” Guardiola said. “We are first in the group and I am very satisfied for the reaction at the end. The team runs and fights and has spirit,”

City is now unbeaten in 29 home games in the competition since losing 2-1 against Lyon in Sept. 2018. It has topped its Champions Group for seven seasons in a row.

Both teams had already qualified for the last 16. City has 15 points from five games, six points more than second-place Leipzig.

Leipzig had suffered its heaviest European defeat when losing 7-0 at this venue in last season’s round of 16.

That performance, which included Haaland scoring a record-equaling five goals in one Champions League match, had been a pointer to what City would go on to achieve — conquering Europe for the first time and also winning the Premier League title and FA Cup.

However, it quickly became clear there would be no repeat of that rout when Openda fired the visitors ahead. The Belgium forward shook off a challenge from Manuel Akanji and raced through on goal before placing a shot into the bottom corner to beat goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.

By the time he scored his second, City had missed chances through Ruben Dias and Rico Lewis.

Again Openda capitalized on City’s lack of cover at the back, this time beating Dias down the left and then turning inside Josep Gvardiol in the box and shooting low to the left.

Haaland wasted another chance for the home team before halftime to sum up a sloppy performance from Guardiola’s team.

“What I told the guys was that we made them angry in the first half,” Leipzig coach Marco Rose said. “(It was going to be) Difficult. That’s what we knew and that’s what we saw in the second half.”

Haaland was back to his clinical best when given the chance to pull a goal back shortly after the break.

Running onto Foden’s pass, he adjusted his feet and hit a left-footed shot into the bottom corner for his latest record-breaking strike. The Norway international is also the co-leading scorer in this year’s competition, level on five goals with Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund and Atletico Madrid’s Alvaro Morata.

Foden evened the score after showing skillful footwork to make space for himself in the box and then firing between Lukas Klostermann’s legs and past goalkeeper Janis Blaswich.

Foden was involved again for Alvarez’s late goal when his cutback was deflected into the path of the the Argentine who finished from close range.

Sports

Mbappé Penalty Rescues Draw for PSG Against Newcastle in Champions League 

Kylian Mbappé of PSG celebrates after scoring the 1-1 goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United in Paris, France, 28 November 2023. (EPA)
Kylian Mbappé of PSG celebrates after scoring the 1-1 goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United in Paris, France, 28 November 2023. (EPA)
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Mbappé Penalty Rescues Draw for PSG Against Newcastle in Champions League 

Kylian Mbappé of PSG celebrates after scoring the 1-1 goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United in Paris, France, 28 November 2023. (EPA)
Kylian Mbappé of PSG celebrates after scoring the 1-1 goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United in Paris, France, 28 November 2023. (EPA)

Kylian Mbappé's penalty in the eighth minute of stoppage time salvaged a point for Paris Saint-Germain in a 1-1 draw with an injury-depleted but tenacious Newcastle team on Tuesday.

Alexander Isak scored on a rebound in the 24th minute, making up for his earlier miss when he shot over the bar from close range.

Miguel Almirón sent in a speculative shot from the edge of the box and PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma could only push it away to Isak’s feet for an easy finish.

PSG wasted chance after chance and Newcastle seemed on course to pull off another unlikely win to follow the 4-1 victory over the same opposition last month.

That was until Ousmane Dembélé flicked the ball up in the fifth minute of stoppage time and it bounced off Tino Livramento’s chest and onto his arm. Referee Szymon Marciniak gave a penalty after watching the incident on video review and Mbappé blasted the spot-kick past goalkeeper Nick Pope.

PSG can advance if it beats group leader Borussia Dortmund in Germany on Dec. 13 in their last group game. Dortmund beat Milan 3-1 on Tuesday as the German team secured its place in the round of 16.

“Very proud. I think we deserved to win, we created a lot of clear chances and, at times, it was difficult to get the ball in,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said.

To keep its Champions League campaign going, Newcastle must now beat AC Milan at home next month and hope PSG doesn’t win at Dortmund.

“Under the circumstances with injuries, to come to a place like this and get a point is positive. Disappointing, but positive,” Newcastle right back Kieran Trippier said.

Mbappé finally scored after having missed an early chance when Pope saved his backheel-flick finish, and later miscuing an attempt at an overhead kick. Those were just two of the many missed chances for PSG against a Newcastle team which seemed exhausted for much of the second half.

Luis Enrique responded by bringing on more attacking players. Substitute Bradley Barcola in particular got into good scoring positions only to see his efforts either saved by Pope or in one case volleyed over the bar when unmarked at the far post.

For Donnarumma, the error on Isak’s goal marked the second time in four days that the Italian goalkeeper was under scrutiny for a mistake after conceding a goal against Monaco on Friday.

Newcastle was missing 11 players to various injuries and Sandro Tonali’s gambling ban. Manager Eddie Howe picked an unchanged team from the lineup that beat Chelsea 4-1 on Saturday, 17-year-old midfielder Lewis Miley included.

Howe did not use any of his seven bench players, who included two goalkeepers and four teenagers. The other two bench spots were left empty in an illustration of just how thin Newcastle’s squad had become.

Sports

African Players In Europe: Goal King Salah Turns Creator

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah shoots against Manchester City - AFP
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah shoots against Manchester City - AFP
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African Players In Europe: Goal King Salah Turns Creator

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah shoots against Manchester City - AFP
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah shoots against Manchester City - AFP

Prolific Liverpool scorer Mohamed Salah turned creator at the weekend, setting up Trent Alexander-Arnold to equalize and force a 1-1 Premier League draw at Manchester City.

Defending champions City are second and Liverpool third behind leaders Arsenal in a tight title race with only two points separating the top three.

It was a profitable weekend for Nigerians with Ademola Lookman scoring in Italy, Umar Sadiq in Spain and Terem Moffi in France.

The Egypt forward provided the assist as Jurgen Klopp's side escaped with a 1-1 draw from their meeting with Manchester City. Liverpool kicked off at the Etihad Stadium in second place behind City and it was Pep Guardiola's men who drew first blood when Erling Haaland fired home for his 50th Premier League goal in the first half. But Salah helped Liverpool peg back the treble winners in the closing stages when his pass found Alexander-Arnold, who drilled a low shot into the far corner to ensure the two title heavyweights finished level, AFP report highlighted.

- UMAR SADIQ (Real Sociedad)

Sadiq netted his first goal of the season for Real Sociedad in their 2-1 win over Sevilla. The 26-year-old failed to find the net in his first 11 appearances for the club this season in La Liga, but ended his drought with a brilliant strike as he ripped an effort into the top corner from more than 25 yards.

- YOUSSEF EN-NESYRI (Sevilla)

The Moroccan forward continued his good form with a fourth goal in seven league games, but it was not enough to rescue his team a point at Real Sociedad. The striker converted a downward header from close range, showing his predatory instincts in the box.

- ERIC MAXIM CHOUPO-MOTING (Bayern Munich)

Handed just a second league start this season, the Cameroon striker provided impetus and energy in Bayern's 1-0 win over Cologne. While Choupo-Moting has fallen down the pecking order since the arrival of England captain Harry Kane, he created the game's only goal. With 20 minutes gone, Bayern counterattacked and Choupo-Moting's shot was cleared off the line into the path of Kane, who slotted home.

- TEREM MOFFI (Nice)

The Nigerian was perfectly positioned in the 54th minute to score off a swift counterattack and give second-placed Nice a 1-0 home win over lowly Toulouse. It was the fourth goal of the Ligue 1 campaign for the 24-year-old, who played in Lithuania and Belgium before moving to France three years ago.

Sports

Bayern Munich Defender Matthijs de Ligt Nears Comeback After Right Knee Injury 

Bayern Munich player Matthijs de Ligt attends the FC Bayern Munich's annual general meeting in Munich, Germany, 12 November 2023. (EPA)
Bayern Munich player Matthijs de Ligt attends the FC Bayern Munich's annual general meeting in Munich, Germany, 12 November 2023. (EPA)
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Bayern Munich Defender Matthijs de Ligt Nears Comeback After Right Knee Injury 

Bayern Munich player Matthijs de Ligt attends the FC Bayern Munich's annual general meeting in Munich, Germany, 12 November 2023. (EPA)
Bayern Munich player Matthijs de Ligt attends the FC Bayern Munich's annual general meeting in Munich, Germany, 12 November 2023. (EPA)

Bayern Munich defender Mattijs de Ligt is nearing a comeback from the right knee injury which ruled him out for most of the last month, the club indicated Monday.

Bayern said the Netherlands center back was back on the field and “completed an individual session at the training ground on Monday morning.”

De Ligt tore part of a knee ligament on Nov. 1 in Bayern's surprising 2-1 German Cup loss to third-division club Saarbruecken. That prompted concerns he could be a long-term absentee from a first-team squad which only includes two other central defenders, Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano.

Bayern has won all four of its games since then with Kim and Upamecano starting together at center back, including a 4-0 win over Borussia Dortmund. Bayern plays Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday.

De Ligt's injury also ruled him out of the Netherlands' European Championship qualifying games against Ireland and Gibraltar.

Sports

Barcelona Looks to Regain Best Form and Secure Return to Knockout Stage of Champions League 

FC Barcelona's player João Cancelo attends a press conference in Barcelona, Spain, 27 November 2023. (EPA)
FC Barcelona's player João Cancelo attends a press conference in Barcelona, Spain, 27 November 2023. (EPA)
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Barcelona Looks to Regain Best Form and Secure Return to Knockout Stage of Champions League 

FC Barcelona's player João Cancelo attends a press conference in Barcelona, Spain, 27 November 2023. (EPA)
FC Barcelona's player João Cancelo attends a press conference in Barcelona, Spain, 27 November 2023. (EPA)

A win against Porto will be enough to put Barcelona back in the knockout rounds of the Champions League after two consecutive group-stage eliminations.

It may not be enough, though, to ease the pressure on coach Xavi Hernández, who has struggled to get his team to play well recently.

Barcelona is coming off a stretch that includes a 1-0 loss to Shakhtar Donetsk in its last Champions League game, and a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano in its previous Spanish league match. The team has even produced lackluster performances when winning recent matches.

“Things did not go as expected lately,” Xavi said Monday. “Against Rayo it was better, but we have lacked continuity. Tomorrow is a great opportunity for us. It can be a turning point. I really believe we will be playing better again. If I didn't, I wouldn't even be here."

Barcelona will advance with a win, or with a draw if Shakhtar doesn’t beat Antwerp in the other Group H match on Tuesday. The Catalan club failed to reach the knockout stage in the two seasons after Lionel Messi left the club.

“There's always pressure at Barça,” Xavi said. “It's always been like this and that won't change. You have to win at this club.”

Xavi said he feels the full support from the club despite the recent struggles. “We all believe in the project and there is total trust,” he said.

Barcelona has the same nine points as second-placed Porto, which is coming off a win against last-placed Antwerp. Shakhtar is third with six points.

“We will be up against a highly technical team, with a coach in Xavi who has plenty of experience in this competition," Porto coach Sérgio Conceição said. “A victory would mean a great night for us, and we will need to be at our absolute best. There is always pressure, but we can use that pressure in a positive manner.”

Xavi could be without Marc-André ter Stegen because of a back injury. The goalkeeper did not practice with the rest of the group in training on Monday and is doubtful for Tuesday's match.

“He will undergo tests before the match to check on the pain and see if he is 100% to play,” Xavi said.

The coach was certain to be without Gavi after the young playmaker sustained a serious knee injury while on duty with Spain.

Xavi was not expected to rest anybody against Porto even though Barcelona at the weekend hosts Atletico Madrid in a match that could be crucial in the Spanish league.

“In the last few matches we haven’t played how we wanted,” Barcelona defender João Cancelo said. “We have a chance now to play well and gain some confidence going forward.”

Sports

Girona Misses Chance to Go Top in Spain After Draw with Athletic Bilbao  

Girona's Brazilian midfielder #16 Savio Moreira reacts during the Spanish league football match between Girona FC and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on November 27, 2023. (AFP)
Girona's Brazilian midfielder #16 Savio Moreira reacts during the Spanish league football match between Girona FC and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on November 27, 2023. (AFP)
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Girona Misses Chance to Go Top in Spain After Draw with Athletic Bilbao  

Girona's Brazilian midfielder #16 Savio Moreira reacts during the Spanish league football match between Girona FC and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on November 27, 2023. (AFP)
Girona's Brazilian midfielder #16 Savio Moreira reacts during the Spanish league football match between Girona FC and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on November 27, 2023. (AFP)

Girona missed a chance to return to the top of the Spanish league on Monday when it was held at home by Athletic Bilbao to 1-1.

Girona is the surprise team in La Liga and won 11 of its previous 12 games.

The Catalan side was the more spritely early on and had a first-half goal ruled out after a video review.

It took the lead 11 minutes into the second half when Ukrainian winger Viktor Tsygankov charged into a crowded penalty box and swept home a low cross from the left.

Girona’s 19-year-old Brazilian Savinho was once again one of the best players on show and it was his pass that led to Tsygankov’s goal.

However, the home side could not retain the lead. Twelve minutes after the opening score Girona defenders failed to halt a run from Iñaki Williams and he got off a side-footed shot that sneaked inside the goalkeeper’s left-hand post.

The result means Girona remained in second place, tied on points with leader Real Madrid, but four points ahead of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, who were tied for third.

Bilbao moved to fifth, equal on points with Real Sociedad.

Sports

Sabalenka, Rybakina to Open New Season in Brisbane 

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka returns the ball to Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles semifinal tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Cancun, Mexico on November 5, 2023. (AFP)
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka returns the ball to Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles semifinal tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Cancun, Mexico on November 5, 2023. (AFP)
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Sabalenka, Rybakina to Open New Season in Brisbane 

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka returns the ball to Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles semifinal tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Cancun, Mexico on November 5, 2023. (AFP)
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka returns the ball to Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles semifinal tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Cancun, Mexico on November 5, 2023. (AFP)

World number two Aryna Sabalenka and number four Elena Rybakina will open their 2024 seasons at the Brisbane International warm-up for the Australian Open, organizers said on Tuesday.

Former world number one Naomi Osaka was already announced for the WTA 500 event, which is returning in the first week of January after a three-year hiatus forced initially by the COVID pandemic.

Sabalenka is ineligible to compete in the United Cup mixed tournament taking place in Perth and Sydney the same week because of the continuing ban on teams from Belarus and Russia stemming from the invasion of Ukraine.

The 25-year-old will join her fellow Belarusian and twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the 48-player Brisbane field as she prepares for her first Grand Slam title defence at Melbourne Park.

"Australia holds a special place in my heart after winning my first Grand Slam there," Sabalenka said in a news release.

"I can't wait to make my debut at the Brisbane International and play in front of the Queensland tennis fans."

Russian-born Kazakh Rybakina, the Wimbledon champion in 2022, lost to Sabalenka in this year's Melbourne final.