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More Bellingham Heroics for Madrid in Champions League as Arsenal, Man United Are Stunned 

Football - Champions League - Group C - Napoli v Real Madrid - Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples, Italy - October 3, 2023 Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their second goal with Rodrygo. (Reuters)
Football - Champions League - Group C - Napoli v Real Madrid - Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples, Italy - October 3, 2023 Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their second goal with Rodrygo. (Reuters)
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More Bellingham Heroics for Madrid in Champions League as Arsenal, Man United Are Stunned 

Football - Champions League - Group C - Napoli v Real Madrid - Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples, Italy - October 3, 2023 Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their second goal with Rodrygo. (Reuters)
Football - Champions League - Group C - Napoli v Real Madrid - Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples, Italy - October 3, 2023 Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their second goal with Rodrygo. (Reuters)

It was an English player's night in the Champions League, even as both of the English teams in action lost.

Jude Bellingham made the difference again for Real Madrid in a thrilling 3-2 win at Napoli on Tuesday as Manchester United and Arsenal were beaten by Galatasaray and Lens, respectively.

Nine games into his Real Madrid career and Jude Bellingham is fast becoming the team's star attraction.

The England midfielder assisted Vinicius Junior for one goal to level the score at 1-1 and then tore apart the Italian champion's defense on his own to score. Even then, it needed an own-goal from Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret — after some unfortunate deflections — to hand Madrid the win.

It was the second Champions League game in a row where Bellingham played a vital role for Madrid after scoring the winning goal against Union Berlin. The 20-year-old player has eight goals and three assists so far this season since joining Madrid from Borussia Dortmund.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti paid tribute to Bellingham, saying he found it hard to believe the midfielder was still only 20.

English Teams lose

Manchester United and Arsenal both lost to teams whose better days in European soccer were in the late 1990s and early 2000s — before Bellingham was born.

A 3-2 loss at home to Galatasaray despite two goals from Rasmus Højlund — United's sixth defeat in 10 games in all competitions — means more pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.

In the space of 10 minutes, United gave up a 2-1 lead and had midfielder Casemiro sent off as Ten Hag's team fell apart late against its Turkish opponent. Galatasaray scored in the 71st, won a penalty and missed it — with Casemiro picking up a second yellow card in the process — then scored again in the 81st. The winning goal was scored by Mauro Icardi, who had missed the spot kick shortly before.

That leaves United bottom of its group and four points behind Galatasaray in second place. United has conceded seven goals in its opening two Champions League games after losing its opener 4-3 to Bayern Munich last month.

Elye Wahi scored one goal and set up another to propel Lens to a 2-1 win over Arsenal. Arsenal had the lead through Gabriel Jesus' 14th-minute goal before Wahi assisted Adrien Thomasson in the 25th and then scored himself with a chip in the 69th.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice said his team "missed some big chances," but is "just warming up and getting into our rhythm" at this stage of the season.

Arsenal's victory over PSV Eindhoven last time out was a landmark — a win in its first Champions League game since the 2016-17 season — but the wait for Lens was much longer. The French team last won a Champions League game back in 2002 against AC Milan and hadn't qualified for Europe's top club competition again until this season.

Winning run

Bayern kept up its record winning run in the Champions League group stage — now at 15 games going back to 2020 — but it was a tricky feat in a 2-1 win over a determined Copenhagen team.

Bayern's Jamal Musiala leveled the score after Lukas Lerager had given the Danish team the lead, and it was 18-year-old Mathys Tel who scored the winner after combining with 34-year-old teammate Thomas Müller. The action wasn't over yet, and Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich had to dive to stop an own-goal deep into added time.

Bayern hasn't lost for 36 group-stage games going back to 2017.

Heartbreak in Berlin

Two games, two heartbreaking losses in stoppage time for Union Berlin. What an introduction to the Champions League!

The German club lost its first-ever home Champions League game 3-2 to Braga on a goal in the fourth minute of added time from André Castro, two weeks after a 1-0 loss at Madrid on an equally late goal from Jude Bellingham.

Union had been leading 2-0 on two counterattack goals from Sheraldo Becker, but let Braga back into the game with two goals after failing to clear set pieces before the late winner from 35-year-old midfielder Castro. Madrid and Napoli are the other two teams in the group, meaning Union's qualifying chances have already taken a heavy blow.

The 2-2 draw between PSV and Sevilla had more than its share of drama, with goals in the 86th, 87th and fifth minute of stoppage time as PSV twice recovered from a goal down.

Real Sociedad had a smoother time as it picked up its first Champions League win for 20 years, beating Salzburg 2-0 on first-half goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Brais Méndez.

Marcus Thuram scored the only goal of the game for last season's Champions League runner-up Inter Milan in a 1-0 win over Benfica to move level on four points with Sociedad at the top of their group.

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Palestinian, Israeli Soccer Officials Refuse to Shake Hands During Tense FIFA Congress Moment

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (C) interacts with the President of the Palestine Football Association Jibril Rajoub as the Vice-President of Israel Football Association Basim Sheikh Suliman (L) looks on during a heated moment in the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Don MacKinnon / AFP)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino (C) interacts with the President of the Palestine Football Association Jibril Rajoub as the Vice-President of Israel Football Association Basim Sheikh Suliman (L) looks on during a heated moment in the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Don MacKinnon / AFP)
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Palestinian, Israeli Soccer Officials Refuse to Shake Hands During Tense FIFA Congress Moment

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (C) interacts with the President of the Palestine Football Association Jibril Rajoub as the Vice-President of Israel Football Association Basim Sheikh Suliman (L) looks on during a heated moment in the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Don MacKinnon / AFP)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino (C) interacts with the President of the Palestine Football Association Jibril Rajoub as the Vice-President of Israel Football Association Basim Sheikh Suliman (L) looks on during a heated moment in the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Don MacKinnon / AFP)

Palestine Football Association President Jibril Rajoub refused to shake hands with Basim Sheikh Suliman, the vice president of Israel’s soccer governing body, during a tense moment at the FIFA Congress on Thursday.

After the two men addressed the congress, they were called on stage by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. They stood far apart from each other and Rajoub protested loudly away from microphones before leaving the stage.

Speaking before the congress, Rajoub called on FIFA to address the Palestine Football Association's allegations that Israel has breached anti-discrimination regulation by allowing clubs based in the West Bank settlements.

He confirmed that the PFA is taking the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after FIFA ruled in March not to suspend Israel over its West Bank clubs. FIFA cited the unresolved and complex legal status of the West Bank.

But in a separate matter involving an Israeli club, FIFA fined the Israel Football Association $190,000 on disciplinary charges relating to “discrimination and racist abuse,” plus “offensive behavior and violations of the principles of fair play."

After the two men left the stage at the Vancouver Convention Center, Infantino thanked them for addressing the delegates and made an appeal.

“President Rajoub, Vice President Suliman, let's work together. Let's work together to give hope to the children. Let's work together for that,” Infantino said.

Following the congress, Rajoub gave an impassioned plea, asking whether Israel has “the right to even be part of FIFA.”

“From my side I still respect and follow all the legal procedures through FIFA institutions but I think it's time to understand that Israel should be sanctioned because of the violations of the statutes of FIFA, the human rights,” The Associated Press quoted him as saying.

Yariv Teper, acting general secretary of the Israel Football Association, would not comment on the specifics of Rajoub's comments but said the IFA would be willing to work with the Palestinian counterparts.

“We are in the FIFA Congress,” Teper said. “Our mission is to promote football and a better future for all regions, and this is our mission.”

Palestinian soccer officials have long argued — including at FIFA annual congresses across the past 15 years, before Infantino was president — that Israel violates statutes by letting teams from settlements in the West Bank play in Israel's national league.

The disciplinary investigation of Israeli soccer also was opened 18 months ago in response to a second objection by the Palestinian federation.

Sports

Blockx Converts Late Madrid Call-up Into Breakthrough Semi-final Run

Belgium's Alexander Blockx celebrates beating Norway's Casper Ruud during their 2026 ATP Tour Madrid Open tennis tournament quarter-final singles match at the Caja Magica in Madrid, on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
Belgium's Alexander Blockx celebrates beating Norway's Casper Ruud during their 2026 ATP Tour Madrid Open tennis tournament quarter-final singles match at the Caja Magica in Madrid, on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
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Blockx Converts Late Madrid Call-up Into Breakthrough Semi-final Run

Belgium's Alexander Blockx celebrates beating Norway's Casper Ruud during their 2026 ATP Tour Madrid Open tennis tournament quarter-final singles match at the Caja Magica in Madrid, on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
Belgium's Alexander Blockx celebrates beating Norway's Casper Ruud during their 2026 ATP Tour Madrid Open tennis tournament quarter-final singles match at the Caja Magica in Madrid, on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)

Alexander Blockx arrived at the Madrid Open expecting to play the qualifying rounds, but the Belgian has made the most of his late promotion to the main draw after a string of withdrawals, riding a wave of confidence to the semi-finals.

The 21-year-old toppled seeded players including Brandon Nakashima, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Francisco Cerundolo before ending the title defense of Casper Ruud with a 6-4 6-4 win on Thursday to set up a last-four meeting with Alexander Zverev.

Currently ranked 69th in the world after sitting outside the top 100 ⁠two months ago, ⁠Blockx can enter the top 30 with another upset, but the Belgian said the week had already gone beyond anything he imagined.

"I was already happy with getting into the main draw ... at the last minute on Friday, just before the deadline. Winning my first match (against Cristian Garin) ⁠was already a bonus," Blockx said.

"Then all the other matches, I never thought I'd get that far. But once you get confident and you feel your game, a lot can happen."

Blockx has struggled for momentum on the ATP Tour following his run to the Next Gen ATP Finals title clash in December, but he showed his potential with a run to the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters last month.

His Madrid campaign and the win ⁠over two-time ⁠French Open finalist Ruud offered further validation for a player still building belief on clay.

"It's nice beating the defending champion, whose favorite conditions are here. That shows I can play well on clay too," Blockx added, according to Reuters.

"The ranking is going up really fast. It's nice to be able to play bigger tournaments now. I don't know the ceiling, I'll just see match by match, and hopefully get as high as I can."

Blockx meets Zverev later on Friday while world number one Jannik Sinner meets Arthur Fils in the other semi-final.

Sports

Antonelli Bids for Hat-trick as F1 Returns in Miami

FILE - Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy steers his car in pit lane during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix in Suzuki, Japan, Sunday, March 29, 2026. (Franck Robichon⁩/Pool Photo via AP, File)
FILE - Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy steers his car in pit lane during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix in Suzuki, Japan, Sunday, March 29, 2026. (Franck Robichon⁩/Pool Photo via AP, File)
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Antonelli Bids for Hat-trick as F1 Returns in Miami

FILE - Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy steers his car in pit lane during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix in Suzuki, Japan, Sunday, March 29, 2026. (Franck Robichon⁩/Pool Photo via AP, File)
FILE - Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy steers his car in pit lane during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix in Suzuki, Japan, Sunday, March 29, 2026. (Franck Robichon⁩/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli, the youngest championship leader in F1 history, will seek to complete a hat-trick of early season victories this weekend as Formula One returns after a month's enforced absence due to the Middle East war.

The 19-year-old Mercedes driver, triumphant in China and Japan, leads team-mate George Russell, who won the season-opening Australian race, by nine points ahead of what is effectively the start of another season, complete with revised rules and widespread car upgrades, at the Miami Grand Prix.

"After a month without any racing, we are ready to get back on track," said Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff. "We've used this break to analyze the opening races, address our weaknesses and rase our level.

"We've started the season well, but that counts for very little if you stand still. We know our competitors will have used this time to improve and build a deeper understanding of their cars so we expect the field to be closer in Miami.

"That's the reality of F1 - it's a challenge we must rise to."

Antonelli's early triumphs made him the first Italian driver since Alberto Ascari in 1953 to win two consecutive races. Ascari completed his treble that season.

Wolff also addressed the tweaks to the regulations to be introduced in Miami, aimed at making the cars and the spectacle more natural with reduced battery re-charging in qualifying and increased super-clipping power to reduce dangerous speed differentials.

According to AFP, he said the revised rules would "respect the DNA of our sport" and deliver an improved spectacle without any significant reduction to Mercedes' early-season performance advantage.

For Mercedes, this Sunday's race is an opportunity for a first win in Florida since the event was launched five years ago. It has been won twice by four-time champion Max Verstappen for Red Bull and twice by McLaren with a win apiece for world champion Lando Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri.

They will harbor hopes of claiming points too with success in Saturday's sprint race, won last year by Norris, but Ferrari are widely expected to be strong contenders too as they arrive in Miami, like McLaren, who are bringing an almost "completely new car", with a heavily revised package.

"It was one of our best tracks for pure pace, compared to others, last year," said Norris. "It's a different track and it may still suit us a little more than others."

After winning in 2022 and 2023, Verstappen will be aiming to stop Mercedes' winning run and revive Red Bull's challenge this year after a discouraging start. He is ninth, on 12 points, 60 adrift of Antonelli, with team-mate Isack Hadjar 12th on four.

Ferrari's duo of Charles Leclerc and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton are third and fourth respectively on 49 and 41 points with many paddock observers suggesting they are poised to fight for a first win since Carlos Sainz's success in Mexico in October 2024.

Leclerc's eighth and last win came at Austin, Texas, shortly before Sainz's triumph while Hamilton is chasing his 106th win and first since the 2024 Belgian race before he joined Ferrari. After a desultory first year, the Briton said he is relishing the challenge of a new formula that has seen him rediscover his racing mojo.

"We're all re-charged after the break," said Russell, expressing the feelings of most drivers. "I'm hoping we can continue where we left off."

It will mark newcomers Cadillac's first racing appearance on home soil in the United States when Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas venture out at the Hard Rock Stadium in a new American livery.