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Bayern, Man City Win Again in Women's Champions League. Arsenal, Barcelona Rebound from Setbacks

Arsenal players celebrate the 3-1 goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League soccer match between Arsenal and Valerenga in London, Britain, 16 October 2024. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN
Arsenal players celebrate the 3-1 goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League soccer match between Arsenal and Valerenga in London, Britain, 16 October 2024. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN
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Bayern, Man City Win Again in Women's Champions League. Arsenal, Barcelona Rebound from Setbacks

Arsenal players celebrate the 3-1 goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League soccer match between Arsenal and Valerenga in London, Britain, 16 October 2024. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN
Arsenal players celebrate the 3-1 goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League soccer match between Arsenal and Valerenga in London, Britain, 16 October 2024. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN

Bayern Munich and Manchester City extended their winning starts in the Women’s Champions League group stage on Wednesday, while Arsenal and Barcelona rebounded from early-season setbacks with big victories.
One day after Arsenal’s coach Jonas Eidevall resigned, the team took just one minute to score in a 4-1 win over Norwegian team Vålerenga. United States defender Emily Fox’s goal after exactly 60 seconds set Arsenal on its way for interim manager Renée Slegers.
Arsenal lost 5-2 in Munich one week ago and Bayern impressed again, winning a rain-soaked game 2-0 at Juventus.
The statement win last week was Man City beating Barcelona, but the two-time defending champion was back in dominant form in a 9-0 drubbing of Sweden's Hammarby.
Man City rallied from an uneasy spell either side of halftime at St. Pölten to win 3-2 in Austria, sealed by an 80th-minute header by Mary Fowler.
Arsenal revival Arsenal’s start to October had been about as bad as it gets. Winless in two home games in the English Women’s Super League, including a 2-1 loss to city rival Chelsea; a 5-2 beating by Bayern; then losing the coach who helped it reach the Champions League semifinals two seasons ago.
But after Fox’s quick finish, Arsenal added a second in the 29th by Caitlin Foord after Vålerenga goalkeeper Tove Enblom’s save diverted the ball to the Australia forward at the back post.
The Norwegians cut the lead in the 35th when Arsenal’s Spanish defender Laia Cadina was robbed of the ball and Olaug Tvedten finished with a well-placed shot.
Arsenal endured tense moments in the second half until Spain forward Mariona ensured the win in the 85th, taking an unselfish pass from Stina Blackstenius. Alessia Russo capped the scoring in stoppage time.
Harder makes it easy Bayern forward Pernille Harder again scored late to add to her 13-minute hat trick last week against Arsenal.
The Denmark veteran pounced on a loose ball in the goalmouth after a corner in the 73rd. It was a near-copy of how Bayern opened the scoring in the 17th when a scramble in the goalmouth led to Linda Dallman’s volleyed shot.
Bayern’s two wins in Group C have bookended its first loss in the German league in almost two years, 2-0 against two-time European champion Wolfsburg on Saturday.
City keeps momentum The most spectacular goal of the four games Wednesday came within five minutes of Man City’s game in Austria.
Australia defender Alanna Kennedy fired in a powerful 25-yard (meter) shot that went in off the inside of the post. Man City then struck the woodwork twice in a five-minute spell as it looked to take control.
Then St. Pölten leveled in the 40th, from another loose ball following a corner, that Melanie Brunnthaler reacted fastest to with a close-range shot.
St. Pölten relied on a series of saves by goalkeeper Carina Schlüter before taking the lead in the 53rd, when Czech midfielder Kamila Dubcová received the ball with her back to goal and spun to volley a rising left-foot shot.
Four minutes later Man City was level when Aoba Fujino met a looping cross toward the far post with a first-time shot.
Barcelona back to its best Barcelona was imperious one week after being caught cold in the first half in Manchester. Swedish champion Hammarby, which beat St. Pölten 2-0 last week, caught the backlash.
Caroline Graham Hansen started the flood of goals in the 10th, and the Norway forward was joined by Claudia Pina scoring twice among seven players on the scoresheet. Alexia Putellas got the third with a neatly guided header.
It was not even Barcelona’s biggest win this season at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. Granada was beaten 10-1 in a domestic league game last month.

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Morocco Coach Dismisses Aguerd Injury Talk, Backs Ait Boudlal ahead of Mali Test

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations - Round of 16 - Morocco v South Africa - Laurent Pokou Stadium, San Pedro, Ivory Coast - January 30, 2024 Morocco coach Walid Regragui reacts REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations - Round of 16 - Morocco v South Africa - Laurent Pokou Stadium, San Pedro, Ivory Coast - January 30, 2024 Morocco coach Walid Regragui reacts REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
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Morocco Coach Dismisses Aguerd Injury Talk, Backs Ait Boudlal ahead of Mali Test

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations - Round of 16 - Morocco v South Africa - Laurent Pokou Stadium, San Pedro, Ivory Coast - January 30, 2024 Morocco coach Walid Regragui reacts REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations - Round of 16 - Morocco v South Africa - Laurent Pokou Stadium, San Pedro, Ivory Coast - January 30, 2024 Morocco coach Walid Regragui reacts REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Morocco coach Walid Regragui has dismissed reports that defender Nayef Aguerd is injured, saying the center back was fit and ready for ​Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations Group A clash against Mali.

"Who told you Aguerd is injured? He’s training as usual and has no problems," Regragui told reporters, Reuters reported.

Regragui confirmed captain Romain Saiss will miss the game with a muscle injury sustained against Comoros in their tournament ‌opener, while ‌full back Achraf Hakimi, ‌recently ⁠crowned ​African Player ‌of the Year, is recovering from an ankle problem sustained with Paris St Germain last month and could feature briefly. "Hakimi is doing well and we’ll make the best decision for him," Regragui said. The coach also heaped praise on 19-year-old ⁠defender Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, calling him "a great talent".

"I’ve been following ‌him for years. I called ‍him up a ‍year and a half ago when he was ‍a substitute at Rennes and people criticized me. Today everyone is praising him – that shows our vision is long-term," Regragui said. "We must not burn the ​player. We’ll use him at the right time. We’ll see if he starts tomorrow ⁠or comes in later."

Ait Boudlal echoed his coach's confidence.

"We know the responsibility we carry. Every game is tough and requires full concentration. We listen carefully to the coach’s instructions and aim to deliver a performance that meets fans’ expectations," he said.

Morocco opened the tournament with a 2-0 win over Comoros and will secure qualification with victory over Mali at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah ‌Stadium.

"It will be a tough match against a strong team," Regragui added.

Sports

Mali coach Saintfiet hits out at European clubs, FIFA over AFCON changes

Mali coach Tom Saintfiet pictured at his team's opening AFCON game against Zambia in Casablanca on Monday © Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP/File
Mali coach Tom Saintfiet pictured at his team's opening AFCON game against Zambia in Casablanca on Monday © Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP/File
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Mali coach Saintfiet hits out at European clubs, FIFA over AFCON changes

Mali coach Tom Saintfiet pictured at his team's opening AFCON game against Zambia in Casablanca on Monday © Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP/File
Mali coach Tom Saintfiet pictured at his team's opening AFCON game against Zambia in Casablanca on Monday © Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP/File

Mali coach Tom Saintfiet on Thursday railed against the decision to play the Africa Cup of Nations every four years instead of two, insisting the move was forced upon the continent by FIFA and European clubs motivated by money.

"I am very shocked with it and very disappointed. It is the pride of African football, with the best players in African football," the Belgian told reporters in Rabat ahead of Friday's AFCON clash between Mali and Morocco, AFP reported.

"To take it away and make it every four years, I could understand if it was a request for any reason from Africa, but it is all instructed by the big people from (European governing body) UEFA, the big clubs in Europe and also FIFA and that makes it so sad."

Saintfiet, 52, has managed numerous African national teams including Gambia, who he led to the quarter-finals of the 2022 Cup of Nations.

He was appointed by Mali in August last year and on Friday will lead them out against current AFCON hosts in a key Group A game at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

The Cup of Nations has almost always been held at two-year intervals since the first edition in 1957 but Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe last weekend announced that the tournament would go ahead every four years after a planned 2028 tournament.

"We fought for so long to be respected, to then listen to Europe to change your history -- because this is a history going back 68 years -- only because of financial requests from clubs who use the load on players as the excuse while they create a World Cup with 48 teams, a Champions League with no champions," Saintfiet said.

"If you don't get relegated in England you almost get into Europe, it is so stupid," he joked.

"If you want to protect players then you play the Champions League with only the champions. You don't create more competitions with more load. Then you can still play AFCON every two years.

"Africa is the biggest football continent in the world, all the big stars in Europe are Africans, so I think we disrespect (Africa) by going to every four years.

"I am very sad about that -- I hoped that the love for Africa would win over the pressure of Europe."

Sports

My Grandfather Encouraged Me to Play for Algeria, Luca Zidane Says

Algeria's goalkeeper #23 Luca Zidane reacts during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Group E football match between Algeria and Sudan at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat on December 24, 2025. (AFP)
Algeria's goalkeeper #23 Luca Zidane reacts during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Group E football match between Algeria and Sudan at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat on December 24, 2025. (AFP)
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My Grandfather Encouraged Me to Play for Algeria, Luca Zidane Says

Algeria's goalkeeper #23 Luca Zidane reacts during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Group E football match between Algeria and Sudan at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat on December 24, 2025. (AFP)
Algeria's goalkeeper #23 Luca Zidane reacts during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Group E football match between Algeria and Sudan at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat on December 24, 2025. (AFP)

Luca Zidane, son of French World Cup-winner Zinedine, said his grandfather had supported him in switching international allegiance to Algeria, after playing for France at junior level.

Zinedine Zidane is widely regarded as one of the greatest French footballers, inspiring his country to their first World Cup victory in 1998 and scoring two goals in the 3-0 win over Brazil in the final in Paris. The midfielder also guided them to the Euro 2000 trophy, achieving an unprecedented double for Les Bleus.

The decision to switch nationalities by Luca, who chose to avoid comparisons with ‌his father from ‌an early age by opting to play as ‌a ⁠goalkeeper, came as ‌a surprise, especially since he made it at the age of 27.

He quickly became Algeria's first-choice keeper, and his father watched him play against Sudan in Vladimir Petković's side's opening Africa Cup of Nations Group E match on Wednesday, which they won 3-0.

Zidane was not tested much during the match, but he did make an important save from a dangerous chance that fell to Yaser Awad with the score at ⁠1-0.

"When I think of Algeria, I remember my grandfather. Since childhood, we’ve had this Algerian culture in the ‌family," Zidane told BeIN Sports France.

"I spoke to ‍him before playing for the national ‍team, and he was extremely happy about this step. Every time I receive ‍an international call-up, he calls me and says that I made a great decision and that he is proud of me."

He said his father had also backed his decision. "He supported me," Luca said. "He said to me ‘Be careful, this is your choice. I can give you advice, but in the end, the final decision will be yours'.

"From the moment the coach and the federation ⁠president reached out to me, it was clear that I wanted to go and represent my country. After that, I naturally spoke with my family, and they were all happy for me."

Zinedine Zidane, who was sent off in the 2006 World Cup final in Germany which they lost to Italy on penalties, won the Champions League in 2002 with Real Madrid and claimed the Ballon d'Or award in 1998.

His son, who plays in Spain for Granada after starting his career at Real Madrid, has always worn a shirt bearing the name Luca, but he decided his national team jersey would carry the name Zidane.

"So for me, being able to honor ‌my grandfather by joining the national team is very important," he said. "The next jersey with the name on it will be for him."