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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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Chance to Reclaim Top Rank Is Extra Motivation for Alcaraz in Barcelona

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain attends a press conference at the Barcelona Open tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, 13 April 2026. (EPA)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain attends a press conference at the Barcelona Open tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, 13 April 2026. (EPA)
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Chance to Reclaim Top Rank Is Extra Motivation for Alcaraz in Barcelona

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain attends a press conference at the Barcelona Open tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, 13 April 2026. (EPA)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain attends a press conference at the Barcelona Open tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, 13 April 2026. (EPA)

Carlos Alcaraz said the opportunity ‌to quickly reclaim the world number one ranking from his big rival Jannik Sinner provided him additional motivation for this week's Barcelona Open, but steady improvement during the clay season remained his top priority.

Alcaraz surrendered his Monte Carlo title and the top rank to Sinner after Sunday's final in Monaco, but the Spaniard will have the chance to climb back to his perch by capturing the trophy on familiar territory in Barcelona.

The twice champion's hopes are boosted by the absence ‌of Sinner in ‌the draw, after the Italian took a ‌break ⁠following back-to-back triumphs ⁠in Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo over the last few weeks.

"I won't miss him this week," Alcaraz joked in his pre-tournament press conference on Monday.

"I saw that I have to win the tournament here if I want to get the number one ranking back. The battle between Jannik and ⁠myself is great. It probably provides extra ‌motivation.

"But we're focused and my ‌mind is set on trying to stay on the path we're on, ‌trying to keep improving. We're clear about what we ‌need to do in training and in matches. That's the main goal, results and points are extra motivation."

Alcaraz, who begins his campaign against Otto Virtanen later on Tuesday, will remain world number two ‌if he fails to win the title.

The Spaniard hopes to play a full schedule on ⁠clay this ⁠season with events to follow in Madrid and Rome ahead of his French Open title defense beginning in Paris on May 24.

Though stung by his loss to Sinner, the 22-year-old said he would only get better thanks to their growing rivalry.

"Jannik is one of those players who makes me better. He makes me realize my weaknesses, what I really need to focus on in each practice session and each match, so I try to improve every day," Alcaraz said.

"It's great to have him as a focal point and to see him achieving all that he's achieving."

Sports

Draper Vows to Overcome Injury Woes after Barcelona Exit

Jack Draper of Britain in action during his first round match against Martin Etcheverry of Argentina at the Barcelona Open tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, 13 April 2026. EPA/Alejandro Garcia
Jack Draper of Britain in action during his first round match against Martin Etcheverry of Argentina at the Barcelona Open tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, 13 April 2026. EPA/Alejandro Garcia
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Draper Vows to Overcome Injury Woes after Barcelona Exit

Jack Draper of Britain in action during his first round match against Martin Etcheverry of Argentina at the Barcelona Open tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, 13 April 2026. EPA/Alejandro Garcia
Jack Draper of Britain in action during his first round match against Martin Etcheverry of Argentina at the Barcelona Open tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, 13 April 2026. EPA/Alejandro Garcia

Jack Draper vowed to work his way out of his injury woes after being forced to retire with a right leg problem midway through his first-round match against Tomas Etcheverry at the Barcelona Open on Monday.

The 24-year-old Briton, who returned to action in February after six months out due to a niggling left arm injury, pulled up while trailing 1-4 in the deciding set of his meeting with Argentine Etcheverry to cast doubts on his ⁠fitness for the ⁠clay season.

"Sad to retire in Barcelona. I've tried hard these last months to stay positive and give my all," Draper, who tried to soldier on with taping below his right knee, said in a post on social media.

"It ⁠will take time but I will work my way out of this. Thank you for all the support throughout this process."

After an early exit in Dubai in February, Draper shook off the cobwebs to beat 24-times Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells but his title defense in the Californian desert ended in the quarter-finals against Daniil Medvedev.

The left-hander then suffered another early ⁠defeat in ⁠Miami and pulled out of Monte Carlo to protect his arm, but hoped to kick-start his campaign in Barcelona ahead of the French Open that will begin on May 24.

"I like how he plays, he's a great fighter," Reuters quoted Etcheverry as saying of the former world number four, who has now slipped to 28th in the rankings.

"Hopefully he can recover as soon as he can to get back on tour, because the tour likes him."

Sports

Brazil, Morocco Headline Group C as Scotland and Haiti Return to the World Cup

Moroccan fans cheer during a friendly soccer match between Morocco and Ecuador in Madrid, Spain, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Moroccan fans cheer during a friendly soccer match between Morocco and Ecuador in Madrid, Spain, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
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Brazil, Morocco Headline Group C as Scotland and Haiti Return to the World Cup

Moroccan fans cheer during a friendly soccer match between Morocco and Ecuador in Madrid, Spain, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Moroccan fans cheer during a friendly soccer match between Morocco and Ecuador in Madrid, Spain, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Five-time champion Brazil faces African powerhouse Morocco in Group C, which also includes Scotland and Haiti — two teams returning to the World Cup after long absences.

All matches will be played in the United States, with Brazil playing in New York, Philadelphia and Miami. Scotland will face both Haiti and Morocco in Boston, while Haiti and Morocco will play each other in Atlanta.

Brazil Brazil, the most successful nation in World Cup history, last won the title in 2002.

Since then it has been eliminated in the quarterfinal stage at every tournament except in 2014, when as host it reached the final four, but suffered a humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany.

Croatia sent the Brazilians home in a penalty shootout four years ago in Qatar.

This time Brazil will be led by Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior and Barcelona’s Raphinha. Madrid forward Rodrygo has been ruled out of the World Cup because of a knee injury.

The team was underperforming in World Cup qualifiers, including stinging losses to archrival Argentina, when the Brazilian soccer confederation recruited veteran coach Carlo Ancelotti from Real Madrid. Though he guided the team across the finish line, Brazil finished only fifth in South American qualifying.

Ancelotti has won five Champions League titles but at the World Cup his only coaching experience was as an assistant manager for Italy under Arrigo Sacchi during the 1994 tournament in the United States, when the Italians lost the final to Brazil.

Morocco finished fourth at the last World Cup — the best result ever by an African team. It beat Spain in the round of 16 and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the quarterfinals before falling to eventual runner-up France in the last four.

The team is entering the World Cup fresh off a chaotic end to the Africa Cup of Nations, which it hosted in December and January. Morocco lost the final to Senegal but the result was overturned in March by the Confederation of African Football, which ruled that Senegal forfeited the final by leaving the field of play without the referee’s authorization.

Coach Walid Regragui quit after the final, and Morocco will have a new man in charge at the World Cup: Mohamed Ouahbi, who led Morocco’s under-20 team to the Youth World Cup title.

Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.

Haiti The Caribbean country is set to make its second World Cup appearance, and first since 1974, after winning its CONCACAF qualifying group.

In 1974, Haiti was eliminated after three consecutive losses against Italy, Poland and Argentina. The team is likely to struggle against its group-stage opponents this time around as well.

Coached by Frenchman Sebastien Migne, Haiti currently sits in 83rd place in FIFA's world rankings, ahead of only New Zealand among the 48 teams that have qualified for the World Cup.

The team will be led by 32-year-old Duckens Nazon, the joint-top scorer in CONCACAF qualifying with six goals, including a hat-trick while coming off the bench in a 3-3 draw at Costa Rica.

Scotland Scotland will be playing in its first World Cup since 1998 thanks to a late win over Denmark in its final qualifier last year.

The team will be led by Scott McTominay, who scored one of the goals in the dramatic 4-2 win over Denmark that sealed Scotland’s return.

Coach Steve Clarke has been in charge since 2019 and will be the first man to lead the nation at three major tournaments. Scotland was eliminated in the group stage at the 2020 and 2024 European Championships.

It has never made it past the group stage in its eight previous World Cup appearances. It also faced Brazil in 1998, being narrowly beaten 2-1 by the then defending champion.