Verona Wins 3-2 at 10-man Bologna in Serie A Thanks to Late Own-goal

Verona players celebrate the 3-2 lead during the Italian Serie A soccer match Bologna FC vs Hellas Verona FC at Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy, 30 December 2024. EPA/SERENA CAMPANINI
Verona players celebrate the 3-2 lead during the Italian Serie A soccer match Bologna FC vs Hellas Verona FC at Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy, 30 December 2024. EPA/SERENA CAMPANINI
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Verona Wins 3-2 at 10-man Bologna in Serie A Thanks to Late Own-goal

Verona players celebrate the 3-2 lead during the Italian Serie A soccer match Bologna FC vs Hellas Verona FC at Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy, 30 December 2024. EPA/SERENA CAMPANINI
Verona players celebrate the 3-2 lead during the Italian Serie A soccer match Bologna FC vs Hellas Verona FC at Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy, 30 December 2024. EPA/SERENA CAMPANINI

Benjamín Domínguez scored a brace for Bologna but a red card for Tommaso Pobega and a late own-goal by Santiago Castro sent the host team crashing to a 3-2 defeat against Verona in Serie A on Monday.
Domínguez scored in the 20th and 58th minutes, either side of a Verona double from Amir Sarr and Casper Tengstedt, The Associated Press reported.
But Pobega's red card, shown for striking an opponent in an off-the-ball incident early in the second half, hampered the home side and with three minutes left on the clock, a free kick from Ondrej Duda hit Castro to wrong-foot his own goalkeeper and give Verona all three points.
The result was a blow to Bologna’s hopes of securing a European place and leaves it in seventh place, four points behind Juventus.
Verona moved four points clear of the relegation zone.
Como beats Lecce 2-0 Nico Paz missed a first-half penalty earlier Monday but made amends in the second period with the goal that sent Como on its way to a 2-0 win over Lecce in Serie A.
The 20-year-old Argentine international saw his weak spot kick saved by the legs of Wladimiro Falcone after half an hour but he was on target in the 50th minute when he side-footed home from just outside the box.
Patrick Cutrone, who hit the bar early in the game, got a second goal with 10 minutes remaining when he seized on a rebound in the box and slotted home.
It was Como’s first league win over Lecce since 1994 and lifts it into 15th place, two points and one spot above its opponent.



Asian Champions Al-Ahli Face Prospect of JDT Quarterfinal Clash

FILED - 03 December 2021, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: An overview of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit during the 1st Free Practice Session of the 2021 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Photo: Hasan Bratic/dpa
FILED - 03 December 2021, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: An overview of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit during the 1st Free Practice Session of the 2021 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Photo: Hasan Bratic/dpa
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Asian Champions Al-Ahli Face Prospect of JDT Quarterfinal Clash

FILED - 03 December 2021, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: An overview of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit during the 1st Free Practice Session of the 2021 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Photo: Hasan Bratic/dpa
FILED - 03 December 2021, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: An overview of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit during the 1st Free Practice Session of the 2021 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Photo: Hasan Bratic/dpa

Defending champions Al-Ahli will take on Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim in next month's quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League Elite in Jeddah should the Saudi Pro League side defeat Qatar's Al-Duhail in their rearranged single-leg last 16 clash.

The Saudi city will host the centralized competition despite the ongoing conflict ⁠in the Middle ⁠East, which has already forced the four Round of 16 fixtures for clubs in west Asia to be postponed from early March until April 13 ⁠and 14, Reuters reported.

Four-time winners Al-Hilal or Qatar's Al-Sadd will take on Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe, while Thai champions Buriram United will face either Tractor FC from Iran or Shabab Al-Ahli of the United Arab Emirates.

Machida Zelvia, also from Japan, will play the winner of the ⁠last ⁠16 clash between two-time champions Al-Ittihad from Saudi Arabia and the UAE's Al-Wahda.

The quarterfinals are due to be played from April 16 to 18 with the semifinals on April 20 and 21. The final will be held at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on April 25.


Mohamed Salah to Leave Liverpool, No Word on Next Club

A mural of Mohamed Salah of Liverpool near Anfield stadium ahead of the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion, in Liverpool, Britain, 13 December 2025 (re-issued 24 March 2026). EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
A mural of Mohamed Salah of Liverpool near Anfield stadium ahead of the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion, in Liverpool, Britain, 13 December 2025 (re-issued 24 March 2026). EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
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Mohamed Salah to Leave Liverpool, No Word on Next Club

A mural of Mohamed Salah of Liverpool near Anfield stadium ahead of the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion, in Liverpool, Britain, 13 December 2025 (re-issued 24 March 2026). EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
A mural of Mohamed Salah of Liverpool near Anfield stadium ahead of the English Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion, in Liverpool, Britain, 13 December 2025 (re-issued 24 March 2026). EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah announced Tuesday he will leave the English club at the end of the season, marking an earlier-than-planned departure for one of the club's greatest-ever scorers and soccer's biggest names.

The 33-year-old Egypt forward, who has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances for Liverpool, “reached an agreement” to quit the team a year before his contract was due to expire, the Premier League champions said.

Salah's form has dipped in his ninth year at Anfield, to such an extent that he was dropped for a stretch of games late last year — leading to the winger telling reporters in an impromptu interview that the club “has thrown me under the bus.”

“Unfortunately the day has come,” Salah said in a post on Instagram that was released around the same time as Liverpool published a six-paragraph statement announcing the imminent departure of a club great.

“I never imagined," he added, "how deeply this club, this city, these people would become part of my life. Liverpool is not just a football club. It’s a passion, it’s a history, it’s a spirit. I can’t explain in words to anyone not part of this club.”

It's a slightly acrimonious exit for Salah, who has been the superstar name in Liverpool's greatest team in a generation. He has won two Premier Leagues and a Champions League in a total of eight titles since joining from Roma in 2017, initially forming a devastating front three with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino under manager Jurgen Klopp.

Salah is third in Liverpool's all-time scorers' list, behind Ian Rush and Roger Hunt, and has won the Golden Boot — as the Premier League's top scorer — four times.

Liverpool described Salah as “one of the greatest players in Liverpool’s history” and said his time at Anfield had been “remarkable.”

“Salah expressed his wish to make this announcement to the supporters at the earliest possible opportunity,” Liverpool said, “to provide transparency about his future due to his respect and gratitude for them.”

There was no immediate word from Salah on his next club. Leaving as a free agent would mean Liverpool wouldn't collect a transfer fee. 

Salah signed a two-year extension to his contract at Liverpool at the end of last season, tying him to the club until 2027, after being the star player in the team's march to a record-tying 20th English league title.

However, his public clash with the club and manager Arne Slot this season might have tarnished his legacy in the eyes of some fans.

"I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame,” he said during an explosive interview after he was an unused substitute against Leeds in December.

Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, Salah returned to favor with Slot but has struggled to recapture his best form.

“To the fans, I don’t have enough words,” Salah said in his farewell message. "The support you showed me through the best time of my career and you stood by me in the toughest times. It’s something I will never forget and something I will take with me always.

“Leaving is never easy. You gave me the best time of my life. I will be always one of you."

Salah is currently out with a muscle injury sustained against Galatasaray in the Champions League last week.

“With plenty still left to play for this season, Salah is firmly focused on trying to achieve the best possible finish to the campaign for Liverpool,” the club said, “and, therefore, the time to fully celebrate his legacy and achievements will follow later in the year when he bids farewell to Anfield.”

Liverpool's final Premier League game of the season is against Brentford at Anfield on May 24. The Champions League final is the following weekend in Budapest, but Liverpool is the underdog heading into a quarterfinals matchup with Paris Saint-Germain.

According to The Associated Press, Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson hailed Salah in his own post on Instagram, saying his teammate's “mentality is second to none and a lot of people could take note.”

“You have pushed yourself every single day and always demanded more from yourself and others,” Robertson wrote.

“A pleasure sharing the pitch with you for so long but even more so being able to call you a friend. You deserve a send off that reflects your status at LFC — the greatest. Second to none.”


Klopp Dismisses Real Madrid Speculation as 'Nonsense' and Denies Any Contact

23 March 2026, Bavaria, Ismaning: German football coach Jurgen Klopp  on stage at the Telekom press conference to present the concept for the World Cup. Photo: Felix Hörhager/dpa
23 March 2026, Bavaria, Ismaning: German football coach Jurgen Klopp on stage at the Telekom press conference to present the concept for the World Cup. Photo: Felix Hörhager/dpa
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Klopp Dismisses Real Madrid Speculation as 'Nonsense' and Denies Any Contact

23 March 2026, Bavaria, Ismaning: German football coach Jurgen Klopp  on stage at the Telekom press conference to present the concept for the World Cup. Photo: Felix Hörhager/dpa
23 March 2026, Bavaria, Ismaning: German football coach Jurgen Klopp on stage at the Telekom press conference to present the concept for the World Cup. Photo: Felix Hörhager/dpa

Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has dismissed as “nonsense” a suggestion he could take over as Real Madrid coach next season and said he hasn't heard from the Spanish club.

Klopp hasn't coached since his shock departure from Liverpool in 2024, when he said he was “running out of energy." He's stayed in the game as the Red Bull group's head of global soccer, overseeing clubs like Leipzig, Salzburg and the New York Red Bulls.

“It's all just nonsense. They haven't even called once, not one single time. And my agent is over there, you can ask him too, they haven't called him either,” Klopp said in televised comments about speculation linking him to Real Madrid.

He was speaking at an event on Monday in his role as a TV pundit for the World Cup.

Klopp didn't rule out a return to coaching someday but said he wasn't thinking about the Germany job in case Julian Nagelsmann were to leave after the World Cup.

“At the moment I'm obviously not thinking about that at all and luckily there isn't any reason to do that,” he said in comments reported by German agency dpa.

Last month, Red Bull said it was “extremely satisfied” with Klopp's work after a report in an Austrian newspaper claimed his role was in question because the drinks giant's clubs hadn't made enough progress in the year since he took charge.