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Man United Loses Again at Home as Ipswich Upsets Chelsea in Premier League

Kobbie Mainoo (C) of Manchester United in action during the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United in Manchester, Britain, 30 December 2024. EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
Kobbie Mainoo (C) of Manchester United in action during the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United in Manchester, Britain, 30 December 2024. EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
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Man United Loses Again at Home as Ipswich Upsets Chelsea in Premier League

Kobbie Mainoo (C) of Manchester United in action during the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United in Manchester, Britain, 30 December 2024. EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
Kobbie Mainoo (C) of Manchester United in action during the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United in Manchester, Britain, 30 December 2024. EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN

Alexander Isak scored for the sixth straight Premier League game as Newcastle beat Manchester United 2-0 at Old Trafford on Monday to condemn Ruben Amorim’s side to its worst home run in the top tier since the 1970s.
Relegation-threatened Ipswich beat Chelsea 2-0 to win at home for the first time this season, and Aston Villa and Brighton drew 2-2, The Associated Press reported.
Newcastle’s commanding display marked the first time since February 1979 that Man United has lost three home league games in a row. It was also the first time since 1962 that United has lost five league matches in the same calendar month.
Isak started the misery for home fans with his eighth goal in six matches. The Sweden striker put Newcastle ahead with a header after four minutes and Joelinton doubled its lead 15 minutes later when he rose above Lisandro Martinez to head in a second.
Isak had another effort disallowed after half an hour and Sandro Tonali hit the woodwork seconds later as Newcastle threatened to run riot.
Amorim withdrew Joshua Zirkzee for Kobbie Mainoo before halftime but United looked toothless — and clueless — in what was a dismal display.
“We suffered a goal and then it was hard to come back,” Amorim said. “They were the better team, plain and simple.”
The defeat was the fifth in eight league games since Amorim joined from Sporting Lisbon in November and left United in 14th place, seven points above the relegation zone.
Newcastle is fifth and starting to entertain the possibility of a top-four finish.
“There is still a long way to go but the team is improving," Joelinton said. "Time will tell how good we are but we are enjoying football right now. We have to be humble and keep our feet on the ground.”
Ipswich savors home win Chelsea started the day with the best away record in the league after leader Liverpool but it was trailing at Portman Road after just 12 minutes thanks to a mistake from goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen.
The Scandinavian replaced Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal but he was adjudged to have fouled Liam Delap in the box and Delap got up to convert the penalty with aplomb.
Chelsea pushed forward in search of an equalizer but it was Ipswich that doubled its lead early in the second half.
A poor pass from Axel Disasi allowed Delap to stretch the Chelsea defense and his pass set up Omari Hutchinson to score against his former club.
It was the first time this season that Chelsea has lost two games in a row. It remained in fourth place after missing a chance to go above Arsenal and Nottingham Forest into second.
Ipswich moved up to 18th place in the 20-team division.
It was the first home win in the Premier League for promoted Ipswich since 2002 and coach Kieran McKenna praised his side.
“It was everything it needed to be," McKenna said. “We defended, outstanding organization throughout the game.”
“There has been hope in the performances in general, we have been competing in almost every game. If you do that, you always have a chance."
Brighton scores late to salvage 2-2 draw at Villa Aston Villa was unbeaten in its last eight games at Villa Park but went behind after just 12 minutes against a lively Brighton side.
With the Villa defense all at sea, Simon Adingra gathered a loose ball and curled a right-footed shot past Emiliano Martínez.
Villa came roaring back and got an equalizer in the 36th through birthday boy Ollie Watkins. The 29-year-old Watkins, who returned to the side to replace the suspended Jhon Duran, converted a penalty after Morgan Rogers was adjudged to have been fouled.
It was Rogers who put Villa in front early in the second half and once again Watkins was involved. His cute chip released Rogers, who chested the ball down and scored his sixth goal of the season.
However, Tariq Lamptey fired home with eight minutes left to give Brighton a share of the points.
The result leaves Villa in ninth and Brighton in 10th.
“We’ve been in that position a few times this season and we’ve failed to see it out," a disappointed Watkins told the BBC’s Match of the Day program. “We didn’t lose but we should have taken all three points.”

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Mbappe Season on Ice Ahead of Silverware Sprint, World Cup

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe warms up ahead of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between CA Osasuna and Real Madrid, in Pamplona, Spain, 21 February 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe warms up ahead of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between CA Osasuna and Real Madrid, in Pamplona, Spain, 21 February 2026. (EPA)
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Mbappe Season on Ice Ahead of Silverware Sprint, World Cup

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe warms up ahead of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between CA Osasuna and Real Madrid, in Pamplona, Spain, 21 February 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe warms up ahead of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between CA Osasuna and Real Madrid, in Pamplona, Spain, 21 February 2026. (EPA)

French superstar Kylian Mbappe may have to put his season on hold because of a knee problem, with his main goals fast coming into view -- a first major trophy with Real Madrid, and a second World Cup triumph.

Little more than 100 days from the start of the 2026 World Cup, the France captain seems to be paying the price for efforts he has made to carry his team this season.

According to several sources contacted by AFP, Mbappe, hampered by damage to the outer ligament of his left knee since late 2025, had to withdraw from Madrid's squad to face Benfica in the Champions League play-off round on Wednesday because he felt "pain that was too persistent" in training.

Mbappe is expected to rest for at least 10 days so he can recover from the issue which has troubled him over the past couple of months.

His absence for one of the most important matches of the season, confirmed by Madrid on Wednesday, is a concern for Los Blancos, who lost at Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday to allow Barcelona back in front in the title race.

Beyond a personal quest for glory, having finished his first season at Madrid without a major trophy, the intense pressure and demand for results at the Santiago Bernabeu have contributed to Mbappe playing through the pain in recent weeks.

"It's important to highlight the immense effort Kylian is making and the fact that he's trying to help us out on the patch," said Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa on Tuesday.

- Key figure -

It is hard to imagine where the Spanish giants would be without their No 10's supreme finishing ability, as Mbappe has netted 38 goals in 33 matches this season across all competitions.

At least winger Vinicius Junior has finally hit top form after a slow start to the season and could pick up some of the slack, along with promising young striker Gonzalo Garcia, who Madrid fans are keen to see more of.

Mbappe is top scorer in both La Liga and the Champions League, even in a dysfunctional Madrid side that sacked coach Xabi Alonso in January.

If they are knocked out by Jose Mourinho's Benfica on Wednesday, a result that would trigger a fresh crisis, Madrid might be tempted to push their striker to play to salvage their season.

Should they progress then Mbappe will be eyeing the round of 16 clash against Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon, with the first leg set for March 10 or 11.

The next international break (March 23-30), when France face Brazil and Colombia in the United States, would come at the perfect time to give him another breather -- but could trigger a new club-versus-country conflict.

France are counting on their captain, a source close to the national team told AFP, adding that Mbappe is in "regular contact" with coach Didier Deschamps.

Deschamps is due to announce his squad list for the USA trip on March 19, with the tour including promotional events with American sportswear company Nike, who outfit both the French national team and Mbappe.

Sports

Cartel Violence Fuels Doubts About FIFA World Cup Games in Mexico

People walk at a parking lot of a supermarket where several vehicles were consumed by flames days after a series of blockades and attacks by organized crime following a military operation in which drug cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho," was killed, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, February 24, 2026. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril
People walk at a parking lot of a supermarket where several vehicles were consumed by flames days after a series of blockades and attacks by organized crime following a military operation in which drug cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho," was killed, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, February 24, 2026. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril
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Cartel Violence Fuels Doubts About FIFA World Cup Games in Mexico

People walk at a parking lot of a supermarket where several vehicles were consumed by flames days after a series of blockades and attacks by organized crime following a military operation in which drug cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho," was killed, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, February 24, 2026. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril
People walk at a parking lot of a supermarket where several vehicles were consumed by flames days after a series of blockades and attacks by organized crime following a military operation in which drug cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho," was killed, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, February 24, 2026. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril

Hugo Alejandro Pérez was in his house a few miles from the Mexican stadium that is slated to host FIFA World Cup games when gunfire and explosions erupted just outside his door.

The 53-year-old restaurant owner was already skeptical about his city, Guadalajara, hosting the international sporting event.

He saw a government that failed to fix basic things, like water service to his home, along with cartel violence in the surrounding state of Jalisco and shook his head. The surge of bloodshed this week following the Mexican military's killing of the country’s most powerful cartel boss offered more confirmation of his doubts.

“I don’t think they should host the World Cup here,” Peréz said. “We have so many problems, and they want to invest in the World Cup? With all the violence, it’s not a good idea.”

Peréz joined other people Tuesday in questioning Guadalajara's capacity to be a host city for the summer soccer competition, even as the Mexican government vowed that the international event — hosted jointly by Mexico, the United States and Canada — will not be affected.

President offers ‘every guarantee’ for World Cup President Claudia Sheinbaum was asked at her daily news briefing what guarantees there are that World Cup matches will be held in Jalisco. “Every guarantee,” she said, adding that there was “no risk” for fans coming to the tournament.

Jalisco Gov. Jesús Pablo Lemus said he had spoken with local FIFA officials, who have "absolutely no intention of removing any venues from Mexico. The three venues remain completely unchanged.”

The same day, the Portuguese soccer federation said it was “closely monitoring the delicate situation” in Mexico.” Its national team was scheduled to play Mexico’s team in a friendly on March 28 at the newly renovated Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, which is scheduled to host the opening World Cup match on June 11.

Jalisco, in western Mexico, was already facing scrutiny. The state has been plagued by some of the starkest examples of cartel violence in recent years, including the discovery of a cartel killing site at a ranch last March and a crisis of disappearances.

The state, with Guadalajara as its capital, is the central hub for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, whose leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, or “El Mencho,” was killed Sunday in a capture attempt by the military.

The operation and waves of violence killed 70 people. Cartel gunmen set fire to cars to block streets in states across the country, namely Jalisco, and fought with Mexican forces into Monday as the government said the conflict was under control.

The death of Oseguera Cervantes came as Mexico’s government has stepped up its offensive against cartels in an effort to meet demands by US President Donald Trump to crack down on criminal groups. The cartel, also known as CJNG, is one of the fastest-growing criminal networks in Mexico.

The White House confirmed that the US provided intelligence support to capture the cartel leader and applauded Mexico’s army for taking down a man who was one of the most wanted criminals in both countries. On Tuesday night, US President Donald Trump appeared to briefly reference the operation during his State of the Union address, saying “We’ve also taken down one of the most sinister cartel kingpins of all. You saw that yesterday.”

Drug lord's death could lead to more violence Peréz, the restaurant owner, also commended Sheinbaum's efforts to go after cartels, saying the government has taken cartel violence more seriously than her predecessors. At the same time, he said, local authorities in Jalisco have fallen short in protecting civilians.

The root concern for many is that the death of “El Mencho” could pave the way for more violence. Killing capos, in what's become known as the “kingpin strategy,” has been criticized by Sheinbaum herself because it can often spark internal conflict between cartel factions and push rival cartels to make territorial grabs.

Vanda Felbab-Brown, an academic at the Brookings Institution, said she doesn't see more acts of “revenge” by the cartel as likely, but the future remains uncertain, especially after leading figures in both CJNG and the Sinaloa Cartel have been knocked out in recent years.

“If there is no clear line of succession (in CJNG), we might see a lot of fighting within the cartel, its breakup, and there are a lot of scenarios," she said.

On Sunday, when firefights broke out between the cartel and soldiers, and gunmen began to burn a car just feet in front of Peréz's house, he let people on the street scramble inside his home to seek cover. The fighting raged for an hour.

Now he says he doesn't see the point of holding the games, adding that he doubts any of the money from the games will trickle down to businesses in working-class neighborhoods like his, even if they are just a 10-minute drive from the stadium. Similar tensions have simmered in Mexico City.

The World Cup is expected to be a $3 billion economic engine in Mexico, according to the Mexican Soccer Federation.

“It doesn't help us residents at all, honestly. They should move it to Monterrey or Mexico City. But right now here, we're not convinced,” The Associated Press quoted him as saying. "Things aren't in good enough shape for foreigners to be coming to Jalisco for an event like this.”

On Monday, some foreign tourists trapped in the violence in the city of Puerto Vallarta took to social media to warn of the violence, with a few remarking that they didn't plan to return.

Hope of snapping back to normal Despite that, Guadalajara was snapping back to its normal rhythm Tuesday. Many businesses opened their doors for the first time in two days, and streets were packed with traffic.

Workers were busy fixing up the exterior of the soccer stadium that will host World Cup matches. Cyclists zipped around outside the stadium, and parents played with children in parks.

Heavily armed police officers and National Guard members roamed the city, a sign for some that the government had the situation under control.

Juan Carlos Pila, a 55-year-old taxi driver, rolled his eyes at the reports of violence after spending two days waiting with his family for things to calm down. He said social media and local news outlets were overplaying the extent of the violence.

“People should come, man. Everyone is welcome,” he said.

Others, like Maria Dolores Aguirre, simply hoped for the best. Aguirre runs a small corner story in the cobblestoned tourist town of Tapalpa tucked away in Jalisco's mountains, where Mexico's military killed “El Mencho."

Aguirre’s family business of over 50 years depends on the flow of tourists to the normally sleepy town. Now she worries bloodshed will deal a blow to her livelihood and change towns like hers.

“It’s going to affect us. It’s collateral damage,” Aguirre said. “The government is going to have to have a lot of security. ... The entire world just saw what happened and, of course, people are going to think twice about coming.”

Sports

‘We Won’t Talk About That’: Benfica’s Tralhao Shuts Down Questions on Prestianni 

SL Benfica's assistant coach Joao Tralhao give a press conference on the eve of their UEFA Champions League knockout round playoff second leg football match against Real Madrid CF at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on February 24, 2026. (AFP)
SL Benfica's assistant coach Joao Tralhao give a press conference on the eve of their UEFA Champions League knockout round playoff second leg football match against Real Madrid CF at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on February 24, 2026. (AFP)
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‘We Won’t Talk About That’: Benfica’s Tralhao Shuts Down Questions on Prestianni 

SL Benfica's assistant coach Joao Tralhao give a press conference on the eve of their UEFA Champions League knockout round playoff second leg football match against Real Madrid CF at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on February 24, 2026. (AFP)
SL Benfica's assistant coach Joao Tralhao give a press conference on the eve of their UEFA Champions League knockout round playoff second leg football match against Real Madrid CF at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on February 24, 2026. (AFP)

Benfica assistant coach Joao Tralhao said his side's identity did not depend on any individual player as he declined to comment on the suspension of winger Gianluca Prestianni ahead of Wednesday's Champions League playoff second leg at Real Madrid.

Prestianni received a provisional one-match suspension from UEFA on Monday after he was accused of directing a racist slur at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr during the Spanish club's 1-0 first-leg win in Lisbon last week.

The 20-year-old Argentine winger denied the allegation, stating Vinicius "misunderstood what he thinks he heard," with Real midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni saying Prestianni admitted ‌to making a ‌homophobic remark instead.

"We are not going to talk about the ‌topic ⁠you asked about," ⁠Tralhao told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday.

"What we can say is that, regardless of the player on the pitch, we have an identity — a clear identity... whether player A plays or player B plays, we maintain the same profile."

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois condemned both racism and homophobia earlier on Tuesday, describing any form of insult as "just as serious".

He also criticized Benfica fans who made monkey gestures during the first leg, calling ⁠their behavior "deplorable" and "shameful" while defending Vinicius' goal celebration as harmless.

The ‌situation adds tension to Benfica's preparations for the match. ‌Midfielder Fredrik Aursnes said the squad experienced "a little bit different week."

"It's like a final tomorrow. ‌We have to win against an amazing team in a difficult stadium," the 30-year-old ‌Norwegian added.

Benfica will also be without head coach Jose Mourinho, who is suspended after receiving a red card in the first leg.

Mourinho, 63, stirred controversy after the first leg by suggesting Vinicius had provoked the crowd with his goal celebration.

Though absent from the bench on Wednesday, Mourinho ‌led training on Tuesday, where Prestianni participated with the team.

"I don’t know where he (Mourinho) will be. We prepared this match anticipating ⁠every scenario that ⁠may happen... From our side, as staff, we prepared the team, we prepared all the scenarios so that tomorrow we can perform at our level,” Tralhao said.

UEFA has appointed an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to investigate allegations of discriminatory behavior, with a decision expected after proceedings conclude.

Benfica have appealed Prestianni's provisional suspension.

"We filed an appeal because we understand that nothing has been proven," Benfica President Rui Costa told reporters in Lisbon on Tuesday.

"It doesn't justify the player's absence from this game.

"I wasn't on the pitch to know what was said. What I can say is that I believe in my player. Prestianni is being crucified as a racist person and I can assure you that he is not.

"I expected something definitive, but in the end, there was only this provisional suspension."