Man United and Tottenham Reach Europa League Round of 16

Soccer Football - Europa League - FCSB v Manchester United - National Arena, Bucharest, Romania - January 30, 2025 Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo celebrates scoring their second goal Inquam Photos via REUTERS/Stefan Constantin
Soccer Football - Europa League - FCSB v Manchester United - National Arena, Bucharest, Romania - January 30, 2025 Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo celebrates scoring their second goal Inquam Photos via REUTERS/Stefan Constantin
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Man United and Tottenham Reach Europa League Round of 16

Soccer Football - Europa League - FCSB v Manchester United - National Arena, Bucharest, Romania - January 30, 2025 Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo celebrates scoring their second goal Inquam Photos via REUTERS/Stefan Constantin
Soccer Football - Europa League - FCSB v Manchester United - National Arena, Bucharest, Romania - January 30, 2025 Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo celebrates scoring their second goal Inquam Photos via REUTERS/Stefan Constantin

Manchester United and Tottenham put their inconsistent domestic campaigns aside and advanced to the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday.
Diogo Dalot tapped in a precise cross by Kobbie Mainoo on the hour mark and Mainoo netted eight minutes later for a 2-0 victory over Romanian champion FCSB in Bucharest, The Associated Press reported.
Tottenham got goals from academy graduates to beat Swedish club Elfsborg 3-0 in London. Spurs waited until the 70th minute for substitute Dane Scarlett to break the deadlock before adding two more through substitute Damola Ajayi and 17-year-old Mikey Moore.
Of the 36 teams in the revamped competition, the top eight go directly to the round of 16 in March. Teams ranked ninth to 24th go into the two-legged knockout playoffs on Feb. 13 and Feb. 20 with the winners making the last 16.
The draw is scheduled for Friday.
United, which is 12th in the Premier League, competed the league phase of the second-tier European competition in third place and undefeated with five wins and three draws, trailing the top by one point.
“Kobbie (Mainoo) played very well in that position, with more freedom and not so much responsibility running back all the time,” United manager Ruben Amorim told TNT Sports. “The lads did a good job, another clean sheet.”
Amorim's squad has shown signs of improvement since he said the team was “the worst, maybe, in the history of Manchester United.”
Thursday's victory was the third straight in one week after beating Rangers in the Europa League a week ago and Fulham in the Premier League three days later.
Tottenham is languishing in 15th place in the Premier League. Its seven-match winless run in the league is its worst since 2008. But it won five, drew two and lost one for the fourth place in the Europa League.
Lazio, the only team that qualified to the round of 16 with a game to spare, was handed its first defeat, 1-0, away at Braga. Still, the Portuguese team was eliminated.
Lazio still topped the standings with 19th points, the same as the second Athletic Bilbao.
Bilbao secured the second place after a 3-1 home win over 10-man Viktoria Plzen, which has a playoff spot.
Frankfurt completed the league phase in fifth despite a 2-0 loss at Roma. Angeliño and Eldor Shomurodov lifted Roma with the goals at Stadio Olimpico.
Lyon was sixth despite being held 1-1 at home by Ludogorets.
Olympiacos in seventh after routing Qarabag 3-0.
Rangers squeezed in to complete the top eight by beating Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1.
José Mourinho’s Fenerbahce avoided an embarrassing early exit with a 2-2 away draw at Denmark’s Midtjylland. The result sent both into the playoffs. The hosts were 20th while Midtjylland took 24th, giving Mourinho a chance to add to his European trophies.
Ajax ended a three-game losing streak by handing Galatasaray its first defeat, 2-1 with both teams making the playoffs.
Hoffenheim's 4-3 away win at Anderlecht was not enough for the Bundesliga team to advance. The Belgian club finished 10th.
Real Sociedad, FCSB, Porto, AZ Alkmaar, Twente and PAOK are among other teams that advanced.



1st Phase of the Sports Boulevard Project in Riyadh Opens with Five Key Destinations

 The opening of the first phase of the Sports Boulevard project marks a major milestone for Riyadh - SPA
 The opening of the first phase of the Sports Boulevard project marks a major milestone for Riyadh - SPA
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1st Phase of the Sports Boulevard Project in Riyadh Opens with Five Key Destinations

 The opening of the first phase of the Sports Boulevard project marks a major milestone for Riyadh - SPA
 The opening of the first phase of the Sports Boulevard project marks a major milestone for Riyadh - SPA

The Board of Directors of the Sports Boulevard Foundation, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has announced the opening of the first phase of the Sports Boulevard project in Riyadh. This milestone includes five key destinations: Wadi Hanifah, the Promenade, the section at the intersection of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Road and Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al-Awwal Road, the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University internal loop and the first phase of Sands Sports Park. With this, the total completed length of the project now stands at 83 km, with an overall progress reaching 40%, SPA reported.
The opening of the first phase of the Sports Boulevard project marks a major milestone for Riyadh, as part of the city’s transformative developments. Launched by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz on March 19, 2019, the project continues to receive the dedicated attention and support of the Crown Prince.
Designed to enhance Riyadh’s global ranking, the Sports Boulevard aims to position the city among the world’s most livable destinations. It plays a key role in advancing Saudi Vision 2030 by promoting physical, mental, and social well-being, and fostering a vibrant community where residents and visitors can enjoy a high quality of life, a healthy lifestyle, and an inviting environment.
This opening is part of the foundation’s mission to establish an innovative and sustainable urban renaissance along the environmental artery that connects Riyadh from the west to the east. This transformative initiative empowers residents and visitors to actively engage in a wide range of sports while enhancing their quality of life by encouraging a more active and dynamic lifestyle.
The first completed destination of the project is Wadi Hanifah, situated in western Riyadh. Spanning 13.4 km, it extends from Al-Olab Dam in the north to Jeddah Road in the south, passing through the Diriyah Gate project. It features pedestrian pathways, cycling and equestrian trails, green spaces, and designated rest areas. Seamlessly connecting Wadi Hanifah to the Promenade is the Cycling Bridge, one of the project’s most iconic landmarks, located at the intersection of King Khalid Road and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Road. The bridge is designed with two independent pathways: a 1 km pedestrian path and a 771-meter cycling path. Designed to enhance safe and sustainable mobility, it allows visitors to move effortlessly between Diriyah and the Promenade along Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Road.
The Promenade stretches 4 km and adheres to the Sports Boulevard’s urban design code, inspired by the principles of Salmani architecture. It offers dedicated cycling paths for both professionals and amateurs, complemented by rest stops for cyclists, lush green spaces, water features, walking trails, children’s playgrounds, and a selection of retail outlets and specialized centers for bicycle rentals and accessories.
Spanning 300 meters, the area at the intersection of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Road and Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al-Awwal Road features the Arts Tower—a striking installation inspired by the high-voltage electricity towers that once lined Prince Mohammed bin Salman Road. With its colorful geometric panels, the tower interacts with sunlight to create mesmerizing reflections, making it a distinctive landmark and a key focal point for visitors.
The project also features a 20 km internal loop track at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, designed with dedicated cycling and pedestrian pathways that seamlessly connect the university’s facilities, enhancing accessibility for students, staff, and members of the public.
The Sands Sports Park, the fifth completed destination in the first phase of the project, is located southeast of King Khalid International Airport. Designed for both professionals and amateurs, it features dedicated cycling paths, mountain bike trails, and BMX tracks, alongside scenic hiking and equestrian trails. At the heart of the park lies the Najdi Flower, a signature cycling route for professionals, stretching over 45 km. As part of its development, more than 350,000 square meters of sand dunes have been rehabilitated to enhance the natural landscape. The park also offers retail outlets and specialized centers for bicycle rentals and accessories. Future phases will introduce additional sports facilities and buildings, further elevating the visitor experience.
The five destinations of the Sports Boulevard project will be open to visitors starting tomorrow, February 27, 2025. For more details about these destinations and how to access them, please visit the Sports Boulevard website at www.SportsBoulevard.sa.
The Sports Boulevard Foundation previously opened the Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al-Awwal Road Underpass to improve traffic flow and enhance mobility in Riyadh. Construction is ongoing across the remaining project destinations, including the destinations located after the Promenade, the Urban Wadi Destination, the King Abdulaziz Road Underpass and the Abi Bakr Al-Siddiq Road Underpass. These developments are progressing in line with the approved project schedule.