Soccer (FIFA)
fromwww.bbc.com
1 hour agoBenin have point to prove at Afcon after World Cup pain
Benin aim to rebound at Afcon 2025 in Morocco, leveraging 2019 quarter-final experience and a squad shaped by a near World Cup qualification.
"We performed well in the Champions League and Ligue 1. In the first 20 minutes, we could score and make the break. They can do the same. I congratulate them. "They're a great team. [Geronimo] Rulli was very good; the saves from [Timothy] Weah and [Nayef] Aguerd helped us. We played with courage. I think there are situations that we need to defend better.
Before the 2017-18 season, clubs agreed to ensure that at least one block of seating for visiting supporters would be pitchside in an attempt to improve atmospheres. At the time, former Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore said: "When an away goal is scored, you want that atmosphere and interaction between the two sets of fans." However, Newcastle were given special dispensation to be excluded from the rule when they were promoted back to the top-flight in 2017.
There has been a lot of anger on Tyneside over the last 24 hours, as Newcastle were defeated by arch-rivals Sunderland in Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby. In particular, criticism from supporters has been aimed in the direction of Eddie Howe, whose side put in a very poor performance at the Stadium of Light. It was another blow in what has been a disappointing season so far for Newcastle.
Getting December underway with a 2-1 loss against Cursor Ashton, Alfreton have also shown some extended defensive issues. With their recent rut underlined by a frantic 6-2 drumming against Merthyr Town on November 22nd, Tuesday's hosts have registered just two clean sheets from any of their previous 13 showdowns across all fronts - a run that stems all the way back to September 20th.
Tottenham could soon welcome Manor Solomon back to the club, as he prepares to leave La Liga side Villarreal. The winger left the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the summer, but his loan deal could now be cut short. Solomon has struggled for prominence at Villarreal, where he has made only 10 appearances across all competitions. He has one goal and four assists, but he does not appear to be counted on by Marcelino Garcia Toral, which would suggest that an exit could be impending.
The 35th edition of the African continental tournament takes place in Morocco between 24 teams, with the group stage starting on December 21 and the final taking place on January 18, 2026. This is a huge tournament, with some of the world's best players representing their countries, including Mo Salah seeking his first AFCON win with Egypt, Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Sadio Mane (Senegal), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Victor Osimhen (Nigeria), and many more.
It was of a piece with him essentially reading the riot act to his players. They had not turned up at the start, he suggested, and the less said about the closing stages, the better apart from the last-gasp winner. It is rare to hear Arteta be so critical but he knew his team had got away with one and he wanted them to know, too.
Mohamed Salah will be out of sight but not out of mind over the next few weeks while Manchester City are showing ominous signs that they are finding top gear in the Premier League. Pep Guardiola's men are now only two points behind leaders Arsenal after both teams won their weekend fixtures in contrasting styles. Meanwhile, the heat on Ange Postecoglou's successor is ramping up following a dire run.
It is something that's clearly happened, whether it's a disagreement or he feels his job is under pressure and he doesn't feel it should be because of the two trophies he's won and the points he's picked up. I don't feel like he's a manager that will backtrack. He has got a passion about him and a drive about him. Whether he has heard things, like the club might want him out and he's been proactive to go on the front foot, you don't know why
Manchester City have been keeping a close eye on Munoz in recent months, sources close to the agents industry have informed CaughtOffside. Pep Guardiola is said to admire the 29-year-old's athleticism, pressing intensity, and overlapping runs, traits that fit perfectly into City's high-possession, aggressive full-back system. While City's interest has yet to translate into a formal offer, sources suggest that their recruitment team has compiled extensive scouting data on the Colombian.
FC Bayern will have to do without captain Manuel Neuer for the time being . The goalkeeper suffered a torn muscle fiber in his right hamstring during Sunday's Bundesliga home game against 1. FSV Mainz 05. This was the result of an examination by FC Bayern's medical department. At nearly forty years old, Neuer has played almost every single game in the Bundesliga and Champions League this season.
Starting with the hosts, while Sporting Gijon might have found themselves at the heart of a worrying rut on either side of November's international break, Borja Jimenez's side have come roaring back in an eye-catching fashion over the past fortnight. Last seen over the weekend putting in another gritty performance as they secured a 1-0 victory at home against Granada, Los Rojiblancos have found a route back into the play-off places.
Porro's link to Manchester City dates back to 2019, when the club signed him from Girona for a reported 11 million. Despite his potential, the Spanish full-back never made a senior appearance for City, spending loan spells at Real Valladolid and Sporting CP before making a permanent move to Lisbon. Man City are interested in signing Pedro Porro It was there that Porro truly developed into one of Europe's most dynamic attacking right-backs, eventually earning a 39 million transfer to Tottenham in 2023. Now, just three years later, City's recruitment team are said to be keeping tabs on his progress, admiring how his game has evolved since leaving the Etihad.
Villa's eight-match winning run in all competitions appeared under serious threat at the midway point of Sunday's game at third-bottom West Ham, who led 2-1 at the break against a side who appeared jaded and short of inspiration after Thursday's Europa League victory at Basel. In the second half, however, Rogers decided to take matters into his own hands.
We saw the first goal come from a complete team press that stayed throughout the game, it was scenes from the Klopp days with the monstrous pressing we saw under the German. Slot had a clear plan for this match, and it was executed to perfection. The goal came from Wirtz chasing a pass he misplaced leading to the Brighton player hurrying his clearance and allowing Joe Gomez to nick in and head it into Ekitike's path.
It was earlier than expected that Mo Salah returned to the pitch for Liverpool, introduced as a substitute for the injured Joe Gomez midway through the first half against Brighton, which marked the fifth game in a row that the No.11 hadn't started. It meant Salah playing in his typical right forward role, seemingly within a 4-3-3 system. However, Liverpool were often, especially defensively, more 4-4-1-1, with Alexis Mac Allister actually the most advanced behind forward and double goalscorer Hugo Ekitike.
A bad afternoon for Newcastle's German striker got significantly worse shortly after half-time when he cut an even more isolated, peripheral and forlorn figure in his own team's box after inadvertently heading a Nordi Mukiele cross past Aaron Ramsdale from six yards out. Woltemade's embarrassing own goal proved to be the unwitting match-winner in a contest that had until that point been high on full-blooded aggression but low on moments of real quality.
Salah came off the bench for his first Liverpool appearance since claiming he had been "thrown under the bus" by the club following last weekend's 3-3 draw with Leeds. The 33-year-old was left out of the squad for the midweek Champions League win at Inter Milan, but returned for the Brighton game following talks with manager Arne Slot and claimed an assist in the 2-0 win.
Since making his senior debut in 2008, Pedro has made more than 750 appearances for club and country and won just about everything there is to win. A world and European champion with Spain, he was also part of Barcelona's golden era, claiming five La Liga titles and three Champions League, before adding a Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League to his medal collection following his 2015 move to Chelsea.