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Cristiano Ronaldo missed another Al-Nassr game on Wednesday as the Portugal international was left out of the squad for the 1-0 win in the AFC Champions League Two against Turkmenistan side Arkadag. The victory ensured the Saudi giants reached the quarter-finals of the competition, having won the first leg by the same scoreline. Manager Jorge Jesus named a weakened starting XI, with none of his big hitters playing from the beginning.

Marseille have announced the appointment of Habib Beye as their new manager, replacing the fiery Roberto De Zerbi. Beye returns to OM having spent two years at the club during his playing days. He has put pen to paper on a contract running until the summer of 2027 and has been tasked with saving Marseille's season from free-fall.

Arsenal slipped up again in the Premier League title race as a late Tom Edozie strike helped Wolves claim a dramatic 2-2 draw on Wednesday. Bukayo Saka headed the Gunners ahead early on before Piero Hincapie doubled their lead shortly after half-time. Hugo Bueno's stunner made it a nervy final 20 minutes for Mikel Arteta's side before a calamitous mistake from David Raya allowed Edozie to equalise courtesy of a ricochet off Riccardo Calafiori.

Goals from Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey ensured Arsenal's safe passage through to the Women's Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, as the Gunners scrapped to a 3-1 victory at home to OH Leuven, and a 7-1 win on aggregate, in extremely challenging conditions. The rain and wind made this a difficult game for both sides, but the quality of the defending European champions eventually shone through as they set up a clash in the last eight with London rivals Chelsea.

Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier have explained why they argued on the pitch during Newcastle United's 6-1 win at Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday. Gordon scored four times as the Magpies all but secured their place in the last 16, but there was a notable incident just before the half-time break between the forward and Trippier.

American billionaire Leon Cooperman has upped his stake in Manchester United to 2.9 million shares. The 82-year-old first invested in the Red Devils around the time Sir Jim Ratcliffe was planning his takeover at Old Trafford and has recently acquired shares from a British investment firm. He is also not thought to be mounting a takeover bid of his own any time soon.

Anthony Gordon has joined Harry Kane in an exclusive Champions League goal club after scoring four times during Newcastle United's 6-1 win at Qarabag in the Champions League. The Magpies winger struck his quadruple in the first half of the first leg of their knockout round play-off in Baku, effectively sealing Eddie Howe's side's place in the next round with more than a game still to play.

Newcastle all-but secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League as Anthony Gordon scored four first-half goals in a dominant 6-1 win over Qarabag in Wednesday's play-off round first leg. The Magpies ran riot from minute one in Baku, and might even feel that they should have won by a heavier margin given the chances they created on the night.

Mexico have announced three additional friendlies against Australia, Ghana, and Serbia as part of their final preparations for the 2026 World Cup. El Tri will open the tournament on June 11 against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca. The matches are designed to limit travel and fine-tune the squad before the global showcase on home soil.

Axel Disasi has admitted he need to lean on the support of his family after being exiled to Chelsea's 'bomb squad' during his time at Stamford Bridge. The French defender secured a move to West Ham United on loan for the rest of the 2025-26 season at the end of the winter transfer window, giving himself the opportunity to play Premier League football again after being frozen out in west London.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he is "shocked and saddened" by the allegations of racism from Vinicius Junior against Gianluca Prestianni. Real Madrid's Champions League clash with Benfica was paused for ten minutes after referee Francois Letexier initiated the anti-racism protocol before the fixture resumed. A strike from Vinicius proved to be the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win for Los Blancos.

Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany has claimed his 'toughest opponent' during his playing days was not Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, despite recognising the iconic duo as the 'best players' he came up against. Kompany made 621 senior appearances as a player between 2003 and 2020, most notably captaining Manchester City and the Belgium national team.

GOAL spoke to GMs and chief soccer officers across MLS about the league’s 3.0 vision: the calendar change is progress, but executives say the next steps must come faster.

Philippe Coutinho has reportedly asked to terminate his contract with Brazilian side Vasco da Gama. The former Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern Munich star returned to his hometown club in 2024 after spending time back in England with Aston Villa. However, he is said to have been targeted by Vasco's fans and is keen to explore potential playing opportunities elsewhere.

Former Premier League striker Dave Kitson has revealed he was the 'Secret Footballer', a pseudonym he used to pen articles and books during his playing career without revealing his identity. The series focused on what goes on behind the scenes in elite-level football, with topics ranging from matchdays to transfers and contracts. Many punters attempted to unmask the author while he was still playing, but Kitson has now confirmed he was behind the phenomenon.

Real Madrid have been warned to not expect Rodri to join them if he chooses to leave Manchester City due to his preference for another Spanish club. Rodri is on the road back to his best after missing almost all of last season due to tearing his ACL and having repeated injury setbacks this campaign, boosting City's bid to win the Premier League and go deep in the Champions League.

Benfica legend Luisao has criticised Gianluca Prestianni for lying about what he allegedly said to Vinicius Junior during Real Madrid's victory in Portugal on Tuesday night. The Champions League game was halted after the Brazilian reported racist abuse to referee Francois Letexier, but Benfica and manager Jose Mourinho have since defended Prestianni and accused Vinicius of inciting racism. Argentine midfielder Prestianni has also claimed Vinicius and his team-mates misheard the words he insisted he used.

Liverpool have been urged to consider a move for West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen if they decide to move on from Mohamed Salah in the near future. The 'Egyptian King' has a contract at Anfield running until 2027 but he has been tipped to leave this summer while the club can still extract a transfer fee for him.

Former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez is teetering on the edge of unemployment once again as reports in Greece suggest Panathinaikos are ready to pull the trigger. The 65-year-old Spaniard, who arrived in Athens with much fanfare back in October, has seen his tenure turn sour after only a few months at the helm. Despite signing a lucrative two-and-a-half-year contract with a salary of approximately £3.5 million, the expected revolution has failed to materialise.

Manchester United have made a final decision on Jadon Sancho's future amid an underwhelming loan spell at Aston Villa. Sancho was shipped out on loan to Chelsea last season but the Blues ended up paying a penalty fee to send him back to Old Trafford. Another loan spell has followed in the current campaign but Sancho is once again struggling to impress.

Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu has broken his silence regarding the controversial red card incident involving Alessandro Bastoni that has dominated Italian football headlines this week. The French centre-back found himself at the centre of a heated debate following an expulsion during the recent clash against Inter, an episode that saw the referee come under intense scrutiny for his decision-making. Despite the noise surrounding the apology issued by the Inter vice-captain, Kalulu appeared keen to move past the drama during a difficult week for the Bianconeri.

Benfica have said that Gianluca Prestianni is the victim of a "defamation campaign" while backing up the winger's claim that he did not racially abuse Vinicius Junior in Tuesday night's Champions League clash with Real Madrid. Vinicius alleged that Prestianni directed a racial slur at him after the Real Madrid star celebrated scoring the opening goal in the first leg of the knockout stage play-off tie.

UEFA has officially opened a disciplinary investigation into Benfica forward Gianluca Prestianni following allegations of racist behaviour during the first leg of their Champions League play-off clash against Real Madrid. The European governing body confirmed the appointment of an ethics and disciplinary inspector to look into the events at the Estadio da Luz, where Madrid secured a 1-0 victory. The flashpoint occurred shortly after Vinicius Jr found the net, leading to a significant delay as the Brazilian international and several team-mates confronted the opposition and the referee regarding a deeply offensive slur.

Manchester United have become "frustrated" by the agreement they struck with Barcelona for the loan transfer of Marcus Rashford. The England international is spending the 2025-26 season with Hansi Flick's side, and the deal does include a purchase option set at £26 million (£30m). However, Rashford's good form with the Catalan giants has left Manchester United worrying that his valuation has risen significantly.

The RFEF Competition Committee has handed down a significant punishment to Sevilla head coach Matias Almeyda following the chaotic scenes that unfolded during last Saturday's La Liga clash against Alaves. The Argentine tactician has been hit with a seven-game ban after being sent off and subsequently engaging in a heated confrontation with referee Galech Apezteguia. While the automatic suspension for the red card accounts for the start of the penalty, the committee decided to add a further six matches due to the gravity of the incidents that followed his dismissal.

Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy was the undisputed hero on the pitch during the 2-0 Champions League victory over Atalanta, but it was his actions after finding the back of the net that truly resonated. After enduring a frustrating dry spell earlier in the campaign, the Guinean international has hit a rich vein of form, netting six goals in his last four competitive outings. However, his latest strike was accompanied by a poignant tribute that revealed a deeply personal struggle behind the scenes.

Thierry Henry has called on Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni to tell the truth about his altercation with Vinicius Junior during Tuesday's Champions League match against Real Madrid at the Estadio da Luz. Vinicius has alleged that Prestianni directed a racial slur at him during the game, which led to the match being halted for 10 minutes. Henry has now responded with an emotional speech regarding the continued prevalence of racism in football.

Napoli are preparing to welcome back a familiar face to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. After a grueling period on the sidelines, Kevin De Bruyne is finally closing in on his return to Italy. The Belgian playmaker is expected to arrive in Naples on Sunday, coinciding with his team-mates' trip to Bergamo to face Atalanta. From Monday, the veteran midfielder is slated to report to the Castel Volturno training centre, marking the beginning of the crucial re-integration phase under the watchful eye of Antonio Conte.

Luis Diaz has hit the ground running since his blockbuster summer move to Bayern Munich, but the Colombian winger admits he has been blown away by the sheer quality of his new team-mates. After ending a successful stint at Liverpool to join the German giants for a reported €70 million, Diaz has quickly integrated into a frightening attacking unit that features England captain Harry Kane and French sensation Michael Olise.