Sports
Mbappe silence as Barca edge PSG in UCL quarter-final
Barcelona came from behind to claim a dramatic 3-2 first-leg win at Paris Saint-Germain in another thrilling night of Champions League quarter-final action.
After a bright PSG start, Barcelona took control of the tie and Raphinha scored his first Champions League goal when Gianluigi Donnarumma spilled Lamine Yamal’s cross.
PSG were booed off the pitch as the half-time whistle blew at the Parc des Princes but Luis Enrique switched his team’s shape and it led to a stunning turnaround immediately after the restart.
Ousmane Dembele struck a thunderous finish to equalise against his former club and with the momentum now with the hosts, Vitinha cut through Barcelona just two minutes later to give PSG the lead.
But there would be another dramatic comeback, as Raphinha connected with an exquisite volley to drag Barcelona level. Andreas Christensen then came off the bench to head the winner from a corner, giving Barcelona a narrow advantage ahead of the return leg next week.
Here’s what we learned from another thrilling night of Champions League action
Another thrilling night in the Champions League, but where was Kylian Mbappe? After the drama at the Emirates and Bernabeu last night, the Parc des Princes staged another stunning quarter-final first leg as Barcelona came from behind to beat PSG and take a lead back to Spain.
There were brilliant attacking performances all over the pitch, particularly from Barcelona forward Raphinha – as the former Leeds attacker scored his first Champions League goals, including an exquisite volley from Pedri’s chipped through ball. At the other end, Ousmane Dembele took charge to lead the fightback after half-time, scoring a rocket of an equaliser against his former club.
Mbappe, though, was largely anonymous, barely having a touch let alone an electric dribble or chance apart from a late, late shot that deflected wide. A burst of pace rescued the ball from the byline, just before Dembele lashed into the roof of the net, but that was it and Jules Kounde, Mbappe’s international teammate, did an outstanding job in marking him.
Mbappe is expected to leave PSG at the end of the season, and if this was his last Champions League appearance in Paris, it was a flat way to go out.
Another hugely disappointing night for Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, with defensive frailty at the heart of the problem once again in a big knockout tie.
At the centre of it was goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who never looked comfortable dealing with crosses as Barcelona targeted the Italy international with a series of inswinging deliveries early on. Donnarumma did not cover himself in glory when he spilled Yamal’s cross, leading to Raphinha’s opener, and he then failed to command his box late on as Christensen headed Barcelona into the lead. It had been coming.
There were problems in front of Donnarumma, too, caused by a terrific all-round centre-forward display from Robert Lewandowski. The 35-year-old was excellent with his back to goal, winning his duels with Marquinhos and Lucas Beraldo, turning brilliantly to take three PSG players out of the game in the move that led to Raphinha’s opener.
As for PSG, where was the defensive resilience and solidity? It has cost the Parisians in the Champions League once again.
This was a night for the impact substitute. Both Xavi and Luis Enrique were able to change the rhythm and momentum of the game with their substitutions, leading to an absorbing contest between the managers on the touchline, as well as the players on the pitch.
Barcelona manager Xavi more than held his own against his former Barca boss Enrique, and his choice of starting line-up allowed the visitors to take control of their quarter-final. Xavi also switched up his tactics, going direct to Robert Lewandowski, who PSG could not deal with in the opening stages.
But Enrique took action at half-time, seizing control back from Barcelona as he took off the ineffective false nine Marco Asensio and brought on Bradley Barcola. The move freed up Dembele to lash in his stunning equaliser, before Vitinha gave PSG the lead just two minutes later.
Xavi then replied with his own adjustment, taking off Lamine Yamal and bringing on Pedri to help steady Barcelona in midfield. The change produced an instant impact – as the former Kopa Trophy winner set up Raphinha’s equaliser with a wonderful chip over the PSG defence.
Then came yet another twist. Barcelona had been causing PSG problems all night with their inswinging corners, so the introduction of a tall centre-back in Andreas Christensen was Xavi’s next move, and the defender soon headed Barcelona back into the lead.
What a night this was for Barcelona’s legendary academy, La Masia, as history was made at the Parc des Princes. Lamine Yamal, at 16, became the youngest player to start a Champions League quarter-final. Pau Cubarsi, at 17, became the second youngest, as he lined up at the heart of the defence.
Yamal has been a breakout star this season, already playing a starring role for the Spanish national team, so it was Cubarsi who arguably made the biggest impression with a remarkably assured and confident display at centre-back. Cubarsi was composed on the ball and rarely put a foot wrong. Barcelona have another gem on their hands.
Pedri also deserves a mention. The 21-year-old has had a terrible time with injuries since he broke through to the first team as a teenager two years ago, so his assist for Raphinha’s equaliser was a wonderful reminder of his own talent.
Sports
(Video): Osimhen Buried Ayodele’s Prophecy; What Nigerian Prophet Said About Galatasaray Striker
Galatasaray’s in-form striker, Victor Osimhen, is making headlines as he emerges as one of the most prolific scorers in the world, showcasing his impressive talents while wearing the colors of the Turkish champions.
This remarkable performance comes in stark contrast to the predictions made by the well-known Nigerian prophet, Primate Ayodele.
Primate Ayodele has garnered a reputation for his predictions spanning both the political arena and the world of sports. His forecasts often spark interest and debate among fans and analysts alike. Notably, he gained attention last season when he made bold predictions regarding Liverpool’s match, which ultimately did not come to fruition.
As Osimhen continues to shine on the pitch, the clash between his rising prominence and Ayodele’s predictions presents a compelling narrative for football enthusiasts.
The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, issued a prophecy against the Super Eagles striker to have a rethink on his move to Galatasaray Football Club in the Turkish Süper Lig from Napoli.
Victor Osimhen, who worked hard to secure his permanent move to Galatasaray, has faced criticism from Primate Ayodele in a viral video that circulated on several social media platforms since Monday. The seer declared that the striker made the worst mistake of his life by joining Galatasaray, claiming that this decision would only bring him misery.
The prophet who had also warned Osimhen against joining Chelsea in the English Premier League last year stated that his move to the Turkish club would lead to his downfall.
Addressing the player directly, Primate Ayodele said:
“Osimhen, that four years deal is failed. That four years deal, you will not enjoy it. Osimhen, Who gave you that advice? You better have a rethink, Osimhen. Your ruin and wretchedness is about to befall you. I am telling you!”
But Osimhen’s recent dazzling performances in the colours of Galatasaray have cast doubt on the authenticity of the trending prophecy.
At a roaring RamsPark in Istanbul, the Nigerian striker reaffirmed his status as one of Europe’s most lethal forwards, scoring twice to inspire Galatasaray to a commanding 3–1 victory over Bodø/Glimt in the UEFA Champions League.
The result not only gave the Turkish giants back-to-back European wins, their first such streak in nearly a decade, but also etched Osimhen’s name in club history books, as he became the sole holder of the record for goals in the most consecutive European games for Galatasaray.
Osimhe’s superlative display has set the world ablaze again, with Barcelona reportedly interested in the Galatasaray striker, according to Mundo Deportivo. Any possible move for the 26-year-old depends on the Blaugrana’s financial situation and sporting director Deco has cooled expectations in that regard, with Gala having spent €75 million to sign the Nigeria international in the summer.
In response to the recent developments surrounding Osimhen, following a grim prediction by a Nigerian prophet, one of his closest friends (name withheld) stated that the lanky striker is concentrating on football rather than an already dismissed prophecy.
“Victor is focused and ready to do something greater for Gala, as you can see so far. As for me, the guy has already buried any doom prediction, and very soon everyone will see if the prophecy is true or false. Victor is made by football and his fans, not by a prophet on social media.”
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is increasingly mired in turmoil, with crises escalating daily.
Recent reports from a credible source have unveiled a shocking development: two influential governors from northern states, who currently serve within the PDP, are poised to defect ahead of the pivotal 2027 election.
The party’s predicament is further reflected in the exodus of members, as disheartened individuals abandon ship for the All Progressives Congress, African Democratic Congress, and Labour Party. This mass departure stems from deep-seated, unresolvable issues that have left the opposition party floundering and its leadership in disarray.
As if the situation could not become any more dire, a federal high court in Abuja has delivered a substantial blow by halting the PDP’s much-anticipated national convention, originally scheduled for November 15 and 16 in the vibrant city of Ibadan, Oyo State. This legal setback has only deepened the party’s woes, casting a shadow over its future.
In a judgment delivered on Friday, James Omotosho, presiding judge, held that by failing to conduct valid state congresses before moving to hold a national congress, the party breached provisions of the 1999 constitution, guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as its own constitution.
A source, who requested anonymity, disclosed that two Northern governors have decided to defect shortly after the Bayelsa state governors were reportedly set to join the APC on Monday.
Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, will officially join the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, TheCable understands.
Sources informed TheCable that President Bola Tinubu, APC governors, and members of the party’s national working committee (NWC) will receive Diri into the ruling party.
Sources familiar with the backroom manoeuvring said Diri, who resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 15, has been engaged in discreet negotiations with APC figures to finalise his defection plan.
A party source said the delay in Diri’s formal defection was to ensure the “seamless integration of the PDP bloc into the APC’s Bayelsa structure” and to “prevent internal friction” ahead of the 2027 elections.
The defection is one of the most significant political realignments in the south-south since 2023, signalling APC’s renewed push to expand its base in the oil-rich zone hitherto dominated by the PDP.
In recent months, the PDP has been hit by a wave of high-profile defections, including several lawmakers in the national assembly, weakening its influence.
The exodus has not been limited to the national assembly. This year alone, the PDP has lost at least four sitting governors — Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Peter Mbah (Enugu) and Diri (Bayelsa).
The gale of departures has cut the party’s governorship count to eight, amid growing speculation that Agbu Kefas, governor of Taraba, will be the next to cross over to the APC.
Recent insights from reliable sources suggest that Liverpool’s ongoing struggle with poor performance is linked to a significant disagreement between star forward Mo Salah and the club’s head coach, Arne Slot.
This discord appears to have impacted team dynamics and cohesion, contributing to the team’s inability to secure favorable results on the pitch.
The Reds’ struggles continued as they were beaten 3-0 by Crystal Palace at Anfield. Before that, they had lost four straight Premier League games, falling to seventh place on the table seven points behind league leaders Arsenal.
Slot made ten changes to the starting lineup that lost to Brentford in their previous league match, but the result didn’t improve.
According to the source, there appears to be tension between the coach and Mohamed Salah regarding selection decisions. Both parties seem to be struggling to find a common ground in their approach.
Mohamed Salah has already given an insight into Arne Slot’s likely reaction to Liverpool’s poor run of form. The Reds have lost six of their last seven games in all competitions after being knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
A much-changed Liverpool side exited the competition with a whimper courtesy of an Ismaila Sarr brace and a late goal from Yeremy Pino. However, it was merely a continuation of the slump that has seen Slot’s side lose their last four Premier League matches.
The reigning champions have now fallen to seventh in the table and face a tricky test against Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday, with games against Real Madrid and Manchester City following next week. There will be plenty of eyes on how Liverpool fare this weekend as Slot looks to overcome the first major issue of his tenure.
Last season, the new Liverpool boss only added Federico Chiesa to his squad as the Reds dominated the Premier League. Liverpool’s subsequent big-money signings have led to problems with the team rediscovering the same balance.
Salah previously explained how Slot reacted to setbacks following a 3-1 home win over Southampton in March. Liverpool had fallen behind just before the break, much to the manager’s frustration, before Darwin Nunez’s equaliser and two penalties from Salah secured three points. Slot will likely have a similar reaction to his side’s recent run of defeats.
Salah admitted that the Liverpool boss had been angry with his players after struggling to create chances against Southampton and conceding moments before the interval. “It was a bit of frustration. His head was going for us,” Salah admitted.
“We were sloppy and slow in the first half. I don’t think we played good today. If you want to win the Champions League or Premier League you have to win these games like that.”
In his post-match press conference, Slot shared that he had called out his players in the dressing room. “I don’t think I was wrong this time if I said at half-time that energy levels were far, far, far too low, and that is what I had to change and that’s why we made three substitutions,” he said.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria on Tuesday qualified for the Women African Cup Of Nations (WAFCON) coming up in Morocco next year, as reported by newsdiaryonline.
The Super Falcons played 1:1 draw with their Benin Republic counterpart in the second leg of the qualifier at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex, Abeokuta
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Nigerian defender Ashleigh Plumptre scored in the 11th minute, heading the ball home from a corner kick.
The goal compounded the woes for the Amazon, who had previously lost the first leg 2 goals to nil in Lome.
During the second half, the Beninoise came out more impressive and were rewarded in the 61st minutes through a direct free kick from Yasminath Djibril , beating Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the duo of Deborah Abiodun and Esther Okoronkwo sustained injuries and were substituted during the match.
Speaking at the post match press conference, Super Falcon’s Coach , Justine Madugu, said that though the team played below expectations, he was, however, happy for the qualification.
“In terms of results, sometimes there can be off days, there can be bad days and we want to consider today’s match from this perspective.
“The performance is not what we need but we expected it.
“It didn’t come so much as a surprise because even, at the press conference yesterday, we knew it was going to be a tough game,” he said.
The 10th time African champion will be hoping to make it 11th time at the 2026 tournament in Morocco.
Aceodds’ supercomputer, Betsie, has backed Arsenal to win the Premier League this season, as reported by Daily Post.
Betsie, however, appears to disagree with an earlier prediction made by Manchester United legend Gary Neville over how many points Arsenal will need to be champions.
Arsenal went four points clear at the top of the Premier League table after beating Crystal Palace 1-0.
As the Gunners celebrated their victory, the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea all suffered defeats.
Manchester City are six points behind the Gunners, while Liverpool trail by seven and Chelsea by eight.
Neville had predicted that Arsenal are not going to have 100 or even 90 points to win the league, saying “high 80s will win them this title.”
Betsie said the Gunners would win the league with fewer points. After last weekend’s matches, the supercomputer predicted Arsenal will win with around 82 points.
It said that Liverpool will come behind with about seven points, while Man City and Chelsea will follow.
The supercomputer further predicted that West Ham, Wolves and Burnley would be relegated.
Up next for Arsenal in the Premier League is a trip to Burnley.
Sports
TENSION IN SPAIN: Real Madrid Players Angry With Lamine Yamal Ahead of El Clasico, Bitter Reason Emerges
Tension is escalating in anticipation of Sunday’s El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona, particularly following the provocative remarks made by the young talent Lamine Yamal.
The 17-year-old winger accused Los Blancos of stealing and complaining while appearing on the Kings League YouTube channel, just days before the highly anticipated clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Yamal, known for his confidence, made the remark while comparing Real Madrid to an opposing team in the fan-favourite online league, Sports Illustrated reports. His statement referenced ongoing debates about refereeing bias in La Liga, bringing to the fore the long-standing accusations of favouritism toward Real Madrid.
Yamal’s latest comments immediately caught fire across Spanish media, with Marca reporting that several Madrid players are “fed up” with Yamal’s antics and feel his words crossed a line ahead of one of the biggest matches in world football.
Alonso keeps focus on the pitch In the midst of the growing tension, Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso was asked to respond to Yamal’s comments during his pre-match press conference.
However, the Los Blancos manager took the high road, refusing to fan the flames or stir more controversy before the biggest game in La Liga this weekend, per One Football.
“El Clasico is special. It has always been and always will be. For us, the important thing is the pitch, what happens on the field, and how we want to play tomorrow’s game. That’s what concerns me most.”
Alonso emphasized the significance of Sunday’s fixture for his young squad, calling on fans to fill the stadium with energy.
“We want the stadium to vibrate, to push us forward. Hopefully, we’ll end up celebrating with our fans.”
Alonso’s composed response was directly opposite to Yamal’s fiery rhetoric, signaling Real Madrid’s intention to let their football do the talking.
What’s at stake in Sunday’s El Clasico
Sunday’s El Clasico showdown at the Santiago Bernabéu carries even more weight than usual.
Barcelona trail Real Madrid by just two points at the top of La Liga, meaning a win would see them leapfrog their eternal rivals and reclaim first place.
The Catalans will have to depend on the brilliance of Yamal and Marcus Rashford as they will be without some key players, including Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, for Sunday’s encounter.
But beyond the table, this latest war of words has added extra bite to an already explosive rivalry.
With Yamal’s comments lighting the fuse, Real Madrid’s players are expected to come out with added fire and determination.
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