Bugaluu :: Sports

Désiré Doué injury ‘nothing serious’, says PSG manager

Désiré Doué was the difference-maker as Paris Saint-Germain overturned a two-goal deficit to beat AS Monaco in the first-leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off.

He replaced the injury-stricken Ousmane Dembélé before the 30-minute mark, needed just two minutes to net his first, before netting the winner in the second half. With Dembélé out of Saturday’s game against FC Metz with the same injury, Doué started again and netted the opener as they dispatched Les Grenats 3-0 at the Parc des Princes.

However, he too was forced off. He was substituted at half-time and there was natural concern regarding his presence for the second leg of the UCL play-off, set to take place at the Parc on Wednesday. Luis Enrique, however, allayed any concern during his post-match interview, stating that it was simply a case of “prevention”.

The PSG manager added, “Everything is good.” He would then go on to state that the former Stade Rennais forward “has nothing” and so his presence in this week’s key clash is not compromised. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/d-sir-dou-injury-nothing-083000289.html 

Jersey Bulls’ win over Faversham Town capped a good run of results against sides in the top five [BBC]

Jersey Bulls manager Elliot Powell says his side’s 1-0 win over fellow play-off chasers Faversham Town sets up their run-in well.

The victory kept the Bulls in sixth place in Isthmian League South East, but they are level on points with Faversham and Sittingbourne, who occupy the final two play-off places.

The Bulls are also one point off third-placed Whyteleafe, having played two or three more games than their trio of chief play-off rivals.

The win came a week after a 0-0 draw at Whyteleafe and a fortnight after an impressive 6-1 victory over second-placed AFC Croydon Athletic.

“I’m really happy with the last couple of weeks,” Powell told BBC Radio Jersey.

“Three teams all in the top four and we’ve come away with seven points – I think that’s excellent and it sets us up nicely now for a really big run-in.

“All we wanted to be was in the race and we’ve firmly put ourselves in that now.”

A goal from Rai Dos Santos with 15 minutes to go proved to be the difference at Springfield as Bulls extended their unbeaten run to eight games.

It is an impressive season for the island side who are playing in the eighth tier of English football for the first time after promotion from the Combined Counties League last year.

Powell says he is particularly impressed with the way his side has adjusted tactically to a new league where they are much less dominant.

“It’s different to last year, we’re not on the front foot as much, we’re not dominating the ball and that’s proving successful at the moment so there’s no need to change things,” he said.

“We’re going to have to adapt game by game, it’s not always going to be exactly the same gameplan, but that’s what’s most pleasing about these lads at the moment – they’re adapting to any challenge that’s put in front of them.

“For them to come away with wins and points against top teams – it wasn’t that long ago that everyone said Jersey Bulls beat the teams they should beat and never beat the teams around them, and I think we’ve completely changed that mentality now as a club and as individuals and I thought you saw that today.”

Related internet links

Jersey Bulls

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/jersey-bulls-boost-play-off-082929227.html 

FC Barcelona: João Cancelo declares his love for his teammates

Barça’s locker room is the best according to João Cancelo

FC Barcelona: João Cancelo declares his love for his teammates

This winter, João Cancelo is finally all smiles as he returns to Catalonia. On Sunday afternoon, against Levante, FC Barcelona got the job done during this 25th La Liga matchday (3-0), with a convincing victory and reclaiming first place in the standings, overtaking Real Madrid (2nd).

At the final whistle, João Cancelo, who provided the assist for Barça’s second goal, sent a heartfelt message to his teammates. “This is the best locker room I’ve ever had in my career. It was already like this in 2023. That’s also partly why I came back,” he revealed, after his stint in Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal.

Although Hansi Flick hasn’t started him often in La Liga this season—just two appearances in the starting eleven—the Portuguese full-back once again proved on home turf just how valuable his attacking contribution is to the German coach’s side.

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/fc-barcelona-jo-o-cancelo-082500101.html 

Jamal Musiala sets sights on March return to German national team

Having returned to full fitness after suffering a fractured fibula, Jamal Musiala has set his sights on a return to the German national team for their friendlies against Switzerland (March 27) and Ghana (March 30) next month.

Following FC Bayern Munich’s 3-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, which saw Musiala make his first Bundesliga start of the season, the 22-year-old was asked whether he considers a call-up in March realistic.

“I think so,” Musiala said, while stressing that he is taking things step by step.

“My focus right now is first on the match in Dortmund (on Saturday) and the games after that.

“I have to get back into rhythm. I ran a lot and had good actions,” he added about his performance against Eintracht Frankfurt.

“My mindset is simply to make progress game by game – and not think about the foot.”

Musiala has made a total of eight appearances for Bayern this season, scoring once and providing two assists.

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/jamal-musiala-sets-sights-march-082500818.html 

(Video) Goldbridge crashout over Mac Allister winner is the cherry on top for Liverpool fans

It’s safe to say that Mark Goldbridge didn’t enjoy Alexis Mac Allister’s stoppage-time winner on Sunday!

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

Having had an 89th-minute goal harshly ruled out for handball after Ola Aina’s clearance hit off the Liverpool midfielder’s elbow from close range even though the Argentine was turning away from the ball.

Instead of feeling sorry for himself over that rough justice, though, the Reds’ number 10 went and found the net again seven minutes into added time as he pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area and send the travelling Kopites into delirium.

It had initially seemed as though Mac Allister would be denied a second time as a lengthy VAR check for offside was conducted, but the semi-automated technology showed that Aina was playing Virgil van Dijk onside, and the goal duly stood.

Goldbridge fume shows impact of Mac Allister goal on rival fans

Goldbridge was doing a livestream of the Liverpool game on Sunday and the Manchester United-supporting YouTuber was left raging as the match-winning moment unfolded, which saw the Merseysiders draw level on points with the Old Trafford outfit in the Premier League table.

Having initially laughed as he expected the goal to be disallowed for offside, he was left incredulous after seeing the footage that showed Aina playing Van Dijk onside, angrily accusing the Nottingham Forest defender (obscured in initial replays) of ‘playing hide and seek’.

Image via Sky Sports

The manner of yesterday’s win would’ve felt so sweet for Liverpool fans, especially after several instances of seeing their team drop points with the concession of stoppage-time goals, and also after multiple games where United scored late winners or equalisers.

Goldbridge’s crashout over the Mac Allister goal would’ve been mirrored by supporters of the Reds’ rivals for a Champions League place, thus serving as the cherry on top of the cake for Kopites who finally saw their side benefit from a last-gasp winner rather than being on the receiving end.

Liverpool firmly back in the hunt for Champions League place

A top-five finish was beginning to seem distant after the loss to Manchester City a fortnight ago (John Aldridge certainly seemed to think so), but since then LFC have twice taken full advantage of dropped points for Chelsea to reel in their positional competitors.

The torment for rival fans would’ve been compounded by how poorly Liverpool played yesterday whilst still managing to win, with Arne Slot graciously admitting afterwards that a draw would’ve been a fair result at the City Ground.

What Enzo Fernandez and Benjamin Sesko indirectly did to us three weeks ago, Alexis Mac Allister did to Chelsea and United on Sunday with his last-gasp winner.

It’s very much game on in the race for Champions League qualification, and LFC’s rivals know it!

You can view the footage of Goldbridge’s crashout for Mac Allister’s winning goal below, via FootballFavors on YouTube (Note: This clip contains some strong language):

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/video-goldbridge-crashout-over-mac-082500893.html 

Winning without playing well is supposed to be the mark of champions. Liverpool will not be champions for too much longer, but it could be a sign of a team who can at least reach the Champions League. Or, Arne Slot might say, a one-off.

Too often, in his opinion, good performances have not brought the right result this season. So Liverpool delivered the worst first half of his reign, in his own words, at Nottingham Forest, and still won.

An extreme case, and a game with its own idiosyncrasies, but part of a wider theme. Without always hitting the heights, Liverpool have become hard to beat and just as hard to rule out of contention for a top-five finish. They have only lost two of their last 20 games in all competitions. Those two defeats, which Slot felt were undeserved, required injury-time deciders. There was an immediate response to each: walloping Qarabag four days after being beaten by Bournemouth, triumphing at the Stadium of Light three after the darkness of losing to Manchester City.

City’s 2-1 triumph at Anfield left Liverpool staring at the prospect that the season of the £450m spend would end with them in the Europa League, perhaps even the Conference League. They are still sixth but, over the last two rounds of fixtures, they have closed a four-point gap to Chelsea when Liam Rosenior’s men, who faced Leeds and Burnley at home, might have imagined going seven or eight clear of Slot’s side, who had seemingly harder fixtures.

Liverpool have found different ways to win away: convincingly at Sunderland, unconvincingly at Forest. Those unaware of the respective sides’ workloads could have been forgiven for assuming in the first half that a labouring Liverpool were the team who had played in Istanbul three days earlier and a faster and seemingly fresher Forest had enjoyed a free midweek, not the other way around.

As the eventual scorer Alexis Mac Allister noted, they were poor in all aspects at the start on Sunday. “Positioning, intensity, pressing: nothing was good,” said the midfielder. “Well, maybe how we defended our box.”

Alexis Mac Allister bailed Liverpool out with his late goal (Getty Images)

Slot arrowed in on that, too. It indicates how Liverpool have become more resilient. They have still had off-days defensively, still concede due to individual errors, but they have seven clean sheets in their last 13 games in all competitions, including each of their most recent three. In eight of their last 10 in the Premier League, they have restricted their opponents to an xG of under 1.0 (the two exceptions were the two they lost); even when Forest were dominant, it did not translate to huge numbers of clear-cut chances.

Which, like those blocked shots, indicates the improvement of Ibrahima Konate, who missed the Bournemouth loss on compassionate leave. His partnership with Virgil van Dijk has provided a platform, even amid instability elsewhere.

Slot used three players as right-backs against Forest, none a right-back by trade. Part of his problem is that Dominik Szoboszlai is his best available option both at right-back and in midfield: the tide started to turn against Forest when he put the Hungarian at the heart of his team.

Ibrahima Konate has come into his own in recent weeks (Nick Potts/PA Wire)

Liverpool’s resources are so fragile now that they feel one injury away from seeing their campaign derailed, should it bring a lengthy absence for any of Konate, Van Dijk, Szoboszlai or Hugo Ekitike. Thankfully for them, the two centre-backs and the versatile talisman can seem indestructible.

Big characters are a reason why Liverpool’s season has not gone into meltdown, as it threatened to when they lost nine times in a 12-game spell. Since then, there has been an air of unity, of striving for a common cause, which suggests his players are offering an endorsement of Slot, even when fluency is lacking.

There is a resolve and resourcefulness to this team, shown by the ubiquitous, indefatigable Szoboszlai, with his ability to shape every game, and from so many different positions. And yet the latest demonstration of Liverpool’s fighting spirit was required in part because of a lack of the kind of quality they were supposed to possess.

Dominik Szoboszlai has been sensational this season (REUTERS)

For the first time in his Liverpool career, Mohamed Salah has gone nine league games without a goal. Forest was the first league match this season in which neither of the £100m men featured; Alexander Isak has missed the majority and been a negligible presence in some of those he has played while Florian Wirtz took time to settle, though he has at least excelled in the last couple of months.

His back injury should not sideline him for long. Without him, Liverpool lacked craft and class but they had the grit to grind it out. They have shown a staying power.

And if there are injury-time goals – by Bournemouth and City, by Leeds and Fulham – that could cost them at the end of the season, Mac Allister’s 97th-minute intervention at Forest offered the opposite possibility: that one will be a symbol of their fightback.

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/one-trait-stopped-liverpool-season-082247283.html 

Rory McIlroy came up just short as Jacon Bridgeman won the Genesis Invitational [Getty Images]

The Genesis Invitational – final round leaderboard

-18 J Bridgeman (US); -17 K Kitayama (US), R McIlroy (NI); -16 A Scott (Aus); -15 APotgieter (SA); -13 J Knapp (US); -12 C Young (US), C Morikawa (US), T Fleetwood (Eng), R Fox (Aus), X Schauffele (US)

Selected others:-11 Scheffler (US), J Speith (US); -10 M Penge (Eng); -9 R MacIntyre (Sco); -7 S Lowry (Ire), M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -6 A Rai (Eng)

Full leaderboard

Rory McIlroy shot a four-under-par 67 but it was not enough to overhaul winner Jacob Bridgeman, who won by one shot at the Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles.

Northern Ireland’s McIlroy started the day six shots off the lead but despite making five birdies he could not catch American Bridgeman, who got over the line with a one-over-par 72 to finish on 18 under.

Bridgeman, who held a seven-shot lead early in the day, held back tears on the 18th green before sinking a three-foot putt for his first PGA Tour title.

He is also the first man to win the prestigious event in his tournament debut since 1975.

Bridgeman’s victory continues his good start to the year having had two top-10 finishes in his opening four events, including last week’s eighth place at Pebble Beach.

The 26-year-old’s three bogies on the final day at the Riviera Country Club gave the chasing players hope, including countryman Kurt Kitayama, who finished tied for second with McIlroy on 17 under after carding a seven-under-par 64.

World number two McIlroy was even par after the first nine holes, but made four birdies on the back nine, including a brilliant hole-out from the greenside bunker on the 12th, to put pressure on Bridgeman.

A nervy closing three holes saw Bridgeman bogey 16 then leave his putt on 18 over three feet short, after McIlroy had drained a 30 footer to get within a shot, to ensure a tense final stroke in front of tournament host Tiger Woods.

Bridgeman held his nerve though to claim a first PGA Tour title in style, with victory at one of the Signature Events moving him inside the top 25 of the world rankings for the first time.

“I’ll rue basically all 18 holes yesterday and then the front nine today, like 27 holes where I failed to capitalise on the chances I gave myself,” McIlroy told the PGA website.

“Once I started to trust my reads a bit on the back nine and I went more with my first instinct, I putted a little bit better.

“I was almost just giving them too much thought and not going with my first instinct and that sort of cost me.”

McIlroy finished five shots behind winner Collin Morikawa at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last week when he carded four double bogeys and three bogeys in his first three rounds.

“If you look at how I played last week, the birdies that I made – yeah, OK, I made a few big numbers, but I was able to cut those big numbers out this week,” added McIlroy.

“I think I only had three bogeys for the week. I feel like my game’s in really good shape.”

England’s Tommy Fleetwood shot a four-under-par 67 to finish joint-seventh on 12-under, which included a slam dunk eagle with his approach shot on 15 from 173 yards out.

World number one Scottie Scheffler made a flying finish with his 65 seeing him recover from his bad start on Thursday to finish in joint 12th.

That meant an end to Scheffler’s brilliant run of 18 consecutive top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour.

England’s Marco Penge, who was the joint-leader alongside Bridgeman after the second round, ended in tied for 16th place on 10 under.

Max Greyserman provided another big highlight of the day as he made a hole-in-one at the 14th, which illuminated an otherwise difficult day for him as he made four bogeys and a double bogey in his 73.

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/mcilroy-finishes-one-shot-behind-003455766.html 

Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche to return to face PSG, Krépin Diatta a doubt

AS Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche missed Saturday’s 3-2 win over RC Lens, however, he trained as normal on Sunday and he is expected to start against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek.

Akliouche sustained a minor hip injury the previous weekend during the 3-1 win over FC Nantes. The France international was replaced before half-time in that win, but then featured against PSG in Monaco’s UEFA Champions League play-off.

But he had not fully recovered, and so he was not even included in the matchday squad to face Lens on Saturday. The signs suggest that he will return against PSG this coming Wednesday. As per a report from L’Équipe, Akliouche is expected to start the encounter.

However, there are now fresh concerns over Krépin Diatta, who suffered a thigh injury against Les Sang et Or. He is a major doubt and could be replaced by Vanderson, whilst Christian Mawissa may not yet be ready to return, as was hoped.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/monaco-maghnes-akliouche-return-face-082000249.html 

Sources: 18 G/A Mexican talent emerges as surprise Barcelona target

Barcelona are already working on their attacking plans for next season, and a new name has entered the conversation. 

According to a recent revelation by SPORT, 22-year-old forward Armando Gonzalez is now one of the club’s objectives for the upcoming campaign.

The information coming out of Mexico suggests that initial contacts have already taken place. 

In fact, reports indicate that members of Barça’s sporting department have opened discussions with the player’s father, who is currently playing a key role in advising Gonzalez on his next career move. 

While nothing is advanced at this stage, the approach signals genuine interest.

Who is Armando Gonzalez?

At just 22, Gonzalez has established himself as one of the standout forwards in the Mexican League. 

Notably, he has registered 17 goals and one assist in 24 appearances this season, underlining his consistency and instinct inside the box. 

Known as “La Hormiga”, he has built a reputation for sharp movement, quick reactions and strong finishing.

Armando Gonzalez has been fantastic this season. (Photo by Sergio Mejia/Getty Images)

The outlet further states that in recent months, several clubs known for developing young talent have monitored him closely. 

Feyenoord, Celtic and West Ham have all reportedly shown interest, exploring what it would take to secure his signature.

The strongest financial push, however, is said to have come from Russia, where CSKA Moscow would be willing to pay $20 million for the player. 

Despite that offer, Chivas have not opened the door for a sale, and Gonzalez himself has not actively pushed for a move to Europe.

Then there is Barcelona

So why Barcelona? In Mexico, analysts believe the link makes sense for strategic reasons. 

Hansi Flick will soon need to plan for life after Robert Lewandowski, and Barcelona’s current financial limitations make a blockbuster signing unrealistic. 

A proven but still developing striker like Gonzalez would cost significantly less than a top-tier European star, whose valuation could be four times higher.

Another key detail strengthens the connection. While his father is heavily involved, Gonzalez is also represented by Roc Nation Sports. 

The agency has recently gained influence at Barcelona following deals involving Marc Bernal and other academy talents, maintaining direct contact with Deco.

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/sources-18-g-mexican-talent-082000254.html 

Leaders for a day, vulnerable the next – Real Madrid’s worrying pattern

For a brief moment, Real Madrid looked like a team that had finally regained control of their destiny.

After surrendering first place towards the end of 2025, largely due to a damaging November run under former manager Xabi Alonso, Madrid managed to climb back to the summit of La Liga. 

It felt like a reset. The scars of that poor spell were still fresh, but the standings suggested recovery.

This time, the return to the top came with Alvaro Arbeloa. 

His tenure has been far from straightforward, as Madrid were knocked out of the Copa del Rey and slipped outside the top eight in the Champions League standings. 

Yet domestically, there was one major positive – they had remained unbeaten in La Liga. That run had restored belief inside the dressing room.

But belief without consistency is fragile.

Madrid cannot hold their position

Less than a week after reclaiming first place, Madrid’s grip loosened again. A defeat away to Osasuna proved costly. 

Real Madrid are in trouble… once again! (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

At the same time, Barcelona capitalised, defeating Levante at home and moving back ahead in the standings. This is where the La Liga title race becomes ruthless.

The numbers tell a clear story. Madrid have shown they can climb. However, what they have not shown is the ability to stay there. 

Winning the league is not about moments of brilliance. Rather, it is about repeating high standards week after week.

Barcelona are not dominating matches the way they did last season. They, too, are working hard for victories. 

That is precisely why every slip feels amplified. The margins are tiny, as a single defeat can undo weeks of hard work.

If this season is decided by one or two points, then protecting top spot becomes more important than reaching it. For now, Madrid have failed their first real test as leaders.

Should they reclaim first place again, improving on a record of just five days at the summit will not be difficult. 

But unless they build true consistency, this La Liga campaign may continue to feel like a chase rather than a command.

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/leaders-day-vulnerable-next-real-082000196.html