Sports

Mbappe’s PSG Punish 10-man Barca To Reach Champions League Semis

Published

9 months ago

April 17, 2024

Kylian Mbappe struck twice as Paris Saint-Germain battled back to beat 10-man Barcelona 4-1 and book a place in the Champions League semi-finals with a 6-4 aggregate triumph on Tuesday.

Raphinha fired Barcelona ahead early on but Ronald Araujo’s 29th-minute red card turned the tide in PSG’s favour, despite the Spanish champions leading by two goals following a 3-2 quarter-final first-leg win.

Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha levelled the tie for PSG and the deadly Mbappe hit a brace to put them into the final four for the first time since 2021.

The French champions have never won the trophy despite huge investment but demonstrated they have the attacking weapons in their squad to do so.

Five-time winners Barcelona were dreaming of a first semi-final return since 2019 but Araujo’s red card for pulling down the relentless Bradley Barcola undermined their grip on the tie.

PSG coach Luis Enrique, who led Barca to the 2015 Champions League, said he believed his team would turn things around despite never having managed to after a first-leg defeat, and so it proved.

The visitors started with determination and penned Barcelona back in their territory, but it was the hosts who took the lead.

Explosive 16-year-old starlet Lamine Yamal ripped past Nuno Mendes and crossed to the near post where Raphinha turned home despite pressure from Achraf Hakimi.

It was the Brazilian winger’s third goal of the tie after his brace in Paris.

Robert Lewandowski fired another chance over the top for Barcelona before Barcola tilted the tie in PSG’s favour. The winger was a nightmare for his French compatriot Jules Kounde to handle.

Barcola teed up Mbappe but Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen denied him well before Araujo was sent off for bringing him down.

The Uruguayan centre-back pulled Barcola back as he burst into the area, leaving Barca with 10 men.

Dembele whizzed the resulting free-kick narrowly over, but soon found the net, as he did in the first leg.

The former Barcelona winger struck after 40 minutes from another Barcola cross, which raked across the area to the back post where Dembele was arriving to fire into the roof of the net.

Barcelona sacrificed Yamal for defender Inigo Martinez after Araujo’s red card and it left them with few outlets in attack.

With PSG controlling the game Barcelona soon paid the price for their inability to keep possession.

Vitinha was given far too much space on the edge of the box and he drilled into the bottom corner to put PSG ahead on the night.

Ilkay Gundogan hit the post at the other end for Barcelona before their coach Xavi was sent off for a show of dissent on the touchline.

The Catalans were losing their heads and Joao Cancelo clumsily fouled Dembele to hand PSG a penalty.

Mbappe, who had been kept quiet in the first leg, hammered it into the top corner for his 40th goal across all competitions.

The striker’s future may lie in Spain, with Real Madrid aiming to sign him in the summer at the end of his contract, and he made no friends in Barcelona by hopping the advertising hoardings and running towards fans to celebrate.

Another member of Barcelona’s backroom staff was dismissed after Gundogan had a penalty appeal waved away and it became clear the hosts had no response.

Mbappe wrapped up the win in the 89th minute after a fine Ter Stegen double save, leaving Barcelona the victims of another bitterly disappointing night in Europe.

AFP

Sports

Former Brazilian Football Star Marries ex-Wife’s Niece

Published

2 hours ago

January 6, 2025

Naijablitznews

Ex- Brazil international Hulk has tied the knot with Camila Angelo, his ex-wife’s niece, in a religious ceremony on Friday, 3 January, 2025,

The couple had already formalised their union in a civil ceremony in 2020.

An ecstatic Hulk expressed his joy on Instagram as he shared photos from his wedding, writing, “Before God and the promises of our love, we unite in one heart, beginning our eternity together, life! I love you.”

The wedding took place in Hulk’s hometown of Campina Grande at The Diocesan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Conception, which was adorned with a sea of white roses. A grand reception is planned for January 7 at a luxury resort in João Pessoa, involving 500 professionals, including chefs, floral designers, and lighting technicians.

Hulk was previously married to Iran Angelo, Camila’s aunt, for 12 years. Their marriage, which ended in 2019, produced three children: sons Ian and Tiago, and a daughter, Alice.

The relationship between Hulk and Camila became public in December 2019, just months after his split from Iran. The couple married in September 2020, and in 2021, they welcomed their first child, Zaya, followed by their second child, Aisha, in 2023.

The relationship has drawn criticism from Camila’s family and a cross section of people following the scenario. Rayssa, one of Iran’s sisters, condemned the union on social media, writing, “Today is a hard day to swallow, a day that reveals how far betrayal can go when it comes from the people we least expect. If my mother were alive, I am sure she would not be able to bear such monstrosity.”

Sports

Dembele’s last-gasp goal fires PSG to French Super Cup glory

Published

6 hours ago

January 6, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Ousmane Dembele netted a last-gasp winenr as Paris Saint-Germain beat Monaco 1-0 to win the French Super Cup on Sunday.

It is the third consecutive year the Ligue 1 champions have won the trophy.

PSG, who had clinched both the league and the French Cup, have now won the competition for the 11th time in the last 12 years.

In a lively encounter at Doha’s Stadium 974, PSG had 27 chances but failed to break the deadlock.

But Dembélé ensured the game did not go to penalties, when he sealed the win two minutes into injury time.

The Frenchman netted inside the far post after Fabián Ruiz laid on a neat pass across the face of the goal.

PSG return to league action next Sunday when they host St Etienne while Monaco visit lowly Nantes on Friday.

Sports

Manchester United Firm As Liverpool Miss Golden Opportunity

Published

7 hours ago

January 6, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Liverpool and Manchester United played to an exciting 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday, sharing the spoils in a fast-paced encounter. Despite Liverpool being the favorites due to United’s recent struggles, the visitors showed resilience and a much-improved performance.

Manchester United started strong, managing to contain the pro-Liverpool crowd early on and creating several chances. Diogo Dalot and Rasmus Højlund were key in getting behind Liverpool’s defense. Amad Diallo missed a great opportunity from Dalot’s cross, and Højlund was denied by Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Alisson.

After a goalless first half, Manchester United came out to build momentum against Liverpool in the second. Lisandro Martínez broke the deadlock with a brilliant finish after a clever pass from Bruno Fernandes. However, Liverpool responded quickly, with Cody Gakpo equalizing through a stunning goal that left Matthijs de Ligt behind.

The game took another twist when Liverpool were awarded a penalty after Manchester United’s De Ligt’s handball. Mohamed Salah converted from the spot, giving the home team the lead. But United fought back, and Amad Diallo’s cool finish leveled the score once more.

Both teams had chances to win the match in the dying moments. Harry Maguire had an opportunity in injury time, but the game ended in a draw, meaning Liverpool couldn’t take advantage of Arsenal’s draw against Brighton earlier in the weekend.

Player ratings for Liverpool saw Mohamed Salah earn a solid 7.7/10, while Cody Gakpo and Ibrahima Konaté both received 7.7/10 as well. For Manchester United, Bruno Fernandes stood out with a performance rating of 8.7/10, followed by Lisandro Martínez with 8.2/10.

In the end, both teams earned a point, with the result being a fair reflection of a match full of excitement and attacking play.