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UEFA Super Cup final: Real Madrid, Atalanta battle to conquer Europe

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The stage is set for Wednesday night, as winners of the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid, will meet UEFA Europa League winners, Atalanta, in Warsaw in the latest edition of the UEFA Super Cup final.

Both teams will aim to see who comes out on top as the King of Europe.

Real Madrid won the UEFA Champions League trophy last season after beating Borussia Dortmund in the final, thanks to goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior.

Atalanta, on the other hand, won the UEFA Europa League trophy after beating Bayer Leverkusen in the final, thanks to Ademola Lookman’s hat-trick.

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Ahead of Wednesday’s showdown, both teams look quite different compared to last season.

Real Madrid have already lost two key players, Toni Kroos and Nacho Fernandez this summer. Kroos retired from football following the conclusion of Euro 2024 in Germany, while Nacho left Santiago Bernabeu for Saudi Pro League.

Real Madrid’s experienced defender, David Alaba is expected to miss the game as he is currently recovering from a lengthy ACL injury.

However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have strengthened their squad with new arrivals like Kylian Mbappe and Endrick as they will hope to lead the LaLiga champions for an unprecedented sixth UEFA Super Cup honour on Wednesday in Poland.

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Real Madrid head to the game after losing two out of their last three matches against AC Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea.

For Atalanta, Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup final will be their first in the history of the club.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s men finished fourth-place in the Serie A last season.

They currently have an injury blow in their attack line as striker, Gianluca Scamacca tore his ACL during a preseason friendly.

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Scamacca will miss at least six months with the injury now putting more pressure on Lookman leading the attack for the Serie A side.

Atalanta have made some marquee attacking signings like Charles De Ketelaere, Mateo Retegui, Ben Godfrey, Nicolo Zaniolo and Ibrahim Sulemana.

However, they head to the game after losing three out of their last four matches against AZ Alkmaar, Fiorentina, Parma and FC St. Pauli.

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UCL: Vinicius slams UEFA as he misses Liverpool vs Real Madrid clash

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Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior has hit out at UEFA after picking up an injury that rules him out of Wednesday night’s Champions League clash at Liverpool.

The LaLiga champions have confirmed that Vinicius has a hamstring problem and will miss the next three weeks of action.

The Brazilian has now lashed out at the packed fixture list.

Vinicius took a full part in their 3-0 win against Leganes on Sunday but will not travel to Merseyside due to “an injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg.”

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In a message on social media, Vinicius pointed the finger of blame at executives behind a hectic fixture schedule that has most notably seen UEFA expand the Champions League by at least two matches, writing: “Crazy calendar. Time to recover.”

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti will also be without Lucas Vazquez and Aurelien Tchouameni for the match.

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Mohamed Salah Speaks On Dumping Liverpool Amid Contract Delay

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Mohamed Salah, Liverpool forward says he is “disappointed” by the club’s failure to offer him a new contract – and looks more likely to leave than stay.

The 32-year-old, Liverpool’s top scorer this season with 12 goals in all competitions, is out of contract at the end of the season.

Salah scored twice in the 3-2 win against Southampton on Sunday, including the winner from the penalty spot, to take Liverpool eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.

The Egypt forward, who joined the Reds from Roma in 2017, told reporters, external after the win at St Mary’s: “We are almost in December and I haven’t received any offers yet to stay in the club.

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“I’m probably more out than in.”

Asked if he was disappointed that he is yet to receive an offer, Salah said: “Of course, yeah.

“I’m not going to retire soon so I’m just playing, focusing on the season and I’m trying to win the Premier League and hopefully the Champions League as well. I’m disappointed but we will see.”

Liverpool have not publicly commented on Salah’s remarks.

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A club source told BBC Sport that contact between Liverpool and Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, is ongoing and has been positive.

Only Manchester City forward Erling Halaand has scored more Premier League goals than Salah this season, with the Egyptian netting 10 times in the top flight.

According to Opta, Salah’s goals and assists have been worth 17 points to Liverpool this season – the most of any player in the division.

Salah signed a three-year contract extension with the club in 2022, with that deal set to expire in the summer.

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“You know I have been in the club for many years. There is no club like this,” said Salah.

“I love the fans. The fans love me. In the end it is not in my hands or the fans’ hands. Let’s wait and see.”

Defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and club captain Virgil van Dijk are out of contract at the same time as Salah.

Liverpool rejected a £150m offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad in September 2023 and multiple sources have reported that the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) remains interested in bringing Salah to the Saudi Arabia Pro League.

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Following a 3-0 win against Manchester United in September, Salah said he treated the game as if it was the “last time” he would play at Old Trafford.

After scoring the winner in a 2-1 victory against Brighton this month that took Liverpool top of the table, Salah wrote on X: “No matter what happens, I will never forget what scoring at Anfield feels like.”

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NPFL: Rivers United return to summit, Remo Stars fall

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Rivers United reclaimed top position in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, after a 1-0 victory over Abia Warriors.

Former Akwa United striker Ndifreke Effiong netted the winning goal for Finidi George’s side in the 58th minute.

Rivers United top the standings with 25 points from 13 points.

Azeez Falolu and Boslam Dawi scored both goals as Katsina United defeated Remo Stars 2-0 at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium.

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Shooting Stars returned to winning ways courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Bayelsa United. Anthony Okachi scored the decisive goal after 16 minutes.

Former champions Plateau United claimed a 2-0 victory over Nasarawa United in Jos. Shina Kumater scored an own goal in the 51st minute to hand Plateau United the lead. Olawale Doyeni doubled the home team’s advantage nine minutes from time.

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