Category: Sport News

……..As Liverpool kicks off with Bournemouth.

Emmanuel Clement

Liverpool will kick off their Premier League title defence at home to Bournemouth on Friday, August 15 while Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who ended last season empty-handed, will be desperate to get off to a winning start against Wolves at Molineux.

Arne Slot’s champions have the chance to secure the first points of the new season at Anfield as they launch the 2025/26 campaign, bidding for a record 21st English top-flight crown.

Following the Bournemouth game Liverpool have tricky fixtures at Newcastle and at home to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, runners-up for the past three seasons.

Thomas Frank’s first match as Tottenham boss will come on August 16 at home against newly promoted Burnley, while Sunderland make their return to the Premier League against West Ham.

The third newcomers, Leeds, play Everton on Monday, August 18.

Everton fans will have to wait until the second round of fixtures for their first league game at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium, when they will face Brighton.

Liverpool dominated the Premier League last season, romping to a record-equalling 20th title with four games to spare in Slot’s first season in charge.

They have already strengthened their squad.

Liverpool have agreed a club-record deal, reportedly worth up to £116 million ($156 million) to sign Florian Wirtz along with his Bayer Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong.

A deal for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is understood to be well-advanced.

Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United, who will be desperate to hit the ground running after a terrible season, have been handed a tough test with a home game against Arsenal on August 17.

United finished 15th in the league, their lowest position since they were relegated in the 1973/74 season, and lost in the Europa League final against Tottenham.

Amorim has started a squad rebuild, bringing in Matheus Cunha from Wolves.

The season consists of 380 games over 33 weekends and five midweek rounds. It concludes on May 24 with matches including Manchester City against Aston Villa.

The Premier League said the start date “allows for the maximum player rest time available –- 83 clear days –- from the end of the 2024/25 season”.

 

Matchweek 1

Friday 15 August
20:00 Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth (Sky Sports)

Saturday 16 August
12:30 Aston Villa v Newcastle United (TNT Sports)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Fulham
Nottingham Forest v Brentford
Sunderland v West Ham United
Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley
17:30 Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City (Sky Sports)

Sunday 17 August
14:00 Chelsea v Crystal Palace (Sky Sports)
16:30 Manchester United v Arsenal (Sky Sports)

Monday 18 August
20:00 Leeds United v Everton (Sky Sports)

MW2 Saturday 23 August
AFC Bournemouth v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arsenal v Leeds United
Brentford v Aston Villa
Burnley v Sunderland
Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest
Everton v Brighton & Hove Albion
Fulham v Manchester United
Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
Newcastle United v Liverpool
West Ham United v Chelsea

MW3 Saturday 30 August
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City
Chelsea v Fulham
Leeds United v Newcastle United
Liverpool v Arsenal
Manchester United v Burnley
Nottingham Forest v West Ham United
Sunderland v Brentford
Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Bournemouth
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton

MW4 Saturday 13 September
AFC Bournemouth v Brighton & Hove Albion
Arsenal v Nottingham Forest
Brentford v Chelsea
Burnley v Liverpool
Crystal Palace v Sunderland
Everton v Aston Villa
Fulham v Leeds United
Manchester City v Manchester United
Newcastle United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur

MW5 Saturday 20 September
AFC Bournemouth v Newcastle United
Arsenal v Manchester City
Brighton & Hove Albion v Tottenham Hotspur
Burnley v Nottingham Forest
Fulham v Brentford
Liverpool v Everton
Manchester United v Chelsea
Sunderland v Aston Villa
West Ham United v Crystal Palace
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United

MW6 Saturday 27 September
Aston Villa v Fulham
Brentford v Manchester United
Chelsea v Brighton & Hove Albion
Crystal Palace v Liverpool
Everton v West Ham United
Leeds United v AFC Bournemouth
Manchester City v Burnley
Newcastle United v Arsenal
Nottingham Forest v Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur v Wolverhampton Wanderers

MW7 Saturday 4 October
AFC Bournemouth v Fulham
Arsenal v West Ham United
Aston Villa v Burnley
Brentford v Manchester City
Chelsea v Liverpool
Everton v Crystal Palace
Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United v Sunderland
Newcastle United v Nottingham Forest
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brighton & Hove Albion

MW8 Saturday 18 October
Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United
Burnley v Leeds United
Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth
Fulham v Arsenal
Liverpool v Manchester United
Manchester City v Everton
Nottingham Forest v Chelsea
Sunderland v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
West Ham United v Brentford

MW9 Saturday 25 October
AFC Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Aston Villa v Manchester City
Brentford v Liverpool
Chelsea v Sunderland
Everton v Tottenham Hotspur
Leeds United v West Ham United
Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion
Newcastle United v Fulham
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Burnley

MW10 Saturday 1 November
Brighton & Hove Albion v Leeds United
Burnley v Arsenal
Crystal Palace v Brentford
Fulham v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Liverpool v Aston Villa
Manchester City v AFC Bournemouth
Nottingham Forest v Manchester United
Sunderland v Everton
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea
West Ham United v Newcastle United

MW11 Saturday 8 November
Aston Villa v AFC Bournemouth
Brentford v Newcastle United
Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Crystal Palace v Brighton & Hove Albion
Everton v Fulham
Manchester City v Liverpool
Nottingham Forest v Leeds United
Sunderland v Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United
West Ham United v Burnley

MW12 Saturday 22 November
AFC Bournemouth v West Ham United
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
Brighton & Hove Albion v Brentford
Burnley v Chelsea
Fulham v Sunderland
Leeds United v Aston Villa
Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
Manchester United v Everton
Newcastle United v Manchester City
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crystal Palace

MW13 Saturday 29 November
Aston Villa v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Brentford v Burnley
Chelsea v Arsenal
Crystal Palace v Manchester United
Everton v Newcastle United
Manchester City v Leeds United
Nottingham Forest v Brighton & Hove Albion
Sunderland v AFC Bournemouth
Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham
West Ham United v Liverpool

MW14 Wednesday 3 December
AFC Bournemouth v Everton
Arsenal v Brentford
Brighton & Hove Albion v Aston Villa
Burnley v Crystal Palace
Fulham v Manchester City
Leeds United v Chelsea
20:00 Liverpool v Sunderland
20:00 Manchester United v West Ham United
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Nottingham Forest

MW15 Saturday 6 December
AFC Bournemouth v Chelsea
Aston Villa v Arsenal
Brighton & Hove Albion v West Ham United
Everton v Nottingham Forest
Fulham v Crystal Palace
Leeds United v Liverpool
Manchester City v Sunderland
Newcastle United v Burnley
Tottenham Hotspur v Brentford
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United

MW16 Saturday 13 December
Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Brentford v Leeds United
Burnley v Fulham
Chelsea v Everton
Crystal Palace v Manchester City
Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion
Manchester United v AFC Bournemouth
Nottingham Forest v Tottenham Hotspur
Sunderland v Newcastle United
West Ham United v Aston Villa

MW17 Saturday 20 December
AFC Bournemouth v Burnley
Aston Villa v Manchester United
Brighton & Hove Albion v Sunderland
Everton v Arsenal
Fulham v Nottingham Forest
Leeds United v Crystal Palace
Manchester City v West Ham United
Newcastle United v Chelsea
Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brentford

MW18 Saturday 27 December
Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion
Brentford v AFC Bournemouth
Burnley v Everton
Chelsea v Aston Villa
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur
Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Manchester United v Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest v Manchester City
Sunderland v Leeds United
West Ham United v Fulham

MW19 Tuesday 30 December
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur
Burnley v Newcastle United
Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth
Crystal Palace v Fulham
Liverpool v Leeds United
Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Nottingham Forest v Everton
Sunderland v Manchester City
West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion

MW20 Saturday 3 January 2026
AFC Bournemouth v Arsenal
Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest
Brighton & Hove Albion v Burnley
Everton v Brentford
Fulham v Liverpool
Leeds United v Manchester United
Manchester City v Chelsea
Newcastle United v Crystal Palace
Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland
Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United

MW21 Wednesday 7 January 2026
AFC Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur
Arsenal v Liverpool
Brentford v Sunderland
Burnley v Manchester United
20:00 Crystal Palace v Aston Villa
Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Fulham v Chelsea
20:00 Manchester City v Brighton & Hove Albion
Newcastle United v Leeds United
West Ham United v Nottingham Forest

MW22 Saturday 17 January
Aston Villa v Everton
Brighton & Hove Albion v AFC Bournemouth
Chelsea v Brentford
Leeds United v Fulham
Liverpool v Burnley
Manchester United v Manchester City
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
Sunderland v Crystal Palace
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Newcastle United

MW23 Saturday 24 January
AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool
Arsenal v Manchester United
Brentford v Nottingham Forest
Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur
Crystal Palace v Chelsea
Everton v Leeds United
Fulham v Brighton & Hove Albion
Manchester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Newcastle United v Aston Villa
West Ham United v Sunderland

MW24 Saturday 31 January
Aston Villa v Brentford
Brighton & Hove Albion v Everton
Chelsea v West Ham United
Leeds United v Arsenal
Liverpool v Newcastle United
Manchester United v Fulham
Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace
Sunderland v Burnley
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City
Wolverhampton Wanderers v AFC Bournemouth

MW25 Saturday 7 February
AFC Bournemouth v Aston Villa
Arsenal v Sunderland
Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace
Burnley v West Ham United
Fulham v Everton
Leeds United v Nottingham Forest
Liverpool v Manchester City
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur
Newcastle United v Brentford
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea

MW26 Wednesday 11 February
20:00 Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion
Brentford v Arsenal
Chelsea v Leeds United
20:00 Crystal Palace v Burnley
Everton v AFC Bournemouth
20:00 Manchester City v Fulham
Nottingham Forest v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Sunderland v Liverpool
Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United
West Ham United v Manchester United

MW27 Saturday 21 February
Aston Villa v Leeds United
Brentford v Brighton & Hove Albion
Chelsea v Burnley
Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Everton v Manchester United
Manchester City v Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool
Sunderland v Fulham
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal
West Ham United v AFC Bournemouth

MW28 Saturday 28 February
AFC Bournemouth v Sunderland
Arsenal v Chelsea
Brighton & Hove Albion v Nottingham Forest
Burnley v Brentford
Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur
Leeds United v Manchester City
Liverpool v West Ham United
Manchester United v Crystal Palace
Newcastle United v Everton
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Aston Villa

MW29 Wednesday 4 March
AFC Bournemouth v Brentford
20:00 Aston Villa v Chelsea
Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal
Everton v Burnley
Fulham v West Ham United
Leeds United v Sunderland
20:00 Manchester City v Nottingham Forest
Newcastle United v Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool

MW30 Saturday 14 March
Arsenal v Everton
Brentford v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Burnley v AFC Bournemouth
Chelsea v Newcastle United
Crystal Palace v Leeds United
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United v Aston Villa
Nottingham Forest v Fulham
Sunderland v Brighton & Hove Albion
West Ham United v Manchester City

MW31 Saturday 21 March
AFC Bournemouth v Manchester United
Aston Villa v West Ham United
Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool
Everton v Chelsea
Fulham v Burnley
Leeds United v Brentford
Manchester City v Crystal Palace
Newcastle United v Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur v Nottingham Forest
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal

MW32 Saturday 11 April
Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth
Brentford v Everton
Burnley v Brighton & Hove Albion
Chelsea v Manchester City
Crystal Palace v Newcastle United
Liverpool v Fulham
Manchester United v Leeds United
Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa
Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers

MW33 Saturday 18 April
Aston Villa v Sunderland
Brentford v Fulham
Chelsea v Manchester United
Crystal Palace v West Ham United
Everton v Liverpool
Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Manchester City v Arsenal
Newcastle United v AFC Bournemouth
Nottingham Forest v Burnley
Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion

MW34 Saturday 25 April
AFC Bournemouth v Leeds United
Arsenal v Newcastle United
Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea
Burnley v Manchester City
Fulham v Aston Villa
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
Manchester United v Brentford
Sunderland v Nottingham Forest
West Ham United v Everton
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur

MW35 Saturday 2 May
AFC Bournemouth v Crystal Palace
Arsenal v Fulham
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur
Brentford v West Ham United
Chelsea v Nottingham Forest
Everton v Manchester City
Leeds United v Burnley
Manchester United v Liverpool
Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Sunderland

MW36 Saturday 9 May
Brighton & Hove Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Burnley v Aston Villa
Crystal Palace v Everton
Fulham v AFC Bournemouth
Liverpool v Chelsea
Manchester City v Brentford
Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United
Sunderland v Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United
West Ham United v Arsenal

MW37 Sunday 17 May
AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City
Arsenal v Burnley
Aston Villa v Liverpool
Brentford v Crystal Palace
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur
Everton v Sunderland
Leeds United v Brighton & Hove Albion
Manchester United v Nottingham Forest
Newcastle United v West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Fulham

MW38 Sunday 24 May
Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United
Burnley v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Crystal Palace v Arsenal
Fulham v Newcastle United
Liverpool v Brentford
Manchester City v Aston Villa
Nottingham Forest v AFC Bournemouth
Sunderland v Chelsea
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton
West Ham United v Leeds United

Tunde Omoniyi 

Chelsea beat off competition from Premier League rivals to sign English striker Liam Delap from Ipswich on Wednesday for a reported fee of £30 million ($41 million)

Investigator news reports that Delap, 22, scored 12 Premier League goals during his sole season at Portman Road but could not prevent Ipswich making an immediate return to the Championship.

Manchester United and Everton were also reportedly willing to meet the buyout clause in the England under-21 international’s contract.

But Chelsea have won the race for the former Manchester City forward, bolstering their attacking options ahead of the Club World Cup in the United States, starting later this month.

“I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach,” said Delap, who has signed a six-year contract, in a Chelsea statement.

“It’s going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies.”

The Blues finished fourth in the Premier League and will return to the Champions League next season after a two-year absence.

And Enzo Maresca’s men last week beat Real Betis 4-1 in the Conference League final to secure a trophy in the Italian manager’s first season in charge.

In mid-December Chelsea were within touching distance of eventual Premier League champions Liverpool before hitting a rocky patch.

They finished the season strongly, securing a top-five spot on the final day of the season but were hamstrung by their lack of a clinical number nine.

Senegal international Nicolas Jackson scored just 10 times in 30 Premier League appearances, while Christopher Nkunku looks set to leave the club after an underwhelming two-year spell.

Delap, the son of former Stoke midfielder Rory Delap, began his career at Manchester City but struggled to break into Pep Guardiola’s star-studded first team.

After loan spells in the second tier with Stoke, Preston and Hull, he was snapped up by Ipswich in a deal worth up to £20 million after they won promotion to the Premier League a year ago.

Delap was one of the few success stories for the Tractor Boys during a difficult season as they were relegated back to the Championship with just 22 points.

Chelsea will face Flamengo, LAFC and ES Tunis in the group stages of the Club World Cup, which gets underway on June 14.

AFP

Tunde Omoniyi

Chelsea made a come back from behind to defeat Real Betis 4-1 in the final of the UEFA Conference League in Wroclaw on Wednesday night becoming the first club to claim all four major European trophies.

The Blues came into the game as huge favourites to win the trophy.

But it was Betis who began quickly and took an early lead.

Manuel Pellegrini’s enterprising Betis caught the favourites cold in Poland through an early goal from Abde Ezzalzouli but Enzo Maresca’s team were a changed side in the second half.

Two goals in five minutes changed the complexion of the game, with man-of-the-match Cole Palmer creating both openings for Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson.

Substitute Jadon Sancho made the game safe in the 83rd minute, finishing from an tight angle and Moises Caicedo added gloss to the scoreline.

It means Chelsea become the first club to win the full set of Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and the now-defunct Cup Winners’ Cup.

It is also the first silverware for the club since Todd Boehly’s consortium took over from former owner Roman Abramovich in 2022, following an era of unprecedented success for the club.

After a bright start from both sides, Betis broke the deadlock in the ninth minute through Ezzalzouli, who scored the goal against Fiorentina that took his side to the final.

Malo Gusto lost the ball in midfield and Betis surged forward. Captain Isco produced a clever pass to find Ezzalzouli on the edge of the box and the Moroccan drilled a left-footed shot across Filip Jorgensen.

Minutes later Marc Bartra tried his luck from distance as Betis pressed for a second, but this time Jorgensen was equal to the task, producing a flying save.

Urged on by their massed ranks of fans at Wroclaw stadium, Betis went close again when Johnny Cardoso’s shot from inside the box was deflected behind by Benoit Badiashile, with Chelsea clinging on.

The Premier League side were enjoying the bulk of possession but struggling to create meaningful chances, with Betis defending well and Isco, a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, pulling the strings.

As half-time approached Betis goalkeeper Adrian raced off his line to deny Enzo Fernandez but Chelsea went in at half-time goalless.

Maresca brought on Chelsea captain Reece James for the struggling Gusto at the break.

The Betis boss was forced a change when goalscorer Ezzalzouli was forced off, with Jesus Rodriguez coming on to replace him.

Chelsea were level in the 65th minute following a fine move down the right after Cole Palmer produced a fine cross to pick out Fernandez.

The midfielder got between two defenders to head the ball down and past Adrian.

Suddenly Chelsea’s tails were up and the fans behind the goal were in full voice.

In the 70th minute Palmer produced some magic on the edge of the box before producing a delightful cross which hit Jackson’s chest and went in.

Jackson should have scored a second goal but a heavy touch allowed Adrian to gather.

But Sancho made it 3-1 when he combined with fellow substitute Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Caicedo added a fourth.

Victory for Chelsea breaks an astonishing cycle of wins for Spanish teams.

Taking into account World Cups, European Championships, Champions League and the UEFA Cup/Europa League, of the previous 27 men’s finals involving Spanish teams, all 27 had had Spanish winners.

Four Spanish club sides had been defeated in that time, but in all cases by fellow La Liga sides.

Earlier, the centre of Wroclaw was packed with fans from both clubs, with green-and-white clad Betis fans outnumbering their English rivals.

Poland’s interior minister said police made 28 arrests after supporters clashed in the city’s market square.

AFP

Tunde Omoniyi 

Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle secured places in next season’s Champions League as Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy after a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on a dramatic final day of the season on Sunday.

A record-equalling 20th league title for Liverpool and relegation for Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton had long since been decided, leaving the focus of attention on the battle for European places.

Investigator news reports that Liverpool and Arsenal had already secured their place in the Champions League by finishing in the top two,while Tottenham joins them after winning the Europa League on Wednesday.

Manchester City ensured a disappointing season did not end in disastrous fashion by qualifying for Europe’s top competition for the 15th consecutive season by beating Fulham 2-0 to finish third.

Ilkay Gundogan’s overhead kick from close range put Pep Guardiola’s men in front before Erling Haaland secured the points for the visitors from the penalty spot.

Chelsea FC ended Nottingham Forest’s dreams of a first appearance in the Champions League since they were European champions back in 1980.

Levi Colwill tapped in Pedro Neto’s cross for the Blues’ goal in a 1-0 win at the City Ground to secure fourth place for Chelsea.

Forest have to settle for seventh and a place in the UEFA Conference League.

Newcastle narrowly avoided throwing away their place in the top five after losing 1-0 at home to Everton.

Carlos Alcaraz’s header earned the Toffees victory on Tyneside.

However, the Magpies finished fifth after Aston Villa were controversially beaten 2-0 at Manchester United.

Villa’s hopes were dented when goalkeeper Emi Martinez was sent off just before half-time for bringing down Rasmus Hojlund outside his box.

Yet the visitors thought they had taken the lead at Old Trafford only for Morgan Rogers’ effort to be ruled out for kicking the ball out of the hands of Altay Bayindir.

Villa were furious at VAR’s decision not to reverse the call and were hit with a sucker punch moments later when Amad Diallo headed in Bruno Fernandes’ cross.

Christian Eriksen’s penalty sealed the win as United finished the campaign in 15th.

A place in the Europa League is Villa’s consolation for finishing sixth.

 

Emmanuel Clement.

Nuno Espirito Santo has urged Nottingham Forest to use Taiwo Awoniyi’s recovery from his horrific injury as their inspiration to seal a historic place in the Champions League.

Nuno’s side head into their last game of the Premier League season against Chelsea on Sunday, aiming to reach Europe’s elite club competition for the first time since 1980-81.

If seventh-placed Forest beat fifth-placed Chelsea at the City Ground and fourth-placed Newcastle or sixth-placed Aston Villa fail to win against Everton and Manchester United respectively, Nuno’s men will be guaranteed a top-five finish.

That would be a remarkable achievement for a club that battled to avoid relegation last season.

And Nuno added to the incentive for his players as he challenged them to prove an uplifting end to the season for Awoniyi.

Forest’s Nigerian star sustained a serious abdominal injury after colliding with a post in Forest’s recent draw against Leicester and is recovering after being placed in an induced coma following surgery.

Forest’s players wore T-shirts with Awoniyi’s name and number on the back during the warm-up before last week’s win at West Ham and Morgan Gibbs-White kissed a shirt bearing the Nigerian’s name after scoring in that game.

“It’s going to be for Taiwo. He’s not going to be with us. It was a big issue what happened to him and it’s in our minds,” Nuno told reporters on Friday.

“We want to see him totally healthy, enjoying the group, so it’s going to be for Taiwo again. For him, for us, for the fans, for the city, for everybody. But we will just play the game.”

Nuno gave a positive update on Awoniyi’s recovery on Friday, adding: “He’s much better. He’s already been able to walk.

“The doctor has informed me he’s starting his normal life in terms of food, so he’s much better.”

If results elsewhere deny Forest a Champions League place, they can still clinch a Europa League berth by beating Chelsea.

Investigator news gathered that this week Nuno could leave Forest at the end of the season, with Italian club Roma said to be interested in the Portuguese coach.

But Nuno dismissed the speculation over his future, adding: “Do you really think I’m going to waste time on that?

“So much to think and get ready for. My main focus is preparing the team, getting best solutions and details for players. Nothing else.”

 

Tunde Omoniyi 

Six athletes has been barred from participating in the ongoing National Sports Festival Over anti doping issues.

This was stated by the National Sports Commission (NSC), stating that the affected athletes would not compete for medals at the games.

The commission disclosed this in a statement signed by the Director of Press, Kehinde Ajayimade, and made available to journalists in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

It said the decision was in line with global best practices and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.

It cautioned that registered athletes with anti-doping issues would not compete for medals at the ongoing festival, tagged ‘Gateway Games 2024’.

Investigator news reports that the verdict was handed down after a strategic joint meeting of the Main Organising Committee and the Local Organising Committee of the games on Monday in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

NSC’s Director-General, Bukola Olopade, charged all the participating states to ensure that every athlete competes clean.

“The issue of antidoping is one important mandate of the Commission to ensure that Nigeria is devoid of drug problems at both domestic and international competitions.

“We are happy now that the national antidoping law has finally been passed by our sports-loving President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the ripple effect of such a landmark feat must swiftly be felt in our sports, starting with the current sports festival,” he stated.

The NSF, tagged Gateway Games 2024, was declared open in Ogun State on Sunday by President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima.

It will be recalled that the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, promised a reward of ₦2.5 million for each gold medal won by the state’s athletes at the sports festival, which kicked off on Sunday in the state.

The governor also promised the sum of ₦1.5 million and ₦1 million for each silver and bronze medal, respectively, won at the competition.

…..As Chelsea Win Women’s FA Cup to complete domestic treble.

Tunde Omoniyi 

Chelsea beat Manchester United 3-0 in the Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley on Sunday to complete an English domestic treble in French coach Sonia Bompastor’s first season in charge.

Sandy Baltimore scored twice, either side of setting up Catarina Macario for the west London side’s second.

France international Baltimore opened the scoring from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time before Macario headed in her free-kick to put the result beyond doubt in the 84th minute.

Baltimore then wrapped up the scoring against United, last season’s FA Cup winners, in the first minute of added-on time when she turned Lisa Naalsund before lashing the ball home from close range.

‘Invincibles’ Chelsea had already been crowned English champions, becoming the first team to remain unbeaten in a 22-game Women’s Super League season as they won their sixth successive domestic league title after previously lifting the League Cup.

“It tops off a brilliant season,” Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert, the player of the match, told the BBC.

“I’m so proud of the group. A lot of hard work’s gone into this. To win in the fashion we did, we were holding on a bit at 1-0 but the second goal puts the game to bed.”

Reflecting on how the side had adapted to Bompastor’s methods, she added: “There’s a lot of change but you just have to embrace it.

“She’s a manager, she’s a winner, as management and as a player, so you’ve got to respect that. She’s done a brilliant job since she’s come in. And a treble, what a way to start it!”

Bompastor took over at Chelsea after long-serving and successful manager Emma Hayes left to become the United States’ national women’s team manager.

But their hopes of a quadruple were scuppered when they lost 8-2 on aggregate to Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League — a tournament they’ve yet to win for all their domestic triumphs.

At Wembley, in a crowd of over 74,000 featuring new Chelsea women’s team investor Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian — as well his tennis champion wife Serena Williams — the Blues dominated the first half but were kept waiting for an opening goal.

It looked as if United would go into the break with the game still goalless but poor defending from Celin Bizet saw her step into Cuthbert and bring the Scotland midfielder down, with referee Stacey Fullicks wasting no time in awarding a penalty.

Baltimore, despite the massed ranks of United fans behind the goal trying to distract her and some mind games from Phallon Tullis-Joyce, coolly sent the United goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot.

An improved United had their chances to equalise early in the second half and even the introduction of England star Ella Toone off the bench could not bring the Cup holders a goal.

And any hopes of a United fight back were dashed by Macario and Baltimore’s late goals.

AFP

Tunde Omoniyi 

Ahead of the Champions League quarter final match between Arsenal and Real Madrid on Tuesday 8, April 2025,Mikel Arteta has no doubt that Arsenal can upset Real Madrid on the “biggest night” of his career in the Champions League quarter-finals.

The Gunners have never been crowned European champions and face the 15-time winners in a quarter-final at the Emirates on Tuesday with the return leg in Madrid next week.

The two sides have met only twice in European competition, in the last 16 of the 2005/06 Champions League, where Arsenal came out on top.

“It is 100 percent the biggest night of my career,” Arteta, in charge at the Emirates since 2019, told reporters on Monday.

“That’s why I came into football, and that’s why I came into management and especially to this football club.”

The Spaniard, who also captained Arsenal, added: “It’s been 20 years since we had this type of game and for us, it’s a great opportunity to build our own story and this is what we’re here for.

“The excitement around the club, the people, and the magnitude of this match. This is the stage we want to be at, and where Arsenal has to be consistently. We are very proud to be there, and now be very ready tomorrow to deliver.

“At 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) tomorrow night, 11 players, 60,000 fans, I am really super-convinced that we are ready to win and to beat them. That’s the mindset that I want.”

The Champions League represents Arsenal’s best chance of a trophy this season, with the Gunners 11 points adrift of leaders Liverpool in the Premier League.

Arsenal were beaten at the same stage of the Champions League last season by Bayern Munich.

But Arteta, expected to start Bukayo Saka for the first time in more than three months on Tuesday, said it was time to write a new script.

“There is a massive gap there for so many years when nothing has happened in this football club in relation to European competitions,” he said.

“And we need to change that, and we need to change that quickly. It is just the first leg, but the intention of the team and what we want to achieve tomorrow is very clear. We’re going to go for it.”

Jurrien Timber and Ben White, who played an hour in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Everton on Saturday, are both set to be available, with Jakub Kiwior a possibility to line up alongside William Saliba in the absence of the injured Gabriel.