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UCL: Why Real Madrid lost to Man City – Alonso
Real Madrid boss, Xabi Alonso has suggested why his team lost 2-1 to Man City in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Speaking to the media in the press room after the game, Alonso suggested that Real Madrid were not at their best mentally against the visitors.
Recall that goals from Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland ensured Pep Guardiola’s side defeated the Los Blancos.
Rodrygo did score a goal for the Los Blancos at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“It was a very competitive match with different moments. We started strongly with Rodrygo’s goal and a few other chances, but when you are not at your best mentally, in ten minutes they took the lead from very little, with the corner and the penalty,” Alonso said.
“The team kept going right until the end and has not lost face despite all the difficulties we are facing, like injuries.”
Real Madrid will now face Alaves in an away LaLiga tie in their next game this weekend.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt underwent surgery on Thursday to repair a partially collapsed lung after falling ill at team practice this week.
Watt was rushed to hospital with the troubling health issue on Wednesday, before having the procedure the following day, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
It is believed the 31-year-old will be discharged from hospital on Friday, yet he still won’t be fit in time to face the Miami Dolphins on Monday night after being ruled out by Pittsburgh.
The Steelers confirmed his medical scare in a statement on Thursday while revealing he would not take further part in practice and his status for Week 15 was in question.
The team said: ‘T.J. Watt is currently in a local hospital for further medical evaluation of his lung after experiencing discomfort at the practice facility on Wednesday.
‘He will not be at practice on Thursday, and his status for Monday night’s game vs. Miami is in question. Coach [Mike] Tomlin will provide more updates at the appropriate time’.
Steelers linebacker TJ Watt underwent surgery on Thursday to repair a partially collapsed lung
Watt has established himself as one of the best pass rushers in the league since being drafted
Schefter later reported that Watt’s injury occurred during treatment at the team facility before he was taken to hospital.
Back in the summer, Watt signed a three-year, $123million deal with the Steelers – making him the NFL’s highest-paid defender in the process.
The four-time All-Pro’s contract also includes $108m guaranteed, while he is set to earn $21m this season in the final year of his previous deal.
Watt’s issue comes just days after his Steelers teammate, receiver DK Metcalf, was hospitalized after experiencing stomach pains on a journey back to Pittsburgh.
Metcalf boarded a flight home with the rest of the Steelers team after their win over the Baltimore Ravens, only to begin suffering from stomach issues.
Pittsburgh medical staff removed the 27-year-old from the plane and sent him to a hospital in Baltimore ‘out of an abundance of caution.’
After being evaluated, he later spent the night in a hotel and is set to fly back to Pittsburgh on Monday.
Metcalf was on the wrong end of a hard hit during the win at M&T Bank Stadium and medical staff sent him for tests in a bid to rule out serious internal injuries, NFL Network reported.
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NFL star TJ Watt undergoes surgery to repair collapsed lung and will not play this week
Werder Bremen have been dealt a fresh setback ahead of Sunday’s Bundesliga meeting with VfB Stuttgart, with Victor Boniface ruled out after suffering a knee injury in training.
The Nigerian striker, on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, picked up a painful knee contusion earlier in the week. Head coach Horst Steffen offered clarity on the situation on Friday, telling Bremen t-online: “It was a knee-to-knee incident in a challenge. And that really hurt.”
The club has yet to confirm how long the 24-year-old will be out for, though he is expected to miss more than just the weekend fixture. Boniface has endured a difficult spell at Bremen, struggling for rhythm and still waiting for his first goal of the season.
His omission from Nigeria’s final 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, announced on Thursday, added to what has been a frustrating campaign for the forward. He had earlier been named in Eric Chelle’s provisional 54-man list but failed to make the final cut.
Boniface is not the only absentee troubling Steffen. Mitchell Weiser, Felix Agu and Maximilian Wöber remain out with long-term injuries, leaving the coach short of options during a crucial phase of the season.
The growing injury list is likely to force tactical adjustments as Bremen attempt to keep pace in the league.
© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]
Rivers United technical adviser, Finidi George, has described his team’s away victory over Plateau United as an important one for his team.
The Pride of Rivers moved to second position in the league table with 30 points from 15 matches after a 2-1 win over Plateau United in Jos.
Finidi commended his players for playing with determination in the game.
“It’s an important win,” Finidi told Rivers United media after the game.
“I felt in the first half we struggled a little bit. Coming in the second half, we pushed a little more, pressed a bit higher, forced them to kick the long balls and look for the second ball which gave an edge. While we won the second balls we had the whole field to operate.”
Rivers United will battle with Wikki Tourists in their next league encounter on Sunday.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has declared the duo of Cole Palmer and Wesley Fofana fit to face Everton in Saturday’s Premier League clash.
Chelsea, looking for its first win in the English top-flight since last month’s trip to Burnley, is aiming to shake off a midweek Champions League loss at Atalanta where centre-back Fofana was forced off with an eye injury.
In a chat with the club’s website, Maresca stayed that Palmer and Fofana are fit enough to face Everton.
“(Palmer) is okay. He’s better. He is, at the moment, available… yesterday he finished the session with us with mixed feelings. But overall he’s fine,” Maresca said on Friday.
Read Also:Bundesliga: Boniface Ruled Out Of Werder Bremen Vs Stuttgart With Injury
“Wesley is fine. He completed the session yesterday.”
Maresca said consistency was the “next step” for Chelsea as they sit fifth in the Premier League.
“How do we do that, it’s just one week, it’s not a long time, but for sure when something happens, the next game you are more prepared and you can avoid that,” he said.
“In terms of human beings, it’s impossible to be at the same level for the whole season but we need to learn things for the future.”
Christantus Uche enjoyed a brilliant night in the UEFA Europa Conference League, scoring his first goal for Crystal Palace and playing a central role in their 3–0 victory over Shelbourne.
Uche opened the scoring in the 11th minute, finishing calmly after connecting with a precise pass from Eddie Nketiah.
The Nigeria international was involved in the second goal 14 minutes later.
After receiving a through ball from Yeremy Pino, Uche burst past his marker and unleashed a right footed strike from the centre of the box.
His effort rattled the inside of the bar, falling perfectly for Nketiah to tap home and double Palace’s advantage.
Pino added a third in the 37th minute, sealing a dominant first half performance and securing all three points for Oliver Glasner’s side.
Beyond his goal, Uche delivered an outstanding all round display 20 completed passes, with three into the final third, two chances created, and 100% dribble success.
Crystal Palace’s Christantus Uche attempts a shot. (Photo | Getty Images)
After the match, manager Oliver Glasner praised his team’s mentality and execution despite difficult conditions. Speaking to Palace TV, he said:
“It’s a credit to the players, their attitude today, but the circumstances were not really great, and the weather was also not the best. But they focused and concentrated on playing this game.
“We scored three great goals in the first half and created many more chances in the second half. For me, it was a little bit unlucky that we missed a few chances.
Also read: ‘Chelle Shock’! Super Eagles Final AFCON Squad Leaves Fans Lamenting
“But we played against a team that defended so deep. It was our best performance when it comes to creating so many chances against the low block.
Oliver Glasner, Manager of Crystal Palace. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
“It gave us the opportunity to make three substitutes and rest some players, while keeping others in the rhythm. So it was a perfect night for us.”
The victory lifts Crystal Palace to 9th place in the Europa Conference League standings, just one point shy of the automatic qualification spots.
Palace now shift their focus back to the Premier League, where they will welcome Manchester City to Selhurst Park in what promises to be a high intensity fixture.
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Mo Salah to return to Liverpool squad after Arne Slot showdown talks: Star and manager shake hands after player threatened to plunge club into civil war with sensational outburst
Mohamed Salah held positive peace talks with Liverpool boss Arne Slot this afternoon and the pair have shaken hands after a week that threatened to plunge the club into civil war.
The Reds head coach said on Friday morning that he would speak to the star man, who sensationally claimed he had been ‘thrown under the bus’ by the club and had ‘no relationship’ with Slot.
It led him to be dropped on Tuesday for Liverpool’s win at Inter Milan with Salah not even travelling to Italy and many suspected his future was in firm doubt.
But Daily Mail Sport understands talks on Friday were positive and Salah is back in contention to play against Brighton on Saturday.
He has not started any of the last four games.
This is not to say the situation is resolved but representatives of both Salah and the club will hold further talks during the Egyptian’s upcoming time at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mo Salah, pictured in Liverpool training on Friday, engaged in positive talks with Arne Slot
The Liverpool star will be in contention to play Brighton on Saturday afternoon
More to follow…
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Mo Salah to return to Liverpool squad after Arne Slot showdown talks: Star and manager shake hands after player threatened to plunge club into civil war with sensational outburst
John Obi Mikel believes the Super Eagles have what it takes to lift the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after head coach Eric Chelle released his final squad for the tournament.
Naija News reports that the former Nigeria captain made his position clear on Thursday shortly after Chelle confirmed the 28 players who will travel to Morocco.
Mikel Obi, who played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s 2013 triumph, reacted to the squad announcement on Instagram with the message, “Bring it home lads.”
Nigeria will head into the tournament looking to secure a fourth continental title. Their preparations have taken place under the shadow of a disappointing end to the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, but many supporters hope an AFCON victory can restore confidence around the team.
Chelle had earlier revealed a 55-man provisional list before trimming it to the required 28 on deadline day.
Five uncapped players made the final squad, while notable names such as Christantus Uche, Maduka Okoye and Tolu Arokodare were excluded.
Despite Nigeria’s wealth of individual talent, recent performances have been inconsistent. The Super Eagles have struggled in matches where they were heavily favoured, which has caused some fans to lower their expectations ahead of the competition.
Even so, Nigeria’s tendency to rise to the occasion at major tournaments keeps optimism alive.
With stars like Victor Osimhen and several in-form players in the squad, many believe the team can still mount a strong challenge in Morocco.
© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]
Everton head coach David Moyes says the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, must be respected by European clubs.
The scheduling of the tournament has constantly caused friction between European clubs and participating countries.
The two parties are always at loggerheads over the release of players for the biennial competition.
FIFA recently ruled that clubs should release players just one week before the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The directive was contrary to the earlier mandatory two weeks release date for players.
Moyes, who will be without two key players, Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye, during the tournament, however said players must not be stopped from participating.
“We have to respect completely the Africa Cup of Nations,” Moyes told a press conference on Friday.
“The players will go to play in the tournament for their countries, and rightly so. It’s a great thing they get selected for their countries, and we hope they do well.”
Victor Boniface will not be part of Werder Bremen’s squad for the clash with VfB Stuttgart, Completesports.com reports.
The Greens will host Stuttgart in their final home game of the campaign at the
Weserstadion on Sunday.
Boniface is currently nursing a knee injury, according to manager, Horst Steffen.
Steffen is not certain when the Nigeria international will return to action.
Read Also:‘A Good Performance’ — Crystal Palace Coach Lavishes Praise On Uche After Win Over Shelbourne
“It happened in a challenge, knee to knee, and it really hurt,” Steffen told the club’s official website.
“Unfortunately, the recovery hasn’t been as quick as we’d hoped. I can’t yet say whether he’ll be available for us again this year.”
Boniface is on loan at Werder Bremen from another Bundesliga club, Bayer Leverkusen.
The 24-year-old has provided two assists in 11 league outings for the club this season.
By Adeboye Amosu
Newcastle United are discussing a potential move for exciting young French defender Dayann Methalie.
The 19-year-old has emerged from Toulouse’s famed academy and been a revelation in the French league this season.
His performances swiftly earned him a call up to the France U21 squad and his club were quick put him on a new contract until 2030 in October.
That hasn’t deterred suitors for the 6ft 2ins left-sided wing-back, however, and French sources say Newcastle are weighing up an offer.
Methalie is an athletic, all action defender, who can also fit in at centre-back. His marauding runs forward, combined with a determination to cancel out his opposite man have singled him out for praise in Ligue Un this season.
The teenager didn’t even start a first team game last year but was included in squads and with the help of his coach and a sports psychologist has burst onto the scene this campaign.
Newcastle United are discussing a potential move for French defender Dayann Methalie (right)
The 19-year-old (right) emerged from Toulouse’s academy and been a revelation this season
Talking to L’Equipe, Methalie said: ‘There was a click. Last season, the coach told me I wasn’t putting enough personality in my game. I fixed that during pre-season. I showed him what I could really do.
‘A psychologist helped me a lot. We spent time figuring out how I could express my qualities. I can clearly feel the difference now.’
He has played 15 games this season and been capped four times at U21 level, scoring twice in a 6-0 win over the Faroe Islands.
Newcastle have Lewis Hall at left-back but face the prospect of losing Kieran Trippier and Tino Livramento at the end of the season while Dan Burn will be 34 in May.