Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 26th goal of the season as Al-Nassr swept aside rivals Al-Shabab to reach the semi-finals of the Saudi King Cup.
Ronaldo netted his side’s fourth in a 5-2 win with 16 minutes of the match remaining.
The breakthrough took his goal tally for the calendar year to 50.
Into semi-final
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN)
Former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane was also on target for Al-Nassr, who are hunting for their first King Cup win since 1990.
Qualification for next year’s AFC Champions League would be assured were they to achieve it.
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Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has signed a one-year contract extension with Bayern Munich.
The 33-year-old has excelled this season, scoring 15 goals in 24 matches to stand as the team s joint-top scorer alongside Jamal Musiala.
Cameroon international Choupo-Moting s reward is another year in Munich, with his fresh deal due to expire in June 2024.
I m super happy to be staying longer and continuing to have lots of fun with the club. I feel very much at home here, he told the club s website.
My family also feel at home in Munich. That s a very important point for me. I m obviously pleased I can help the team so much. I get on really well with the guys, we work hard on our goals.
The competition is big, but when you want to be among the best, that s p…
Barcelona head coach Xavi admits he must be self-critical about his side s recent drop in quality, but insists they will see the positives after victory over Celta Vigo.
A poached first-half finish from Pedri was enough for a 1-0 win for the Blaugrana to extend their winning run in LaLiga to seven consecutive games and take them back to the summit on goal difference ahead of Real Madrid.
Yet between their latest result and a similar narrow triumph against Mallorca, Barca appear to be fading away from their early bullish intensity, with a loss to Inter in the Champions League further compounding matters.
Speaking afterwards, Xavi acknowledged he was less than satisfied with his team s latest drop in temperament, but still highlighted the vitality of their ability …
Italian news outlet Premium Sport reports the experienced Italian striker Marco Borriello is nearing Inter Milan summer swoop.
The 36-year-old forward could make a return to the city of Milano where he already enjoyed two stints with AC Milan from 2002 – 2007 and from 2008 – 2010.
Nerazzurri are thought to have already approached the veteran forward who would be joining Inter Milan as a free agent after ending his contract with SPAL. Borriello joined the Italian minnows in 2017 but only managed 15 league games, during which time he scored just one goal.
Having sold Eder to Jiangsu Suning earlier in July, Inter Milan are looking for reinforcements in attack and have decided to go for Borriello whose vast experience is expected to be a valuable asset for Neraz…
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has died at the age of 76 after being diagnosed with cancer.
Eriksson, who led England between 2001 and 2006, announced in January he had best case, a year to live after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
The Swede was subsequently the subject of an Amazon Prime documentary, in which he delivered an emotional farewell message to fans.
I hope you will remember me as a positive guy, trying to do everything he could do, Eriksson said in the documentary.
Don t be sorry, smile. Thank you for everything, coaches, players, the crowds. It s been fantastic. Take care of yourself and take care of your life, and live it.
A widely reported statement released by Eriksson s family on Monday read: After a long …
And Comolli, who worked at Tottenham and Liverpool as sporting director, believes all their success comes from their use and understanding of the data.
“Our whole football operation is driven by data, whether it his how we recruit a coach or sign a player, the way we play, the way we attack, the way we defend, from where we shoot, from where we cross, where we press,” Comolli said at Web Summit in Lisbon.
“We try to optimise the wage bill and transfer budget using data. Data is part of our culture.
“Where we gain a competitive advantage is we have decided to stick by data compared to the football wisdom. We are very disciplined at it.
“At the moment we are struggling in the league, doing well in Europe. But with underlying data, we don’t look …
Manchester City started the defence of their Premier League title with a resounding 5-0 win over West Ham.
Raheem Sterling was in sparkling form, plundering a hat-trick, with Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero also on target in a game that suggests the rest of the league will have their work cut out stopping Pep Guardiola s side marching to a third consecutive title.
Liverpool, who pushed City so close last season, also picked up where they left off, scoring four first-half goals to defeat promoted Norwich City 4-1 at Anfield.
Marcus Rashford scored twice as Manchester United thumped Chelsea 4-0 at Old Trafford, while Harry Kane was at his ruthless best as Tottenham came from behind to see off Aston Villa 3-1.
STERLING TREBLE SETS CITY ON THEIR …
Verdict: Away win
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After losing the Europa League (UEFA Cup) finals in 1999 and 2004, Marseille will be hoping it will be third time lucky as they battle Atletico Madrid for the coveted trophy and a chance to secure Champions League qualification. Los Colchoneros already have 2010 and 2012 EL titles to their name and they have been made odds on favourites to make it three this Wednesday at Parc OL in Lyon.
Marseille
Olympique Marseille were regarded as one of Europe’s top sides not so long ago, and they managed to lift the UEFA Champions League title in 1993, two years after losing the European Champions Cup final to Serbian side Crvena Zvezda. However, l’OM have since struggled to return to old glory days and the 2009/2010 Li…
Following almost two years away at Roma, revered sporting director Monchi makes his return to Sevilla on Monday having previously played an inspirational role in transforming the club.
After retiring as Sevilla goalkeeper in 1999, the next year he was hired as the club s new sporting director following relegation to the second tier.
Little did the Sevilla hierarchy at the time know what Monchi s work would go on to achieve, as they swiftly won promotion back to LaLiga and embarked on the most successful period in the club s history.
During Monchi s 17 years in charge, Sevilla won the second division, five Europa League/UEFA Cup titles, the Spanish Supercopa, UEFA Super Cup and two Copa del Rey crowns.
Key to Sevilla s success was Monchi s knack of signing…
Andy Robertson bemoaned Liverpool s capitulation in their 3-1 loss at Leicester City and acknowledged his side cannot let their alarming slide continue any longer.
The reigning Premier League champions conceded three times in the space of seven minutes late on in Saturday s clash at the King Power Stadium after Mohamed Salah had opened the scoring.
James Maddison equalised for Leicester with a free-kick and Jamie Vardy profited from Alisson s latest howler to put Leicester in front before Harvey Barnes added a third.
Liverpool s third Premier League loss in a row – the first time that has happened since November 2014 under Brendan Rodgers – leaves them hanging on to fourth place.
And left-back Robertson, who started all three of those defeats, adm…