A teenager has been arrested in connection with the online abuse sent to the wife of Arsenal forward Kai Havertz, police said on Tuesday. Sophia Havertz had publicly shared direct messages sent to her after Arsenal was knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United on January 12. A 17-year-old boy from St Albans north of London was arrested on suspicion of malicious communications, Hertfordshire Police told the English Press Association. The teenager was released on bail. Sophia Havertz Sophia Havertz shared two posts on her Instagram story, including one where someone threatened to ‘slaughter’ her unborn baby. Arsenal had lost 5-3 on penalties to Cup holders United. Havertz, a Germany international, missed a chance from close range at the Emirates Stadium and then had his shot saved by goalkeeper Altay Bayindir in the penalty shootout. In response to the hate messages, Sophia had said the culprits ought to be ashamed of themselves. Havertz’s Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also stood up for the duo and condemned the vile abuse. “We really have to do something about it, because accepting that and hiding this has terrible consequences. “It’s something we have to eradicate from the game because it’s so cynical,” said the Spanish coach. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 January,2025 06:26 AM IST | London | AP | PTILiverpool boss Arne Slot is not convinced that finishing top of the Champions League’s inaugural league phase standings will prove to be an advantage after securing progress to the last 16 on Tuesday. The Reds beat Lille 2-1 at Anfield to maintain a perfect record of seven wins from seven games. Liverpool are guaranteed to finish in the top two, with Barcelona the only side that could pip them to first place. That means the Premier League leaders will face a side that finishes between 15th and 18th in the last 16. However, Slot does not believe that the UCL table tells a true story. “So normally in tennis, if you’re No. 1, you know if you play against the No.24, he’s probably not as good as the No. 16. But here, because we play different teams, maybe the No.24 is better than the No.16, but the No.16 had an easier draw. “We also want to be on top of the league, but I’m not so sure. We have to wait and see if it’s an advantage,” Slot added. Liverpool were far from their best against 10-man Lille and needed a deflected strike from Harvey Elliott to win, after Mohamed Salah’s first-half goal was neutralized by Jonathan David. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 January,2025 06:25 AM IST | Liverpool | AFPRaphinha struck a dramatic winner in stoppage time as Barcelona came from behind to beat Benfica 5-4 in a wild match on Tuesday to ensure direct qualification to the Round of 16. Benfica were leading 4-2 with less than 15 minutes remaining but Barcelona mounted a stunning late comeback to stay three points behind leaders Liverpool. Vangelis Pavlidis hit a first-half hat-trick for the hosts. However a Robert Lewandowski brace from the spot, Eric Garcia’s header and a double for Raphinha helped Barcelona claim a stunning last-gasp win. Flick rues errors “It was a crazy game. Benfica did well in the first half but we made a lot of mistakes,” said Barcelona manager Hansi Flick. “The mentality of the team, they always believe in themselves and this was unbelievable to see,” added Flick. Benfica opened the scoring in the second minute, when Pavlidis fired home from a low cross. Barcelona responded swiftly with Lewandowski scoring from the penalty spot after Alejandro Balde was brought down by Benfica’s Tomas Araujo. The hosts nosed back ahead when Szczesny crashed into Balde and Pavlidis converted the subsequent penalty. Pavlidis then completed his hat-trick with another penalty after Szczesny brought down Kerem Akturkoglu. Raphinha pulled one back for Barcelona after a clearance by Trubin struck his head and flew into the net. However, Benfica soon struck again, with Ronald Araujo deflecting a cross into his own net. Barcelona kept pushing with Lewandowski scoring from the spot. Catalan comeback begins The Catalans then pulled level when Garcia headed home from Pedri’s inviting cross. In the dying minutes, with Benfica appealing for a penalty, Barcelona sprang a quick breakaway and Raphinha slotted home the winner. “It was a spectacular game. They could have won, or us, but we managed to take it, Raphinha said.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 January,2025 06:24 AM IST | Lisbon | AFPRecent rumours have suggested that Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will be stepping down from his position at the end of the current season, despite his contract running till 2026. The Italian has shut down rumours claiming he will never stay at the club till he is asked to leave and he may even stay for four more years alongside President Florentino Perez. “I will never decide my departure date from this club, in my life. That day will come, but I don't know when it might be, it's not me who decides. It could be tomorrow after the game, the next one, in a year, or five. I have an advantage and I have an objective. “We will have Florentino Pérez here for another four years and he, who knows me very well, knows that the objective is to be here for another four years and that we can say goodbye together, with all the love in the world,” said Ancelotti in a press conference. Also Read: "No one has to tell Rohit what to do": Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane Real Madrid will be facing RB Salzburg in their penultimate league stage game of the UEFA Champions League at the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday (IST). It is a ‘vital game’ for the defending champions as they hope to qualify for the Round of 16 but currently sit well off the top eight spots. The pressure was truly on for holders Madrid when they faced a tricky-looking trip to Atalanta on Matchday 6 on the back of consecutive defeats to Milan and Liverpool. But as they have done so many times in this tournament, Los Blancos rose up to the challenge to secure an impressive 3-2 win and get their campaign back on track. Salzburg have endured a challenging campaign so far, with one win and five defeats leaving them in danger of elimination ahead of a difficult final two matches against Real and cross-city rivals Atleti. "It is an important match because the first phase of this Champions League is almost over. We have to get as many points as possible and see where we stand in the standings. Tomorrow's match is vital in this sense. We will try to play well, as we did in the last one,” he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2025 05:29 PM IST | Madrid | IANSRaphinha struck a dramatic winner in stoppage time as Barcelona came from behind to beat Benfica 5-4 in a wild match on Tuesday and ensure direct qualification to the Champions League last 16. Benfica were leading 4-2 with under 15 minutes remaining but Barcelona mounted a stunning late comeback to stay three points behind leaders Liverpool. Vangelis Pavlidis hit a first-half hat-trick for the hosts, in part thanks to two big errors by Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. However a Robert Lewandowski double from the penalty spot, Eric Garcia's header and a brace for Raphinha helped Barcelona claim a stunning last-gasp triumph in Lisbon. "It was a crazy game... Benfica did well in the first half but we made a lot of mistakes," said Barcelona coach Flick. Barca showed grit to keep fighting after going in 3-1 down at half-time and swiftly conceding again after Raphinha pulled one back. "The mentality of the team, they always believe in themselves and this was unbelievable to see," said Flick. "In the second half we created more chances than them and we deserved it." Benfica opened the scoring in the second minute, when Pavlidis escaped Pau Cubarsi and fired home from Alvaro Carreras' low cross. Barcelona responded swiftly with Lewandowski scoring from the penalty spot after Alejandro Balde was brought down by Benfica defender Tomas Araujo. Also Read: ISL: Chennaiyin FC force goalless draw against Mohun Bagan Super Giant The hosts nosed back ahead through a stroke of luck, when Szczesny raced out of his goal to try and cut out a through-ball, but crashed into Balde. Greece international Pavlidis gleefully collected the loose ball and rolled his second into the empty net. Barcelona, who lured Szczesny out of retirement to replace the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen in October, soon fell further behind. Pavlidis completed his half-hour hat-trick with a penalty after another Szczesny mistake, with the goalkeeper flying in to try and dispossess Kerem Akturkoglu but bringing him down. Barca battle back Lamine Yamal and Raphinha missed good chances before the break as Barcelona pushed forward. Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin saved from Jules Kounde, who should have scored, and Lewandowski could not turn home from Pedri's dangerous ball across the face of goal. Raphinha pulled one back for Barcelona in bizarre fashion as a clearance by Trubin struck his head on the edge of the area and flew back into the net. However, Benfica soon struck again, with Ronald Araujo nudging past Szczesny into his own net as he tried to cut out a cross. Barcelona kept pushing and Lewandowski converted another penalty after Nicolas Otamendi brought down Yamal. The Catalan giants, who last won the Champions League in 2015, pulled level when substitute Garcia headed home from Pedri's inviting cross. Szczesny saved former Real Madrid star Angel Di Maria's low shot before Raphinha's dramatic winner. With Benfica appealing for a penalty, Barcelona sprang a quick breakaway and the Brazilian winger slotted home to end a blockbuster battle. Players from both sides clashed after the final whistle as tempers flared following the thrilling denouement. "We knew how hard it would be here, in front of their fans, and they know how to play really well, they have top level players," Raphinha told Movistar. "We didn't let ourselves sink at 3-1 down, we were focussed on what we needed to do to try and change the game. "It was a spectacular game for everyone. They could have won, or us, but we managed to take it." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2025 04:35 PM IST | Lisbon | AFPChennaiyin FC forced a goalless draw in their Indian Super League clash against Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) here on Tuesday. MBSG are perched at the top with 37 points from 17 games whereas Chennaiyin FC are positioned 10th with 18 points from as many outings. The game started well for the hosts as the likes of Wilmar Jordan Gil, Connor Shields and Irfan Yadwad posed early threat for Mohun Bagan's defenders but eventually failed to break through. The game's first chance fell to Jordan as Kiyan Nassiri stole possession in the danger area before playing the Colombian in space. Tom Aldred was alert to the danger and threw his body on the line to block Jordan's attempt. The Colombian had the opportunity to provide his side with a lead in the 35th minute when he latched onto Shields' cross in the box before hammering the ball into the post. Also Read: AB de Villiers to come out of retirement? Here's what he said about his return The Mariners kept pushing forward in the final sequences of the first half and eventually got a great opening when Suhail Bhat controlled a long ball before outwitting Elsinho with a touch. He drove into the penalty area with purpose but his subsequent effort struck the side netting. The best chance of the second half fell to Suhail Bhat when Rai found him with a beautiful low cross. But before the young forward could take a shot, Elsinho did exceptionally well to clear the lines. Jose Molina brought on Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh replacing Deepak Tangri and Suhail as the Mariners pushed for the decisive goal. In the 77th minute, Jamie Maclaren walked into the field, and Petratos made way for his compatriot. Both Liston and Manvir ran down either flank but their final ball lacked the quality to trouble the Chennaiyin FC backline. Chennaiyin FC almost broke the deadlock in the 89th minute when Shields found Ryan Edwards in the penalty area but the English defender's header was off target. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2025 04:29 PM IST | Chennai | PTIPep Guardiola insists Manchester City will rise to the occasion in their crucial Champions League showdown against Paris Saint-Germain after rebuilding their shattered morale with a 6-0 demolition of Ipswich. Guardiola’s side are languishing in 22nd place in the 36-team Champions League table with two games left. PSG are in even worse shape, one point behind City in 25th place. Also Read: ‘We were in control after third goal v Wolves’ Pep Guardiola With the top 24 clubs going through to the knockout stages — the first eight automatically reach the last 16 and the sides from ninth to 24th face a play-off — the stakes could not be higher when City travel to Paris on Wednesday. Fortunately for City, they were able to warm up for the blockbuster clash by recording their biggest Premier League win since thrashing Nottingham Forest by the same scoreline in 2022. Phil Foden scored twice, while Mateo Kovacic, Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and James McAtee were also on target at Portman Road on Sunday. Such was their dominance, Guardiola was able to replace Foden, Haaland, Kovacic, Kevin De Bruyne and Manuel Akanji in the second half to keep them fresh for the PSG game. “After four or five nil I had my eye on Paris,” Guardiola said. “We have two finals left, by winning two we qualify, winning one there’s a big possibility. We have to get the points because we created problems ourselves, especially with Feyenoord, even the game we lost in Lisbon. “But in that moment we had a lot of problems. We could not compete the way we want for many reasons. Hopefully we can continue in Paris for the next game,” he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2025 07:48 AM IST | London | AFPChelsea overcame a howler from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to beat relegation-threatened Wolves 3-1 on Monday, ending a five-game winless run to climb back into the Premier League’s top four. Enzo Maresca’s team were just two points behind leaders Liverpool in mid-December, raising hopes of an unlikely title challenge before losing their way. Now they are back on track to qualify for next season’s Champions League after second-half goals from Marc Cucurella and Noni Madueke spared Sanchez’s blushes. The Spanish goalkeeper had dropped the ball moments before half-time, allowing Matt Doherty to cancel out Tosin Adarabioyo’s opener. Also Read: MCA prez hails ‘centurion’ Dandekar Maresca said Chelsea had dominated the first 40 minutes before problems that have haunted them in recent weeks returned. “We lost a little bit of confidence, we conceded a goal and we started to struggle a little bit and then the second half I think we started quite well and then after the second and third goals the game was in control,” he told Sky Sports. He added: “In the past five games we didn’t win but I said many times that the performance was there. We created many chances, we didn’t score and tonight finally we scored three goals.” Chelsea’s top-scorer Cole Palmer, a doubt before the game, was fit to start as Maresca made five changes from last week’s draw against Bournemouth including bringing in centre-back Trevoh Chalobah, recalled from his loan spell at Crystal Palace. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2025 07:45 AM IST | London | AFPMidfielder Lalrinliana Hnamte, who takes on his former club Mohun Bagan SG once again on Tuesday, is making waves at Chennaiyin FC this season, a release from ISL stated. Not every footballer's journey follows a straight path and for midfielder Lalrinliana Hnamte, it's been a winding road. Once a benchwarmer at Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Hnamte has evolved into one of Chennaiyin FC's most reliable players this season, embodying the spirit of a player who still has a lot to prove. As he prepares to take on his former club in the Indian Super League (ISL) on Tuesday, here's a look at the rise of one of the finest young midfielders in the league. When Hnamte made his ISL debut for East Bengal FC in the 2021-22 season, few could have predicted the trajectory his career would take. The Mizoram-born player quietly went about his business, showing flashes of potential in his debut season. But it wasn't until his move to rivals Mohun Bagan SG that his journey truly began to take shape, albeit with challenges. At Mohun Bagan SG, Hnamte was part of a star-studded squad, making it difficult to carve out a regular starting role. Over two seasons, he won an ISL Cup and the Shield, but played just 443 minutes combined, mostly featuring off the bench. Despite limited game time, when given the opportunity, Hnamte showcased why he deserved to be at one of the biggest clubs in Indian football, hinting at a player on the verge of a breakthrough. Fast forward to the 2024-25 season, and Hnamte's move to Chennaiyin FC under the watchful eye of head coach Owen Coyle has proved to be a masterstroke. Coyle, known for developing young talent, has brought out the best in him. It's often said that some players need the right system and manager to truly flourish, and Hnamte is living proof of that. Since donning the Chennaiyin FC jersey, Hnamte has emerged as a key player in Coyle's setup. In just 16 appearances, he has clocked an impressive 1204 minutes on the field, more than doubling his game time from his two seasons at Mohun Bagan SG. But it's his defensive prowess that has caught everyone's attention. Hnamte leads the league in successful tackles this season with 37 and has 19 interceptions to his name -- the second-highest among his teammates, making him a defensive powerhouse. His contributions have not been limited to his defensive abilities, as the 21-year-old has also chipped in with a goal and an assist this campaign. His impressive performances for Chennaiyin FC earlier in the season earned him his first call-up to the national team in October last year, where he made his debut against Vietnam. At just 21, Hnamte's maturity on the field has been remarkable. He plays with the composure of a veteran, yet he's still in the early stages of what promises to be an exciting career ahead. For Chennaiyin FC, currently navigating the choppy waters of the lower half of the table, Hnamte has been one of the bright spots in their mixed campaign. Despite their position in the standings, Chennaiyin FC have shown they can compete with the best teams. As Coyle's men set their sights on the playoffs, Hnamte will undoubtedly be central to their playoff ambitions. (With agency inputs)
21 January,2025 03:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentChennaiyin FC, partnering with Norwich City FC, will host the CFC-NCFC Inter-School Football Championship 2025, focused on advancing grassroots football in Tamil Nadu. To be held at MCC School (Chetpet), the competition starts Friday (January 24), featuring 64 total teams competing in the Under-12 and Under-14 categories; also providing the players a platform to showcase their skills to club academy scouts. With the additional support of the Reliance Foundation, the tournament is part of a wider partnership initiated in April 2024 between Chennaiyin FC and Norwich City FC, focused on talent cultivation, promoting a vibrant football culture in the area, and enhancing the grassroots development of the sport. Furthermore, committed to fostering young talent, the organisers aim to make this tournament an annual event, reinforcing their shared vision for the long-term growth of football in Tamil Nadu. “In the future, we aim to expand this initiative beyond Chennai to other districts such as Coimbatore, Trichy, and Salem. Gradually, we envision making this a Tamil Nadu-wide championship, uniting young footballers from across the state,” said CFC’s Head of Marketing, Neel Jayaram at a press conference on Monday. “Our vision over the next decade is to see more Tamil Nadu players representing Chennaiyin FC. To do this, we have to develop a strong foundation that will pave the way for a significant presence of Tamil players at the club.” Also Read: IND vs ENG T20Is: Important factors to watch out for in the series! “CFC scouts will be present throughout the tournament to identify promising talents and integrate them into our youth development programs. The goal is to nurture players who can follow in the footsteps of success stories like Mohanraj and Samik (Mitra),” he added. Mohanraj K, a Chennaiyin FC first-team goalkeeper, who has been with the club since the age 13, spoke about the opportunity such tournaments present: “These tournaments provide invaluable exposure for young players, especially those in the Under-12 and Under-14 age groups. It’s a fantastic opportunity for kids to gain playtime while showcasing their talents in front of youth team scouts, enabling players to transition from local tournaments to youth teams. This is the foundation, from there, they can continue to develop and eventually progress to senior levels of the sport.” Grassroots football is the bedrock of nurturing young talent, offering a vital platform for discovery and development. Highlighting this, Rajat Guha, Chennaiyin FC's First Team Goalkeeping Coach, emphasised the importance of early engagement and structured opportunities for budding players. “Grassroots football always helps us identify talent at a very early age–it is like the foundation of a building. So if you want to find a good footballer, you have to catch them young. This tournament will provide these kids with such opportunities and proper, competitive playing time,” said Guha. Beyond competing for the title, the teams that emerge victorious will enjoy the unique chance to attend a Chennaiyin FC match, gaining insight into the professional football scene. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
21 January,2025 01:44 PM IST | Chennai | mid-day online correspondentBarcelona’s last visit to face Benfica ended in a heavy thumping on the way to Champions League group stage elimination in 2021, but with young starlet Lamine Yamal, hopes are high this time. Also Read: How javelin superstar Neeraj pulled off secret wedding Barca, second in the group standings behind leaders Liverpool, can seal progression to the last 16 on Tuesday at the Estadio da Luz, avoiding the new play-off phase. Yamal has scored nine goals and 13 assists in 25 games across all competitions. “In great matches, you see big talent and he’s showed it many times. He’s on a really good [path],” said Barca coach Hansi Flick about Yamal. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 January,2025 07:55 AM IST | Barcelona | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
