You are here

  • Home
  • Lyon and Chelsea win first-leg matches in Women’s Champions League quarterfinals

Lyon and Chelsea win first-leg matches in Women’s Champions League quarterfinals

Lyon and Chelsea win first-leg matches in Women’s Champions League quarterfinals
Lyon's Sara Daebritz, top right, scores her side's second goal during the women's Champions League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SL Benfica and Olympique Lyonnais at the Luz Stadium, in Lisbon, Tuesday. (AP)
Short Url

https://arab.news/85jxf

Updated 20 March 2024
AP
Follow

Lyon and Chelsea win first-leg matches in Women’s Champions League quarterfinals

Lyon and Chelsea win first-leg matches in Women’s Champions League quarterfinals
  • Lyon, the record eight-time champion, came from behind to beat Benfica 2-1, while Chelsea ultimately eased to a 3-0 victory at Ajax
  • The quarterfinals continue Wednesday with defending champion Barcelona away to Norwegian team Brann and Hacken of Sweden hosting Paris Saint-Germain
Updated 20 March 2024
AP
Follow

LONDON: Lyon and Chelsea underlined their status as two of the favorites for the Women’s Champions League title by earning first-leg wins on the road in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Lyon, the record eight-time champion, came from behind to beat Benfica 2-1, while Chelsea ultimately eased to a 3-0 victory at Ajax to close in on a second straight appearance in the last four of Europe’s top competition.

The second legs are on March 27.

Lyon still have not lost in either the French league or the Champions League this season, but they needed a second-half comeback to maintain that record.

France forward Delphine Cascarino equalized in the 63rd and Germany midfielder Sara Dabritz headed home a cross from US captain Lindsay Horan for the winner in the 79th in Lisbon.

Benfica were making its debut in the quarterfinals, and Andreia Faria gave the hosts the lead in the 43rd after intercepting a stray pass on the halfway line and running through unchallenged.

Ajax are also competing in the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time and caused plenty of problems for Chelsea early on at Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, only to concede goals from the visitors’ only two shots of the first half.

England forward Lauren James rounded the goalkeeper and slotted home in the 19th minute for a goal that stood after a VAR check for offside, before Sjoeke Nusken slid in to convert the second in the 44th.

Nusken headed in the third goal in the 83rd to leave Chelsea in total control ahead of the return match at Stamford Bridge, where the club’s men’s team plays.

Chelsea are bidding to win the Champions League for the first time and also are chasing a quadruple of major trophies in coach Emma Hayes’ final season in charge before she takes the helm of the US’ women’s national team.

Hayes’ team lead the Women’s Super League, are into the final of the English League Cup and have reached the quarterfinals of the FA Cup.

The quarterfinals continue Wednesday with defending champion Barcelona away to Norwegian team Brann and Hacken of Sweden hosting Paris Saint-Germain.

Topics: UEFA Women’s Champions League Lyon Chelsea

Related

Barcelona, Bayern earn wins in Women’s Champions League quarterfinals
Football
Barcelona, Bayern earn wins in Women’s Champions League quarterfinals
Wolfsburg back in Women’s Champions League final
Football
Wolfsburg back in Women’s Champions League final

Mourinho and Fenerbahce to face Anderlecht in Europa League playoff round

Mourinho and Fenerbahce to face Anderlecht in Europa League playoff round
Updated 31 January 2025
AP
Follow

Mourinho and Fenerbahce to face Anderlecht in Europa League playoff round

Mourinho and Fenerbahce to face Anderlecht in Europa League playoff round
  • Fenerbahce placed 24th in the new 36-standings format and will host the first leg on Feb. 13
  • Mourinho was hired to end Fenerbahce’s decade-long wait for a Turkish league title
Updated 31 January 2025
AP

NYON: Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce were rewarded for squeezing into the Europa League knockout stage by being drawn Friday to face Anderlecht in a two-leg playoff.
Fenerbahce placed 24th in the new 36-standings format — the last qualification place, and on a tiebreaker of goal difference — and will host the first leg on Feb. 13.
The return game in Brussels is one week later.
Mourinho was hired to end Fenerbahce’s decade-long wait for a Turkish league title, though trails Istanbul rival Galatasaray by six points. Galatasaray also were in Friday’s draw and will face AZ Alkmaar, with the first game in the Netherlands.
Two of Mourinho’s former clubs, Porto and Roma were paired, and Ajax were drawn to face Union Saint-Gilloise which will host the first leg in Belgium.
The playoff round draw involved teams which placed from ninth to 24th over the new eight-game schedule that ended Thursday.
The round of 16 pairings are made on Feb. 21 also involving the top-eight teams in the league phase.
They include two more of Mourinho’s former clubs, Manchester United and Tottenham, plus Lazio, Athletic Bilbao, Eintracht Frankfurt, Lyon, Olympiakos and Rangers.

Topics: Europa League Fenerbahce Jose Mourinho

Related

Mourinho sees red as Fenerbahce hold Man United
Sport
Mourinho sees red as Fenerbahce hold Man United
Rangers and Mourinho’s Fenerbahce knocked out of Champions League
Sport
Rangers and Mourinho’s Fenerbahce knocked out of Champions League

Real Madrid to play Manchester City in standout clash of Champions League knockout playoffs

Real Madrid to play Manchester City in standout clash of Champions League knockout playoffs
Updated 31 January 2025
AP
Follow

Real Madrid to play Manchester City in standout clash of Champions League knockout playoffs

Real Madrid to play Manchester City in standout clash of Champions League knockout playoffs
  • Manchester City, the 2023 champion, will host the first leg on Feb. 11 or 12 and the return game in Madrid is on Feb. 18 or 19
Updated 31 January 2025
AP

NYON, Switzerland: Real Madrid will play Manchester City in the Champions League knockout playoffs round in a standout clash of the past two title winners after the draw was made Friday.
Man City, the 2023 champion, will host the first leg on Feb. 11 or 12 and the return game in Madrid is on Feb. 18 or 19. Madrid won a record-extending 15th European title last season.
The winner over two legs advances to the round of 16 to face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen, who placed in the top eight of the new 36-team league standings that ended Wednesday.
Teams that finished from Nos. 9 to 24 in the standings dropped into the two-leg knockout playoffs. Madrid placed 11th and Man City barely qualified in 22nd, after rallying to beat Club Brugge 3-1 in a must-win game.

Topics: football real madrid Manchester city

Related

Haaland signs new Manchester City deal until 2034
Sport
Haaland signs new Manchester City deal until 2034
Manchester City stop the rot with victory at Leicester
Sport
Manchester City stop the rot with victory at Leicester

Saudi Arabia’s sports minister promises ‘best World Cup experience’ in 2034

Saudi Arabia’s sports minister promises ‘best World Cup experience’ in 2034
Updated 31 January 2025
Arab News
Follow

Saudi Arabia’s sports minister promises ‘best World Cup experience’ in 2034

Saudi Arabia’s sports minister promises ‘best World Cup experience’ in 2034
  • The minister discussed Saudi Arabia’s goal to transform its domestic football league into one of the world’s top five competitions
  • Al-Faisal also briefly discussed the probability of seeing Liverpool superstar forward Mohamed Salah playing in SPL
Updated 31 January 2025
Arab News

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal promised to deliver “the best World Cup experience” in 2034.
In an interview with Piers Morgan on Thursday, the minister discussed Saudi Arabia’s goal to transform its domestic football league into one of the world’s top five competitions.
In July, 2024, a Saudi delegation led by the minister officially submitted the Kingdom’s bid book to FIFA to host the FIFA World Cup 2034 at a ceremony hosted in Paris, France.
Al-Faisal said the Kingdom has been preparing for the FIFA bid for years now.
“We’ve been working tirelessly for six years, with monthly meetings with His Royal Highness [Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman] about details and what could work. Everything that we’re doing is part of the 2030 vision, whether we host the World Cup or not” he said.
During Thursday’s interview Al- Faisal also briefly discussed the probability of seeing Liverpool superstar forward Mohamed Salah playing in the Saudi Pro League.


“Definitely, because if he ticks all the right boxes, even for us, we’d love to have him,” the sports minister said. “We feel like we are one with the Egyptians, from our culture and our history and so on,” he added.
“It’d be a privilege to see Mo Salah here. He’s the most high-profile Muslim player in the world … He hasn’t signed a new contract yet. Up to the clubs now,” Prince Abdulaziz also told Morgan.
Meanwhile on Friday, AFP reported that Liverpool’s coach Arne Slot urged Salah to sign a new contract with Liverpool, advising the Egypt star against a potential lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.
Salah has been in sensational form this season but is out of contract in June, with speculation persisting that the Saudi Pro League could be a possible destination for the Egyptian superstar.
Liverpool manager Slot reiterated at his pre-match press conference on Friday that the club want to keep hold of their talismanic striker, who joined the club in 2017.
“We want him to extend, of course, as well,” he said. “That is clear, but I’m not surprised that Saudi wants him, I’m also not surprised if other countries want him as well.

Topics: football soccer Saudi Arabia 2034 FIFA World Cup Saudi World Cup 2034 bid Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal Mo Salah

Related

Saudi-helmed Ashi Studio unveils sculptural silhouettes, intricate embroidery at Paris Haute Couture Week
Lifestyle
Saudi-helmed Ashi Studio unveils sculptural silhouettes, intricate embroidery at Paris Haute Couture Week
Saudi artist Muhannad Shono to take part in California’s 2025 Desert X
Lifestyle
Saudi artist Muhannad Shono to take part in California’s 2025 Desert X

Man United and Tottenham reach Europa League round of 16. Mourinho’s Fenerbahce into playoffs

Man United and Tottenham reach Europa League round of 16. Mourinho’s Fenerbahce into playoffs
Updated 31 January 2025
AP
Follow

Man United and Tottenham reach Europa League round of 16. Mourinho’s Fenerbahce into playoffs

Man United and Tottenham reach Europa League round of 16. Mourinho’s Fenerbahce into playoffs
  • Lazio, the only team that qualified to the round of 16 with a game to spare, was handed their first defeat, 1-0, away at Braga
  • Frankfurt completed the league phase in fifth despite a 2-0 loss at Roma
  • Rangers squeezed in to complete the top eight by beating Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1
Updated 31 January 2025
AP

LONDON: Manchester United and Tottenham put their inconsistent domestic campaigns aside and advanced to the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday.

Diogo Dalot tapped in a precise cross by Kobbie Mainoo on the hour mark and Mainoo netted eight minutes later for a 2-0 victory over Romanian champion FCSB in Bucharest.

Tottenham got goals from academy graduates to beat Swedish club Elfsborg 3-0 in London. Spurs waited until the 70th minute for substitute Dane Scarlett to break the deadlock before adding two more through substitute Damola Ajayi and 17-year-old Mikey Moore.

Of the 36 teams in the revamped competition, the top eight go directly to the round of 16 in March. Teams ranked ninth to 24th go into the two-legged knockout playoffs on Feb. 13 and Feb. 20 with the winners making the last 16.

The draw is scheduled for Friday.

United, who are 12th in the Premier League, competed the league phase of the second-tier European competition in third place and undefeated with five wins and three draws, trailing the top by one point.

“Kobbie (Mainoo) played very well in that position, with more freedom and not so much responsibility running back all the time,” United manager Ruben Amorim told TNT Sports. “The lads did a good job, another clean sheet.”

Amorim’s squad has shown signs of improvement since he said the team was “the worst, maybe, in the history of Manchester United.”

Thursday’s victory was the third straight in one week after beating Rangers in the Europa League a week ago and Fulham in the Premier League three days later.

Tottenham are languishing in 15th place in the Premier League. Their seven-match winless run in the league is their worst since 2008. But they won five, drew two and lost one for the fourth place in the Europa League.

Lazio, the only team that qualified to the round of 16 with a game to spare, was handed their first defeat, 1-0, away at Braga. Still, the Portuguese team was eliminated.

Lazio still topped the standings with 19th points, the same as the second Athletic Bilbao.

Bilbao secured the second place after a 3-1 home win over 10-man Viktoria Plzen, who have a playoff spot.

Frankfurt completed the league phase in fifth despite a 2-0 loss at Roma. Angeliño and Eldor Shomurodov lifted Roma with the goals at Stadio Olimpico.

Lyon were sixth despite being held 1-1 at home by Ludogorets.

Olympiacos in seventh after routing Qarabag 3-0.

Rangers squeezed in to complete the top eight by beating Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1.

Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce avoided an embarrassing early exit with a 2-2 away draw at Denmark’s Midtjylland. The result sent both into the playoffs. The hosts were 20th while Midtjylland took 24th, giving Mourinho a chance to add to his European trophies.

Ajax ended a three-game losing streak by handing Galatasaray thir first defeat, 2-1 with both teams making the playoffs.

Hoffenheim’s 4-3 away win at Anderlecht was not enough for the Bundesliga team to advance. The Belgian club finished 10th.

Real Sociedad, FCSB, Porto, AZ Alkmaar, Twente and PAOK are among other teams that advanced.

Topics: Europa League

Related

Bruno Fernandes strikes late to keep Man United on course for Europa League last 16 spot
Sport
Bruno Fernandes strikes late to keep Man United on course for Europa League last 16 spot
Son helps Spurs hold off Hoffenheim in Europa League
Sport
Son helps Spurs hold off Hoffenheim in Europa League

Neymar confirms return to Brazil: ‘Only Santos can give me the love I need’

Neymar confirms return to Brazil: ‘Only Santos can give me the love I need’
Updated 31 January 2025
AP
Follow

Neymar confirms return to Brazil: ‘Only Santos can give me the love I need’

Neymar confirms return to Brazil: ‘Only Santos can give me the love I need’
  • "Only Santos can give me the love that I need to prepare for the challenges I have in the next few years,” Neymar said
  • “I hope you all follow me in this new phase of my life”
Updated 31 January 2025
AP

SAO PAULO: Neymar has confirmed he will sign what is expected to be a short-term contract with his boyhood club, Santos, as the Brazil striker aims to recharge his career ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The 32-year-old Neymar said Thursday that he's returning to the Sao Paulo club, and local media reported that the deal will extend only to June 30.
"Only Santos can give me the love that I need to prepare for the challenges I have in the next few years. All of you, no matter who you support, know well what I am talking about,” Neymar said on his social media channels.
“I hope you all follow me in this new phase of my life.”
Santos used their social media channels to respond Neymar’s video: “Your home awaits. Your people awaits." Neymar left Santos nearly 12 years ago to join Barcelona.
The striker's return follows the termination of his contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal. Neymar had returned in October from an ACL injury sustained while playing for Brazil only months after he joined Al-Hilal. He played only seven matches and scored once for the Saudi team.
Neymar also left Paris Saint-Germain under criticism from fans, who accused him of not caring enough about his fitness. In 2017, his exit at Barcelona was also frustrating for club supporters, who hoped he could help Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez win more trophies.
A Santos official told AP that Neymar is expected to arrive at Sao Paulo's international airport at 9 a.m. on Friday. He will then board a helicopter to go to the club's Vila Belmiro Stadium. After he signs his contract, he will be reintroduced to fans during the evening.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly.
Neymar has already played 225 matches with Santos. He scored 138 goals for the club, many of which key for the six titles he won at the Brazilian giant, which were relegated in 2023 and returned to the country's top division last year.
Neymar became the most expensive player in soccer history when he transferred from Barcelona to PSG for 222 million euros (then $262 million) in 2017.
Neymar’s most recent match was played in November. Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus had repeatedly cast doubts about the striker’s form to play.
His contract with Al-Hilal was due to expire after this year’s FIFA Club World Cup, which will be played between June 15 and July 13 in the United States.
The striker joined the Saudi club from PSG in August 2023 for 90 million euros ($94 million).
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time top goalscorer with 79 goals in 125 matches, also said he is focused on getting more playing time so he can prepare for the World Cup in North America next year in what could be his last shot at winning the tournament.

Topics: Neymar Santos Brazil

Related

Neymar thanks Saudi Arabia, Al-Hilal, fans after departing to Santos
Sport
Neymar thanks Saudi Arabia, Al-Hilal, fans after departing to Santos
Neymar parts ways with Al-Hilal
Sport
Neymar parts ways with Al-Hilal

Latest updates

Nadhim Zahawi reflects on his journey from Baghdad to Britain at Dubai literature festival
Nadhim Zahawi reflects on his journey from Baghdad to Britain at Dubai literature festival
Rare disease experts arrive in Riyadh for annual summit
Rare disease experts arrive in Riyadh for annual summit
Balad Beast energizes historic Al-Balad with electrifying performances
Balad Beast energizes historic Al-Balad with electrifying performances
King Faisal Specialist Hospital ranks among top 15 globally
King Faisal Specialist Hospital ranks among top 15 globally
Cycling chiefs deny plans to move world championships from Rwanda
Cycling chiefs deny plans to move world championships from Rwanda

Search form

Print Edition
Read pdf version Subscribe now
© 2025 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.