UEFA Champions League
Alvarez helps Man City sweep past Red Star
Holders Manchester City recovered from falling a goal behind to outclass Red Star Belgrade 3-1 in their Group G opener with Julian Alvarez scoring twice at The Etihad on Tuesday.
Pep Guardiola’s side dominated the opening period but were guilty of wayward finishing and trailed to a sucker-punch just before halftime as Osman Bukari broke clear to finish in style.
City began the game on a 26-match unbeaten run in Champions League home games and normal service was resumed almost immediately after the restart as Alvarez levelled after combining with Erling Haaland.
A misjudgement by Red Star keeper Omri Glazer allowed an Alvarez cross to go into the net on the hour and Rodri made it 3-1 with a clinical finish after 73 minutes as City made it 19 home wins in succession in all competitions.
Just over three months since City finally claimed Europe’s biggest club prize with victory over Inter Milan in Istanbul they began their defence in ultimately comfortable fashion.
But for 45 minutes it looked as though it might be one of those nights as chance after chance went begging.
Once Argentina’s Alvarez levelled in the 47th minute, however, only one outcome looked likely.
“The last two games I didn’t know how many chances we missed,” Guardiola said.
“We played really, really good but we were not able to score goals. We were consistent and in the end we won the game.”
Norwegian goal-machine Haaland has now gone four Champions League games without hitting the net and he was guilty of some poor misses in a first half in which City’s 22 goal attempts were the most in the competition since data began to be compiled.
He headed one effort wide, another even easier chance against the crossbar and then lashed a shot over.
Red Star keeper Glazer was superb in the first half, denying Phil Foden from close range and also keeping out efforts by Nathan Ake and Rodri.
But City switched off in the 45th minute and a ball forward sent Bukari through with only Ederson to beat.
The Ghanaian kept remarkably calm to place his shot beyond the City keeper but his joy was initially curtailed by an offside flag before referee Joao Pinheiro allowed it to stand after an intervention by VAR.
The 3,000 travelling Belgrade fans celebrated and City could hardly believe it as they headed off at halftime.
“I said ‘guys, we cannot say we are playing bad. Forget the result, we are able to come back so go for it and be more calm’,” the City boss said of his halftime team talk.
City did not take long to make amends after the break as Alvarez played the ball in to Haaland and then showed great desire to sprint into the area and take a return pass before skipping around Glazer and slotting home in the blink of an eye.
Kyle Walker had a goal ruled out for offside before the otherwise excellent Glazer gifted the hosts their second goal.
Alvarez whipped in a right-footed cross with pace and Glazer flapped at thin air with the ball nestling in the net.
City began to toy with a flagging Red Star and wrapped up the points when Rodri, scorer of the winner against Inter in June, produced a deadly right-foot finish from the left side of the penalty area.
-Reuters
UEFA Champions League
Thierry Henry, “Igwe,” Give Victor Osimhen Sweet Pidgin Salute After UCL Heroics
Veteran football legend Thierry Henry, affectionately known by many Nigerian fans as “Igwe”, had social media buzzing after he greeted Nigerian star Victor Osimhen in Nigerian Pidgin English during a post-match interview following Galatasaray’s dramatic passage into the UEFA Champions League last 16.
The Istanbul giants advanced 7–5 on aggregate over Juventus despite losing the second leg 3–2, thanks to Osimhen’s extra-time equaliser and a late winner from Barış Alper Yılmaz.
“Victor, how bodi?” Sparks Joy
In his CBS Sports interview, Henry deliberately used Nigerian Pidgin to greet Osimhen:
“Victor, how bodi?”
The question — loosely meaning “Victor, how are you?” — immediately lit up the stadium and viewers online.
Osimhen, clearly delighted, responded in kind:
“Bodi dey fine!”
(I’m fine!)
The exchange sent Nigerian fans and football supporters around the world into a frenzy on social media, with many praising Henry for embracing local culture and cheering the Super Eagles star in his own tongue.
Osimhen’s Big Night
The 25-year-old, who joined Galatasaray from SSC Napoli in a club-record €75 million move, has continued to shine in Turkey. With nine Super Lig goals so far this season, his knack for rising on big occasions was once again on display in European competition.
After his extra-time strike against Juventus — a goal that turned the tie on its head and ultimately sent Gala through — Osimhen cemented his status as one of African football’s brightest performers on the biggest stages.
Fans Celebrate the Cultural Nod
The playful Pidgin exchange wasn’t just a fun moment — it also highlighted how football continues to connect cultures and nations. Nigerian fans online applauded Henry’s effort to speak their language and celebrated Osimhen’s response as a sign of how far the Nigerian forward has come in his European career.
One fan wrote: “Igwe sabi! That ‘how bodi’ make my day!”
Another added: “Victor dey represent us well for Europe.”
As Galatasaray prepare for the next phase of their European campaign, Osimhen’s star quality remains a major talking point — both for what he does on the pitch and how he continues to light up moments off it.
Source: Post-match interview on CBS Sports and related commentary (https://x.com/i/status/2026812476667449591)
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Victor Osimhen once again rose to the grand European stage on Wednesday night, delivering a decisive extra-time strike that propelled Galatasaray into the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 despite a spirited comeback attempt from 10-man Juventus.
Although the Turkish champions fell 3-2 in the second leg in Turin, Osimhen’s crucial intervention ensured Galatasaray advanced 7-5 on aggregate after a dramatic knockout round playoff clash.
Juventus’ Brave Response
Trailing 5-2 from the first leg in Istanbul, Juventus needed something special. Against expectations — and recent form that had seen them winless in five matches — the Italian giants produced a stirring response.
Captain Manuel Locatelli gave the hosts hope from the penalty spot eight minutes before halftime after Lucas Torreira fouled Khephren Thuram. But their task grew tougher just three minutes into the second half when Lloyd Kelly was sent off, leaving Juve to once again finish a European contest with 10 men.
Yet, the Bianconeri refused to wilt. Federico Gatti tapped in from close range with 20 minutes remaining, and Weston McKennie’s late header levelled the tie on aggregate, sending the Allianz Stadium into delirium and forcing extra time.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Juventus looked the more dangerous side. Kenan Yildiz struck the post, while several half-chances went begging as belief surged through the home ranks.
Osimhen’s Moment of Authority
But when the tension peaked, and legs began to tire, Osimhen delivered.
Just before halftime in extra time, the Nigerian striker collected a precise pass from Baris Alper Yilmaz inside the area. With trademark composure and lethal instinct, he fired through the legs of goalkeeper Mattia Perin to silence the stadium and restore Galatasaray’s aggregate lead.
It was a goal of timing, intelligence, and clinical precision — the hallmark of a striker built for decisive nights.
As Juventus threw bodies forward in desperation, they ran out of steam. Yilmaz compounded their misery late on, finishing off a swift counterattack to seal the Turkish side’s progression.
Respect for Juventus, Reward for Galatasaray
Despite elimination, Juventus earned warm applause from their supporters after a valiant effort.
“I feel like crying. We gave our heart and soul,” Locatelli told Amazon Prime. “In the first leg, an episode was complicated today.”
Gatti echoed the sentiment, admitting fatigue proved costly in extra time.
For Galatasaray, however, the night belonged to Osimhen — a striker whose influence continues to define their European campaign. His extra-time heroics now set up a Round of 16 showdown against either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur, with Friday’s draw set to determine their next opponent.
On a night of drama, resilience, and shifting momentum, it was Osimhen who wrote the final chapter — proving once more that when the stakes are highest, he answers the call.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Real Madrid recovered from an early scare to beat Benfica 2-1 on Wednesday and secure a 3-1 aggregate victory to reach the Champions League last 16 after a pulsating game at the Bernabeu.
Aurelien Tchouameni and Vinicius Jr. struck either side of halftime to cancel out Rafa Silva’s opener and send the record 15-time European champions through, with either Manchester City or Sporting awaiting in Friday’s draw.
Benfica, trailing 1-0 from a first leg in Portugal marred by Vinicius accusing Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of directing a racist slur at him, started brightly and sliced through a makeshift-looking Real defence missing Eder Militao and Dean Huijsen, with forward Kylian Mbappe also out due to a knee injury set to sideline him for multiple games.
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho was absent from the touchline after receiving a red card in the first leg for complaining, and Prestianni was not involved after being provisionally suspended by UEFA following the incident with Vinicius in Lisbon.
The visitors went ahead in the 14th minute in chaotic fashion. Thibaut Courtois produced a stunning left-footed save to prevent Raul Asencio turning Pavlidis’s cross into his own net, but the rebound dropped invitingly for Rafa, who controlled the ball inside the six-yard box before firing past the keeper.
Real’s response was swift and slick. Two minutes later, Gonzalo linked up smartly with Federico Valverde on the right wing, the Uruguayan cutting the ball back towards the edge of the box where Tchouameni guided a low finish just inside the right post.
With the tie finely poised, the game opened up, and Arda Guler thought he had put Real ahead in the 32nd minute, only for VAR to rule the effort out for offside in the build-up.
Benfica continued to threaten, Richard Rios drawing a superb save from Courtois with a fierce strike in the 38th minute, but the home side began to find more rhythm after the break.
Asencio headed narrowly wide from a corner, and Trent Alexander-Arnold flashed an angled effort past the post, but Real were almost punished for their profligacy.
On the hour mark, Vinicius was caught as Real attempted to play out from the back, allowing Rafa to unleash a thunderous shot from the edge of the box that crashed against the crossbar.
The tension lingered until the 80th minute, when Valverde seized on a loose ball in midfield and threaded a precise pass through to Vinicius, who timed his run to beat the offside trap, surged into the box and slotted a composed finish into the bottom corner to settle the tie.
“We didn’t start very well, but we remained confident and knew the goals would come eventually,” Tchouameni told Movistar Plus.
“We did things a little better as the match progressed, and now we’re going to keep going as we move forward. We need to tweak our defence a little and get into the game better, but we won, and that’s the most important thing.”
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- WAFCON4 days ago
BREAKING: CAF Postpones WAFCON 2026
- OBITUARY5 days ago
Nigerian Sports Journalism Mourns Oyeniyi Oyeleke and Tonex Chukwu
- MLS1 week ago
Trump to Host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami at the White House
- World Cup5 days ago
‘I really don’t care’ if Iran plays in World Cup, Trump tells Politico
- World Cup4 days ago
Iraq’s World Cup Playoff in Doubt as War Disrupts Travel and Visa Processing
- FA Cup2 days ago
Eze thunderbolt guides Arsenal past Mansfield into FA Cup quarter-finals
- WAFCON1 week ago
Ahead of WAFCON 2026, CAF Celebrates Super Falcons’ Enduring Legacy from Trailblazers to Torchbearers
- MLS3 days ago
Trump celebrates Messi