24/10/2025

SPORTS FRIDAY | OCT 24, 2025

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Real keep up perfect start Bellingham strike helps Madrid edge Juventus J UDE BELLINGHAM’S goal helped record 15-time winners Real Madrid maintain their 100% start to the Champions League with a 1-0 victory over Juventus yesterday. that moment,” Bellingham told CBS Sports . “I felt really comfortable, really good and really enjoyed myself to be honest.” Bellingham’s coach Alonso was also delighted with his performance and his first goal at the Bernabeu since April. Sporting produce late rally to down 10-man Marseille GENY CATAMO and Alisson Santos came off the bench in the second half to inspire hosts Sporting to a late 2-1 comeback win over Olympique de Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday. Ligue 1 leaders Marseille, who were on a five-match winning run across all competitions, dropped to 18th in the table with three points from three games. While Sporting climbed to 11th on six points with their second win in the competition. The hosts sought to apply pressure from the outset but Igor Paixao put Marseille ahead in the 14th minute, collecting Pierre Emerick Aubameyang’s cross-field pass on the left before cutting inside his marker and curling a fine shot into the far corner for his third goal in as many Champions League games this season. Marseille looked set to double their lead just before halftime when they were initially awarded a penalty for an apparent foul on Emerson Palmieri. However, after a VAR review the decision was overturned, and in a dramatic twist the Brazilian was shown a second yellow card for simulation. With their numerical advantage, Sporting pushed forward as Marseille sat deeper to protect their lead. Geovany Quenda’s pace repeatedly troubled the visitors, the 18-year-old forcing Geronimo Rulli to push his shot onto the post before the goalkeeper denied Joao Simoes with his legs. The pressure finally paid off in

BAYERN MUNICH outclassed visitors Club Brugge 4-0 in the Champions League yesterday with three goals in the first 34 minutes to maintain their flawless start to the season. This makes it three wins from three matches for the Bavarians in this competition. The German champions have now won all 12 matches across all competitions this season while also staking an early claim for a Champions League knockout stage spot with a maximum nine points. First half goals from 17-year-old man of-the-match Lennart Karl, who became the youngest German scorer in the competition, Harry Kane and Luis Diaz sealed the game before substitute Nicolas Jackson added another in the 79th minute. “It was a good performance and we could have scored more goals,” said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany. “A very good home game. “We also saw young players. “Lennart Karl showed in an important game that he can Formidable Bayern stretch winning run get his chance,“ Kompany said. Bayern next travel to defending champions Paris St Germain on Nov 4 while Brugge, sitting on three points from three matches, host Barcelona a day later. Bayern were the clear favourites and Karl’s sensational solo effort and powerful shot in the fifth minute put them in the driving seat early as the record-breaking teenager celebrated a memorable first start in the Champions League. England captain Kane then tapped in at the far post after a perfectly-timed cutback from Konrad Laimer in the 14th to confirm his sensational scoring form and take his tally to 20 goals in 12 matches across all competitions with Bayern this season. That is faster to 20 goals than Argentine great Lionel Messi or Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo have ever managed from the start of a season in their club careers. The Belgians never got a chance to get back in the game, and Diaz found enough space to cut into the box and fire an unstoppable shot to make it 3-0 and put the game to bed in the 34th. The Bavarians could have added to their tally, missing half a dozen golden chances and twice hitting the woodwork, as the Belgians struggled with the hosts’ fierce tempo. Jackson, who had an effort cleared on the line minutes earlier, made amends in the 79th, tapping in to complete a quick break and cap a dominant performance by the hosts. “We knew it wouldn’t be an easy game against Bayern, they are one of the best teams in Europe, if not the best,” said Brugge forward Nicolo Tresoldi. “We showed them a bit too much respect in the first half. “In the second half we improved, but there’s no shame in losing against Bayern.” – Reuters help us.” “But I am no fan of the hype. If he continues like that he will

the 69th minute as Catamo came off the bench and drew Sporting level with a crisp low strike, the equaliser standing after a VAR review overturned an initial offside call. Santos sealed the comeback in the 86th minute, cutting in from the left and firing a deflected shot into the top corner. Sporting’s Maximiliano Araujo was shown a red card in stoppage time, but VAR downgraded it to yellow, allowing the hosts to clinch the win with all 11 players on the pitch. – Reuters

before halftime. Dusan Vlahovic came close to an opener from a counter-attack before Vinicius’ moment of quality set up Bellingham for what proved to be the winning goal. “We have some strengths and weaknesses, but we have to put faith in this team, as we are on the right track,” said Juventus coach Igor Tudor. “We had hunger, but when doing so much running, there was a lack of sharpness and many were not accustomed to playing at this level.” – AFP/Agencies

Xabi Alonso’s Spanish giants mostly outplayed their visitors but could not extend their lead after England international Bellingham netted from close range in the second half. Italian heavyweights

“Jude played a really complete game, over and above the goal,” said Alonso. “I really liked how he played against Getafe (on Sunday) and even more so today, plus his goal. “He’s giving such good sensations with how competitive he is and how he creates dangerous

Juventus, now without a win in seven games across all competitions, fought hard but

failed to find an equaliser at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid’s solid win was ideal preparation for Sunday’s Clasico against rivals Barcelona in La Liga and left them as one of five sides to win all three of their opening league phase matches, including holders Paris Saint-Germain. “It was a very tough game with chances at both ends and we had to sweat for it, but it was an important win against a big team,” Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois told Movistar , after making his 300th appearance for the club. Madrid took the lead after some fine work by Vinicius Junior, yet to score in the Champions League this season. The Brazilian was surrounded by defenders in the area but managed to work some space for a shot, which he curled against the post. Attacking midfielder Bellingham showed his poacher’s instinct to react quickest and turn home the rebound after 57 minutes. It was the 22-year-old’s first goal of the season in his seventh match, after a slow start to the campaign following shoulder surgery in the summer to fix a long-term problem. “It’s a great feeling, a long time since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and I was dreaming of

situations. I’m delighted for him.

“He’s got the skill and the instincts to be at the business end of the pitch but he’s a box-to-box player, too. He’s one of the most complete players in the world.” After a bright start by Juve who forced Courtois into two early saves, the hosts peppered the visitors’ goal with 14 shots in the first half. Kylian Mbappe went closest with a fierce left footed attempt which tested goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, but neither side could break the deadlock

Jude Bellingham celebrates after

scoring Real Madrid’s opening goal. – AFPPIC

SIDENETTING

earn the win but had to settle for a share of the spoils. Atalanta are away to Olympique de Marseille next while Slavia host Arsenal. Osimhen at the double for Galatasaray GALATASARAY made the most of a litany of errors by Norwegian visitors Bodo/Glimt as they cruised to a 3-1 home win in the Champions League yesterday, with striker Victor Osimhen netting twice for the Turkish side in the first half. Osimhen wasted no time giving the home side an early lead, sweeping a sumptuous first-time finish past Nikita Haikin in the third minute as the Norwegian side was quickly punished for giving the ball away cheaply in midfield.

through on goal but sending his shot straight at Slavia keeper Jakub Markovic, who then parried away Charles De Ketelaere’s strike from distance. Markovic later made a point blank save from Nikola Krstovic’s close-range effort and at the other end, Atalanta keeper Marco Carnesecchi made an excellent stop to deny David Moses on the stroke of halftime. Carnesecchi saved a Lukas Provod free kick while Kamaldeen Sulemana came off the bench for the hosts but failed to net when through one-on-one with the keeper. Another Atalanta substitute, Gianluca Scamacca, had a late chance saved by Markovic and both sides will feel they did enough to

Osimhen doubled his tally in the 33rd minute after another error. Under pressure as he ran infield, Bodo left-back Fredrik Bjorkan inexplicably passed the ball straight to Osimhen in a central position, and the forward gratefully tucked the ball away. Bodo were made to pay again on the hour mark as centreback Haitam Aleesami was robbed just outside his penalty area by Osimhen, and Yunus Akgun was able to score at the second attempt to make it 3-0. Osimhen had plenty of opportunities to complete his hat trick but he was thwarted by keeper Haikin, and Bodo substitute Andreas Helmersen was able to head home a close-range consolation goal in the 76th minute as his side finished strongly.

Atalanta held by Slavia Prague

ATALANTA were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Slavia Prague in their Champions League meeting yesterday in a game of spurned chances and saves from both keepers. The hosts move on to four points after losing 4-0 away to champions Paris St Germain before beating Club Brugge 2-1, while Slavia are on two points having opened with a 2 2 draw at home to Bodo/Glimt followed by a 3-0 defeat at Inter Milan. Atalanta created two early chances in quick succession, with defender Odilon Kossounou racing