BARCELONA: Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo scored early goals to lead Barcelona to a 3-0 win over Osasuna and extend its lead of the Spanish league on Thursday. Coach Hansi Flick rested Robert Lewandowski until the final stretch, when the Poland star came on and headed in a cross by fellow substitute Fermin Lpez. It was Lewandowski's league-leading 23rd goal of the season. The game had been originally scheduled for March 8 but was postponed after a first-team doctor of Barcelona died hours before ki

LONDON: Chelsea staged a big first-half comeback to march into the semifinals of the Women's Champions League with a 3-0 victory over Manchester City on Thursday. Sandy Baltimore scored early in the all-England quarterfinal at Stamford Bridge before Nathalie Bjrn and Mayra Ramrez netted in a five-minute span to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg and set up a last-four matchup against defending champion Barcelona. We were never in doubt, Chelsea captain Millie Bright told TNT Sports. We ha

LONDON: Alessia Russo scored twice and Arsenal staged a remarkable comeback to reach the Women's Champions League semifinals with a 3-0 win over Real Madrid. Mariona Caldentey scored the other as Arsenal grabbed three goals in 13 minutes to overturn the team's 2-0 loss in the first leg of the quarterfinal in the Spanish capital last week. Caldentey, who used to torment Madrid while playing for Barcelona, wheeled away in delight after leveling the tie three minutes after Russo pulled a goal back

MUNICH: Bayern Munich are facing the prospect of battling for both the league title and the Champions League without key players Dayot Upamecano and Alphonso Davies, who returned from international duty injured, the German giants said Wednesday. Canadian international Davies, 24, a key presence in midfield for Bayern, tore the ACL in his right knee during their 2-1 win over the United States on Sunday in the CONCACAF Nations League. Bayern said he will definitely be out for the rest of the seaso

BUENOS AIRES: Defending champion Argentina celebrated throughout Tuesday as the team secured its place at the 2026 World Cup hours before an historic 4-1 win over archrival Brazil. Bolivias failure to beat Uruguay meant Argentina had enough cushion in South American qualifying to secure one of the continents six direct spots for the 48-team World Cup set to be co-hosted next year by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. After Bolivia's 0-0 draw with Uruguay at El Alto, about 85,000 raucous Argentina fans

KOCHI: Under pressure to reverse its fortunes, Kerala Blasters FC on Tuesday announced the appointment of David Catala, a former Spanish footballer, as the clubs head coach until 2026. The Spanish tactician, recognized for his modern approach to the game and extensive experience within European football, will assume his responsibilities with immediate effect, an official statement by the club said. Catala has signed a one-year contract, securing his position at the club until 2026, the release s

INGLEWOOD: Raul Jimenez scored twice as Mexico snatched a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Panama to win the CONCACAF Nations League for the first time on Sunday. Fulham striker Jimenez -- who had also bagged a brace in a semi-final win over Canada -- slotted a stoppage time penalty to settle a pulsating final battle at SoFi Stadium. Mexico's win was tinged with controversy though, with the final halted by match officials in the closing minutes due to homophobic chanting from Mexican fans. It was the

DORTMUND: Germany survived a spirited second-half fightback from Italy, letting a three-goal lead slip to draw 3-3 in Dortmund on Sunday, before reaching the Nations League semi-finals 5-4 on aggregate. A first-half Joshua Kimmich masterclass, with a penalty and two assists for Jamal Musiala and Tim Kleindienst, had Germany 3-0 up and cruising at the break. However, injury-hit Italy kicked into gear in the second half, Moise Kean scoring a double to rattle the hosts. Italy looked on course to le

PARIS: Holders Spain beat the Netherlands on penalties after a dramatic quarter-final second leg in Valencia finished 3-3 on Sunday to set up a Nations League last-four clash with France, who edged Croatia in a shoot-out after a 2-2 aggregate draw. On a dramatic night, Portugal battled past Denmark in extra time and will next face Finals hosts Germany after their tense 5-4 aggregate victory over Italy. European champions Spain took the lead in the tie, after Thursday's 2-2 first-leg draw, when M

LISBON: Portugal beat Denmark 5-3 on aggregate to reach the Nations League semi-finals on Sunday, winning a pulsating second leg 5-2 after extra time. Portugal will face Finals hosts Germany in June in the last four after overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit to brave Denmark. Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty but later scored a crucial goal, before Francisco Trincao's late double set Roberto Martinez's men on course for the semis. Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel stared down Ronaldo's stutte

SAINT DENNIS: Goalkeeper Mike Maignan saved twice in the shoot-out as France beat Croatia 5-4 on penalties on Sunday after their UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie had ended 2-2 on aggregate, sealing a place in the last four in June. Les Bleus won 2-0 on the night with goals in normal time by Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele at the Stade de France to wipe out their deficit from Thursday's first leg. With no further scoring in extra time the tie went to penalties, where Maignan saved from bot

KOCHI: Kerala Blasters FC have endured a forgettable Indian Super League season, finishing a disappointing eighth and missing out on the playoffs. A campaign that began with promise unravelled quickly, leaving the team with more losses than wins. With eight victories, five draws, and eleven defeats, the Blasters also conceded a staggering 37 goals far from the standards expected of a club that prides itself on passionate fan support and high player investments. Despite being one of ISLs most fi