Marcus Rashford struck twice in the second half as Barcelona defeated Newcastle United 2-0 in their Champions League Group Stage opener at St. James’ Park on Wednesday.

After a goalless first half, Rashford broke the deadlock with a sharp finish before adding a second to secure three points for Hansi Flick’s side. The England forward, signed this summer from Manchester United, made an immediate impact on his European debut for the Spanish champions.

Barcelona fielded a strong lineup including Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araujo and Robert Lewandowski, while Newcastle manager Eddie Howe left Nick Woltemade on the bench. The hosts, backed by a raucous home crowd, struggled to create clear chances against Barcelona’s disciplined defence.

Before kickoff, both clubs paid tribute to former manager Sir Bobby Robson, who enjoyed spells at Newcastle and Barcelona. Fans also engaged widely on social media in the buildup, with tributes, predictions and giveaways trending online.

The win gives Barcelona an early lead in their group, while Newcastle face an uphill task after opening with a home defeat.

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Mohamed Salah struck a dramatic stoppage-time penalty to hand Liverpool a hard-fought 1-0 win over Burnley after a costly handball by Hannibal Mejbri.

The Reds dominated possession boasting nearly 80% of the ball and attempting 26 shots but repeatedly failed to break down Burnley’s stubborn defense.

The turning point came after Burnley midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu was sent off for a second yellow card, leaving Vincent Kompany’s side under pressure. Deep into stoppage time, former Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri inexplicably raised his hands to block a cross inside the area. Referee Michael Oliver had no hesitation in awarding the penalty.

Mohamed Salah, who had not registered a shot all game, stepped up and smashed the ball into the top corner, extending Liverpool’s perfect start to the Premier League season under manager Arne Slot.

“It’s not as if Hannibal’s unlucky. It’s madness. It’s cost them a point, and a point would have felt like a win,” Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane said after the game.

The result means Liverpool remain top of the Premier League as the only team with a 100% record, extending their scoring run to 38 consecutive games. Burnley, meanwhile, were left to rue a late lapse after producing a valiant defensive display.

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MANCHESTER CITY THRASH MANCHESTER UNITED 3-0 IN DERBY DAY THRILLER

Manchester City claimed bragging rights in the Manchester derby with a convincing 3-0 win over Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium. Erling Haaland scored twice in the second half, while Phil Foden opened the scoring with a well-taken header.

The victory marked a dominant display from Pep Guardiola’s side, who bounced back from two successive Premier League defeats. Gianluigi Donnarumma made his City debut in goal and produced a brilliant save, although United’s attack didn’t pose a significant threat.

HAALAND SHINES AGAIN

Erling Haaland continued his impressive form, scoring his third and fourth goals in as many Premier League matches this season. His two second-half strikes sealed the win for City, who controlled the game with their precise passing and clinical finishing.

FODEN’S EARLY STRIKE

Phil Foden opened the scoring with a precise header, assisted by Jeremy Doku’s cross into the box. The young English midfielder’s goal set the tone for City’s dominant performance.

CITY’S DERBY DAY DOMINANCE

The 3-0 win gives City bragging rights in the Manchester derby, with the two teams meeting for the 197th time. City’s victory showcased their strength and depth, as they outplayed United in all areas of the pitch.

NEXT MATCH

Manchester City will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming fixtures, while Manchester United will aim to regroup and bounce back from the defeat.

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Former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has called for the dissolution of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) if the national team fails to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Nigeria’s qualification hopes suffered another setback after the Super Eagles were held to a disappointing draw by South Africa in their Group C clash. The result leaves Nigeria sitting third in the group, six points behind the Bafana Bafana, with only two matches left to play.

Mikel Points Finger at NFF

Speaking on his Obi One Podcast, Mikel expressed frustration at the federation’s role in the team’s struggles.

“If Nigeria doesn’t qualify for the World Cup, the entire NFF board has to go. It’s unacceptable,” the former Chelsea midfielder said.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner stressed that Nigeria’s repeated failures on the global stage cannot continue unchecked, especially after the Super Eagles missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“We didn’t qualify for Qatar, the last World Cup, and now it looks like again we are not going to make it. Honestly, I have nothing to say about it,” he added.

Players Not Solely to Blame

While acknowledging that the players bear some responsibility, Mikel maintained that the deeper problem lies in football administration.

“Do you blame the players? No, I don’t blame the players. Yes, the players have to take responsibility for the situation but are you gonna blame the players alone? No,” he explained.

The ex-Super Eagles skipper lamented the poor management of football in Nigeria, saying it continues to damage the country’s reputation internationally.

“Again, we talk about it so many times and that’s why you have people disrespecting the African continent and football,” Mikel said.

Nigeria’s Uphill Battle

With two matches left in the qualifiers, the Super Eagles face a daunting task to keep their 2026 World Cup hopes alive. Analysts say failure to qualify for back-to-back tournaments would be a massive blow to Nigeria’s football image and could deepen calls for sweeping reforms in the country’s football governance.

Mikel insists accountability must start with those at the helm.

“The people that run football in Nigeria should be held accountable,” he concluded.

Nigeria’s quest to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been dealt another blow after the Super Eagles were held to a 1-1 draw against South Africa in their Group C qualifier.

The result leaves Nigeria in a precarious position, needing not only to win their remaining fixtures against Lesotho and Benin Republic but also to hope other teams in the group drop crucial points.

South Africa in Control

After eight rounds of matches, South Africa remain firmly on top of Group C with 17 points. Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana side now hold a six-point cushion over Nigeria, who sit provisionally in second place with 11 points.

However, Nigeria’s hold on that spot is far from secure. Third-placed Benin, also on 11 points, are set to play Lesotho later on Tuesday and will leapfrog the Super Eagles with a draw or victory.

Rwanda, also tied on 11 points, occupy fourth position, while Lesotho sit fifth. Zimbabwe remain bottom with just four points.

Qualification Looking Slim

With only the top two teams in Group C advancing to the next stage of qualification, Nigeria’s path to the tournament is narrowing. Having already missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the three-time African champions now face the very real possibility of sitting out consecutive editions for the first time since their debut in 1994.

To keep their dream alive, the Super Eagles must win both remaining games while banking on South Africa, Benin, and Rwanda to falter. Anything less could see Nigeria’s qualification hopes extinguished.

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