Ajax cruise and Aberdeen battle back in Europa League

25.08.2023 - 10:35 arabnews.com

PARIS: Four-time European champions Ajax cruised to a 4-1 victory in Bulgaria in Europa League qualifying on Thursday while Aberdeen returned to the scene of their European triumph and fought back for a draw.

For their Europa League play-off round first leg, Aberdeen went to Gothenburg, where they beat Real Madrid in the Cup Winners Cup final in 1983, and salvaged a 2-2 draw as Swedish champions FC Hacken imploded in the last 15 minutes.

A penalty from Ibrahim Sadiq put the hosts two goals up after 69 minutes. Bojan Miovski turned his defender and fired home after 75 minutes.

The North Macedonian then set up Nicky Devlin, bursting in the box, for the right back’s first Aberdeen goal four minutes later.

FIFA Manchester City England kiss EUROPA Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo Jenni Hermoso Luis Rubiales Aymeric Laporte Brian Brobbey Mary Earps Nicky Devlin Bojan Miovski Europa League Sweden Belgium Denmark Spain Cameroon Macedonia Ghana Saudi Arabia county Patrick Bulgaria Moldova Faroe Islands

Steve Clarke has assured Jack Hendry that moving to Saudi Arabia WON’T hinder his Scotland career.

Haaland hits hat-trick to take Man City top, Son treble inspires Spurs

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Manchester City maintained their perfect Premier League start with a 5-1 thrashing of Fulham on Saturday, as Son Heung-min’s also netted three times in Tottenham’s 5-2 victory at Burnley. But Chelsea’s huge investment in the transfer market is still to reap reward as the Blues were beaten 1-0 at home by Nottingham Forest. In keeping with the early weeks of the season, City were good enough for the three points without ever hitting top gear. The English champions were without manager Pep Guardiola as he recovers from back surgery in his native Catalonia. The home side had not had a shot on target until Julian Alvarez turned home Haaland’s cross to open the scoring on 31 minutes. Fulham, who were missing influential midfielder Joao Palhinha after his deadline day move to Bayern Munich collapsed on Friday, responded immediately when Tim Ream tapped in from a corner. City needed a set-piece of their own to restore the lead in controversial circumstances. Nathan Ake’s header was allowed to stand despite Manuel Akanji, who was in an offside position, jumping over the ball. Haaland then exploded after the break.

Liverpool get kind Europa League draw, Brighton to face Ajax and Marseille

Liverpool were handed a kind draw on Friday for this season's Europa League group stage while their Premier League rivals Brighton and Hove Albion can look forward to meeting European giants Ajax and Marseille in their first ever foray into continental competition.

Every Scottish Premiership transfer in and out as clubs get ready for hectic season of thrills

And just like that, the transfer madness is over for another summer.

Chelsea and Man City make moves as EPL spending hurtles toward $3 billion in window

LONDON: English Premier League spending was hurtling toward a staggering $3 billion in a record outlay during European soccer’s summer transfer window on Friday. Manchester City and — of course — Chelsea were among those making moves on a typically frantic deadline day. Chelsea were leading the unprecedented splurge, with the arrival of 21-year-old winger Cole Palmer from City for 40 million pounds ($50.7 million) taking the west London club’s spending in this window to around $500 million. In the three transfer windows under their new American ownership fronted by Todd Boehly, Chelsea have spent about $1.15 billion on players mostly signed up on long contracts in an innovative way to spread “amortization” costs of transfer fees. By comparison, the $260 million outlay by City, the English and European champion, look modest. The fourth and final arrival in the window came on deadline day and was Portugal international Matheus Nunes from Wolverhampton, a ball-carrier costing $67 million and providing extra depth in central midfield. Central midfielders were also priorities for Liverpool and Manchester United, who were attempting to tie up the signings of Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich and Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina, respectively, in the final hours of the window. It was a busy day for United, which signed left back Sergio Reguilón on loan from Tottenham as cover for the injured Luke Shaw and goalkeeper Altay Bayindir on a transfer from Fenerbahce to back up Andre Onana.

Brighton and Liverpool handed contrasting Europa League draws

Europa League debutants Brighton were drawn to take on former Champions League winners Ajax and Marseille in Friday's group stage draw.