John Stones blow dampens Manchester City joy at Champions League progress

09.11.2023 - 02:33 breakingnews.ie

Manchester City defender John Stones is facing a lay-off after suffering an injury in the holders’ Champions League stroll against Young Boys on Tuesday.

The England international was withdrawn at half-time at the Etihad Stadium. Manager Pep Guardiola described the loss of Stones as the “deep bad news” from a night when City secured their place in the last 16 for an 11th successive year with an otherwise straightforward 3-0 win.

Guardiola said: “It’s muscular, he is injured, so he’ll be a while out. It is a pity for him because he’s an incredible professional. “He tried to do it but it’s bad news for us.

It’s the deep bad news for tonight.” The news is a further blow for Stones, who has already missed two months of the season with a hamstring problem.

Football Man City soccer quotes Pep Guardiola Erling Haaland John Stones Manuel Akanji

Phil Foden created two and scored another as holders Manchester City came from 2-0 down to preserve their unbeaten Champions League run with a 3-2 win over RB Leipzig.

Haaland hits 40 in the Champions League as Man City comeback beats Leipzig

RB Leipzig’s German defender #16 Lukas Klostermann (L) vies with Manchester City’s Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland during the UEFA Champions League Group G football match between Manchester City and RG Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium, in Manchester, north west England, on November 28, 2023. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Immobile fires Lazio past Celtic and to brink of Champions League knockouts

ROME: Ciro Immobile shot Lazio to the verge of qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League with a late brace in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over eliminated Celtic. Italy forward Immobile struck twice in the final 10 minutes at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome to move Lazio top of Group E, two points ahead of Atletico Madrid who are at third-placed Feyenoord later on Tuesday. Lazio will be through to the next round if Feyenoord lose to their Spanish opposition as the Dutch outfit are four points behind the new group leaders. Immobile’s double, which took his all-competitions tally for the season to seven, was a rare high point for Lazio who are 11th in Serie A. “When a team goes through a difficult period, your personal situation should take second place,” assured Immobile. “When I was on the bench, I just tried to see how I could help my team.

Al-Dawsari scores wonder goal as Al-Hilal seal Asian Champions League knockout spot

ABU DHABI: Asian Player of the Year Salem Al-Dawsari missed two penalties but scored a wonder goal as Al-Hilal sealed a spot in the Asian Champions League knockout stages on Tuesday night. The Saudi Arabian winger, who was last month named the continent’s best men’s player, spurned a spot-kick in either half in the Group D tie against Navbahor in Uzbekistan. However, he was not made to pay as substitute Malcolm struck the game’s opening goal, and Al-Dawsari atoned with some distinction for the four-time champions late on. Malcolm’s effort, a rebound from Al-Dawsari’s second saved penalty on 68 minutes, marked the Brazilian’s first touch of the match. The goal was also his first in the competition since a summer move from Zenit Saint Petersburg. With four minutes remaining, Al-Dawsari then made safe the result lobbing Navbahor goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov from around 35 yards.

Henry Onyekuru targeting Al-Fayha progress in ‘tight’ AFC Champions League group

RIYADH: It has been a challenging AFC Champions League debut for Al-Fayha. The 2022 King’s Cup winners, who beat Al-Hilal on penalties to lift their first ever major trophy 18 months ago, have lost three of their first four games and face a must-win clash with Turkmenistan’s Ahal in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Stones and Kovacic return - Man City predicted XI vs RB Leipzig in Champions League

Manchester City return to the Champions League on Tuesday night when they host RB Leipzig in their penultimate group stage encounter.