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Mourinho’s Benfica beaten on Chelsea return in Champions League

LONDON: Benfica boss Jose Mourinho was beaten on his return to Chelsea as Richard Rios’ own-goal condemned the former Blues manager to a 1-0 defeat in the Champions League on Tuesday. Rios’ costly blunder in the first half at Stamford Bridge ruined Mourinho’s hopes of a win over the club he is most closely associated with. Mourinho and then-owner Roman Abramovich transformed Chelsea into a superpower after his appointment in 2004, winning three Premier League titles among seven major trophies across his two spells in charge. The 62-year-old’s managerial star may be on the wane following a decade without a league title, but his west London home-coming was still a box office occasion. Mourinho had started the season in charge of Fenerbahce, who sacked him in August before he returned to his former club Benfica this month. While Stamford Bridge is the scene of Mourinho’s former glories, it has not been a happy hunting ground for him since. He has failed to win any of his seven visits with Manchester United, Tottenham and now Benfica since leaving Chelsea for the second time in 2015, while his lone success in the away dugout came with Inter Milan in 2010. Despite the loss, Mourinho took heart from Benfica’s battling display. “A defeat is always a defeat but this one can be a start for us. It was a stable performance,” Mourinho said. “When a team changes coach mid-season it’s because things are not good.

Winning is 'be-all and end-all', says Newcastle manager Howe

BRUSSELS :Newcastle United need to win Wednesday’s Champions League clash at Union Saint-Gilloise or risk having to play catch-up in the group phase, manager Eddie Howe warned on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad lose second straight game in Asian Champions League Elite

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad fell to a second straight defeat in the Asian Champions League Elite, losing 1-0 to Al-Ahli Dubai on Tuesday. Iranian midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi scored the only goal in Jeddah, heading in a corner after 40 minutes to silence the home fans of the Saudi Pro League champion and two-time continental winner. Al-Ittihad, which fired coach Laurent Blanc three days earlier, remain without a point after two games. Elsewhere, Qatar’s Al-Sadd drew 1-1 with Sharjah of the United Arab Emirates. FC Seoul defeated Thailand’s Buriram United 3-0.

Former Barca chief Bartomeu accused of disloyal administration

Bartomeu and other former club directors are accused of making unjustified payments between 2015 and 2019Prosecutors have accused Bartomeu of “disloyal administration” and of having “caused damage” to the clubBARCELONA: Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has been accused by Spanish prosecutors of disloyal administration, according to documents seen by AFP on Tuesday.Bartomeu and other former club directors are accused of making unjustified payments between 2015 and 2019.According to a court document seen by AFP, the prosecution has accused the former Barcelona president of “disloyal administration” and of having “caused damage” to the club by “failing to fulfil the duties of diligence and loyalty” implied by his role.The former Barca chief, in charge from 2014 to 2020, will have to explain alleged hidden commissions paid, most notably in the club’s signing of Brazil winger Malcom from Bordeaux in 2018 for over 40 million euros ($47 million).Other areas in which there are apparent irregularities include the legal case surrounding the club’s signing of Neymar, and the Espai Barca project to transform the Camp Nou stadium and surrounding area.Current Barcelona president Joan Laporta presented an in-depth report to prosecutors earlier this year, after hiring investigators to analyze how the club had been run in the years prior.Barcelona have been in a tough financial position over the past few years after heavy spending during Bartomeu’s reign, including buying Ousmane Dembele, Philippe Coutinho and Antoine Griezmann for a combined total cost of more than 400 million euros.A statement issued by Bartomeu’s lawyers said that although he may have “made mistakes” during his reign, there is not “the slightest

Mbappé rewards Madrid’s long journey with hat trick in 5-0 win at Kairat Almaty in Champions League

ALMATY: Kylian Mbappé scored a hat trick as Real Madrid shrugged off any travel weariness in a 5-0 win at Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan on Tuesday. The 15-time European champions traveled nearly 4,000 miles (6,500 kilometers) to play the game in the eastern Kazakh city, Kairat’s first home match in the competition. The enthusiasm showed with Dastan Satpayev testing Thibault Courtois after just 13 seconds and Jorginho trying his luck a minute later. Mbappé settled any visiting nerves by dispatching a penalty in the 25th after goalkeeper Sherkhan Kalmurza had brought down Franco Mastantuono. Mbappé went close again before the break but ultimately the visitors appeared content to let the ball circulate without forcing the initiative too much. The second half started in the same vein until Courtois caught the Kairat defense out with a long clearance and Mbappé lobbed the ball over Kalmurza in the 52nd for his second goal. Kairat might have had a way back into the game when Dani Ceballos was penalized for an apparent foul on Valery Gromyko, but referee Marco Guida changed his mind after a VAR review. Arda Güler sent Mbappé though for his third goal in the 73rd, when the France star completed his fourth hat trick in the competition.

PSG’s injuries mount but Luis Enrique unfazed before Barcelona game in Champions League

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique refused to complain about the mounting injuries affecting his team before Wednesday’s Champions League match at Barcelona. Defending champion PSG will be without star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and forward Désiré Doué. They are all out injured along with central defender Marquinhos, the club captain, while PSG have doubts over the fitness of key midfielders Vitinha and João Neves. “You can either get results or make excuses. Whoever plays tomorrow is part of a real team,” Luis Enrique said Tuesday at a pre-match news conference.

DP World ILT 20 auction propels the tournament’s growth

DUBAI: When the fourth edition of the DP World ILT20 kicks off on Dec. 2 in Dubai, there will be a difference in the way that some of the players will have been selected. This will be by auction in Dubai on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

Barca star Yamal must ‘work hard’ to reach top level, says Flick

BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Tuesday if teenage star Lamine Yamal is to improve he must focus on improving his work rate, ahead of the Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain. The holders visit Barcelona on Wednesday and 18-year-old winger Yamal is keen to shine after finishing as runner-up at the Ballon d’Or gala last week, behind PSG’s Ousmane Dembele. Yamal returned from a groin injury on Sunday against Real Sociedad in La Liga and provided an assist a minute after coming off the bench during a bright second-half cameo. “(Calling him) super, super, super... I don’t like this... he’s 18 years old and for me he also has to focus on working hard,” Flick told reporters. “It’s not always easy, with talent you can get to this point, but to reach the next level, one or two steps more — and I think he’s able to do that — he has to work hard.” Last season Barcelona won a domestic treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup, but fell just short in the Champions League, beaten in the semifinals by Inter Milan despite two sensational displays by Yamal. Against Luis Enrique’s attacking PSG side Flick demanded Yamal and his team-mates knuckle down when the French champions are in possession. “It’s not only about playing with the ball, it’s also defending,” continued Flick. “This is what we need from every player — even a great player with the ball like him — and this makes the difference.” Flick said to beat PSG his team had to concentrate from “the first second to the end of the match” and play at their highest level.

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Mourinho’s Benfica beaten on Chelsea return in Champions League

Winning is 'be-all and end-all', says Newcastle manager Howe

Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad lose second straight game in Asian Champions League Elite

Former Barca chief Bartomeu accused of disloyal administration

Mbappé rewards Madrid’s long journey with hat trick in 5-0 win at Kairat Almaty in Champions League

PSG’s injuries mount but Luis Enrique unfazed before Barcelona game in Champions League

DP World ILT 20 auction propels the tournament’s growth

Barca star Yamal must ‘work hard’ to reach top level, says Flick