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☆ Mbappe video: Kylian Mbappé will leave PSG at the end of season, he confirms
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Jacob Lev | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —French football superstar Kylian Mbappé confirmed he will leave Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the end of the season, the 25-year-old said in a video posted on social media Friday. Mbappé said he will not extend his contract with the French club and that he will play his final match at the Parc des Princes on Sunday when PSG hosts Toulouse. “I have always known, but I think I needed this, a new challenge after seven years,” Mbappé said. I haven’t always lived up to the love you all gave me for seven years but I never want to cheat. Mbappé did not mention where he will play next year but earlier this year, he reportedly agreed to join Real Madrid.

Persons: Kylian Mbappé, Germain, Mbappé, “, ” Mbappé, haven’t, ”, Mauroy Organizations: CNN — French, Paris Saint, PSG, Parc des Princes, Sunday, Toulouse, “ PSG, AS Monaco, Real Madrid, Olympique Lyonnais, Stade Pierre Locations: Paris, Parc des, It’s, Villeneuve, d’Ascq, France

☆ Al-Hilal: Saudi Arabia club sets record for most consecutive wins in men’s soccer
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal set the world record for the most consecutive victories in men’s soccer on Tuesday, defeating Al-Ittihad 2-0 in the AFC Champions League. Before that, Dutch giant Ajax had held the record for 44 years after a 26-game winning streak between 1971 and 1972. “Everyone at Al Hilal is delighted to achieve world football history by winning 28 consecutive matches,” said manager Jorge Jesus. “It is up to everyone at Al-Hilal to ensure that we close out the season as Roshn Saudi League champions and meet our targets in the cup competitions. According to Guinness World Records, Olympique Lyonnais Féminin has the most consecutive wins in soccer – men’s or women’s – with 41 across all competitions between 2012 and 2013.

Persons: Hilal, Al Hilal, ”, Jorge Jesus, Romarinho, Yasser Al, Shahrani, Hilal's, Yasser Bakhsh, Abderrazak, Ali Al, Malcom, Jesus, ” Al, Al Ain, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al, Nassr, Neymar Organizations: CNN, Saudi, Al, AFC Champions League, Welsh, New Saints, Ajax, ”, “, Saudi League, Champions League, Saudi Pro League, Guinness World Records, Olympique Lyonnais Féminin Locations: Saudi Arabian, Ittihad, Al, Hilal, Jeddah

☆ Marcelino returns for second stint as Villarreal manager
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 14 (Reuters) - Villarreal have appointed Marcelino as manager following the departure of Jose Rojo Martin just two months after taking charge, the Spanish club said late on Monday. Rojo Martin, known as 'Pacheta', parted ways with Villarreal on Friday, with Director of Football Miguel Angel Tena leading the side in their 3-1 defeat at Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Marcelino, who has signed a deal until 2026, also managed Villarreal from 2013 to 2016 and guided them to the Spanish top flight. The 58-year-old helped Villarreal achieve three top-six finishes and a Europa League semi-final in his final season. Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Marcelino, Jose Rojo Martin, Rojo Martin, Football Miguel Angel Tena, Pearl Josephine Nazare, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Villarreal, Football, Atletico Madrid, Sunday, Europa League, Ligue, Olympique de Marseille, Osasuna, Thomson Locations: Spanish, LaLiga, Bengaluru

West Ham lost 2-1 away to the Greek side a fortnight ago but their win at the London Stadium put them level on nine points with second-placed Freiburg, who crushed bottom side Backa Topola 5-0. "If I was being honest, I don’t think we made enough chances or opportunities and I need to look to see why that was the case," West Ham manager David Moyes said. The West Ham fans then held their breath late on as the visitors nearly equalised when Mady Camara's close-range header struck the post when he should have scored. Marseille secured a second victory with their win in Athens thanks to goals from Chancel Mbemba and Ismaila Sarr. The Italians are unbeaten in Group D on 10 points, three ahead of Sporting who beat 10-man Rakow Czestochowa 2-1.

Persons: Ham United's Lucas Paqueta, Said Benrahma, Emerson Palmieri, Vladimir Coufal, Isabel Infantes, David Moyes, Paqueta, James Ward, Prowse, Mady Camara's, Mbemba, Sarr, Jarell Quansah, Alexis Mac Allister, Klopp, Atalanta, Berat Djimsiti, Pedro Goncalves, Bogdan Racovitan, Danilo Pereira, Todd Cantwell, Janina Nuno Rios, Tommy Lund, Ed Osmond, Ken Ferris Organizations: Soccer, Europa League, Ham United, Olympiacos, London, REUTERS, Olympiakos Piraeus, Olympique de Marseille, AEK Athens, West Ham, Backa, Olympiakos, Marseille, Ligue, Brighton & Hove Albion, Ajax Amsterdam, LIVERPOOL, Liverpool, French, Toulouse, Sturm Graz, Berat, Sporting, Rangers, Sparta Prague, Real Betis, Aris Limassol, Betis, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Freiburg, Ham, Athens, European, Czestochowa

☆ Marseille v Lyon rescheduled game returns to Marseille, no disciplinary action
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The disciplinary commission said it would not take any action following the incident. The ruling has annoyed Lyon, who said they would appeal the decision. On Nov. 2, the LFP announced the date for the rescheduled game, but no venue was named, with Lyon's director of football, Vincent Ponsot, calling for the game to be played at a neutral venue. The LFP has instead rescheduled the game for Marseille. Lyon are bottom of Ligue 1 with four points after 10 matches.

Persons: Lyon, Fabio Grosso, Vincent Ponsot, Trevor Stynes, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Olympique de Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon, Marseille's Stade Velodrome, French League, Stade Velodrome, LFP, Marseille, Ligue, Thomson Locations: Prefecture, Bouches, Marseille, Lyon

☆ French football again left reeling by rioting fans as Olympics loom
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Grosso, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, sustained facial injuries during the incident, leaving league officials to deal with another episode of rioting fans. Some preliminary round Olympic matches will be played in Marseille, where violence erupted at the 1998 World Cup between England fans and French police. Marseille condemned the behaviour of their fans in a statement on Monday. Lyon condemned their fans' behaviour after some were seen making Nazi salutes at the Velodrome. "OL firmly condemns the unacceptable racist behaviour of individuals in the stands on Sunday," the club said in a statement.

Persons: Lyon, Fabio Grosso, Gerald Darmanin, Pablo Longoria, Marseille, Amelie Oudea, Castera, St Etienne, Julien Pretot, Sudip Kar, Tassilo Hummel, Michael Perry Organizations: Olympique de Marseille's Ligue, Olympique Lyonnais, Italy, Marseille's Stade Velodrome, French League, England, French, Olympique de Marseille, Stade Orange Velodrome, France, Stade Velodrome, Marseille, RC Lens, Lille, St, Thomson Locations: Grosso, Marseille's, Marseille, Nice, Montpellier, Angers

☆ French government condemns 'disgusting' Marseille fan violence
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

French Interior and Overseas Minister Gerald Darmanin leaves following the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, October 18, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 30 (Reuters) - France's government condemned on Monday "disgusting" weekend violence around the Olympique de Marseille soccer stadium and said nine people had been arrested after visitors Olympique Lyonnais' bus was attacked and their Italian coach injured. Sunday's Ligue 1 match between the arch-rivals of France's south east, who have a history of fan violence, was cancelled. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said nine people had been detained so far. Darmanin denied authorities had failed to prepare for the risk, saying 500 police officers were present.

Persons: Gerald Darmanin, Sarah Meyssonnier, Fabio Grosso, Amelie Oudea, Castera, Darmanin, Tassilo Hummel, Sudip Kar, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Overseas, REUTERS, Rights, Olympique de Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais, Sunday's Ligue, France, Stade Velodrome, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, France's

☆ Fabio Grosso: Lyon coach left with ‘glass stuck in his head’ after Marseille fans throw projectiles at team bus
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( George Ramsay | Joseph Ataman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Lyon head coach Fabio Grosso was left “seriously injured” and with pieces of glass stuck in his head after projectiles were thrown at the soccer team’s bus ahead of a Ligue 1 game against Marseille on Sunday. “Coach Fabio Grosso and his assistant Raffaele Longo were directly hit and seriously injured in the face during this attack,” the club statement said. “We had a coach who’s got blood coming out of his head, he’s got pieces of glass stuck in his head, and he must have taken some contact to his head,” Lyon president John Textor told Prime Video Sport France about Grosso’s condition. Darmanin also said that, as well as throwing projectiles at the Lyon team’s bus, Marseille fans had also attacked opposing supporters. Fans wait to see if the match between Marseille and Lyon will go ahead.

Persons: CNN —, Fabio Grosso, “, ”, Grosso, Raffaele Longo, Longo, Christophe Simon, Lyon, who’s, he’s, ” Lyon, John Textor, I’ve, Gérald Darmanin, Darmanin, Amélie, Castéra Organizations: CNN, CNN — Lyon, Ligue, Marseille, Marseille’s Stade Velodrome, Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon, Stade Velodrome, Getty, French, Sport France, BFMTV, Nazi Locations: Lyon, AFP, Marseille

☆ Marseille match against Lyon called off after team bus attacked
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 29 (Reuters) - Sunday's Ligue 1 match between Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais was called off after Lyon's team bus was pelted with stones, injuring coach Fabio Grosso, as the players made their way to the Stade Velodrome. Sky Italia footage showed damage to two bus windows and Grosso being led into the stadium by two assistants. Italian media said Grosso suffered injuries to his scalp and face. "He can't hold a conversation, he had shards of glass in his face," Lyon's club president, John Textor added. "Because of a handful of thoughtless people, the party planned for this evening has been ruined, and 65,000 fans have been deprived of attending a football match," the club added.

Persons: Fabio Grosso, Grosso, John Textor, Lyon, Francois Letexier, Fabio Grosso's, Amelie Oudea Castera, Raffaele Longo, Tommy Lund, Kate Entringer, Hugh Lawson, Clare Fallon Organizations: Ligue, Olympique de Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais, Stade Velodrome, Sky, OL, French Professional League, Lyonnais, Marseille, Thomson Locations: Marseille, Gdansk, Paris, Lincoln

☆ Marseille down 10-man AEK, Olympiakos end West Ham's unbeaten European run
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MARSEILLE, France, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Olympique de Marseille overcame AEK Athens 3-1 in the Europa League with two penalties after a red card for the visiting goalkeeper, while Olympiakos Piraeus beat West Ham United 2-1 on Thursday to end the Londoners' 17-match unbeaten run in Europe. WEST HAM LOSEOlympiakos beat Europa Conference League holders West Ham in Group A as the visitors suffered a rare European defeat. Kostas Fortounis delivered the opening goal for Olympiakos with a powerful right-foot strike from outside the box, finding the bottom corner after 33 minutes. West Ham got a consolation goal in the 87th minute courtesy of a powerful Lucas Paqueta volley from the edge of the box. Freiburg and West Ham are top of the group with six points, while Olympiakos have four.

Persons: Vitinha, Orbelin Pineda, Cican Stankovic, Jordan Veretout, Nordin Amrabat, Renan Lodi ., Kostas Fortounis, Angelo Ogbonna, Angelo Ogbonna . West Ham, Lucas, SC Freiburg's Vincenzo Grifo, Ayoze Perez, Luis Muriel, Sturm, Sporting, Fabian Piasecki, Sebastian Coates, Viktor Gyokeres, Tommy Lund, Ken Ferris Organizations: Olympique de Marseille, AEK Athens, Europa League, Olympiakos Piraeus, West Ham United, Marseille, AEK, Brighton & Hove Albion, Ajax Amsterdam, WEST HAM, Olympiakos, Europa Conference League, West Ham, SC Freiburg's, Serbian, Real Betis, Aris Limassol, Sparta Prague, Rangers, Sturm Graz, Rakow, Sporting, Thomson Locations: MARSEILLE, France, Europe, Renan Lodi . Marseille, Angelo Ogbonna . West, Backa Topola, Freiburg, West Ham, Czech, Austria, Rakow Czestochowa, Portuguese, Gdansk

☆ Liverpool thump Toulouse 5-1, Brighton earn first European win
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The rest of the match belonged to Liverpool as Wataru Endo headed them back in front just past the half-hour mark. That goal took the Egyptian's tally to 43 for Liverpool in major European competitions, a record for any player at an English club. Liverpool top the group by five points over Union Saint Gilloise and Toulouse, who both have four points. BRIGHTON ROCKBrighton achieved a European milestone by beating Ajax and reigniting their chances of reaching the knockout stages. They are now level on four points with second-placed AEK Athens in Group B, a point behind Olympique de Marseille.

Persons: Diogo Jota, Wataru Endo, Darwin Nunez, Nunez, Ryan Gravenberch, Mohamed Salah, LASK, Cameron Puertas, Christian Burgess, Joao Pedro, Diant Ramaj, Ansu Fati, Maurice Steijn, Kostas Fortounis, Rodinei's, Angelo Ogbonna, Angelo Ogbonna . West Ham, Lucas Paqueta's, Edoardo Bove, Romelu Lukaku, Jose Mourinho's, Alejandro Grimaldo, Stade Rennais, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Tommy Lund, Ken Ferris Organizations: Liverpool, Brighton, Ajax, Olympiakos, West, Marseille, Leverkusen, Rennes, LIVERPOOL, Toulouse, Europa League, Brighton & Hove Albion, Ajax Amsterdam, Union Saint Gilloise, Union, BRIGHTON ROCK Brighton, AEK Athens, Olympique de Marseille, AEK, Seagulls, Olympiakos Piraeus, Europa Conference League, West Ham United, Freiburg, Backa Topla, AS Roma, Slavia Prague, Slavia, Bayer Leverkusen thumped Qarabag, Stade, Panathinaikos, Villarreal, Maccabi Haifa, Thomson Locations: Roma, England, Anfield, Brighton, Liverpool, Toulouse, Europe, Angelo Ogbonna . West, Gdansk

☆ Albania coach Sylvinho eyes Euro qualification after dream start
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The Poles are struggling down in fourth on six points, two points behind Moldova and the Czechs with three games left. The 21,000 tickets were sold-out within a few hours for the clash at the Air Albania stadium in the capital Tirana. "We're aware of the enthusiasm of our supporters but the players know that's the external scenario, something we can't control. Since Sylvinho's debut in a hard-fought 1-0 loss away to Poland in March, Albania have had three wins and a draw. "We have to be here (in Tirana) because it is where our work will be developed," Sylvinho said.

Persons: Robert Lewandowski's Poland, Albania's, Sylvinho, Armand Duka, Pablo Zabaleta, Doriva, Duka, Gianni De Biasi, Asani, Fernando Kallas, Ken Ferris Organizations: Arsenal, Barcelona, Eagles, Moldova, Poland, Air Albania, Reuters, Albanian, League, Manchester City, Middlesbrough, Olympique Lyonnais, Corinthians, Brazil, South Korean, Gwangju FC, UEFA, Thomson Locations: Albania, Czech Republic, Germany, Tirana, Moldova, Faroe Islands, Poland, France, Warsaw, Macedonia

☆ Marseille appoint Italian Gattuso as coach
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 27 (Reuters) - Olympique de Marseille have named Italian Gennaro Gattuso as coach following the departure of Marcelino, the French Ligue 1 club said on Wednesday. The 45-year-old Gattuso takes over after Spaniard Marcelino left the club amid a feud with the Marseille supporters. Gattuso left Valencia in January, seven months after his appointment with the LaLiga side just above the relegation zone. Marseille are eighth in Ligue 1 after two wins, three draws and a 4-0 loss to Paris St Germain. Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Italian Gennaro Gattuso, Marcelino, Spaniard Marcelino, Gattuso, Paris St Germain, Janina Nuno Rios, Ed Osmond Organizations: Olympique de Marseille, Ligue, Spaniard, Marseille, AC Milan, Napoli, Serie, Paris St, Champions League, AS Monaco, Saturday, Brighton & Hove Albion, Europa League, Thomson Locations: Italian, Valencia, Italy, Mexico City

☆ PSG should take action over homophobic chants says French Sports Minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

During the 4-0 win over their rivals at the Parc des Princes, PSG supporters in the Boulogne kop were heard celebrating with homophobic chants aimed at Marseille and a lot of the home crowd clapped along. "It is unthinkable to remain deaf to such hateful and homophobic chants in our stands," Oudea Castera said on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter. "Yesterday, these chants spoiled the party at the Parc. "I invite PSG to lodge a complaint to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice so that they can be removed from the stadiums." Oudea Castera added that the matter was now in the hands of French soccer's governing body LFP.

Persons: Sergio Rico, Benoit Tessier, Paris St Germain, Amelie Oudea Castera, Oudea Castera, Julien Pretot, Aadi Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: Soccer Football, Paris St Germain, Clermont, de Princes, Rights, Ligue, Olympique de Marseille, France's, Parc des Princes, PSG, Thomson Locations: de, Paris, France, Parc des, Boulogne, Marseille

☆ Kolo Muani and Ramos score maiden PSG goals in win over Marseille
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

PARIS, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Randal Kolo Muani and Goncalo Ramos scored their first goals for Paris St Germain as the French champions crushed bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille 4-0 in Ligue 1 on Sunday. Kolo Muani and Ramos, with a brace, added to Achraf Hakimi's early opener to lift PSG up to third in the standings with 11 points from six games, two behind surprise leaders Stade Brestois. Marseille, who have had a rough week off the field amid a feud with their fans, are seventh on nine points. The night ended with PSG fans in the Boulogne kop celebrating with homophobic chants, and a big part of the crowd clapping along. The chants briefly stopped when Ramos scored the fourth goal after being set up by Kolo Muani at the end of a sharp counter-attack.

Persons: Randal Kolo Muani, Goncalo Ramos, Paris St Germain, Kolo Muani, Ramos, Achraf, Kylian Mbappe, We're, Luis Enrique, Marcelino, Pablo Longoria, Frank McCourt, Jacques Abardonado, Enrique, Hakimi, Mbappe, Marcelo Ramos, Bradley Barcola, Pau Lopez's, Muani, Azzedine, Ilian, Ousmane Dembele's, Morgan Guilavogui, Julien Pretot, Clare Fallon Organizations: Paris St, Olympique de Marseille, Ligue, PSG, Stade Brestois, Parc des Princes, Marseille, OM, Vitinha, RC Lens, Toulouse, Sevilla, Champions League, Thomson Locations: Parc des, Provence, France, Marseille, Boulogne

☆ Nice snatch last-gasp win over Monaco to top Ligue 1 standings
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MONACO, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Jeremie Boga's last-gasp goal salvaged a 1-0 win for Nice at AS Monaco on Friday, moving them to the top of the Ligue 1 standings. Nice moved up to 12 points, one ahead of Monaco. Stade Brestois, on 10 points, could top the standings on Saturday if they beat Olympique Lyonnais. Ivorian Boga secured the win for Nice in the 90th minute after passing several defenders before firing in a low shot to beat keeper Philipp Kohn. Monaco host Olympique de Marseille and Nice take on Stade Brestois next week.

Persons: Jeremie Boga's, Nice, Boga, Philipp Kohn, Marcin Bulka, Folarin, Janina Nuno Rios, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: MONACO, Nice, AS Monaco, Ligue, Monaco, Stade Brestois, Olympique Lyonnais, Olympique de Marseille, Thomson Locations: Mexico City, editin

☆ Nice shock PSG 3-2 with Moffi double
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

They are one point behind second-placed Nice, still unbeaten in the 2023-24 campaign, and two points off leaders AS Monaco, who travel to Lorient on Sunday. But the game saw a quick turnaround when Moffi put Nice in front in the 21st minute, netting low inside the near post. "It was a great Nice team in front of us," substitute Randal Kolo Muani said. PSG did not lose any of their previous 13 home matches against Nice in all competitions. Nice, meanwhile, are one of four teams still unbeaten in the top-flight along with Rennes, Olympique de Marseille and Monaco this season.

Persons: Terem Moffi, Luis Enrique, Ousmane Dembele, Marcin Bulka, Kylian Mbappe, Moffi, Bulka, Mbappe, Dembele, Gaetan Laborde, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sofiane Diop, Randal Kolo Muani, Anita Kobylinska, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Paris St, PSG, Borussia Dortmund, Champions League, AS Monaco, Nice, Olympique de Marseille, Thomson Locations: Ligue, Nice, Lorient, Rennes, Monaco, Gdansk

☆ Mbappe to be available against Nice, says Luis Enrique
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sept 14 (Reuters) - Paris St Germain striker Kylian Mbappe should be available against Nice in Ligue 1 on Friday after sitting out a friendly against Germany earlier this week, coach Luis Enrique said on Thursday. "We will analyse him tomorrow to find out what is going on," Luis Enrique told a press conference on Thursday. We will discuss tomorrow to find out if he will be ready (for Nice). However, we've been working together for two months, so they already know the instructions," Luis Enrique said. "Nice are a very hard-working team with a young coach, but with experience.

Persons: Kylian, Luis Enrique, Mbappe, Didier Deschamps, Manuel, Ugarte, we've, Marco Verratti, Anita Kobylinska, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Paris St Germain, Nice, Germany, PSG, Borussia Dortmund, Champions League, Olympique de Marseille, Parc des Princes, Qatari, Al, Ligue, AS Monaco, Thomson Locations: Paris, Ligue, Nice, France, Germany, Spanish, Parc des, Arabi, Marseille, Gdansk

☆ Liverpool handed favourable draw in Europa League group stage
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Soccer Football - Europa League - Group Stage Draw - Monaco, Monaco - September 1, 2023 General view of the completed draw Valerio Pennicino/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSept 1 (Reuters) - Liverpool will take on LASK, Union Saint-Gilloise and Toulouse in the Europa League group stage while debutants Brighton & Hove Albion will face Ajax Amsterdam and Olympique de Marseille following the draw on Friday. Liverpool, who have lifted the trophy on three occasions, will be hot favourites to qualify top from Group E.Brighton face a tough task in their bid to progress past the group stage on their debut in European competition. Europa Conference League champions West Ham United were drawn with Olympiacos, Freiburg and TSC Backa Topola in Group A. Third-placed teams in the Europa League groups will drop to the third-tier Europa Conference League where they will play the group runners-up from that competition in the knockout round playoffs. The Europa League final will take place at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on May 22 next year.

Persons: Valerio Pennicino, Brighton's, Aadi Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Soccer, Europa League, Monaco, REUTERS Acquire, Brighton & Hove Albion, Ajax Amsterdam, Olympique de Marseille, Liverpool, E, Brighton, Ajax, Marseille, AEK Athens, Europa Conference League, West Ham United, Olympiacos, TSC Backa, AS Roma, Slavia Prague, Sheriff Tiraspol, Servette, Bayer Leverkusen, Germany, Qarabag, Molde FK, BK Hacken, League, Dublin's Aviva, Thomson Locations: Monaco, Handout, Liverpool, LASK, Union, Toulouse, Freiburg, Bengaluru

☆ Transfer deadline day deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Asked if Palmer was Chelsea's last signing of the window, he told reporters: "I think so. 0930 CITY SIGN NUNESManchester City have signed Portugal midfielder Matheus Nunes from Wolverhampton Wanderers on a five-year contract. 0830 CHELSEA SIGN MIDFIELDER PALMER FROM MAN CITYChelsea said they have signed midfielder Palmer from Premier League champions Manchester City on a contract running until 2027, with the option of a further year. The transfer fee was reported to be worth around 40 million pounds ($50 million). 0800 MAN UTD SIGN GOALKEEPER BAYINDIR FROM FENERBAHCEManchester United signed Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayindir from Super Lig side Fenerbahce on a four-year deal, with the option of a further year, a day after Dean Henderson joined Crystal Palace.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Sam Navarro, POCHETTINO, Mauricio Pochettino, Cole Palmer, Palmer, Chelsea's, St, Moises Caicedo, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Josko, Karim Benzema, Paris St Germain, Rasmus Hojlund, Atalanta, Dominik Szoboszlai, Matheus Nunes, VILLA, Clement Lenglet, Tyrone Mings, BONUCCI, Leonardo Bonucci, Nuno Tavares, Dean Henderson, Hritika Sharma, Aadi Nair, Peter Rutherford, Toby Davis Organizations: Inter Miami, Nashville SC, USA, CHELSEA, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, St Germain, Brighton & Hove Albion, West Ham United, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich, Leipzig, Manchester City, Manchester United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, LENGLET, Barcelona, Aston Villa, France, CITY, NUNES Manchester City, Wolves, JUVENTUS, Serie, Juventus, Union Berlin, TAVARES FROM ARSENAL Portuguese, Ligue, Olympique de Marseille, PALMER, CITY Chelsea, Premier League, BAYINDIR, FENERBAHCE Manchester United, Turkish, Altay Bayindir, Super Lig, Fenerbahce, Crystal Palace, Thomson Locations: Fort Lauderdale , Florida, USA, Brighton, Chelsea, West, Real Madrid, Al, Ittihad, Paris, Liverpool, England, Portugal, Germany

☆ Messi to lead Argentina in opening World Cup qualifiers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Argentina v Panama - Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - March 23, 2023 Argentina's Lionel Messi during the match REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsBUENOS AIRES, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi will lead world champions Argentina in their opening World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Bolivia, the captain's first internationals since joining Major League Soccer's Inter Miami. Coach Lionel Scaloni's 32-man squad also features stalwarts including Angel Di Maria, who returned to Benfica this year, and defender Nicolas Otamendi. Argentina host Ecuador in Buenos Aires on Sept. 7 and travel to play Bolivia five days later. SquadGoalkeepers: Juan Musso (Atalanta), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Walter Benitez (PSV Eindhoven), Franco Armani (River Plate). Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (AS Roma), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis), Facundo Buonanotte (Brighton & Hove Albion), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Exequiel Palacios (Bayern Leverkusen) and Bruno Zapelli (Athletico Paranaense).

Persons: Lionel Messi, Agustin Marcarian, Lionel Scaloni's, Angel Di Maria, Nicolas Otamendi, Alan Velasco, Bruno Zapelli, Lucas Esquivel, Lucas Beltran, Paulo Dybala, Geronimo Rulli, Juan Musso, Atalanta, Emiliano Martinez, Aston, Walter Benitez, Franco Armani, Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Juan Foyth, Marcos Senesi, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Tagliafico, Athletico, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Guido Rodriguez, Facundo Buonanotte, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Exequiel Palacios, Nicolas Gonzalez, Lautaro Martinez, Angel Correa, Julian Alvarez, Alejandro Garnacho, Thiago Almada, Ramiro Sandolo, Janina Nuno Rios, Ed Omsond Organizations: Soccer Football, Estadio Monumental, REUTERS, Argentina, Ecuador, Major League Soccer's Inter Miami, Benfica, FC Dallas, Athletico Paranaense, Italy's Fiorentina, AS Roma, Ajax Amsterdam, Aston Villa, PSV Eindhoven, Atletico Madrid, Real Betis, Nottingham Forest, Villarreal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Olympique Lyonnais, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Bayern Leverkusen, Fiorentina, Inter, Manchester City, Inter Miami, Atlanta United, Thomson Locations: Argentina, Panama, Buenos Aires, BUENOS AIRES, Bolivia, Ecuador, Real, Nottingham, Bournemouth, Olympique, Benfica, Brighton, Liverpool, Athletico, Inter Milan, Manchester

☆ Factbox: Saudi transfers this summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 22 (Reuters) - Saudi clubs have spent over 750 million euros ($813.45 million)in the close season signing players with the new Saudi Pro League season having kicked off on Aug. 11. Following are the main clubs' recent large purchases:Al-Ittihad (manager: Nuno Espirito Santo since 2022)N'Golo Kante from Chelsea. (40 million pounds)Al-Ahli (manager: Matthias Jaissle since 2023)Edouard Mendy from Chelsea. (40 million euros)Otavio from Porto. (40 million euros)Malcom from Zenit Saint Petersburg.

Persons: Nuno Espirito, N'Golo Kante, Karim Benzema, Matthias Jaissle, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Mahrez, Allan Saint, Franck Kessie, Roger Ibanez, Merih Demiral, Luis Castro, Marcelo Brozovic, Alex Telles, Seko, Sadio Mane, Jorge Jesus, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic, Savic, Malcom, Yassine Bounou, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Steven Gerrard, Moussa Dembele, Jack Hendry, Jordan Henderson, Tommy Lund, Ken Ferris, Ed Osmond, Toby Davis Organizations: Saudi Pro League, Nuno Espirito Santo, Manchester City, AS Roma, Atalanta, Inter Milan, Manchester United, RC Lens, Bayern Munich, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Paris St Germain, Fulham, Olympique Lyonnais, Club Brugge, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Ittihad, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Celtic, Liverpool, Al, Ahli, Manchester, Newcastle, Barcelona, Porto, Hilal, Lazio, Paris, Sevilla, Gdynia

☆ Le Sommer scores brace in France's 4-0 last-16 win over Morocco
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Kadidiatou Diani's fourth goal of the tournament, a header in the 15th minute, sparked an eight-minute three-goal Les Bleues blitz, with Kenza Dali and Le Sommer also scoring at Hindmarsh Stadium, ending the North African side's fairytale run. Le Sommer increased her all-time leading goalscoring record for France to 92, while the game marked the first time Les Bleues had scored four goals in a World Cup knockout game. Le Sommer was able to get a boot on the ball for her first goal in the 23rd minute after Diani pressured a Moroccan defender. This World Cup marked the first time three African nations made the last 16 in Morocco, South Africa and Nigeria. Nouhaila Benzina had also made history as the first player to wear a hijab in the Women's World Cup.

Persons: Eugenie Le Sommer, Vicki Becho, Carl Recine ADELAIDE, Kadidiatou, Kenza Dali, Le Sommer, Les Bleues, Khadija, Dali, Diani, Nouhaila Benzina, Le, Lori Ewing, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, debutants, Hindmarsh, Australia, South, Panama, Lyonnais, France, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, France, Morocco, Adelaide, Australia, debutants Morocco, Brisbane, Germany, South Korea, Colombia, Moroccan, South Africa, Nigeria, Sydney

☆ Lyon sign Maitland-Niles from Arsenal on free transfer
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Aug 7 (Reuters) - Olympique Lyonnais have signed midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles on a four-year contract until 2027, the Ligue 1 club said on Monday, after his contract with Arsenal expired in June. The 25-year-old, who made over 130 appearances for boyhood club Arsenal in all competitions, will join up with former team mate Alexandre Lacazette in France. Maitland-Niles struggled for game time at the Gunners in the 2021-22 season before going on loan to AS Roma and Southampton. He made his England debut in 2020 and made five appearances that year but has not played for Gareth Southgate's side since. Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ainsley Maitland, Alexandre Lacazette, Niles, Gareth Southgate's, Lyon, Aadi Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: Olympique Lyonnais, Ligue, Arsenal, Gunners, AS Roma, Southampton, Thomson Locations: Niles, France, Maitland, Bengaluru

☆ Morocco looking to exceed expectations again in 'special' France clash
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Pedros, 51, is a former France international and said he was looking forward to taking on the country of his birth when the two teams face off in the last 16 in Adelaide. "I am French but my heart is with Morocco," Pedros told reporters on Monday. Six members of France's World Cup squad played under him at Lyon, including captain Wendie Renard and all-time top scorer Eugenie Le Sommer. Pedros said after the Colombia game that he had the advantage of knowing the France team "perfectly". Beating France, ranked fifth in the world, would be a remarkable achievement for 72nd-ranked Morocco.

Persons: Anissa Lahmari, Ibtissam Jraidi, Fatima Tagnaout REUTERS, Luisa Gonzalez, Read, Reynald Pedros, Pedros, It's, we've, Wendie Renard, Eugenie Le Sommer, Nesryne El, Hritika Sharma, Robert Birsel Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, France, South, Olympique Lyonnais, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Morocco, Colombia, Perth, Australia, ADELAIDE, Germany, Adelaide, Lyon, France, Nesryne El Chad, South Korea, Hyderabad

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