Sports
Brest and Bayer Leverkusen Share Points in Thrilling 1-1 Champions League Draw
Brest and Bayer Leverkusen saw their perfect starts to the Champions League group stage come to an end with a hard-fought 1-1 draw in Guingamp. Both sides, having won their first two matches, now sit on seven points following the intense encounter.
Leverkusen took the lead in the 24th minute through Florian Wirtz, who calmly slotted home after being set up by Jonas Hofmann. Wirtz nearly doubled his tally moments later with a dazzling run past four Brest defenders, but his effort was denied by Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot.
Despite Leverkusen’s dominance early on, Brest found an equalizer just before halftime. Pierre Lees-Melou delivered a stunning volley, ensuring the French side went into the break level. Brest, participating in their first-ever Champions League campaign, continued to press in the second half. Lees-Melou and Kenny Lala both had shots narrowly miss the target, while Bizot made another key save, tipping Mahdi Camara’s shot over the bar.
Leverkusen regained control in the later stages, with Massadio Haidara nearly scoring an own goal while attempting to clear a dangerous cross from Wirtz. The German champions also had two penalty appeals turned down by referee Ivan Kruzliak. The first came when Lees-Melou’s arm was struck by the ball, but it was judged to be in a natural position. The second, and more controversial, incident occurred in the final minute of normal time when Hofmann went down in the box after a challenge by Soumaila Coulibaly. Both the on-field referee and the VAR ruled that Coulibaly had made contact with the ball first, prompting protests from Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, who was shown a yellow card after the final whistle for his heated objections.
Despite the draw, both teams remain in strong positions in their group, with seven points each from three matches. Brest, with their spirited performance in their debut Champions League campaign, continue to impress, while Leverkusen will look to maintain their form as the group stage progresses.
Sports
Tottenham Crush Manchester City in Historic Etihad Triumph
James Maddison inspired Tottenham Hotspur to a sensational 4-0 victory over Manchester City, ending the hosts’ incredible 52-match unbeaten streak at the Etihad Stadium. This marks City’s first five-game losing run since 2006 and their heaviest home defeat since 2003.
Maddison delivered a stellar performance, scoring twice to put City on the back foot. Pedro Porro added a third with a clinical finish, while Brennan Johnson sealed the emphatic win with a last-minute goal, capping an unforgettable night for Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Despite missing key players and coming off a disappointing loss to Ipswich, Tottenham defied expectations with a disciplined and clinical display. Postecoglou’s team, featuring a youthful bench, rose to the occasion and moved up to sixth in the league, just four points behind City.
The result leaves City in second place, vulnerable to an eight-point gap if league leaders Liverpool win at Southampton on Sunday. The loss will heighten pressure on Guardiola, who recently signed a two-year extension, as City looks to regroup after this alarming dip in form.
Sports
Everton Held to Frustrating Draw Against 10-Man Brentford
Everton endured a disappointing goalless draw against Brentford in the Premier League, failing to capitalize on a second-half numerical advantage after Christian Norgaard’s red card.
Sean Dyche’s side, with just two wins this season, remains three points above the relegation zone. Despite only one loss in their last eight matches, their inconsistent form continues to leave them precariously close to danger.
The Toffees started strongly at Goodison Park, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin testing Brentford’s goalkeeper, Mark Flekken. Flekken delivered a stunning save to deny Calvert-Lewin’s flicked header and later blocked another attempt at the near post.
Brentford almost scored against the run of play through Yoane Wissa, but Everton’s Jordan Pickford made a crucial save with his outstretched leg. Momentum appeared to shift when Norgaard was sent off late in the first half for a dangerous knee-high tackle on Pickford. Referee Chris Kavanagh reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor before showing the red card.
Despite their one-man advantage, Everton struggled to break down a resolute Brentford defense in the second half. Idrissa Gueye’s long-range strike was expertly saved by Flekken, while Vitaliy Mykolenko squandered a golden opportunity from close range.
Brentford nearly stole a victory late on, but Keane Lewis-Potter’s effort was straight at Pickford. Thomas Frank’s side earned their first away point of the season, climbing to 10th in the table.
Sports
Murray to coach Djokovic at Australian Open 2025
Andy Murray, Britain’s three-time Grand Slam champion, is set to coach Novak Djokovic at the 2025 Australian Open, marking a surprising and historic collaboration between two former rivals.
Murray, who retired in August after a stellar 19-year career, expressed excitement about his new role. “I’m looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change,” he said. This will be Murray’s debut as a coach since retiring from professional tennis.
The partnership begins during the off-season as they prepare for the Australian Open, scheduled for January 12–26, 2025. Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam winner and 10-time Australian Open champion, has famously defeated Murray in four Melbourne finals.
The announcement was accompanied by a playful video posted by Djokovic on X (formerly Twitter), captioned: “He never liked retirement anyway.” The video featured highlights of their legendary matches, underscoring the depth of their rivalry.
Reflecting on their journey, Djokovic said: “We played each other since we were boys—25 years of rivalry and pushing each other to our limits. I thought our story was over, but it turns out there’s one more chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner.”
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