SOCCER

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Vinicius Junior took centre stage in Real Madrid’s 1-0 UEFA Champions League (UCL) knockout play-off first leg win against Benfica, scoring the decisive goal and also leading a walk-off from his Los Blancos teammates after an alleged racist incident.

After playing out a dramatic league phase finale that saw Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin score a dramatic stoppage-time goal, which allowed the Eagles to sneak into the knockout stages, and with Jose Mourinho coming up against his former side, Real Madrid, this game was always likely to have a bit of needle to it. That wasn’t particularly evident in the opening stages, though, as a rather tentative clash was almost sparked into life by Kylian Mbappe, whose ferocious drive from the edge of the area was well stopped by Trubin.

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Kylian Mbappe scored his 38th goal of the season as Real Madrid claimed a seventh straight La Liga victory to cut the gap to leaders Barcelona to just one point.

The French forward converted a low cross in second-half stoppage time to clinch the win after Alvaro Carreras had put the visitors ahead earlier in the second half.

Madrid had struggled to break down a disciplined Valencia outfit until Carreras bundled his way past two defenders before steering a low, right-footed effort into the net to break the deadlock 20 minutes into the second half.

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Seattle closed the 2025-26 NFL season on top Sunday, defeating New England 29-13 in Super Bowl LX after a defensive struggle that steadily tilted in the Seahawks' favor at Levi's Stadium.

The victory delivered Seattle's second Lombardi Trophy and served as a reversal of fortune from the teams' previous Super Bowl meeting, when New England edged the Seahawks in 2015.

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Tottenham announced on Wednesday that Thomas Frank has been sacked after just eight months in charge, with the club sitting five points above the Premier League relegation zone. In a statement the club said: “The Club has taken the decision to make a change in the Men’s Head Coach position and Thomas Frank will leave today.” Tottenham noted Frank was appointed in June 2025 and that, despite efforts to give him time and support, “results and performances have led the Board to conclude that a change at this point in the season is necessary.”

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Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick has spoken to the media ahead of this weekend’s clash with Tottenham.

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Ousmane Dembele scored twice as Paris St-Germain demolished rivals Marseille in Le Classique to move back to the top of Ligue 1.

The Ballon d'Or winner opened the scoring in the 12th minute and then doubled the lead with a fine solo goal - cutting in from the right before smashing home - 25 minutes later.

Facundo Medina then scored a 64th-minute own goal and two minutes later Dembele's lofted ball was brilliantly volleyed in by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

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Vít Krejci has played his first game at his new club. After being traded from Atlanta to Portland, he moved from one end of America to the other, crossing three time zones. But there was no time to waste.

Coach Chauncey Billups sent him straight onto the court in the game against Phoenix, and the Czech basketball player logged a solid debut with almost 14 minutes on the floor. He impressed with a beautiful three-pointer, a quick assist, and a smart finish. “It all happened so fast. I think I’m in a bit of a transition period now, getting used to the arena and the environment – I’ve only been here two days. But it was good. It felt great to be out there with the guys and just play,” Krejci told a group of reporters who came to interview the new Trail Blazers signing.