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Bodo/Glimt knock Inter out of Champions League
AFP, Published on 25/02/2026
» Bodo/Glimt, the modest outfit from north of the Arctic Circle, were looking to follow up their stunning 3-1 win last week in Norway in the first leg of their knockout phase play-off tie.Inter, the three-time European champions who are currently 10 points clear at the top of Serie A, were expected to pummel their visitors in an attempt to turn the tie around. But Bodo/Glimt survived at the back before finishing off the tie in the second half.Jens Petter Hauge, who played for AC Milan in 2020/21, gave his team the lead just before the hour mark after a mistake by Manuel Akanji had allowed Ole Blomberg in for an initial shot which was saved.Hakon Evjen made it 2-0 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate, leaving Inter with too much to do, even if Alessandro Bastoni pulled one back with a shot that just crossed the line.Bodo/Glimt, who had won four Norwegian Eliteserien titles in five years before finishing as runners-up last season to Viking Stavanger, are the first side from the country to go so far in Europe’s elite club competition since Rosenborg reached the quarter-finals in 1997.“For us it’s been unbelievable. We knew it would be very hard against Inter who are a very strong team and played in the final last season,” said Hauge.They will find out their last-16 opponents on Friday but already know it will either be Sporting of Portugal or Manchester City next — they defeated City 3-1 at home last month during the league phase.What makes their success all the more striking is that Kjetil Knutsen’s team are currently in their off-season, with the Norwegian league ending in late November and the new campaign not beginning until mid-March.For Inter, exiting at this stage is a bitter blow after they made the final last season only to suffer a 5-0 hammering at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.Sorloth hat-trickNewcastle followed their 6-1 win away to Qarabag in Azerbaijan in last week’s first leg with a 3-2 victory in the return at St James’ Park, as Eddie Howe’s team ensured there will be six English clubs in the next round.Sandro Tonali and Joelinton both scored inside the opening six minutes, leaving Qarabag facing another heavy defeat.However, Camilo Duran pulled one back early in the second half. Sven Botman headed in Newcastle’s third, but Elvin Jafarguliyev made it 3-2 as he followed in to score after Marko Jankovic’s penalty was saved.Newcastle can now look forward to a heavyweight tie in the next round against either Chelsea or Barcelona.“I think if you look at the score over the two legs it’s been fantastic from the players even though today feels like a bit of a hollow win for us,” said Howe.Atletico had been held to a 3-3 draw by Club Brugge in Belgium last week but they ran out 4-1 winners in Tuesday’s return in the Spanish capital to advance 7-4 on aggregate.Norwegian striker Alexander Sorloth was the star of the show with a hat-trick, including the opener midway through the first half which came from a long kick downfield by goalkeeper Jan Oblak.Joel Ordonez headed the away side level before the break, but USA international Johnny Cardoso restored Atletico’s lead just after the interval.Sorloth scored his second and Atletico’s third on the night on 76 minutes after a brilliant one-two between Ademola Lookman and Antoine Griezmann. Sorloth then completed his hat-trick to round out the scoring with his 15th of the season in all competitions.Diego Simeone’s team will play either Tottenham Hotspur or Liverpool in the next round.“I’m not thinking about Liverpool or Tottenham, I’m enjoying today’s game and being in the last 16 for another season is very important,” Simeone told the broadcaster Movistar.Meanwhile, Leverkusen followed a 2-0 win away to Olympiacos in Greece last week with a 0-0 draw at home in the return.The 2024 German champions now face a huge test next against either Arsenal or Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich.
Forest boss Pereira makes perfect start with Fenerbahce rout in Europa play-offs
AFP, Published on 20/02/2026
» LONDON — Vitor Pereira made a dream start as Nottingham Forest boss with a 3-0 win over Fenerbahce in the first leg of the Europa League play-offs, while Stuttgart thrashed Celtic 4-1 to ruin Martin O'Neill's 1,000th match as a manager on Thursday.
Olympics rev up Milan's renewal but locals fear price to pay
AFP, Published on 19/02/2026
» MILAN - The Winter Olympics are expected to accelerate Milan's transformation into a vibrant international metropolis, but many residents fear the effect will see them priced out.
Man Utd's Ratcliffe's apologises for 'language' on immigration
AFP, Published on 12/02/2026
» LONDON — Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe apologised Thursday for his "choice of language" after saying the "UK has been colonised by immigrants".
World Cup ticket prices skyrocket on Fifa resale site
AFP, Published on 12/02/2026
» WASHINGTON - Ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup have skyrocketed on Fifa’s official resale platform, with seats for many matches listed at several times their face value even though most tickets have only recently been distributed following the end of the main sales phase in January.
Plenty of peaks, but skiing yet to take off in Central Asia
AFP, Published on 12/02/2026
» BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - Two weeks before setting off for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics to compete as Kyrgyzstan’s only alpine skier, Timur Shakirov was weaving down a slalom course in his homeland.
Gyokeres lifts Arsenal nine clear as Man Utd pile pressure on Frank
AFP, Published on 08/02/2026
» LONDON - Arsenal moved nine points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 victory against Sunderland, while Tottenham boss Thomas Frank faced renewed calls for his sacking after a 2-0 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday.
Japan eyes Premier League parity by aligning calendar with Europe
AFP, Published on 04/02/2026
» TOKYO - Japan's J. League can one day compete with England's Premier League if a calendar switch helps clubs bring in bigger transfer fees, its chairman told Agence France-Presse (AFP) ahead of the new season.
Fifa president Infantino defends giving peace prize to Trump
AFP, Published on 03/02/2026
» LONDON — Federation Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) chief Gianni Infantino defended his controversial decision to award a peace prize to United States president Donald Trump as he dismissed calls for a World Cup boycott.
Arsenal seek fun factor as Frank searches for home comforts
AFP, Published on 30/01/2026
» LONDON — Arsenal travel to Leeds on Saturday desperate to prevent a Premier League wobble becoming something more serious as Manchester City and Aston Villa wait to pounce.