United News of Bangladesh

Abahani edged past eternal rivals Mohammedan 2-1 in a thrilling Dhaka Derby of the Bangladesh Football League on Friday, with Sulaiman Diabate scoring the decisive goal at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla. After a month-long break, the league resumed with one of its most anticipated fixtures, though the “home” of the derby has increasingly shifted outside Dhaka. The match saw Mohammedan take an early lead just three minutes into the game when Muzaffar Muzaffarov scored sensationally direct from a corner kick. However, Abahani responded quickly, leveling the score in the 17th minute through Mirajul Islam, who converted a pass from Emeka Ogbugh after beating a defender and finishing past goalkeeper Sujon Hossain. The second half saw Abahani dominate possession and create better chances. Their breakthrough came in the 66th minute when Emeka produced a brilliant solo run, beating three defenders before setting up Sulaiman Diabate. The striker turned 180 degrees and finished clinically between two defenders to score against his former club. Diabate, who had led Mohammedan to Federation Cup and league success over the past two seasons, marked his first goal against his former side—one that ultimately proved decisive in Abahani’s victory. Mohammedan pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but failed to break through Abahani’s defence. With the win, Abahani moved up to second place in the standings with 22 points from 12 matches, while Mohammedan slipped to seventh with 11 points amid a run of poor form. Bashundhara Kings lead the table with 24 points from 11 games.

Atletico Madrid scored twice after FC Barcelona were reduced to 10 men to secure a 2-0 away win in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday. A superb free kick from Julián Álvarez just before halftime and a second-half goal by Alexander Sørloth handed coach Diego Simeone his first win at Camp Nou since taking charge 15 years ago. “I don't think my Atleti had ever won at Camp Nou,” Simeone said. “They're arguably the best team in Europe, along with Paris (PSG) and Bayern (Munich). Through good teamwork, we were able to capitalize on key moments in the match.” Barcelona suffered a major setback just before the break when defender Pau Cubarsí was sent off for fouling Giuliano Simeone as he raced clear on goal. The referee upgraded an initial yellow card to red after a video review. Moments later, Álvarez curled the resulting free kick past goalkeeper Joan García to give Atletico the lead in the 45th minute. Despite being a man down, Barcelona pushed forward in the second half, with Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford leading the charge. However, Atletico sealed the win when substitute Sørloth shrugged off Gerard Martín and converted a cross from Matteo Ruggeri with 20 minutes remaining. Barcelona, five-time European champions, must now overturn the deficit in Madrid next week to keep alive their hopes of reaching a first semifinal since 2017. “We gave it our all, but it wasn't to be,” Barcelona defender Ronald Araújo said. “But this team can turn this around. I am convinced of it.” Atletico remained disciplined defensively and made the most of limited chances, scoring twice from just a handful of attempts while withstanding sustained Barcelona pressure. Elsewhere on Wednesday, Paris Saint-Germain defeated Liverpool FC 2-0 in their first-leg quarterfinal. On Tuesday, Bayern Munich beat Real Madrid 2-1, while Arsenal FC edged Sporting CP 1-0.

Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was hailed as the world’s best by teammate Kai Havertz after his heroics helped the Gunners beat Sporting 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. Havertz scored the late winner in the 91st minute, controlling a pass from Gabriel Martinelli and finishing calmly, but he was quick to credit Raya for keeping a clean sheet. The Spain international made a string of crucial saves, including a stunning fingertip stop to deny Maxi Araujo and a brilliant near-post save against Geny Catamo. Manager Mikel Arteta also praised Raya, calling his performance “extraordinary” and highlighting the goalkeeper’s influence in high-stakes matches. “The Champions League is always decided in the boxes because of the quality involved,” Arteta told Amazon Prime. “At the moment, he’s phenomenal. We are very lucky to have him.” Raya himself described his early save from Araujo as a turning point. “It was a quick transition and a great strike, but I managed to get a fingertip to it to hit the bar. Moments like that can change games,” he said. Raya also impressed with his composure in possession, completing 26 of 28 passes and heading away a long ball to prevent a Sporting counterattack. Arteta noted Raya’s all-around role in modern football, praising his courage, technical skill, and ability to adapt. “The goalkeeper’s position has evolved rapidly,” he said. “With David’s qualities and determination, he reaches another level.” Raya’s statistics underline his growing reputation. In the Champions League since last season, he has kept 13 clean sheets in 23 games, conceded only 12 goals from shots worth 21.07 expected goals, and prevented over nine goals above expectation – figures unmatched by any other goalkeeper in the competition. In the Premier League, he has the most clean sheets this season with 15 and has made just one error leading to a goal in 69 games across two campaigns. As Arsenal prepare for next week’s second leg, Raya’s outstanding form could be decisive in their quest to win the Champions League for the first time, reinforcing his status as a world-class goalkeeper. Source: Sky sports

Manchester City assistant manager Pep Lijnders has hinted that Bernardo Silva’s nine-year tenure at the club could conclude this summer, saying, "every good story comes to an end." The 31-year-old midfielder’s contract expires at the end of the season, and he has yet to sign an extension. Silva has been linked with moves to Barcelona, Juventus, and clubs in the United States. Speaking to the media after City’s 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool, while manager Pep Guardiola served a touchline ban, Lijnders praised Silva’s impact on the team. "You never replace a player with the same kind of player because they don't exist," he said. "Bernardo Silva is unique. The way he controls games, the way he moves, the way he receives, the way he leads, the way he sees the solutions… all these things. But every good story comes to an end, and I hope he enjoys the last months—there are only six weeks—and has a good farewell. He deserves all that attention as well." Silva, who joined City from Monaco in 2017, marked his 450th appearance for the club in Saturday’s win. The midfielder recently won his 18th piece of silverware with the club following City’s Carabao Cup triumph. Guardiola, a long-time admirer, has often relied on Silva, making him captain after Kevin De Bruyne’s departure at the end of last season. Lijnders also addressed City’s plans for the future, highlighting the importance of the club’s academy and youth development. "You never search for a replacement of one type of player," he said. "You search for what is needed to grow with the team and somebody who can fit in the first 11. With our academy and the young players we already bought, they can make that step in midfield positions. The most important is that the seniors who stay for a long time remain, and around that, you can move." City have been linked with a summer move for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson as they plan for the post-Silva era.  #From BBC

Barcelona came from behind to defeat 10-man Atletico Madrid 2-1 away and strengthen their grip at the top of La Liga after Real Madrid suffered a late defeat to Mallorca on Saturday. Atletico took the lead at Metropolitano Stadium through Giuliano Simeone in the 39th minute, but Marcus Rashford equalized just three minutes later. The hosts were reduced to 10 men in first-half stoppage time when Nico González was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. Barcelona capitalised on the advantage late in the match, with Robert Lewandowski scoring the winner in the 87th minute, converting a rebound off a save by goalkeeper Juan Musso. The Catalan club has now won eight of its last nine matches in all competitions and moved seven points clear of second-placed Real Madrid in the league standings. Atletico remain fourth, 19 points off the lead. Earlier, Real Madrid lost 2-1 to Mallorca after conceding in stoppage time. Manu Morlanes gave Mallorca the lead in the 42nd minute before Éder Militão equalized in the 88th minute on his return from injury. Vedat Muriqi netted the winner one minute into added time. Elsewhere, Real Sociedad beat Levante 2-0, while Real Betis were held to a goalless draw by Espanyol.

Real Madrid could drop further behind La Liga leader Barcelona after a 2-1 loss at Mallorca on Saturday. Madrid conceded in stoppage time and stayed four points behind ahead of the Catalan club's match at fourth-placed Atletico Madrid later Saturday. Mallorca has risen out of the relegation zone after its second win in three league matches. The host opened the scoring thanks to Manu Morlanes in the 42nd minute. Madrid equalized in the 88th through Éder Militão, who was back in the squad after an injury layoff of nearly four months. The winner came from Vedat Muriqi one minute into added time. Mallorca moved to 17th place, two points clear of the bottom three. Madrid suffered its third defeat in its last six league matches. The club has five league losses all season. Also, Real Sociedad beat Levante 2-0 at home.

Bangladesh lifted the SAFF Under-20 Championship title for the second time after beating India 4-3 on penalties in the final of the 2026 edition on Friday at the National Stadium in Male, Maldives. Ronan Sullivan scored the winning penalty with a cheeky 'panenka' to send the Bangladesh dugout into a frenzy. While it was Bangladesh's second such success, this is the first time they beat India in the final, having lost three previous finals against their bigger neighbours before. This second regional age group championship in three years solidifies Bangladesh's emerging edge in South Asian youth football under head coach Mark Cox. Neither side managed to break the deadlock during 90 minutes of regulation and four minutes of stoppage time, forcing the decisive shootout. Both teams missed crucial opportunities during a tightly contested first half. India threatened early when an Abrash header narrowly missed the post in the fourth minute. Bangladesh responded in the 13th minute when captain Mithu Chowdhury headed wide off a free-kick from Ronan Sullivan. Just before halftime, Sullivan launched an acrobatic half-volley from outside the box that sailed over the crossbar. Bangladesh adopted a more defensive posture in the second half. Goalkeeper Ismail Hossain Mahin survived two misjudged clearances, as Indian forwards failed to capitalize on the exposed net. Seeking an offensive spark, Cox substituted Philadelphia Union prospect Declan Sullivan into the match in the 66th minute, but the Indian defense held firm. India had the best chance to secure a victory in the dying minutes of regulation. In the 83rd minute, Rishi Singh delivered a cross into the box, but an unmarked Vishal sent a powerful shot soaring over the crossbar, ensuring the match would be decided by penalties.

Barcelona scored six goals again to outclass Real Madrid 6-0 and reach a record-extending eighth straight semifinal in the Women’s Champions League on Thursday. Caroline Graham Hansen scored twice and Alexia Putellas, Irene Paredes, Ewa Pajor and Esmee Brugts all scored a goal apiece for the three-time champion in the second leg of their quarterfinal to advance on a 12-2 aggregate score. Barcelona will face Bayern Munich for a spot in the May 23 final in Oslo. It was Barcelona’s sixth win over Madrid in the women’s clásico in all competitions this season and it was watched by 60,067 spectators in the women’s first game at the newly revamped Camp Nou. Later Thursday, OL Lyonnes needed extra time to beat Wolfsburg 4-0 and will take on defending champion Arsenal in the last four. Barcelona didn’t waste time in proving its superiority, giving Madrid no chance for an unprecedented quarterfinal turnaround after last week's 6-2 result in the Spanish capital. In the eighth minute, Pajor's attempt from the left side of the box was saved by goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez. But Putellas scored off the rebound to mark the two-time Ballon d'Or winner's 500th Barcelona appearance. With the goal, Putellas became the first Spanish player to have 30 goals in women’s club competitions, according to UEFA. Seven minutes later, Graham Hansen headed in the second from close range. Paredes made it 3-0 with another header off a corner from Graham Hansen in the 27th. The home team went into halftime with a 4-0 lead after Pajor's seventh goal in the Champions League this season and career 40th in European club competitions. Graham Hansen chipped the ball over Rodríguez 10 minutes into the second half for a 5-0 lead. Clara Serrajordi set up Brugts to tap in the sixth. Barcelona seeks to reclaim the title it lost to Arsenal last season. The Catalan club topped the league phase with an unbeaten campaign that included 20 goals scored and three against. Substitutes save Lyon Substitutes Melchie Dumornay and Damaris Egurrola scored off corner kicks five minutes apart at the end of the first half of extra time, and another substitute — Tabitha Chawinga — sealed the win, 4-1 on aggregate, to send the record eight-time champions to the next round. Leading 1-0 from the first leg, Wolfsburg relied on defense and some great saves by goalkeeper Stina Johannes. Lily Yohannes, an 18-year-old United States international, erased the one-goal deficit with a deflected low shot in the first half. It was the 13th meeting between Lyon and Wolfsburg in the Women’s Champions League, a new record for the most played fixture. Wolfsburg won the first meeting — the 2013 final — but Lyon has had the best of the rivalry since then. It won three finals against the German club: in 2016, 2018 and 2020.

Bangladeshi leg-spinner Rishad Hossain has been named the player of the season for the Hobart Hurricanes following his debut campaign in Australia's Big Bash League. Cricket Tasmania announced the award during its annual awards night, more than two months after the domestic T20 tournament concluded on Jan. 25. Rishad secured the recognition after taking a team-high 15 wickets for the Hurricanes. He finished as the joint-highest wicket-taking spinner across all franchises in the tournament, sharing the mark with Perth Scorchers left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly and Adelaide Strikers leg-spinner Lloyd Pope. Rishad maintained a consistent performance throughout the season, recording an economy rate of 7.82. He claimed the top men's honor ahead of three other nominees: batsman Nikhil Chaudhary, who scored 307 runs; team captain and fast bowler Nathan Ellis, who took 14 wickets; and fast bowler Chris Jordan, who claimed seven wickets. In the women's division, batsman Danni Wyatt-Hodge won the top award for Hobart. She scored 432 runs during the latest BBL season, playing a significant role in helping the team secure its first championship title.

Bangladesh secured a place in the final of the SAFF U-20 Championship 2026 after edging past Nepal 1-0 in the semi-final on Wednesday. Md Manik scored the decisive goal in the 11th minute at the National Football Stadium in Malé, Maldives, and was named Player of the Match. The match kicked off at 4:45 pm (BST). In the second semi-final, India will face Bhutan later on the same day at the same venue at 9:30 pm (BST). Bangladesh will learn their final opponents after that match. Earlier, Bangladesh reached the semi-finals finishing as runners-up in Group B. The boys in red and green began their campaign with a 2-0 win over Pakistan and later played out a 1-1 draw against India in their final group match.