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McGinn seals Villa win against Bologna, Giroud fires Lille past Brann

McGinn seals Villa win against Bologna, Giroud fires Lille past Brann
Aston Villa’s Scottish midfielder John McGinn (2L) scores the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League league stage football match between Aston Villa and Bologna at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on Thursday. (AFP)
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McGinn seals Villa win against Bologna, Giroud fires Lille past Brann

McGinn seals Villa win against Bologna, Giroud fires Lille past Brann
  • McGinn fires Villa to 1-0 win as Watkins misses penalty
  • Giroud’s late header gives Lille 2-1 win in woodwork-heavy thriller against Brann
  • Porto, Lyon and Stuttgart grab narrow wins while 10-man Rangers fall to Genk

BIRMINGHAM, England: An early goal from John McGinn helped Aston Villa to kick off their Europa League campaign with a gritty 1-0 group-stage win over Bologna on Thursday, while Olivier Giroud came off the bench to nod in a late winner in Lille’s dramatic 2-1 triumph against SK Brann.

Scottish midfielder McGinn’s decisive goal came in the 13th minute, setting Villa off to a positive start in their European campaign at Villa Park.

McGinn broke the deadlock when a cleverly worked short corner found him in space outside the box. With precision, he struck a low shot that nestled into the bottom corner, leaving Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski rooted to the spot.

Ollie Watkins had a golden opportunity to double Villa’s lead in the 68th minute from the penalty spot, after being brought down by Martin Vitik. But his tame effort was easily saved by Skorupski.

Just minutes later, Bologna came agonizingly close to an equalizer when Santiago Castro’s powerful header crashed against the crossbar and bounced out of play.

McGinn admitted the win was vital, with Villa still without a Premier League victory this season.

“It was important to get a win at home. Not our strongest start to the season, especially here,” he told TNT Sports.

“Really difficult to play against (Bologna) but we had chances, missed the penalty which could have made it a more difficult night. At this stage, we’ll take anything that’s coming.”

Giroud flies high for Lille

Substitute Giroud emerged as Lille’s hero earlier on Thursday, rising high to head in a decisive late goal that spoiled Norwegian Brann’s long-awaited return to European competition after 18 years.

The French side secured a 2-1 home victory in a match filled with drama, as both teams were denied multiple times by the woodwork, with four shots striking the post or crossbar throughout the game.

The Frenchman, who turns 39 next week, soared above the defense to meet a cross in the 80th minute, powering a point-blank header past the keeper and leaving Brann’s back line helpless.

In Glasgow, 10-man Rangers fell 1-0 to Genk after Mohamed Diomande was sent off just before halftime.

Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the winner in the 55th minute for the Belgian side, redeeming himself after missing a penalty earlier in the match.

VfB Stuttgart began their Europa League campaign with a 2-1 home win over Celta Vigo, courtesy of second-half goals from Badredine Bouanani and Bilal El Khannouss.

Tanner Tessmann blasted in a stunning first-time strike from distance into the top corner just 15 minutes from time to earn Olympique Lyonnais a hard-fought 1-0 win at Utrecht.

Two-time Europa League champions FC Porto escaped with a dramatic victory, as William Gomes struck deep into stoppage time to silence Salzburg and secure a precious 1-0 win.


Hernandez stunner as Al-Hilal strike back to beat Al-Okhdood

Hernandez stunner as Al-Hilal strike back to beat Al-Okhdood
Updated 11 sec ago

Hernandez stunner as Al-Hilal strike back to beat Al-Okhdood

Hernandez stunner as Al-Hilal strike back to beat Al-Okhdood
  • 3-1 win leaves the Riyadh team in 4th place in Saudi Pro League standings

RIYADH: Al-Hilal recovered from an early concession to beat Al-Okhdood 3-1 at Kingdom Arena on Matchday 4 of the Saudi Pro League season.

The win on Thursday night leaves Al-Hilal in fourth place with eight points from four matches.

Al-Okhdood shocked the home crowd by taking the lead on 13 minutes when Khaled Narey scored with a stunning volley past Yassine Bounou from a tight angle. The lead could have been doubled on 25 minutes, but Blaz Kramer wasted a presentable chance.

Marcos Leonardo squared the match with a header after Al-Okhdood goalkeeper Samuel Portugal fumbled the ball into his path and it looked like that the teams would go in at the break on level terms. However, three minutes into stoppage time, Theo Hernandez gave Al-Hilal the lead after a wonderful run and finish to send the home crowd into wild celebration.

Nevertheless, Al-Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi would have been far from happy with his team’s overall first-half performance.

The message must have got to the players as Al-Hilal went on the attack after the restart, though a Kalidou Koulibaly effort on 57 minutes was overturned by VAR.

Al-Hilal’s third eventually arrived on 79 minutes, Leonardo grabbing his second of the night from close range after Portugal once again failed to hold onto the ball.

Earlier on Thursday visitors Al-Taawoun beat Al-Khaleej 1-0 to claim third place in the SPL table, while Al-Kholood pulled off the surprise of the day, beating hosts Al-Shabab with a 90th-minute winner from Abdulaziz El-Elawi.


Barcelona fight back to defeat Oviedo 3-1 and stay unbeaten in LaLiga

Barcelona fight back to defeat Oviedo 3-1 and stay unbeaten in LaLiga
Updated 19 min 36 sec ago

Barcelona fight back to defeat Oviedo 3-1 and stay unbeaten in LaLiga

Barcelona fight back to defeat Oviedo 3-1 and stay unbeaten in LaLiga
  • The Polish striker’s brilliant towering header from a Frenkie de Jong cross into the top left corner in the 70th minute silenced a raucous Carlos Tartiere crowd, capping a remarkable turnaround for last year’s champions
  • Barcelona next host Real Sociedad on Sunday, while Oviedo travel to Valencia on Monday

OVIEDO, Spain: Barcelona fought back from a goal down to beat Real Oviedo 3-1 on Thursday, with second-half goals from Eric Garcia, Robert Lewandowski and Ronald Araujo overturning Alberto Reina’s first-half opener.

The win keeps Barcelona unbeaten in the league, sitting second in the standings with 16 points from six matches, two behind leaders Real Madrid. Oviedo remain mired in the relegation zone in 18th with just three points.

A costly error from Barcelona keeper Joan Garcia gifted Oviedo the lead. In an attempt to clear the ball outside his area, he misplaced his pass, allowing Reina to easily lob him from distance in the 33rd minute.

Barcelona equalized in the 56th minute when Eric Garcia tapped in a rebound from close range and substitute Lewandowski put Barcelona ahead in the 70th minute with a towering header.

Oviedo pushed forward in search of an equalizer but were undone in the 88th minute when Araujo headed home from a corner, sealing the points for the Catalans.

“It was a tough match, Oviedo play good football and in the first half we had problems finishing, but in the second half we played faster and that led to three goals,” Lewandowski told DAZN.

“I have to do my job starting or not, the reality is that there’s a match every three days. We need to be responsible and vigilant.

“I was hurt at the end of the pre-season, so I needed a little more time to get up to speed. I’m patient. The most important thing is that when I play, I want to score goals to help the team. Physically, I feel very good.”

Hansi Flick’s side, still missing injured teenager Lamine Yamal for the fourth consecutive match and again starting Ferran Torres ahead of veteran Lewandowski, dominated early proceedings mainly through Marcus Rashford.

The English forward forced Oviedo goalkeeper Aaron Escandell into a fabulous reflex save with a bullet strike in the 10th minute before testing him again with a curling effort from the edge of the box a few minutes later, with Raphinha also hitting the post from distance.

The match took a turn in the 33rd minute when the home side capitalized on a mistake by Barcelona keeper Garcia.

However, Barca came back livelier after the break and Eric Garcia pounced on a rebound after Escandell had denied Ferran Torres with a stunning reflex save and Lewandowski’s introduction proved inspired.

The Polish striker’s brilliant towering header from a Frenkie de Jong cross into the top left corner in the 70th minute silenced a raucous Carlos Tartiere crowd, capping a remarkable turnaround for last year’s champions, before Araujo wrapped the hard-fought win.

Barcelona next host Real Sociedad on Sunday, while Oviedo travel to Valencia on Monday.


Aston Villa must build on Europa League win over Bologna, says Emery

Aston Villa must build on Europa League win over Bologna, says Emery
Updated 48 min 6 sec ago

Aston Villa must build on Europa League win over Bologna, says Emery

Aston Villa must build on Europa League win over Bologna, says Emery

Aston Villa must use their 1-0 home win over Bologna in the Europa League on Thursday as a springboard, manager Unai Emery said after his side picked up their first win of the season.
John McGinn scored Villa’s first home goal of the season to earn the win and provide Emery with a measure of relief after their dismal start to the season left them 17th in the Premier League and out of the League Cup.
Villa have three draws and two defeats from their five league games so far and Emery urged his side to build on the momentum from their win over the Italians when they host Fulham on Sunday.
“We have to try to keep consistent, we had not been consistent until today,” Emery told reporters.
“Today we won and it is important we have to try and keep consistent on Sunday. Different match, different rival, but a lot of things tactically we have to keep on building. Some players have to keep adapting with us and keep progressing.
“Today this win will help us to try and continue working and being positive, but each match coming is a challenge, to fight to try and prepare as best as possible, be demanding with the players.”
Striker Ollie Watkins’s goal drought stretched to 10 games on Thursday as his tame penalty was saved by Bologna’s Lukasz Skorupski but Emery was pleased with the England international’s performance.
“He worked today like he is  and this is the first step to recover confidence,” he added.
“Then he had a penalty and he created chances as well, but the most important is to recover confidence and do your tasks like he did today. Today was the first step and he did fantastic.”


Trump: World Cup games will be moved if host cities aren’t ‘safe’

Trump: World Cup games will be moved if host cities aren’t ‘safe’
Updated 26 September 2025

Trump: World Cup games will be moved if host cities aren’t ‘safe’

Trump: World Cup games will be moved if host cities aren’t ‘safe’

President Donald Trump would look to move matches for the 2026 World Cup if he deems any of the US cities planning to serve as hosts to be unsafe.
Speaking Thursday about the event, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, Trump was asked by reporters in the Oval Office specifically about games in Seattle and San Francisco.
“Well, that’s an interesting question ... but we’re going to make sure they’re safe,” he said. “ run by radical left lunatics who don’t know what they’re doing.”
Six matches are scheduled to be played at Seattle’s Lumen Field and six are set for Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, about an hour’s drive from San Francisco.
World Cup matters are overseen by FIFA, which determined the game sites and would figure to be in charge of any changes. However, Trump has a close working relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Trump cited his policies as helping make the country safer ahead of the World Cup. He sent the National Guard into Washington, D.C., last month to deal with what he called a “crime emergency,” and he subsequently said that the move resulted in the city having “no crime.”
He said Thursday, “As you probably know, we’re going into Memphis and we’re going into some other cities. Very soon we’re going into Chicago. It will be safe for the World Cup. If I think it isn’t safe, we’ll move into a different city, absolutely. It’s actually a very fair question.
“If I think it’s not safe, we’re going to move it out of that city. So if any city we think is going to be even a little bit dangerous for the World Cup, or for the  Olympics, you know where they have Olympic overthrow right, but for the World Cup in particular, because they’re playing in so many cities, we won’t allow it. We’ll move it around a little bit. But I hope that’s not going to happen.”
The draw for the World Cup, which will feature 48 teams, is scheduled for Dec. 5 in Washington, D.C.
 


Conor McGregor names his price for UFC White House fight

Conor McGregor names his price for UFC White House fight
Updated 26 September 2025

Conor McGregor names his price for UFC White House fight

Conor McGregor names his price for UFC White House fight

Conor McGregor says he wants in on the UFC event planned at the White House, and he set a high price for his participation.
McGregor, who hasn’t fought since breaking his leg in a 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier, posted Thursday on X that he’d appear on the card for “$100 million to fight at the White House along with 100 US‘Golden Visas’ for myself and family and friends.” He added, “I look very forward to entertaining the fighting world once again. A pleasure I never take for granted!“
UFC confirmed in July that it’s working with the White House on a future show. President Donald Trump publicly floated July 4, 2026, as a target date tied to the nation’s 250th birthday. No matchups are finalized.
McGregor has repeatedly linked a potential return to a bout with Michael Chandler. The two were set to meet at UFC 303 last year before McGregor withdrew with a broken pinky toe. That pairing has not been announced for the White House event, though McGregor said Chandler would be his opponent during an appearance on “Fox & Friends” last week.
The former two-division champion re-entered the UFC drug-testing program over the summer as a step toward a comeback. He has not competed in more than four years.
McGregor’s financial ask would rank among the largest disclosed payouts for a UFC-related appearance. He previously reported earning nine figures for his 2017 boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
His request for “Golden Visas” references a program the Trump administration announced Sept. 19 that offers a fast-tracked immigration process tied to a $1 million gift to the Commerce Department.
UFC has said only that planning for the White House card is ongoing. McGregor’s involvement, an opponent, weight class and date remain to be determined.