United News of Bangladesh

A chaotic night at Stamford Bridge ended in disaster for Barcelona, who collapsed 3-0 to a ruthless Chelsea after going down to 10 men late in the first half. An own goal from Jules Koundé opened the scoring before Estevão doubled the lead with a brilliant strike. Liam Delap sealed the 3-0 victory with Chelsea’s third. Chelsea could have scored three more, but those efforts were ruled out for offside or handball. Chelsea dominated from the outset and nearly took the lead in the fourth minute. Enzo Fernández put the ball into the Barcelona net from close range, but the referee disallowed it for a handball by defender Wesley Fofana in the buildup. Two minutes later, Ferran Torres squandered a golden opportunity to put Barcelona ahead. Receiving a pass from Lamine Yamal inside the box with only the goalkeeper to beat, the 25-year-old forward inexplicably fired wide from near the penalty spot. That was all for the night for Barça. The home side’s breakthrough came through fortune. In the 27th minute, Marc Cucurella’s cutback caused confusion inside the Barcelona box—Neto’s flick was cleared off the line by Ferran Torres, only for the ball to rebound off Koundé and roll into the net. Barcelona’s troubles deepened just before halftime when captain Ronald Araújo picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Cucurella, leaving his team a man down and visibly shaken. Cristiano Ronaldo expected to escape WC ban as FIFA issues probation with red-card ruling Chelsea struck again shortly after the restart. In the 55th minute, young Brazilian Estevão produced a superb solo effort, bursting into the box, cutting past Eric García and Alejandro Balde, and smashing the ball inside the near post to double the lead. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick responded with changes, sending on Raphinha and Andreas Christensen. But the visitors’ resistance didn’t last long. In the 73rd minute, Liam Delap finished from a Fernández pass inside the area. Although the flag initially went up for offside, VAR confirmed the goal, sealing Barcelona’s defeat. Statistically, Chelsea controlled 55 percent possession, took 15 shots and hit the target six times. Barcelona managed only five attempts, with just two on goal. Robert Sánchez preserved Chelsea’s clean sheet with a brilliant save to deny Raphinha in the 81st minute—Barcelona’s only real threat after going down to 10. Chelsea now sit on 10 points after five group-stage games, while Barcelona, suffering their second defeat, drop to 15th with seven points in a disappointing campaign. After arriving in London on the back of a 4-0 La Liga win over Athletic Bilbao, the Catalan leave bruised, beaten and searching for answers ahead of Saturday’s league clash with Alavés.

Barcelona could not have scripted a more poetic homecoming. After 909 days of exile, the Catalans returned to their beloved Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday night and marked the occasion with a resounding 4-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao — a win that briefly lifted them to the summit of La Liga ahead of Real Madrid. The night belonged to history, emotion, and a team rediscovering its rhythm. Robert Lewandowski, wearing the captain’s armband for the first time in what was his 160th appearance for the club, carved his name into Camp Nou folklore by scoring the first goal at the renovated stadium. For Ferran Torres, this new era started with a flourish. The forward struck twice, both assisted by Yamal, who justified every bit of the hype surrounding him with a dazzling display of vision and composure. And as if to reaffirm Barcelona’s renewed strength, goalkeeper Joan García, back from injury, delivered a commanding performance to keep Bilbao at bay. Barca needed less than five minutes to trigger a new chapter in their storied home. Yamal drove forward with characteristic fearlessness before slicing open Bilbao’s defence with a brilliant through-ball. A quick series of passes followed, and Lewandowski, gliding into space, unleashed a powerful strike into the net to ignite the stadium. But the visitors refused to be mere spectators. Bilbao answered instantly with waves of attack, dominating nearly ten minutes and testing Barcelona’s defensive structure. In the 20th minute, Fermín’s low shot forced Unai Simón into action, and Dani Olmo sent the rebound narrowly wide. Four minutes later, Ferran Torres found the net but was denied by the offside flag. Bilbao’s biggest chance of the half arrived in the 36th minute when Unai Gómez failed to beat Joan García from close range. Moments later, Gómez’s long-range effort sailed over the bar, and in the 41st minute Nico Williams miscued his attempt from just outside the six-yard box. Then, just before the interval, Barcelona struck again. A counterattack led by Yamal set Ferran free, and although Simón got a hand to it, the ball rolled in to make it 2-0 at halftime. The second half began with Barcelona pouncing on a defensive error, allowing Fermín to coolly slot home their third goal of the night. Bilbao’s hopes unraveled further in the 54th minute when Oihan Sancet saw red for a reckless challenge on Fermín. Initially shown a yellow, the card turned red after VAR intervention. With a man advantage, Barcelona dominated possession and tempo, while Bilbao retreated into damage-control mode. Olmo came within inches of scoring in the 65th minute, but it was Ferran who completed the rout in stoppage time. Yamal once again orchestrated the move, and after a brief offside scare, VAR confirmed the goal. The victory took Barcelona to 31 points from 13 matches — level with Real Madrid but temporarily ahead on goal difference. Madrid, however, can reclaim the lead with at least a draw in their 13th-round fixture against Elche on Sunday, while a win would take them three points clear. Barcelona now shift their focus to Europe, travelling to London to face Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday. They will return home next Saturday for a La Liga fixture with Deportivo Alavés.  

Barcelona entered the pitch at Balaídos aware that Real Madrid had dropped points against Rayo Vallecano. They successfully capitalized on the situation, closing the gap on La Liga summit to three points. The Catalans secured an important 4-2 victory over Celta Vigo on Sunday night thanks to a hat-trick from Robert Lewandowski. Lamine Yamal netted the other goal, while Marcus Rashford provided two assists. Despite falling behind twice, Celta fought back each time before succumbing after Barcelona’s third goal. Lewandowski gave Barcelona the lead with a perfect spot-kick in the 10th minute after Marcos Alonso of Celta handled the ball in the box. However, Sergio Carreira took no time to equalize for the hosts through a counterattack. The Polish striker scored again in the 37th minute to make it 2-1, but defensive lapses haunted Hansi Flick’s side as Borja Iglesias restored parity six minutes later. Barcelona regained the lead before halftime when young sensation Lamine Yamal scored a superb goal. Barcelona resumed the second half with greater composure, controlling the tempo and piling pressure on Celta’s defense. Lewandowski sealed the victory in the 72nd minute, heading home a well-placed corner from Rashford with a spectacular back-header. The victory was slightly marred as Frenkie de Jong received a red card late in the match, ruling him out of the next game. Barcelona head into the international break sitting in second place with 28 points from 12 matches, three behind leaders Real Madrid. After the break, the Catalan giants will host Athletic Bilbao at Camp Nou on November 22.

Barcelona dominated possession by 76 percent and produced 23 attempts, but spent almost the entire match chasing equalizers as a defensive nightmare sank the Catalans in Belgium. Hansi Flick’s men dropped points again, this time in a 3-3 draw against a promising Club Brugge side. It was a match where the Blaugrana could easily have returned home with a big win, but their recurring defensive woes haunted them from the opening whistle to the last minute. In fact, they could have lost the match 4-3 had Brugge’s stoppage-time goal not been ruled out. The home side started brightly, taking the lead in the 6th minute after creating a couple of early chances. On their third attempt, Carlos Forbs initiated a counter-attack and squared the ball to Nicolo Tresoldi in front of Barca’s box. The 21-year-old Italy-born German international slotted the ball under Wojciech Szczęsny to give Brugge the opening goal. However, the visitors wasted no time in responding, as Ferran Torres equalised just two minutes later. Fermín López carried the attack through the right channel and delivered a delicious low cross across the six-yard box. The Spanish forward made no mistake in connecting and finding the net. After the quick exchange of goals, Barca took complete control of the match and began to pile pressure on the Brugge defence. Fermín nearly put the visitors ahead in the 11th minute, but his long-range shot struck the outside of the left post and bounced away. Despite Barcelona’s dominance, it was the home team who struck again, capitalising on another counter-attack in the 17th minute. Barcelona’s defensive line was pushed too high, allowing Christos Tzolis to break from midfield on a solo run. The winger squared the ball to Forbs, who beat Szczęsny without facing any challenge to restore Brugge’s lead.

Barcelona returned to winning ways after a frustrating 2-1 defeat in El Clásico last week, securing a 3-1 victory over Elche on Sunday. The win brought Barcelona within five points of arch-rivals Real Madrid at the top of the table. The Catalans went ahead with two quick goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres in the 9th and 12th minutes respectively. Rafa Mir pulled one back for Elche three minutes before halftime, before Marcus Rashford sealed the victory for the Blaugrana in the 61st minute. Injury-plagued Barcelona had struggled to show character at the Santiago Bernabéu last week, but this time Hansi Flick’s men responded in style. Their intent to return to form was evident from the opening whistle, as they dominated the early stages. In the ninth minute, Alejandro Balde intercepted a misplaced pass in midfield and sent a precise through ball into the penalty area. Yamal controlled it between two defenders and fired a powerful shot past the goalkeeper to give Barcelona the lead. Barely two minutes later, Barcelona doubled their advantage. From the left flank, Fermín López’s low cross found unmarked Ferran Torres inside the six-yard box, and the winger calmly slotted home with his right foot. It was Ferran’s 50th goal wearing the Barca shirt. López, who had scored Barcelona’s only goal against Real Madrid the previous week, almost found the net again in the 33rd minute with a curling long-range effort that was superbly pushed away by the Elche goalkeeper. After spending most of the first half defending, Elche pulled one back in the 42nd minute with their first meaningful attack. Álvaro Núñez led a counter-attack and set up Rafa Mir, who drove into the box unchallenged and finished clinically into the far corner.

Barcelona secured a vital 2-1 comeback victory over Real Sociedad on Sunday at home, to climb above arch-rivals Real Madrid and claim the top spot in La Liga. Hansi Flick’s side controlled the match from the outset, dominating the opening half-hour with over 85 percent possession and registering multiple shots on target. However, against the run of play, the hosts were stunned in the 31st minute when Álvaro Odriozola finished a pass from Ander Barrenetxea, giving the visitors a shock 1-0 lead. The defending champions’ immediate pressure was immense. After goalkeeper Álex Remiro brilliantly intervened to prevent an Igor Zubeldia own goal, Barcelona finally found their equalizer in the 43rd minute. French defender Jules Kounde rose to head home a corner delivered by Marcus Rashford, sending the teams into the break tied at 1-1. Goals galore as Atletico stuns Real Madrid in fiery derby clash The decisive moment came early in the second half, driven by a strategic substitution. Coach Flick introduced 18-year-old forward Lamine Yamal for fellow teenager Roony Bardghji in the 58th minute, and Yamal immediately impacted the game. He burst into the box, shrugged off a challenge, and delivered a superb cross, which veteran striker Robert Lewandowski routinely headed home. Although that appeared to be the winning goal later, the battle continued until the final whistle. Barcelona had another goal from Lamine Yamal ruled out for a marginal offside, and in the 84th minute, both sides spurned golden chances within seconds. Takefusa Kubo rattled the crossbar for Sociedad before Lewandowski immediately hit the bar at the other end on a counter-attack. With this hard-fought victory, Barcelona extends their unbeaten start to the season. They now lead the league standings with 19 points from six wins and one draw in seven matches, moving one point ahead of Real Madrid, who drop to second after a shocking 5-2 derby defeat at Metropolitano a night earlier. Bad news for Barcelona: Gavi and Fermin sidelined with Injuries Next up, Barcelona will host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday. Real Madrid will visit Kazakhstan to face Kairat Almaty on Tuesday. Real Sociedad, not in European competition this season, will host Rayo Vallecano on October 5 in their next league match.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele has won the prestigious Ballon d’Or, capping a sensational season that saw him lead PSG to their first-ever Champions League title. The 28-year-old forward beat out Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal for the top honor, which was awarded at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday. A historic season for Dembele and PSG Dembele was instrumental in PSG’s historic season, which also saw them lift the Ligue 1 and Coupe de France trophies. The French international scored an impressive 35 goals and provided 16 assists in 53 appearances across all competitions. His explosive form was crucial for the treble-winning side, especially after Kylian Mbappe’s departure to Real Madrid, as Dembele seamlessly transitioned into a more central attacking role. He succeeds Manchester City’s Rodri as the men’s player of the year, an award administered by France Football and decided by a vote of international journalists. The criteria for the award include individual performance, team achievements, and a player’s class and fair play. From Barcelona to Ballon d’Or Dembele’s victory marks a remarkable turnaround for the forward, who struggled to meet expectations during his six seasons at Barcelona after a high-profile €100 million move in 2017. However, since his €50 million transfer to PSG in 2023, he has flourished under coach Luis Enrique, establishing himself as one of the world’s elite players. “Thank you all,” an emotional Dembele said upon receiving the award from legendary player Ronaldinho. “What just happened to me is incredible. I’m speechless. It’s been an amazing season with PSG... I want to thank PSG for signing me in 2023. The president, the entire team, and the club. They are a wonderful family.” Pedri, Lewandowski to skip Ballon d’Or gala in Paris He also credited Luis Enrique, saying the coach “is like a father to me” and has been “very important to my career.” Other awards at the ceremony The ceremony also celebrated other standout performers from the past season: Lamine Yamal, 18, who had a brilliant season with Barcelona, was awarded the Kopa Trophy for second time for the best under-21 male player. Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati won her third consecutive Ballon d’Or Feminin, joining an exclusive club alongside Michel Platini and Lionel Messi. Vicky Lopez of Barcelona was named the best under-21 female player. The Gerd Müller trophy for the season’s top goal scorers went to Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres and Barcelona’s Ewa Pajor. Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy) and Hannah Hampton (Chelsea) were named the best goalkeepers, receiving the Yashin Trophy and Lev Yashin Trophy, respectively. The Johan Cruyff trophies for best coaches were awarded to PSG’s Luis Enrique and England women’s team manager, Sarina Wiegman.

France Football will host the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards in Paris on Monday, with Barcelona well represented across multiple categories. However, two of the club’s biggest names, Robert Lewandowski and Pedri, will not be making the trip to the French capital despite their nominations. Spanish media confirmed over the weekend that both players have opted out of attending the ceremony. According to Spanish media outlet Sport, Pedri has mutually agreed with the club to skip the ceremony. The midfielder, who has enjoyed a standout year at club and international level, is reportedly prioritizing rest to manage a demanding schedule under new coach Hansi Flick. He is also not considered among the frontrunners for the men’s award this year. Lewandowski’s absence stems from fitness concerns following an injury sustained during the summer. The Polish striker has yet to fully rediscover his form this season and, like Pedri, is viewed as not a top contender for the prize. Barcelona’s main hopes for recognition lie with Raphinha and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who are widely tipped to feature on the podium alongside Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele. Their performances over the past year have put them firmly in contention for the Ballon d’Or. It will be interesting to see how Barcelona’s nominees get on during the Ballon d’Or ceremony. The Catalan club is well represented across different categories. Nominations include Lewandowski, Pedri, Raphinha, and Yamal for the men’s award, while Aitana Bonmati, Alexia Putellas, Claudia Pina, Patri Guijarro, Ewa Pajor, and Caroline Graham Hansen are all shortlisted for the women’s equivalent. Barcelona are also among the contenders for both the Men’s and Women’s Club of the Year awards. In addition, head coach Hansi Flick has been nominated for the Johan Cruyff Trophy, while goalkeeper Cata Coll is in the running for the Women’s Yachine Trophy. The club’s emerging talents have also earned recognition. Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí have been shortlisted for the men’s Kopa Trophy, while Vicky López is nominated on the women’s side.  

Barcelona's young star, Lamine Yamal, will miss the team's first home game of the season against Valencia on Sunday.  The club said that the 18-year-old forward is experiencing pubic discomfort and did not take part in Saturday’s training session. In an official statement, Barcelona confirmed, “Lamine Yamal is having trouble in the pubic area that prevented him from training today and means he will play no part in Sunday's game with Valencia. He will not be training with his team-mates until the problem is resolved.” The injury reportedly stems from his time with the Spanish national team during their recent World Cup qualifying matches. Yamal played in wins against Bulgaria and Turkey despite experiencing groin pain. Expressing frustration with the situation, Coach Hansi Flick said that Yamal had been given painkillers to play and ended up logging significant minutes in both matches — something he believes was not in the player’s best interest. “He went off to play for Spain with some pain and did not train. They gave him painkillers so that he could play. They had at least a three-goal lead in both matches, and he still played 73 and 79 minutes. Between the games he wasn’t able to train,” Flick said in a press conference on Saturday. “That’s not looking after the player, ” he said, “I’m very sad about this.” Yamal’s absence is a significant blow for Barcelona. The young winger has been in excellent form this season, with two goals and two assists in three La Liga games. He also recorded three assists in his two appearances for Spain. With the latest injury, the teenage sensation is also a doubt for Thursday’s Champions League match against Newcastle United. Barcelona will also be without Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Alejandro Balde due to injuries. Yamal’s injury could provide an opportunity for new summer signing Roony Bardghji.  The team has also been boosted by the return of youngster Marc Bernal, who is expected to be on the bench after a 382-day absence following an ACL injury.

Cristiano Ronaldo once again found himself at the heart of global football headlines during the ongoing international break. Portugal edged past Hungary in a tense World Cup qualifier, thanks to a late winner from João Cancelo. Yet, as so often, it was Ronaldo who stole the limelight not only for his performance but for another landmark goal that added weight to his legendary career. In the 58th minute, the Al Nassr striker calmly converted a penalty, putting Portugal ahead and etching his name into history yet again. With that strike, Ronaldo became the joint-highest scorer in World Cup qualifying history with 39 goals, standing shoulder to shoulder with Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz. The milestone came just five days after Lionel Messi presumably played the last match of his career in the World Cup qualifiers on home soil with Argentina. Ronaldo’s penalty not only extended his personal tally but also widened the gap over his eternal rival. He now sits three goals ahead of Messi in qualifiers, underlining how the duel between the two greats continues to shape football’s narrative even in its twilight. With this latest addition, Ronaldo’s international goal count swelled to 141 in 223 appearances, the highest in men’s football. Messi, with 114 goals in 194 caps, trails by a significant margin, though still far ahead of Iran’s Ali Daei, who retired with 108 goals from 148 matches. But while Messi and Ronaldo remain the gold standard of international goal-scoring, a new generation has already started rewriting record books. France’s Kylian Mbappé, at just 26, surpassed Thierry Henry’s tally of 51 to become his country’s second-highest scorer with 52 goals. Now just five behind Olivier Giroud, Mbappé seems destined to become France’s all-time top scorer before long. With his pace, consistency, and age on his side, many believe he could eventually challenge Ronaldo’s monumental record. Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, still only 17, has already shown flashes of brilliance for La Roja. If his talent matures and injuries stay at bay, Yamal could well join the pantheon of international greats in the decades to come. Yet, amid this shifting landscape, one name stands out as a genuine threat to Ronaldo’s seemingly unbreakable record: Erling Haaland. The 25-year-old Norwegian forward, already a household name thanks to his club Manchester City, is rapidly building an international legacy of his own. Last night, Haaland spearheaded Norway’s extraordinary 11–1 demolition of Moldova, netting five goals in a single match. The performance elevated his international tally to 48 goals in just 45 appearances, giving him a jaw-dropping strike rate of 1.07 goals per game. To put that in perspective, Ronaldo averages 0.63, Messi 0.59, and Mbappé 0.57 goals per match. Haaland, in other words, is scoring at nearly double the rate of the two greatest of all time. Haaland’s meteoric rise is even more remarkable when you consider the timeline. Since debuting for Norway on September 5, 2019, he has amassed 48 goals in just six years. Ronaldo, by comparison, had scored 22 international goals at the same point in his career. Age is another factor tilting the balance. Ronaldo, who has hinted multiple times that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will likely be his last dance, is expected to retire at 41. Messi, at 38, remains undecided about extending his international journey that far. Haaland, however, has at least 13–15 prime years ahead. If his current scoring rate holds—even allowing for dips in form or injury breaks—he could end his career eclipsing Ronaldo’s all-time record. Of course, the caveat lies in Norway’s fortunes. Unlike Portugal or Argentina, the Norwegians are not perennial favorites at major tournaments. The fewer games his team plays in continental championships and World Cups, the fewer chances Haaland will have to add to his tally. Still, his efficiency is so staggering that even with limited opportunities, his pursuit of Ronaldo’s record feels inevitable rather than speculative. As football’s torch gradually passes from Ronaldo and Messi to the next generation, the question now lingers: will Haaland’s ruthless efficiency make him the new benchmark in international football? For now, Ronaldo’s crown remains intact. But with every Haaland hat-trick and brace, that once-untouchable record looks just a little more fragile.