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.

Liverpool returned to winning ways in the Premier League, defeating Aston Villa 2-0 at Anfield on Saturday. The night brought extra joy for the Reds’ fans as Mohamed Salah reached a major milestone, scoring his 250th goal for the club across all competitions. The Egyptian star put Liverpool ahead following a rare error by Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, and Ryan Gravenberch later sealed the victory. Salah became only the third Liverpool player to reach 250 goals in all competitions, joining club legends Roger Hunt (285) and Ian Rush (346). The victory also ended a poor run for Arne Slot’s men, who had lost six of their previous seven matches across all competitions. After four consecutive league defeats, Liverpool finally tasted victory, while Villa suffered their first defeat following four straight league wins. With this win, Liverpool moved up to third in the Premier League with 18 points from ten matches. Bournemouth, with the same points but one game fewer, sit second, while Arsenal lead the table with 25 points from ten matches. Aston Villa are in 11th place with 15 points. Liverpool dominated possession with 54 percent and created 16 shots, four of which were on target. Villa managed ten shots, three on target. Villa could have taken an early lead in the fifth minute when English winger Morgan Rogers’ powerful effort from outside the box hit the post. In the 19th minute, Matty Cash’s shot was saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. Liverpool’s Dominic Szoboszlai had a chance in the 23rd minute after a Villa error, but Martínez kept the goal intact. He denied another attempt from Szoboszlai in the 33rd minute. In the 43rd minute, Hugo Ekitike headed the ball into Villa’s net, but the effort was ruled out for offside. In the first minute of added time in the first half, Martínez made a critical mistake that allowed Liverpool to take the lead. Receiving a back-pass from defender Pau Torres, Martínez miscontrolled the ball while attempting a return pass; it was not directed toward Torres. Salah reacted quickly to find the net with a tap-in, leaving Martínez helpless. Liverpool doubled their advantage in the 58th minute. From outside the box, Gravenberch’s shot, set up by Alexis Mac Allister, deflected off Torres and went into the net. Both sides had chances in the remaining minutes, but neither could convert. Earlier in the night, Chelsea defeated Tottenham Hotspur 1-0, moving into fifth place with 17 points from ten matches. Tottenham, with the same points, sit fourth.

Sunderland continued to impress on their return to the English Premier League after an eight-year absence, defeating Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge thanks to substitute Chemsdine Talbi’s curling strike deep into stoppage time. With this win, Sunderland climbed to second place in the points table with 17 points from nine matches, just two points behind leaders Arsenal. The Gunners, however, can extend the gap as they are set to play their ninth-round fixture against Crystal Palace on Sunday. Chelsea took the lead in the fourth minute through Alejandro Garnacho, but Wilson Isidor equalized in the 22nd before Talbi’s dramatic winner in the third minute of second-half stoppage time sealed the victory for the visitors. “We know we are Sunderland. We have a great team with great players. We knew we could do the job, and we showed it today,” Talbi said in a post-match interview. “We knew against Chelsea we would have a chance to score, and when Brian got the ball, I knew I had to follow. Then I had a good finish,” he added. Chelsea, who could have moved up to second with a win, slipped to seventh, behind their London rivals Tottenham.

Following the completion of the English Football League (EFL) Cup, popularly known as the Carabao Cup, third-round fixtures last night, the fourth-round draw has been finalized, setting the stage for several high-profile Premier League clashes. Defending champions Newcastle United will host Tottenham Hotspur in one of the standout ties, with several Premier League giants set for challenging encounters. Premier League heavyweights drawn together In what is arguably the tie of the round, holders Newcastle United will welcome Tottenham Hotspur to St. James’ Park. Newcastle, who ended a 70-year trophy drought by lifting the Carabao Cup earlier this year, advanced comfortably with a 4-1 victory over League One leaders Bradford. Elsewhere, an all-Premier League affair sees Arsenal drawn against Brighton. Meanwhile, record ten-time winners Liverpool will host fellow top-flight side Crystal Palace at Anfield. Liverpool progressed after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Southampton, a match notable for Hugo Ekikite’s late winner and subsequent sending-off for taking his shirt off during the celebration. In other significant matchups, Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) will host Chelsea, ensuring another Premier League giant will be eliminated. Only Manchester City has a comparatively easier task on paper, drawn away to Championship club Swansea. Giant-killers eyeing more upsets The competition’s current giant-killers, Grimsby Town, have another golden opportunity to cause an upset after being drawn at home to Premier League side Brentford. The only remaining League Two side has already impressively dispatched Manchester United at home and Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday away, and their reward is yet another Premier League opponent at home as they seek to continue their remarkable cup run. Championship newcomers Wrexham were drawn against Cardiff City, marking the first meeting between the two Welsh clubs since 2002. Additionally, League One side Wycombe Wanderers have the chance to create their own magic as they host Premier League club Fulham. The fourth-round ties are scheduled to be played during the week of October 27. Carabao Cup fourth-round draw: - Arsenal v Brighton- Grimsby Town v Brentford- Swansea v Manchester City- Newcastle v Tottenham- Wrexham v Cardiff- Liverpool v Crystal Palace- Wolves v Chelsea- Wycombe v Fulham

Manchester United held nerve for a crucial 2-1 victory over Chelsea on Saturday in a chaotic Premier League clash at Old Trafford. The match saw both sides reduced to 10 men. The win came as a massive relief for United manager Ruben Amorim, whose job security had been in question following a shaky start to the season. The match got off to a blistering start, with Chelsea’s hopes taking an early hit in the 5th minute when goalkeeper Robert Sanchez received a straight red card for a foul on United’s Bryan Mbeumo outside the box. The early numerical advantage allowed United to seize control of the match, and they didn’t hesitate to capitalize on it. In the 14th minute, Mbeumo’s cross found Patrick Dorgu, who set up Bruno Fernandes for a powerful volley from close range. The goal was a milestone for the Portuguese midfielder, marking his 100th for the club in his 200th appearance. United doubled their lead in the 37th minute. A scramble in the Chelsea box resulted in Harry Maguire heading the ball to an unmarked Casemiro, who finished with a perfect header. Isak and Wirtz on Liverpool bench for Merseyside derby However, just before halftime, the Brazilian midfielder went from hero to villain, picking up a second yellow card and leaving United with 10 men as well. As the Blues returned to the numerical balance, the second half was a more even contest. Chelsea had a goal disallowed for offside in the 63rd minute. They continued to push further, which resulted in them finally pulling one back with a header from Trevoh Chalobah in the 80th minute. However, Chelsea couldn’t find an equalizer despite their tremendous trying, and the final whistle was met with a thunderous roar from the Old Trafford faithful. United dominated in attack despite trailing in possession, registering 11 shots with four on target compared to Chelsea’s five shots and only one on target. The win sees United climb the table to ninth place with seven points, while Chelsea, who suffered their first loss of the season, now sit sixth with eight points.  

Bayern Munich started their Champions League journey with a strong 3-1 win at home against Chelsea. The victory was largely due to a two-goal performance from Bayern’s English star Harry Kane, who punished Chelsea’s defensive mistakes in a match filled with both bad luck and brilliant moments. The game at Allianz Arena began with a close contest, but it was Bayern who found the net first. Just 20 minutes in, Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah, under pressure from Dayot Upamecano, diverted Michael Olise’s cross into his own net. Seven minutes later, things got worse for Chelsea. Midfielder Moises Caicedo fouled Harry Kane in the box, and gifted the opponent a penalty, which Kane calmly sent into the net. While Bayern were scoring, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was left staring at the replay screen in disbelief, seeing his players’ childish mistakes. Conceding two quick goals, The Blues started coming back to the game. This time too, young star Cole Palmer stepped up for his team. He ran forward with the ball, passed it to a teammate, and then got it back to score with a sharp shot in the 29th minute. The goal gave Chelsea a spark of hope. Second-half eight-goal drama sees Juventus snatch late draw In the second half, both teams created chances, but it was Chelsea’s defense that made the next and final big mistake. In the 63rd minute, a bad pass from Malo Gusto went directly to Kane. The forward did not miss his chance. He took the ball, went around the goalkeeper, and completed his brace of the night with ease. Near the end of the match, Palmer scored another goal, but it was ruled out for offside. The Bavarians celebrated the night for their goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, who earned his 100th win in the competition. Bayern’s next Champions League match will be on September 30 against Cypriot club Pafos FC, while Chelsea will host Benfica on the same night.    

English Club Chelsea FC are facing a staggering 74 charges from the English Football Association (FA) over alleged breaches of rules covering agents, intermediaries, and third-party investment in players. The alleged violations span more than a decade, from 2009 to 2022. In a formal statement, the FA said, “The Football Association has today charged Chelsea FC with breaches of Regulations J1 and C2 of The FA Football Agents Regulations, Regulations A2 and A3 of The FA Regulations on Working with Intermediaries, and Regulations A1 and B3 of The FA Third Party Investment in Players Regulations.” According to the FA, 74 charges have been brought against the club. The conduct that is the subject of the charges primarily relates to events which occurred between the 2010/11 to 2015/16 seasons. Chelsea, who have until September 19, 2025 to respond, acknowledged the FA’s action and stressed that the matters were “self-reported” after the club’s change of ownership in May 2022. That was when a consortium led by American businessman Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital acquired the London club from Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. In its statement, the club explained, “The ownership group completed its purchase of the club on 30 May 2022. During a thorough due diligence process prior to completion of the purchase, the ownership group became aware of potentially incomplete financial reporting concerning historical transactions and other potential breaches of FA rules. Immediately upon the completion of the purchase, the Club self-reported these matters to all relevant regulators, including the FA.” Russian billionaire Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003 and his lavish spending sparked an unprecedented period of success, including 21 trophies. But he was forced to sell in 2022 after being sanctioned by the British government over his alleged ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin following the invasion of Ukraine. The $3.2 billion sale to the Boehly-led consortium was fast-tracked in May that year. Chelsea further emphasized their cooperation with the FA, “The Club has demonstrated unprecedented transparency during this process, including by giving comprehensive access to the Club’s files and historical data. We will continue working collaboratively with The FA to conclude this matter as swiftly as possible.” The charges in detail · Chelsea has been charged with a breach of regulation J1, which prohibits the direct or indirect use of or payment to an unauthorized agent. Another charge relates to using or paying an unregistered intermediary. · Regulation C2 says a player or authorized agent must not “conceal or misrepresent the reality and/or substance” of any matters relating to a transaction or contract negotiation. · Another charge is in regard to payments, rights or liabilities relating to a third party involved in the transfer of a player. The scale of the charges places Chelsea alongside other Premier League clubs who have faced financial scrutiny, including Manchester City’s 115 alleged breaches of league rules and Everton’s points deductions over financial fair play. The FA investigation now sets the stage for a potentially prolonged and high-profile legal battle—one that could shape the future of financial governance in English football. Source: Inputs from agencies

FIFA has significantly slashed standard ticket prices for the semifinal clash between Chelsea and Fluminense at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, reducing them from $473.90 to just $13.40. The decision comes as part of FIFA's dynamic pricing strategy for the ongoing 63-match tournament. In contrast, tickets for Wednesday's other semifinal in New Jersey, featuring European champions Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, start at $199.60. EU congratulates Bangladesh Women's Football team on Asian Cup qualification Earlier, FIFA had also cut ticket prices to as low as $11.15 for quarterfinal matches — one held in Orlando, Florida, between Fluminense and Al Hilal, and another in Philadelphia featuring Chelsea and Palmeiras. The steep price reductions, first reported by The Athletic, come amid concerns over low attendance at many tournament fixtures. Real Madrid has been the notable exception, attracting crowds of over 60,000 for each of its five games, including a record turnout of 76,611 during Saturday’s quarterfinal victory over Borussia Dortmund in New Jersey.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has expressed his unhappiness at his team getting two fewer days to prepare for the Conference League final compared to Spanish opponent Real Betis. While Betis plays its final La Liga match on Friday against Valencia, Chelsea closes its Premier League campaign on Sunday – three days before the Conference League final in Wroclaw, Poland – against Nottingham Forest, reports AP. It’s a huge game for Chelsea, too, with Champions League qualification on the line for both teams at the City Ground. “I’m not happy, 100%,” Maresca said on Tuesday at a news conference. “You cannot allow a team 48 hours more than the other team when you play a European competition final.” UEFA, which organizes the Conference League, has no say on when domestic league competitions hold their matches. Supersubs give Brighton thrilling win over Liverpool Chelsea will be unable to bring forward its match against Forest to Friday because the Premier League wants all of its fixtures in the final round to be held at the same time. So Maresca has another idea. “Or they (Betis) play Sunday like us,” he said with a smile. Tottenham and Manchester United meet in the Europa League final on Wednesday. They both played their most recent Premier League matches on Friday night.

Aston Villa and Chelsea boosted their chances of securing a top-five Premier League finish — and a spot in next season’s Champions League — with home victories on Friday. Villa earned a 2-0 win against a weakened Tottenham Hotspur side, with goals from Ezri Konsa and Boubacar Kamara. Meanwhile, Chelsea edged past a resilient Manchester United team, claiming a 1-0 victory thanks to a second-half strike from Marc Cucurella. The results saw Chelsea climb to fourth place with 66 points, just ahead of Villa in fifth on goal difference. The other teams fighting for one of the four Champions League spots after league winner Liverpool all have two games left to play. Arsenal has 68 points, Newcastle 66, Manchester City 65, and Nottingham Forest 62. On a tense night at Villa Park, the home side had the better of the play but was forced to wait until the 59th minute to get the opener. Ollie Watkins steered John McGinn’s corner back across goal and an unmarked Ezri Konsa turned in the ball. Boubacar Kamara doubled the lead with a low drive from the edge of the penalty area. It was his first Premier League goal in his 69th game. “We knew today was a must win,” the Frenchman told broadcaster Sky Sports. “We want to play Champions League football again. … We had a taste of it this season and us as players it’s a competition you want to play in.” Villa's final match is against Man United at Old Trafford on May 25. Friday’s win was Villa’s eighth in its last nine league matches and extended its unbeaten home run to 21 games in all competitions, its best since 1977. Meanwhile, at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea woke up after a dull first half when Spanish defender Cucurella headed home Reece James' cross after 71 minutes. BPL Football: Dhaka Mohammedan close to their first-ever title beating Chattagram Abahani Spurs and Man United went into the matches with one eye on next week's Europa League final. Both coaches rested some regular starters and got through the night without any new injury worries. Both of Friday's matches were brought forward by 48 hours to allow the sides more time to prepare for the final on Wednesday in Bilbao.