Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr drawn in same group as FC Goa in AFC Champions League Two
Meanwhile, another India club Mohun Bagan Super Giant were drawn in Group C alongside Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan SC of Iran, Al Hussein of Jordan and Ahal FC of Turkmenistan. The group stage of the tournament will commence from September 16 and go on till December 24. The Round of 16 follows in February 10–19, 2026 and the quarterfinals will be from March 3–12. After that, the semifinals are scheduled April 7–15 with the final set to be played on May 16.
On Wednesday, FC Goa beat Oman champions Al-Seeb 2-1 in their one-match AFC Champions League 2 preliminary stage to go through to the group stage of the continental tournament. The result came amid crippling uncertainty for Goa and other clubs playing in the Indian Super League (ISL) with the league's existence up in the air. It is also a bit of a redemption for head coach Manolo Marquez, for whom this was the first competitive match since his rather forgettable tenure as India's head coach ended.
Another chapter begins 📖AlNassr's group in the AFC Champions League Two:🇮🇶 Al Zawraa🇹🇯 FC Istiklol🇮🇳 FC GoaGood Luck to our Nassr! 💛 pic.twitter.com/N4wslAvzIn
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) August 15, 2025
Dejan Dražić and Javier Siverio scored for FC Goa as they managed to keep out some spirited attacks from Al-Seeb towards the end of both the halves. Mohun Bagan Super Giant, meanwhile, qualified for the group stage after winning the ISL last season. Goa had qualified for the preliminary stage after winning the Super Cup.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
15 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Aston Villa's strongest probable starting line-up ahead of 2025-26 Premier League season
After missing out on a Champions League spot last season, Aston Villa will look to lock in a top-four spot in Unai Emery's fourth season as manager. The Birmingham-based team has roped in young Cote d'Ivoire forward Evann Guessand after not managing to sign on last season's loannes Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio on permanent transfers. Emery has also brought in a defensive reinforcement in the form of Yasin Ozcan to support the back four, which conceded 61 goals last term. With the future of World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez also up in the air, the Villans have signed veteran Dutch 'keeper Marco Bizot from Stade Brestois. Here is Aston Villa's strongest line-up heading into the 2025-26 Premier League season: Aston Villa (4-3-3) Goalkeeper: Emi Martinez Defenders: Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne Midfielders: Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans, John McGinn Forwards: Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Donyell Malen
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Premier League: Liverpool Beat Bournemouth In Curtain Raiser As Anfield Pays Tribute To Jota
Hugo Ekitike, Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah all found the back of the net for the Reds against the cherries in the season opener at Anfield. Holders Liverpool got their title defence off to a brilliant start as they opened the 2025/25 season of the Premier League with a 4-2 win over Bournemouth on Saturday. Hugo Ekitike, Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah all found the back of the net for the Reds against the cherries in the season opener at Anfield. Antoine Semenyo looked to have salvaged a point for Bournemouth by scoring twice after reporting an incident of racial abuse from a fan. His goals cancelled out strikes from Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo for the defending champions. On an emotional night as Anfield remembered Diogo Jota, Chiesa emerged as the unexpected hero. The injury-plagued Italian fired the home side back in front before Salah sealed the win. Liverpool's joy at celebrating a record-equalling 19th English top-flight title turned to tragedy during the off-season when forward Jota and his brother Andre Silva were killed in a car accident last month at the age of 28. During a minute's silence, fans held up a giant mosaic with the initials of Jota and Silva, who was also a footballer, and their shirt numbers in the Portuguese flag. 'The main emotion should be how moving the tribute for Diogo was," said Liverpool boss Arne Slot. 'It was all so impressive and powerful." Despite winning the title with four games to spare last season, Liverpool have undergone a significant transformation in the transfer market, spending close to £300 million ($407 million). Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, and Jeremie Frimpong made their first competitive starts for the Reds. More signings could yet come, with Liverpool linked to a British transfer record move for Newcastle's Alexander Isak and interested in Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi. Bournemouth were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men less than 15 minutes in when Marcos Senesi clearly directed the ball out of Ekitike's path with his hand when the French striker had a clear run at goal, but VAR did not intervene. The game was briefly halted on the half-hour mark as Semenyo reported to referee Anthony Taylor that he had been subjected to racist abuse from a Liverpool supporter, who was removed from the stands by police at half-time. 'Totally unacceptable," said Bournemouth captain Adam Smith. 'Kind of in shock it happened in this day and age." Liverpool said in a statement that the incident is now the subject of an ongoing police investigation. Shortly after the resumption, Ekitike settled Liverpool's nerves by getting the break of the ball and slotting past Dorde Petrovic. Gakpo then coolly left two Bournemouth defenders on the ground and rolled into the bottom corner just after half-time. However, Slot's men have struggled to find the right balance in pre-season and in losing the Community Shield to Palace last weekend. A new-look slick attack could not compensate for wide-open defensive gaps on the counter-attack, and this was evident again. David Brooks broke the offside trap and squared for Semenyo to pull a goal back. The Ghanaian then capped his eventful evening with a remarkable equaliser. Semenyo collected possession just outside his own box, sprinted through a vacant Liverpool midfield, and fired into the bottom corner 13 minutes from time. Chiesa, rarely used by Slot in his debut season in England, became the unlikely hero when he pounced on a loose ball inside the Bournemouth box on 89 minutes. Salah then broke clear in stoppage time to score his customary goal in the opening game of the season and paid tribute to Jota by mimicking one of his goal celebrations. The Egyptian broke down in tears after full-time as a chant in Jota's name echoed from the stands. Location : United Kingdom (UK) First Published: August 16, 2025, 07:46 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'You'll never walk alone': Liverpool pays heartfelt tribute to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva
A banner depicting the late Liverpool player Diogo Jota (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson) Anfield was filled with emotion on Friday night as Liverpool paid a heartfelt tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, before their Premier League opener against Bournemouth. It was the first competitive game at the stadium since the two Portuguese footballers tragically lost their lives in a car accident last month. Before kick-off, the entire stadium stood in silence. Fans held up placards to form 'DJ20' and 'AS30' in two stands, while both sets of players stood arm-in-arm in the centre circle. A large banner in The Kop sent a message of comfort to Jota's wife, Rute Cardoso, and their three children: 'Rute, Dinis, Duarte, Mafalda – Anfield will always be your home. You'll Never Walk Alone.' Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Liverpool manager Arne Slot, his staff, and all players wore black armbands. A picture of Jota and Silva appeared on the big screen, while 'You'll Never Walk Alone' rang out with scarves, flags, and banners waving in their memory. The match itself was a rollercoaster. Liverpool took the lead through Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo, but Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo struck twice to level, despite earlier reporting racial abuse from a spectator. Federico Chiesa's late goal and a stoppage-time strike from Mohamed Salah sealed a 4-2 win for the Reds. Poll What was the most emotional moment of the match for you? The tribute before kick-off Salah's celebration The final whistle with fans singing Jota's name The emotion peaked after the final whistle. Salah, who had mimicked one of Jota's celebrations after scoring, stood in front of The Kop in tears as supporters sang Jota's name. Slot later described the tribute as 'impressive and powerful.' Jota spent five seasons at Liverpool, winning the Premier League , FA Cup, and League Cup. The club has retired his number 20 shirt and will honour him with a permanent memorial sculpture at Anfield, ensuring his legacy lives on. It was a night of victory, grief, and love — a reminder of football's power to unite people in both joy and sorrow. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
