Latest news with #LaiaAleixandri
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Women's World Sevens Football kicks off in Portugal with a $5 million purse
Manchester City's Laia Aleixandri, center, celebrates scoring with teammates during the Women's Super League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, Sunday May 4, 2025. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP) A new seven-on-seven women's soccer tournament featuring notable European club teams vying for a $5 million purse kicks off in Portugal on Wednesday. The tournament has an eight-team field, including Manchester City and Bayern Munich, playing in what organizers have called fast and high-scoring matches. Advertisement Matches will be played from Wednesday to Saturday at Estádio António Coimbra da Mota in Estoril, ahead of the Women's Champions League final between Arsenal and Barcelona on Sunday in Lisbon. The tournament was co-founded by Jennifer Mackesy, who has an ownership stake in Gotham FC and Chelsea, and entrepreneur Justin Fishkin. The matches will be broadcast on the sports streaming platform DAZN. What to know about World Sevens Football, or W7F: The Format The eight European teams — Ajax, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Manchester City, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Roma and Rosengard — are separated into two groups of four playing in a round-robin format. Advertisement The top two teams in each group will advance to the semifinals, followed by a third-place match and final on Saturday. How it's played The games are just 30 minutes long, with two 15-minute halves, and played on a smaller pitch. There is no offsides and unlimited rolling substitutions. In the event of a draw, the sides will be reduced to five players each with a Golden Goal rule. 'It's fast, it's going to be a fast game and physically really tough, the two 15-minute halves, so there's going to be a lot of rotation of players and roll-on roll-off subs," Manchester City interim coach Nick Cushing said. 'I think it's going to be a really exciting form of the game.' Advertisement The tournament is not sanctioned by either UEFA or FIFA. Who is playing? Each of the clubs can roster 25 players and dress 14 per match. Manchester City, for example, was only sending 15 of its players. Because of injuries, stars Vivianne Miedema and Bunny Shaw weren't included. Manchester United is sending 20 players, including American goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce and England midfielder Ella Toone. Ajax prepared to take its entire squad, according to coach Dolf Roks, and even practiced for the event. The tournament comes just ahead of a FIFA international window, with national teams gearing up for the European Championships. Advertisement 'We put the decision on competing at the tournament to the players several weeks ago and are pleased they want to take part. We'll travel to Portugal with the whole team, but not everyone will play,' said Bianca Rech, director of women's football for Bayern Munich. 'Some will continue their recovery from injury there, while some players who are going to be competing at the Euros will train separately to prepare for the international games coming up.' Wiegman weighs in England coach Sarina Wiegman said the national team was in contact with players about taking part, trusting the players to make decisions for themselves ahead of the international window and the Euros. 'Everyone has a different schedule and comes from different places. So, if you talk about Lauren (Hemp) and Alex (Greenwood), it's different, and other players who have played throughout the whole season,' Wiegman said. "Also some players see it as an opportunity to, in a different way, get some training, playing minutes in — being aware of don't overload, be smart, because there's bigger picture in this." Advertisement Big payday The winner receives $2.5 million. The runner-up gets $1 million and the third- and fourth-place teams split the rest. The teams determine the allocation to players and staff. The other teams will receive a participation fee, with transportation and accommodations paid for by tournament organizers. Going forward Organizers have said they hope to expand the event to more teams in the future, including clubs from the National Women's Soccer League in the United States and Liga MX Femenil from Mexico. ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aleixandri to leave Man City on free transfer
Spain international Laia Aleixandri will leave Manchester City in the summer on a free transfer when her contract expires. The 24-year-old, who can play in defence or in midfield, has been linked with a move to reigning European champions Barcelona. Aleixandri played all 90 minutes in City's 5-2 home win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, with her departure announced afterwards. City posted on social media: "We can confirm that Laia Aleixandri will leave the club on the expiry of her current contract this summer. "Everyone at Manchester City would like to thank Laia for her efforts during her time at the club and wish her the very best for the future." She was at Barcelona's academy and played for their B team before moving to Atletico Madrid in 2017. During five seasons with Atletico she helped them win the Spanish title three times before joining City in June 2022. Interim City manager Nick Cushing praised Aleixandri, and said: "Since I've been here she has been an incredible person and an incredible player. She is a really high-quality player - she plays international football and been part of Manchester City and Atletico Madrid. "She will probably go to another team that's challenging for trophies. I've really enjoyed working with her but it's the nature of the game and we've seen big players move on from this team and we've replaced them - and we have to do that again, but she will be missed." Head here to get involved Get the latest WSL news on our dedicated page
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Aleixandri to leave Man City on free transfer
Spain international Laia Aleixandri will leave Manchester City in the summer on a free transfer when her contract 24-year-old, who can play in defence or in midfield, has been linked with a move to reigning European champions played all 90 minutes in City's 5-2 home win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, with her departure announced posted on social media: "We can confirm that Laia Aleixandri will leave the club on the expiry of her current contract this summer."Everyone at Manchester City would like to thank Laia for her efforts during her time at the club and wish her the very best for the future."She was at Barcelona's academy and played for their B team before moving to Atletico Madrid in five seasons with Atletico she helped them win the Spanish title three times before joining City in June 2022. Head here to get involved
BBC News
04-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Man Utd comeback against Man City seals Europe spot
Manchester United secured their place in next season's Women's Champions League after coming from behind to draw with rivals Manchester City in a thrilling showdown at Old Skinner's side needed just a point to secure their spot in Europe and Melvine Malard delivered the crucial equalising goal after coming off the bench. United were 2-0 down after conceding goals from Laia Aleixandri and Rebecca Knaak in the first half but responded through Grace Clinton and forward Malard, who scored five minutes after she was introduced in the second half, lapped up the adulation from home fans in the Stretford End as she ran off to celebrate, waving her arms in the air. It was a chaotic few minutes as fellow substitute Aoife Mannion - brought on for the injured Jayde Riviere in the first half - was sent off for a second booking, leaving United to finish the game with 10 players. But they held on to inflict a crushing blow to rivals City, who had to win at Old Trafford and hope United dropped points in their final game to stand a chance of qualifying for the Champions League Cushing's side put up a fight, boosted by the return of England internationals Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp, who started their first games since undergoing knee surgeries - but it was not is just the second time United have secured a Champions League spot, though they failed to progress from the qualifying rounds in 2023 so will look to go one better in the competition next campaign has been one to forget and this rubs salt into the wounds of a season without a trophy. They face a rebuild this to follow. Head here to get involved
