Category: Latest

Inter Milan stunned Bayern Munich with a 2-1 victory in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, thanks to a dramatic late winner from Davide Frattesi at the Allianz Arena. Despite Bayern dominating the early exchanges, it was Inter who struck first. Marcus Thuram’s audacious back-heel on 38 minutes set up Lautaro Martinez, who lashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The goal was a reward for Inter’s growing composure as the game progressed, especially after weathering a relentless Bayern onslaught in the opening 30 minutes. Michael Olise, who was a constant menace on the right, and Harry Kane came close to giving Bayern the lead early on. Olise fizzed one just wide and later picked out Kane with a brilliant run and cross, only for the England captain to strike the post. Inter’s defensive discipline kept the hosts at bay after the goal, with goalkeeper Yann Sommer making a key save to deny Martinez early in the second half. But Bayern, who had gone unbeaten in their previous 22 home Champions League games, weren’t done yet. With five minutes to go, Thomas Mueller—fresh off announcing his departure after 25 seasons with the club—popped up with a poacher’s goal at the far post to level the tie and send the home crowd into raptures. However, just as Bayern looked to have snatched momentum, Inter silenced the stadium with a devastating counter-attack. Carlos Augusto surged forward on the left and cut back for Frattesi, whose clinical finish in the 88th minute handed Inter a vital away win. What They Said 🗣️ Lautaro Martinez (Inter goalscorer): “We showed character and personality. This was a complete performance. We knew it would be tough but the boys showed what they’re made of.” 🗣️ Thomas Mueller (Bayern): “It was a stupid goal to concede at the end. We’ll look at the footage and see what went wrong. This isn’t over. We know what we can do in Milan.” 🗣️ Davide Frattesi (Match-winner): “When Carlos gave me the ball, I knew I had to stay calm. It felt amazing to score at such a big moment. We’ll enjoy it for now, but the job’s not done.” Key Stats What’s Next?

Arsenal produced one of the greatest performances in their recent European history with a dazzling 3-0 triumph over defending Champions League winners Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium. Declan Rice was the undisputed hero, scoring two spectacular free-kicks to send the Gunners into the second leg of their quarter-final tie with a commanding lead. The game-changing moment came in the 58th minute, when Rice, not known for his free-kick prowess, surprised everyone by curling a sensational strike around the wall and into the near post, leaving Thibaut Courtois rooted to the spot. Just ten minutes later, he did it again—this time from the opposite side—whipping the ball across goal and into the top corner for an even more breathtaking finish. The Emirates erupted, and the energy surged further when Mikel Merino added a third just five minutes later. Receiving a square pass from teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly, Merino slotted a crisp first-time finish into the bottom corner, capping off a sensational spell of play from the hosts. Real Madrid, shellshocked by Arsenal’s explosive second half, had no response. The visitors’ misery deepened when Eduardo Camavinga was sent off in stoppage time after picking up a second yellow card. Kylian Mbappé, their marquee man, had his moments in the first half but was effectively neutralized after the break. Rice’s double made history, as he became the first player ever to score two direct free-kicks in a Champions League knockout stage match. He also joined an elite group of Arsenal players—Thierry Henry, Bukayo Saka, and Alberto Mendez—who have scored from direct free-kicks in the competition. Despite the euphoria, there was concern as both Rice and Saka appeared to limp off late in the game, though Mikel Arteta allayed fears post-match, stating their knocks didn’t seem serious. Arteta praised the atmosphere and “magic moments” that defined the night. “Declan’s free-kicks sum it up,” he said. “You have to believe it can happen. If you do, you can make it happen.” Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson called it “probably the greatest night at the Emirates,” hailing Arsenal’s complete domination of a European giant. With a trip to the Santiago Bernabéu still to come, Rice remained grounded: “It won’t sink in for a while. We need to be ready. The Bernabéu is a different beast.” Player of the Match: Declan RiceFinal Score (First Leg): Arsenal 3-0 Real MadridNotable Absentees in Second Leg: Eduardo Camavinga (suspended) Can Arsenal finish the job in Madrid and reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2009?

The preliminary phase of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, hosted in Paris, concluded on Tuesday after an intense eleven-round competition. Twelve world-class players battled it out for eight coveted spots in the knockout phase, with several dramatic turns shaping the leaderboard. Ian Nepomniachtchi and Magnus Carlsen emerged as joint leaders, each finishing with 8.5 points. However, Nepomniachtchi was declared the top finisher due to superior tiebreak scores. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave claimed the third spot with a strong performance, collecting a total of 7 points. Arjun Erigaisi and Nodirbek Abdusattorov also advanced to the knockouts, securing 6.5 points each. Hikaru Nakamura, a fan favorite, qualified with 6 points after a critical draw against Abdusattorov, where he demonstrated resilient endgame defense under severe time pressure. German prodigy Vincent Keymer clinched a place in the top eight with a clutch victory over Fabiano Caruana in the final round, bringing his total to 5.5 points. Despite his defeat to Keymer, Caruana managed to secure a spot in the knockout phase with 4.5 points, largely thanks to Nakamura’s final-round win over Richard Rapport. One of the most surprising developments was the elimination of reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju. The 18-year-old struggled throughout the final day, finishing with just 1.5 points. His hopes were dashed early in the eleventh round after a critical blunder against Nepomniachtchi, which left him on the back foot from the seventh move. Several other prominent players also bowed out, including Praggnanandhaa, Richard Rapport, and Vidit Gujrathi. Gujrathi, who recently got married, delivered a memorable tactical victory over Caruana, featuring a brilliant mating combination, but his earlier losses hindered his overall standing. Rapport, known for his creative flair, showcased a remarkable queen sacrifice for mate, yet fell short of qualification. As the knockout stage approaches, anticipation builds around whether Hikaru Nakamura can carry his momentum forward and potentially claim the title amidst fierce competition.