JEDDAH – It was honors even in a thrilling Sea Derby on Saturday as Al-Ahli drew 2-2 with Al-Ittihad who twice came back to earn a precious point.

A 95th minute strike from Karim Benzema broke the hearts of home fans and put the leaders five points clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League.

For the 60,000 fans at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, there was plenty of excitement and entertainment in a game that could have gone either way.

There was some worrying news for Al-Ittihad fans as goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic picked up an injury in the thrilling King’s Cup semifinal win over Al-Shabab on Tuesday but stand-in Mohammed Al-Mahasneh showed his worth early in the first start of the season.

In the eighth minute, he saved from Firas Al-Buraikan’s low shot from inside the area and then got down quickly to deny Ivan Toney from the rebound.

At the other end, Edouard Mendy returned to the number one position and returned to fitness for Al-Ahli, who had not played a competitive game for three weeks. There is no doubt however that his opposite number had more to do in the early exchanges. It could have been worse as Ittihad survived two penalty appeals turned down late in the first half.

The Tigers were, however, starting to look dangerous and just before the break, N’Golo Kante broke into the area, went around the goalkeeper but pulled his shot just wide.

The miss became more painful four minutes after the restart as Al-Ahli took the lead with a simple set piece. Riyad Mahrez swung over a corner kick from the left and Brazilian defender Ibanez climbed high on the edge of the six-yard box to head the Greens into a deserved lead.

It was all looking good for the hosts but then, with 15 minutes remaining, the fans in yellow and black were celebrating. Saleh Al-Shehri dropped deep and his slide rule pass found Moussa Diaby on the right side of the area and the French winger made no mistake with his first time shot.

Then, in the 82nd minute, Al-Ahli were back in front. Kante tried to block a cross but succeeded only in finding Ivan Toney and the England striker shot home from close range.

That strike looked as if it had won a famous victory for the home team but for the second time in four days, Al-Ittihad hit back deep into added time. Abdulelah Al-Amri found Benzema with an exquisite pass to the back post and the former Real Madrid star was never going to miss.

The goal takes the leaders onto 62 points from 26 games, five clear of Al-Hilal. Al-Nassr are third with 54, two and five ahead of Al-Qadsiah and Al-Ahli respectively.

AN, 5.4.2025

MUNICH – Thomas Mueller will leave Bayern Munich after 25 seasons at the club at the end of the campaign, the veteran midfielder announced on social media on Saturday.

Mueller, who came through the Bayern junior system and has won two Champions Leagues along with 12 Bundesliga titles, said the decision was made by the club and “not what I would have wished.”

The 35-year-old, a 2014 World Cup winner with Germany, did not reveal where he would play next season.

AN-AFP

MANCHESTER, England – Kevin De Bruyne says he will leave Manchester City – confirming these are his “final months” with the Premier League champion.

The 33-year-old Belgium playmaker, who is out of contract this summer, announced the news in an emotional post on his social media channels on Friday.

“Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes. That day is here,” he wrote.

De Bruyne joined City from Wolfsburg for around $71 million in 2015 and has gone on to win every major honor with the club, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.

In all he has helped City win 16 major trophies — including the Club World Cup — and established himself as one of the all-time Premier League greats.

“This city. This club. These people… gave me EVERYTHING. I had no choice but to give EVERYTHING back! And guess what — we won EVERYTHING,” he wrote. “Whether we like it or not, it’s time to say goodbye.”

City manager Pep Guardiola described it as a “sad day” following the announcement.

“In the Premier League he is one of the greatest midfielders ever to play in this country and I think in this club (there) is no doubt,” Guardiola said. “His assists, his goals, his vision in the final third, that is so difficult to replace.”

De Bruyne did not say if he would take part in the Club World Cup, which runs through June and July in the United States.

There was also no mention in the post about where he wanted to play next.

With 118 assists in the Premier League, De Bruyne is second behind Manchester United great Ryan Giggs, who provided 162, on the all-time list.

He reached that total in 280 appearances, as opposed to 632 for Giggs.

While De Bruyne will go down as one of the finest players to play for City, he could have instead spent the bulk of his career at Chelsea after joining club from Belgian team Genk in 2012. But he grew frustrated after making only two league starts and eventually moved to Wolfsburg in Germany in 2014.

There he revitalized his career and convinced City to make him the club’s record signing.

He has played 413 matches for City in all competitions and was twice named PFA Player of the Year in England.

He has scored 106 goals so far.

AP

MADRID – Barcelona will face rivals Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final after Ferran Torres secured them a 1-0 win at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, progressing 5-4 on aggregate from the semifinal tie.

Record 31-time winners Barca had the better of the clash at the Metropolitano stadium after the wild 4-4 first leg draw, and defeat leaves Diego Simeone’s Atletico with little to play for in the rest of the season.

By contrast the Catalans are on the hunt for a potential quadruple and are unbeaten in 2025, stretching their run to 21 games without defeat.

Atletico were the last team to triumph against Barcelona, winning before Christmas to go top of La Liga, but they now trail Hansi Flick’s team by nine points with nine matches remaining.

“We can’t relax, we have to keep believing and working, with humility and I’m sure good things will come,” Torres told Movistar.

“If a final is already a huge motivation, imagine playing against your most direct rival.”

Madrid ousted Real Sociedad 5-4 on aggregate as well after a 4-4 draw on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Flick brought winger Raphinha back into Barcelona’s starting line-up and the hosts tried to shut him down through fair means or foul.

Cesar Azpilicueta was booked for one tackle, surviving a VAR review for a potential red card, while Rodrigo de Paul was also cautioned for going in hard on the Brazilian.

Teenage winger Lamine Yamal ran the show on the other flank for Barcelona, firing wide and teeing up Jules Kounde, who bypassed Robin Le Normand with some neat juggling before lashing over.

The 17-year-old played in Torres for Barcelona’s opener with a well-weighted pass, finished clinically by the former Manchester City forward, who has earned more minutes with his recent performances.

Yamal mishit a shot himself from a good position in the box, while Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso denied Raphinha at his near post.

Simeone brought on Alexander Sorloth among three changes at the break, after he scored three goals in the three previous meetings between these sides this season.

Perhaps convinced he would make it four in four, Sorloth fired narrowly wide early in the second half with Antoine Griezmann open and ready for a simple finish.

At the other end, Raphinha forced another save from Musso but was himself guilty of not squaring for Fermin Lopez.

Sorloth rattled home what he thought for a few seconds was an equalizer, but he had strayed offside.

With Atletico ascendant, Flick brought on top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski for Torres, but the Polish veteran struggled to get involved.

With four minutes of stoppage time added on Atletico turned the screw, with Musso coming up for a late De Paul free-kick, but Barcelona held off the hosts to progress.

Atletico were dumped out of the Champions League on penalties by rivals Real Madrid in the last 16 and the Copa represented their most realistic chance of silverware this season.

“We have to thank the fans who supported us, we’re as sad as them,” said Atletico defender Jose Gimenez.

“We have to lift up our heads, finish the season in the best way possible and carry on.

“We have to accept the reality, with rational thinking and knowing we’re a long way off (the top of La Liga), but we’ll try until the end.”

AN-AFP

STUTTGART, Germany – Stuttgart set up a German Cup final clash with third-division Arminia Bielefeld after a 3-1 win over RB Leipzig on Wednesday.

Under the watchful eyes of Jurgen Klopp, the new head of global soccer for Leipzig’s owners Red Bull, the visitors were outclassed by a strong Stuttgart side.

Goals from Angelo Stiller, Nick Woltemade and Jamie Leweling took Stuttgart to victory, putting them on track for a first German Cup triumph since 1997.

The victory continues Stuttgart’s rise since former Leipzig youth-team coach Sebastian Hoeness took over in April 2023.

“We’re going to Berlin,” Hoeness told Germany’s ZDF.

“Unbelievable. The lads are unbelievable… it’s incredible. It’s a dream to travel to Berlin.

“We rewarded ourselves with goals at the right moment and when we needed to we defended with passion.”

The coach ended his post-match interview early before sprinting across the field to have his picture taken with the rest of the squad in front of the club’s ecstatic home fans.

Hoeness has become one of the most sought-after coaches in Europe, having led Stuttgart from relegation candidates to runners-up last season, and now the German Cup final.

The five-time German champions and three-time cup winners will be heavy favorites in Berlin in May, against a Bielefeld side who stunned holders Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.

Leipzig, winners of two of the past three German Cups, had a chaotic lead-up to the match.

On Sunday, the Saxons fired coach Marco Rose, who led them to the trophy two seasons ago, replacing him with interim boss Zsolt Low.

Klopp, a close friend of Rose who brought him to the club while coaching Mainz in 2002 but who signed off on Sunday’s decision, was spotted watching on from the stands on Wednesday.

Stiller put the hosts on track five minutes in, smacking home an unstoppable volley from outside the box to give Stuttgart the lead.

Leipzig were stunned but took control soon after. Visiting striker Lois Openda was kept at bay despite three clear chances between the 15 and 35-minute marks.

Woltemade doubled Stuttgart’s lead 12 minutes into the second half, sliding the ball under the goalkeeper after a clever one-two with Ermedin Demirovic.

Leipzig hit back almost immediately when Sesko hammered in with 62 minutes gone after beating the offside trap.

The visitors were in the ascendancy and an equalizer looked likely until Woltemade headed goalwards from a Stiller cross, with the ball bouncing to Leweling who tapped in from two yards out.

Three-time winners Stuttgart have not qualified for the final since 2013, when they lost to a treble-bound Bayern, and last won in 1997.

Founded in 2009 and promoted to the top flight for the first time in 2016, Leipzig had previously won four from four German Cup semifinals.

AN-AFP

MADRID – Real Madrid edged into the Copa del Rey final with a thrilling 4-4 draw against Real Sociedad after extra-time on Tuesday, securing a 5-4 aggregate semifinal victory.

Antonio Rudiger decided the pulsating tie with a header in the 115th minute, with Madrid to face Barcelona or Atletico Madrid in the final.
Real Sociedad, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, took the lead through Ander Barrenetxea, but Endrick’s fine chip pulled the 20-time winners level.

A David Alaba own goal and Mikel Oyarzabal’s deflected effort helped La Real open up a lead on the Spanish champions but Madrid battled back with goals from Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni.

Oyarzabal grabbed his second in stoppage time to force extra-time but his side could not hold off Madrid until penalties, with Rudiger’s header the final word.

Ancelotti brought Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes back into his starting lineup, leaving Kylian Mbappe on the bench to rest, with Endrick taking his place in an all-Brazilian attack.

The 18-year-old wonderkid striker who netted the only goal in the first leg, was active in the opening phases, sending a dangerous overhead kick narrowly wide of Alex Remiro’s far post.

Bellingham also threatened for the hosts but it was Real Sociedad who took the lead.

Barrenetxea broke in behind Lucas Vazquez to reach Pablo Marin’s flick-on and drilled a low finish home to put the Basques level in the tie.

Real Madrid soon found their equalizer. Vinicius played a sensational through ball down the left flank with the outside of his foot, sending Endrick in on goal.

The youngster, top scorer in the Copa del Rey, produced a gorgeous lobbed finish over Romero for his fifth in the competition.

Real Sociedad appealed for a penalty before the break when Takefusa Kubo went down in the box after being held by Vinicius, but the referee did not concur.

Ancelotti brought on Mbappe for Endrick, looking for a goal to shut the tie down for good. However it was the visitors who were creating the better chances.

Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin made a superb save to deny Martin Zubimendi and Oyarzabal wastefully fired the rebound wide.

Real Sociedad moved ahead on the night when Alaba deflected Marin’s cross through Lunin’s legs and into his own net after 72 minutes.

The Austrian defender, who returned from a long-term injury in January, was also involved in Real Sociedad’s third, deflecting Oyarzabal’s shot past Lunin.

It sparked Madrid in to action, with Vinicius turning his marker brilliantly, driving forward and crossing for Bellingham to strike in the 82nd minute.

Four minutes later and Los Blancos pulled level on the night with Tchouameni’s header badly fumbled by Remiro into his own net.

Just when it seemed Real Sociedad were out they managed to force extra-time, with Oyarzabal heading home Sergio Gomez’s free-kick in the 93rd minute.

Remiro saved well from Bellingham before the end of the regulation 90 minutes, with the pace slower, inevitably, as the game restarted.

Real Sociedad’s Jon Olagasti was booked for hacking down Vinicius as he threatened to escape on the left, with the visitors working hard to hold off the European champions.

With five minutes remaining Rudiger sent Madrid through to the final with a fine header from Arda Guler’s corner past the helpless Remiro.

On Wednesday Atletico Madrid host Barcelona in the second leg of the other semifinal, with the teams level at 4-4 on aggregate.

AN-AFP

LONDON – Eberechi Eze inspired Crystal Palace to a 3-0 FA Cup quarterfinal win at Fulham on Saturday with a goal and assist in a four-minute period in the first half.

Fresh from scoring his first England goal against Latvia on Monday, Eze broke the deadlock with a stunning strike from outside the box.

He then turned provider for Ismaila Sarr to rapidly double Palace’s lead and Eddie Nketiah added more gloss to the scoreline as a second-half substitute.

After a difficult start to the season, Palace are one of England’s form teams as Oliver Glasner’s men have also marched up the Premier League table to 12th in recent months.

The Eagles have won their last six away games, including another 2-0 win at Craven Cottage last month, and will believe they can go on to win the FA Cup for the first time.

Palace were able to welcome back French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta for the first time since he needed 25 stitches in an ear wound suffered in his side’s fifth round win over Millwall four weeks ago.

But it was Eze who was Palace’s match winner with two decisive moments in a matter of minutes.

The 26-year-old cut inside on his favored right foot to curl in off the far post to open the scoring on 34 minutes.

Eze then jinked past Sander Berge and showed his ability on either foot with this time an inch-perfect left-footed cross for Sarr to head in at the near post.

Fulham are four places and six points above Palace in the Premier League and will now turn their focus to trying to qualify for the Champions League for the first time by finishing in the top five.

However, their dreams of Wembley were extinguished 15 minutes from time.

Eddie Nketiah had only been on the field a few minutes as Mateta’s replacement and produced a composed finish under his former Arsenal team-mate Bernd Leno for a third goal in four games.

City are the favorites for the competition but face a tough trip to Bournemouth on Sunday.

After a disappointing season that has fallen well short of their usual standards, the FA Cup is City’s final shot at winning a trophy.

Aston Villa visit second-tier Preston hoping to remain on course for their first trophy since 1996 in Sunday’s early kick-off.

AN-AFP, 29.3.2025

LONDON, March 27 – Chelsea pulled off a stunning comeback to beat Manchester City 3-0 in the women’s Champions League quarter-finals on Thursday, overturning a two-goal first-leg deficit to secure a place in the last four with a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Chelsea, who have played City four times this month, beating them in the League Cup final and 2-1 in the Women’s Super League, set up a repeat of last year’s semi-final against holders Barcelona, who thrashed VfL Wolfsburg 6-1 on Thursday to complete a 10-2 aggregate win.

Chelsea took the lead in the 14th minute when Lucy Bronze’s shot hit the post before Sandy Baltimore pounced on the rebound to beat City goalkeeper Khiara Keating.

Sonia Bompastor’s side doubled their lead in the 38th minute when Nathalie Bjorn headed home from Baltimore’s corner and Mayra Ramirez added a third five minutes later, finishing off Lauren James’s cross.

City refused to give up after the break and looked to capitalise on Chelsea’s mistakes, with Vivianne Miedema, Mary Fowler and Kerolin all missing clear-cut chances.

It was keeper Keating, however, who denied Chelsea a fourth at Stamford Bridge, with substitute Aggie Beever-Jones’ left-foot shot saved and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s late effort blocked.

“We were never in doubt. We had full confidence in ourselves. We could have had way more than three goals,” Chelsea captain Millie Bright said.

“We are a new team, we are on a new journey, we are in a new era. Bring it on.”

Eight-times winners Olympique Lyonnais face Arsenal in the other semi-final, with the final on May 24 in Lisbon.

REUTERS

BARCELONA, March 27 – Defending champions Barcelona cruised to a 6-1 home win over VfL Wolfsburg in their women’s Champions League quarter-final second leg on Thursday to book a last-four place with a stunning 10-2 aggregate victory.

Barca started fast and were 3-0 up at the break following a Salma Paralluelo double and Esmee Brugts’s fine strike.

Substitute Claudia Pina bagged a fourth before Wolfsburg forward Lineth Beerensteyn pulled a goal back for the visitors. Pina and defender Maria Leon completed the rout for Barcelona with two free kicks.

The Spanish side will face Manchester City or Chelsea, who play later on Thursday, in the semi-finals in April. City lead 2-0 from the first leg.

Olympique Lyonnais play Arsenal in the other semi-final.

Barcelona, targeting a third consecutive European title, produced a dominant display and Paralluelo put them ahead after 10 minutes.

The 21-year-old Spain forward scored low inside the far post after Aitana Bonmati had teed her up with a neat pass. She doubled the advantage 10 minutes later with a first-time shot from around the penalty spot.

Midfielder Brugts added a third before the break through a powerful strike from outside the box into the bottom corner of the net.

Pina made it 4-0 after the hour mark with a low shot from the edge of the area three minutes after coming on as a substitute.

A Barca defensive error allowed twice champions Wolfsburg, who won the competition in 2013 and 2014, to claim a consolation goal through substitute Beerensteyn in the 72nd minute.

Barcelona keeper Cata Coll rushed out of the box to kick a loose ball to safety but Beerensteyn was presented with a chance to put the ball into an empty net, a goal that stood after a VAR check.

Pina increased the hosts’ lead from a free kick that went in off a post, and Leon did the same in stoppage time after her powerful shot had rattled the crossbar.

REUTERS