Real Madrid bounced back from their recent consecutive losses with a dominant 4-0 win over Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday. Vinicius Junior was the star of the match, scoring a hat-trick and helping Madrid regain confidence after being hammered by Barcelona and outplayed by AC Milan in the Champions League. However, Madrid's superstar striker Kylian Mbappe failed to find the net yet again, while injuries to Eder Militao, Rodrygo, and Lucas Vazquez added to Ancelotti's worries. Despite the impressive win, Madrid remains six points behind league leaders Barcelona, who will play against Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Real Madrid and Manchester City are two of the most iconic clubs in world football, with a rich history and a rivalry that spans decades. The two teams have met in numerous high-profile matches over the years, including the Champions League final in 2014.
In recent years, Real Madrid has been the more dominant side, winning the Champions League three times in a row between 2016 and 2018. However, Manchester City has emerged as a major force in European football under manager Pep Guardiola, winning the Premier League title four times in the past five years.
On Saturday, March 4, Real Madrid hosted Osasuna in La Liga. The match was a must-win for Real Madrid after consecutive losses to Barcelona and AC Milan.
Vinicius Junior was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick to lead Real Madrid to a 4-0 victory. The Brazilian forward has been in impressive form this season, scoring 12 goals in all competitions.
Manchester City also enjoyed a comfortable victory on Saturday, beating Fulham 4-1 to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League table. Rodri scored the opening goal for City, his second goal in as many matches.
1. Who is Vinicius Junior?
Vinicius Junior is a 22-year-old Brazilian footballer who plays as a forward for Real Madrid. He joined the club in 2018 from Flamengo and has since established himself as one of the most promising young players in the world.
2. Who is Rodri?
Rodri is a 26-year-old Spanish footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Manchester City. He joined the club in 2019 from Atletico Madrid and has become a key player for Pep Guardiola's side.
3. What is the current standings in La Liga?
Barcelona leads the La Liga standings with 56 points, six points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid. Atletico Madrid is third with 48 points, followed by Real Sociedad with 43 points.
4. What is the current standings in the Premier League?
Manchester City leads the Premier League standings with 55 points, two points ahead of second-placed Arsenal. Manchester United is third with 49 points, followed by Liverpool with 47 points.
5. When will Real Madrid and Manchester City next play each other?
Real Madrid and Manchester City are scheduled to play each other in the Champions League semi-finals on April 5 and 12.
Zimbabwe's middle-order batter Sean Williams showcased his experience and prowess on the first day of the Test match against Afghanistan, remaining unbeaten on 145 runs. Needing just seven more runs to surpass his career-best score, Williams formed crucial partnerships with Kaitano, Myers, and captain Ervine to help Zimbabwe post a formidable total of 363 for four. This comes as a positive development for the hosts, who have struggled with low white-ball totals in recent series losses.
Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli has been fined and given a demerit point for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the fourth Test match against Australia. The altercation occurred between Kohli and 19-year-old debutant Sam Konstas during the 10th over of the Australian innings on the opening day. Although Kohli accepted the sanctions, the incident has caused tension between the two teams.
Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Manchester City was unable to secure a win at home against Everton. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, as Everton's defence held strong against City's onslaught. This match result will surely be disappointing for City fans, but Everton should be proud of their solid defensive performance.
The first day of the fourth Test between India and Australia was marred by a physical altercation between Indian captain Virat Kohli and debutant Sam Konstas. Former Indian player Sunil Gavaskar criticized Kohli for his actions, while the incident was later deemed an accidental bump by the ICC. Kohli was fined and charged with a breach of the ICC Code of Conduct.
Enzo Maresca's Chelsea team put on a dominating performance against Fulham in the Premier League match on Boxing Day, ending with a 3-0 victory. Chelsea's Cole Palmer had a standout performance, helping secure the solid win for his team. Fans of the "Blues" were not disappointed as their favorite team continued to impress in the Premier League.
Despite a brilliant solo goal from record-breaking Cole Palmer, Chelsea couldn't hold on to their lead against Fulham. Levi Colwill's goal was disallowed for offside, giving Fulham hope to push forward. In the end, substitute Rodrigo Muniz's stoppage-time winner gave Fulham their first win at Stamford Bridge since 1979. Chelsea's performance is analyzed with player ratings given for each team member.
In a crucial match of the five-match series between Australia and India, captain Pat Cummins has won the toss and elected to bat first at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Both teams are tied at 1-1 after a draw in the previous test. Despite the expected hot weather with a temperature of 39 degrees Celsius, a large crowd of over 90,000 is expected to attend the match.
Australia's young opener Sam Konstas makes his debut while India opts for spin in their playing XI. With the pitch likely to wear out quickly, India may have the upper hand in the batting order. However, Australia's young talent and strong fast bowling attack remain a threat for the Indian team. Follow live updates as the two teams face off in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting believes Indian opener Shubman Gill can improve his overseas record by making minor changes to his approach. Despite scoring four hundreds in 17 Tests at home, Gill's average of 23.8 across nine Tests in England, Bangladesh, West Indies, South Africa and Australia is a cause of concern for Ponting. The 21-year-old may be overcomplicating his approach, and Ponting suggests that he should trust his instincts and maintain an attacking mindset for better results.
Despite being left out of the Uttar Pradesh's Vijay Hazare Trophy squad, Sameer Rizvi has been dominating the Under-23 One Day State A tournament with his incredible performances. In a recent match against Vidarbha, Rizvi smashed a double century in just 105 deliveries, setting a new record with 10 fours and 18 sixes. The talented player's aggregate in the tournament is an impressive 728 runs with 52 fours and 64 sixes, cementing his position as a rising star in the world of cricket.