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The club will be without Inigo Martinez for the upcoming clash against Al-Okhdood, while uncertainty also surrounds Kingsley Coman and Joao Felix, as fitness questions linger. Cristiano Ronaldo heads into another decisive Matchday with Al-Nassr, but fresh injury concerns have disrupted preparations. The club will be without Inigo Martinez for the upcoming clash against Al-Okhdood, while uncertainty also surrounds Kingsley Coman and Joao Felix, as fitness questions linger. The absence of key figures arrives at a critical point in the season. With the title race tightening, every selection decision now carries added weight for the league leader. Al-Nassr enters the Round 28 fixture against Al-Okhdood sitting top of the Saudi Pro League with 70 points, maintaining a five-point advantage over Al-Hilal. The club has built momentum through consistent results, including a commanding victory over Al-Najma in the previous round. At the same time, rivals have shown signs of vulnerability, with Al-Hilal dropping points and Al-Qadisiyah slipping to defeat. These results have strengthened Al-Nassr’s grip on first place, but the margin remains narrow enough to demand full focus. The biggest immediate setback comes with the confirmed absence of Inigo Martinez. The Spanish defender continues his recovery from a hamstring injury and has not yet returned to full group training. Inigo Martinez of Al-Nassr controls the ball According to Arriyadiyah, he has been limited to light running and individual training as part of his rehabilitation process. His absence removes an experienced defensive option at a time when stability at the back is essential. Fitness update on Coman and Felix emerges As a result, attention has also turned to Kingsley Coman and Joao Felix, whose fitness situations have been closely monitored. Arriyadiyah’s latest update suggests that both players are still undergoing rehabilitation and are yet to be fully integrated into group training, leaving their availability uncertain. Cristiano Ronaldo of Al-Nassr (R) and Joao Felix of Al-Nassr (L Coman has resumed individual training after partial participation, with a final decision expected closer to Saturday’s Matchday. Felix, meanwhile, remains on a structured recovery program alongside other teammates dealing with muscle-related issues. The report adds that medical and technical staff continue to manage these cases carefully to avoid setbacks, highlighting the cautious approach being taken. Several players set to return on the pitch The absence and uncertainty surrounding multiple players’ places added pressure on the squad depth. While some players, including Mohamed Simakan and Abdullah Al-Hamdan, have returned to fitness, others are still working toward full recovery. Preparing for AlOkhdood 🕰️ pic.twitter.com/eF253PoS45 — AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) April 7, 2026 This situation forces the coaching staff to carefully balance short-term results with long-term player health. Managing workloads has become a recurring theme as the season approaches its decisive phase.

The Saudi giant has once again found itself in the spotlight after matching one of its own historic achievements, further underlining its dominance in the Saudi Pro League. Cristiano Ronaldo continues to lead the charge as Al-Nassr pushes deeper into a remarkable run of form this season. The Saudi giant has once again found itself in the spotlight after matching one of its own historic achievements, further underlining its dominance in the Saudi Pro League. The latest victory, a commanding performance against Al-Najma, reinforced Al-Nassr’s position at the top of the table. Momentum is firmly on their side as the title race approaches its decisive phase. Al-Nassr delivered a statement performance with a 5-2 victory over Al-Najma at Al-Awwal Park. Jorge Jesus’s players controlled the match from start to finish, showcasing their attacking strength and depth in quality. What’s more, Cristiano Ronaldo played a key role in the win, contributing to the scoreline alongside teammates who stepped up in crucial moments. The attacking trio, supported by a well-organized midfield, ensured Al-Najma struggled throughout the game. It was in the aftermath of last weekend’s victory that the significance of the result became clear. Al-Nassr’s latest success marked its 13th consecutive league win, equaling the longest winning streak in the club’s history, a record previously set between 2013 and 2014. According to Opta statistics, the team equaled its longest winning streak in its history in the Saudi top division. Ronaldo’s impact in a record-breaking run Cristiano Ronaldo has been central to this historic run, continuing to deliver in key moments. During the match, he added to his tally of 23 with a brace, demonstrating his enduring influence in front of goal. His contribution goes beyond scoring, as he remains a focal point in the team’s attacking structure. With 97 goals in 100 league appearances, Ronaldo’s efficiency continues to set the standard for the squad. Tonight: @Cristiano will play his 100th RSL game 🐐 pic.twitter.com/wRpzt7bRnm — Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) April 3, 2026 Consistency across the campaign Al-Nassr’s form hasn’t been limited to a single stretch of fixtures. The Riyadh outfit has shown a unique ability to maintain momentum since January 2026, including a perfect record in matches following international breaks this season. This consistency has allowed the squad to build a strong lead at the top of the standings. With 70 points after 27 rounds, they remain ahead of their closest challengers, Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli, keeping control of the title race.

With his hat-trick against Orlando City, LAFC star Denis Bouanga claimed the fifth MLS Player of the Matchday award in his career, but remains far from legends Lionel Messi and Hani Mukhtar. Denis Bouanga was one of the standout performers of Matchday 6 in the 2026 MLS season, scoring a hat trick in LAFC‘s dominant 6-0 win over Orlando City. The Gabonese striker claimed his fifth career MLS Player of the Matchday award in the process, though he still has plenty of ground to make up on Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar. In Saturday’s rout of Orlando, Son Heung-min turned heads by registering four assists in the first half alone, matching one of Messi’s records in the process, though three of those passes set up Bouanga, who made no mistake in front of goal. MLS opted to award the goalscorer over the South Korean as the match’s standout player. It marked Bouanga’s first Player of the Matchday honor of the 2026 season and the fifth of his MLS career since joining LAFC in 2022. That total places him among the top three active players in the category, trailing only Mukhtar and Messi. Keeping pace with that duo, however, will be no easy feat. Mukhtar sits second on the all-time active list with eight Player of the Matchday awards since arriving at Nashville SC in 2020. Denis Bouanga #99 of Los Angeles Football Club shoots and scores against LD Alajuelense. Topping that list is an even steeper climb. Messi leads all active players with 13 MLS Matchday awards, eight more than Bouanga, having become the first player to claim six across back-to-back seasons in 2024 and 2025. He has already added another in 2026, taking home the Matchday 2 honor, also against Orlando City, a strong sign that his form shows no signs of fading. Bouanga chasing hat-trick record Unlike Messi and Mukhtar, who operate more as playmakers, Bouanga has built his MLS reputation on his goal-scoring ability. Saturday’s hat trick pushed his regular-season contributions to 99, with 69 goals and 30 assists in 107 games. Netting all three goals within the first 28 minutes also made it the fourth-fastest hat trick from the opening whistle in MLS history. One milestone he is firmly chasing is the all-time MLS regular-season hat-trick record. His tally now stands at five, leaving him within striking distance of Josef Martinez’s mark of seven. By contrast, Messi has scored just two MLS hat tricks, both with Inter Miami, with the most recent coming in October 2025 against Nashville.

LIVERPOOL are at the home of the European champions tonight to take on PSG in the first leg of their quarter final tie. And bookmakers SBK are celebrating the occasion with a fantastic offer for brand new customers: Bet £5 and claim £30 in free bets to use on football! SBK new customer offer Head...

Lacking Bernabéu magic, Real Madrid can tee up a more spectacular comeback in Munich in the Champions League. They've done it before.

Coach Álvaro Arbeloa said Real Madrid's chances of progressing in the Champions League are "still alive" after Kylian Mbappé's second-half goal saw Madrid beaten 2-1 by Bayern Munich in their quarterfinal first leg.

Kai Havertz may have scored Arsenal’s winner in their Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over Sporting CP, but he highlighted “best keeper in the world” David Raya’s contribution as key. Havertz came off the bench to score in the 91st minute and earn Arsenal a slender 1-0 advantage over Sporting, getting them back to winning […] The post Havertz lauds ´best keeper in the world´ Raya appeared first on Soccer News.

David Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world, according to his Arsenal team-mates - and the Spaniard played a key role in his side's 1-0 win at Sporting.

Italy legend Dino Baggio shared his opinion on why Diego Maradona is considered even better than Lionel Messi. Approaching the end of his professional career, Lionel Messi is regarded by many as the greatest player of all time. However, in that debate, other heavyweights come into play, such as Diego Maradona, whom Italy icon Dino Baggio considered the number one. During an interview with Diario AS, the former Juventus and Parma midfielder was asked about his view of modern soccer, particularly Serie A, comparing it with the 1980s and 1990s. Baggio acknowledged that it was more difficult to play in Italy back then: “Perhaps Messi could have had problems here in his day.” That led the conversation toward the differences in soccer over the years. Dino based his opinion on the fact that a few decades ago referees were more lenient when it came to physical contact, resulting in a harsher sport for talented players. “Today, fouls are called before contact, practically,” Baggio noted, before highlighting who he considered the best player in the world during those years. “Maradona, in modern times, would score a thousand goals per season. You can’t imagine what they would hit him with when he was at Napoli,” said the 1994 FIFA World Cup finalist. Dino Baggio playing for Italy vs England in a World Cup qualifier in 1997. Immediately, Dino Baggio compared the two Argentine superstars and pointed out the difference between them: “Messi, back then, would have been equally brilliant, but completely, absolutely crushed. That’s why I say Diego was the greatest. The God of world soccer.” Comparisons between Messi and Maradona Dino Baggio is not the first to highlight the contrast between the leniency of the past and the extreme caution of modern soccer. This is usually one of the arguments used to place stars from previous decades, like Diego Maradona, Pele, or Alfredo Di Stefano, above modern geniuses like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Some statistics support this view. FIFA shared an analysis on its official website a few years ago regarding the number of fouls committed in each edition of the World Cup (with records starting in Chile 1962) and the players who were most frequently fouled. There is an indisputable leader in the rankings. Diego Maradona is the player who received the most fouls in World Cup history, totaling 152 across his four tournaments (1982, 1986, 1990, and 1994). He doubles the second player on the list, Lionel Messi, who was fouled 75 times across his five tournaments from 2006 onwards. Further down are Brazil’s Jairzinho (64), Neymar (60), and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (58). The most astonishing fact is that Maradona ranks first, second, and third for the most fouls received in a single World Cup. In Mexico 1986, he was fouled 53 times; in Italy 1990, 50 times; and in Spain 1982, 36 times. Only in fourth place does another player appear—curiously also Argentine—Ariel Ortega, with 33 fouls in France 1998.

The French player has just one match left to achieve it if Real Madrid aren't eliminated. Leer

Bayern were dominant in a 2-1 win at Real Madrid on Tuesday, earning an advantage ahead of the second leg of the quarterfinals

Thomas Tuchel's doubts about Trent Alexander-Arnold and reliance on Harry Kane are confirmed on the England manager's Madrid mission.

Alvaro Arbeloa has urged anyone who does not believe Real Madrid can turn around their Champions League tie against Bayern Munich to “stay in Madrid” for the second leg. Los Blancos lost the quarter-final first leg 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Kylian Mbappe keeping Madrid’s hopes alive after earlier goals from Luis Diaz and […] The post Arbeloa: Anyone who doesn´t believe in Champions League comeback should stay in Madrid appeared first on Soccer News.

The quarterfinals get underway on Tuesday night with two MLS teams facing two Liga MX clubs

Sporting CP coach is convinced of something special against Arsenal in Champions League quarter-final second leg

Mikel Arteta hailed David Raya as "extraordinary" after his goalkeeper's stunning performance in Arsenal's late 1-0 Champions League win against Sporting Lisbon.

Kai Havertz declared David Raya the best goalkeeper in the world after his saves helped Arsenal secure a 1-0 win over Sporting in their Champions League quarter-final first leg in Lisbon.

Kai Havertz declared David Raya the best goalkeeper in the world after his saves helped Arsenal secure a 1-0 win over Sporting in their Champions League quarter-final first leg in Lisbon.

Mikel Arteta discovered that playing your best goalkeeper can be a good idea as his side recovered from cup exits with late win in Lisbon There was a temptation to fixate on the moment when Arsenal won this game with a goal that could change their season. Mikel Arteta had urged his players not to panic, not to sink away with hopes of a quadruple long gone, and Kai Havertz got the memo. Gabriel Martinelli crossed from the left and, as the ball dropped, Havertz caught the Sporting defence napping at last, controlled with a feathery touch, took a breath and rolled a finish past Rui Silva to give Arsenal victory in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. It had been a slog at Estádio José Alvalade. Arsenal attempted 488 passes and it was not until the first of two added minutes that they made one really count. Before then it was a grind. Arsenal were often constipated in open play. Although they controlled the game, at least until allowing it to become ragged during a fraught finale, there were long spells when the best the Premier League leaders offered was set-piece wrestling. Noni Madueke, mostly ineffective as he deputised for Bukayo Saka on the right wing, curled an early corner against the bar. Viktor Gyökeres was recorded as being on the pitch. Leandro Trossard tried to score from 40 yards. Leandro Trossard did not score from 40 yards.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says his side "had a point to prove" following back-to-back defeats and praises his side's reaction, as Kai Havertz's stoppage-time winner secures a first-leg advantage in their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting.

Havertz goal offers response after back-to-back defeats Arteta praises ‘extraordinary’ Raya for crucial saves Mikel Arteta acknowledged that Arsenal had a point to prove against Sporting after losing their last two matches and believes that Kai Havertz’s late winner could prove to be a “big moment” in their season. Arsenal had David Raya to thank for making three superb saves that kept the scores level before Havertz came off the bench to seal a priceless away victory. It was a huge relief for Arteta, who had urged his players to rediscover their identity after they suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and Championship side Southampton in the FA Cup.

Big boost for Sporting CP ahead of second leg next week

Substitute Kai Havertz struck in injury time to put Arsenal on course for the semi-finals

Key matches are coming up that could define everything Leer

Relive Daily Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Sporting Lisbon host Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash at Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Zidane watches from the stands as Mbappé keeps Madrid breathing. Leer

Sporting CP 0-1 Arsenal: Kai Havertz’s last-gasp goal ensured Mikel Arteta’s side emerged victorious by the slimmest of margins in Lisbon

There will be at least five Premier League teams in the Champions League next season after Arsenal beat Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.

Real Madrid 1-2 Bayern Munich: Harry Kane’s second-half goal earned the German side a slender lead after an impressive performance in an enthralling encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu

Raya was back in goal for Arsenal after sitting out cup defeats to Man City and Southampton

Arsenal have guaranteed the Premier League a fifth Champions League spot for next season by beating Sporting Lisbon. The Gunners snatched a dramatic 1-0 victory in Portugal on Tuesday night. Kai Ha…

MANCHESTER UNITED crashed out of the Premier League International Cup after their Under-21s manager's sweeping subs backfired. Real Madrid stunned Old Trafford by overturning a two-goal deficit to eliminate United with a crushing 4-2 quarter-final victory. Adam Lawrence’s strong starting XI were in cruise control after early goals from Jack Moorhouse and Shea Lacey inside...

Kai Havertz scored a stoppage-time winner to fire Arsenal to a crucial 1-0 victory against Sporting in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal in Lisbon.

Harry Kane delivered for Bayern Munich on his return from injury, scoring a goal and helping set up another in his team's 2-1 win at Real Madrid.

The Premier League has secured a fifth Champions League spot for next season's competition - although that could yet rise to seven places.

Kai Havertz popped up with a stoppage-time goal to snatch Arsenal a much-needed 1-0 win over Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-final first leg. It looked like Arsenal were set to ensure another frustrating outing, but Havertz came off the bench to net another late goal for the Gunners, giving them a lead to […] The post Sporting CP 0-1 Arsenal: Havertz snatches dramatic late winner in quarter-final first leg appeared first on Soccer News.

Arsenal grab a late quarter-final win v Sporting through a Kai Havertz 91st minute goal!

Real Madrid 1-2 Bayern Munich: The visitors dominated a classic Champions League tie but may be left ruing missed chances in next week’s second leg

Bayern Munich left the Santiago Bernabeu with a 2-1 advantage in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. Kylian Mbappe reduced the deficit for Los Blancos after goals from Luis Diaz and Harry Kane on either side of half-time, and though Bayern missed plenty of golden opportunities, they also heavily relied […] The post Real Madrid 1-2 Bayern Munich: Kane gives Kompany´s men first-leg advantage in Champions League thri appeared first on Soccer News.

Key midfielder will be missing for return leg at Allianz Arena

Kai Havertz came off the bench and scored a 91st-minute winner as Arsenal clinched a 1-0 victory over Sporting in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon.

Tottenham choose Guglielmo Vicario replacement, Liverpool monitor Italy defender, Manchester United set to miss out on England midfielder.

Harry Kane earned Bayern Munich a priceless 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Kylian Mbappé delivered when it mattered most, scoring a crucial goal and reaching a historic milestone. Leer

Kai Havertz believes David Raya is 'underestimated in world football' after his impressive performance in Arsenal's 1-0 win over Sporting CP in the Champions League

Arsenal’s super subs to the rescue again in victory over Sporting

Sporting CP 0-1 Arsenal: Havertz’s stoppage-time strike ensured the Gunners have the advantage going into next week’s second leg

Irish international Finn Azaz was on target as FA Cup semi-finalists Southampton continued their Sky Bet Championship charge as they thrashed Wrexham 5-1 at Stok Cae Ras to replace the Welsh side in the play-off places.

Kai Havertz came off the bench to score Arsenal's late winner at Sporting Lisbon and Theo Walcott insists the Gunners are far better when the German is starting