Football

Man City 3-0 Brentford: Doku Inspires Cityzens To Close Gap On Leaders Arsenal

Published

5 months ago

May 9, 2026

Manchester City kept their slender Premier League title hopes alive as Jeremy Doku inspired a 3-0 win against Brentford on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s side struggled to prise open Brentford for almost an hour at the Etihad Stadium. But Doku’s latest dazzling strike broke the deadlock before Erling Haaland bagged his 26th league goal this season.

Omar Marmoush wrapped up an essential City victory in stoppage time. City are closed to two points behind leaders Arsenal, putting pressure back on Mikel Arteta’s team to win at third-bottom West Ham on Sunday.

After their damaging 3-3 draw at Everton on Monday put the destiny of the title in Arsenal’s hands, City did their bit to prolong the drama.

City will have a game in hand on Arsenal after this weekend, but the Gunners are guaranteed to clinch the title for the first time in 22 years if they win their remaining matches against West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace.

Guardiola’s men host Palace on Wednesday before turning their attention to the FA Cup final against Chelsea on May 16. Foreshadowing his match-winning contribution, City winger Doku forced an early save from Caoimhin Kelleher.

But Gianluigi Donnarumma almost gifted Brentford a goal when Michael Kayode’s long throw was scrambled off the line after the City keeper made a hash of his attempt to catch the ball.

Donnarumma’s lackadaisical effort was in keeping with City’s laboured attempts to take control. Haaland wastefully headed high and wide when Doku’s cross picked out the striker just six yards from goal.

When Haaland met Doku’s cutback with a close-range blast, Kelleher repelled it before Nathan Ake failed to convert the rebound to groans from City’s frustrated fans.

Bernardo Silva escaped with a booking after the City midfielder lashed out at Nathan Collins. City were equally lethargic at the start of the second half and Donnarumma had to save Igor Thiago’s low drive.

Guardiola sent on Marmoush and Phil Foden in a bid to spark City into life and the move paid instant dividends. Doku had scored twice with an eye-catching curler against Everton and he repeated the trick to end Brentford’s resistance in the 60th minute.

Seizing the rebound after his initial effort was blocked, Doku whipped a superb strike into the top corner from the left-hand side of the penalty area. Doku’s fourth goal in his last three games was nearly followed by one for Foden, but Kelleher was equal to his close-range shot.

City were still vulnerable at the back and Kevin Schade appealed in vain for a penalty after contact from Matheus Nunes. Haaland settled City’s fraying nerves in the 75th minute, back-heeling in from close range after his first effort was blocked from Antoine Semenyo’s cross.

Marmoush bolstered City’s goal difference, which is now just one less than Arsenal’s, with a composed finish from inside the area in the final seconds.

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Football

2026 Ballon d’Or Nominees: Full List Of Contenders Across All Categories

Published

3 weeks ago

September 8, 2026

AladdynKing

The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or gathers pace as shortlists are unveiled across all categories.

The battle for the 2026 Ballon d’Or has officially commenced. Football’s most prestigious individual accolade, celebrating the standout performers of the 2025-26 season, is building towards its marquee evening.

On Tuesday, 8 September, shortlists will be revealed in stages across all primary categories, from the Men’s and Women’s Ballon d’Or to honours for emerging talent and world-class goalkeepers. Clubs and managers are likewise vying for prestigious recognition.

Among the individual awards up for grabs are the Kopa Trophy, presented to the standout young player, the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the top goalkeeper, and the Gerd Muller Trophy, reserved for the campaign’s most prolific finisher.

The staggered release of the nominees marks the opening chapter of the gala. The winners will be formally crowned on 26 October when the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony takes centre stage in London.

Nominees list: All names category by category

Women’s Club of the Year: Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Club America, Manchester City, and Olympique Lyonnais

Men’s Club of the Year: Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodo/Glimt, Flamengo, and PSG

Women’s Coach of the Year: Jonatan Giraldez, Andree Jeglertz, Nils Nielsen, Pere Romeu, Elena Sadiku

Men’s Coach of the Year: Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente, Unai Emery, Vincent Kompany, Luis Enrique

Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Ann-Katrin Berger, Cata Coll, Hannah Hampton, Lorena, Ayaka Yamashita

Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Yassine Bounou, Thibaut Courtois, Gregor Kobel, Joan Garcia, Edouard Mendy, Emiliano Martinez, David Raya, Vozinha, Unai Simon, Matvey Safonov

Best Young Female Player: Veerle Buurman, Vicky Lopez, Felicia Schroder, Clara Serrajordi, Lily Yohannes

Best Young Male Player: Kerim Alajbegovic, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Pau Cubarsi, Yan Diomande, Lennart Karl, Junior Kroupi, Lamine Yamal, Johan Manzambi, Ibrahim Maza, Warren Zaire-Emery

Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026: Selma Bacha, Barbra Banda, Klara Buhl, Esmee Brugts, Mariona Caldentey, Scarlett Camberos, Kerstin Casparij, Temwa Chawinga, Cata Coll, Melchie Dumornay, Caroline Graham Hansen, Alex Greenwood, Pernille Harder, Patri Guijarro, Rose Lavelle, Yui Hasegawa, Mapi Leon, Lorena, Melvine Malard, Manaka Matsukubo, Ewa Pajor, Vivianne Miedema, Claudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Alessia Russo, Momoko Tanikawa, Wendie Renard, Khadija Shaw, Caroline Weir, Tessa Wullaert

Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026: Jude Bellingham, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella, Ousmane Dembele, Luis Diaz, Bruno Fernandes, Erling Haaland, Gabriel, Harry Kane, Achraf Hakimi, Lamine Yamal, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Marquinhos, Sadio Mane, Lautaro Martinez, Kylian Mbappe, Nuno Mendes, Leo Messi, Michael Olise, Joao Neves, Willian Pacho, Julián Quiñones, Declan Rice, Rodri Hernández, Fabián Ruiz, Ferran Torres, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Vinicius Júnior, Vitinha.

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Football

Vinicius Vows To Deliver Champions League Glory: “We Are Going To Win It”

Published

3 weeks ago

September 7, 2026

AladdynKing

Vinicius Junior spoke to ‘RM Play’ ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League opener, boldly declaring that they will conquer Europe this season.

Following a two-season drought, Real Madrid have set their sights firmly on the Champions League. Los Blancos kick off their latest European campaign on Tuesday, and Vinicius Jr spoke to ‘RM Play’, the club’s official streaming platform.

The Brazilian forward boldly asserted that they will lift their 16th European crown following two underwhelming campaigns: “Hopefully number 16 arrives. We are ready for it. It is our competition. We haven’t performed well over the last two years. Our first goal is to finish in the top eight. We are always thrilled by the Champions League. This season is going to be different compared to the last two and we are going to win it.”

Vinicius also reflected fondly on his decisive strikes against Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund in the last two finals: “They are the two most important goals of my life. It goes down in history. Many players score goals, but few in finals. And doing it for the biggest club in the world is something neither the fans nor I will ever forget.”

Finally, he shared his thoughts ahead of the opening clash against Inter: “Whenever the Champions League comes around, it is something different. We are ready for this match against a great side who will demand a lot from us. They are physically very strong and defend with a back five, which usually causes us problems, but the boss has prepared us well. We have a few absences, but we will all go out strong. Hopefully we can build that wonderful connection with the fans in these matches,” he concluded.

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Football

Inter Dealt Dimarco Blow Ahead Of Bernabeu Clash

Published

3 weeks ago

September 7, 2026

AladdynKing

Inter have travelled to Madrid without Federico Dimarco after the wing-back suffered a mild right knee sprain, dealing a major blow to the ‘Nerazzurri’.

The Champions League is back, and Inter face a formidable opening test as they travel to take on Real Madrid on matchday one of the league phase — a stern challenge made all the more difficult by the absence of a key figure.

That absentee is Federico Dimarco, one of the side’s standout performers and the reigning Serie A ‘MVP’. The wing-back emerged as one of the casualties from their dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Napoli.

The Italy international, who provided an assist for Lautaro to break the deadlock, lasted just 62 minutes on the pitch after sustaining a mild sprain in his right knee. Head coach Chivu opted against taking any risks with his fitness, leaving him behind in Milan.

Everything points towards Carlos Augusto deputising on the left flank in his absence. The Brazilian full-back stepped in for his teammate against Napoli, crucially providing the assist for the equaliser to make it 2-2.

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