Champions League: Benfica keeper earns playoff place; Liverpool, Spurs and City book top-eight spots – as it happened

Anatoliy Trubin’s 98th-minute goal was the highlight of a dramatic night on which all the English teams bar Newcastle finished in the top eight

Napoli Meret, Di Lorenzo, Juan Jesus, Buongiorno, Spinazzola, Lobotka, McTominay, Olivera, Vergara, Elmas, Hojlund.

Subs: Contini, Spinelli, Gutierrez, Lukaku, Beukema, De Chiara, Garofalo.

Published: January 28, 2026, 10:39 pm

Patrick Reed quits rebel LIV Golf tour in latest blow to Saudi-backed breakaway

• American becomes latest major winner to exit

• 2018 Masters champion will be eligible for PGA Tour

Patrick Reed has delivered the ­latest high-profile blow to LIV Golf by announcing he will leave the circuit before the start of its 2026 season.

The 35-year-old American former Masters champion joins Brooks Koepka by instead focusing on the PGA Tour. Reed will spend his immediate time on the DP World Tour, where he won the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday. Reed tees up in Bahrain from Thursday.

Published: January 28, 2026, 5:30 pm

‘Insane’: LeBron and Mahomes lead backlash after Belichick’s reported Hall of Fame snub

• Belichick widely seen as one of greatest ever coaches

• Hall of Fame declines to comments on ESPN report

Six-time Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Belichick has been snubbed by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, according to a report from ESPN.

Citing four unidentified sources, ESPN reported on Tuesday that Belichick didn’t receive the necessary 40 votes from the 50-person panel of media members and other Hall of Famers. ESPN said the longtime New England Patriots coach received a call from the Hall of Fame last Friday with the news. According to the report, Belichick said “Six Super Bowls isn’t enough?” when he was told the news.

The Hall of Fame declined to comment before its class of 2026 is announced at NFL Honors in San Francisco on 5 February.

Published: January 28, 2026, 2:23 am

‘Fascism is here now’: the US athletes pushing back on Trump’s America

World Series winner Sean Doolittle, Super Bowl champion Doug Baldwin and college star McKenzie Forbes have strong opinions on a troubled era

At 6.38pm CST on Saturday January 24, Indiana Pacer star Tyrese Haliburton posted on X: “Alex Pretti was murdered.”

The NBA star was one of the first athletes to respond to what can only be described as the public execution by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Pretti’s death was the culmination of a weeks-long campaign of terror conducted against residents of the city, including Renee Good, who was herself killed by DHS forces just two weeks earlier. Indeed, “Operation Metro Surge” in Minneapolis has accounted for two-thirds of homicides in the city in 2026.

Published: January 28, 2026, 11:00 am

ICE agents expected to be deployed for Super Bowl in California, officials say

Local officials confirmed that ICE will conduct immigration operations during 8 February game in Santa Clara

US Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) agents are expected to conduct immigration enforcement operations during next month’s Super Bowl game in Santa Clara, California.

Local officials confirmed to media that ICE is expected to deploy for the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations team has long worked the Super Bowl and other major sporting events, largely focused on preventing human trafficking and stopping the sale of counterfeit goods, but immigration operations would be unusual.

Published: January 28, 2026, 7:37 pm

Browns to appoint Todd Monken as head coach after slew of candidate withdrawals

• Ravens OC replaces Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland

• Several candidates passed on chance to take job

The Cleveland Browns are naming Todd Monken as their head coach, according to multiple reports.

Monken had been Baltimore’s offensive coordinator for the past three seasons, and his appointment comes after several high-profile candidates rejected the Browns. He has also interviewed for Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator opening and was tied to the New York Giants offensive coordinator spot after John Harbaugh was named coach.

Published: January 28, 2026, 6:10 pm

‘Animals in the zoo’: Iga Swiatek backs Coco Gauff over Australian Open privacy concerns

• American was caught on camera smashing racket

• ‘It would be nice to have some privacy,’ says Swiatek

Iga Swiatek backed up Coco Gauff’s complaints about a lack of privacy at the Australian Open by claiming that players are treated like zoo animals.

Gauff sought a spot away from ­public view to let her frustration out by smashing a racket after her quarter-final defeat against Elina ­Svitolina on Tuesday, only to find out she was on camera after all.

Published: January 28, 2026, 7:44 am

Zuffa Boxing says it will save the sport – but the fine print shows that fighters may pay the price

Dana White has promised boxers a new deal. But the deal he’s offering looks worse than the old one. Will Congress give Zuffa the power to dominate boxing?

Even Turki al-Sheikh’s most severe critics acknowledge that, under his guidance, the Saudi interests that have dominated professional boxing in recent years have paid generous purses to fighters. Now the Saudis have turned to TKO Group Holdings and Dana White to oversee Zuffa Boxing – a newly created vehicle designed to expand the footprint of its equity partners in the United States.

Zuffa Boxing is taking a far less generous approach toward fighters than Sheikh did. That’s evidenced by the contract that many of the fighters being recruited by Zuffa are being asked to sign.

Published: January 28, 2026, 8:00 am

Leon Goretzka says Donald Trump ‘makes us feel not only German but European’

• Midfielder speaks out on politics before World Cup

• Goretzka open to summer move to England from Bayern

The Germany international Leon Goretzka has said Donald Trump’s actions have left him feeling “not only German but also European”. The US president has recently threatened to take Greenland by force and called Europe “weak” and “decaying”.

Goretzka, who hopes to make the Germany squad for the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico this summer, told Die Zeit: “Of course, I’m aware of the political debates. I still expect it to be a great tournament – it will promote football there, and show many people want an incredibly exciting game. Donald Trump makes us feel not only German but also European.”

Published: January 28, 2026, 3:44 pm

João Pedro’s double dumps out Napoli as Chelsea make last 16 with late win

Liam Rosenior made a mess, cleaned it up and left Naples praying that Cole Palmer’s injury woes are over. All over the place during a wretched first half, an inspired comeback had Chelsea celebrating at full time. They had looked to Palmer for inspiration and, although the attacker was kept in reserve until the second half, he did enough during his time on the pitch to show why Chelsea have responded to suggestions that their main man is pining for a return to Manchester by branding him untouchable.

It was a cutting cameo from the player whose virtuoso brilliance downed Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final last summer. Introduced with Chelsea 2-1 down against Napoli and staring at the prospect of a two-leg playoff to reach the last 16 of the Champions League, Palmer was minimalistic but impactful. The 23-year-old’s presence alone was enough to restore order and, even if he is still not in peak condition, his first assists of a season disrupted by an array of niggles were a reminder of what Chelsea have been missing while their best player has been recovering from nagging groin and thigh complaints.

Published: January 28, 2026, 10:06 pm

Champions League: Benfica keeper’s last-gasp header sends side into playoffs

• Anatoliy Trubin scores dramatic goal against Real Madrid

• Barça and Sporting in last 16, Bodø/Glimt make playoffs

Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a 98th-minute header as Benfica defeated Real Madrid 4-2 to secure a Champions League knockout place on Wednesday and deny their opponents an automatic spot in the last 16.

Benfica were heading out despite leading 3-2 with seconds of stoppage time remaining before Trubin met a free-kick to score the goal they needed to get into the playoff round on goal difference.

Published: January 28, 2026, 10:37 pm

Brave Newcastle fall short but Willock leveller sends PSG to playoffs too

On a chilly, fun, boisterous night in Paris, with the Champions League mega-table scrolling away in the background, Newcastle produced a fine performance at the home of the European champions that left both teams outside the automatic qualification slots, but Newcastle much the happier of the two.

A 1-1 draw means Eddie Howe’s team finished 12th overall. They will now enter the knockout phase in the last two weeks of February, as had always seemed likely, to face either Qarabag or Monaco. More surprisingly, Paris Saint-Germain will join them there after some late score-ticker malarkey nudged them out of the top eight.

Published: January 28, 2026, 10:03 pm

Kolo Muani fires Tottenham through in Frankfurt one day after car accident

Randal Kolo Muani was lucky to be on the field. The Tottenham striker had endured a moment of indescribable panic when the front right tyre on his Ferrari blew out on the motorway on Tuesday as he drove to Stansted airport for the team flight to Frankfurt.

The car was a write-off but Kolo Muani walked away from it. He had to take a later flight to make this Champions League game and he was plainly determined to make his mark on it.

Published: January 28, 2026, 10:00 pm

Mohamed Salah back among goals as Liverpool roar past Qarabag into last 16

Liverpool are having to stomach “a very bad cocktail” in the Premier League of wasted chances and cheap goals conceded, according to Arne Slot. To extend the mixologist’s analogy, his team are enjoying life with a few margaritas in the Champions League.

Slot’s side cruised into the last 16 for the second successive season with a demolition of Qarabag at Anfield. Mohamed Salah was among the goalscorers for the first time since accusing Liverpool of throwing him under the bus, while Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz, the potent Hugo Ekitiké and substitute Federico Chiesa were also on the scoresheet.

Published: January 28, 2026, 10:04 pm

Kai Havertz scores first of season as Arsenal muscle past Kairat to finish top

Arsenal’s challenge for the Premier League title may be showing some signs of wobbling but there are no such problems in the Champions League. An eighth successive victory means Mikel Arteta’s side have become the first team to end the league phase with a 100% record since it was introduced last season, with only a consolation goal in injury time denying them the distinction of winning all by a two-goal margin.

Whether that can translate into silverware in a competition that Arsenal have infamously never won and in which they have reached only one final remains to be seen. But even with a second-string side that once again showed the strength in depth at Arteta’s disposal, completing the job against the bottom side, Kairat, was never in doubt even when the Kazakh champions equalised after an early goal from Viktor Gyökeres.

Published: January 28, 2026, 10:03 pm

Erling Haaland sparks Manchester City win over Galatasaray to seal last-16 place

Pep Guardiola often bemoans the schedule so Manchester City ­entering the last 16 directly and missing the home-and-away knockout playoff round pleased the manager.

City ended in eighth place due, in part, to Benfica’s 4-2 win against Real Madrid, the Portuguese side being led by his old adversary, José Mourinho, to whom Guardiola will be happy to offer a thank you message.

Published: January 28, 2026, 10:06 pm

Russo rounds off Arsenal rout of AS Far in Women’s Champions Cup semi-final

• Arsenal 6-0 AS Far (Blackstenius 8, Maanum 12, Caldentey 21pen, Smith 41, Russo 66 76)

• Arsenal play Corinthians of Brazil in Sunday’s final

A businesslike performance against AS Far earned Arsenal a place in Sunday’s final of the inaugural Fifa Women’s Champions Cup against Corinthians.

Four goals in the first half – from Stina Blackstenius, Frida Maanum, Mariona Caldentey and Olivia Smith – allowed Renée Slegers to rotate players and rest some legs and the substitute Alessia Russo added two after the break to complete the rout.

Published: January 28, 2026, 9:09 pm

Napoli 2-3 Chelsea: Champions League – as it happened

Joao Pedro’s two goals were enough to take Chelsea into the top eight and dump out Antonio Conte’s team

Liam Rosenior spoke to TNT ahead of kick-off: ““It’s been a positive start. Firstly the players and their engagement and attitude and willingness to learn, I think they have enjoyed it as well. Tonight is another big test for us and if we manage to come through it , it gives us a great chance of being in the top eight.”

“They are very good on transition. They are very organised in their press. From what I’ve seen they will press us really, really high, whether that is from a 3-4-3 or a 5-4-1. They have outstanding players. They build well from the back. It is going to be a difficult game and we are prepared for it.”

Published: January 28, 2026, 10:31 pm

Fulham to sign Manchester City’s Bobb for £27m, Paquetá heading to Flamengo

• West Ham do Paqueta deal and sign Fulham’s Traoré

• Ward-Prowse poised for Burnley loan from West Ham

Manchester City have agreed a £27m deal to sell Oscar Bobb to Fulham, with the terms including a 20% sell-on clause. City also have matching rights to buy the Norwegian back should a fee be agreed for his sale in future.

An identical agreement allowed City to bring back James Trafford from Burnley last summer for the amount Newcastle had agreed to pay for the goalkeeper. Trafford left City for Turf Moor in July 2023.

Published: January 28, 2026, 5:13 pm

Raheem Sterling leaves Chelsea by mutual consent and seeks fresh start

• Winger was highest earner at £325,000 a week

• He has not played this season after being frozen out

Raheem Sterling is looking to revive his career after departing Chelsea by mutual consent. The 31-year-old winger was the club’s highest earner but has been out of favour since the summer of 2024. Sterling had 18 months left on a deal worth £325,000 a week.

Sterling struggled to produce his best form after joining from Manchester City in 2022. He was the first player to arrive under the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership and was hailed as a marquee signing.

Published: January 28, 2026, 4:30 pm

Sinner set for ‘toughest challenge’ in semi-final against Djokovic after swatting Shelton

• No 1 seed eases past American 6-3, 6-4, 6-4

• ‘It’s a grand slam, it’s always very difficult against Novak’

Jannik Sinner is under no illusion about the difficulty of his semi-final meeting with Novak Djokovic after defeating Ben Shelton on Wednesday. “It’s one of the toughest challenges we have in our sport,” he said. “It’s great to have Novak playing at this very, very high level. It’s a grand slam, it’s always very difficult against Novak. Let’s see what’s coming.”

Sinner’s 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 quarter-final victory over the seventh seed extended his commanding record against Shelton to 9-1, with Sinner winning 22 consecutive sets since the 23-year-old American won their first meeting. Such dominance over one of the best young players indicates just how far ahead Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are of the rest of the field.

Published: January 28, 2026, 2:34 pm

Tyson Fury set for heavyweight boxing comeback in April on Netflix

• Former world champion to face Arslanbek Makhmudov

• Briton has been training in Thailand

Tyson Fury is to make his comeback against Arslanbek Makhmudov on 11 April in a fight that will be screened on Netflix. Fury announced his retirement a year ago after successive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, but has been training in Thailand for his return to the ring. A venue has yet to be announced for the fight, but it will take place in the UK, making it Fury’s first contest here since he overcame Derek Chisora in 2022.

“Well it’s official I’m back doing what I [heart emoji] to do,” Fury posted on Instagram. “I’ve brought the biggest network along with me. Netflix, this is going to be astronomical. Blessed by God.”

Published: January 28, 2026, 2:00 pm

Bundee Aki start in doubt for Ireland’s Six Nations opener against France over ‘disrespect’

• Veteran dropped for alleged outburst at match officials

• Andy Farrell dealt further blow by Hugo Keenan injury

Ireland will kick off the Six Nations next week without two of their most influential and experienced backline players. Bundee Aki and Hugo Keenan, key members of the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia last year, should have been involved against France next Thursday, but they are facing spells on the sidelines for contrasting reasons.

Aki has not travelled to Ireland’s training camp in Portugal after a “misconduct complaint” relating to an alleged post-match incident with match officials after Connacht’s URC game against Leinster on Saturday.

Published: January 28, 2026, 1:05 pm

Match of the Day scores viewing figures success with BBC’s new digital strategy

• Highlight clips available at 8pm on Saturday for first time

• Traditional viewing of weekend shows has declined

Match of the Day’s viewing figures have increased considerably this season in a vindication of the BBC’s new digital strategy. Traditional linear viewing of the Saturday and Sunday evening highlights programmes had declined by 770,000 to 6.88 million average weekly views last month compared with December 2024, but MOTD has gained 1.52 million viewers by making highlight clips available on iPlayer and its website at 8pm on Saturdays for the first time.

The combined viewing figures for MOTD on iPlayer covering the evening programmes and highlights clips had risen to 61.9 million by the end of December, a big increase on the 45.4 million views by the same period last season. The digital consumption of MOTD has almost doubled since the 2022-23 season, when the total figure by December was 33.1 million.

Published: January 28, 2026, 12:03 pm

Zanotti fires Corinthians to shock semi-final win over Gotham in Women’s Champions Cup

• Gotham FC 0-1 Corinthians (Zanotti 83)

• Corinthians’ 40-year-old captain scores late winner

Corinthians earned a stunning victory against Gotham FC in the first semi-final of the inaugural Fifa Women’s Champions Cup, a goal from the 40-year-old Corinthians captain Gabi Zanotti in the 83rd minute the difference.

“Everyone was talking about maybe Gotham and Arsenal in the final but Corinthians are here and we played a very good game to beat the NWSL champions,” their manager, Lucas Piccinato, said. “We know what we can do.”

Published: January 28, 2026, 5:06 pm

Rodman’s sideline dance with Hayes caps USWNT’s sixth straight win

• Rodman strikes again as USA rout Chile 5-0

• Bethune, Joseph and Sams score first goals

• SheBelieves Cup in March is next up for US

Croix Bethune, Jameese Joseph and Emily Sams scored their first international goals and the United States went on to beat Chile 5-0 on Tuesday night in Santa Barbara, California.

Emma Sears and Trinity Rodman also scored for the US, who haven’t conceded a goal in five matches and haven’t lost in six.

Published: January 28, 2026, 3:42 pm