Sports
Real, Bayern Brace For Titanic Encounter
Real Madrid must overturn a one-goal deficit against Bayern Munich if they are to book their place in the UEFA Champions League final.
Jose Mourinho’s Real went down 2-1 in the semi-final first leg at Bayern’s Allianz Arena last week.
The hosts took the lead through France forward Franck Ribery in the 17th minute of the match.
The visitors from Spain had more than their fair share of chances, and registered a deserved away goal through Germany midfielder Mezut Oezil eight minutes into the second half.
It looked like the teams would be locked at 1-1 going into the return fixture in the Spanish capital, until Mario Gomez struck an injury-time winner for Bayern.
The German outfit carry a slender advantage with them to Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, but Real’s away goal renders Bayern’s position precarious at best.
Domestic considerations could also have an impact on the outcome of Wednesday’s clash.
Bayern have nothing left to play for in Germany after seeing Borussia Dortmund retain their Bundesliga title with a 2-0 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday.
Given Dortmund’s imminent triumph, Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes could afford to change all of his team’s starting 11 for their match away to Werder Bremen on the same day.
Only goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Luiz Gustavo were retained from the side which started against Real.
It was a very different story for the La Liga leaders, who contested the defining match of their domestic season, away to defending champions Barcelona.
The visitors emerged with a 2-1 win from their visit to Camp Nou, thanks to goals from Sami Khedira and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Reflecting on the importance of the clash, which has effectively secured the La Liga title for Real, Mourinho retained exactly the same starting line-up from the team which played in Munich.
The question now is how many of those first-choice players can recover in time to begin their third crucial game in the space of nine days?
The likes of Gonzalo Higuain, Kaka, Marcelo and Raul Albiol could all be in contention to start in Madrid if one or more of their team-mates pull up sore.
Real would be bidding to reach their first Champions League final since winning the competition at Hampden Park in 2002.
Bayern, who lost the 2010 final to Inter Milan on their last visit to the Santiago Bernabeu, are aiming to reach the showpiece decider at their own Allianz Arena home.
The winner of Wednesday’s match would face either holders Barca or English Premier League outsiders Chelsea in the final, to be held in Munich on May 19.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.
Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.
Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.
He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.
Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.
Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)
Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season
Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.
But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)
Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season
Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.
Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.
With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)
Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season
Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.
But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.
Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics.
Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.
African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.
Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.
In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.
Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.
In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.
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