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Monaco shocked Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 away from home on Sunday to throw open the Ligue 1 title race, with head coach Niko Kovac explaining that his side’s objective was to nullify Kylian Mbappe.

The attacker had scored a hat-trick in PSG’s 4-1 win over Barcelona in midweek and came into the match against his former club with all defensive focus upon him due to injuries to Neymar and Angel Di Maria.

Mbappe was almost completely neutralized, barely allowed a straightforward touch while goals at the opposite end from Sofiane Diop and Guillermo Maripan gave Monaco victory.

How did Monaco beat PSG?

Kovac told Canal+ the secrets behind Monaco’s success.

“I am very happy with the performance of my team. PSG are a great team. We played very hard for 90 minutes and we deserved the victory,” he said.

“They didn't have a lot of opportunities. I have to congratulate my players.

“Our plan? We had to erase Kylian Mbappe because he's a great striker. We had to deprive him of the ball by putting three or four players on him.

“In defence, we showed another face of Monaco because we didn't concede many chances.

“Tonight was wonderful. This is what we needed.

“We managed to beat PSG for the second time, now we are going home and going to rest.

“Can we finish in the top three? As I said before, we mainly have to increase the gap with the teams fifth and six. There are still a few games left, if we have the chance to close the gap then we will do it. But we are not yet at the level of the first three.”

Ben Yedder on PSG upset

Monaco striker Wissam Ben Yedder said he felt that PSG’s victory over Barcelona in midweek represented an opportunity for his team rather than a problem.

“We were physically strong. We knew athletically they were going to have a physical problem after playing a great game against Barcelona. We tried to play the game thoroughly,” he said.

The bigger picture

PSG’s defence of the Ligue 1 title appears to be in jeopardy as they have lost a sixth league match for the first time since 2010-11. Additionally, Monaco became the first team to do the double over them since Nancy in 2011-12.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side are four points behind first-placed Lille and one back of Lyon. Meanwhile, Monaco, who remain fourth, are within two points of them.

Further reading

Napoli have confirmed Victor Osimhen has been diagnosed with head trauma after a collision with Cristian Romero in their 4-2 defeat to Atalanta in Sunday’s Serie A game.

The centre-forward was afforded his 10th league appearance in the encounter since teaming up with the club last summer.

Osimhen made his contribution as Gennaro Gattuso’s men suffered their second consecutive defeat, after also losing against Granada in the Europa League.

With few minutes before the end of the game, the forward collided with Romero and fell awkwardly, hitting the back of his head on the turf before losing consciousness.

The Nigeria international was subsequently stretchered off and transported by ambulance to the hospital.

The 22-year-old attacker has now undergone a series of tests and Napoli have revealed the nature of his problems.

“Victor Osimhen, following the injury with head trauma suffered in the final minutes of Atalanta-Napoli, underwent tests with negative results,” read a statement from the club website .

“The player will remain in Bergamo until tomorrow under the clinical observation of the blue health manager Raffaele Canonico.”

Osimhen’s debut season with the Parthenopeans has been blighted by injury, suspension and coronavirus-related problems.

The Super Eagles forward has only played 16 games across all competitions for Napoli, scoring two goals and providing one assist since his €80 million move from Lille.

It is yet to be known the duration Osimhen would be on the sidelines, having now regained his consciousness.

The forward will, however, be expected to miss Napoli’s second leg round of 32 of their Europa League game against Granada on Thursday.

Nigeria national team coach Gernot Rohr will hope the forward recovers quickly enough to be able to feature in his side’s 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in March.

Osimhen has been playing a key role for the Super Eagles since the retirement of Odion Ighalo from the national team in 2019.

The forward has bagged five goals for the West African side in 10 appearances, amid other dazzling displays which have made him a toast to the fans.

Thomas Tuchel has used Chelsea's 1-1 draw away at Southampton to reiterate what he wants from his players, having failed to win for the first time in the last six games.

Tammy Abraham was substituted at half-time after failing to make an impact at St Mary's. Callum Hudson-Odoi, who came on for him, was ruthlessly substituted in the second half after failing to impress his manager.

Chelsea only scored through a defensive mistake when Mason Mount converted a penalty he won himself. The attack in particular troubled Tuchel, who thinks N'Golo Kante's attacking influence is being wasted by team-mates.

What has Tuchel said about Kante?

"I have known N'Golo Kante for years and now I am a lucky coach who has him as a player," Tuchel told reporters at St Mary's Stadium. "He steals every ball that is around 10 metres near him.

"Even then, we need to use these ball wins from N'Golo and use them better to attack the space behind the last line better. We need to use our speed better to create more chances. There are a lot of possibilities in the last matches.

"We need to understand and it is a process that we may need the last few links to gain the confidence to create and score more. Because it is also not enough to score from just half chances."

Tuchel went on to clarify what went wrong on Saturday afternoon: "I had a feeling in the first half that we can end the game before it starts for Southampton but I didn't think we were aggressive or determined enough to win the decisive one-on-ones to make a decision, take it quickly and do it 100%.

"We were always doubtful. Do I pass? Do I shoot? Do I cross? Where do I cross? Where do we attack? We have to improve there and I was frustrated because I saw a good game with high pressing, a lot of acceleration, opening a lot of good space and I am not frustrated with tactics.

"I was only frustrated that we couldn't reward all this good effort we made because if we take the lead here, then we have another three points. We have to take the possibilities when they are there. We cannot let go and let go of the next chance. We have to be more clinical."

Who has impressed ahead of tougher upcoming fixtures?

Chelsea face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday before facing both Manchester United and Liverpool in the Premier League.

The upcoming run of games will test Tuchel's Chelsea more than his first seven matches and Mason Mount once again stood out for his side away at Southampton.

As well as talking positively about Kante, Tuchel said he was impressed with Kurt Zouma, who also made his first league start for his new manager.

"Today I learned a lot of positive things about Kurt Zouma in his performance which was very positive," he continued. "We decided it late to put him on the pitch.

"He had a good game. He was present and clear in his actions. He fulfilled his role at the top level, very very good. With Kurt and N'Golo, I am very happy.

"I saw [effort] all around the pitch. I saw it from Mason, N'Golo, Zouma, Azpi, Toni, Reece, Alonso and I saw it from all of them. All of the guys, you can't play less than 100% in the Premier League. It is not possible or to our standard. Our demands on ourselves are to be 100% sharp.

"Maybe I was unfair but it was my feeling on the sideline that Hudson-Odoi wasn't sharp enough. He played close to me [on my side of the pitch]. I did not feel that he is really into this game like everybody else. I took a hard decision but it was for today and the game.

"It is now over and I trust him a lot. He played some very very good games also mentally with the effort since I started. He played two not so good games when he comes on from the bench so let's improve together."

Further reading

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has heaped praise on Daniel James after he netted the winner in their 3-1 victory over Newcastle United on Sunday, adding that the winger has "never disappeared" from his plans despite existing on the fringes of his squad.

The Wales international helped restore the lead at Old Trafford just before the hour mark for the hosts, before Bruno Fernandes' penalty confirmed a three-point haul against Steve Bruce's Magpies.

It marked the second time in four days the former Swansea man has found the back of the net after he grabbed his chance against Real Sociedad in the Europa League on Thursday and his manager had nothing but kind words to say for how he has applied himself since his arrival in 2019.

Solskjaer on James

“He never disappeared. He has been working hard behind the scenes and always been available. He is always a player you can use in different areas with his energy and pace,” the Norwegian told BT Sport.

“We work with him, we try to help everyone but of course Dan came from the Championship, he hit a few goals in the first games and it is bound to take some energy from you. He has knuckled down and really worked to get back to full fitness but maybe more so confidence, to believe in himself.

“We can't control any other team, we just have to focus on ourselves and be the best possible Manchester United every game. Things happen and there are many surprises in football.”

The big picture

Victory means that United stay vaguely in touch with Manchester City in the title race. They have moved back up to second in the Premier League standings, albeit ahead of Leicester only on goal difference and still 10 points behind their neighbours.

Solskjaer’s side, meanwhile, have a Europa League last-32 clash with Real Sociedad to come on Thursday, though after a 4-1 win in the first leg, the coach can afford to rotate his side.

James, therefore, will be aiming to feature against Chelsea in next week’s big Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge having scored on his last two starts.

Further reading

Bruno Fernandes was at the heart of another dominant Manchester United display this weekend with the Portuguese continuing to weave his magic spell on the Premier League in victory over Newcastle United.

The talismanic playmaker has proven himself very much the indispensible lynchpin of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's revamp at Old Trafford since his arrival at the start of last year and has been at the heart of their best performances this season.

He was in the thick of the action once again as his manager downed former United compatriot Steve Bruce's Magpies, setting up an assist for Dan James' effort just before the hour mark before converting from the penalty spot to assure victory with a quarter-hour to go.

Fernandes sets more markers

It was another game that saw Fernandes further underline his credentials as one of the best players in Europe, with his spot-kick conversion of particular interest.

With 11 successful attempts now, it further increases a tailly that, since his debut for United in February last year, has seen him notch up more than any other top-flight team alone.

His assist for James's effort, which restored the hosts' lead following Marcus Rashford's opener and Allan Saint-Maximin's equaliser, means that he is also the third player to reach double figures for goals and assists in Europe's top five leagues this season, after Harry Kane and Thomas Muller.

Combined, his goal and assist double is the seventh time he has achieved such a feat too; more than any other player across the same competitions.

The bigger picture

Fernandes' sterling performances continue to highlight just how vital he has become to Solskjaer, as the Red Devils boss looks to transform United back into a major force for silverware.

Though their unlikely title challenge looks to be over for good - this weekend's result was only a second Premier League win in six - there are promising signs that things are on the right track at Old Trafford.

United next head back into Europa League territory for the second leg of their round-of-32 clash with Real Sociedad, having notched up a hefty 4-0 advantage to put one foot in the last 16.

Further reading

Manchester City captain Fernandinho remains an integral presence for the club despite his relative backseat role, assures Pep Guardiola, hailing the midfielder as vital "since day one" of the Spaniard's arrival.

The Brazilian has made only six Premier League starts this season, owing to a combination of injury, form and squad rotation, but has frequently reaffirmed his credentials when he has played, as he did this weekend in victory against Arsenal.

At 35, Fernandinho - who arrived at the Etihad Stadium in 2013 - is very much an elder statesman of the City squad, frequently found this term playing second fiddle to Rodri, but his manager has now hailed his skill and impact within the side.

What did Guardiola say?

"What a game he played without the ball, winning duels," the Spaniard stated when asked about Fernandinho's performance in his post-match press conference.

"He has been injured and Rodri [has been] superb, but what a game he played today.

"I will always remember him. I have been together with him since day one and [he] has been so, so important."

Guardiola further hailed the playmaker's self-awareness, stating that his limited use as something of a cameo performer this term has only increased his impression and works to the player's advantage.

"He knows his body perfectly and knows what he has to do in each moment.," he added. "He knows when to talk, the rhythm we have to play. He is so clever in these terms. For 35, he plays just one game a week, it's perfect for him."

The bigger picture

It is a testament that, in a squad packed firmly with talent to the point of bursting of the seams, Fernandinho has frequently stood out for City since his arrirval, playing an integral role in their three Premier League title triumphs since.

Such is the respect he commands, his team-mates chose him to succeed David Silva as club captain ahead of the current season, a role that he has reportedly relished on-and-off the field.

Fernandinho will hope that his chances coincide with future big game clashes for City, such as April's Carabao Cup final and the potential of a promising Champions League run - but his professionalism and dedication to the club above himself means that he will be a key aide for Guardiola regardless of whether he is picked or not.

Further reading

Hyderabad need a win to better their chances of qualifying for the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL), while ATK Mohun Bagan need a win to be named the ISL League Shield winners and simultaneously become the second Indian team to seal their berth in the group stage of the AFC Champions League. The Tilak Maidan in Vasco will host Monday evening's showdown.

TV CHANNELS & LIVE STREAM

The Star Sports Network have the exclusive broadcasting rights of the ISL in India.

Commentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.

 TEAM NEWS

Hyderabad Possible XI:

Injured - Asish Rai, Lalawmpuia
Doubtful - None
Suspended - None

Key Players - Aridane Santana, Fran Sandaza

ATK Mohun Bagan Possible XI: 

Injured - Michael Soosairaj, Edu Garcia
Doubtful - None
Suspended - None

Key Players - Roy Krishna, David Williams

Gernot Rohr has expressed his delight with coaching the Nigeria national team, praising the players for their show of respect towards him.

The 67-year-old has been in charge of the West African side since 2016 and has achieved success with the Super Eagles.

The German tactician helped the three-time African champions qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia with ease.

Rohr also guided the West African side to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, where they finished third at the continental competition.

The German tactician has had an opportunity of coaching a number of Nigerian players in the course of his job including former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel.

Rohr has revealed his experience with the players, eulogizing them for their respect for him and for their prompt obedience.

“There are so many different footballers and people in Nigeria and they all have to form a team that is marching in the same direction. It’s a very interesting task. I still enjoy it,” Rohr said in the podcast “Leadertalk” with German television channel Sport1.

“You have to be ready to be inspired everywhere, to be able to adapt, not to be afraid of new things. It takes tolerance but also hard work.”

“In Nigeria, the players have a lot of respect for the personality of the coach. They are very obedient.

“The elderly enjoy a lot of respect here. They are not just deported to homes, they stay in the family and are always listened to. That’s wonderful.

“The older people get, the more respect they get. It’s nice to see how the players implement this, including the big stars like Obi Mikel, Victor Moses or Vincent Enyeama.”

Rohr returned to Nigeria this month after he went on vacation and has started preparing for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in March.

Nigeria lead Group L table with eight points after playing a back-to-back draw with Sierra Leon in their last outing in November.

The German tactician will hope to guide his side to victory over the Republic of Benin and Lesotho and seal a place at the Afcon tournament in Cameroon.

Terem Moffi provided the assist for Lorient's only goal in their 4-1 defeat to Lille which ended their five-game unbeaten run in the Ligue 1.

Two minutes after Andrew Gravillon's own goal put Lille ahead, Moffi helped Jerome Hergault in netting the equaliser in the 23rd minute.

The leveller was not enough to inspire the hosts at the Moustoir Stadium as goals from Jose Fonte, Jonathan Ikone and Domagoj Bradaric powered Lille to victory.

Moffi was on parade for 74 minutes alongside Yoane Wissa before they were both substituted.

The Nigeria striker who joined Liorent from Belgian First Division A club Kortrijk Las September, is enjoying a remarkable debut campaign in France.

Moffi has contributed eight goals and an assist so far in 19 Ligue 1 matches for Christophe Pelissier's side.

After suffering their first league loss since January 6, Lorient dropped to 18th in the Ligue 1 table with 23 points after 25 matches while Lille rose to the top of the log with 58 points.

The 21-year-old will turn his attention to Wednesday's trip to Nimes and he will be aiming to rediscover his goalscoring boots and help Les Merlus return to winning form.

A week ago, Moffi scored a brace in Lorient's 2-2 draw with Monaco and just before that, he scored a match-winning goal which helped his team edged Paris Saint-Germain in a league fixture on January 31.

It remains to be seen if Moffi's goalscoring could convince Gernot Rohr to hand the Nigeria-born star his maiden Super Eagles invitation ahead of next month's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Joe Aribo scored a goal and provided an assist as Rangers hammered Dundee United 4-1 in a Scottish Premiership encounter on Sunday.

Aribo, who scored in an Europa League seven-goal thriller on Thursday, assisted Ianis Hagi in breaking the deadlock at Ibrox Stadium in the 35th minute.

Shortly after, his compatriot Leon Balogun – who was drafted to the right-back position – laid an assist for Ryan Kent to double the Gers’ lead.

Following the half-time break, Aribo immediately extended Rangers' lead with a stunning left-footed strike in the 48th minute.

Alfredo Morelos sealed the big win for Steven Gerrard's men in the 64th minute as they remain unbeaten after 30 Premiership matches this campaign.

The Gers currently hold an 18-point lead above second-placed Celtic who have a game in hand.

Aribo and Balogun played the duration of the game while the former was voted the Man of the Match after his outstanding performance.

In his reaction, Gerrard lauded Aribo's "fantastic" goal and he praised him for his hard work in training.

The Liverpool legend told the club website: “It was a fantastic strike, he is really back now. He was out for a long time, it was his first injury in his career and he had an illness on the back of that so it took him quite some time to get right back in the groove.

“He was fantastic today, not just the goal but his running power, his quick feet and the way he outplays people. He is a fantastic kid, you can't get him off the training pitch, he's always working on his game.

“He decided to come to Rangers to develop and grow and he is certainly moving in the right direction. There's no surprise that he is getting a lot of good performances in his game right now.”

Aribo is a key fixture in Rangers’ midfield and he has contributed seven goals in all competitions so far this term.

Balogun, meanwhile produced an impressive display at right-back as James Tavernier continues his recovery from an injury he suffered in Thursday’s Europa League match.

The Super Eagles duo will be hoping to help Gerrard’s side advance into the Europa League Round of 16 when they welcome Royal Antwerp to Glasgow on Thursday.

On the domestic scene, they face travel to Livingston for their next Premiership match on March 3.

Pep Guardiola has hailed his Manchester City players for their battling qualities after a 1-0 win over Arsenal away from home.

Raheem Sterling’s early header was sufficient for City to claim three points and extend their lead at the top of the table ahead of Manchester United’s home meeting with Newcastle.

City, though, might have won the game by a greater margin as they created a number of further chances. Guardiola, though, was not concerned by the slim success.

Guardiola on Arsenal win

"They are aggressive with one-to-one pressing. They move really well in the pockets and speed from the sides. It's so difficult to play against. We knew today would be one of the toughest ones but we scored early and we could control it,” he told BBC Sport.

"The first 10-15 minutes were so good then the next half an hour they were much better than us. The feeling is that they are close. In the second half, we needed something to be more effective in our pressing and we were much better.

"Of course, we could score the second and the third but we scored then they defend well. It's so difficult to play Arsenal and Mikel [Arteta]. He knows our players so well. It is not easy to play and we play so, so calm and intelligent. It was a good game.

"Every game you are not going to win games 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, sometimes when you win 1-0 it is so good. We have to realise what we are doing is so difficult. It is a struggle, a fight, behind the ball and that is why we like this result.

"It is one more, one more. We think all the time the next one. That is now Champions League, then West Ham at home. One at a time. 39 points to play. We have 10 up front. So we have to win."

The big picture

Manchester City are now 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League with 13 matches to play, putting them in a strong position to claim their third title in four years.

Meanwhile, they have a Champions League match with Borussia Monchengladbach to follow in midweek, with City’s big long-term objective success in Europe.

Further reading

Victor Osimhen has been rushed to the hospital after a collision with Cristian Romero in Napoli’s 4-2 defeat to Atalanta in Sunday’s Serie A game.

The forward’s debut season with the Parthenopeans has been hampered by injury, suspension and coronavirus-related problems.

The Nigeria international only recently returned from a shoulder injury and was handed his seventh league start against the Goddess.

The centre-forward struggled to make much of an impact in the encounter, completing two dribbles and firing only one shot for the duration he was on parade. 

Duvan Zapata opened the scoring for Atalanta in the 52nd minute before Piotr Zielinski levelled proceedings for the Parthenopeans six minutes later.

Robin Gosens handed the lead to Atalanta moments after the hour mark before Luis Muriel increased the lead with a fine effort in the 71st minute.

Gosens then turned the ball into his own net to help Napoli reduce the deficit before Cristian Romero sealed the victory for Atalanta in the 79th minute.

With few minutes left before the end of the game, Osimhen collided with Romero and was immediately taken out on a stretcher.

The centre-forward was then rushed to the hospital by an ambulance, where he would be expected to continue his treatment. 

The Super Eagles forward has only played 16 games across all competitions for Napoli, scoring two goals and providing one assist since his €80 million move from Lille last summer.

Napili are now winless in their last two games, after also losing against Granada in a Europa League game last time out.

With the defeat, the Parthenopeans have dropped to the seventh spot on the league table after gathering 40 points from 22 games.

It is yet to be known the extent of Osimhen injury and the duration he would be on the sidelines for as he would be expected to undergo tests.

Osimhen injury could be a big blow for Nigeria national team coach Gernot Rohr, who is set to name the forward in his team for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in March.

The centre-forward has been a key member of the Super Eagles since the arrival of the Franco-German tactician.

Tosin Adarabioyo is upbeat about Fulham’s chances of surviving Premier League relegation after they defeated Sheffield United 1-0 in Saturday’s outing.

Ademola Lookman's second-half goal boosted the Cottagers' fight to keep their top-flight status, and it moved them to three points behind 17th-placed Newcastle United.

After their 2-0 loss to Leicester City earlier this month, Scott Parker's men have turned in fine performances in their last four outings with just a goal conceded - in the 1-1 draw against Burnley.

Adarabioyo, who has been a key fixture in the Cottagers' defence this campaign, relished their impressive defensive record which has seen them gather eight points from their last four matches.

“It was really massive. We all did fantastic. We know where we are in the league and where we want to get to, and those three points are a big step in that direction,” Adarabioyo told the club website.

“It’s one of the turning points to our season. There’s been a few, we’ve been on a good run of form with two wins and two draws. We’ve found some identity and confidence so this could be one turning point, but I think we’ve had one already. Hopefully we can continue to chip away.

“Seven points in a week is massive. We’ve come out of a three-game week so to see us unbeaten is huge for us.

“Palace coming up is a massive game, it’s another game to look forward to, we’ll try and get some points out of it and keep moving in the right direction.”

Parker’s men visit Selhurst Park for their next Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace next Sunday.

Despite growing criticism around Fulham’s league position, Nigerian descent has urged the club faithful to keep believing in the team.

He added: “That’s down to them what they want to believe in terms of our survival chances. I hope our fans fully believe we can do it after seeing us play.

“The outside world and media, that’s down to them to say what they want. We’ve shown more than enough to demonstrate we’re capable of doing that.

“We know what we’ve got left of the season and we’ll look to get the job done.”

Pep Guardiola says he cannot wait to get Sergio Aguero back into his side but doesn’t want to risk the Manchester City striker suffering a setback.

Aguero was on the bench for City’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal on Sunday but didn’t get onto the pitch.

He was also an unused substitute in the recent victories over Tottenham and Everton but the City boss insists his time will come.

What’s been said?

“I'm looking forward to putting him in the side,” Guardiola said after the win at the Emirates. “We cannot forget that he was a long time injured and you only get rhythm when you play minutes.

“As soon as I can he will play because he deserves it and I want it. I want to say for him to keep working hard because his time is coming.

“He’s played few minutes this season and last season he was injured. I want to be sure, for him, for us so as soon as I can see he will play.”

Why has he played so little?

Aguero missed the start of the season after having surgery in the summer after suffering a knee injury just two games after lockdown.

He came back in October but then suffered a hamstring setback, which forced him out for another month.

His last appearance was a late substitute in the 3-1 victory over Chelsea on January 3 but he was then forced to self-isolate after coming up into close contact with someone with COVID-19 before contracting the illness himself.

Why it is important for him to return?

City remain in four competitions and their fixture schedule will test the depth of Guardiola’s squad with two matches a week between now and the end of the season.

Aguero is also out of contract in the summer and needs time on the pitch with no talks of a new deal yet.

But Guardiola is being careful with the Argentinian to ensure he doesn’t suffer another significant setback after such a long time out through injury.

Further reading

Unsung Sterling's every day excellence sums up City's renaissance

Sterling: Man City revival not all sunny days

Man City win 18th in a row with victory over Arsenal

Orlando Pirates attacking midfielder Linda Mntambo says keeping two clean sheets in their tie against Jwaneng Galaxy will give them confidence heading into the Caf Confederation Cup group stage.

Mntambo's solitary goal inspired the Buccaneers to a 1-0 win over Botswana champions Galaxy in the playoff round second-leg match at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Gauteng on Sunday evening.

As a result, Pirates progressed to the group stage after winning the tie 4-0 on aggregate, while Galaxy bowed out of Africa's secondary club tournament.

Mntambo explained why the defenders and goalkeeper should be praised after the Soweto giants reached the group stage without conceding a single goal in the qualifying rounds. 

"Keeping a clean sheet is important. Defending is not only [for] the defenders, the defensive midfielders and goalkeeper, but [we do it] collectively as a team," Mntambo told the club's social media platforms. 

"We start to defend from the front. Getting a clean sheet gives confidence to the defenders and goalkeeper."

Pirates started their Confederation Cup campaign against Angolan side Sagrada Esperanca in December 2020 with the Buccaneers claiming a 1-0 win in the first round first-leg game in Luanda.

The Buccaneers won the tie on a walkover after Esperança withdrew from the second-leg match in South Africa, citing health concerns caused due to the new Covid-19 variant.

"They [defenders and goalkeeper] hardly get the recognition they deserve, we as the attackers, we always get the recognition by scoring goals and providing the assists," Mntambo continued. 

"But keeping a clean sheet and winning 3-0 away and now 1-0 boosts our confidence going into the group stage." 

The draw for the group stage will be held on Monday at the Caf headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

Mntambo, who also netted for Bucs in the first-leg clash against Galaxy in Botswana, is now looking forward to their upcoming PSL clash with SuperSport United on Wednesday.

"Besides that, we have a good encounter in the league against SuperSport in midweek," the former Chippa United playmaker added. 

"We need to recover now and stay focused and look forward to the league game. [The] Confed Cup is now out of the way [for] now [and] the main focus is the league."

Pirates are currently placed fifth on the league standings - two points behind third-placed Swallows FC. 

Samuel Eto’o son, Etienne, said he is aiming to do better than his father after scoring a brace in his debut outing for Cameroon U20 at the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Mauritania.

The Real Oviedo striker was handed a rare start on Saturday against Mozambique, and he ensured the young Lions finished their group outings with an unblemished record of three wins.

Etienne scored a stunning free-kick eight minutes into the encounter and he later doubled Cameroon’s lead just before half-time as they bagged a 4-1 victory.

Following his memorable outing at the Stade Cheikha Boidiya, the 18-year-old disclosed his readiness to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a great player.

Samuel Eto’o is Cameroon’s all-time top scorer with a record of 56 goals and he also holds the record for winning the African Footballer of the Year award four times alongside Yaya Toure.

“There is always pressure in life whether or not you are the son of a famous person. But for me, I just try to enjoy my career and demonstrate to people that I can do it,” Etienne told Caf media.

“My dad has played a huge influence in my life because I have always admired him and want to learn from him and continue in his steps. Always I want to be someone as him.

“I want to try and be better than him and I am always looking forward to stepping on the pitch and giving my best. Even though I know it is difficult to be better than my father, I want to work hard to achieve like him. He is always there to support me and give me advice.

“I think sometimes it is natural that your father influences what you want to be in future. It is just the same like for example when your father is a policeman, you might be interested in becoming a policeman too. My father has played a huge role in my life and influenced me to take football as a career.

 “For me, it doesn’t feel strange and it is nothing special really. I just have to enjoy who my dad is but also keep working hard for myself.”

Mikel Arteta said Arsenal “got something wrong” after a defensive lapse of concentration allowed Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling to score the only goal of the game at the Emirates on Sunday.

England forward Sterling is not known for his heading but somehow was able to escape the attentions of Rob Holding to nod home his ninth goal of the season from six yards after just two minutes.

The Gunners recovered from that poor start but were unable to breach the City defence, as Pep Guardiola’s side held on for an 18th-successive victory in all competitions.

What did Arteta say?

Manchester City have not dropped a point in the Premier League since December 15 and have only conceded one goal from open play in that time, so the last thing you want to do is fall behind to an early goal.

It is no surprise therefore that Arteta was left frustrated at the manner his side went behind.

"We got something wrong,” the Spaniard told Sky Sports. “We didn't do it in the first 10 minutes. It's a cross and Raheem Sterling cannot head a ball there. You cannot concede that goal. It was a tactical thing that we were prepared for but we didn't read it in the game.”

The Gunners recovered from that poor start and slowly worked their way into the game, with Kieran Tierney testing Ederson and Bukayo Saka looking lively on the left wing.

"When we conceded the first goal it put us in a difficult situation. It was tough,” Artera added. “With the formation and the players they use they are really comfortable. After that the team reacted really well, were on top of the game and created chances but we lacked the quality in those situations to score the goal.

"We got momentum and confidence and were really good on the ball as well. We found good spaces but when we were in the final third we didn't pick the right pass to score a goal. We tried to use some weaknesses that we thought we could exploit. They don't have many. How they compete when they have in the last few minutes, they are a top side.”

The bigger picture

The win ensured Manchester City continued their relentless march towards the Premier League title, with Guardiola’s side restoring their 10-point lead at the top of the table with just 13 matches remaining.

The picture is not so rosy for Arsenal, who are down in 10th and 11 points outside the top four after suffering third defeat in four Premier League games.

With their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League through the league fading, there is now added importance on their Europa League campaign, which offers them an alternative route into the competition.

The Gunners’ last-32 tie against Portuguese side Benfica is delicately poised at 1-1 going into Thursday’s second leg, which is categorised has the home tie but has been moved to Greece because of Covid-19 restrictions in England.

Arteta is in no doubt as to the importance of the match and the impact it could have on the rest of Arsenal’s season.

"We have a final on Thursday because we want to continue in the competition,” he said.

“We have to sleep, eat and we won't have time to train. Then we fly to Greece.”

Further reading

Raheem Sterling has paid tribute to his Manchester City team-mates after they extended their unbeaten streak against Arsenal on Sunday, adding that their resurgence has not been "all sunny days" despite their impressive form.

The England striker was on point inside the opening two minutes at the Emirates Stadium with an early header, nudging home the only goal of the game to further help Pep Guardiola's side consolidate their hold on the Premier League summit against former disciple Mikel Arteta and the Gunners.

It continues a remarkable run of form that has seen City - apparently out of the title race in late November after defeat to Tottenham - put themselves in the driving seat for a remarkable continental quadruple, and Sterling has now hailed their collective commitment to eking out essential victories.

What has Sterling said?

"We knew it was a difficult start to the season," the attacker told BBC Sport's Match of the Day. "We knew we just needed to give our all.

"It wasn’t all sunny days. We’ve had to grind out lots of 1-0 wins throughout the season and it’s another one here today. We just had to keep grinding out those wins and now we’re in a better position for it."

The Three Lions star further hailed Arsenal, who proved a cagey opponent, telling BBC Radio 5 Live: "They’re a good team.

"You can see how they play under Mikel [Arteta] and we struggled at times, but we kept our composure and ground out a result."

The bigger picture

City's win ensures a 10-point gap remains between them and second place in the Premier League, with both Leicester City and Manchester United trailing them as the season enters its final third.

Guardiola's side remain firmly on course to complete a clean sweep of major domestic honours, while a Champions League last-16 first leg clash against Borussia Monchengladback is next on their agenda in Budapest this week.

Next month presents a FA Cup quarter-final clash with another in-form side in the shape of Everton, while April's Carabao Cup final against Tottenham will offer a first chance to claim silverware this season.

Further reading

Andrea Okene scored the only goal for Levante in a 5-1 defeat to Albacete in their Spanish Reto Iberdrola encounter on Sunday.

The Nigerian-born Spanish prodigy has continued her impressive displays in front of goal for the Granotes, adding to her goal tally this season at Andres Iniesta Sports Stadium.

The 19-year-old forward had last found the target against Almassora last month, with her fourth of the season and featured in the recent 2-1 victory over Femarguin in their last outing.

Coming into the match on a six-match unbeaten run, Nando Felipo's team made a false start to the tie as Tania Sanchez Romero stunned the visitors, opening the scoring for the hosts in the 27th minute. 

Four minutes from the half-time break, the hosts doubled the lead in the contest courtesy of Jennifer Santiago Luengo's effort.

After the restart, the visitors started the bid for a comeback when Okene rose to the moment to pull one back for Jose Antonio Contreras Gonzalez's side in the 62nd minute.

However, Albacete recovered their two-goal lead thanks to Vanessa Lorca Castellanos four minutes later before Romero grabbed her second goal of the match in the 76th minute.

To compound the visitors' woes, Maria Angeles Carrion Egido got on the scoresheet late to guarantee the seventh win of the season.

The defeat at the second-placed Albacete saw Levante remain in the fifth position on the Southern log, with 18 points from 15 games.

Okene featured for the duration of the game and has now scored five goals in 10 matches for the Spanish side and she will be expected to continue her fine form against Aldaia on Sunday.