Looking for Soccer News?

It has been a summer of change at Paris Saint-Germain on and off the field, with the Ligue 1 giants moving in a new direction following the arrival of Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos and Co.

Mauricio Pochettino is overseeing the pursuit of more major honours, with the Argentine boasting a star-studded squad at this disposal.

Every effort is being made to inspire those on the pitch and in the stands, with PSG making their first change to pre-match entrance music since 1992.

What song was PSG's entrance music?

The Phil Collins song 'Who Said I Would' has been PSG's entrance music at Parc des Princes for 29 years, with only a brief change made to 'O City of Light' in the wake of the Paris bomb attacks in 2015.

Supporters have grown very accustomed and attached to that tune and eyebrows were raised when a different track was played ahead of the first home game of the season against Strasbourg on August 14.

The general consensus was that a mistake had been made, or a one-off alteration had been made to the play list.

That is, however, not the case.

What is PSG's new entrance song?

Rather than the familiar sounds of Collins ringing out in the French capital, PSG now take to the field with DJ Snake and his 'DJ Snake intro mixed' track blasting through the Parc des Princes PA system.

The club's director of diversification, Fabien Allegre, has been explaining that decision, telling Le Parisien: "It was not a mistake. We are very attached to this song [the Collins track], I hear it, and our will is not to eliminate it from all our matches.

"But why couldn't we have Go West [by the Pet Shop Boys] or the Phil Collins song when the players arrive for the warm-up? I got a lot of positive feedback from people who enjoyed the song."

He went on to say: "We will make adjustments, but let's not prevent the club from continuing its journey by remaining in the past. If we had taken that approach with everything we have done for 10 years, starting with one of the most important signs, which is the shirt, we would not be where we are today.

"We are just as capable of highlighting major international brands or young talents in art or fashion as we are promoting the musical talents of Greater Paris."

Who is DJ Snake?

As PSG are looking to embrace a more local feel at Parc des Princes, DJ Snake was an obvious option to turn to.

The 35-year-old Paris native was as surprised as anyone to learn at the opening home match of the season that he had been selected to get an iconic venue in the mood for football.

He is, however, a Grammy-nominated peformer and producer, with three Billboard Music and MTV Music Awards on his mantelpiece.

DJ Magazine has often voted him into their annual rundown of the top 100 DJs on the planet and he has worked with established acts such as Lil Jon, Major Lazer, Justin Bieber, Cardi B, J Balvin, Sean Paul and Selena Gomez.

He is a PSG supporter and will be hoping to see the likes of Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe chase down silverware at home and abroad in 2021-22.

More PSG news

ATK Mohun Bagan begin the 2021-22 Indian Super League (ISL) season with an intriguing clash against Kerala Blasters at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa on November 19.

In their second match of the season, they face arch rivals East Bengal on November 27 in what will be the first Kolkata derby of the ISL 2021/22 season. In their third match they take on reigning champions Mumbai City FC.

Last season too, the Mariners had begun their campaign against Kerala Blasters which they had won  1-0 courtesy Roy Krishna's strike. Antonio Lopez Habas' side will hope to repeat that and kick-off their new season with three points.

When is the Kolkata derby against East Bengal in 2021-22?

ATK Mohun Bagan face their arch-rivals East Bengal in the first Kolkata derby of the ISL 2021/22 season on November 27 in an away tie at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco, Goa. In their maiden season in the ISL last season, the Green and Maroons had emerged victorious on both occasions winning 2-0 and 3-1 respectively.

When do ATK Mohun Bagan play Mumbai City in 2021-22?

In a re-match of last seasons ISL final, the Mariners take on reigning Champions Mumbai City FC in a home tie on December 1 at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa at 7:30 PM IST. ATK Mohun Bagan are yet to win against the Islanders who enjoy a hundred per cent win record against the Kolkata giants.

ATK Mohun Bagan's Indian Super League first phase fixtures 2021-22

East Bengal begin the 2021-22 Indian Super League (ISL) season with an intriguing clash against Jamshedpur FC at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco, Goa on November 21.

In their second match of the season, they face arch-rivals ATK Mohun Bagan on November 27 in what will be the first Kolkata derby of the ISL 2021/22 season. In their third match, they take on Odisha FC

All eyes will be on a new looked East Bengal side under Spanish manager Manolo Diaz who replaced former coach Robbie Fowler at the helm this season. The Red and Golds had a disappointing debut season last time as they finished ninth on the points table.

When is the Kolkata derby against ATK Mohun Bagan in 2021-22?

East Bengal face their arch-rivals ATK Mohun Bagan in the first Kolkata derby of the ISL 2021/22 season on November 27 in an away tie at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco, Goa. In their maiden season in the ISL last season, the Red and Golds lost on both occasions 2-0 and 3-1 respectively.

When do East Bengal face Bengaluru FC in 2021-22?

East Bengal take on old foes Bengaluru FC in an away tie on January 4, 2022, at the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim, Goa. Last season, East Bengal had won the first phase tie 1-0 while the Blues got the better of the Kolkata club in the reverse fixture winning 2-0.

East Bengal's Indian Super League fixtures 2021-22

Kerala Blasters kick off their 2021-22 Indian Super League season with a clash against ATK Mohun Bagan on November 19. Whereas, they will play their final game of the first round on January 9 against Hyderabad FC. 

When do Kerala Blasters face Chennaiyin FC in 2021-22?

Blasters will face the Marina Machans on December 22, 2021, at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Goa. The match will kick off at 7:30 pm.

When do Kerala Blasters play Bengaluru FC in 2021-22?

The Yellow Army will take on Bengaluru FC on November 28, 2021, at the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim, in what would be their third matchday. The game will start at 7:30 pm. 

Kerala Blasters' Indian Super League fixtures 2021-22:

Giorgio Chiellini admits that Juventus were overly focused on Cristiano Ronaldo during the Portuguese's time at the club, with Paulo Dybala being tipped to step up and become the team's new talisman.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner departed Turin this summer, with an emotional return to Manchester United made by an all-time great who had scored over 100 goals through three seasons in Italy.

Ronaldo had been the centre of attention for Juve throughout his time in Serie A, but Chiellini believes Argentina international Dybala is ready to fill a sizeable void and become the go-to man for attacking inspiration.

What has been said?

Chiellini told DAZN: "When you have a world-class player like Cristiano, you cannot help but use the team to play for him. We must be grateful to Cristiano for all he did during these years at Juventus, but we carry on.

"This will be Paulo Dybala’s team. Over the last couple of years, he lowered his average goals because of Cristiano’s presence, but he is a key player for this team and that is recognised by everyone."

Can Dybala deliver for Juventus?

Dybala is another centurion for the Bianconeri, having hit 101 goals in 256 appearances since joining from Palermo in 2015.

He is yet to sign an extension to a contract that is set to expire next summer, but discussions regarding fresh terms are being held.

Juve could do with him signing that deal and stepping back into Massimiliano Allegri's side, with just one point taken from three Serie A games this season.

Dybala did not figure in the most recent of those, a 2-1 defeat to Napoli, with Chiellini saying of a testing situation in Turin: "We deserved to get a result here, but all we can do now is work more and talk less. 

"We knew there would be difficulties this season, although not perhaps that we’d be in this position after three games.

"We just need to work and become a team. Nonetheless, I feel we deserved at least a draw, but we’ve been through certain situations before. We’ll slowly get back up there."

Further reading

Many Kaizer Chiefs fans have turned on their players after a disappointing 2-0 Premier Soccer League loss to Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
 
Grant Kekana and Peter Shalulile scored the two goals for the Brazilians to ensure they registered a second straight victory against the Glamour Boys after they eliminated them from the MTN8 tournament in August.
 
After the loss, many fans felt the players should shoulder the blame as well as head coach Stuart Baxter from the disappointing day in Pretoria. Sundowns remain unbeaten and are at the top of the table with seven points as Amakhosi sit 10th.
 
How Twitter reacted: 

The Indian Super League (ISL) season will kick-off on November 19 with ATK Mohun Bagan clashing against Kerala Blasters. Meanwhile, SC East Bengal will play their first match on November 21 against Jamshedpur FC.

The two Kolkata giants will lock horns against each other on November 27, in what would be their second match of the season. 

More to follow...

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Stuart Baxter insists he would not have let Lebogang Manyama take the penalty in their 2-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday.

Grant Kekana converted Lyle Lakay's pass after just seven minutes. It was the only goal scored in the first half. After the break, Neo Maema picked Namibia international Peter Shalulile in the danger zone and the latter scored the second.

In the 80th minute, Amakhosi were given a chance to pull one back when a penalty was awarded to them after Cole Alexander’s cross struck Rivaldo Coetzee’s arm.

However, Manyama's effort came off the woodwork and the chance to score was lost.

"When [the penalty takers] are on the field and they say they don’t want to take it, I’ve got little control where that responsibility goes," Baxter said as quoted by iDiskiTimes.

"I think we must listen to the players and the one that wants to take it, that’s where the responsibility should go.  

"If it was me and I was on the field, if I was one of the players, I would have pushed Lebo away because he’s only just back at his first game from injury and I don’t think it was fair to give him that responsibility if it was me on the field.  

"But Lebo is a character and Lebo gets on the ball and feels ‘I would score this.’"

Meanwhile, the 68-year-old tactician believes his charges played well despite falling to the Brazilians.

"I have to say we started the game very well. I think the first 20 minutes we dominated the game completely and as you say during that 20 minutes you have to score," Baxter told SuperSport TV.

"Because we did have good chances. And then as a sort of cold shower came with their goal. It was a very poor goal from our side. And it wasn't reflective of the game at all.

"I think we went on the backfoot for 15 minutes and we waited for Sundowns to try and put balls behind our back three and then I think in the last 15 minutes we got the game back in the first half.

"So we go in 1-0 down but I think we've had the better share of the play."

Chiefs have four points from three games while Sundowns are on seven.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes a section of the crowd had tried to annoy Sadio Mane but he proved them wrong with a goal against Leeds United in a Premier League clash on Sunday.

The Senegal international missed an open chance for the Reds in the 25th minute after receiving a difficult pass from Diego Jota. With the goal at his mercy but the ball slightly behind him, Mane shot wide.

Mane, who has so far managed 75 goals in 165 league appearances since arriving at Anfield, did not get distracted, as he finally found the back of the net in the 92nd minute for a 3-0 win at Elland Road.

Liverpool had taken a deserved lead courtesy of Mohamed Salah, who set a record by reaching 100 goals in the Premier League, in the 20th minute, before Fabinho doubled their lead in the 50th minute.

Klopp backed Mane who had many opportunities to score against Leeds.

“Fabinho is an incredible player with the challenges he won, we did well in many departments. Sadio Mane played an exceptional game, the crowd wanted to make him annoyed, he stayed calm and scored the goal,” Klopp said as quoted by BBC Sports.

On Salah’s latest landmark, Klopp explained: “Mo's record is crazy. He is still hungry and I don't know how many records he can break.

“Since he joined us he has been the perfect player - a top-class player.”

On the overall game, Klopp admitted the team’s rhythm was affected after the injury suffered by Harvey Elliott.

“We played a really good game until Harvey had to go, the whole team was shocked and we lost rhythm. That is normal, human. We played as good as we can against Leeds. You have to be ready for brutal intensity. The crowd was there and an exciting football game with us as the deserved winner.

“I spoke to the boys afterward, we have to speak a little bit about the football but Harvey overshadows it. I like intense football so I probably liked the game.”

Former Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says the Bundesliga heavyweights will not be able to afford Erling Haaland, with an "auction" set to be sparked for one of the most sought-after talents on the planet.

The 21-year-old striker is currently with Borussia Dortmund, where a stunning return of 65 goals has been recorded in as many appearances.

Those exploits have Haaland registering on recruitment radars across Europe with Real Madrid and Manchester United said to be keen, and Rummenigge concedes Bayern are set to be priced out.

What has been said?

The Bayern icon told AS: "I know Aki (Hans-Joachim Watzke) and I know he is a man of his word. He said they were not going to sell him and they didn't. 

"It will be very difficult, though, to retain him in the Bundesliga beyond 2022, at which point I understand that a termination clause enters into force. He does not stop scoring and clubs are already lining up to convince him and his agent. 

"We will see a real auction in which, taking into account that the amount for the transfer is already set in the contract, he will be taken by the club that offers the highest salary. I don't think it's possible for any Bundesliga club, not even Bayern."

Could Haaland become a 'Galactico'?

There is plenty of talk regarding a possible move to Real Madrid for Haaland. The Blancos have been heavily linked with prolific Bundesliga forwards before, with Bayern talisman Robert Lewandowski often seeing a switch to Santiago Bernabeu mooted.

Rummenigge claims no official approach has ever been made by Blancos president Florentino Perez, saying: "He never dropped his name in any of our conversations.

"He knows me very well and knows that a player like Lewandowski is not sold. 

"I always said that the two best signings I made in 30 years at the helm of Bayern were him and [Manuel] Neuer. The best at the back and the best at the top, without who recent successes would not have been possible."

Further reading

Paul Onuachu scored Genk’s only goal in their 1-1 draw against Union Saint-Gilloise in Sunday’s First Division A match.

The lanky centre-forward broke the deadlock at the Cegeka Arena from the penalty spot after 73 minutes of action.

The strike was Onuachu's third league goal of the season after five matches but Deniz Undav secured a point for 10-man Union Saint-Gilloise with his last-minute header.

The result ended Genk's three-game winning streak in the Belgian top-flight which include victories against Kortrijk, OH Leuven and Anderlecht.

Onuachu featured from start to finish while Madagascar's Loice Lapoussin and Morocco's Kandouss played for the visitors.

Nigeria descent Ike Ugbo, who made a goalscoring debut for the Smurfs against Anderlecht just before the international break, was introduced as a 91st-minute substitute Junya Ito.

At the end of encounter, Genk coach John van den Brom criticised his team’s performance as they could not take advantage of Jonas Bager's expulsion in the 72nd minute.

"The late equalizer was not necessary,” Van den Brom said, per Voetbal Nieuws. "We are certainly not playing our best game today.

“But the moment you take the lead around the 70th minute with one man more, you can't play the last fifteen minutes like we did. The fear crept into the team and we went just backwards."

Union Saint-Gilloise are above Genk in the First Division A table with 13 points after seven games while the Smurfs are in the fifth spot with 11 points but they have a game in hand.

Onuachu and his Genk teammates will shift their focus to Thursday when they travel to Rapid Vienna for their opening game in the Uefa Europa League after the European encounter, is another trip to Sint-Truiden for their next league fixture on September 19.

Eduardo Camavinga needed just six minutes to open his Real Madrid account after making his club debut against Celta Vigo on Sunday.

The 18-year-old was brought in off the bench in the 66th minute against Celta and found the back of the net in the 72nd minute, giving his side a 4-2 advantage.

Karim Benzema would later complete his hat-trick as Madrid won 5-2 at Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga.

What happened?

After Celta entered half-time with a 2-1 lead, Benzema scored his second goal of the match in the 46th minute, before Vinicius Jr. scored 10 minutes later to give the home side a 3-2 lead.

With Camavinga on the pitch in place of Eden Hazard, Luka Modric took possession and went on a direct run through midfield before unleashing a shot with the outside of his boot inside the box. 

Celta goalkeeper Matias Dituro made the save, but Camavinga was on hand to tap home the rebound into an empty net.

Big things expected of Camavinga

Camavinga's debut goal was an encouraging sign for a player who joined Madrid from Rennes in a €40 million (£34m/$47m) move on deadline day.

A host of major clubs, including PSG and Manchester United, were chasing the France international, who has emerged as one of Europe's most promising talents in recent seasons.

Last year, he became the youngest person to be called up to the France national team at senior level since 1932 and won three caps for Didier Deschamps' side.

Further reading

Trabzonspor continued his fine goalscoring run in the Turkish Super Lig with his fourth goal of the season in their 2-2 draw against Galatasaray on Sunday.

Nwakaeme has scored at least a goal in each of his four league appearances for Abdullah Avci's side this season and his 62nd-minute equaliser salvaged a point for the hosts at the Senol Gunes Stadium to stretch their unbeaten streak to four matches.

Trabzonspor found themselves behind in the first-half after Emre Kilinc's double gave Galatasaray a two-goal lead, but it was halved by Andreas Cornelius, four minutes before the break.

Later in the second half, Nwakaeme ensured the Black Sea Storm avoided defeat as he finished off Marek Hamsik's assist shortly after the hour-mark. The Super Eagles striker played the entire duration and he is three goals from equalling his personal tally of seven goals in 34 league matches last season.

Guinea forward Fode Koita was also on parade for the hosts as he was introduced for Cornelius in the 82nd minute. Galatasaray, on the other hand, had DR Congo's Christian Luyindama and Egypt's Mostafa Mohamed in action while Senegal forward Mbaye Diagne was an unused substitute.

Despite the dropped points at home, Trabzonspor are level on 10 points with leaders Besiktas after four matches while third-place Fenerbahce and fourth-place Konyaspor are also on 10 points but with a lesser goal difference. 

Nwakaeme will aim to help Avci's side extend their impressive form when they visit Kasimpasa for their next league game on September 18.

A few weeks ago, Trabzonspor fans honoured Nwakaeme with a statue in the Turkish city of Trabzon.

The supporters described the 32-year-old as 'their everything' having been at the Senol Gunes Stadium since 2018.

He has scored 32 goals so far in 94 Super Lig matches and he also played a role in helping Trabzonspor win the Turkish Cup and the Super Cup in 2020.

Stephy Mavididi was on target as Montpellier defeated Saint-Etienne 2-0 in Sunday’s Ligue 1 outing.

The England youth international of Congolese origin propelled La Paillade past the Saints inside Stade de la Mosson.

Having bowed 2-1 to Lille their last time out, Olivier Dall'Oglio’s men hosted the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard giants with the aspirations of returning to winning ways.

Both teams had their chances in an exciting first half, albeit, they lacked the cutting edge in front of goal.

Nevertheless, the hosts found themselves ahead in the 32nd minute as Mavididi beautifully drilled Teji Savanier’s assist past goalkeeper Etienne Green.

The visitors came out stronger in the second half, but they missed several scoring chances.

Two minutes after the hour mark, Montpellier doubled their advantage through Valere Germain.

In the closing minutes of the low scoring encounter, Mavidi was replaced by Yanis Guermouche while Congo’s Beni Makouana and Cameroon’s Ambroise Oyongo were not dressed for action.

Meanwhile, Gael Kakuta inspired Lens to a stunning 3-2 away triumph over Bordeaux.

Unbeaten in all matches of the 2021-22 season, the Blood and Gold travelled to Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux – aiming to continue their impressive form.

Six minutes before the half time break, Kakuta handed his team the lead after converting a free header from Przemysław Frankowski’s defence-splitting ball.

In the 43rd minute, Facundo Medina doubled the visitors’ lead as he rose highest to head Jonathan Clauss’ corner kick past goalkeeper Benoit Costil.

On the hour mark, the Girondins reduced their deficit thanks to Ricardo Mangas before Cameroonian midfielder Jean Onana levelled matters in the 88th minute.

With the game looking destined to end on a no winner, no vanquished note, Florian Sotoca sealed Lens’ win from the penalty mark.

Nigeria internationals Josh Maja and Samuel Kalu were not available for Vladimir Petkovic’s men due to contrasting reasons.