Category: Entertainment

Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt has advised Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to leave out striker Viktor Gyokeres for the upcoming Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.

The Gunners have booked their spot in the European showpiece for just the second time ever and the first in twenty years after overcoming Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate in the semifinals.

PSG, the reigning champions, are widely seen as the favorites to retain their title after edging past Bayern Munich 6-5 over two legs in the other semifinal. Butt is not convinced Arteta’s side can topple Luis Enrique’s star-studded team.

Speaking to Paddy Power via Goal, Butt highlighted Arsenal’s lack of pace on the counterattack as a key weakness against PSG.

He said, “I don’t see anyone beating PSG. Arsenal have no counter-attacking threat; they don’t have a player who can do that with speed.”

Butt gave PSG a 70 percent chance of lifting the trophy in Budapest and stressed that Arsenal must adopt a cautious, defensive approach to have any hope on the break. However, he insisted that Gyokeres should be replaced by Leandro Trossard for this game plan to work.

He added, “I’d make PSG big favorites, 70-30. When they get going, no one can stop them. I expect Arsenal to sit deep, play compact, and defend well. But they need to use Leandro Trossard because he’s the only one with pace. If they go with Gyokeres, he can’t counter-attack, and they’ll struggle.”

Gyokeres has been in fine form lately, scoring in the first leg against Atletico and netting a brace against Fulham last weekend. The Sweden international will be eager to feature in the final after his £64 million move from Sporting last summer.

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, couldn’t resist a jab at Manchester United following their celebrations for securing a spot in next year’s Champions League. The Red Devils clinched their return to Europe’s top tier with a 2-1 victory over Liverpool last weekend, marking their first appearance in continental competition this season.

Guardiola highlighted the contrast between the two clubs, boasting that City had already locked in their Champions League berth long before the season’s end. “We secured our place in the Champions League with four or five games still to play,” he remarked. “Look at how jubilant Manchester United were after getting the job done in their final match.”

The City boss also pointed out the difference in circumstances, noting that United needed a win to seal their qualification. “Was their last match against Brentford? No, it was Liverpool. They earned the point they required, so it was a significant test for them,” Guardiola added.

The Premier League season is approaching its climax, and this weekend’s blockbuster at Anfield pits Liverpool against Chelsea in a fixture with massive European implications. With both teams smarting from recent defeats, Saturday’s early kick-off (12:30 PM Nigerian time) promises high drama as the Reds look to seal their Champions League berth while the Blues fight to keep their fading hopes alive.

Liverpool currently sit fourth in the table with 58 points from 35 matches, while Chelsea languish in ninth on 48 points. A loss for the visitors could drop them to 12th, effectively ending their pursuit of a top-five finish. For the hosts, victory would cement a top-four spot and guarantee Champions League football next season.

Both sides enter the contest on the back of disappointing results. Liverpool fell 3-2 to Manchester United, while Chelsea suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest. These setbacks have only heightened the importance of this encounter.

Manager Arne Slot has received a welcome boost with the returns of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz to the Liverpool squad. However, the Reds will be without several key players. Mohamed Salah remains sidelined, while long-term absentees Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, and Wataru Endo are also unavailable. In goal, third-choice Freddie Woodman is expected to start due to injuries to Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Chelsea have their own injury concerns. Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho are both nursing knocks and will miss the game, while Jamie Gittens and Estêvão are dealing with longer-term issues. The Blues will need to dig deep to overcome these absences against a motivated Liverpool side.

With so much at stake, this clash at Anfield is set to be a classic. Liverpool have the opportunity to crush Chelsea’s Champions League aspirations, while the visitors will be desperate to keep their European dreams alive. Expect an intense battle from the first whistle.

Arsenal are on the verge of etching their name into the history books when they take on West Ham United this Sunday in a Premier League showdown at the London Stadium. The North London club, led by Mikel Arteta, have had a phenomenal campaign, and this match marks a significant milestone.

According to statistics from OptaJoe, the Gunners are poised to become the first team among Europe’s top five leagues to hit 60 matches across all competitions this season. This remarkable achievement underscores their relentless pursuit of silverware on multiple fronts.

The team heads into this fixture riding high after eliminating Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League semifinals during midweek. Their impressive form has set up a tantalizing final against Paris Saint-Germain later this month.

Arsenal currently sit at the summit of the Premier League table, holding a five-point lead over Manchester City, who have a game in hand. Every point is crucial as they battle for domestic glory alongside their European ambitions.

Former Barcelona and England striker Gary Lineker has shared his prediction for the upcoming UEFA Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. The two sides secured their places in the showpiece event after eliminating Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively in the semifinals.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker expressed his belief that Arsenal will emerge victorious over the French champions. He described Mikel Arteta’s squad as a difficult opponent to break down, which could prove decisive in a one-off match.

“I think the final will be a fascinating contest. PSG enter as favorites given their previous triumph in the competition, but Arsenal are a resilient side that is hard to overcome,” Lineker commented. “Finals tend to be tight affairs, and I have a strong feeling Arsenal will secure a double this season.”

The Gunners are aiming to lift Europe’s elite trophy for the first time in their history, while PSG look to add a second Champions League title to their cabinet.

Former Big Brother Naija winner Ilebaye is pleading for public assistance following an alleged domestic violence incident. In a distressing Instagram Live session early Friday, the reality TV star was seen with a visibly swollen face, screaming for help in what appeared to be a violent altercation.

The livestream, which has since gone viral, showed a man—reportedly her father—brutally beating and physically assaulting Ilebaye in the background. During the ordeal, she was heard crying, ‘Nigerians help me, I need to go. I need to leave this house, I’m being locked up. I’m tired of assault, please come and help me.’

Reacting to the alarming footage, fellow BBNaija star Tacha took to her Instagram story, urging anyone in Abuja to assist in leading the police to Ilebaye’s residence for a rescue. ‘I really just want to know who is in Abuja right now, that can take the police to Ilebaye’s house. Ilebaye’s face has been ruined. I don’t even know who did it but from the video I have seen they are really brutal,’ Tacha said.

Moses Aduku, the head coach of Nigeria’s Falconets, has boldly declared that his squad is determined to secure a double victory over Malawi in their 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying tie. Speaking during a press conference in Lilongwe, Aduku emphasized that their mission is not just to participate but to emerge triumphant.

The Nigerian side travels to Malawi with a comfortable 2-0 advantage from the first leg, which was played in Ikenne. The second leg is set to take place at the Bingu National Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Aduku acknowledged that playing away from home comes with its challenges, especially against a determined host team. However, he expressed confidence in his players’ readiness to handle the pressure. “Our goal is to win; we are here for nothing less. The girls have prepared extensively both mentally and physically,” the coach stated.

The encounter is scheduled to kick off at 3 PM local time, which translates to 2 PM Nigerian time. Aduku stressed that his team has studied Malawi’s tactics and is fully aware of what to expect. He believes that a disciplined performance will see the Falconets through to the next round of the qualifiers.

Real Madrid have handed Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouameni fines of €500,000 each, marking the largest financial penalty ever imposed by the club. The unprecedented sanctions stem from a physical altercation between the two midfielders during a training session.

The incident, which occurred earlier this week, escalated to the point where Valverde suffered a traumatic brain injury and required hospitalization as a result of the clash with Tchouameni. While Tchouameni returned to training on Friday, Valverde is set to miss the upcoming LaLiga fixture against Barcelona this weekend.

In an official statement, Real Madrid confirmed that both players appeared before the club’s investigating officer, where they expressed sincere regret and apologized to each other, as well as to the club, their teammates, coaching staff, and fans. They also pledged full cooperation and acceptance of any sanction deemed appropriate by the club. In response, Real Madrid imposed the hefty fine of half a million euros on each player, thereby concluding the internal disciplinary process.

Super Falcons star Chiamaka Nnadozie has earned a nomination for the Barclays Women’s Super League Save of the Season prize. The recognition stems from her outstanding reflex stop during Brighton & Hove Albion’s 1-1 stalemate with Liverpool last November.

In that match, the 25-year-old Nigerian goalkeeper brilliantly tipped a fierce long-range effort from Fuka Nagano onto the crossbar, preserving a crucial point for her side. That spectacular moment previously won her the WSL Save of the Month award for November 2025.

Nnadozie faces stiff competition from five other custodians: Manchester City’s Ayaka Yamashita, Leicester City’s Janina Leitzig, Arsenal duo Daphne van Domselaar and Anneke Borbe, plus London City Lionesses’ Elene Lete.

The Brighton shot-stopper recently joined the Seagulls on a free transfer after parting ways with French side Paris FC, and she has quickly made an impact. Her nomination marks another highlight in a breakthrough season for the Nigerian international in England’s top flight.

Real Madrid has taken the first step by reaching out to Benfica’s manager, Jose Mourinho, discussing a potential return to the Santiago Bernabéu. The club’s president, Florentino Pérez, is driving this initiative, intending to secure Mourinho’s services for the upcoming season.

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, direct conversations have commenced between Real Madrid and Mourinho’s camp. Romano tweeted that Benfica is determined to retain their manager but acknowledges that Madrid’s interest is real. The final decision rests with Pérez, who holds the key to Mourinho’s comeback.

The timing of these negotiations is notable, as it follows a week of publicized internal conflicts within the Real Madrid squad. Captain Federico Valverde was hospitalized after a physical altercation with teammate Aurelien Tchouameni during practice. In a separate incident, Antonio Rudiger allegedly slapped Alvaro Carreras and was later compelled to apologize. Reports also suggest that interim coach Alvaro Arbeloa has become a target of mockery among certain players.

To bring Mourinho on board, Pérez will need to negotiate a release clause with Benfica, as the Portuguese tactician is under contract. The looming question is whether Madrid will secure the return of their former manager to restore order and discipline.