Chelsea, Arsenal power on in Europa
Londoners Chelsea and Arsenal both enjoyed high-scoring Europa League wins on Thursday as Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers were left with work to do on the final matchday to qualify for the next stage.
Unai Emery selected a youthful Arsenal to play in the Ukraine and they romped past Vorskla Poltava 3-0, guaranteeing top spot in Group E.
Chelsea defeated PAOK Salonika 4-0 to win their group with a brace from French target man Olivier Giroud. Celtic still need a final day draw to go through after beating pointless Rosenborg away for the second year in a row thanks to Scott Sinclair’s header just before the break.
The Scots can thank Austrian outfit RB Salzburg, who won Group B outright with a victory over their German sister club RB Leipzig 1-0. The Germans now have to win in Glasgow to qualify ahead of Celtic.
Rangers drew 0-0 at home with Spain’s Villarreal, keeping their hopes of last day qualification from Group G alive a point behind the Spaniards and Rapid Vienna who are both on seven.
BERNABEU TO HOST LIBERTADORES FINAL
South American football’s governing body CONMEBOL on Thursday confirmed that the twice-postponed Copa Libertadores final second leg between Argentine rivals River Plate and Boca Juniors will be played on December 9 at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Originally scheduled for last weekend at River’s Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, it was postponed after some Boca players were injured when their team bus came under attack from their arch rivals’ fans throwing projectiles.
FIFA TO LIMIT LOAN DEALS FROM 2020-21
PARIS:
FIFA is set to introduce a limit on the number of players who can be loaned out by a single club for the 2020-21 season with the final figure to be settled early next year, British media reported on Monday. Some European clubs have used the loan system to keep a large number of talented young players on their books, giving them a chance to play first team football elsewhere and often subsequently selling them on for a profit.
ASUNCION: PARIS:
BUNDESLIGA PENS DEAL FOCUSED ON INDIA
The Bundesliga and IMG Reliance on Friday announced a long-term understanding to develop and promote football and the Bundesliga in India. This will see the Bundesliga and its clubs work towards the growth of Indian football through a series of activities throughout the year.
MUMBAI: