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Atletico Madrid battled to a 2-0 win against Salzburg thanks to a goal in each half from Mario Hermoso and Yannick Carrasco to secure a place in the Champions League knockout stages.

Diego Simeone's side beat Salzburg 3-2 in the reverse fixture - their only Group A win prior to Wednesday - and needed just a point from the trip to Austria to advance.

Salzburg started strongly as they went in pursuit of the win needed to progress at Atleti's expense, but Hermoso's header against the run of play proved the game's big moment.

Mergim Berisha and Enock Mwepu hit the post either side of that effort, while Dominik Szoboszlai squandered a glorious chance, but Carrasco volleyed in a late second to ensure Atleti will join Bayern Munich in Monday's last-16 draw.

Berisha cut inside Stefan Savic and curled a low shot against the base of the post 113 seconds into the game as Simeone's men survived a number of early scares.

Sekou Koita was played in behind but failed to beat Jan Oblak with his weak attempt, and the visiting goalkeeper did well to turn Szoboszlai's precise shot past the post.

The chances kept on falling Salzburg's way, with Patson Daka firing over at the end of a counter, but Atletico soon grew into the game and led after 39 minutes.

Carrasco sent in a flat inswinger and Hermoso flicked the ball on, the final touch coming off the defender's shoulder for his first goal since March 2019 when still an Espanyol player.

A Salzburg leveller would have made for a tense finale but Szoboszlai placed the ball wide of the post after being played clean through on goal and Mwepu hit the upright from a long way out, the visitors restricted to shots from range by that point.

Atleti then wrapped things up with four minutes to go as Angel Correa picked out Carrasco at the back post on the counter to fire a crisp first-time shot away from Cican Stankovic.
 

What does it mean? Job done for Atletico

The LaLiga leaders have been in impressive form domestically but have failed to fire on all cylinders in Europe, this just their second win in six Group A matches.

Atleti were pegged back late on by a weakened Bayern side last week to leave their hopes of progression in the balance, but they did what was required in Salzburg.

The visitors scored from their only shot on target in the first half and, despite having just 42.2 per cent of the ball overall, saw things through to reach the knockout rounds for the seventh time in eight seasons under Simeone.

Yan the man

Carrasco sent in a delightful delivery for Hermoso's opener and then rounded off the scoring late on to make certain of the victory, the Belgium winger scoring and assisting in a Champions League game for the first time in what was his 41st appearance.

He may have lost possession more times than any other Atletico player (24), but it was his passing and finishing that ultimately helped to make the difference on the day.

Oblak stands firm against profligate Salzburg

The home side created countless opportunities, the best of which fell the way of Szoboszlai early in the second half - one of 18 shots they managed.

Szoboszlai failed to convert when one-on-one with Oblak, who did at least have two saves to make. He now has 28 clean sheets in the competition since making his debut in September 2014, which is one more than next-best Marc-Andre ter Stegen over that stretch.

Key Opta Facts

- Atletico have progressed from the group stage in seven of their eight Champions League campaigns under Simeone, with 2017-18 the only season they suffered elimination in the group stage.
- Salzburg have only won one home game across their three Champions League campaigns (D3 L5), with that lone victory coming in September 2019 against Genk (6-2) - courtesy of an Erling Haaland hat-trick on his debut in the competition.
- Atleti are unbeaten in their past 14 Champions League games when they have scored the first goal (W11 D3), with their most recent defeat after opening the scoring coming in September 2017 versus Chelsea.
- Hermoso's opener was his first ever goal for Atletico in what was his 35th appearance for the club across all competitions.
- Carrasco was directly involved in both of Atleti's goals (one goal and one assist), ending a run of 18 consecutive appearances in the competition without scoring or assisting (since his goal versus Rostov in October 2016).

What's next?

Salzburg have a top-of-the-table clash with leaders LASK in the Austrian Bundesliga on Sunday, while Atletico travel to city rivals Real Madrid in three days' time.

Misfiring Inter and Shakhtar Donetsk missed out on the Champions League round of 16 following a goalless draw on a miserable Wednesday night at San Siro.

All four sides in Group B started the final round of matches with a chance of progressing and it was Real Madrid who advanced along with Borussia Monchengladbach after a 2-0 victory for the LaLiga giants.

Lautaro Martinez struck the crossbar early on and missed several other chances of a frustrating evening for Antonio Conte's side, who could not fashion a winner to put them through and ended up bottom of the group.

Injury-hit Shakhtar posed more of a threat in the second half but were similarly unable to make it count, though they do have the consolation of a place in the Europa League.

Inter started strongly and they were almost in front when Martinez rattled the crossbar from eight yards out after Nicolo Barella squared the ball from the right just six minutes in.

Martinez then turned sharply and blazed over and Stefan de Vrij was unable to finish from close range when Shakhtar failed to deal with a corner.

Vitao was substituted after seemingly picking up an injury, having been fortunate to escape with a yellow card for a cynical foul on Romelu Lukaku, and Martinez headed straight at goalkeeper Anatolii Trubin late in a first half dominated by the Nerazzurri.

Trubin produced a fine reflex save to keep out Lukaku's glancing header early in the second half and Martinez sliced an effort wide as Inter's anxiety mounted.

Milan Skriniar's strike deflected just wide of the far post, but Shakhtar could have snatched an opener on the break, with Mateus Tete's shot palmed away by Samir Handanovic and Maycon firing off target following up.

Substitute Alexis Sanchez nodded a great chance over in the closing stages and then rose to meet a corner but saw his powerful header hit Lukaku, which summed up Inter's night, and Trubin tipped over Christian Eriksen's drive as both sides bowed out.
 

Sergio Aguero returned to action with a goal as Manchester City closed out their triumphant Champions League group campaign with a routine 3-0 win over Marseille.

Ferran Torres brought the game to life after a goalless first half, continuing an impressive vein of form in Europe's top competition with a smart 48th-minute finish.

Aguero, who has struggled with the after-effects of meniscus surgery over the early months of the season, came off the bench to seal the points 13 minutes from time, offering Pep Guardiola a timely reminder of his qualities ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

Another substitute, Raheem Sterling, completed the scoring for City, who were already through as group winners and can now boast their best-ever Champions League haul of 16 points.

Marseille bow out of continental competition in 2020-21 after five defeats from six outings.

Ilkay Gundogan delivered a wonderful out-swinging free-kick from the right in the 13th minute and Aymeric Laporte should probably have done better than heading over under pressure from Alvaro.

Marseille grew into the contest and, shortly after Eric Garcia's knee injury forced City into a defensive change, Dimitri Payet had a deft finish with the outside of his right foot ruled out for a clear offside.

Garcia's replacement, John Stones, made a vital sliding challenge to deny Valere Germain after Florian Thauvin skipped past Nathan Ake with ease.

Guardiola's attacking half-time change, which saw Sterling replace Gundogan and Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden drop into central attacking midfield positions, paid swift dividends.

Silva drove forward after picking up Stones' pass to play in Mahrez, who laid on Torres for a composed close-range conversion.

Foden twice went close before the hour - scuffing wide on the end of a move he started before shooting too close to Steve Mandanda, who kept out a stinging 65th-minute drive from Kyle Walker.

Torres was unable to convert the rebound on that occasion but Mandanda must have know what was to follow when he parried Ake's firm header from Foden's corner and saw the arch poacher Aguero lurking.

It was Sterling's turn to smuggle the ball home in the final minute when the unfortunate Mandanda could only push Torres' cross onto Alvaro.

What does it mean? Guardiola to go back to the future in Manchester derby

During a forgettable first half, City lined up in a now-familiar 4-2-3-1 and, not for the first-time this season, provided limited goalscoring threat. The half-time rejig, stationing Fernandinho as a lone holder behind energetic and creative runners from midfield, gave the hosts far more teeth. Plenty has changed since Guardiola's tried and trusted 4-3-3 helped City to accrue 198 points across two title-winning seasons and the manager's concerns over vulnerabilities to the counter-attack are valid, especially when considering the threat United will pose.

But when he took the handbreak off - albeit in an admittedly meaningless match - it was easy to wonder whether attack remains the best form of defence for a team now on a run of five consecutive clean sheets.

Torres continues to grow in stature

A close-season signing from Valencia, Torres can reflect on a fine adaptation to his new surroundings. He has only started five of City's 10 Premier League games to date but made it four goals in five Champions League appearances. A winger by trade, the 20-year-old again impressed in a central attacking role. Throw in his Nations League hat-trick in Spain's 6-0 rout of Germany last month and you have an impressive body of work.

Foden fails to make derby case

There is surely no player in Guardiola's squad who would revel more in a winning goal in front of the Stretford End than boyhood City fan Foden. The England playmaker did okay here, attempting five shots and creating two chances, but probably did not do enough to force his manager's hand for the weekend.

Key Opta Facts

- Manchester City have progressed as group winners in each of their last four UEFA Champions League campaigns, amassing 16 points in 2020-21 – the joint-most among English sides in a single group stage in the competition (along with Arsenal in 2005-06, Man Utd in 2007-08 and Tottenham in 2017-18).

- Marseille have lost eight consecutive UEFA champions League away games for the first time – a run that stretches back to 2012.

- Ferran Torres has scored four goals in five UEFA Champions League games for Man City, twice as many as he netted for Valencia in the competition (two goals in nine appearances).

- Among Spanish players, only Raúl (8) scored more Champions League goals before turning 21 than Man City's Ferran Torres (6, level with Cesc Fàbregas).

- Man City’s Ederson is the first goalkeeper to keep five or more clean sheets in the UEFA Champions League group stages for an English team sine Pepe Reina for Liverpool in 2005-06.

What's next?

City make the short trip to face Manchester United on Sunday, needing a win to leapfrog their neighbours in the Premier League table, while Marseille will target a sixth consecutive Ligue 1 victory when they host Monaco.

Istanbul Basaksehir boss Okan Buruk has urged for all racism to end after the incident against his assistant manager Pierre Webo during the first part of their Champions League match against PSG in Paris.

Webo was sent off for his reaction to alleged racial abuse from fourth official Sebastian Coltescu during the game on Tuesday evening, with Basaksehir striker Demba Ba confronting the Romanian official before leading both teams off the pitch in the 14th minute.

UEFA reversed the decision to send Webo off, allowing the Cameroonian coach to be present as the match was restarted at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday evening, with PSG running out 5-1 winners to top their group ahead of Leipzig.

Speaking in his press conference after the match, Buruk confirmed Webo was saddened by the incident and issued a rallying cry for all hurtful words to cease.

"Webo was really, really sad," Buruk said.

"We supported him, but it was not him who must have felt bad. The culprit is the person who said these words. He's the one who must be feeling bad.

"We showed that we were all together with Webo. We must stop this, live together. Demba's words were sacred too, very important."

With the match resuming at 0-0 in the 14th minute, Basaksehir struggled to match the intensity of their French opponents, having already been eliminated from the competition.

It only took the Parisians seven minutes after the restart to take the lead, with Neymar continuing his extraordinary form to net the opener with a brilliant effort into the top-right corner.

The Brazilian maestro doubled PSG's advantage in the minutes before half-time and when Kylian Mbappe scored his first Champions League goal for a year before the break from the spot, the Ligue 1 champions were set to cruise to victory.

Neymar and Mbappe both added to their goal tally in the second half, with Mehmet Topal securing a consolation goal for the overwhelmed Turkish side.

PSG will now progress to the Champions League knockout stages as group winners, where they will attempt to go one better than last season when they lost to Bayern Munich in the competition's final.

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Gavin Hunt was stunned by the defensive mistakes which were committed by his players in their clash with Black Leopards on Wednesday.

The Soweto giants had to dig deep as they fought to back to hold Lidoda Duvha to a 2-2 draw in a Premier Soccer League match which was played at FNB Stadium.

Goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune gifted his former Chiefs teammate Ovidy Karuru Leopards' first goal with an awful mistake a few minutes into the match

Karuru, who was making his debut for Lidoda Duvha, then doubled his side's lead when he scored with a free header after the Amakhosi defence failed to track his run in the box.

"We gave them a start. Let's be honest. We gave them a start. Unbelievable errors," Hunt told SuperSport TV. "There's not much I want to say, but you can't give a start like that.

"Mistakes, big mistakes from big players, so you don't expect that, but it's been happening since I've been here.

"You got to get through it and stick together and get through this."

Hunt made two changes prior to the start of the second-half as he introduced strikers Lazarous Kambole and Bernard Parker, with Leopards having dominated the first half.

Parker, who grabbed an assist, changed the complexion of the match as Amakhosi started playing with aggression and they created goalscoring opportunities following his introduction. 

"Disappointing. I thought there were a lot of opportunities in the second half. I mean, last play of the game, [Siphelele] Ntshangase, trying to flick it just had to play it simple and we would have scored," Hunt added. "So yeah, disappointed, but we gave them a start.

"What we've been doing all season. Certainly an area of the team that we work on on a daily basis but basic things like that we can't have."

Chiefs are now winless in their last four league matches and they are placed 12th on the PSL standings - two points above the relegation play-off spot.

Amakhosi will be hoping to return to winning ways when they take on SuperSport United at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday, December 15. 

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Thomas Tuchel applauded Neymar for turning down the chance to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot against Istanbul Basaksehir, with the Brazilian instead giving Kylian Mbappe the chance to end his Champions League scoring drought. 

Neymar had already scored twice against the Turkish side when PSG were awarded a penalty near the end of the first half. Rather than take it himself though, Neymar handed Mbappe the opportunity to end a goal-less streak in Europe that had reached nine games. 

Mbappe duly converted from the spot and would go on to add another goal as PSG clinched top spot in Group H with a 5-1 win, with Neymar eventually completing his hat-trick anyway in the second half. 

Tuchel was happy to see the gesture from the Brazilian, saying the move would do wonders for Mbappe's confidence.

"It's a great gesture," Tuchel said in his post-game press conference. "He gave that ball away that would've been a hat-trick.

"It is also not usual for Ney to score three goals in the same game. He gave the ball to Kylian to end his long streak without scoring in the Champions League.

"Neymar's heart is very big. He always thinks of his team-mates. He knows very well how important it is for forwards and for Kylian to score."

Wednesday's match began 14 minutes in, after the game was originally started on Tuesday and then postponed following allegations of racism against the fourth official.

Basaksehir initially walked off the pitch after the official identified their assistant coach Pierre Webo as "the black one" and were then followed in solidarity by PSG's players. 

Tuchel said he was proud of his players for their actions on Tuesday.

"They made a strong decision, they showed solidarity with the opponent," Tuchel added. "They had a lot of courage. In the locker room, it was clear that they wanted to show that reaction.

"They are adults, they know what they are doing. I didn't understand the whole situation, I didn't hear the words on the pitch, but in the dressing room everything was very clear to us. It was necessary that we show this solidarity."

Record Ugandan Premier League champions Sports Club Villa registered a 3-0 win over Mbarara City in Premier League matchday two action at Bombo Barracks on Wednesday.

Isaac Ogwang, who was named the man of the match, scored a brace while Derrick Ndahiro added the other to give Jogoos their first win of the current campaign.

Ndahiro scored in the 10th minute from the penalty spot before Ogwang added the second for SC Villa 10 minutes later. In the 37th minute, Ogwang added the third for his side and his second of the game to ensure Jogoos moved to third.

Goffin Oyiriwoth played a key role as he delivered a cross that Ogwang just had to direct with a header into the net. The man of the match could have earned himself a hat-trick but he failed to find the back of the net with a second penalty in the 70th minute. The centre referee awarded the penalty as he judged Pistin Barenge to have handled the ball in his area.

Mbarara City upped their game in the second half but their resolute opponents dealt with each and every attack that relentlessly came their way.

Bashir Mutanda, a former Jogoo, saw his two chances in the dying minutes of the encounter yield nothing. In the first instance, his promising shot was blocked before he hit the woodwork with the second attempt from a free-kick.

The day’s performance saw Ogwang pick the man of the match award from Uganda Cranes head coach Johnathan McKinstry as SC Villa remain unbeaten.

The win came after head coach Edward Kaziba had stated their main objective is to have a great start to the new season.

“The club’s target this season is to entertain and win in style,” Kaziba said as quoted by the club’s official website recently. “We finished third last season, an improvement from the previous season, and as a progressive club, we must aim higher this season, we are Sports Club Villa.”

SC Villa will play Uganda Revenue Authority (URA FC) in Ndejje while Mbarara City will have a huge task as KCCA FC are their opponents on Saturday.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has cancelled Gor Mahia's anticipated friendly match against Al-Hilal of Sudan.

The two clubs had reached an agreement to meet next week for a friendly clash ahead of their respective Caf Champions League matches but now, the FKF, who were to approve Gor Mahia’s participation, has stopped the plan owing to a planned K’Ogalo Premier League clash against Tusker on the same day they were to face Al-Hilal.

“Reference is made to your letter dated December 8, 2020, with regard to a friendly match between Gor Mahia FC and Al-Hilal Sports Club, scheduled to take place on December 16, 2020, in Sudan,” FKF’s letter signed by the Chief Executive Officer Barry Otieno, addressed to Gor Mahia and seen by Goal, read.

“In this regard, and as you are aware, we wish to inform you that the FKF Premier League is ongoing and your club has a match against Tusker scheduled for Wednesday, December 16, 2020.

“Consequently, we regret to inform you that it will not be possible for you to travel to Sudan from December 14, 2020, to December 17, 2020.”

Gor Mahia, Zoo FC and Mathare United who both have been suspended from the Premier League due to their failure to sign the StarTimes sponsorship deal, are yet to play a single game.

Ulinzi Stars are the other side yet to kick a ball in the new campaign when rivals have already played two games.

“Our focus is to train well and make sure we are prepared for any assignment,” Gor Mahia’s captain Kenneth Muguna said ahead of the Al-Hilal friendly. “We have league matches and Caf fixtures so, we will take each game at a time.”

The cancellation of the Sudan trip comes just moments after FKF National Executive Committee opened disciplinary proceedings against chairman Ambrose Rachier over the impasse on the StarTimes deal.

“We have opened disciplinary proceedings against Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose [Rachier),” the source told Goal on Wednesday. “NEC felt he [Rachier] has brought the game into disrepute by writing a letter to sponsors [StarTimes] to withdraw the same after the club secretary had already signed and endorsed the deal.

“He will, therefore, have to face the FKF Disciplinary committee to clear his name.”

Al-Hilal had agreed to host the friendly ahead of their continental tie against Asante Kotoko of Ghana.

Mesut Ozil finds himself shunted to the periphery at Arsenal and, having been cut from the official squad, it looks certain that he will be moving on to a new club once his contract expires.

As a World Cup winner who is widely lauded as one of the finest playmakers of his generation, Ozil's fall from grace at the Emirates Stadium is a source of confusion for many, particularly as the Gunners struggle for creativity.

However, for others it is an example of poor management - both in terms of handing the player such a lucrative deal in the first place and then proceeding to alienate him so publicly.

So, when will the German's north London nightmare end? Goal takes a look at when Ozil's contract is up and which clubs he could sign for.

When does Mesut Ozil's Arsenal contract expire?

Ozil's current Arsenal contract will expire in the summer of 2021, at which point he will be a free agent.

The World Cup winner's current deal with the Gunners was agreed in February 2018 and he reportedly received a major wage boost in putting pen to paper on that occasion.

Indeed, it is reported that the playmaker earns approximately £350,000 ($470k) a week on the deal, which would make him one of the best earners in the Premier League.

In fact, American business magazine Forbes listed him as one of the highest paid athletes in the world in 2020.

He was one of just 14 footballers to be included on the list and came in at number 49, ahead of basketball player Kyle Lowry and golfer Jordan Spieth, as well as Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann.

When is Mesut Ozil allowed to speak to other clubs?

With Ozil's contract set to expire at the end of June 2021, he is permitted to engage in talks with other clubs as a free agent in January 2021.

Negotiations can begin at that point and he will be allowed to leave the Gunners as a Bosman transfer.

Which clubs could Mesut Ozil join?

While, at 32 years of age, Ozil cannot be said to be in his prime, he is still a supremely talented footballer with a vast well of experience beneath him and there will be plenty of suitors eyeing him up.

Turkish club Fenerbahce are reportedly interested in bringing Ozil to Istanbul and he has been consistently linked. Indeed, Ozil, who is proud of his Turkish heritage, was even touted for a switch to the Super Lig club at the beginning of 2020 by Gunners team-mate Mohamed Elneny.

"Mesut really loves Fenerbahce. He's always speaking about the club and the fans," Elneny, who was on loan at Besiktas at the time, told beIN Sports. "If you ask me, I think he could come to Fenerbahce. He's always trying to annoy me by singing Fenerbahce chants."

Ozil has also reportedly attracted attention from the other side of the Atlantic, with a number of Major League Soccer clubs keeping tabs on his availability.

The most likely destination, should Ozil find the prospect of a move to North America alluring, is D.C. United - that is, according to Turkish outlet DHA.

Fenerbahce and D.C. United are a far cry from the stature of clubs that Ozil was linked with when he last approached the end of a contract at Arsenal.

Back then, he was on the radar of teams such as Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, with a number of clubs in the Chinese Super League also believed to be ready to fork out. Barcelona were also reported to be interested.

While it doesn't seem realistic at this point in his career, it is not entirely beyond the realms of possibility that Ozil could still sign for a football behemoth.

Former Gunners team-mate Jack Wilshere is sure that his friend can still cut it at the highest level, for example, suggesting that he would be worthy of a place at any English club.

"I reckon he could get into any team in the Premier League, that is my opinion, and to not even have the opportunity to compete for a place is difficult to understand." the England international told ITV.

For now, Turkey and North America appear to be the most likely destinations, but the World Cup winner has also reportedly got admirers in Italy, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Mumbai City FC edged Chennaiyin FC in an intense Indian Super League clash that finished 2-1 in their favour at the GMC Stadium, Bambolim on Wednesday. The victory helped the Islanders register their fourth consecutive win in the ISL and go top of the table with 12 points from five matches. 

However, Chennaiyin FC put in a very good performance, taking the initiative to the Islanders. They restricted Mumbai's attacking instincts and created plenty of chances for themselves and even saw quite a few penalty shouts turned down. 

Mumbai head coach Sergio Lobera applauded the Marina Machans for their solid performance and said it was not an easy win for his side.  

"Yes, obviously. We played against a very good team. I feel Chennai is a very good team. It's not easy for us. (But) I am very happy with the attitude of my players.

"We suffered during some period of the second half and I am very proud because when you're winning team, you need to know how to suffer and manage this situation. I'm very happy with this win," Lobera said after the game.

Chennaiyin did feel hard done by several refereeing decisions. But Lobera chose to focus on his players' fighting spirit and attitude. He felt it was a psychological victory for his team to clinch the game from a difficult situation. 

"Always I want to win. Always I try to win. And the players are really important. Three points are very important. Important psychological victory," Lobera said. 

The table-toppers will next take on Jamshedpur FC on Monday. 

Despite a fighting performance, Chennaiyin FC were consigned to a second consecutive Indian Super League (ISL) defeat on Wednesday as Mumbai City ran out 2-1 victors. 

Jakub Sylvestr broke the deadlock for Chennaiyin FC in the 40th minute but strikes from Hernan Santana (45+4') and Adam Le Fondre (75') meant the Marina Machans had nothing to show for their efforts. 

Chennaiyin could also consider themselves unlucky after seeing at least two strong penalty shouts turned down in a game they dominated throughout. The move that led to Mumbai City's equaliser also had a bit of controversy with Chennaiyin, perhaps rightly, claiming that a throw in the build-up should have been theirs.

Head coach Csaba Laszlo was unhappy with the refereeing and believes that cost his side the match. He also mentioned that decision on several fouls went against his side and they did not deserve to lose. 

"Look, honestly, this was a game which was influenced by big decisions (from the officials) and that is not always acceptable. The last game also was the same in which a penalty was not given (for us). I think today if we watch the game, it was clear that three penalties or so (should have been given). Some big fouls (were committed) but (was not) considered. The first goal (for Mumbai), this was a clear throw in for us and this goal (is given). We accepted it. But generally, I feel we didn't deserve to lose the game," he said after the game. 

Chennaiyin FC were also dealt a major blow during the game after first-choice defender Enes Sipovic suffered an injury in the first half and had to be susbtituted. But Laszlo said that his substitution did not cause any problem for the side as Memo Moura filled in capably for the Bosnian. 

"Oh no! Even without Sipovic, we played good football. It is always a pain to lose a good player. But I don't know how serious is the injury but I hope he will be back. But then Memo came back and he replaced Sipovic very well. Memo had a good game. The second goal (for Mumbai City), maybe the organisation was not perfect," Laszlo admitted. 

Simba SC returned to the local scene with a 2-0 win against Polisi Tanzania in a Mainland Premier League match played at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Wednesday.

The champions were not involved last weekend as they were featuring in the Caf Champions League, and they came into the league match having won the last one 7-0 against Coastal Union.

It was Zambian midfielder Clatous Chama who sealed the points for Simba, as he notched a double after coming on as a second-half substitute.

After shaking off an injury sustained in Nigeria during their Champions League match against Plateau United, Kenya defender Joash Onyango was drafted back into the squad alongside midfielder Francis Kahata, who has been warming the bench for the better part of this campaign.

With striker John Bocco dropping into the bench, Ivorian defender Pascal Wawa was given the armband to lead the side while Rwandan star Meddie Kagere also picked a rare start after recovering from injury.

Simba knew very well a win will keep them in touch with rivals Young Africans (Yanga SC) at the top of the 18-team league table and they started the match on a high note with Kagere forcing the Polisi keeper with a nice save from a well-taken header.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi continued to threaten and Kagere once again found himself with another golden chance to put them ahead, but after rounding the defenders, he fumbled with the ball and lost it in the process as it rolled out for a goal-kick.

Another chance for Simba came in the 36th minute when Kahata combined well with Luís Miquissone and Bernard Morrison, but the Ghanaian midfielder could not place the ball inside the net as the Polisi keeper was outside his line.

The team’s headed into the break tied at 0-0 and on resumption, Simba continued from where they left as they tried to break down the Polisi defence for the opening goal.

However, they were forced to wait until the 64th minute when midfielder of the year Chama came on after replacing Yassin Mzamiru, and with his first touch of the ball, he side-stepped the Polisi defenders to slice the ball home for the opening goal.

Chama was at it again with 90 minutes on the clock when he sealed the points for Simba with a sublime finish from outside the box.

With the win, Simba have now reached 26 points, eight fewer than table-toppers Yanga and with two matches in hand, while Azam are second on 27 points.

In another match played on Wednesday, Namungo FC settled to a 0-0 draw against Biashara United at Majaliwa Stadium in Lindi.

Like Simba, Namungo were not involved in league matches last weekend as they were taking part in the Caf Confederation Cup where they beat Al-Rabita of South Sudan 3-0 on aggregate to advance to the second preliminary round.

Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has attributed his new found-form to his consistent hard work.

The 21-year-old is enjoying stellar progress in his career, having become the first choice for the Dutch side.

The shot-stopper teamed up with the Red and White Gladiators in the summer after leaving Fortuna Düsseldorf II in his quest to enjoy top-flight action.

Okoye has since been featuring consistently for Sparta Rotterdam, playing five league games and helping them secure three wins in their last four games.

His impressive form in goal has helped Henk Fraser’s men move to 10th on the league table after accruing 12 points from 10 games.

Okoye was also in goal in Nigeria’s defeat to African champions Algeria and a draw against Tunisia in friendlies in October.

He was also preferred in goal when the three-time African champions played out a back-to-back draw against Sierra Leone in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Okoye earned rave reviews for his performances in the double-headers and has revealed the secret to his new-found form.

“I think hard work is always paying off, it’s just a matter of time and a matter of God’s planning and timing,” Okoye told AOI.  

“That’s why I trusted my process and kept on doing my thing and will continue to do it. It’s important that I am in a good position with my team after a difficult start to the season for us.

“The last few months have been amazing for me and the squad so I just want to help the team achieve our goals.”

Okoye started his career with the Bayer Leverkusen youth team before moving to Fortuna Düsseldorf in 2017.

The goalkeeper will be expected to be in action when Sparta Rotterdam take on Willem II on December 13.

Amine Harit has returned to training with his Schalke 04 teammates on Wednesday while Nabil Bentaleb continues to train alone until further notice.

The Bundesliga club revealed the 23-year-old Moroccan has joined Manuel Baum's side in preparing for Sunday's league trip to Augsburg after missing their last two games.

Following Schalke 04's 2-0 loss to Wolfsburg on November 24, the club's head of sport and communication, Jochen Schneider said Harit needed to reflect on his actions which consequently led him to train alone for about two weeks.

Ahead of his potential return to action on Sunday, the 'valuable' Morocco midfielder who has played six Bundesliga matches so far in this campaign, is expected to help the Royal Blues end their 26-game winless streak in the German top-flight.

“We’ve said from the start that Amine’s period of reflection would end if he made the right decisions about his behaviour,” Schneider said.

“Through talks with Amine, he has convinced us that he can once again be a valuable part of the team. Together with head coach Manuel Baum and the rest of the coaching staff, he’ll do everything to rediscover his footballing potential.”

A decision is yet to be made regarding Nabil Bentaleb’s fate at the Veltins-Arena which leaves him to continue his individual training session.

The Algeria international, meanwhile, has reacted to his exile at the club and he stated that he was disappointed by Schalke 04’s move to suspend him from first-team training without any justification.

Royal Blues are enduring a bleak start to the 2020-21 season having picked up just three points from 10 league games so far which puts them at the bottom of the Bundesliga table.

They are yet to win a league match since the start of 2020 when they defeated Borussia Monchengladbach 2-0 at home.

Mohamed Salah became Liverpool's all-time top Champions League goalscorer with his first-minute strike against Midtjylland on Wednesday.

The goal was Salah's 22nd for the Reds in Europe's top club competition, overtaking Steven Gerrard, who scored 21 Champions League goals for Liverpool in his career.

Gerrard became a club legend during his 17 seasons at Anfield, famously helping Liverpool win the Champions League in 2005 with a three-goal comeback over AC Milan.

Salah's early strike set another record as well, with his goal after just 55 seconds the fastest Liverpool have ever scored in a Champions League game.

Wednesday's Group D finale did not have meaning in the standings for either side, with Liverpool having already clinched first place in the group before the game and their Danish opponents consigned to finish in last.

As such, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was able to rotate his squad and include several young players, which meant his Liverpool side was the youngest the club has ever fielded in the Champions League.

With an average age of 24 years and 26 days, no Reds team in the club's 128 total Champions League matches has ever been younger. 

One of those youngsters given a chance to impress was academy product Leighton Clarkson, who was handed his Champions League debut. 

Ahead of the game, Klopp spoke highly of the 19-year-old, a player he believes has a bright future at Anfield. 

"I am really looking forward to the game. I made some changes, we had to. We are bringing in fresh legs and natural desire," Klopp told BT Sport.

"Leighton Clarkson is one of the biggest talents at our club. He is a No.6 type of midfielder, can play eight, very talented, good football playing boy."

Klopp will be happy to have been able to rotate his side, with a pair of Premier League matches set for the next week. 

The Reds face Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday before they face a top-of-the-table showdown against Tottenham three days later. 

Liverpool are currently level on points with Jose Mourinho's side at the top of the Premier League standings, with Spurs in first place on goal difference. 

The Kenya national U17 team has landed in Kigali, Rwanda ahead of the upcoming Cecafa U17 Championship.

The Oliver Page’s side is in Group A which also has South Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia. The junior side will have to overcome the pressure and post good results especially after the U20 side faltered at the penultimate stage in the recently held championship in Tanzania.

After going through the group stage unbeaten, Kenya were finally eliminated by eventual winners Uganda in the semi-finals.

The Rising Stars were also defeated by South Sudan in the third-place playoffs and that means the U17 side are going into the tournament just after the unwanted results from their senior brothers.

Hosts Rwanda are in Group A alongside Eritrea and South Sudan while Group C has Sudan, Djibouti and Tanzania. The regional tournament will start on December 12 and will end 10 days later.

The U17 players were largely picked from the side that reached the Cecafa final last year and a number were selected from a pool of stars who were scouted from across the country in an exercise that took two weeks before the team was assembled.

The junior stars are expected to participate in a recovery training session on Tuesday at the IPRC Kicukiro ground as they stay at the Lemigo Hotel in the country’s capital city.

Goalkeepers: Alvin Odari (FKF Center of Excellence), Ibrahim Wanzala (St.Peters Mumias), Daniel Ochieng (Ringa Secondary)

Defenders: Abdikadir Mursal Harun (Isiolo Baracks) Salimu Hamisi Omari (Mweza Secondary), Yasin Rajab Umar (FKF Center of Excellence), Rabok Ryan Wesley Ogam (Kakamega High), James Gachago (Moorland School, UK), Irungu Sigmunn Maina (Eastleigh High School), Opande Faiz Ouma (Aquinas High School)

Midfielders: Munyao Linus Kaikai (Kakamega High), Injehu Kevin Wangaya (FKF Center of Excellence), Wafula Issa Lumumba (St. Anthony Boys), Vihenda Silas Maloba (Kakamega High), Kahindi Nyale Khamis (FKF Center of Excellence), Teddy Sirma (FKF Center of Excellence), Omondi Andreas Odhiambo (FKF Center of Excellence), Phabian Sheldon Odhiambo (Ongata Secondary)

Forwards: Jefwa Majaliwa Charo (Tandee High School), Nduni Ali Hamisi (Shimba Hills Secondary), Harel Gil (Claremont School), Muendo Kenn Kyalo (St.Anthony Boys), Ouma Victor Otieno (Jamhuri High School), Ochieng Baron (Dagoretti High School), Koome Dennis (Kanda High School).

Lionel Messi would threaten the balance of Paris Saint-Germain if he joined the club from Barcelona, says Arsene Wenger.

Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi has been linked with PSG and Manchester City after failing to engineer a move away from Camp Nou in the close season.

The 33-year-old was not allowed to leave the club on a free transfer and is expected to depart when his contract expires at the end of the campaign, but with PSG already possessing Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, former Arsenal and Monaco boss Wenger wonders whether there is truly a need for Messi at the Parc des Princes.

"Lionel Messi is one of the two best players in the world. Those who will replace Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi are already at PSG," Wenger told Europe 1.  "After that, it's a question of balance in the club, a technical balance and a financial balance. Can you keep the balance at PSG by bringing in players like Messi? I'm not sure."

Success in the Champions League is the primary objective for PSG, who were defeated in the final in August by Bayern Munich - but having Messi does not necessarily guarantee success in the competition.

The Argentina star had seven shots on target in Barca's 3-0 home loss to Juventus on Tuesday, the most by any player in a Champions League game without scoring since at least 2003-04.

Ronaldo, a five-time winner of Europe's premier club prize, became the first player to score two penalties against Barca in a single Champions League fixture, helping bring parity to his head-to-head with Messi in the competition; they now have two wins and two draws apiece from six meetings.

PSG will on Wednesday resume their final Group H game against Istanbul Basaksehir – which was suspended on Tuesday following allegations of racism – with their spot in the last 16 already secured thanks to RB Leipzig's 3-2 win over Manchester United.

Thomas Tuchel's team look set for a more significant challenge in Ligue 1 this term, with their advantage at the summit just two points after 13 games.

Wenger believes less ingenuity in the middle of the pitch is the reason they are finding things tougher in the top flight.

"PSG have a little less potential because they had, for years, an absolutely flamboyant midfield, which is now a little less creative," he said. "I see them a little less dominant and it's reflected in the standings in Ligue 1.

"They still have exceptional players who can make a difference in key moments, as we saw again at Manchester United."

Wenger, who now serves as FIFA's chief of global football development, reiterated his objection to the possibility of PSG leaving Ligue 1 and joining a European super league.

"I will fight until the last day so that sporting merit is rewarded. The closed league, for me, is no longer competition, it is business," he said. "I will always be fiercely opposed to it. Everyone can dream and everything is possible for people who work well."

Mamelodi Sundowns forward Peter Shalulile has played down his impressive start to life at Chloorkop, saying it is not only a “developing a telepathic understanding” with Themba Zwane and Kermit Erasmus that has made him shine, but a contribution from the whole team.

The 27-year-old was signed by the Brazilians from Highlands Park in September on the backdrop of finishing last season as a Premier Soccer League (PSL) joint top-scorer with 16 goals alongside Orlando Pirates’ Frank Mhango.

In just six league matches so far in this campaign, Shalulile has managed three goals and two assists.

This is amid a terrific attacking combination with Zwane and Erasmus that shares between them 11 of log leaders Sundowns’ 13 league goals.

The partnership with Zwane and Erasmus is already a menace to many PSL defenders, but Shalulile insists that it is still developing and he is still learning the ropes at the club.

“I fitted in very well, I am still learning every day. When you play with great players daily, they make things easy for you,” Shalulile told the club website.

“I get help from coaches daily and on top of it, the telepathic understanding I am developing with Themba, Erasmus and the rest of my teammates is what makes me believe. We have been working hard at training also supporting each other.

“We give thanks to the guys behind us, as they do all the hard work, from the keeper, the defenders and also the midfielders. It’s teamwork and that is what we are about at the club.”

Shalulile’s partner Zwane is the league’s top goal-scorer with six goals in as many matches, while Erasmus has two goals and three assists.

Attention will again be on the trio when Sundowns host TS Galaxy next Tuesday in a league match after Shalulile was responsible for missing a glut of chances in their last PSL outing away at Maritzburg United.

Also to prove that their combination is no fluke, expectations are high when the Brazilians begin their Caf Champions League campaign against Botswana champions Jwaneng Galaxy away on December 21.

If fielded, it will be Shalulile’s Champions League debut where his pedigree would be further tested.