Sports news

Our Uzbekistan national team head coach Timur Kapadze is currently in Antalya. Here, several Super League clubs are holding training camps for the new season. Yesterday, we had a brief conversation with Kapadze, who came to watch the match involving "Andijan". - What is your goal for the trip to Antalya? - You know, our clubs are currently preparing for the new season in Antalya. I came to see them. I am observing the training processes and talking to the coaches about the players' situations. I am also watching and selecting players myself. I understand that the teams and players are not at their maximum form right now. Almost every day, two or three of our teams are playing. I try to attend each match, see how they are doing, and ask the coaches the questions I am interested in. - Recently, you returned from a training camp in Qatar as our national team coach. How did you start your work with the main team? - As you saw, everything happened quickly. The time was tight. My first task was to analyze. We assessed the players called up for the camp based on our established criteria. You know, our main matches are in March. This camp was beneficial for me. Because we have time to get started and make adjustments, and if we need to add something, we will do that too. Overall, it was beneficial for me. Everything is in place. I am not a new person for our national team. I have seen and observed the camps. - You kept Katanes' assistant coaches in your staff. Was this your decision? - It was my decision. They have been working with the national team for a long time. They had already prepared programs for training before the Qatar camp. During the camp, I talked to them, asking questions about how and what. Because I thought about the main matches in March, and we will have little time to make changes. The coaches in the national team have also worked hard. I understood their wishes as well. I spoke with the players, and I saw for myself. Since almost everyone was in place, I made that decision. - Abduqodir Husanov's transfer to Manchester City is beneficial for our national team. What can you say as his coach? - I was very happy; it’s great. Everyone was excited. I believe that the invitation of an Uzbek player by one of the best clubs in the world, and even being called by Guardiola himself, is a testament to Abduqodir's value. I think this is just the beginning. Husanov has enough potential. They didn't take him for nothing. I believe it is a significant plus for our football as well. I am hearing from agents or acquaintances that other talented young Uzbeks are being noticed in England. This is great for publicity. Abduqodir has opened the way for the upcoming young players.

The Uzbekistan national team has a very good chance to qualify for the most prestigious tournament in the football world – the World Cup for the first time in its history it has been noted. The tournament, hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, sees our compatriots currently in second place in the third stage of the qualifying tournament. According to the rules, the top two teams among the six national teams in this stage will directly qualify for the World Cup. CSKA player Abbosbek Fayzullayev assessed the chances of our national team qualifying for the World Cup. - The Uzbekistan national team has a very good chance to qualify for the World Cup. There are four games left in the decisive stage of the qualifiers: two away and two at home. The team is organized, all the guys are good. There is a balance of youth and experienced players in the squad. This gives the team even more strength, as the experienced players always provide advice and support to us young ones. This is a significant plus for us. We young players learn a lot from the older ones. Even though Abduqodir Husanov is playing for Manchester City and I am playing for CSKA, there are things we learn from the older players. Because we are young, we need to learn many things. May we qualify for the World Cup and fulfill the dreams of our people, - said Abbosbek Fayzullayev. Indeed, the Uzbekistan national team is competing against five national teams in the first group of the regional qualifying tournament for the World Cup. So far, our compatriots have defeated North Korea twice with the same score of 1:0, Kyrgyzstan 3:2, and the United Arab Emirates 1:0, while drawing goalless with Iran in Tashkent, and only lost once away to Qatar with a score of 2:3. Our players have accumulated a total of 13 points and are currently in second place in the group. Now the Uzbekistan national team must participate in four more matches under the new head coach Timur Kapadze. Specifically, our compatriots will play the first of the remaining matches against the Kyrgyz national team in Tashkent on March 20, and five days later, they will face group leader Iran in Tehran. The last two matches are scheduled for June. In those, on June 5, our national team will play in the United Arab Emirates. This stage of the qualifying tournament will conclude with a match against Qatar in our capital on June 10.

“Manchester City” head coach Josep Guardiola is facing a serious problem in team selection. One of the team's key defenders, Manuel Akanji, suffered a serious injury during the first match against “Real” in the UEFA Champions League playoff stage. The 29-year-old player will now undergo surgery. He will not be able to assist the team for at least 10 weeks. During this period, the “Citizens” are scheduled to play several important matches. Many fans are curious about who will take Akanji's place. In particular, journalists also asked Josep Guardiola about this. Among the candidates, the name of Abduqodir Husanov is also mentioned. Sports.uz portal presents the opinions expressed by “Manchester City” head coach Josep Guardiola and the team's ardent fans regarding this issue to Uzbek football enthusiasts. Josep Guardiola: Can our two new defenders – Abduqodir Husanov and Vitor Reis help “Manchester City” when needed? They are considered central defenders. We are playing Manuel Akanji in the right-back position. New players may lack stability in this position. But still, someone has to play. I have Rico Lewis available, and there is Mateus Nunes as well. We do not yet know if Abduqodir Husanov can play effectively in this position and help us. It will depend on the playing style we choose, how we attack, and our defensive tactics. We will study this issue further. Rik: I hope we won't miss Akanji too much. Recently, this defender has been making many mistakes. Eventually, he had to give way to other players. Now, during his recovery, he will have time to think about how to return to a high level. MU: We wish Akanji good health. He was regularly taking a place in the starting lineup. If John Stones is healthy, he should move to the central defensive midfielder position. Because Mateo Kovacic is not fulfilling his role in our team, which is playing quite loosely. I think from now on, Rico Lewis and Abduqodir Husanov will compete with each other for a stable place in the starting lineup. James: Akanji's absence presents a new opportunity for the incoming defenders to enter the starting lineup. With John Stones' return, the deficiencies in defense will be resolved. I want to see Guardiola, Dias, Reis, and Husanov in the center of defense. Above them, John Stones should play. We remind you that “Manchester City” is currently competing in the English Premier League to secure a spot in the top four and is also continuing its participation in important competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup.

Tonight, an important match between "Manchester City" and "Newcastle United" will take place in the English Premier League. The game will start at 20:00 Tashkent time at the "Etihad" stadium. According to analyses, the home team "Manchester City" has a 46 percent chance of winning. Meanwhile, "Newcastle" is assessed to have a 30 percent chance. The probability of the game ending in a draw is 24 percent. In recent years, "Manchester City" has been performing strongly at home and is considered the favorite. However, "Newcastle" is also in good form and has experienced players. This gives the visiting team a chance to achieve an unexpected result. Football experts emphasize that this match will be crucial for the championship leadership. If "Manchester City" wins, they will continue to lead in points accumulation. For "Newcastle," a win or draw will help solidify their position against strong rivals.

The leadership of the Uzbekistan Football Association and the Uzbekistan Futsal Federation held a ceremony to introduce the "Strategy for the Development of Futsal in Uzbekistan for 2025-2028" and the new head coaches of our country's futsal national teams. During the event, Nodir Eliboyev was announced as the head coach of the Uzbekistan national futsal team. Brazilian Maurisio Teixeira was appointed as the physical training coach. The event also introduced the coaches of the Uzbekistan women's and youth futsal teams: Farrukh Zokirov — head coach of the Uzbekistan women's team. Konstantin Sviridov — head coach of the Uzbekistan youth team. Dilshod Rahmatov — head coach of the Uzbekistan junior team.

In the final minutes of the playoff match between "Manchester City" and "Real Madrid," the visitors scored a third goal, leading to a 2:3 defeat for the Manchester team. In the closing moments, there was fierce competition for the ball and emotions were fully displayed, but "Real Madrid's" tactical solutions and precise calculations exposed the weaknesses in Manchester's defense. In the second half of the match, a serious situation arose in the defensive line. As reported by renowned insider Fabrizio Romano, Manchester's defender Manuel Akanji was injured and taken off the field. According to initial examination results, the Swiss defender is expected to be out for approximately 8-10 weeks. This injury may not only limit the club's mobility but could also negatively impact the overall stability of the defensive system. The 29-year-old fullback has participated in 30 matches for Manchester this season and has provided 1 assist. His contract with the club runs until 2027, and according to evaluations on the "Transfermarkt" portal, his market value is estimated at 40 million euros. This information further solidifies Akanji's importance to the team and the role expected of him. Manuel Akanji's injury poses a serious threat to Manchester's defensive system. In upcoming matches, there may be a need to find a replacement for him or to reconsider tactics. The club management must closely monitor this situation and take precautionary measures in future negotiations and tactical preparations. This playoff match once again demonstrated how complex and dynamic competition on the football field can be. "Real Madrid's" successful solutions and several unexpected situations behind the Manchester team could have a significant impact on the club's future strategy. Football fans and experts are closely watching this process, eagerly awaiting the steps Manchester will take in their upcoming negotiations.

Photo: UFA The times and locations of the matches of the Uzbekistan national team in the qualifiers for the World Cup 2026 against Kyrgyz Republic and Iran have been announced by the AFC. In connection with the month of Ramadan, UFA had sent a request to the AFC to change the match time for the convenience of fans. The request was granted, and the Uzbekistan - Kyrgyz Republic match has been moved to March 20 at 21:00 Tashkent time. Additionally, the away match against Iran on March 25 is scheduled to be held at the "Ozodi" stadium at 21:00 Tashkent time.

The Uzbekistan U-17 national team, led by Islam Ismoilov, competed against the Czech Republic in the U-17 Antalya Youth Cup tournament. In this match, the Uzbek players left their Czech counterparts behind with a score of 3:1. U-17 Antalya Youth Cup Czech Republic – Uzbekistan 1:3 "Amirxon" sports complex Goals: Petr Potmesil penalty 54' – Sayfiddin Sodiqov 15', Abubakr Shukrullayev 61', Jamshidbek Rustamov 65' Uzbekistan: Ne'matulloh Rustamjonov, Hojiakbar Botiraliyev, Mo'minxon Bahodirxonov (Sardorbek Fayzullayev, 83), Amirxon Muradov (Diyorbek Mahmudjonov, 87), Miraziz Abdukarimov (Behruz Saidmuradov, 58), Sadriddin Hasanov, Nurbek Sarsenbayev (Asilbek Aliyev, 58), Sayfiddin Sodiqov (Jamshidbek Rustamov, 58), Muhammadali Musaxanov (Asadbek Ramilov, 87), Abubakr Shukrullayev (Muhammad Xabibullayev, 74), Azizbek Erimbetov. Substitutes: Ibrohim Shokirov, Bahodir Izbaskanov, Hojiakbar Yusufboyev, Abdulloh Fazliddinov.

The Kazakhstan national team, which includes 4 'Humo' hockey players, won gold medals at the winter Asian Games held in Harbin, China. Today, in the tournament final, the Kazakhs defeated the Japanese national team with a score of 5:0. The first winning goal was scored by 'Humo' forward Andrey Buyalskiy. The second goal was assisted by Artyom Lixotnikov. By the way, Lixotnikov became the most effective player of his team at the end of the tournament. Artyom has a total of 20 points (4 goals + 16 assists)

The Uzbekistan amputee team defeated Indonesia (8:1), Bangladesh (3:0), Nepal (13:0), and Iraq (4:1) in the group stage of the Asian Championship, and in the final, they scored 6 unanswered goals against Indonesia. The resilient champions returned to Uzbekistan on the night of February 14. During the welcoming ceremony, Tribuna.uz also participated and was interested in the tournament participants' thoughts on the competition here. Abdujamil Shukurov — The competition was initially supposed to take place in India. For some reason, it was canceled. Winter came there, and it got cold. We needed an indoor field to prepare for the tournament. We found a field in Yangiyo‘l. The rest was handled by the Paralympics people. We stayed in a new hotel and held two training sessions in the cold. It wasn't easy: we went to Bangladesh, a country with 30 degrees of heat, but we got used to it. Since the preparation went as we wanted, we played calmly and won. I can say that the match against the Iraq team was tougher. After defeating them, I felt at ease as a coach and a player. I have been playing football for 35 years. During the gathering in Turkey, we had friendly matches against England and other teams. At that time, I didn't play and coached, and it was very difficult. It was easier to play. I had been a five-time world champion, and now I have also achieved the Asian championship. Now I can comfortably continue coaching. Qudrat Xudoyqulov — We took first place in the first Asian Championship. I was named the best player of the final and the tournament. We scored 33 goals and conceded 1. I congratulate the entire Uzbek nation on this victory. Our main rivals in Asia were Iran and Iraq. The Iranians could not come due to some unfortunate incident. The most interesting match of the tournament was against Iraq. Aziz Abdurahmonov — The Asian Championship went beautifully. We prepared well for the competition. God willing, we will prepare for the world championship to be held next year. Ulug‘bek Toshpo‘latov — Winning the gold medal of the first Asian Championship is a great pride. The adults have been five-time world champions before. We are young swallows. God willing, we will also become champions five times. Bekzod Habibullayev — Everything is the result of hard work. We won the first Asian Championship. This trophy belongs to all of Uzbekistan.

The group stage matches of the U-20 Asian Cup tournament hosted by China are ongoing. Below you can find the highlights of these matches: U-20 Asian Cup 1st round "B" group Iran – Indonesia 3:0 Goals: Hisom Nafari 5', Ismoil Gʻolizadeh 63', Mobin Dehghan 70' Iran: 1.Arsha Shakuri, 3.Hisom Nafari, 5.Irfon Darvish Aali, 7.Ismoil Gʻolizadeh, 8.Amirmuhammad Razagʻinia (16.Abdulfazl Zamoni, 58), 9.Yagub Barajeh, 10.Rizo Gandi Pur (19.Purya Shahrabadi, 87), 11.Mahan Sadegʻi (20.Yusuf Mazrayeh, 81), 15.Mobin Dehghan (6.Samir Horobatib 81), 17.Muhammad Dindor (2.Nima Andarz, 58), 18.Abulfazl Zoleikhayei. Indonesia: 23.Ikrom Algiffari, 3.Achmad Zidan (12.Fandi Bagus, 52), 4.Kadek Arel, 5.Muhammad Alfarezzi, 7.Arlyansyah Abdulmanan (15.Marselinus Ama Ola, 45), 9.Jens Raven (11.Jehan Pahlevib 86), 10.Velberliyeskott De Halim, 16.Doni Tri Pamungkas, 18.Toni Firmansyah, 19.Muhammad Ragil, 21.Muhammad Iqbol. "C" group Jordan – Saudi Arabia 0:1 Goal: Saad Haqavi 46' Jordan: 1.Salameh Ali Salmon, 3.Ayham Ziyod Alsaamrigʻ, 5.Abdallah Al Myannes, 6.Yusif Mohd, 7.Ibrohim Muhammad Sabra, 9.Odeh Burxon, 11.Mahmud Muhammad (20.Moʻmen Ali Alsaket, 76), 14.Yusuf Hussayn Qashi, 16.Umar Hadir Joq (17.Abdilrahmon Alxdur, 65), 21.Solih Muhammad Fraij. Saudi Arabia: 22.Hamid Abdulloh, 2.Sulton Abdulaziz, 5.Muhammad Barnavi, 6.Solih Ali Barnavi, 8.Rakan Holid Algamdi, 9.Talal Hoji (20.Abdumalik Alharbi, 81), 10.Ziyod Abdulloh Algamdi (7.Al Xayrallah Almahdavi, 69), 11.Saad Haqavi (4.Saud Muhammad, 90+2), 13.Bassam Abdulloh Hazazi, 14.Farhan Al Shamrani (18.Ramiz Said, 69), 19.Avad Muhsin Aman. Warnings: Ziyod Abdulloh Algamdi (24), Yusif Mohd (47). "C" group. 1st round Uzbekistan – Yemen 1:0 Goal: Muhammadali Oʻrinboyev (Ollobergan Karimov) 26 Uzbekistan: 12.Muhammadyusuf Sobirov, 4.Gʻiyosjon Rizaqulov, 5.Azizbek Toʻlqinbekov, 6.Ravshan Xayrullayev, 7.Daler Tuxsanov (15.Lazizbek Mirzayev, 64), 10.Muhammadali Oʻrinboyev (9.Saidumarxon Saidnurullayev, 83), 17.Ollobergan Karimov (19.Rustambek Fomin,78) 18.Narimon Ahmadjonov, 20.Dilshod Abdullayev, 22.Asilbek Jumayev, 23.Abdugʻafur Haydarov (8.Amirbek Saidov, 78). Yemen: 22.Usama Ali, 3.Anvar Hussayn, 4.Muhammad Naji, 6.Haithm Faysal, 9.Abdulaziz Avad (7.Muhammad Amir,76), 10.Isom Abdulatif (19.Muhammad Isom, 62), 11.Abdulrahmon Abdulnabi (21.Umar Gʻolib,77) 12.Said Abdulloh, 13.Ahmad Mustafo, 16.Muhammad Holid, 18.Odil Abbos. Warnings: Dilshod Abdullayev (Uzbekistan) 47, Muhammad Holid (Yemen) 61, Lazizbek Mirzayev (Uzbekistan) 87

Among our legionnaires in the Russian Premier League, Abbosbek Fayzullayev is undoubtedly showing the brightest performance. Our 21-year-old forward has literally become the leader of CSKA. Most of the "Army Men" attacks are organized through the Uzbek legionnaire. Abbos falls into the category of versatile players who can play in various positions. CSKA head coach Marko Nikolich took advantage of the winter break to change the team's playing style. During the winter training camps, the "Army Men" played in a new formation. The Serbian specialist changed Abbosbek Fayzullayev's position. Russian football experts have expressed various opinions regarding Nikolich's decision. In particular, the famous coach Igor Shalimov shared his thoughts on this matter publicly. - After CSKA switched to the new playing scheme, there hasn't been a noticeable improvement in the team's actions. This style may yield results in matches against top teams. In this case, the opponent is given more space, and the "Army Men" can quickly transition to a counterattack. This situation increases the chances of scoring. In matches against mid-table and outsider teams, CSKA is required to break through the defense line with positional attacks. This style has not been well developed in the "Army Men" game. Since Miralem Pjanic's arrival, there has been no improvement in his game; he plays the same way now as he did in the fall. Perhaps he needs more time. Like many others, I am concerned that Abbosbek Fayzullayev does not feel comfortable in the new scheme. His confidence is not the same as before, and the decisions he makes on the field are also different, - said Igor Shalimov. It is worth noting that earlier Abbosbek Fayzullayev himself mentioned that he needs to adapt to his new position on the field. - Winter training camps are always tough because of the heavy loads and complex drills. We have switched to a new playing scheme, and now we are focusing on mastering it, which requires some time to adapt. According to the new scheme, we will have more ball possession. My position has changed. I have not played this deep into the field and attacked at this level before. I had tried this method while playing for the Uzbekistan national team. I try to give my all in the game, and at the same time, the coach is playing me in the number 8 position. I have played as a number 10 since childhood, and I felt quite comfortable in that position. Now I can say that I am discovering my new facets. If given time, I will learn to play effectively in this position in the attacking scheme, - said Abbosbek Fayzullayev. It should be noted that Abbosbek Fayzullayev transferred from "Pakhtakor" to CSKA in August 2023. Since then, he has played 55 times for the "Army Men" in all tournaments, scoring eight goals and providing 20 assists.

Currently, Uzbekistan national team head coach Timur Kapadze is in Turkey. Our team's coach gave a brief interview about his trip to Turkey here. “I arrived in Turkey two days ago. Currently, many teams from our country are preparing for the new season in Turkey. I came here to watch the games, check the condition of the players, and talk to the coaches. My goal is to observe the players. I plan to attend all the matches. I watched the first game of "Bukhoro". Then I directly watched the games of "Neftchi", "Andijon", and "Bunyodkor" teams from the stadium. Today, "Nasaf" and "Sogdiana" teams will compete. I aim to attend these games. I want to study the condition of the players by attending the matches. I came to Turkey to learn about the players' conditions,” said our national team coach.

Several matches in the Europa League knockout stage have concluded. Below you can find the results of these matches and a video review of the games: "Porto" Portugal – "Roma" Italy 1:1 "Estádio do Dragão" Goals: 0:1 – 45+5 Chelik, 1:1 – 67 Moura. Porto – Diogo Costa, Otavio (Namaso, 75), Peres, Tiago Jalo, Mora de Carvalho (Pepe Akino, 63), Gonchalo Borges, Moura (Sanusi, 85), Varela (Fabio Vieira, 63), Eustáquio, João Mário, Agexova (Gyul, 85). Roma – Svilar, Ndika, Mancini, Chelik, Angelino, Pellegrini (Soule, 67), Cristante, Kone (Pizilli, 46), Salemakers (El-Shaaravi, 46), Dovbik (Paredes, 75), Dybala (Baldantsi, 40). Warnings: Pellegrini (18), Varela (20), Chelik (28), Kone (34), Salemakers (45+2), Moura (45+2), Cristante (63), Otavio (71), Baldantsi (90+4), Paredes (90+4). Red card: Cristante (72). "AZ Alkmaar" Netherlands – "Galatasaray" Turkey 4:1 "AFAS Stadion" Goals: 1:0 – 12 Meynans, 1:1 – 20 Shallai, 2:1 – 37, penalty Perrott, 3:1 – 57 Klasi, 4:1 – 66 Meller Wolf. AZ Alkmaar – Ovusu-Oduro, Meller Wolf, Alexandre Penetra, Gus, Maikuma (Kasius, 77), Klasi, Kopmeiners (Buurmester, 77), Lado (Dal, 83), Meynans, Poku (Smit, 83), Perrott (van Deyn, 90). Galatasaray – Muslera, Bardakchı, Kuesta, Kutlu (Baltacı, 71), Mertens (Demirbay, 56), Yelert (Demir, 71), Sara (Lush, 90+3), Ayxan, Shallai, Yılmaz, Morata (Akman, 90+3). Warnings: Ayxan (11), Bardakchı (43), Meller Wolf (48), Morata (57), Klasi (75). Red card: Ayxan (51). "Twente" Netherlands – "Bodø/Glimt" Norway 2:1 "De Grolsch Veste" Goals: 1:0 – 5 Ltayef, 1:1 – 85 Berg, 2:1 – 90+5, penalty van Wolfsvinkel. Twente – Unnerstall, Keppers, Lagerbielke, Schenk, van Roy, Sadilek, Vlap, Ltayef (Unyuvar, 69), Steyn (Verschueren, 82), Rots, van Wolfsvinkel. Bodø/Glimt – Håkin, Berkan, Gundersen, Nilsen, Shevold (Vembangomo, 86), Saltnes (Fet, 87), Berg, Even, Xeuge (Xelmersen, 87), Blomberg, Xeg (Dubvik Myayatya, 67). Warnings: Berkan (37), Xeuge (41), Gundersen (42), Lagerbielke (53), Unyuvar (84).

After 18 matches held simultaneously on the night of January 30, the final table of the Champions League group stage, consisting of 36 clubs, was formed. The teams occupying the top eight positions immediately advanced to the Round of 16 and will wait for their next opponents until spring, while teams ranked from 9th to 24th will participate in the knockout matches in February. The last 12 teams exited the tournament. On January 31, at 16:00 Tashkent time, the draw for the knockout matches will take place. The main principle: every second position in the table is significant. For example, the team in 9th place can play against a team in 23rd or 24th place (the potential opponents for the team in 10th place will also be these teams). It is certain that they will play against 'Atalanta' or Dortmund's 'Borussia', or 'Sporting', or 'Brugge'. The 11th club will play against a team in either 21st or 22nd place (if the representative of 21st place falls to the 11th club, then the representative of 22nd place will naturally be an opponent of the team in 12th place), and so on. According to the UEFA website, this format has been developed over six years. During the draw, the balls representing the 23rd and 24th teams will be drawn first. The first ball drawn will be sent to the upper part of the bracket, and the second to the lower part. In UEFA's official graphics, this will be the left part of the bracket (silver) and the right part (blue). Then the positions of the teams in 21st and 22nd places will be determined. This process will continue until the balls representing the 9th and 10th clubs are shown. That is, at this moment, we know that there are only two potential opponents among the teams ranked from 9th to 24th. For example, according to the draw results, 'Manchester City' will face either 'Real' or 'Bavaria' (these giants are also potential opponents of 'Celtic'). There are no restrictions during the draw – representatives from the same country can meet in the knockout matches. For example, 'PSG' (15th place) can play against 'Monaco' or 'Brest' (respectively 17th and 18th place teams), while 'Milan' may face 'Juventus' (or 'Feyenoord'). If teams have played against each other in the group stage, this does not prevent them from meeting again in the knockout matches. For example, Dortmund's 'Borussia' has a 50 percent chance of facing 'Brugge', even though they played against each other in the Champions League in September. Teams ranked from 9th to 16th are not only considered seeded teams, but they also have the opportunity to host the second leg of the knockout matches at their home ground, which can be considered an advantage. This kind of scheme is also planned for the Europa League and Conference League, apart from the Champions League. After the knockout matches, there will be another draw in all three European cups. At that time, teams will find out their opponents from the top 8. There, each club will also have two potential opponents. At this moment, it can be said that either 'Atletico' or 'Bayer' will face one of the following four: 'Bavaria', 'Manchester City', 'Real', 'Celtic'. The potential opponents for 'Liverpool' and 'Barselona', who secured the 1st and 2nd places in the overall table for the Round of 16, are as follows: 15th, 16th, 17th, or 18th teams: 'PSG', 'Benfica', 'Monaco', or 'Brest'. After the knockout matches, two of them will leave the tournament, and only two options will remain during the final draw (February 21). That is, if 'Monaco' and 'PSG' survive the knockout matches, they will face the two best teams from the group stage in the next round. The two winners from the 2nd knockout matches ('Sporting' / 'Brugge' – 'Atalanta' / 'Borussia' D) will face 'Lille' and 'Aston Villa' in the quarter-finals. The two winners from the 3rd knockout matches ('Celtic' / 'Manchester City' – 'Real' / 'Bavaria') will face 'Atletico' and 'Bayer' in the quarter-finals. One of the two winners from the 4th knockout matches ('Feyenoord' / 'Juventus' – 'Milan' / PSV) will play against 'Arsenal', while the other will face 'Inter'. The initial knockout matches will be held on February 11 and 12, with the return matches on February 18 and 19. The Round of 16 matches are scheduled for March 4, 5, 11, and 12. The quarter-finals are set for April 8, 9, 15, and 16, while the semi-finals are scheduled for April 29 and 30, as well as May 6 and 7. The final will take place on May 31 in Munich. There is another nuance unrelated to the draw process. New players can be registered for the knockout matches, and this must be done by February 6. If a player has already played for another team in the group stage of the Champions League, this does not prevent him from playing for another team in the playoffs, specifically, Abduqodir Husanov can participate in the Champions League with 'City'.

The traditional Tata Steel Chess 2025 tournament is ongoing in the Netherlands. Two chess players from Uzbekistan are competing for victory. Photo: Chess Yesterday, on January 29, in the 10th round, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who is among the leaders of the Masters group, defeated Serbian Aleksey Saranani playing with white pieces. The chess player had not lost in the tournament until now. After this victory, Abdusattorov increased his points to 7 and is currently in second place in the tournament standings. Photo: Chess Indian Gukesh Dommaradju is at the top of the tournament standings. Despite being the reigning world champion and playing with black pieces, he outperformed Dutch Maks Varmerdam. Gukesh is leading with 7.5 points. Another Indian grandmaster, Rameshbabu Pragnanandha, also secured an important victory for himself in this round, defeating Slovenian Vladimir Fedoseyev and finishing with 6.5 points in the strong trio. In the Masters group, three chess players remain unbeaten — Gukesh Dommaradju, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Wei Li. The Chinese grandmaster has recorded 1 victory and 9 draws. Gukesh has 5 victories and draws. Abdusattorov has 4 victories and 6 draws. Photo: Chess Nodirbek Yakubboyev (2659), participating in the Challenger group, drew with Dutch Benjamin Bok in the 10th round while playing with white pieces. Yakubboyev has accumulated 5 points with 3 victories, 4 draws, and 3 losses, placing him in 9th position in the tournament standings. Photo: Chess Czech Van Nguyen is leading the Challenger group with 7.5 points. Dutch Ervin L'ami has gathered 7 points, securing 2nd place, while Azerbaijani Aydin Suleymanli finished with 6.5 points based on additional criteria to complete the strong trio. Benjamin Bok also has 6.5 points. For your information, according to the tournament regulations, the chess players will compete in 13 rounds.

In the UEFA Champions League, "Brest" and "Real" faced off against each other. The "whites" celebrated a victory with a score of 3:0. Rodrigo scored a double, while Bellingham added his name to the scoreboard once. Brest – Real Madrid 0:3 January 30, 01:00, "Ruduru" Goals: 0:1 – 27 Rodrigo, 0:2 – 56 Bellingham, 0:3 – 78 Rodrigo. Brest – Bizot, Kulibali, Shardonne, Pereyra Laje, Lala, Manetti (Le-Melu, 61), Fernandesh, Kamara (Del Castillo, 70), Dumbiya (Fevr, 61), Balde (Sima, 70), Ajork (Sala, 79). Real Madrid – Courtois, Mendy, Rudiger, Tchouameni (Alaba, 82), Vasquez (Asensio, 83), Valverde, Modric (Endrick, 88), Rodrigo, Bellingham (Ceballos, 82), Brahim Dias (Güler, 72), Mbappe. Warnings: Pereyra Laje (10), Tchouameni (29), Rudiger (35), Ancelotti (64), Bellingham (74). You can watch the video review of this match below:

In the UEFA Champions League, "Barselona" faced "Atalanta". In this match, the teams signed a 2:2 draw. For the "Blaugrana", Yamal and Arauxo scored, while the goals for the guests were authored by Ederson and Pashalich. Barselona – Atalanta 2:2 January 30, 01:00, "Olympic Luis Companys" Goals: 1:0 – 47 Yamal, 1:1 – 67 Ederson, 2:1 – 72 Arauxo, 2:2 – 79 Pashalich. Barselona – Shchensni, Balde, Erik Garcia (Kubarsi, 69), Arauxo, Kunde, Pedri (Kasado, 80), de Jong, Rafinha, Gavi (Lopes, 69), Yamal (Viktor, 90+6), Lewandowski (Ferran Torres, 69). Atalanta – Karnezis, Kolasinac (Skalvini, 55), Xin, Djimsiti, Pashalich, Zappacosta (Ruggeri, 77), Ederson, de Roon, Bellanova (Cuadrado, 77), Retegui (Dzanolo, 77), de Ketelaere (Breshiani, 87). Warnings: Kolasinac (51), de Roon (90+3), Pashalich (90+7), Ederson (90+7). You can watch the video summary of this match below:

In the new year, Abduqodir Husanov, who moved to Manchester City, is in the spotlight not only of Uzbekistan but also of football fans from other countries. Our 20-year-old defender managed to make his debut in one of the most challenging competitions in the world – the English Premier League – just five days after joining the reigning champions of England. Although he made several mistakes at the beginning of the game against Chelsi in his first match after joining Manchester City, this situation was assessed as natural by experts, coaches, and players. Abduqodir was supported by head coach Josep Guardiola, the team's stars – Erling Haaland, Manuel Akanji, Josko Gvardiol, and many football specialists. Even football communities from other countries showed interest in his participation. Now Husanov may step onto the field in another prestigious competition – the playoff stage of the UEFA Champions League. The Manchester City players defeated Belgium's Brugge team 3:1 in the last match of the group stage. This victory gave the "Citizens" the opportunity to participate in the playoff match for a quarter-final spot. Considering that Manchester City finished 22nd in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, which is being held in a new format, experts announced that they would face either Real or Bayern in the playoff match. Thus, we are also looking forward to Abduqodir Husanov's debut in the UEFA Champions League as a Manchester City player. It is worth noting that Abduqodir Husanov has already celebrated his debut in the most prestigious competitions organized by UEFA. During his one and a half years at Lens, he participated in matches held within the framework of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.

Pep Guardiola spoke about how important it is for the new arrivals to help the team in the playoffs after the match against "Brugge" (3:1). "Of course, this is very important. We faced difficulties throughout the season without players. With them, we will have many options. I hope Doku returns as well. Kovacic is an experienced player. He scored a fantastic goal. Kova is capable of changing the game in such crucial moments. We managed to do that, and now it's time to enjoy. Because the Champions League started very tough. But in the end, we were able to take a step forward. As for the draw... We'll see," said Guardiola. For your information, "Manchester City" will face either "Real" or "Bayern" in the playoff stage.

Domenico Tedesco is one of the main candidates for the position of head coach of the Fenerbahce team. This was reported by Euro-football.ru. The Turkish club is searching for a new head coach after parting ways with Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho. The "Canaries" management has shortlisted Tedesco's name, and the Italian specialist has expressed his readiness to take this position, according to the well-known journalist Nicolo Schira. If everything goes according to plan, the 39-year-old specialist will sign a contract with the major Istanbul club until 2027. Domenico Tedesco's most recent job was with the Belgium national team, where he served as head coach from February 2023 to January 2025. Previously, he worked at major clubs such as RB Leipzig, Moscow Spartak, and Schalke 04. His coaching experience and work with big teams could be a great opportunity for Fenerbahce. The club aims to achieve future successes with the new coach.

Famous footballer Edgar Davids, who played for Juventus in past years, learned that his acquaintance Nabila Habibi committed theft. This was reported by Euro-football.ru. The ad.nl portal provided information about this. According to the publication, Davids found out several years later that his painting collection had been stolen. He had entrusted the collection to a trusted person. For a while, Habibi also lived in his house. While Davids believed the collection was kept in a safe place, Habibi stole 37 paintings, pawned them at various pawnshops, and received approximately 30 thousand euros. In 2017, when Habibi was unable to repay her debts, the pawnshops gained the right to sell the paintings. One of the buyers saw Davids' name on the back of a painting and contacted him through social networks. After that, Davids filed a lawsuit. Habibi admitted to the theft. Earlier, she had faced problems related to criminal cases and had left her acquaintance after taking 3500 euros from him.

One of Argentina's famous personalities, Wanda Nara, constantly causes various rumors about herself in the press. Euro-football.ru reported on this. Last summer, she divorced Mauro Icardi and they are currently continuing the court process regarding which parent their daughter will stay with. According to some Argentine sources, it is planned to deprive Wanda of the right to use social networks for at least 30 days. This will be a big blow to her because she mainly earns income on social networks and maintains both work-related and non-work-related connections. In addition, Wanda's profile has appeared on the popular "OnlyFans" platform. Perhaps she is now looking for new fans precisely on this platform. These events may affect her personal life and professional activity. The court process and social media restrictions may influence her future career. Therefore, the public is closely watching her actions.

Karim Konate, a forward for Red Bull Salzburg, has come under the interest of the Barcelona club. This was reported by Euro-football.ru. The Catalan club is searching for a new player to replace 37-year-old Robert Lewandowski. This season may be Lewandowski's last with the club. According to Transfer News Live, citing the Africa Soccer website, 21-year-old Karim Konate is on the Catalans' radar. He has been unable to play since last November due to a torn ligament in his knee. The Transfermarkt portal has valued him at 15 million euros. The Ivorian forward has appeared in 64 matches for Red Bull Salzburg's first team, scoring 33 goals and providing 11 assists. This young player's future is considered very promising, and Barcelona aims to add him to their squad.

Julian Alvares, forward of Madrid's "Atletico" team, intends to continue his career at the "Barcelona" club. This was reported by Euro-football.ru. According to the Fichajes publication, the Argentine footballer plans to transfer to "Barcelona" in the summer of 2026. He has informed those around him about this and is ready to put pressure on the "mattress makers" management for the transfer. Alvares's decision is related to dissatisfaction with the new tactics of "Atletico" head coach Diego Simeone. The player sees himself as the successor to Robert Lewandowski, as the "blaugrana" team does not intend to extend the contract with the Polish player after the current season. Nevertheless, Alvares's price is estimated at around 80 million euros, which may pose a problem for the transfer to take place. This season, the 25-year-old forward has played in three matches of the Spanish championship and scored one goal. His move to "Barcelona" is expected to strengthen the team's attacking line.

Attacking midfielder Cole Palmer may not participate in the upcoming Chelsea match. This was reported by Euro-football.ru. Journalists from the Goal portal noticed Palmer's absence in the training session images released by the club. It is assumed that the team captain has not yet resumed training. It has been revealed that Cole Palmer has not played in the last two matches of the English Championship due to health problems. Chelsea will play their next match on Saturday, September 13. In this match, the team led by Enzo Mareski will face Brentford away. Currently, Chelsea holds second place in the English Premier League standings with seven points from three matches. The absence of the team's leading player from training increases the likelihood that he will not take the field in the upcoming match. This may lead to changes in the team lineup for Chelsea in this important game. Football fans and experts continue to closely monitor this situation.

Brazilian forward Neymar recalled an incident from when he played for the "Santos" team and was together with Lionel Messi at "PSG". This was reported by Euro-football.ru. According to Neymar, on one occasion at "PSG", he asked Messi to take a penalty kick, but Messi refused and replied: "No, I am not here to do that. Either you take it or give it to Mbappe." It was emphasized that Messi did not argue and is a very calm person. Neymar played for "PSG" from 2017 to 2023, while Messi was active in the same team from 2021 to 2023. Before joining "PSG", they also played together at "Barcelona" and are considered very close friends. Currently, 38-year-old Messi is playing for the "Inter Miami" club in the United States. The friendship and teamwork between Neymar and Messi are highly appreciated by many fans in the sports world.

The 18-year-old central midfielder of the Barcelona team, Mark Bernal, may be included in the squad for the upcoming Spanish Championship match against Valencia. This was reported by Euro-football.ru. This information comes from the Barca Universal source. According to the data, the player must obtain medical clearance to participate in the match. He has not played since August 2024 due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. The match between Barcelona and Valencia, part of the fourth round of the Spanish La Liga championship, will take place on Sunday, September 14. The starting whistle by the main referee is scheduled to be sounded at 22:00 Moscow time. This game is generating great interest among fans. Mark Bernal's return to the field may cause significant changes in the team's attack and defense lines. The team's coaches and medical staff are closely monitoring his condition. Before the game, the players are preparing physically and mentally. This match holds great importance in the La Liga competition, with teams striving to strengthen their positions. Bernal's return to the field is a great opportunity for Barcelona.