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PSG’s Champions League hero Doue says ‘dream becomes reality’

PSG’s Champions League hero Doue says ‘dream becomes reality’
PSG's Desire Doue holds the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, on May 31, 2025. (AP)
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Updated 01 June 2025

PSG’s Champions League hero Doue says ‘dream becomes reality’

PSG’s Champions League hero Doue says ‘dream becomes reality’
  • The 19-year-old lit up scored twice and provided an assist as PSG routed Inter Milan 5-0
  • German police have to hold back PSG fans as they tried to rush the field

MUNICH, Germany: Paris Saint-Germain’s double goal-scoring hero Desire Doue said “a dream has become reality” after Saturday’s Champions League triumph.
The 19-year-old lit up Munich’s Allianz Arena, scoring twice and providing an assist as PSG routed Inter Milan 5-0.
“I don’t have the words,” said the French teenager.




Paris Saint-Germain's Desire Doue, right, scores his side's third goal. (AP)

“Thanks to the Parc (des Princes, PSG’s home stadium), thanks Paris.
“A dream has become reality. It’s just magnificent. It’s crazy, I’m so happy.
“It’s just the beginning.”
PSG have been guided to the continental crown for the first time in their history by Spanish coach Luis Enrique.
“It’s time to have a big party,” said Luis Enrique, who also won the Champions League with Barcelona 10 years ago.
“We have to make the most of this moment,” added the 55-year-old.
“I feel this connection with the players and the supporters, it’s very strong. It’s a great moment, we deserve it. We managed to control the tension.”




PSG players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP)

Unruly fans held back

Thousands of euphoric PSG fans had to be held back by a line of police they tried to rush the field in jubilation.
Police lined up in front of the PSG end of the Allianz Arena stadium at the final whistle but struggled to contain the fans for several minutes when they came down from the stands following the trophy presentation.
They did eventually manage to force them back into the stands, and PSG players had already headed back to the locker room, appearing to cut short celebrations in front of their supporters.
Players eventually made their way back to the field with the trophy after order was restored.
PSG fans dominated the occasion, drowning out Inter supporters, many of whom had left long before the final whistle after seeing their team blown away by the French champion.


Bayern relishing another chance to show their might against Leverkusen in Bundesliga

Bayern relishing another chance to show their might against Leverkusen in Bundesliga
Updated 31 October 2025

Bayern relishing another chance to show their might against Leverkusen in Bundesliga

Bayern relishing another chance to show their might against Leverkusen in Bundesliga
  • Bayern warmed up by beating Cologne 4-1 in the German Cup
  • There’s a clash between second and third on Saturday when Leipzig host Stuttgart

BERLIN: Indomitable this season, Bayern Munich have another chance to demonstrate their superiority when Bayer Leverkusen visit in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Leverkusen ended Bayern’s record 11-year run as champion in 2024, but the Bavarian powerhouse wrested the title back last season and Leverkusen have undergone a summer transformation after losing key players.
While Bayern look even stronger in Vincent Kompany’s second season in charge — 14 wins across all games including the German Supercup so far — Leverkusen are already on to their second coach after making a botched start under Erik ten Hag.
Kasper Hjulmand has steadied the team, which have won their last four Bundesliga games but were humbled 7-2 at home by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Another Bundesliga challenge is not expected from Leverkusen this season.
Key matchups
Bayern warmed up by beating Cologne 4-1 in the German Cup, where Leverkusen were taken to extra time by 10-man second-division side Paderborn before eventually prevailing 4-2.
There’s a clash between second and third on Saturday when Leipzig host Stuttgart. Germany forward Deniz Undav is back for Stuttgart.
Augsburg coach Sandro Wagner must fear for his job before Borussia Dortmund’s visit on Friday after his team’s German Cup exit to second-division Bochum just days after a 6-0 hiding at home to Leipzig. Wagner’s team have lost five of their eight league games.
Wolfsburg coach Paul Simonis is also in trouble before Hoffenheim’s visit on Sunday after his team’s cup exit to second-division Holstein Kiel. Wolfsburg have lost five of their last six games.
Also on Sunday, Cologne host Hamburger SV in a duel between promoted teams.
Players to watch
Harry Kane remains central to Bayern’s brilliant start and took his goal tally to 22 against Cologne on Wednesday. The England forward has failed to score in only two games this season.
Nadiem Amiri was desolate after Mainz’s cup loss to Stuttgart on Wednesday. Mainz will need the Germany playmaker at his best against Werder Bremen on Saturday to stop their run of four straight league defeats.
The 16-year-old Wael Mohya made his debut for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the cup on Tuesday to become the club’s youngest player. He left to ovations from the fans, who’ll hope to see him again on Saturday at St. Pauli.
Off the field
There are fears of trouble in Berlin on Saturday when Union Berlin and Hertha Berlin play home games around the same time. Usually the German soccer league makes sure the city rivals alternate home games, making security arrangements necessary for only one at a time. But a league official said a holiday in the west German state of North Rhine-Westphalia meant no games can be played there on Friday with knock-on effects for other teams.
Hertha host Dynamo Dresden for what would already be considered a high-risk game in the second division, then Union host Freiburg a couple of hours later in the Bundesliga. Fans from all four clubs will be in the German capital at the same time, with up to 35,000 expected from Dresden.


Juventus appoint former Italy manager Spalletti as head coach

Juventus appoint former Italy manager Spalletti as head coach
Updated 30 October 2025

Juventus appoint former Italy manager Spalletti as head coach

Juventus appoint former Italy manager Spalletti as head coach
  • Juventus turned to the former Italy, Inter Milan and Napoli manager after parting ways with Tudor
  • “Luciano Spalletti is the new head coach of Juventus, signing an agreement with the club until June 30, 2026,” Juventus said

ROME: Juventus have appointed former Italy manager Luciano Spalletti as head coach until the end of the season, the Serie A club said on Thursday, following the sacking of Igor Tudor.
Juventus turned to the former Italy, Inter Milan and Napoli manager after parting ways with Tudor following an eight-match winless run in all competitions. They sit seventh in the standings after nine games.
“Luciano Spalletti is the new head coach of Juventus, signing an agreement with the club until June 30, 2026,” Juventus said in a statement.
“We are delighted to welcome a coach with such expertise and experience to the Bianconeri family: welcome to Juventus and good luck, coach!“
Croatian Tudor, who replaced Thiago Motta in March, was the first foreign manager appointed by Juventus since Frenchman Didier Deschamps in 2006-07.
He guided Juventus to a fourth-place finish in Serie A last season and secured qualification for the Champions League.
However, they had not won a game since mid-September with five draws followed by three straight losses in all competitions before Tudor was sacked.
Massimo Brambilla took interim charge and Juve won their next game, beating Udinese 3-1.
Spalletti, 66, led Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years in 2023, after a long club management career that has included spells at AS Roma, Inter, and a five-year stint with Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg.
He was appointed Italy head coach in 2023 and led them to Euro 2024, where they exited in the last 16 after a 2-0 loss to Switzerland.
Spalletti also oversaw an uninspiring World Cup 2026 qualification campaign, leading to his
sacking in June, after less than two years in the job.


PSG forward Doue out with thigh injury, will miss Bayern clash

PSG forward Doue out with thigh injury, will miss Bayern clash
Updated 30 October 2025

PSG forward Doue out with thigh injury, will miss Bayern clash

PSG forward Doue out with thigh injury, will miss Bayern clash
  • The 20-year-old left the pitch in the 62nd minute during the 1-1 draw in Lorient on Wednesday
  • “Further review of the injury will take place after the international break,” PSG said

PARIS: Paris St. Germain forward Desire Doue suffered a right thigh muscle lesion and will be out for several weeks, the French side said on Thursday.
The 20-year-old left the pitch in the 62nd minute during the 1-1 draw in Lorient on Wednesday, after halting his run and screaming out in pain. He was then carried off on a stretcher before leaving the stadium on crutches.
“Further review of the injury will take place after the international break,” PSG said in a statement.
Doue will miss next week’s Champions League clash against Bayern Munich and France’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers in November.
“It’s always bad news when there are injuries,” PSG manager Luis Enrique told a press conference on Wednesday. “It’s a strange injury.”
The forward had only recently returned from a calf injury that had sidelined him for six matches with PSG and the previous set of World Cup qualifiers for Les Bleus.
Doue has scored three goals and registered one assist this season in all competitions.


Serbia appoint Paunovic as new coach with World Cup qualifying hopes on the line

Serbia appoint Paunovic as new coach with World Cup qualifying hopes on the line
Updated 30 October 2025

Serbia appoint Paunovic as new coach with World Cup qualifying hopes on the line

Serbia appoint Paunovic as new coach with World Cup qualifying hopes on the line
  • The Serbian Football Association moved quickly to secure Paunovic as they scramble to salvage their campaign with two matches remaining
  • Paunovic led Oviedo’s promotion push as they returned to LaLiga after a gap of 24 years

BELGRADE: Serbia appointed former Real Oviedo manager Veljko Paunovic as their new national team coach on Thursday, following Dragan Stojkovic’s resignation after a shock home defeat by Albania this month.
Stojkovic stepped down after Serbia’s 1-0 loss to Albania in a World Cup qualifier that left their direct qualification hopes in tatters, with the team sitting third in Group K behind England and Albania.


The Serbian Football Association moved quickly to secure Paunovic, who guided the country’s Under-20 team to World Cup glory in 2015, as they scramble to salvage their campaign with two matches remaining.
Paunovic led Oviedo’s promotion push as they returned to LaLiga after a gap of 24 years but the club sacked the 48-year-old this month as they struggled in the top flight and won two games to sit 17th when he left.
“Veljko Paunovic has shown from day one that he puts the interests of the national football team above all else,” Branko Radujko, the Secretary General of the Football Association of Serbia, said in a statement.
“His priority was not a contract or financial terms, but to immediately make himself available to the Football Association of Serbia and take over the team at such an important moment.”
With England having already topped the group, Serbia can no longer qualify directly but remain in the hunt for a playoff berth.
Paunovic faces the immediate challenge of matches against England on November 13 and Latvia three days later.
“The results of these two matches will in no way affect Veljko Paunovic’s status in the future,” Radujko added.
“We will continue discussions about his long-term contract after the end of these matches, regardless of their outcome.”


Real Madrid play struggling Valencia in La Liga ahead of Liverpool trip

Real Madrid play struggling Valencia in La Liga ahead of Liverpool trip
Updated 30 October 2025

Real Madrid play struggling Valencia in La Liga ahead of Liverpool trip

Real Madrid play struggling Valencia in La Liga ahead of Liverpool trip
  • Xabi Alonso’s team visit Anfield in a clash of European title hopefuls next Tuesday in the Champions League
  • Madrid are on a five-game winning streak that includes a 1-0 win over Juventus in the Champions League

BARCELONA: Real Madrid will look to take care of business against a struggling Valencia and maintain their La Liga lead this weekend before turning to their demanding match at Liverpool.
Xabi Alonso’s team visit Anfield in a clash of European title hopefuls next Tuesday in the Champions League.
Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 last weekend to end a run of four clasico victories for the Catalan club from last season. The victory allowed Madrid to open a five-point gap at the top of the league standings over second-placed Barcelona.
Key matches
Madrid are on a five-game winning streak that includes a 1-0 win over Juventus in the Champions League.
Kylian Mbappé struck his 11th goal in the domestic league to help defeat Barcelona. The France striker is also joint top of the Champions League with Harry Kane on five goals each.
On Saturday, Madrid will host a Valencia that were jeered by home fans during a 2-0 loss against regional rival Villarreal in the last round. Valencia are winless in five games and have sunk into the relegation zone.
An injury-hit Barcelona will look to lick their wounds from their clasico defeat when they host Elche on Sunday.
Elche have been the surprise package in the first months. The small southern club were promoted at the end of last season and have so far defied expectations. Coach Eder Sarabia has his team in eighth place after just two losses through Round 10.
Third-placed Villarreal can provisionally move ahead of Barcelona on Saturday if they beat Rayo Vallecano.
Players to watch
All eyes in the Santiago Bernabeu will be on Vinícius Júnior and Alonso.
Vinícius was visibly upset when his coach substituted him with around 20 minutes left in the clasico. He went straight to the changing room before rejoining the bench minutes later.
The Brazil forward later apologized on social media saying that “sometimes my passion gets the better of me.”
Alonso, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti this summer, has given Vinícius less playing time than his predecessor.
Out of action
Midfield leader Pedri González has joined a longlist of injured Barcelona players that already included Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, the team’s top scorers from last season’s championship side.
Pedri, who tore a muscle in his left thigh, played 72 of 73 games since coach Hansi Flick took over Barcelona last season. The Spain playmaker’s vision, control and passing skills are unmatched by his teammates.
Lewandowski and midfielder Dani Olmo rejoined team practice this week but as of Thursday they had not been cleared by team doctors to play.
Barcelona midfielder Gavi Páez and goalkeepers Joan García and Marc-André ter Stegen were also out injured.
Madrid right back Dani Carvajal has been ruled out for several weeks after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee this week. Fellow defender Antonio Rudiger remains sidelined.
Off the field
Flick will be back in Barcelona’s dugout for the Elche game. He was suspended for the Madrid match after being sent off for protesting in a 2-1 win over Girona two rounds ago.