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February 2026
The Namibian
Real Madridfell to defeat againstBenfica in the Champions League
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“Last week Madrid fell to defeat against Benfica in the Champions League, out-played and out-fought, leaving them facing a play-off round double-header against Jose Mourinho's Portuguese side once again.”
Real Madridwere handeda quick rematch with Jose Mourinho's Benfica in the Champions League play-off round draw
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“Real Madrid were handed a quick rematch with Jose Mourinho's Benfica in the draw for the Champions League play-off round on Friday, while reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain will face domestic rivals Monaco.”
Real Madridare aiming to sealdirect passage to Champions League last 16 at Benfica
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“Real Madrid are aiming to seal direct passage to the Champions League last 16 at Benfica on Wednesday, but standing in their way is their divisive former coach Jose Mourinho.”
Madridcrashed out ofCopa del Rey at Albacete in Arbeloa's first match
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“Madrid crashed out of the Copa del Rey at second-tier Albacete in Arbeloa's first match at the helm but have won the following three games, including a 6-1 demolition of Monaco.”
Real Madridroared back to life this week, led byVinicius Junior
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“Real Madrid roared back to life this week, led by a superb Vinicius Junior, who is looking to confirm his own resuscitation and that of his team at Villarreal on Saturday in La Liga.”
Real Madridearned new coach Alvaro Arbeloa credit viaemphatic 6-1 victory over Monaco in Champions League
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“An emphatic 6-1 victory over Monaco on Tuesday in the Champions League helped brighten the gloom in the Spanish capital and earn new coach Alvaro Arbeloa a modicum of credit.”
Real MadridhostMonaco on Tuesday in Champions League
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“Madrid, seventh, host Monaco on Tuesday and if Arbeloa is to get the fans back on board with his side, anything other than progression in the Champions League is not an option.”
“The Catalan giants, who hit the woodwork four times and had two goals disallowed, now only lead rivals Real Madrid by a single point at the top of the table after Alvaro Arbeloa's side beat Levante on Saturday.”
Lamine Yamal scored twice as Barcelona demolished Valencia 5-0 on Sunday to maintain their 100 percent start in La Liga, moving three points clear at the top. Fermin Lopez, Raphinha and Pedri also scored in Hansi Flick's side's dominant display.
Lamine Yamal scored twice as Barcelona demolished Valencia 5-0 on Sunday to maintain their 100 percent start in La Liga, moving three points clear at the top. Fermin Lopez, Raphinha and Pedri also scored in Hansi Flick's side's dominant display.
Inter beat Napoli 3-2 with a last-gasp Lautaro Martinez goal after coming back from two goals down, while Roma defeated Atalanta 2-1 with a late turnaround. Inter and Roma sit joint-top on nine points.
Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe scored as Real Madrid defeated Malaga 4-0 at home on Sunday, extending their perfect start to La Liga under Jose Mourinho. Bellingham opened the scoring after 19 minutes, and Arda Guler added a fourth late in the match.
Bundesliga newcomers Elversberg, from a town of 13,000, defeated defending champions Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 at home in their first top-flight game. Dortmund also won 2-0 against Hamburg in Saturday's late match, though Greece midfielder Giannis Konstantelias suffered a potentially serious injury.
Xabi Alonso won his first game as Chelsea manager, defeating Fulham 3-2, with Morgan Rogers scoring on his debut after a £117 million transfer from Aston Villa. Joao Pedro opened the scoring within 31 seconds, though Chelsea conceded twice due to keeper errors but held on for victory.
Jose Mourinho began his second spell as Real Madrid manager with a 2-1 victory at Espanyol in La Liga, with substitute Carlos Espi scoring the winning goal in the 90th minute. Jude Bellingham opened the scoring for Madrid, who fielded new signings including Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries and Ibrahima Konate.
Hansi Flick begins his third season at Barcelona after winning back-to-back La Liga titles, with the club aiming for domestic dominance and Champions League success. Barcelona have acquired Rodri from Manchester City while losing Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, reshaping the attacking unit as they look to address defensive vulnerabilities.
Kang-In Lee and Alex Baena scored second-half goals to help Atletico Madrid open their La Liga campaign with a 2-0 win over Malaga on Wednesday. The Rojiblancos, who last won La Liga in 2021, fielded a side with several youngsters and substitutes as Julian Alvarez was unavailable.
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane received his second European Golden Shoe after scoring the most goals in Europe's top divisions last season, with 36 in 31 Bundesliga games. Kane said his "best season ever" — during which he scored 73 goals for club and country — positions him to compete for the Ballon d'Or.
Spain's World Cup-winning captain Rodri has completed his move to La Liga champions Barcelona from Manchester City on a deal running until 2030, with the transfer value reaching 76.5 million euros including bonuses after two failed bids.
Real Madrid defeated Schalke 3-0 in a friendly with Kylian Mbappe on the scoresheet and record signing Yan Diomande debuting; Barcelona won 5-2 at Basel with summer signings Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi featuring.
Real Madrid announced a six-year contract extension for forward Vinicius Junior through June 2032 and signed teenage winger Yan Diomande from Leipzig as the club aims to end a two-year trophy drought under manager Jose Mourinho.
New AC Milan coach Ruben Amorim has vowed to honour club legend Franco Baresi, who died last week, as he begins his tenure with a Milan derby against Inter in Perth on Wednesday. The Portuguese coach aims for a top-four Serie A finish after AC Milan missed the Champions League last season, and will have veteran midfielder Luka Modric available after his contract extension.
Zinedine Zidane has been appointed France coach, replacing Didier Deschamps after his tenure ended following France's fourth-place finish at the World Cup. Zidane, 54, takes over on a four-year contract running until the 2030 World Cup.
A new book by Mathias Ngwangwama explores Cuca Tops FC's rise from Rundu to Namibia's top football division, tracing the club's journey from informal formation in 1970 to its 1987 promotion to the Namibia National Super League. The author, who has a background in business management, examines the high-performance culture and organisational excellence that enabled the club to succeed despite significant resource constraints.
A new book by Mathias Ngwangwama traces Cuca Tops FC's journey from informal formation in 1970 to promotion to the Namibia National Super League at the end of 1987, framing the club's success as a story of high-performance culture, resilience, and organisational excellence rather than purely sporting achievement.
Spain won the 48-team World Cup, beating Argentina 1-0 in extra time at the MetLife Stadium on Sunday with a goal from Ferran Torres in the 106th minute. Spain's defensive strength—conceding only once in the tournament—and captain Rodri's play earned him player of the tournament honours over attacking superstars like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
Spain and Argentina will contest the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday at New Jersey Stadium, with Spain having defeated France 2-0 in the semi-finals and Argentina seeking to defend their 2022 title. The match will be the first time the two nations have met at a FIFA World Cup since 1966.
Spain and Argentina will face off in the FIFA World Cup final this weekend at New Jersey Stadium. The final will be the first meeting between the two nations at a World Cup since 1966, with Spain aiming to add to their World Cup titles and Argentina defending their 2022 triumph.
Lamine Yamal hopes to emulate Kylian Mbappe by winning the World Cup as a teenager, with Spain facing France in Tuesday's semi-final in Arlington. The 16-year-old Yamal, who scored in Euro 2024's semi-final against France four days before his 17th birthday, will celebrate his 19th birthday on the eve of this World Cup semi-final.
Kylian Mbappé scored a brilliant curling finish after a missed penalty, and set up Ousmane Dembele's goal as France defeated Morocco 2-0 to advance to the World Cup semi-finals, moving Mbappé level with Lionel Messi with eight tournament goals.
Belgium meet Spain in the World Cup quarter-finals on Friday, seeking to break Spain's defence, which has recorded six consecutive World Cup clean sheets—a first in history. Spain have conceded just six shots on target in five matches and are playing possession-based football similar to their 2010 World Cup-winning approach.
Belgium beat the United States 4-1 in a World Cup last-16 match at Seattle's Lumen Field, with Charles De Ketelaere scoring twice and Romelu Lukaku adding a goal. The result ended USA's hopes of reaching a first World Cup quarter-final in 24 years and set up a quarter-final between Belgium and Spain.
England won 3-2 against Mexico in Mexico City at the Estadio Azteca despite playing with ten men after defender Jarell Quansah received a red card early in the second half. The victory sets up a quarter-final match against Norway and is hailed as England's greatest win on foreign soil.
Substitute Mikel Merino scored in injury time to give Spain a 1-0 victory over Portugal in the World Cup Round of 16, eliminating Cristiano Ronaldo in his final World Cup match and sending Spain to the quarter-finals.
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said the team's last-16 World Cup loss to Norway should fuel future improvement, calling it "the start of a new cycle" rather than an ending. Ancelotti, who was appointed a year ago to guide Brazil to a record sixth World Cup title, dismissed suggestions he would step down.
Jude Bellingham scored twice as 10-man England defeated Mexico 3-2 at the Estadio Azteca to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, with Harry Kane also scoring from the penalty spot. England will face Norway in the last eight.
France defeated Paraguay 1-0 in a World Cup last-16 match on Saturday, with Kylian Mbappe scoring a second-half penalty on 70 minutes. France will face Morocco in the quarter-finals after Morocco beat Canada 3-0.
Spain and Portugal meet in a World Cup last-16 clash in Texas on Monday, with the quarter-finals and possibly Cristiano Ronaldo's international career at stake. Spain advanced by defeating Austria 3-0 in the first knockout round.