Rafael Leao was guilty of an incredible miss which let Newcastle off the hook as their Champions League opener at AC Milan finished goalless.

Rafael Leao was guilty of an incredible miss which let Newcastle off the hook as their Champions League opener at AC Milan finished goalless.
The Portugal international, who was Newcastle star Sandro Tonali's team-mate at San Siro until his £53million switch to Tyneside, completely fluffed his lines with only goalkeeper Nick Pope to beat after attempting an audacious flick at the end of a stunning 34th-minute run and only succeeded in tripping himself.
Pope will feel he had already earned his slice of good fortune after making five first-half saves in the space of six minutes to pave the way for a 0-0 draw which banked a priceless first point for the Magpies’ Group F account on their return to European football’s top table after an absence of 20 years.
For the seven-time winners, who were thrashed 5-1 by derby rivals Inter Milan on Saturday, there was no salvation on a night when they created enough chances, but were unable to take any of them, much to the annoyance of the locals among a crowd of 65,695.
Pope had to come to Newcastle's rescue five times in quick succession after Dan Burn, one of two Geordies in Eddie Howe's starting line-up, allowed the ball to run across him, forcing Sven Botman to make a hurried clearance.
Midfielder Tommaso Pobega pounced on the loose ball to test the keeper from distance and Pope had to react swiftly to repel Samuel Chukwueze's header as the ball was recycled before denying Olivier Giroud from point-blank range with his defenders unable to keep the red and black shirts at bay.
The England international then tipped away Rade Krunic's raking drive and turned Giroud's 19th-minute header over the bar after he had been left criminally unmarked from the resulting corner.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek blazed over from long range after once again bursting through the black and white cover with Howe's men under sustained pressure with Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff struggling to exert any control in midfield.
Longstaff was appealing in vain for a 31st-minute penalty after going down under Leao's challenge and as Spanish referee Jose Sanchez waved play on, Theo Hernandez broke down the left and crossed for Giroud a the near post, only to see him fire wastefully wide.
Leao should have put Milan ahead 11 minutes before the break when he carved his way into the penalty area and past three lunging tackles to go one-on-one with Pope, but inexplicably tried to back-heel the ball home from six yards and simply fell over with Jacob Murphy hacking Pobega’s follow-up off the line.
Murphy mustered the Magpies' first attempt with a curling 41st-minute shot which flew well wide after Kieran Tripper, Longstaff and Alexander Isak had combined well, but there was a measure of relief when the half-time whistle sounded with the score still at 0-0.
Tonali blasted a shot straight at defender Malick Thiaw and Murphy blazed high and wide as Newcastle returned determined to make an impression as an attacking force.
Milan's build-up play was patient, but the holes which had appeared in the visitors' defence at regular intervals before the break remained stubbornly closed after it.
Howe made his move with 27 minutes remaining when he sent on Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron for Anthony Gordon and Murphy, although Pope had to field a stabbed shot from substitute Tijjani Reijnders within seconds.
Frustration grew among the Rossoneri ranks with Hernandez chancing his arm from all of 35 yards only for Botman to thump his attempt away, although Tonali was applauded warmly by the home fans when he was replaced by Elliot Anderson with 18 minutes remaining.
Leao might have atoned for his first-half blunder when he dived to meet Alessandro Florenzi's 74th-minute cross, but he sent his header over Pope's crossbar, and a late flurry by Milan was met with stern resistance as the game ended goalless, but only after substitute keeper Marco Sportiello had tipped Longstaff’s stoppage-time pile-driver over.

Newcastle hold AC Milan to goalless draw at San Siro in Champions League opener

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Vodacom Soccer | News | Newcastle hold AC Milan to goalless draw at San Siro in Champions League opener

Manchester City will again be without John Stones and Bernardo Silva for Saturday's Premier League trip to Wolves, although Pep Guardiola has said the former is "much better".

Manchester City will again be without John Stones and Bernardo Silva for Saturday's Premier League trip to Wolves, although Pep Guardiola has said the former is "much better".
England defender Stones has not played since City's Community Shield clash with Arsenal on August 6 due to a thigh issue.
The treble winners also have Silva sidelined after he came off against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League last week having sustained what Guardiola described as a "little injury", while Kevin De Bruyne is recovering from hamstring surgery.
Boss Guardiola told a press conference on Friday: "We have training this afternoon.
"I think John is still not ready. Kevin is still not ready. Bernardo Silva also is not OK. I think the rest are fine.
"He (Stones) is better, much better. I spoke with him, he feels really good. He is training alone, but maybe next week, or after RB Leipzig (next Wednesday) he will restart."
City, who lead the Premier League table with maximum points from six outings, also have Rodri out at the moment – the midfielder serves the second game of his three-match ban after being sent off in last Saturday’s 2-0 league win over Nottingham Forest.
Guardiola brought on Kalvin Phillips after Rodri's dismissal, and he then came into the starting line-up for the 1-0 Carabao Cup loss at Newcastle four days later.
Other available midfield options are summer signings Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes, who City bought from Wolves last month.
Guardiola said: "Just for the amount he (Rodri) has played, the consistency – of course, it is not easy to replace.
"But he's out, we're are going to find another quality, skills that Rodri maybe hasn’t. We are going to use it for the benefit of the team.
“(Phillips) has a chance (of being selected) like the other ones. He’s part of the group, he made incredible contributions playing not regularly. I don't have any complaints about that.
"Sometimes we are looking for something specific for some positions. When the game is a little bit (moves hands about and scrunches up face) Kalvin is the perfect one.
"When the game has to be everything in the details, maybe he struggles a little bit more. The game against Newcastle was a tough game, he helped us a lot to win against Nottingham Forest. He has specific qualities, and in some moments we will need him."
In the last couple of games, Jack Grealish has returned after injury, coming off the bench against Forest, then starting the Newcastle cup tie.
Guardiola was asked about competition in attack between Grealish and Jeremy Doku, another of City's summer signings, being a talking point, and said: "Jeremy can play on the right as well. So who is going to play more, who is going to perform better?
"Phil Foden can play on the left too. So they compete with Phil Foden as well.
"The guy who performs well and feels better than the other one is going to have more chances to play. Always it has been like that."
When it was put to Guardiola that that people may regard Wolves – who are 16th with four points – as an easy fixture for City, he said: "Normally all the games we play are 'easy' – and if we don't win the Premier League, 10 points in front, in November, it's a disaster! I know exactly what it is.
"(Wolves boss Gary) O'Neil did an incredible job at Bournemouth and I have the feeling they will do it too. It is a team where the quality is there.
"Hopefully we can respond with these next three games before before the international break."

John Stones 'much better' but will still be absent for Man City's trip to Wolves 

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has raised eyebrows by suggesting that Girona could be genuine contenders for the La Liga title.

In a surprising turn of events, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has raised eyebrows by suggesting that Girona could be genuine contenders for the La Liga title.
As the two teams prepare to face off at Estadi Montilivi, the Italian tactician has acknowledged the threat posed by the Catalan side, and Saturday's showdown could see the winner sit atop the league table.
Last season, Los Blancos endured a humbling 4-2 defeat at the hands of Girona in northern Catalonia, a night that still stings in Madridistas' memories. Ancelotti, however, is determined to avoid a repeat performance, stating confidently to reporters, "Tomorrow, what happened last season will not happen."
Comparisons have been drawn to the fairy tale of Leicester City's Premier League triumph in England. When asked about the possibility of Girona emulating the Spanish equivalent, Ancelotti responded cautiously, emphasizing the need to assess the present moment and acknowledge Girona's early-season achievements. "Girona has outperformed many others in these initial games," Ancelotti acknowledged. "We must respect this. Girona can fight for the title."
One significant advantage that Girona hold is their absence from European competitions. With no midweek fixtures to contend with, they can meticulously prepare for domestic clashes. Ancelotti shed light on the challenges faced by teams involved in international competitions, revealing, "What affects teams the most at this stage are the international competitions, because we have injuries, fatigue, and limited recovery time."
To underscore the demanding schedule, Ancelotti referred to a scenario where players return from international duty on the 19th and are expected to face Sevilla on the 21st. "If there is a delay in their flights," Ancelotti emphasized, "I have to tell the player that we will see you in Seville; they will not stop in Madrid but go directly to Seville."
Real have been vocal about the taxing football calendar and its adverse impact on player well-being and game quality. Ancelotti's comments echo these concerns, highlighting the strain on athletes in the relentless pursuit of success.
Moreover, Ancelotti disclosed a tactical adjustment in Real Madrid's approach for the season. The full-backs have been tasked with adopting higher positions on the field. With a formidable Girona attacking unit and the return of Vinicius Junior, the exact role of these full-backs remains a point of intrigue. Ancelotti explained, "In this early part of the season, we have instructed them to venture further forward than usual, especially when we lack a winger of Vinicius's calibre."
He added, "The work has paid off, and we have found the net through crosses. However, defensively, we have encountered difficulties, especially against teams fielding five forwards between the lines."
Ancelotti's tactical shift has benefited players like Dani Carvajal, who thrived in his role until his injury. Nonetheless, it has left players such as Fran Garcia and Lucas Vazquez exposed to opposing wingers. In their upcoming clash in Catalonia, Real Madrid's full-backs will face the daunting task of containing Girona's Viktor Tsygankov and Savio Moreira.
As the football world eagerly anticipates the showdown at Estadi Montilivi, Ancelotti's acknowledgment of Girona's potential to challenge for the La Liga title has added an intriguing layer of excitement to the encounter.
The battle for supremacy in Spain's top-flight is heating up, and Girona's rise to prominence could be one of the season's defining narratives.

Girona's La Liga title aspirations: Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti takes notice

Manchester United have announced Lisandro Martinez will be sidelined for an "extended period" after aggravating the foot injury he suffered towards the end of last season.

Manchester United have announced Lisandro Martinez will be sidelined for an "extended period" after aggravating the foot injury he suffered towards the end of last season.
The Argentina defender sustained a fractured metatarsal in April's Europa League quarter-final first leg against Sevilla, keeping him out for around two months.
Martinez is now looking at a similar timescale after United confirmed he had suffered a setback.
The club said: "Lisandro Martinez will be out of action for an extended period due to an aggravation of the foot injury he suffered in April.
"The Argentinian defender experienced the setback in our Premier League game against Arsenal earlier this month.
"Martinez bravely continued playing for the following two games against Brighton and Bayern Munich.
"But it has now been determined that he needs a period on the sidelines for recovery and rehabilitation. Assessment is ongoing to decide next steps."
United have a number of injury issues to deal with and have confirmed Sergio Reguilon will be among those absent against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The club said: "Sergio Reguilon will also be absent from this Saturday's Premier League game against Crystal Palace with a minor injury."

Manchester United suffer Lisandro Martinez injury blow

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is facing a selection headache ahead of the Bournemouth game as he could be missing up to eight first-team players.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is facing a selection headache ahead of the Bournemouth game as he could be missing up to eight first-team players.
England pair Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice picked up injuries in the north London derby draw with Tottenham last weekend and since then both William Saliba and Fabio Vieira have suffered setbacks.
Those issues only add to Arteta's concerns, with forwards Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard missing the derby and Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey having been sidelined for some time.
Saka reportedly has a good chance of being involved at the Vitality Stadium but Arteta could have a number of selection headaches.
"They are all in the same pool," he said of the right players who are doubtful.
"We have a few. We have to see and adapt to the situation because that's a big number.
"Are they fit enough? Have they done enough to be able to be selected tomorrow and that's the question mark.
"My hope is that everybody is fit and available, because we need them with the amount of games that we have already under the belt in the last two weeks and what is coming in the next seven to 10 days. We need them, so hopefully today we get some good news."
If Arsenal's line-up on the south coast has an unfamiliar look to it, Arteta need only glance at the home dugout for someone he recognises well.
Bournemouth appointed Andoni Iraola as their new head coach in the summer, the 41-year-old having played in the same childhood team as Arteta as they grew up together in the Basque Country.
"We know each other really well. We played together, we had fantastic times together. We played together in Antiguoko, which is a team in San Sebastian that has produced a lot of players over the years," said Arteta.
"That's the beauty of football that 30 years later we are here together in the Premier League as managers. I'm really happy for that.
"He was better technically than everybody else. He used to play as a winger coming inside when he was younger. As he got older in his career, he played as a full-back.
"He would be an incredible inverted full-back today. It would be a dream for any manager to have a player like him. Really intelligent, really skilful."
Asked if he had been in touch with Iraola since he joined the Cherries, Arteta added: "Yes, I did. He was really excited to come.
"He was really complimentary about the club and the support he was getting with players and staff. He was happy to be part of the league."