Category: 6. Sports

Barcelona came from two goals down to pull off a monumental comeback to defeat Levante 3–2 and capture three points that could prove significant come the climax of the La Liga season.

Although Barcelona had the ball to start, it was Levante who looked more dangerous and struck first. After having a goal disallowed, the hosts took the lead in the 15th minute. Levante worked around Barcelona’s high line, then, Jeremy Toljan set up Iván Romero, who entered the box and got away from Pau Cubarsí with a sweet body feint to fire a low shot into the back of the net.

Barcelona dominated possession but squandered the chances they created to equalize. None clearer than when Pedri played Ferran Torres through on goal, but Torres missed, hitting the crossbar from close distance to deny the Catalans from leveling the score.

Instead, it was Levante who doubled their lead before halftime. Alejandro Balde was called for a penalty after it was deemed he deliberately blocked a shot with his hand. José Luis Morales calmly stepped up and dispatched the penalty with the final kick of the first half.

It took Barcelona just seven minutes to level the game out of the tunnel. Pedri pulled one back for the Catalans quickly with a stunning, long-distance strike perfectly placed into the top corner. Three minutes later, Torres redeemed himself as he volleyed in Barça’s equalizer from a Raphinha corner.

Hansi Flick’s side pushed forward in numbers for the remainder of the game, forcing Levante to defend with all 11 players almost inside their penalty box. A minute into stoppage time, Barcelona completed the comeback. Lamine Yamal—who was excellent in the second half—sent in a deadly cross into the heart of the box that Unai Elgezabal dramatically headed into his own goal.

Barcelona would see out the game to take all three points. However, Flick’s side must clean up their overall performance, as a number of weaknesses were exposed in only the second game of the season.

Player ratings from the game below.

Ratings Provided by FotMob

Position / Player	Ratings (Out of 10)
GK: Joan García	7.8
RB: Eric García	7.9
CB: Ronald Araújo	7.2
CB: Pau Cubarsí	7.0
LB: Alejandro Balde	7.2
CM: Marc Casadó	6.7
CM: Pedri	8.6
RW: Lamine Yamal	8.5
AM: Raphinha	8.3
LW: Marcus Rashford	7.1
ST: Ferran Torres	8.2
SUB: Gavi (46′ for Casadó)	6.9
SUB: Dani Olmo (46′ for Rashford)	7.0
SUB: Andreas Christensen (76′ for Araújo)	6.4
SUB: Robert Lewandowski (76′ for Balde)	5.7
SUB: Jules Koundé (85′ for García)	N/A

Subs not used: Iñaki Peña (GK), Diego Kochen (GK), Dro Fernández, Antonio Fernández, Fermín López, Jofre Torrents

Player of the Match: Pedri (Barcelona)

Levante (5-4-1): Pablo Cuñat (GK); Manu Sánchez, Jorge Cabello, Unai Elgezabel, Adrián de la Fuente, Jeremy Toljan; José Luis Morales, Oriol Rey, Pablo Martínez, Roger Brugué; Iván Romero

Subs: Alejandro Primo (GK), Diego Pampín, Victor García, Iker Losada, Carlos Espí, Carlos Álvarez, Matias Moreno, Sergio Lozano, Paco Cortés, Nacho Pérez Gómez,

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Unfavourable weather conditions of gusty winds and low temperatures did not prevent the favourites from achieving some good results during the Polish Championships in Bydgoszcz on Friday and Saturday (22-23).

The most historic moments were delivered on Friday, during the second national championships window of the season as athletes work towards the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25. Three-time Olympic and four-time world champion Anita Wlodarczyk won her 12th national hammer title with a throw of 70.66m, equalling Kamila Skolimowska’s record for gold medals at the Polish Championships.

Despite competing in the Diamond League in Lausanne two days before her start in Poland, Kinga Krolik also had a strong performance in the 3000m steeplechase. She won gold in 9:24.92, breaking the Polish Championships record.

Triumphs were also achieved by the leading Polish multiple medallists: Piotr Lisek in the men’s pole vault (5.62m), Konrad Bukowiecki in the men’s shot put (20.20m), Pia Skrzyszowska in the women’s 100m hurdles (12.59) and Pawel Fajdek in the men’s hammer as he thew a season’s best of 79.07m to move to seventh on this season’s top list.

Another veteran, Justyna Swiety-Ersetic, claimed the 400m title (52.67) ahead of Aleksandra Formella (53.06) and Anastazja Kus (53.36).

Piotrek Przyborowski for World Athletics
Produced as part of the World Athletics Media Academy project

Results

 

LUANDA (Angola) – The Angolan Basketball Federation (FAB) and FIBA Africa honored individuals who have contributed to the growth of basketball in Africa.

FIBA Africa Regional Director Alphonse Bile and FAB Chairman José Moniz Silva hosted the ceremony at the Hotel de Convenções de Talatona (HCTA) in Luanda on Friday, August 22, during the only non-game day of the 2025 AfroBasket tournament.

These individuals were recognized for their significant contributions to African basketball as players, coaches, referees, executives, and national federation leaders.

Those in attendance included FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave, FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, Angola’s Youth and Sports Minister Rui Falcão, representatives of the teams competing in the 2025 AfroBasket, and current and former players.

FIBA Africa honored the current and former presidents of the FAB: José Moniz Silva, Carlos Teixeira, António Pires, Gustavo Conceição, and Paulo Madeira. The organization also acknowledged the efforts of former Secretary General António Sofrimento and Minister Rui Falcão.

Other individuals celebrated for their contributions to the advancement of Angolan and African basketball included former Olympian José Carlos Guimarães; media personality Arlindo Macedo; and António Sousa Manuel.

During the ceremony, FIBA Africa honored Hall of Famers Medhat Warda (2019), Romain Sato (2024), Jean Jacques Conceição (2013), Mathieu Faye (2021), Mame Maty Mbengue (2022) and Alphonse Bile (2025).

In his welcome speech, Angola’s Youth and Sports Minister Rui Falcão welcomed all the delegations “on behalf of the Angolan people and the head of state to celebrate an event that will stay in our memories forever.”

“This AfroBasket occurs at a special time for Angola, as we celebrate our 50th anniversary of independence. There is no better way to celebrate our independence than with the biggest basketball event in Africa.

“We would like to thank FIBA, the Angolan Basketball Federation (FAB), the players, officials, and volunteers for their contributions to this special event. This celebration of basketball is not just for Angola; it’s for all of Africa.”

“It’s an event that helps us overcome barriers. May the best team win the championship,” said Mr. Falcao. Mr. Falcao noted.

During his speech, Alphonse Bile said, “We need female African players in the Hall of Fame.”

The highlight of the night was the recognition and tributes to Kim Bohuny, Lubomir Kotleba, Pierre Dao, and Amadou Gallo Fall. Alphonse Bile described these individuals as key contributors to African basketball.

Bohuny, an American, oversees the NBA’s international basketball development strategies, including the planning and implementation of NBA Academies. These are elite basketball training centers around the world for top high school–age prospects from outside the U.S. There is also Basketball Without Borders. Bohuny also supervises the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development.

Lubomir Kotleba, a Slovak who first engaged with African basketball as a referee during the 1977 Junior African Championship in Nigeria, revealed that he recognized Africa’s talent early on.

Pierre Dao is a French former coach and executive.

Amadou Gallo Fall is the current president of the Basketball Africa League and former president of NBA Africa.

“These four people believe in African basketball,” Bile said.

FIBA

On an evening that’ll be remembered for some time, we ran out 5-0 victors against Leeds United at a bouncing Emirates Stadium, and you can watch all the goals flying in in our highlights.

Jurrien Timber and Viktor Gyokeres both netted twice while Bukayo Saka also opened his account for 2025/26 as we blew the newly-promoted side away with a scintillating display in front of our supporters to make it two wins from two at the start of the campaign.

You can watch all the best moments from the game by pressing play on our highlights package above, with an extended cut available below.

Iga Swiatek has finally had a brief moment to catch her breath. Her life has been on fast-forward for the last few hectic yet rewarding weeks, emerging from the heat and humidity of the Cincinnati Open with another significant title. Fourteen hours later she was on court in New York, throwing herself into two long days of competition alongside her new partner, Casper Ruud. The stakes were low for singles players in the mixed doubles this week but every point she played meant more mental energy expended.

There is still little time for Swiatek to reflect on how the summer has developed, but with the final grand slam tournament of the year starting on Sunday it is clear the past few months have become a defining moment in her career. Swiatek started the season swimming upstream, still reeling from her doping case last year. She emerged from that difficult period with the most surprising, special victory of her career, a triumph on grass, her least favourite surface, at Wimbledon, which she sealed with a merciless 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Amanda Anisimova in the final. In stark contrast to the relief she felt after previous triumphs, this victory brought her only joy.

That emotion has endured throughout Swiatek’s hard-court season, and as a result the Pole will begin the US Open as the favourite, seeking her seventh grand slam title. The competition, however, is varied and difficult. Aryna Sabalenka rightfully remains the world No 1, although she has repeatedly frozen in the most significant moments, despite how frequently she has put herself in position to win big titles. After two major finals and a semi-final this year, the Belarusian’s US Open title defence represents her last opportunity to end a year of near misses with a massive victory.

Sabalenka’s challenges, however, pale in comparison with Coco Gauff’s struggles. It was reasonable to assume the American’s triumph at the French Open, where she established herself as a multiple slam champion, would have inspired more freedom and confidence in her game. Instead, her serve has completely deteriorated over the past few months. On the eve of the US Open, she took the decision to part ways with one of her coaches, Matthew Daly, and hire Gavin MacMillan, the biomechanics expert who helped to revive Sabalenka’s serve. It was a drastic move.

As is always the case, a wide variety of characters can compete for the title, depending on how they are feeling in New York. Although Mirra Andreeva’s form has cooled over the past few months, the Russian has the talent to break through at any time. Madison Keys, the victor in Australia, and Anisimova had spectacular grand slam runs this year and can do so again on home soil.

Elena Rybakina appears to be on the verge of rediscovering her top form. Perhaps the Canadian Open will turn out to be a sign of things to come, with the 18-year-old Victoria Mboko putting together a spectacular breakout title win and Naomi Osaka showing promising signs by reaching the final.

In contrast to the notable shifts in women’s tennis this year, absolutely nothing has changed at the top of the men’s game. Just as in Paris, Wimbledon and the Masters 1000 events since, the question remains whether any challenger is prepared to take down just one of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. As the gap between them and the rest of the field continues to grow, they will start the US Open attempting to contest a third consecutive grand slam final and a fifth final this year overall.

Novak Djokovic, now 38, has been the third-best player at the grand slam tournaments with three semi-finals. However, he has not competed since Wimbledon. After his straight-sets defeat by Sinner there in early July, Djokovic himself cast doubt on his ability to win his 25th grand slam title due to the physicality of these events across the best of five sets, which are increasingly difficult to navigate due to his ageing body.

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One of the most significant developments this summer has been Ben Shelton’s continued growth. He followed up his quarter-final run at Wimbledon by emerging from a bruising two weeks in Toronto with his first Masters 1000 title. Already a two‑time grand slam semi‑finalist, the 22-year-old American produces his best tennis at the major tournaments and in front of home crowds. The coming weeks are a chance for him to consolidate his status as a top contender.

In the spring it was Jack Draper who seemed to have positioned himself as the younger player most likely to challenge Sinner and Alcaraz, but the Briton’s last few months have been complicated. After frustrating defeats at the French Open and Wimbledon, a left forearm injury forced Draper off the tour for three months and he has not competed in singles since losing in SW19. A year after his first big grand slam breakthrough, a rousing semi-final run, he returns to the US Open without any hard‑court preparation.

Time is not on Draper’s side this week, but the qualities that have put him in this position as the fifth-best player in the world at a grand slam – his ability and ambition – mean he is more than capable of quickly finding his feet and taking another significant step forward.

The Wallabies’ quest for back-to-back wins over the Springboks has fallen short, going down 30-22 in Cape Town.

The visitors fought through a myriad of injury setbacks to reduce the margin to one late after a Brandon-Paenga Amosa try.

This included losing Nic White and Tom Wright in the first ten minutes, with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii also not returning after half-time as they trailed by ten.

But the Springboks were hellbent on rebounding from last week’s shock as a late try to Eben Etzebeth sealed the victory.

The contest started at breakneck speed as both teams were intent on attacking early.

Handre Pollard made his mark early in the game, slotting a pair of penalties before White’s boot set up the opening try.

White spotted the space down the blindside and an open Corey Toole, kicking for the winger to score on debut.

Pollard responded in kind with a flat kick to Canan Moodie to restore the Springboks’ lead.

Joe Schmidt was forced to call on his bench early as Wright (knee) and White (concussion) departed inside the first 15 minutes.

Replacement Andrew Kellaway almost delivered instantly to set up captain Fraser McReight, with the try brought back for a knock-on in the build-up.

Both teams struggled in the wet conditions as the field started to deteriorate throughout the contest after a pre-match downpour.

The Springboks withheld a solid attacking period from the visitors and struck back with their own as late starter Kwagga Smith dived over five minutes before the break for a 20-10 half-time lead.

Like last week, the Wallabies refused to give up and James O’Connor’s snap kick in behind caused the necessary chaos for Max Jorgensen to capitalise and dive over for his sixth international try.

A third Pollard penalty gave the Springboks some necessary breathing room as their aerial ascendancy started to make a difference.

Toole nearly put the Wallabies in front with a spectacular chip and chase, forcing some desperate scramble.

But they couldn’t stop Brandon Paenga-Amosa as the hooker reached out for the line from the rolling maul to reduce the margin to one.

James O’Connor’s conversion just faded to the left, forcing the Wallabies to chase the game.

However, a mistake close to the line gifted South Africa the killer blow, with legendary second-rower Etzebeth there to dive over six minutes from full-time.

O’Connor had two tough shots at a penalty to reduce the margin and give the Australians a late chance, but couldn’t make the opportunity count as the world champions sealed the win.

It lifts the Springboks back into second on the World Rankings, setting up a blockbuster Rugby Championship fixture against number one All Blacks in a fortnight.

As for the Wallabies, they will face Argentina in Sydney and Townsville.

Springboks 30 (Moodie, Smith, Etzebeth tries; Pollard 3 cons; Pollard 3 pens) Wallabies 22 (Toole, Jorgensen, Paenga-Amosa tries; O’Connor 2 cons; O’Connor pen)

 

It was an occasion that was transcended by someone who did not play but had so much more to chew over from an Arsenal point of view. The club showed off their new signing, Eberechi Eze, parading him beforehand and screening a welcome video for him at half-time.

As the goals flew in to defeat Leeds, the cutaways to him in the stands were inevitable. Eze’s signing has the feel of a coup and not only because Arsenal, in the vernacular of the trade, properly did over Tottenham to land him.

Eze clapped as Jurriën Timber opened the scoring following a corner, Bukayo Saka made it 2-0 and Viktor Gyökeres opened his account for the club with the third. There would be another goal for Timber following another corner; Arsenal’s excellence in this area endures. And another one for Gyökeres from the penalty spot at the very end.

And yet when it was over, it was yet another new boy whose name was on everybody’s lips. Max Dowman got on for his first Arsenal appearance in a competitive game as a 64th minute substitute and the crowd would be singing his name as he made a few smooth and fearless runs with the ball. Remember, Dowman is just 15. He has not even started Year 11 at school yet.

Playing on the right wing, Dowman also flashed a shot high from the edge of the area and it was him winning the penalty at the death, going down after the tiniest of touches from Anton Stach. Is Dowman taking GCSE drama? The whiff of something untoward removed very little of the shine from his performance.

It was a procession after Timber’s first goal on 34 minutes; Leeds started stoutly only to be swatted aside. But the celebratory air was not total. Far from it. Mikel Arteta had not been able to select Ben White because of an injury, with Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and another new signing, Christian Nørgaard, also out. He would lose the captain, Martin Ødegaard, and Saka to further problems, which is a long way from being ideal when Arsenal’s next game is at Liverpool next Sunday.

The buildup had been dominated by Eze, taking in the detail about how his street art mural on the Hornsey Road outside the ground had been defaced, white paint thrown at it – presumably by a Spurs fan. Arsenal confirmed Eze’s signing 30 minutes before kick-off for £60m plus add-ons. And then there he was, strolling out onto the pitch, wearing a huge smile and his new No 10 shirt, pressing the badge to his heart. The ovation was really something.

Arteta has described his squad, after its £250m summer refit, as the most complete he has had; he has options galore. It feels most likely that Eze will slot in off the left wing. Here, Arteta gave another new boy, Noni Madueke, the role at the outset and the battle lines were drawn early, Arsenal stepping onto the front foot, trying to get something going. Daniel Farke had promised not to park the bus but the priority for Leeds was to be compact and physical.

The spotlight picked out Gyökeres, too, after his laboured debut in the 1-0 win at Manchester United last Sunday. The initial signs were not promising. The centre-forward struggled to escape the shackles of various Leeds defenders and when he did – in the 16th minute, after a disastrous attempt by the visitors to play out from the back – he swiped a first time shot wide when well placed. He had more time than he imagined. The chance was created when Martín Zubimendi pounced on Stach, who had been played into trouble by Pascal Struijk.

The game might have been shaped differently had David Raya not repelled a meaty Struijk header on 20 minutes following a Leeds corner and it was one at the other end that settled Arsenal. Declan Rice whipped it over and Timber, part of a platoon of red shirts that moved inside from beyond the far post, glanced past Lucas Perri.

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Arsenal lost Ødegaard towards the end of the first half – he had needed treatment earlier on after falling awkwardly on a shoulder and he could not shake the discomfort – but there was better news for his team before the break. Ilia Gruev was pressured by Rice into a loose pass and Arsenal worked it quickly and smartly to Saka via Zubimendi and Timber. The finish was smashed above Perri’s shoulder from an angle on the right.

Gyökeres kept going and he showed what he can do after the restart, tearing up the left onto a high ball from Riccardo Calafiori. Finally, Gyökeres had some space and he sliced inside Struijk and away from a Jayden Bogle tackle before banging a low shot into the near corner. Relief was prominent among the emotions as he performed his mask celebration.

Arsenal would feel another setback when Saka sat down on the turf in the 51st minute, looked up at the heavens and puffed out his cheeks. He had felt something go; it looked to be in the back of his left leg. His unhappiness was a major worry.

Leeds appeared resigned to their fate and they were pushed further towards it when Rice curved over again and, following a possible handball by William Saliba and a scramble, Timber prodded home. Arteta introduced another new signing, Cristhian Mosquera, for his debut in the 64th minute. It would be Dowman who stole the show.

EXETER - La France a bien entamé sa campagne dans la poule D avec une victoire, mais elle n’a pas réussi à décrocher le bonus offensif face à une équipe d’Italie accrocheuse, samedi à Sandy Park.

EXETER - La France a bien entamé sa campagne dans la poule D avec une victoire, mais elle n’a pas réussi à décrocher le bonus offensif face à une équipe d’Italie accrocheuse, samedi à Sandy Park.

Plus d'informations à suivre...

 

The talent of Dowman has not been a shock for anyone who has been around Arsenal. He has been training with the first team squad since he was 14.

He was taken on the team’s warm weather training camp to Dubai in January and there were calls from supporters for him to be used during the last campaign when Arteta’s squad was decimated by injuries.

Dowman played for England Under-17s in the Euros in the summer and became the competition’s youngest scorer when he netted in a win over the Czech Republic.

He featured three years above his age group when playing for the Under-18s at Arsenal. Last season he scored 19 goals and provided five assists in 23 games, with 17 of those goal involvements coming in the last seven matches of the Under-18 Premier League South season (14 goals, three assists).

Age restrictions stopped him from making his Premier League debut last season but now he is eligible and with a potential hamstring injury to Saka, the young winger could be about to be thrust into the spotlight more often.

Dowman replaced Saka in four of the pre-season matches before being given time off to rest against Athletic Bilbao, but the winger looks full of energy in what could be his breakthrough season.

Arteta also said that he needs to “protect” Dowman on his journey but that has not stopped his team-mates heaping praise on him.

“I think everyone can see the potential he has. Playing against grown men. He is a joy to watch, for the crowd too he is a joy to watch. Hopefully, he will have many amazing years here.” Jurrien Timber said after the match.

And with injuries for Arsenal trio Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Saka, there may be more Premier League opportunities heading Dowman’s way.