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Newest bits across football news and results

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By Timothy Akintola

Read stories on Ryan Babel, Ivan Jurić, Barcelona, Arsenal and Man United.

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Ryan Babel announces retirement from football over a year after his last game.

Former Liverpool and Ajax winger Ryan Babel has officially announced his retirement, over a year since his last competitive match. In a heartfelt video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Babel reflected on his career, saying, “Looking back, it feels surreal to see how far I’ve come—from my early days at Ajax to playing for some of Europe’s top clubs. Football has given me everything I dreamed of and so much more.” He extended his gratitude to teammates, coaches, fans, and even the media who accompanied him throughout his journey, calling the game “an unforgettable adventure.” During his career, Babel played for renowned clubs such as Liverpool, Ajax, and Galatasaray, earning 69 caps for the Netherlands and winning multiple titles. While he once expressed interest in pursuing a managerial path like former Liverpool teammates Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard, that goal may be on hold for now.

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Ivan Jurić has been sacked from his role as AS Roma’s manager.

AS Roma announced on Sunday that they have dismissed head coach Ivan Jurić following a 3-2 home loss to Bologna, marking the Croatian as their second manager to be sacked this season. Roma, currently 12th in Serie A, has lost four of their last five league games. The club expressed gratitude to Jurić for his professionalism, stating that the search for a replacement is underway, with former Italy coach Roberto Mancini reportedly in talks. Jurić, hired in September after Daniele De Rossi’s brief tenure, initially saw some success but struggled as his man-to-man marking style clashed with Roma’s preference for possession-based play. Roma’s loss to Bologna, their fourth defeat in five matches, underscored these issues. Now, facing their worst season start in 20 years with only 13 points from 12 games, Roma’s upcoming schedule includes Napoli, Tottenham, and Atalanta.

Yamal-less Barcelona handed a second defeat by Real Sociedad.

Real Sociedad handed Barcelona their second La Liga defeat of the season, outplaying the league leaders in San Sebastian. Sheraldo Becker scored the only goal in the first half, seizing on a flick-on to finish confidently. Sociedad created several opportunities to extend the lead, with Becker, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Ander Barrenetxea all missing clear chances to make it 2-0. Surprisingly, Barcelona failed to mount any significant pressure, not registering a single shot on target. Missing the injured Lamine Yamal, Barca seemed out of sync, and their best chance—a Robert Lewandowski goal—was overturned by VAR for offside after a messy buildup. This loss narrows Barcelona’s lead to six points, with Real Madrid having a game in hand, while Sociedad moves up to eighth with their second home win of the season.

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Pedro Neto salvages a point for Chelsea as Arsenal’s winless run continues.

Arsenal dropped further points in the Premier League title race with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea, despite Martin Ødegaard’s efforts. The first half showed promise, but both teams lacked finishing precision, leaving it goalless at the break. Kai Havertz almost scored against his former club, but his quick free-kick was ruled offside. Meanwhile, David Raya saved a long-range shot from Cole Palmer, and Gabriel Martinelli missed a clear chance to put Arsenal ahead. However, Martinelli redeemed himself in the second half, finishing at the near post after Ødegaard took advantage of weak Chelsea defending to set him up. Chelsea struggled to challenge Raya until Pedro Neto’s stunning long-range strike found the bottom corner in the 70th minute. Both sides searched for a late winner, but Arsenal’s winless league run extended to four matches, leaving them fourth and nine points behind Liverpool.

Bruno and Garnacho score as Man United seal a comfortable win over Leicester City.

Interim head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy led Manchester United to a confident 3-0 victory over Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday. Bruno Fernandes shined in his 250th United appearance, scoring once and contributing to both additional goals as he made a case for the incoming head coach, Rúben Amorim. Fernandes opened the scoring in the 17th minute after a clever flick from Amad Diallo set him up outside the box. Goalkeeper André Onana saved United’s defense from a potential equalizer after a strong run from Wilfred Ndidi. Fernandes was also involved in the second goal, nodding down a cross from Noussair Mazraoui that deflected off Leicester’s Victor Kristiansen for an own goal. Substitute Alejandro Garnacho sealed the win with a well-taken shot following Fernandes’ drive into the box. Leicester, now just two points above the relegation zone, will host Chelsea after the break.

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