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Man Utd draw in Spain in Europa League last 16 as Spurs beaten

Man Utd draw in Spain in Europa League last 16 as Spurs beaten
Real Sociedad’s Spanish midfielder Mikel Oiarzabal (C) celebrates converting a penalty to score his team’s first goal with teammates Brais Mendez, Igor Zubeldia and Takefusa Kubo during their UEFA Europa League Round of 16 first leg match against Man United at Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian on Mar. 6, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 06 March 2025

Man Utd draw in Spain in Europa League last 16 as Spurs beaten

Man Utd draw in Spain in Europa League last 16 as Spurs beaten
  • “I felt until the penalty we had control of the game and then I think the penalty changed a little bit the momentum,” Amorim told TNT Sports
  • Rangers recorded an impressive 3-1 win away to a Fenerbahce team coached by Jose Mourinho

PARIS: Manchester United drew 1-1 away to Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, while Tottenham suffered a 1-0 loss away to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.
Joshua Zirkzee drilled in from just outside the area to give United the lead on 57 minutes in San Sebastian but Mikel Oyarzabal levelled from the spot after Bruno Fernandes was punished for a handball.
Zirkzee cut a distraught figure after missing the decisive penalty in last week’s FA Cup shootout loss to Fulham and has endured a testing first season at United, whose only remaining hope of silverware is in the Europa League.
He scored for the first time in Europe this term, unleashing a sharp low drive from 20 yards after being teed up by Alejandro Garnacho’s inviting pass.
But Ruben Amorim’s side could not hold on to their advantage as Fernandes handled at a corner, with Oyarzabal confidently converting his spot-kick.
Andre Onana made two excellent saves to keep United level as Real Sociedad pressed for a winner, leaving the tie evenly poised ahead of next week’s second leg.
“I felt until the penalty we had control of the game and then I think the penalty changed a little bit the momentum,” Amorim told TNT Sports.
“I felt our team in the last 30 minutes were really, really tired,” he added.
“We take this stage to Old Trafford... it’s going to be a different game, the pressure is going to be on us in that stadium and we have to be ready.”
Lucas Bergvall’s first-half own goal condemned Spurs to defeat in the Netherlands, and it could have been worse for Ange Postecoglou’s side were it not for two fine saves from Guglielmo Vicario.
Rangers recorded an impressive 3-1 win away to a Fenerbahce team coached by Jose Mourinho.
Cyriel Dessers put Rangers ahead early on in Istanbul before Alexander Djiku hauled Fenerbahce level.
Vaclav Cerny restored the lead for the Scots before striking again nine minutes from time to place Rangers in firm control under interim boss Barry Ferguson.
Lyon also took a big stride toward the quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory at Romanians FCSB.
Paulo Fonseca fought back tears as his players celebrated Nicolas Tagliafico’s opener with him, a day after the Portuguese coach was banned from the dugout until November by French football officials after an angry altercation with a referee.
Malick Fofana won the game for Lyon with two late goals after Alexandru Baluta had equalized for FCSB.
Roma host Athletic Bilbao later on Thursday, while Ajax are at home to Eintracht Frankfurt. Lazio travel to Viktoria Plzen for the first leg of their tie.


Kyrgios targets ‘miracle’ Australian Open return after knee improves

Kyrgios targets ‘miracle’ Australian Open return after knee improves
Updated 06 November 2025

Kyrgios targets ‘miracle’ Australian Open return after knee improves

Kyrgios targets ‘miracle’ Australian Open return after knee improves
  • Kyrgios has played just five singles matches in the last three years because of multiple surgeries on wrist and then knee injuries
  • Kyrgios is due to face women’s world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Dec. 28 in a rare “Battle of the Sexes” exhibition match in Dubai

SYDNEY: Nick Kyrgios said Thursday his long-term knee injury had suddenly improved, giving him hopes of a “miracle” comeback in time for the Australian Open in January.

Kyrgios, 30, has played just five singles matches in the last three years because of multiple surgeries on wrist and then knee injuries.

“In the last month, I don’t know what it is. I was with my masseuse and physio last night and something really has changed with my knee,” the 2022 Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios told the Australian Associated Press.

“It’s not swelling. It’s not feeling bad after a session.

“I don’t know whether to call it a miracle or anything, but my knee feels like it’s gotten younger by a couple of years.”

Kyrgios said he could not explain why, after months of struggling with rehabilitation, there had been such an unexpected and rapid improvement.

“I don’t want to jinx it, but something in it has gone, kind of allowed me to put three, four days of training together on court for an hour-and-a-half, two hours and be able to actually recover and then build on that,” said Kyrgios

“So that’s been really exciting and I haven’t really told anyone. I have a new lease on life on court.”

Kyrgios, whose ranking has slid to 652 in the world because of his inactivity, would need a wild card from organizers for the Australian Open.

He has not played since losing in the second round of the Miami Open in March.

Kyrgios is due to face women’s world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Dec. 28 in a rare “Battle of the Sexes” exhibition match in Dubai, organizers said this week.