Champions League spot would be ‘Premier League trophy’ for Man City: Nunes

Champions League spot would be ‘Premier League trophy’ for Man City: Nunes
Aston Villa’s Scottish midfielder John McGinn applauds as Manchester City’s Portuguese midfielder Matheus Nunes celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during their EPL match at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, on Apr. 22, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 23 April 2025

Champions League spot would be ‘Premier League trophy’ for Man City: Nunes

Champions League spot would be ‘Premier League trophy’ for Man City: Nunes
  • The Portugal international scored a last-gasp winner against Aston Villa on Tuesday
  • Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Chelsea are the other sides in the mix for a top-five finish

LONDON: Matheus Nunes says Champions League qualification would be Manchester City’s “Premier League trophy” after a poor campaign by their stellar standards.
The Portugal international scored a last-gasp winner against Aston Villa on Tuesday to lift Pep Guardiola’s men to third in the table, four points ahead of seventh-placed Villa.
With Liverpool on the brink of the Premier League title and Arsenal sitting comfortably in second place, five clubs are battling for the three remaining places in Europe’s top club competition next season.
Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Chelsea are the other sides in the mix for a top-five finish.
City, who were hunting a fifth straight league title at the start of the season, suffered a costly collapse in form from late October.
But they can still end their season on a high, with Sunday’s FA Cup semifinal against Forest at Wembley coming hot on the heels of their vital win against Unai Emery’s Villa.
“This is our Premier League trophy now, to qualify for the Champions League,” Nunes said after scoring his first league goal for City in his second season at the club.
“I think it’s massively important for us, in terms of everything, the club, in terms of the players, the mentality.”
The 26-year-old admitted though that Champions League qualification for the 15th season running and FA Cup glory would not equal a good campaign.
“The club’s standards are much higher than this,” he said. “We know that there is not the standards we want this club to be at.
“But this is our reality now and we have to accept it. And we just have to go for it like it’s the Champions League, the Premier League trophy.”


Alvarenga faces Sousa in headline bout at 11th Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship

Alvarenga faces Sousa in headline bout at 11th Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship
Updated 10 November 2025

Alvarenga faces Sousa in headline bout at 11th Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship

Alvarenga faces Sousa in headline bout at 11th Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship
  • Competition features stacked card in Al-Ain on Nov. 14

AL-AIN: A stacked fight card has been set up for the 11th Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship at the ADNEC Centre in Al-Ain on Nov. 14, the organizers announced recently.

In a release, International Vision Sports Management said the main event features Brazilians Gabriel Sousa and Ruan Alvarenga, with Helena Crevar taking on Salla Simola in the co-main event.

Sousa returns to the ADXC cage after submitting Anthony de Oliveira in the ADXC 9 Grappling Main Event, where he called out Alvarenga moments after his win.

Alvarenga, a four-time ADXC veteran with three victories, also featured in ADXC 9, defeating Yigit Hanay in the final bout of the preliminary card.

Crevar returns in search of her second consecutive ADXC win following her dominant showing at ADXC 7, where she submitted Sabrina de Sousa in the second round.

Her opponent, Simola, impressed fans with a resilient victory over Aurelie Le Vern at ADXC 9, demonstrating agility and composure under pressure.

The main card also features a showcase bout between Daniel Barbosa and Haibula Aviev, along with a grappling welterweight fight between Seilkhan Bolatbek and Kenzo Biyong.

The preliminary card promises plenty of action, including Obaid Al-Ketbi against Victor Souza in a jiu-jitsu bantamweight bout, and Hadi Abbas taking on Felipe Fernandes in a jiu-jitsu featherweight contest.

Also, Mohammed Saeed Al-Ketbi meets Brazil’s Raimundo Almeida in a bantamweight contest.

On the prelims card there is a showcase bout between Ghanim Al-Ali and Joao Arthur; a jiu-jitsu cruiserweight fight between Ammar Al-Hosani and Dabyl Abdulla; and a showcase featuring Arthur De Lima Sousa and Breno Pittizer.

Tareq Al-Bahri, general manager of International Vision Investment, said: “We have put together one of the strongest cards yet, bringing together some of the most talented and skilled athletes from the region and around the world to deliver a show that meets the expectations of our fans.

“We are proud to see Abu Dhabi Extreme continue to strengthen its reputation as a global platform that attracts the brightest stars in jiu-jitsu and grappling.”

All bouts will be streamed live on TX7 and broadcast on the Abu Dhabi Sports Channel.