Sports
Fenerbahçe draw Feyenoord in Champions League 3rd qualifying round
Fenerbahçe will face Dutch giants Feyenoord in the third qualifying round of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League, with the first leg set for early August in Rotterdam and the return leg a week later in Istanbul.
The draw, made Monday at UEFA’s Nyon headquarters, sets an electric tone for a clash steeped in narrative, not least due to Feyenoord’s manager Robin van Persie, a former Fenerbahçe star, returning to Istanbul in a coaching role.
The two-legged affair will decide who advances to the Champions League playoff round, the final gateway before the lucrative group stages.
The loser moves into the Europa League playoffs, guaranteeing continued continental competition.
Fenerbahçe, runners-up in the 2024-25 Turkish Süper Lig, seek to build on their solid domestic season under the stewardship of manager Jose Mourinho.
Their squad boasts a blend of international experience and emerging talent, with firepower from stars like Edin Dzeko and Dusan Tadic.
Home advantage at the vibrant Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium looms large for the second leg.
Feyenoord, Eredivisie champions in 2022-23, have flourished under Van Persie.
The Dutch side is a blend of disciplined defense and high-energy pressing, spearheaded by goal threat Santiago Giménez and midfield anchor Quinten Timber.
Van Persie’s intimate knowledge of Fenerbahçe and Istanbul’s fervent fans adds an emotional edge to the encounter.
This fixture marks the first competitive European meeting between the two clubs.
Van Persie, who scored 36 goals in 87 appearances during his 2015-16 season at Fenerbahçe, will face a passionate crowd eager to test the Dutchman turned coach.
Tactically, Fenerbahçe are expected to adopt a cautious approach in Rotterdam, aiming to absorb Feyenoord’s high press and hit on counters.
Back home, they will push to control possession and exploit the intimidating atmosphere. Feyenoord’s aggressive style in the first leg could prove decisive, relying on swift midfield transitions and clinical finishing.
The stakes are high as progression means a shot at Champions League glory and its lucrative rewards, while defeat still offers a Europa League lifeline.
For Feyenoord, it’s a chance to cement their rise in Europe and for Van Persie to prove his managerial mettle on a big stage.
England’s Lionesses are back in another major final – this time with grit, guts, and a pair of fearless finishers.
Down a goal, running out of time, and shadowed by off-field noise, Sarina Wiegman’s side staged a heart-thumping 2-1 extra-time comeback win over Italy in Tuesday’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 semifinal in Geneva.
Michelle Agyemang’s stoppage-time equalizer and Chloe Kelly’s rebound goal in the 119th minute sealed a place in the July 27 final in Basel, where England will face either Spain or Germany.
It’s the Lionesses’ third straight major tournament final and another chapter in their growing legend.
First-half blues, second-half belief
Italy struck first. In the 33rd minute, veteran forward Barbara Bonansea punished a lapse from Lucy Bronze and lashed a shot past Hannah Hampton.
England – flat and unconvincing in the first half – were urged to “wake up” by an agitated Wiegman at halftime.
They did.
England dictated possession but couldn’t break through until the sixth minute of stoppage time, when Agyemang, 19 and fearless, pounced on a loose ball after Laura Giuliani fumbled a cross. Her low finish forced extra time.
Minutes later, Agyemang nearly won it with a bold lob off the crossbar.
But in the 118th minute, Beth Mead drew a foul in the box. Kelly’s penalty was saved, but she buried the rebound – echoes of her 2022 heroics – triggering wild celebrations.
Bench brilliance
The win was scripted from the bench. Agyemang, on loan at Brighton from Arsenal, has now scored clutch goals in back-to-back knockout matches.
Her poise in pressure moments has made her an instant fan favorite.
Kelly, now fully at Arsenal after her move from Manchester City, extended her reputation as England’s go-to closer. Her sixth chance created in just 126 tournament minutes speaks to her impact.
Mead’s savvy drew the game-winning penalty. Though no longer a starter, the 2022 Golden Boot winner has embraced her “finisher” role, contributing both a goal and an assist from the bench in Switzerland.
This trio of Kelly, Agyemang and Aggie Beever-Jones are Wiegman’s secret weapons. Their finger-clicking celebration says it all: unity, chemistry, and timing.
Wiegman’s fifth final and counting
Sarina Wiegman is doing what she does best: winning. The Dutch tactician has now reached five consecutive major finals as head coach – two with the Netherlands, three with England.
Her substitutions turned the tide again. After a sluggish start, her reshuffle injected pace, purpose, and power. Despite scrutiny over England’s defensive frailties – especially the call to bench Jess Carter – Wiegman’s tactical instincts proved right.
England’s ability to claw back from deficits – against Sweden and now Italy – reinforces Wiegman’s philosophy: resilience, belief, and squad depth.
Carter stands tall despite abuse
The match was not without shadows.
Jess Carter, dropped after a rough showing against Sweden, has endured racist abuse throughout the tournament.
She stepped away from social media and was benched for tactical reasons – but came on in the 121st minute to help close out the win.
Her teammates stood in solidarity. They locked arms pre-match instead of taking the knee, citing the need for action over symbolism. Georgia Stanway called it “the power of the Lionesses.” The Football Association and police are investigating the abuse, which Italy’s coach Andrea Soncin also condemned.
Italy’s brave run ends in agony
Italy, playing in their first major semifinal this century, fought with pride.
Bonansea’s opener and Giuliani’s goalkeeping gave them hope.
Captain Cristiana Girelli and Sofia Cantore threatened throughout, and Soncin’s transformation of Italy’s women’s team – injecting belief and freedom – earned respect.
But in the end, heartbreak. “What a fight,” one fan posted. “Proud to be Italian tonight.”
Basel beckons
The Lionesses now prepare for a final showdown in Basel. Waiting for them: either reigning world champions Spain or eight-time European champs Germany.
Spain edged England 1-0 in the 2023 World Cup final. Germany lost 2-1 to England in the 2022 Euros.
England enter with 13 goals scored and five conceded – dynamic in attack, suspect in defense.
Captain Leah Williamson is racing back from injury, while star forward Lauren James is nursing a foot issue.
Valentin Paret-Peintre conquered the legendary Mont Ventoux on Tuesday, becoming the first Frenchman to win a stage in this year’s Tour de France and the first to triumph on the iconic climb since Richard Virenque in 2002 – a feat that left him nearly speechless.
The AG2R Citroen climber launched from a breakaway with former yellow jersey holder Ben Healy, then outkicked the Irishman in a thrilling sprint atop the “Beast of Provence.”
“Winning any stage at the Tour is special, but doing it on Ventoux – that’s something else entirely,” said an emotional Paret-Peintre. “I’ll need time to fully grasp what just happened.”
Colombian Santiago Buitrago finished third, four seconds back, with Ilan Van Wilder fourth and overall leader Tadej Pogacar fifth. Pogacar fended off repeated attacks from defending champion Jonas Vingegaard to cross the line two seconds ahead of his rival, tightening his grip on the yellow jersey.
After the Tour’s second rest day, Monday, Pogacar stretched his overall lead to 4 minutes, 15 seconds over Vingegaard. The Danish rider, who won the Tour in 2022 and 2023, appears powerless to stop Pogacar from capturing a fourth title when the race finishes Sunday on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
“I think we’ll race until Paris and we’ll see who will be the winner,” Pogacar said. “Today was a proper hard day after the rest day, also for me.”
Stage 16 took the riders 171.5 kilometers from Montpellier in the south of France along a long, flat course before the brutal climb up Ventoux.
During the 1967 Tour, British rider Tom Simpson died while ascending the 1,910-meter-high mountain after taking a mixture of amphetamines and alcohol. Simpson had been unwell, and the heat was likely another contributing factor. Doping checks were not common at the time.
Mathieu van der Poel, who had been third in the points classification, withdrew before Tuesday’s stage with pneumonia.
Wout van Aert, the last rider to win when the route included Ventoux in 2021, attacked early, prompting responses from Jonathan Milan, Ivan Romeo and others.
Six riders were in the lead by the time they reached Bedoin at the foot of the climb. Only 22 kilometers remained, but they grew increasingly grueling – including 15.7 kilometers at an 8.8% gradient from Saint-Esteve to the summit.
Healy, leading a group of chasers, overtook Julian Alaphilippe while Vingegaard made his initial move. Vingegaard attacked again – and again – but Pogacar clung doggedly to his wheel. The gap was closing on Spanish rider Enric Mas, who had moved into the lead.
Vingegaard received help from Visma-Lease a Bike teammate Victor Campenaerts, but Healy surged ahead and took the lead from Mas with 3.7 kilometers to go. Paret-Peintre followed and, with support from Soudal-Quick-Step teammate Van Wilder, edged Healy at the line.
Vingegaard could not shake off Pogacar, who countered with 2 kilometers to go to deliver another demoralizing blow to his rival.
“There were some points, of course, where I was suffering,” Pogacar said. “But I think today was just one climb, one effort, and it was more or less full gas from the bottom to the finish line. But in the next days, I think it will be just more and more tiring for the body.”
Wednesday brings the last real chance for sprinters on a relatively flat 160.4-kilometer route from Bollène to Valence, where a wide, fast road should offer a high-speed finish – though local winds could add an element of chaos to Stage 17.
The Argentina MotoGP will return to Buenos Aires from 2027, almost 30 years after it was last held there, the city mayor Jorge Macri, announced on Monday.
Since 2014, the race has been held at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, in the north-western province of Santiago del Estero.
The last time a premier class race was held on the Oscar y Juan Galvez circuit, in the south of Buenos Aires, was in 1999.
The track will undergo a major renovation and update to bring it up to current standards.
“This event fills us with emotion, because Buenos Aires has long been the capital of the automobile and motorbike industry in the region, and today it is beginning to regain that position,” said Macri.
The mayor also said that he wanted to bring Formula 1 back to Buenos Aires, the home of five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio.
“This is the first step in our bid to become a Formula 1 host city again,” he said.
World number two Carlos Alcaraz has joined the list of big names skipping next week’s Canadian Open in Toronto with the Spaniard saying he needs to focus on recovering from muscle issues after losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final.
The 22-year-old won the Italian Open, French Open and Queen’s Club titles before Sinner brought his 24-match winning streak to a halt at the All England Club earlier this month.
“After many consecutive weeks of competition without rest, I will not be able to play in Toronto this year,” the five-times Grand Slam champion wrote on social media on Monday.
“I have small muscle issues and need to recover physically and mentally for what comes next. To the tournament and my fans in Canada I am very sorry, I will see you next year.”
The U.S. Open tune-up event will now be without four of the world’s top six men’s players after Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper also opted out.
World number one Sinner said he needed to prioritize his health, number five Draper is out with an arm injury and number six Djokovic is dealing with a groin problem that he sustained during his run to the Wimbledon semi-finals.
The Canadian Open starts on Sunday and runs until Aug. 7.
The U.S. Open begins on Aug. 24.
From being a bit-part player in the team that won the Women’s World Cup two years ago, Athenea del Castillo has performed a key role in Spain’s run to the semi-finals of Euro 2025, in which they will face Germany on Wednesday.
The Real Madrid attacker, 24, was brought into Spain’s starting line-up for their last group game against Italy and scored an early equalizer before her team went on to win 3-1.
She was then relegated back to the bench for the last-eight tie against hosts Switzerland in Bern but the game changed after her introduction as a substitute just past the hour mark.
Del Castillo replaced Mariona Caldentey and broke the deadlock four minutes later, setting Spain up for a 2-0 victory – and surely giving coach Montse Tome a selection headache for the clash with Germany in Zurich.
“I have to just focus on the things that I can influence. Luckily I am managing to help the team whatever my role is, whether I am starting or not,” Del Castillo told AFP at the Spanish team’s base in Lausanne.
A win for Spain against Germany will keep them on track to add a first ever European crown to the World Cup they won in 2023, when they defeated England in the final.
“We are full of hope, we are so excited. We dream of being European champions but to do that we need to win on Wednesday so all our energy is going into that game,” Del Castillo said.
“We know all about the potential in the Germany team. They are a great side who have been European champions eight times after all.”
Spain still lean heavily on the players who won them the World Cup, notably Ballon d’Or Aitana Bonmati as well as her fellow Barcelona stars Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes.
But Del Castillo, while not yet a guaranteed starter, has become a more important player than during that tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
Then, under previous coach Jorge Vilda, she started the team’s first match before gradually disappearing from circulation.
She then featured in the side that participated in the 2024 Olympics and lost to Germany in the bronze medal match – a defeat they will seek to avenge on Wednesday.
Infectious
“We have been through so much together and that has helped us mature as a team,” she said on the margins of a training session by Lake Geneva.
“I still see myself as one of the youngsters even though there are players much younger than me like Vicky (Lopez) and Maite (Zubieta), and then there are older players like Irene and Alexia who have been around longer and been to so many more tournaments.
“We have that mix of youth and experience, of joy but also maturity.”
Del Castillo is known for her glowing smile and infectious personality, and she has no intention of changing even as she becomes more and more recognizable thanks to her exploits with Spain and Real.
“I have not changed much. I still do the same things, I still try to enjoy life and luckily everything is going well at home, with my family and friends,” said the native of Cantabria in northern Spain.
“I am very happy in Madrid – I prefer the north but I like Madrid as a city. I love to go out for a wander, listen to music, be with my family.
“If I changed what I did off the pitch that would also change me on it and I don’t like that because then I would lose my essence.”
Despite still being at a relatively tender age, the player who idolized Cristiano Ronaldo growing up now has over 60 caps and is conscious of being a leader in the Spain squad.
“I know how to differentiate between moments when you have to work and times when you can give a little bit of joy,” she said, before suggesting that the side has improved since losing to Germany at last year’s Olympics.
“I think we have matured a lot since then. We are better at controlling games in different moments now. I think that will help us, but it will above all be about staying calm and focusing on our objective.”
Beşiktaş’s route back to European respectability is anything but smooth, as the Turkish giants must first eliminate Ukrainian powerhouse Shakhtar Donetsk before facing the Champions League third qualifying round loser between Rangers and Panathinaikos in the UEFA Europa League.
The draw, made on Monday at UEFA’s Nyon headquarters, set the stage for a brutally competitive journey.
Fresh off a fourth-place Süper Lig finish, Beşiktaş are back on the continental trail, hoping to restore their status among Europe’s elite.
But the road begins with a familiar foe.
Brutal opening test: Shakhtar Donetsk
Beşiktaş must first survive a two-legged showdown with Shakhtar, a side boasting pedigree, pace and pain for opponents.
The Ukrainians, 2009 UEFA Cup winners and 2020 Europa League semifinalists, finished second domestically and carry the technical DNA of Eastern European football – crisp passing, midfield dominance, and deadly transitions.
The first leg of that second qualifying round clash will be played on Thursday, with the return leg on July 31.
Given the conflict in Ukraine, Shakhtar are likely to host the game at a neutral venue such as Hamburg, where they’ve played in recent UEFA ties.
Beşiktaş, under Norwegian boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, will likely rely on a compact, high-pressing 4-2-3-1 system.
Yet, Shakhtar’s midfield core, led by Georgiy Sudakov, will pose tactical questions Solskjaer must answer swiftly.
Next hurdle: Rangers or Panathinaikos
If Beşiktaş prevail, they’ll clash with the loser of the Champions League third qualifying round tie between two historic European clubs: Scotland’s Rangers or Greece’s Panathinaikos.
Rangers, under Russell Martin, remain a force in continental play.
A 2022 Europa League finalist, the Glaswegian side combines physicality with set-piece prowess and raucous support at Ibrox.
Captain James Tavernier and a summer-reinforced squad promise no easy night for visitors.
Panathinaikos, meanwhile, are rebuilding under Rui Vitoria.
The Athens club, semi-finalists in the 1971 European Cup, now leans on a technical, possession-based game.
With Fotis Ioannidis pulling the strings and home matches at either Apostolos Nikolaidis or the Olympic Stadium, they present a disciplined, tactical minefield.
The third qualifying round matches are scheduled for Aug. 7 and 14. If Beşiktaş reach this stage, one leg will be played at Beşiktaş Park, where their home crowd’s intensity is known to tilt ties.
History and implications
Beşiktaş have danced this dance before.
Their best European run came in 1987 with a Champions League quarterfinal berth, while Europa League exploits have been a mixed bag since.
The last meeting with Panathinaikos came in 2010-11 group play – one win apiece. With Shakhtar, the Turkish side has scars from past defeats.
This year’s stakes are higher.
Should Beşiktaş progress through both rounds, they’ll earn a Europa League group stage berth – prestige, prize money, and profile await.
Failure would send them to the UEFA Europa Conference League playoff, a significant downgrade.
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