FOOTBALL – ARSENAL secured a 2-1 victory over Slavia Prague, while Manchester City edged out RB Leipzig 3-2 in Uefa Champions League league-stage encounters yesterday.
The Gunners made a flying start in Prague, with Noni Madueke opening the scoring in the ninth minute before Viktor Gyokeres doubled their advantage in the 38th to put Arsenal firmly in control.
Slavia Prague mounted a late challenge, with Wiktor Nowak finding the net in the 90th minute, but Arsenal held on to claim all three points.
City, meanwhile, surrendered their lead twice but Erling Haaland came to the rescue by scoring the winner in the 78th minute.
They went ahead in the 37th minute when Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba turned the ball into his own net, giving the visitors a 1-0 advantage at half-time.
However, Leipzig responded after the break, with Ridle Baku equalising in the 49th minute following an assist from Brenden Aaronson.
City restored their lead in the 58th minute through Enzo Fernandez, who finished off a move created by Iliman Ndiaye.
Their advantage proved short-lived, though, as Antonio Nusa struck three minutes later, converting Christopher Nkunku’s assist to bring Leipzig level once again.
Earlier, Federico Valverde struck in stoppage time to give Real Madrid a dramatic 3-2 victory at AEK Athens, while Liverpool surrendered the lead twice in a 3-2 defeat at Fenerbahce.
Real twice came from behind to maintain their perfect start and sit second on 12 points from four matches, behind Paris St Germain on goal difference.
AEK threatened from the outset and Aboubakary Koita rewarded their early pressure in the 12th minute, cutting inside and firing into the top corner from just inside the box.
Thibaut Courtois denied Luka Jovic before Jude Bellingham, who had an effort ruled out for offside in the 27th minute, equalised five minutes later with a deft backheel from Marc Cucurella’s low cross.
Koita’s driving run and pass set up Stavros Pilios to restore AEK’s lead in the 75th minute, his low shot going through Courtois’ legs. Kylian Mbappe tapped in Denzel Dumfries’ cross three minutes later before Valverde delivered the winner, leaving AEK 30th on three points.
Liverpool arrived in Istanbul with three wins from three but Vedat Muriqi’s 79th-minute winner ended that run and earned Fenerbahce their first victory of the campaign.
Trey Nyoni put the visitors ahead in the 25th minute, only for Mason Greenwood to equalise four minutes later.
Alexander Isak restored Liverpool’s advantage in the 69th minute, but Archie Brown levelled in the 73rd before Muriqi completed the turnaround.