Latest news with #FranciscoConceicao
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Juventus Impress In FIFA World Club Cup Opener
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 18: Alberto Costa of Juventus during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group G ... More match between Al Ain FC and Juventus FC at Audi Field on June 18, 2025 in Washington, United States. (Photo by Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images) Juventus will look to keep their momentum going in FIFA's World Club Cup after the 5-0 trashing of Al Ain on Wednesday. Two goals a piece from Francisco Conceicao and Randal Kolo Muani and a long-range rocket from Kenan Yildiz secured three points as The Old Lady kicked off their tournament in style. The win puts the Serie A side top of Group G on goal difference, and now a test against Moroccan side Wydad AC awaits on Sunday evening. For Igor Tudor, who has been confirmed as the club's new boss for the tournament, next season and beyond after signing a new extension until the summer of 2027, the win represented a good start to the tournament, but he isn't getting overly excited. 'We're heading in the right direction; there's always room to improve, but we're on the right path,' Tudor said. 'There's a desire to grow, and over time, the pieces come together,' he added. Tudor will have no doubt been pleased with the performances of Conceicao and Yildiz, both of whom have been repositioned behind Kolo Muani as No10s since the departure of Thiago Motta. While Motta preferred to keep them on the left and right of a three-man attacking unit, Tudor has brought them closer to the centre of the pitch, feeding the French striker while also chipping in with goals of their own. Conceicao, especially, has impressed Tudor, to the extent that Juve are now willing to keep the Portuguese talent on a permanent basis. The 22-year-old could cost Juventus some $33m from Porto, but his grit, versatility and ability to beat opposing players could be a vital ingredient for Tudor next season. On a season-long loan from Porto, Juve will negotiate with the club in order to keep the player. Another standout player in the win over Al Ain was Alberto Costa at right-back. Signed from Portuguese outfit Guimaraes in the January transfer window, Costa barely got a look in under former boss Thiago Motta, but is now getting some game time under Tudor. And Tudor singled the player out for praise. 'Alberto finished the season strongly with two important matches,' Tudor remarked. 'I always like to reward those who perform well. Everyone is important, and they will be from now until the end of the tournament.' Of course, it's still very early days under Tudor, and despite a good end to the season in which he managed to get Juve over the line and secure Champions League football, the pressure will be on the former Bianconeri defender to improve. Tudor has requested several signings to reinforce the squad, and a new striker is thought to be one of them. Dusan Vlahovic is thought to be on his way out the door after another poor season. However given his hefty salary, that might be easier said than done. Napoli's Victor Osimhen is believed to be a target, but much will depend on whether they can shift Vlahovic. A central defender is also a priority as Bremer continues his rehabilitation back to full fitness. Juve will also likely listen to offers in order to balance the books, with the likes of Vlahovic, Douglas Luiz, Lloyd Kelly and Nico Gonzalez all potentially surplus to requirements.
Express Tribune
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Juventus thump Al Ain in Club World Cup
JuventusPortuguese forward Francisco Conceicao celebrated with Randal Kolo Muani as they thrashed Al Ain in Washington. Photo: AFP Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao both bagged braces as Juventus hammered Al Ain 5-0 on Wednesday in their Club World Cup opener following a trip to the White House. The Italian giants, who sent a delegation to visit US President Donald Trump earlier in the day, cruised to the top of Group G above Manchester City, who beat Wydad AC. Some Juventus players and staff were asked by Trump, whom they presented with a club shirt, whether they thought a woman would be able to make their first team. Trump appeared to be making a point against transgender athletes. Juve general manager Damien Comolli replied that the club had a "very good women's team". The Juventus players stayed silent but were far more comfortable speaking on the pitch as they dismantled UAE's Al Ain at Audi Field in front of 18,000 fans. Kolo Muani, who extended his loan from Paris Saint-Germain to play in the tournament in the United States, opened the scoring after 11 minutes with a header from Alberto Costa's cross. Juventus doubled their lead 10 minutes later when Conceicao, on loan from Porto, skipped away from one defender in the box before firing home with the help of a deflection. Turkish forward Kenan Yildiz netted the third after 31 minutes, carving out some space on the edge of the box and drilling in at the near post. French striker Kolo Muani grabbed his second with a deft finish in first-half stoppage time to pile on the misery for Al Ain. Kouame Autonne had a goal disallowed for offside for the UAE side before Conceicao struck again, benefitting from another slight deflection. Kolo Muani might have completed his hat-trick when sent through but goalkeeper Rui Patricio shut him down well, and Douglas Luiz blasted narrowly off-target late on. Juventus, who finished fourth in Serie A, are hoping to make up for a trophyless season with success in the United States this summer. Frustrated Madrid Federico Valverde missed a stoppage-time penalty as Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup on Wednesday. A large contingent of Real fans in a crowd of 62,415 at the Hard Rock Stadium were left frustrated after new manager Xabi Alonso's first game in charged ended with the points shared. For the Saudi club, with Italian Simone Inzaghi also making his debut on the bench, it was an impressive performance where they caused Real's defence plenty of problems before securing a hugely encouraging surprise result. Al-Hilal started off in effervescent fashion and went close in the 19th minute when Salem Aldawsari volleyed back in to the box and Marcos Leonardo's effort flew just wide. Renan Lodi had the ball in the net for the Saudi side but the effort was ruled out for offside from another dangerous break Aldawsari showed his pace but dragged his shot just wide. Real gradually gained more control over the game and Rodrygo went close in the 31st minute when he cut in from the right and his left-foot effort zipped just over the bar. But Real's quality was starting to shine through and they grabbed the lead in the 34th minute. Gonzalo, starting in place of the absent Kylian Mbappe, started the break from deep and a clever exchange of passes concluded with Rodrygo drilling a low ball into the box where Gonzalo, who had continued his run, provided a delicate finish. It was a classic counter-attacking goal but it did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the Saudi side who continued to press forward with energy. Four minutes before the break, they drew level when Raul Asencio was ruled to have pulled down Marcos Leonardo and Portugal international Ruben Neves calmly tucked away the penalty. The dangerous Aldawsari, who scored the winner for Saudi Arabia in their upset win over Argentina at the World Cup in Qatar, threatened again just before the break. But Real came out strongly after the interval with Arda Guler introduced at the break rattling the bar with a volley from a Vinicius Jr. cross. Moments later, Gonzalo brought a fine save out of Yassine Bounou with a firm header from a Vinicius crosss and then Valverde flashed a shot wide from 25 yards out.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Arab News
Kolo Muani, Conceicao each twice in Juventus' 5-0 win over Al Ain in the Club World Cup
WASHINGTON: Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao each scored twice and Juventus closed out the first round of the group stage in the Club World Cup with a 5-0 victory over Al-Ain on Wednesday night. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
Juventus destroy Al Ain 5-0 in FIFA Club World Cup after Trump visit
Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao have both bagged braces as Juventus have hammered Al Ain 5-0 in their Club World Cup opener in Washington, DC. The Italian giants, who sent a delegation to visit United States President Donald Trump at the White House earlier on Wednesday, cruised to the top of Group G above Manchester City, who beat Wydad AC in an earlier fixture. Some Juventus players and staff were asked by Trump, whom they presented with a club shirt, whether they thought a woman would be able to make their first team. Trump was making a point against transgender athletes, but Juve general manager Damien Comolli replied that the club had a 'very good women's team'. The Juventus players stayed silent but were far more expressive later in the day, letting their on-field play do the talking as they dismantled the United Arab Emirates's Al Ain at Audi Field. Kolo Muani, who extended his loan from Paris Saint-Germain to play in the tournament in the US, opened the scoring after 11 minutes with a towering header from Alberto Costa's cross. Igor Tudor's Juventus doubled the lead 10 minutes later when Conceicao, on loan from Porto, skipped away from one defender in the box before firing home with the help of a deflection. Turkish forward Kenan Yildiz netted the third after 31 minutes, carving out some space on the edge of the box and drilling in at the near post. French striker Kolo Muani grabbed his second with a deft finish in first-half stoppage time to pile on the misery for Al Ain. Kouame Autonne had a goal disallowed for offside for the UAE side before Conceicao struck again, benefitting from another slight deflection. Kolo Muani might have completed his hat-trick when sent through, but goalkeeper Rui Patricio shut him down well, and Douglas Luiz blasted narrowly off-target late on. Juventus, who finished fourth in Serie A, are hoping to make up for a trophyless season with success in the Club World Cup.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Club World Cup: UAE's Al Ain lose to Italian giants Juventus
Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao both scored twice as the young guns of Juventus made a statement in their Club World Cup opener with a dominant 5-0 win over the UAE's Al Ain FC on Wednesday. Kolo Muani grabbed both of his goals in the first half, Conceicao scored either side of the break while Turkey forward Kenan Yildiz also found the net as Juventus dazzled the crowd at Audi Field with some mesmeric football. The convincing victory sent Juventus to the top of Group G level on three points with England's Manchester City, who beat Wydad Casablanca 2-0 earlier on Wednesday. Juventus next play Morroco's Wydad in Philadephia on Sunday, while Al-Ain, who lost to Real Madrid in the 2018 Club World Cup final, face City in Atlanta later the same day. Real held by Al Hilal Yassine Bounou stopped a penalty kick by Real Madrid's Federico Valverde in the second minute of second-half stoppage time to allow Al Hilal to earn a 1-1 tie in Club World Cup Group H play in Miami. Ruben Neves scored on a penalty kick for Al Hilal, a Saudi Arabian team. Gonzalo Garcia had a goal for Real Madrid. The match was the Group H opener for both teams. Real Madrid had a big opportunity to move ahead in the opening minute of the second half. Bounou went down to his left to stop Valverde's right-footed penalty kick to keep the score tied. Arda Guler struck a left-footer that hit the crossbar. Al Hilal couldn't clear the ball out of the area and Garcia's close-range header was slapped away by Bounou. Real Madrid took a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute when Rodrygo slid a pass from the right side to Garcia, who knocked a right-footed shot into the net. Al Hilal knotted the score in the 41st minute when Neves took a penalty kick and sent it high into the net. The kick was awarded after Real Madrid's Raul Asencio fouled Al Hilal's Marcos Leonardo in the box. Earlier, Al Hilal's Renan Lodi put the ball in the net in the 19th minute but he was clearly offsides and the goal was nullified.
