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Six Challengers Await Chelsea In UEFA Conference League

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Chelsea have learned the six teams it will face in the league phase of this season’s UEFA Conference League following Friday’s draw in Monaco.

The UEFA Conference League is a new competition introduced this season, and Chelsea has been drawn into Group A.

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As the highest-ranked team in the competition, Chelsea was placed in Pot 1 for the draw. They will play each team once,either home or away. The top eight teams from the group stage will advance directly to the last 16.

According to a statement issued by the club’s website on Friday, Chelsea will take on Gent (home), Heidenheim (away), Astana (away), Shamrock Rovers (home), Panathinaikos (away) and Noah (home) in our first-ever Conference League campaign.

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“We booked our place in the league phase last night, by completing a 3-2 aggregate win over Swiss side Servette in the qualifying play-off round, thanks to penalties in each leg by Christopher Nkunku and a Noni Madueke strike at Stamford Bridge.

“As the highest ranked team in the competition by UEFA coefficient, Chelsea were included in Pot 1 for the draw for the league phase, which has been newly introduced as part of the changes for this season’s revamped competition.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Osimhen Opts For Saudi’s Al Ahli

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“We will play one team from all six pots, once each, either home or away. The top eight of the total 36 sides then progress directly to the last 16, and a further 16 sides face off in the play-offs to join them.”

Details on the order and dates of Chelsea’s six fixtures will be confirmed tomorrow, followed by ticket information
in due course.

Chelsea Conference League fixtures

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Chelsea vs Gent

Heidenheim vs Chelsea

Astana vs Chelsea

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Chelsea vs Shamrock Rovers

Panathinaikos vs Chelsea

Chelsea vs Noah

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Fixture order and dates to be confirmed on Saturday, August 31, 2024.

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Salah Slams UEFA For Omitting Cause Of Palestinian Footballer’s Death In Tribute

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Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has criticised Europe’s football governing body UEFA for posting a tribute to “Palestinian Pele” Suleiman al-Obeid that did not mention that the former international died after being hit by Israeli gunfire in the Gaza Strip.

Obeid, 41, was killed on Wednesday when Israeli forces “targeted people waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip”, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) said in a statement.

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Europe’s football governing body UEFA posted on X: “Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the ‘Palestinian Pele’. A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.”

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Egyptian striker Salah responded by posting: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”

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Born in Gaza City, Obeid was married and had five children. He played 24 international matches for the team Palestine.

In October 2023, Salah called on “world leaders to come together” to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza to “prevent further slaughter of innocent souls”.

READ ALSO:Full List: UEFA Fine Chelsea, Barcelona, Three Others For Breaking Financial Rules

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Since the start of the Gaza war, triggered by Palestinian militant group Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, 662 people from the sport and scouting sector have been killed, including 321 in the football community, according to the PFA.

Salah, who was the Premier League top scorer last season, is due to line up for Liverpool on Sunday in the Community Shield at Wembley against Crystal Palace, the traditional curtain-raiser to the English football season.

AFP

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Two Japanese Boxers Die From Brain Injuries At Same Event

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Two boxers in Japan have died from brain injuries they incurred in separate bouts during the same event in Tokyo, officials said.

Super featherweight Shigetoshi Kotari and lightweight Hiromasa Urakawa, both 28, fought on the same card in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall on August 2.

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Both were later rushed to the hospital, where they had brain surgery.

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Kotari, who battled to a draw after 12 rounds against fellow Japanese fighter Yamato Hata lost consciousness soon after and “passed away at 10:59 pm on August 8,” his M.T boxing gym said on its website Saturday.

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“He did his best to fight his way through the surgery and treatment he had been receiving at a Tokyo hospital due to acute subdural haematoma,” the gym’s post said.

Urakawa was stopped in the eighth and final round against Yoji Saito and “tragically succumbed to injuries sustained during his fight”, the World Boxing Organisation said in an Instagram post on Sunday.

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Urakawa died on Saturday night, according to local media reports.

“This heartbreaking news comes just days after the passing of Shigetoshi Kotari, who died from injuries suffered in his fight on the same card,” the WBO said, adding it extends “our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and the Japanese boxing community.”

Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, secretary-general of the Japan Boxing Commission, told local media after their hospitalisation that it was likely “the first time in Japan two fighters underwent skull-opening surgery for injuries stemming from the same event”.

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Liverpool Confirm Nunez’s £46.2M Move To Al-Hilal

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Liverpool sold striker Darwin Nunez to Saudi side Al-Hilal, both clubs confirmed on Saturday, in a move that could allow the Premier League champions to make a fresh bid for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak.

Nunez joined the Reds for an initial 75 million euros ($87 million, £65 million) from Benfica three years ago but has failed to live up to that price tag.

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The Uruguayan scored 40 goals in 143 appearances but slipped down the pecking order at Anfield under both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot.

According to reports in the British media, Al-Hilal will pay an initial 53 million euros for the 26-year-old.

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“Al-Hilal Club Company is pleased to announce the signing of Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez from Liverpool FC on a three-year contract,” Al-Hilal said in a statement.

Nunez was likely to play even less this season after Liverpool signed Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz as part of a 300 million euro spending spree that also includes full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong.

However, the club could still break the British transfer record by signing Isak.

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Liverpool reportedly had a first bid of £110 million rejected, with Newcastle demanding a fee of up to £150 million for the Swedish striker.

READ ALSO:Liverpool Return To Training In Wake Of Jota death

The sale of Nunez would take Liverpool’s income for transfer sales this window to nearly 200 million euros after the departures of Luis Diaz, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Tyler Morton.

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Nunez is the latest big name to join Al-Hilal, who shocked Manchester City to reach the quarter-finals of the recent Club World Cup.

Coached by former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi, the Saudi club’s squad includes Portuguese internationals Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo, Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly, and former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.

AFP

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