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NYON: Two-time Europa League champions Porto will face two-time finalists AS Roma in the knockout play-offs after the draw took place here today.

Porto, who were champions in 2003 and 2011, last met Roma in the last 16 of the 2019 Champions League, which saw the Portuguese club record a victory.

Meanwhile, Fenerbahce from Turkey will meet Belgian club Anderlecht, while another Turkish Super League representative, Galatasaray, will face AZ Alkmaar from the Netherlands.

Ajax Amsterdam, champions in 1992, are scheduled to face Union SG, while FC Twente will face Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.

The top eight teams automatically qualify for the last 16, while teams finishing ninth to 24th will have to compete in a return playoff.

Two giant English Premier League clubs, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, who are among the top favorites to win this tournament, have already automatically advanced to the last 16.

United and Spurs could face the winner of the clash between Midtjylland and Real Sociedad, or the winner of AZ Alkmaar’s match against Galatasaray.

Results

Europa League playoff draw

FC Twente vs Bodo/Glimt

Union SG vs Ajax Amsterdam

AZ Alkmaar vs Galatasaray

Ferencvaros vs Viktoria Plzen

Fenerbahce vs Anderlecht

PAOK vs Steaua Bucharest

Midtjylland vs Real Sociedad

Porto vs AS Roma

Note: The first match will be held on February 13 and the second match on February 20.

MADRID: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was delighted with Kylian Mbappe’s display as the France forward struck twice in a 4-1 win over Las Palmas that lifted the champions to the top of La Liga.

The Italian manager said he never doubted the 26-year-old’s ability to play as the main striker even though Mbappe had a slow start in Madrid since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain.

“Mbappe is the best center forward in the world, there is no doubt about his ability to play in that position.

“He is a great striker who is very good in the middle (of attack), compared to the wings, because that way he can exploit his unique runs, with speed and technique,” said Ancelotti.

After a tough week that saw Real suffer a stifling 5-2 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup and a 5-2 extra-time win over Celta Vigo to reach the quarter-finals of the King of Spain’s Cup, Real were shocked with a 25-second goal by Las Palmas.

However, with Mbappe’s help, they recovered and took advantage of Atletico Madrid’s 1-0 defeat at Leganes on Saturday to return to the top of the league.

Real are now top of La Liga on 46 points, two ahead of neighbors Madrid, with Barcelona in third seven points behind after being tied 1-1 by Getafe.

JEDDAH: Barcelona came back from an early deficit to thrash Real Madrid 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final.

Hansi Flick’s side scored four goals in the first half and saw their goalkeeper sent off as they extended their record to a 15th title in the competition.

Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Alejandro Balde found the target before the break, after French striker Kylian Mbappe put Real ahead in the fifth minute.

Raphinha completed Barca’s win in the second half as Rodrygo scored Real’s second.

It was Barcelona’s first trophy in more than a year, after failing to win any titles last season.

“The main goal of big clubs is to win titles, that’s why they work hard. But now we have to prove it in the next game.

“Real made a lot of mistakes, and we knew how to exploit them to dominate the game,” said Flick, who won his first trophy as Barcelona manager.

Barca denied Real from winning their third title of the season, after they won the European Super Cup against Atalanta and beat Mexican club Pachuca for the Intercontinental Cup last month.

“In the first half we didn’t play football, we made long passes and that wasn’t the plan.

“I told the players they can die, but not the way we played in the first half,” Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo opened his scoring account for the year 2025 with a penalty kick in a 3-1 win with Al-Nassr early this morning.

The 39-year-old veteran striker and his teammates enjoyed a winter break and returned to action in the Saudi Pro League (SPL) as they look to close the gap on league leaders Al-Ittihad.

It took only 42 minutes for the former Real Madrid and Manchester United striker to score in his first match after the break.

Their opponents Al-Akhdoud, however, surprised them by taking the lead after six minutes before Al-Nassr responded through former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane, who then scored the third goal.

After Mane’s equaliser, Al-Nassr were awarded a penalty and Ronaldo calmly finished it, putting his team in front.

The Portuguese striker fired a powerful shot into the right corner of the goal before celebrating with his teammates.

By scoring that goal, it was the 24th consecutive year that Ronaldo has scored in professional football since his first in 2002.

Ronaldo was recently reported to have asked Al-Nassr to sign Casemiro from Manchester United in what is seen as a critical factor in determining his future.

The Portuguese icon is in the final six months of his £175 million-a-year contract with the SPL club and is considering a move to another club.

He and Casemiro won 12 trophies together at Real Madrid, including four Champions Leagues and two La Ligas, while they also teamed up at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag.

RIYADH: An extra-time goal from Tammy Abraham completed AC Milan’s comeback to win the Italian Super Cup after beating Inter Milan 3-2 in Riyadh.

Inter, who led by two goals early in the game, were denied the Super Cup for the fourth time in a row, allowing Milan to equal Inter’s eight titles in the competition.

The victory at the King Saud University Stadium saw new Milan manager Serge Conceicao lift the trophy in just his second match with the Serie A club.

Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring for Inter in the first half, followed by Mehdi Taremi’s goal two minutes after the break.

Conceicao brought on Rafael Leao who won a free kick and was converted by Theo Hernandez. Christian Pulisic equalised with 10 minutes remaining.

The match looked set to be decided on penalties but Abraham surprised Inter with the winning goal in extra time.