Vietnam U23 ready for a big battle against South Korea; Caicedo becomes Chelsea's hero; Kane and Barca shine in Europe.

Vietnam U23 puts aside disappointment and is determined to look forward to the big match against South Korea U23.

Following their defeat against China U23 in the semi-finals, Vietnam U23 quickly returned to training on January 21st to prepare for the third-place match against South Korea U23, which will take place at 10:00 PM on January 23rd. The entire team displayed a professional spirit, quickly putting aside their disappointment to focus on their ultimate goal in the tournament.

Before the training session, coach Kim Sang Sik shared some brief but encouraging words. The South Korean coach emphasized the importance of maintaining focus, dedication, and belief in the journey the team has built since the beginning of the tournament.

In the training session plan, the Vietnam U23 team was divided into two groups. The group of players who started in the semi-finals mainly focused on relaxation and recovery to ensure their physical fitness. The other group trained at a moderate intensity, focusing on perfecting tactical maneuvers and coordination skills.

The loss to China U23 provided valuable lessons about resilience and experience in top-level competition. Although they couldn't reach the final, Coach Kim Sang Sik's team proved that Vietnamese football is fully capable of competing at the continental level through discipline, spirit, and relentless effort.

The third-place match against South Korea U23 is therefore not only a challenge, but also an opportunity for Vietnam U23 to conclude the tournament with a positive result, creating more motivation for the road ahead.

Defender Hieu Minh receives special attention from the VFF.

On the afternoon of January 21st, local time, the President of the Vietnam Football Federation, Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan, personally visited and encouraged central defender Nguyen Hieu Minh, who unfortunately suffered a serious injury in the semi-final match of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship against China U23. He was accompanied by Vice President Nguyen Trung Kien.

During the meeting, Chairman Tran Quoc Tuan kindly inquired about Hieu Minh's health, encouraged him to maintain his spirits, and focus on his treatment. The VFF leader affirmed that they would create the best possible conditions in terms of medical care, expertise, and support to help the young player recover quickly and return to the field.

Born in 2004 in Hanoi, Hieu Minh is considered one of the most promising central defenders in Vietnamese football today. Under coach Kim Sang Sik, he was consistently trusted to start in 2025, contributing to Vietnam U23 winning the Southeast Asian U23 Championship and the SEA Games 33 gold medal.

At the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship, Hieu Minh started all four matches before suffering an injury, leaving a strong impression in the defense. In the opening match, a 2-0 victory against Jordan U23, he was voted Man of the Match and scored the winning goal.

According to the plan, after returning to Vietnam, Hieu Minh will be taken to the Vinmec Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center for consultation. With an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, the expected recovery time is 6 to 9 months.

Slavia Prague 2-4 Barca: An impressive comeback.

The match between Slavia Prague and Barcelona in the seventh round of the Champions League qualifying stage ended with an emotional 4-2 victory for the visitors. Despite falling behind early, Barca still showed the character of a European powerhouse.

In the 10th minute, Slavia Praha opened the scoring with a close-range finish from Kusej. Barca struggled to build up play, but the mobility of their midfield helped the visitors gradually regain control of the game. In the 34th minute, Fermin Lopez equalized, before completing his brace with a spectacular long-range shot in the 42nd minute.

Exactly two minutes later, Slavia Praha equalized 2-2 from a corner kick, the ball deflecting off Robert Lewandowski and into the net. The first half ended with an exciting back-and-forth battle.

In the second half, manager Hansi Flick brought on Dani Olmo and Marcus Rashford, creating a major turning point. In the 63rd minute, Olmo unleashed a powerful shot to make it 3-2. Then, in the 71st minute, Lewandowski redeemed himself with a goal to seal the 4-2 victory.

The three points helped Barcelona climb to ninth place in the standings and opened up a strong chance of competing for a direct spot in the Champions League round of 16.

Bayern 2-0 Union SG: Kane carries the Bavarians into the Round of 16.

At home, Bayern Munich secured a 2-0 victory against Union Saint-Gilloise in the seventh matchday of the Champions League qualifying round. The star of the match was none other than Harry Kane.

After a goalless first half, Bayern accelerated strongly in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Kane rose high to head in the opening goal from a corner kick taken by Michael Olise. Just three minutes later, the English striker doubled the lead from the penalty spot.

The match became dramatic when Bayern were reduced to 10 men from the 63rd minute after Kim Min-jae received his second yellow card. However, their composure and experience helped the Bavarians maintain control of the game.

The 2-0 victory not only officially secured Bayern's place in the Round of 16 but also marked their 250th win in the Champions League, solidifying their leading position in European competition.

Chelsea 1-0 Pafos: Caicedo the hero

A late goal from Moises Caicedo helped Chelsea beat Pafos 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, securing their place in the Champions League Top 8 and giving them a crucial advantage going into their final matchday against Napoli.

This was Chelsea's first Champions League match under manager Liam Rosenior. Despite being considered the favorites, The Blues faced considerable difficulties against the disciplined defensive play of the Cypriot side. The first half was slow-paced, with few clear chances. Chelsea did manage to put the ball into the net after a header from Enzo Fernandez, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul.

Pafos also had moments that gave the home team a scare. Notably, there was the situation where Jaja's shot deflected off Reece James and hit the post, creating a clear warning for the Chelsea defense.

In the second half, Chelsea increased the pressure with a series of chances from Alejandro Garnacho and Estevao Willian, but the solid performance of goalkeeper Jay Gorter kept the deadlock going. It wasn't until the 78th minute that the decisive moment arrived. From a corner kick, Wesley Fofana headed the ball to Caicedo, who neatly slotted it home to score the only goal of the match.

The 1-0 victory temporarily puts Chelsea in the Top 8 thanks to goal difference, level on points with Barcelona. Although the group standings are still subject to change, The Blues have a significant advantage going into their crucial away match against Napoli in the final round of the classification stage.

Ronaldo scores, Al Nassr win their second consecutive match.

In the 16th round of the Saudi Pro League, Al Nassr secured a 2-1 victory away at Damac, marking their second consecutive win. Cristiano Ronaldo continued to impress with a crucial goal.

Al Nassr took an early lead in the 5th minute thanks to Abdulrahman Ghareeb. In the second half, Ronaldo doubled the lead with a neat finish in the 50th minute, giving the visitors control of the game.

Damac fought back and scored a goal to reduce the deficit in the 68th minute, but Al Nassr remained composed in the remaining minutes. Ultimately, Ronaldo's team secured all three points, temporarily closing the gap with league leaders Al Hilal to four points.

This victory demonstrates Al Nassr's consistent form and reaffirms Cristiano Ronaldo's irreplaceable leadership role in this season's Saudi Pro League.