On an unforgettable football evening at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium, Como, newly promoted to the top flight, continued to write their inspiring success story this season, after crushing their guest Torino with a resounding 6-0 victory, in the 22nd round of the Italian Football League.

A festival of goals and remarkable brilliance

Greek striker Anastasios Douvikas opened the scoring early in the eighth minute, before Croatian Martin Baturina added a second in the 16th minute. In the second half, Frenchman Lucas Da Cunha compounded Torino's misery with a third goal from the penalty spot in the 59th minute. Como weren't finished there, as Douvikas returned to score his second and his team's fourth in the 66th minute. Substitutes, German Nicolas-Gerritt Kuhn and Frenchman Maxence Cacoure, completed the historic six-goal rout in the 70th and 76th minutes respectively.

Rocket rise in the standings

With this resounding victory, their second in a row and eleventh this season, Cesc Fàbregas's team raised their points tally to 40, temporarily climbing to fifth place in the Serie A standings. This position places Como firmly in contention for European qualification, ahead of established clubs, pending the outcome of the top-of-the-table clash between Juventus and Napoli. This achievement is remarkable for a team that has just been promoted from Serie B.

Historical background and Fabregas' influence

Como is living a dream come true. After being absent from Serie A for over two decades, suffering bankruptcy and relegation to the lower divisions, their return this season was an achievement in itself. However, their performance under the guidance of former world-class midfielder Cesc Fàbregas has exceeded all expectations. Fàbregas has instilled a fighting spirit and modern tactical thinking in the team, making them the dark horse of the tournament and one of the most entertaining teams to watch.

The impact of the victory on both the local and regional levels

Locally, this victory ignited the enthusiasm of the entire city of Como and firmly put the club back on the Italian football map. Regionally, Como sent a strong message to the Italian league's elite that competing for European places will not be easy and that they are serious contenders. Conversely, this humiliating defeat only deepens Torino's woes, leaving them stuck on 23 points in 14th place and closer to the relegation battle, placing immense pressure on the club's management and coaching staff.

The Saudi Arabian national handball team, known as the "Green Falcons," will face a crucial and decisive match against Bahrain on Sunday evening, in the final round of the main stage of the 22nd Asian Men's Handball Championship, hosted by Kuwait. This tournament is of paramount importance as it serves as the primary gateway for Asian teams to qualify for the 2027 World Men's Handball Championship, scheduled to be held in Germany.

Historical background and context of the tournament

The Asian Men's Handball Championship is the continent's premier event, having been held since its inception in 1977. Since then, it has become the most important competition, determining the Asian champion and granting qualification for the World Championship. The Gulf-Gulf encounters in this tournament are particularly intense and exciting, given the close levels of competition and the historical rivalry between the region's teams. This makes the match between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain more than just a main round fixture; it's a highly anticipated Gulf derby.

Al-Akhdar's journey in the tournament

The Saudi national team delivered a remarkable performance from the start of the tournament, topping their group in the first round with a perfect record and securing consecutive victories against strong teams such as Iran, Japan, and Australia. This impressive performance earned them a well-deserved place in the main round. In the main round, the Saudi team suffered an early defeat against Qatar, but quickly recovered and delivered a convincing performance, achieving a resounding and well-deserved 33-19 victory over the UAE. This win not only earned the team two valuable points but also restored their confidence and high morale before the final match.

The importance of the match and its expected impact

The importance of this match is not limited to determining who qualifies for the semi-finals of the Asian Championship, but extends to being a pivotal step on the road to qualifying for the 2027 World Championship in Germany. Reaching the World Championship is a strategic goal for Saudi handball, as it contributes to raising the national team's international ranking, enhances the status of the game in the Kingdom, and provides players with the opportunity to interact with the best handball schools in the world, which positively impacts their technical and physical development.

Complex qualification calculations

The resounding victory over the UAE has firmly put the Saudi national team back in contention, but their task still requires careful planning against Bahrain. The scenarios for Saudi Arabia's qualification are as follows:

• Winning by a margin of 6 goals or more: This scenario guarantees the Saudi national team's direct qualification to the semi-finals without regard to other results.
• Winning by a margin of 5 goals: In this case, the Saudi and Bahraini teams will be tied in head-to-head matches, and the criterion of the number of goals scored in the tournament will be used to determine who qualifies.
• Any other result: Any result other than winning by at least 5 goals could put the Saudi team's chances in jeopardy, and depends on the result of the Qatar-UAE match.

Saudi fans are eagerly anticipating this match, hoping that the stars of the "Green Handball Team" will continue to deliver strong performances and achieve the desired result that will ensure their continued success in the continental journey, and bring them one step closer to realizing their dream of qualifying for the 2027 World Cup.

The match between Al-Khaleej and Al-Shabab, in the 18th round of the Saudi Professional League, was marked by tension and anger, with Al-Khaleej's Greek coach, Giorgos Donis, at the center of the action. Despite his team securing a valuable 1-0 victory at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, the end of the match was anything but peaceful. Donis erupted in anger towards the refereeing team, a scene reflecting the immense pressure clubs are under in one of the most competitive seasons in Saudi football history.

The crisis began in the final minutes of the match, specifically in the 86th minute, when the referee showed a straight red card to Al-Khaleej defender Mohammed Khabrani. This decision angered Al-Khaleej's coaching staff, led by Donis, who considered the dismissal harsh and undeserved, and one that nearly cost his team the three points at a crucial moment. Although the team managed to maintain their lead until the final whistle, the Greek coach lost his temper and approached the referee to express his strong dissatisfaction with his decisions, which he felt had affected the course of the match.

The general context and fierce competition in the Roshan League

This event comes amidst an exceptional season for the Saudi Professional League, which has garnered global attention after attracting major international stars. This development has not only raised the technical level of the competition but has also intensified the rivalry and pressure on all clubs, whether those vying for the title or those battling relegation. For a team like Al-Khaleej, every point is a crucial step towards securing their place in the Professional League, which explains the strong desire of Donis and his coaching staff to win at all costs and their vehement protests against any refereeing decision that might negatively impact the team's performance.

The importance of the event and its expected impact

Donis's reaction wasn't just a passing outburst of anger; it's indicative of the high level of competition the league has reached. Locally, such incidents have sparked a wide-ranging debate about the standard of refereeing in the Saudi League and the role of VAR in resolving controversial decisions. They also highlight the immense psychological pressure on coaches and players. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation's Disciplinary and Ethics Committee is expected to investigate the incident and may impose sanctions on the Greek coach for his behavior, potentially affecting his ability to lead the team in upcoming matches. On a broader scale, these scenes only increase the excitement and anticipation surrounding the league, confirming that it has become a passionate and controversial competition, much like the major European leagues.