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Newcastle host Borussia Dortmund at St. James’ Park this evening as they aim to win consecutive matches in the Champions League this season. The Magpies defeated Paris Saint-Germain at home last time out in what was their first European top-flight match at St James’ Park in 20 years. Miguel Almiron, Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff and Fabian Schar all got on the scoresheet as Newcastle sent four past the French champions to take control of their group with four matches to play. Eddie Howe’s men are unbeaten in the group stages so far having also draw away at AC Milan in their opener but the face a difficult test against Dortmund tonight. The Bundesliga club have lost just one game in 11 matches all season - away at PSG in their Group F opener - and have scored eight goals in the last four games. They are bottom of the table as it stands and will see tonight’s fixture as a valuable opportunity to get themselves back in the race to reach the knockouts. Follow the action below plus get the latest odds and tips for Newcastle vs Borussia Dortmund right here: Read More Newcastle and Dortmund share same glaring hole in their team before Champions League clash Sandro Tonali is the latest victim of football’s double standards

Manchester City will look to continue their perfect start to this season’s Champions League defence as Pep Guardiola’s side visit BSC Young Boys tonight. City have opened their European campaign with victories over FK Crvena Zvezda and away at RB Leipzig last time out, and now travel to the Swiss champions in Bern. The treble winners got back to winning wins at the weekend with a 2-1 win against Brighton, following a three-match domestic losing streak that came while Rodri was suspended. City have a three point lead over RB Leipzig and are five points clear of Young Boys and FK Crvena Zvezda in Champions League Group G, and would be on the verge of qualification to the last-16 with another victory tonight. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash. When is Young Boys vs Manchester City? The match will kick off at 8pm BST on Wednesday 25 October in Bern, Switzerland. How can I watch it? It will be shown live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting from 7pm BST. TNT Sports customers can also stream the match live on Discovery+ and the Discovery+ app. If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get great deals on the best VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider. What is the Manchester City team news? City have no fresh injury concerns, with long-term casualty Kevin De Bruyne their only notable absentee. Manuel Akanji is free to play but will be suspended from their next Premier League match after his red card against Brighton. Predicted line-up Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Diaz, Akanji; Rodri, Bernardo; Foden, Alvaraz, Doku; Haaland Prediction Young Boys 1-4 Manchester City Read More Esme Morgan pleads for patience and politeness from England’s autograph hunters Pep Guardiola responds to concerns over artificial pitch ahead of Young Boys clash I know my worth – Rasmus Hojlund ready to build on promising start at Man Utd Gabriel Jesus urges Arsenal team-mates to believe they can win Champions League Erik ten Hag heaps praise on United goalkeeper Andre Onana after penalty heroics Gabriel Jesus has ‘changed our world’ – Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta

Deontay Wilder has warned Anthony Joshua not to let the opportunity to make ‘history’ pass him by. The American has been out of the ring for more than a year, knocking out Robert Helenius inside a round in October 2022. But despite concerns over ring rust, Wilder has dismissed any potential delays to a mouthwatering fight with Joshua, while current world title holders Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk prepare to face each other to become the undisputed champion. Joshua also fought Helenius in his last fight in August, delivering a spectacular knockout in the seventh round, but Wilder is now in a hurry to meet ‘AJ’ in the ring. Wilder said: “Everyone is looking forward to this fight, hopefully it happens. I’m doing everything in my power to make it happen. “I’m referring to it as the Anthony Joshua fight. You’re hearing it from my mouth, here, personally, from the horse’s mouth, himself, I’m here and ready. I’m ready to go. “I heard some things from your promoter, that my last fight only lasted a short period of time and I haven’t fought in a year, he don’t know if I want to fight or not. I’m letting you know, right now, right here, I’m ready to fight, get in that ring, let’s make this the best time of our lives. This would be a major disaster if we didn’t get in the ring and put our stamp on history. “People would think of classic and great fights, I want them to think about us as well, being able to do that, we’ve got to get in the ring. “The silliest thing I’ve heard, people saying, ‘you’re not ready’. That’s the silliest thing. I don’t believe that, I believe you’re ready, I hope you’re ready, I think you’re ready. Let’s make this happen bro, me and you, make history happen. Looking forward to seeing your response, I’ll talk to you soon.” Joshua intimated last weekend the highly-anticipated bout could be part of a blockbuster card topped by Tyson Fury taking on Oleksandr Usyk next spring. Joshua (26-3, 23KOs) is planning another tune-up in December, but should he emerge victorious and unscathed, a meeting with the former WBC champion Wilder could take place in the first quarter of 2024. Read More Francis Ngannou drops hint over Tyson Fury rematch and Anthony Joshua fight Anthony Joshua teases ‘mega-card’ of Wilder bout sharing bill with Fury v Usyk Rory McIlroy open to idea of investing in Man Utd after buying stake in Alpine

Tyson Fury will employ his decades of boxing experience against a debutant in the sport this weekend, as he faces ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou. The unbeaten Fury reigns as WBC heavyweight champion and will soon start preparing for a bout with Oleksandr Usyk, to crown the first undisputed heavyweight title holder in 23 years. That will take place in Saudi Arabia, like Saturday’s main event between the Briton and Ngannou. The Cameroonian relinquished the UFC heavyweight title upon leaving the MMA company in January, and he will return to mixed martial arts with the Professional Fighters League in 2024. First, though, he boxes professionally for the first time, securing his biggest payday ever. Here’s all you need to know. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. When is the fight? The fight will take place on Saturday 28 October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card is expected to start at 6pm BST (10am PT, 12pm CT, 1pm ET). Ring walks for the main event are then expected at around 10.45pm BST (2.45pm PT, 4.45pm CT, 5.45pm ET). How can I watch it? In the UK, the event will air live on TNT Sports Box Office at a cost of £21.95 for viewers in the UK. In Ireland, the event will cost €29.99 if purchased in advance or €34.99 on the day of the fights. Viewers do not need to have a TNT subscription in order to purchase the event. In the US, the event will stream live on ESPN+ pay-per-view, and outside of the afore-mentioned countries and Canada the card will be purchasable on Dazn PPV. If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch the event, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider. Odds Fury – 1/14 Ngannou – 15/2 Draw – 28/1 Via Betway. • Get all the latest boxing betting sites’ offers What are the rules? This will be a heavyweight boxing match, with no MMA rules involved. The fight is scheduled for 10 three-minute rounds, with a victor being decided on points or via knockout/TKO. The result is expected to count towards Fury’s professional boxing record – which is 33-0-1, and Ngannou’s, which is 0-0 – but the Briton’s WBC title will not be on the line. What is the prize money? Fury has said, via the Mirror, that Ngannou will be earning $10m for the fight. Meanwhile, Derek Chisora has claimed, via The Sun, that Fury will be making $50m. That is not believed to factor in sponsorships. Full card (subject to change) Fabio Wardley vs David Adeleye (heavyweight) Joseph Parker vs Simon Kean (heavyweight) Martin Bakole vs Carlos Takam (heavyweight) Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Junior Anthony Wright (heavyweight) Moses Itauma vs Istvan Bernath (heavyweight) Jack McGann vs Alcibiade Duran (super-welterweight) Read More Wilder demands AJ fight to avert ‘major disaster’ of duo never meeting Francis Ngannou drops hint over Tyson Fury rematch and Anthony Joshua fight How many rounds is Fury vs Ngannou and do knockouts count? Who is fighting on the Fury vs Ngannou undercard this weekend? What time does Fury vs Ngannou start this weekend? When is the Fury vs Ngannou fight and how to stream online and on TV

Tyson Fury will go up against Francis Ngannou in a crossover heavyweight clash in Saudi Arabia this weekend. In one corner will be Fury, the unbeaten WBC champion; in the other, Ngannou, who reigned as UFC champion until he left the MMA promotion in January. The Cameroonian will make his boxing debut here, before returning to mixed martial arts with the Professional Fighters League in 2024. Meanwhile, Fury will next face unified boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk, in a bid to crown the first undisputed champion in over two decades. Here’s all you need to know. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. When is the fight? The fight will take place on Saturday 28 October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card is expected to start at 6pm BST (10am PT, 12pm CT, 1pm ET). Ring walks for the main event are then expected at around 10.45pm BST (2.45pm PT, 4.45pm CT, 5.45pm ET). How can I watch it? In the UK, the event will air live on TNT Sports Box Office at a cost of £21.95 for viewers in the UK. In Ireland, the event will cost €29.99 if purchased in advance or €34.99 on the day of the fights. Viewers do not need to have a TNT subscription in order to purchase the event. In the US, the event will stream live on ESPN+ pay-per-view, and outside of the afore-mentioned countries and Canada the card will be purchasable on Dazn PPV. If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch the event, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider. Odds Fury – 1/14 Ngannou – 15/2 Draw – 28/1 Via Betway. • Get all the latest boxing betting sites’ offers What are the rules? This will be a heavyweight boxing match, with no MMA rules involved. The fight is scheduled for 10 three-minute rounds, with a victor being decided on points or via knockout/TKO. The result is expected to count towards Fury’s professional boxing record – which is 33-0-1, and Ngannou’s, which is 0-0 – but the Briton’s WBC title will not be on the line. What is the prize money? Fury has said, via the Mirror, that Ngannou will be earning $10m for the fight. Meanwhile, Derek Chisora has claimed, via The Sun, that Fury will be making $50m. That is not believed to factor in sponsorships. Full card (subject to change) Fabio Wardley vs David Adeleye (heavyweight) Joseph Parker vs Simon Kean (heavyweight) Martin Bakole vs Carlos Takam (heavyweight) Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Junior Anthony Wright (heavyweight) Moses Itauma vs Istvan Bernath (heavyweight) Jack McGann vs Alcibiade Duran (super-welterweight) Read More Wilder demands AJ fight to avert ‘major disaster’ of duo never meeting Francis Ngannou drops hint over Tyson Fury rematch and Anthony Joshua fight How much money are Fury and Ngannou earning for fight this weekend? Who is fighting on the Fury vs Ngannou undercard this weekend? What time does Fury vs Ngannou start this weekend? When is the Fury vs Ngannou fight and how to stream online and on TV

Tyson Fury will fight Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia this weekend, in a heavyweight main event between two titans of combat sports. Fury reigns as WBC heavyweight champion, though he has not fought since December and fans are still awaiting a date for his bout with Oleksandr Usyk. Meanwhile, Ngannou is competing for the first time since leaving the UFC, whose heavyweight title he held until his exit from the MMA promotion in January. The Cameroonian’s next move in mixed martial arts will be with the Professional Fighters League in 2024, but first he will secure his biggest payday so far, as he makes his boxing debut against Britain’s Fury. Here’s all you need to know. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. When is the fight? The fight will take place on Saturday 28 October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card is expected to start at 6pm BST (10am PT, 12pm CT, 1pm ET). Ring walks for the main event are then expected at around 10.45pm BST (2.45pm PT, 4.45pm CT, 5.45pm ET). How can I watch it? In the UK, the event will air live on TNT Sports Box Office at a cost of £21.95 for viewers in the UK. In Ireland, the event will cost €29.99 if purchased in advance or €34.99 on the day of the fights. Viewers do not need to have a TNT subscription in order to purchase the event. In the US, the event will stream live on ESPN+ pay-per-view, and outside of the afore-mentioned countries and Canada the card will be purchasable on Dazn PPV. If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch the event, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider. Odds Fury – 1/14 Ngannou – 15/2 Draw – 28/1 Via Betway. • Get all the latest boxing betting sites’ offers What are the rules? This will be a heavyweight boxing match, with no MMA rules involved. The fight is scheduled for 10 three-minute rounds, with a victor being decided on points or via knockout/TKO. The result is expected to count towards Fury’s professional boxing record – which is 33-0-1, and Ngannou’s, which is 0-0 – but the Briton’s WBC title will not be on the line. What is the prize money? Fury has said, via the Mirror, that Ngannou will be earning $10m for the fight. Meanwhile, Derek Chisora has claimed, via The Sun, that Fury will be making $50m. That is not believed to factor in sponsorships. Full card (subject to change) Fabio Wardley vs David Adeleye (heavyweight) Joseph Parker vs Simon Kean (heavyweight) Martin Bakole vs Carlos Takam (heavyweight) Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Junior Anthony Wright (heavyweight) Moses Itauma vs Istvan Bernath (heavyweight) Jack McGann vs Alcibiade Duran (super-welterweight) Read More Wilder demands AJ fight to avert ‘major disaster’ of duo never meeting Francis Ngannou drops hint over Tyson Fury rematch and Anthony Joshua fight How much money are Fury and Ngannou earning for fight this weekend? How many rounds is Fury vs Ngannou and do knockouts count? What time does Fury vs Ngannou start this weekend? When is the Fury vs Ngannou fight and how to stream online and on TV

Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou will go head to head in the boxing ring this weekend, in a unique heavyweight clash. Fury reigns as WBC heavyweight champion, while Ngannou will be making his boxing debut and fighting for the first time since leaving the UFC. The Cameroonian retained the UFC heavyweight title last year before ultimately giving up the gold in January and joining the Professional Fighters League this spring. Ngannou, 37, will make his promotional debut with the MMA company in 2024, but first, he crosses into boxing to face Fury. The Briton, 35, is unbeaten and on course for an undisputed-title fight with Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia, if he can avoid a shock defeat by the heavy-handed Ngannou in Riyadh. Here’s all you need to know. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. When is the fight? The fight will take place on Saturday 28 October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card is expected to start at 6pm BST (10am PT, 12pm CT, 1pm ET). Ring walks for the main event are then expected at around 10.45pm BST (2.45pm PT, 4.45pm CT, 5.45pm ET). How can I watch it? In the UK, the event will air live on TNT Sports Box Office at a cost of £21.95 for viewers in the UK. In Ireland, the event will cost €29.99 if purchased in advance or €34.99 on the day of the fights. Viewers do not need to have a TNT subscription in order to purchase the event. In the US, the event will stream live on ESPN+ pay-per-view, and outside of the afore-mentioned countries and Canada the card will be purchasable on Dazn PPV. If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch the event, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider. Odds Fury – 1/14 Ngannou – 15/2 Draw – 28/1 Via Betway. • Get all the latest boxing betting sites’ offers What are the rules? This will be a heavyweight boxing match, with no MMA rules involved. The fight is scheduled for 10 three-minute rounds, with a victor being decided on points or via knockout/TKO. The result is expected to count towards Fury’s professional boxing record – which is 33-0-1, and Ngannou’s, which is 0-0 – but the Briton’s WBC title will not be on the line. What is the prize money? Fury has said, via the Mirror, that Ngannou will be earning $10m for the fight. Meanwhile, Derek Chisora has claimed, via The Sun, that Fury will be making $50m. That is not believed to factor in sponsorships. Full card (subject to change) Fabio Wardley vs David Adeleye (heavyweight) Joseph Parker vs Simon Kean (heavyweight) Martin Bakole vs Carlos Takam (heavyweight) Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Junior Anthony Wright (heavyweight) Moses Itauma vs Istvan Bernath (heavyweight) Jack McGann vs Alcibiade Duran (super-welterweight) Read More Wilder demands AJ fight to avert ‘major disaster’ of duo never meeting Francis Ngannou drops hint over Tyson Fury rematch and Anthony Joshua fight How much money are Fury and Ngannou earning for fight this weekend? How many rounds is Fury vs Ngannou and do knockouts count? Who is fighting on the Fury vs Ngannou undercard this weekend? What time does Fury vs Ngannou start this weekend?

As Jordan Larsson stepped up for that final kick, it felt like Andre Onana was the only person in Old Trafford who was in any way calm. He stood there in a composed manner, as Steve McLaren shouted instructions, and Alejandro Garnacho walked away in the knowledge no one on the pitch had noticed him scuffing the penalty spot. It was as if everyone wanted to exert their will over a set piece that was really just between the kicker and the goalkeeper. There were grander reasons for that. Manchester United needed this win over Copenhagen to possibly progress in the Champions League, and didn’t want to fail on a night that was all about perhaps their greatest ever player. There was also something more personal, that Sir Bobby Charlton would no doubt have appreciated. There was a will that Onana should be the difference, not just that Larsson should miss. It could be sensed in the deafening roar that greeted his save, as the goalkeeper guessed right to send the shot wide. It saved the win on an important night, and could well be an important moment in Onana’s United career. The psychological significance certainly shouldn’t be underestimated. This was what he’d been waiting for. This was the response he needed, the love he required. Because, as Erik ten Hag admitted after the game, Onana knows he hasn’t been at his own best level. It’s obvious his confidence has been affected. There was ironically a reminder of David De Gea, and not just because the Spanish goalkeeper also endured an uncertain start at United way back in 2011. One of the reasons De Gea was ultimately ousted was because of a decline that began in 2018. Having been brilliant for Jose Mourinho that season as a pure shot-stopper, staying deeper, he then went into a Spanish national team that demanded he play out from the back. He couldn’t, and it clearly eroded his self-assurance, to the point that De Gea began to make mistakes he hadn’t for years. That persisted for years more. Onana had meanwhile been largely signed for his footwork, only to not really get to use it to best effect in his first few games. He had been signed too late in the window, and there were too many changes to the defence. Onana didn’t have that chemistry with his centre-halves. It meant he often had to punt the ball long, removing one of the qualities he is most respected for. That obviously began to affect his confidence, to the point he started to make errors that he hadn’t at Internazionale. It was almost a classic negative spiral – that might well have been arrested with that save. That’s why it might have been so big, even beyond the emotional night. There is some symmetry in how United now face Manchester City in the derby this Sunday. Pep Guardiola’s first major move in England was to replace Joe Hart with Claudio Bravo due to the need for good footwork, only for the Chilean to almost immediately start struggling. The first major mishap was in fact at Old Trafford, and that first Manchester derby between Mourinho and Guardiola. Bravo was all over the place, misplaced kicking leading into poor handling, and gifting United a way back into the game. He never really recovered to be City No 1. Although some respectability was restored in how Bravo became a fine cup goalkeeper, he had been usurped by Ederson. There was never that same trust. Guardiola had a theory about how that happened, given that Bravo had previously been a European champion with Barcelona. The Catalan believes that goalkeeper is such an individualised position, leaving the No 1s so isolated, that an early mistake at a big stadium can have long-term effects on their confidence. This is clearly what happened with Bravo. It looked like it might have been happening with Onana. It is entirely possible, however, that Guardiola’s theory can work the other way. A first great moment in a big stadium can have a huge positive effect. It can restore confidence. Ten Hag praised Onana, saying he had “showed personality”. He stood up, by getting down superbly. That didn’t just push away Larsson’s shot but will have temporarily pushed out all memory of so many of the goalkeeper’s recent errors. He will be bolstered by the knowledge of this. Onana showed his value. He secured a win on a night when United needed a victory for all manner of reasons. Two of those were bigger than any one individual, but the moment undeniably meant most to him. Read More Alejandro Garnacho labelled ‘baby’ for scuffing spot before Copenhagen’s penalty miss Erik ten Hag heaps praise on United goalkeeper Andre Onana after penalty heroics Jesus inspires Arsenal while Harry Kane helps Bayern to victory over Galatasaray ‘It was meant to be’: Man Utd dedicate dramatic victory to Sir Bobby Charlton Manchester United vs FC Copenhagen LIVE: Latest Champions League updates Man Utd duo’s heroics offer fitting tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton

Newcastle may have beaten Paris Saint-Germain in their first Champions League game at St James’ Park in 20 years but the Magpies will want to back that up with a strong performance against Borussia Dortmund. Eddie Howe’s side are unbeaten in their group stages having secured a goalless draw away at AC Milan and stunning PSG 4-1 at home last time out. The Magpies have been a force to be reckoned with in English football but it remains to be seen how much a toll balancing the demands of the Premier League and Europe football is taking on a side without the depth of some of the other top sides. Dortmund have lost just one game in 11 matches all season, away at PSG in their Group F opener. Here’s everything you need to know about the fixture: When is Newcastle vs Borussia Dortmund? The match is on Wednesday 25 October with a kick off time of 8 pm BST. How can I watch it? Newcastle vs Dortmund will be shown live in the UK on TNT Sports 2 with coverage starting at 7 pm BST, the game can also be streamed via the Discovery+ app. If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get great deals on the best VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider. Team news The main question surrounding selection will be the outcome of a decision over Sandro Tonali and the investigation into breaches of betting rules concerning the midfielder. The outcome could be announced ahead of the clash, with a lengthy ban expected. Sven Botman has a knee problem, Matt Ritchie, Javier Manquillo, Harvey Barnes are also out while Joe Willock is back in training but Wednesday’s match could come too early for the midfielder. For Dortmund, Julian Ryerson is expected to miss out through illness, with Mateu Morey and Thomas Meunier more long-term injury concerns for the German side. Odds Newcastle 13/20 Draw 31/10 Dortmund 4/1 Prediction It will be a hard-fought affair, but Newcastle will not quite have the energy and motivation they showed against PSG. Newcastle 1-1 Dortmund.

As he rose high, demonstrating the aerial power that has made him the most prolific centre-back in English national team history, Harry Maguire’s thunderous header capped a mini personal renaissance that lifted Manchester United off the floor of their Champions League group. There have been times in the last two years when Maguire has felt luckless, but this time fortune favoured him: a status as the match-winner may have been snatched from his grasp when Scott McTominay conceded an injury-time penalty. Yet Andre Onana’s 97th-minute save preserved it. And so the Stretford End ended up singing Maguire’s name. There were twin redemption songs, of the man United signed in the summer and the one they could have sold to West Ham. “Amazing,” Maguire said; he had been a stranger to adulation at Old Trafford. Last-choice centre-back last season, he may now have a run in the team for Erik ten Hag, the manager who stripped him of the captaincy. As Maguire pointed out recently, the numbers support his case. The win percentage he branded “ridiculously high” now stands at 94.1 in his last 17 starts for United: 16 of them have brought victories. There are caveats and the one exception was a traumatic night for him in Seville as United crashed out of the Europa League. They lost on his first three starts for Ten Hag, too. Since then, his status as a back-up has meant he has been spared the tougher tests: he has faced Real Betis, Sevilla, West Ham and Aston Villa, but this season others started against Arsenal and Tottenham, Brighton and Bayern Munich. Arguably, he has not faced an elite team in Ten Hag’s reign. Which, as the Manchester derby beckons on Sunday, may mean Maguire should savour his statistics while he still can. But a personal renaissance has revolved around meaningful contributions, not simply facts and figures. There was the headed assist for McTominay’s 97th-minute winner against Brentford, the man-of-the-match display on his return to Sheffield United and now a Champions League winner against FC Copenhagen. A common denominator may be that each qualifies as relatively limited opposition: United have scarcely dominated against any of them. But if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer miscast Maguire as talisman and captain of United, a willing soul and honest trier has prospered in three successive starts. A run in the side was facilitated first by the absence of Lisandro Martinez, Ten Hag’s chosen upgrade on Maguire, and then all of United’s left-backs, meaning Victor Lindelof was redeployed on the flank. Yet Lindelof began on the bench against Copenhagen, Maguire in the role Ten Hag has long been reluctant to grant him: as a left-sided centre-back. The Dutchman has an innate preference for left-footers there. But he also wants centre-backs who operate higher up the pitch. Maguire was not a natural fit: belatedly, though, he is becoming Ten Hag’s type of defender. “I think so,” he said. “He's playing much more proactive in possession, stepping in, passing vertical, defending also on the front foot, also stepping in, defending forward, very confident in the duels. I think he's dominating in the right moment, putting the question, dominating his opponents. You see he gets rewarded - it's a very good skill from him, his heading, and a very good finish." It was a reward for more than just set-piece expertise. It was Maguire’s prize for obstinacy, for staying when there were reasons to go: that United were reluctant to pay him off may have influenced his decision but he maintained he could win his place back. Ten Hag, too, never forced him out, stripping him of the armband but insisting he remained a valuable squad player. The manager’s position has been nuanced, the defender’s defiant. “This is maybe the most scrutinised club in the world and when you are not quite on your game it gets picked up, it gets analysed,” Maguire reflected. He had a shocking 2021-22 campaign, a bad start to last season. Neither escaped scrutiny. Since then, however, he reflected: “And I am really proud and pleased over the way I have acted over the last six to 12 months.” For now, he has confounded expectations. Stiffer examinations may await, starting with Erling Haaland on Sunday. If he is still in the side, the last five weeks of the year bring Galatasaray, Newcastle, Chelsea, Bayern, Liverpool, West Ham and Villa. They will be the tests if he ranks as a top-class centre-back. For now, though, Maguire is the emblem of this United, labouring to victory with goals from some of their lesser lights. Their last five strikes have come from either McTominay, Diogo Dalot or Maguire. And for the man who has been mocked and maligned, dropped and abused, it was a rare high of late for Maguire. And, whatever his win percentage, there have not been many occasions in the last two years when he was celebrated like this. Read More ‘It was meant to be’: Man Utd dedicate dramatic victory to Sir Bobby Charlton Manchester United vs FC Copenhagen LIVE: Latest Champions League updates Man Utd duo’s heroics offer fitting tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton

Jon Jones has suffered an injury two weeks out from UFC 295, ruling him out of his heavyweight title defence against Stipe Miocic. Light-heavyweight great Jones won the heavyweight belt in March, winning his divisional debut by submitting Ciryl Gane in Round 1. His first defence was due to come against Miocic in the main event of UFC 295, at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on 11 November. However, 36-year-old Jones will require surgery after sustaining an injury on Tuesday (24 October), meaning his clash with the consensus heavyweight ‘GOAT’ is off. As a result, the co-main event of UFC 295 has been elevated to the new main event, as former light-heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka faces ex-middleweight champion Alex Pereira for the vacant 205lbs title. In the new co-main event, British heavyweight Tom Aspinall will face Russia’s Sergei Pavlovich for the interim heavyweight title. The winner of that fight will theoretically be in line to unify the belts against Jones once the American is healthy, and it is unclear how Miocic will factor into the situation. “Jon Jones was training last night, got injured,” said UFC president Dana White on Wednesday morning, sharing footage of the incident. “He was wrestling, and he tore the tendon that connects your pec to the bone... off the bone. “Eight months [out], gonna need surgery, he’s out. So, the main event is Prochazka vs Pereira. The co-main event now is Pavlovich vs Aspinall for the interim heavyweight championship.” American Miocic, 41, has not fought since losing the heavyweight title to Francis Ngannou in March 2021. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More UFC schedule 2023: Every fight happening this year Jake Paul officially ‘accepts’ MMA fight with Nate Diaz Alexander Volkanovski’s bravest move yet? Talking about his mental health

Resolve. Perseverance. Redemption. This Manchester United victory may not have been anywhere near as beautiful as any of those Sir Bobby Charlton graced, or indeed that tribute to his life, but it displayed some of the club’s soul that he made famous. Because this was obviously about so much more than just beating FC Copenhagen 1-0 late on, or indeed staying in the competition the club’s legend was most built on. It was certainly about so much more for Andre Onana, who had his first great moment at Manchester United in what was a must-win game. That was maybe what Charlton would have most enjoyed. Doing it when it mattered. A night that started with a gracefully poignant mourning of the great man ended with more appropriate celebration. It ended with deafening and defiant roar, in celebration of a player who has struggled in his first few weeks, in memory of a player who was perhaps the club’s greatest. And a player that has been pilloried and unpicked in Harry Maguire displayed defiance, scoring the winner for a relatively late 1-0 win. Onana then stepped up by getting it done, keeping it at 1-0 in the 96th minute, and keeping United in this great competition. The manner of that may not be how anyone wants this great institution to look right now but it was perseverance, exactly what Charlton, his manager and so many of his teammates would have asked for. The defeated Copenhagen also offered their own memorable contribution to the night beyond a respectable display that made United work, and that final penalty miss by Jordan Larsson. Before the game and throughout, they echoed the Stretford End in singing “there’s only one Bobby Charlton”. The rest of Old Trafford applauded. It should be recognised that wasn’t the sentiment that greeted most of the action. This was mostly another poor performance against a limited team, even if it was a third consecutive victory. Little of it beyond the context will live in the memory. Most would rather forget it. The problem is that it all informs what will be a game that really demands a performance on Sunday, which is the visit of Manchester City for the derby. United will need to be far sharper. Some allowances should be made, of course. Such is the sense of history at United, that these sombre occasions have had the effect of subduing performance. It is as if the beauty of the bagpipes sounding that the club “will never die” makes everyone all too keenly aware of the legacy they are playing for. It happened on the 40th and 50th anniversaries of the Munich air disaster, dates which brought a 1-1 draw at home to Bolton Wanderers and a 2-1 defeat to a pre-Abu Dhabi Manchester City, respectively. One difference was that both of those sides were defending champions so, as with those last two wins, this felt like there was more to it than United feeling the weight of the occasion. It was really like a lot of matches at Old Trafford this season, right down to the way an inferior-resourced opposition side controlled long periods of the game in a way that shouldn’t really have been possible. The only proper action of the first half actually came very quickly after the tributes. Mohamed Elyounoussi just cut through Sofyan Amrabat and Maguire at first, in a way that really shouldn’t have happened, then sending a cross over for Diogo to bounce against the post. If there were initially fears this could become another chaotic back-and-forth like the Galatasaray defeat, it never got that entertaining, certainly in the first half. Other than some moments of spark from Rasmus Hojlund, almost nothing happened. Ten Hag had to try something. Amrabat was removed. That did see United play a bit more directly, seeking to stretch the pitch more. Hojlund again offered constant warnings, and almost won a penalty straight into the second half. Marcus Rashford was even put through on goal, only to take a heavy touch. There were, very gradually, however, some positives. Onana looked at his most assured, making one fine save. It was all the more important since the Champions League has been the stage for arguably two of his biggest errors so far. That, like a lot on the night, made this more important than the individual moment. United’s was soon to come. Christian Eriksen, who came on for Amrabat, made the delivery. Maguire made the impact. The centre-half headed home. United should have been secured. An anxiety remained. It was betrayed by McTominay’s late foul. So much for the midfielder being a constant saviour. It was all just prelude and set-up. Onana stepped up. It was perhaps the most fitting tribute possible. Read More Onana’s big moment can be catalyst to reverse more than one awful run ‘It was meant to be’: Man Utd dedicate dramatic victory to Sir Bobby Charlton Manchester United pay emotional tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton before Copenhagen match Ten Hag lays flowers in centre circle as Man United pay tribute to Bobby Charlton Watch: FC Copenhagen fans chant ‘There’s only one Bobby Charlton’ at Old Trafford Manchester United vs FC Copenhagen LIVE: Latest Champions League updates