Jesus hat trick gives Arsenal win against Palace​​

Vinícius Júnior believes he and the other “chosen ones” of Real Madrid have met one of the demands of the most successful club in the world after winning the Intercontinental Cup.

The Brazil international scored one goals and set up another as Madrid beat Mexico’s Pachuca 3-0 in the final on Wednesday. Madrid qualified for the tournament by winning the Champions League last season.

“The team has lived up to what history demands of them, which is winning big titles,” Vinícius said after the win. “Not any player can wear this jersey, they don’t all get the chance to play for the best team in the world. We’re the chosen ones, it’s a unique feeling very few players have been able to enjoy.”

Vinícius, 24, was named player of the match in the success against Pachuca to cap off a successful week for Vinícius, who won FIFA’s The Best men’s player of the year award on Tuesday.

“It’s been a beautiful week, really special for me,” he said.

Vinícius lost out to Manchester City midfielder Rodri for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award in October, but he appears to have put that disappointment behind him.

“An award in which people chose not to vote for me won’t change what I think or what my teammates tell me every day,” he said. “I’m here to play for them and do my best for this jersey, the greatest in the world. I arrived at Real Madrid, the best club in the world, and I was undermined for a long time but I’ve never let my head drop, I just kept working hard.

“We always want to be at the top … we’ve been crowned the best club in the world. I hope we can keep it up for a long time to come and continue making history in these colours.”

Vinícius also hailed teammate Kylian Mbappé, who scored Madrid’s opener on Wednesday via an assist from the Brazilian.

“I’m a huge fan of his,” Vinícius said of the France star. “I sent him loads of messages [earlier this year] because I always dreamed of playing with him, he’s a fantastic player. We’ve admired each other for a long time. We have a wonderful group, we all love each other very much, there’s no vanity here. We’re here to put Real Madrid at the top, where it should always be.”

Madrid also won the European Super Cup in August and are third in LaLiga, one point adrift of leaders Barcelona but with a game in hand.

Bayern Munich‘s leading goalscorer Harry Kane is on track to return from injury in Friday’s Bundesliga clash with RB Leipzig at home, coach Vincent Kompany said on Thursday.

Kane, who has scored 14 goals in 12 league appearances this season, has been out since sustaining a thigh injury in last month’s 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund.

“I won’t say whether he’ll start or not. The final training session is still important today. If everything goes well, he’ll definitely play a part tomorrow,” Kompany told reporters.

The England international, who topped the scoring charts in last season’s Bundesliga with 36 goals, has been irreplaceable in Bayern’s attack, Kompany said.

“We said previously that we couldn’t replace Harry Kane like-for-like. Harry has this incredible sense of where he needs to be in the box,” the Belgian coach added.

“He’s one of the best in the world in the box, that’s where he makes the difference. There aren’t many players who can do that.”

Bayern suffered their first loss in the campaign on Saturday, a 2-1 defeat at Mainz, with Kompany missing several key players due to injuries, including Kane, João Palhinha, Alphonso Davies, Serge Gnabry and keeper Manuel Neuer.

Kompany said he was glad to see Davies, Kane and Josip Stanisic back in training and hoped others would return during the three-week winter break which is starting from Saturday.

“If things go as well on Friday as they did in training yesterday, we’ll be in good shape,” he said.

Bayern, with 33 points from 14 matches, are four ahead of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, while fourth-placed Leipzig have 27 points.

Bukayo Saka has insisted Arsenal are “not scared” of the pressure that comes with attempting to win the club’s first Premier League title in 20 years.

Arsenal have fallen just short in the last two seasons, finishing second to Manchester City on both occasions.

Saka played a key part in both of those campaigns and is determined to lift a major trophy with his boyhood club. He told BBC Sport the side are enjoying the challenge in front of them.

“We’re not scared. The last two seasons we’ve competed for the league and come very close,” Saka said.

“We’re also back in the Champions League, we have some experience there now, so we feel we’re ready to compete for every trophy.

“We really want to take that next step and try to win something.”

Saka, who has also suffered heartbreak at the last hurdle with England in two European Championship finals, said past failures are spurring him on to reach success in the near future.

“It’s horrible, I’ll be honest,” Saka said. “It’s just that extra fuel for me and extra motivation. I want to get it over the line this season and try to lift the trophy, for sure.

“You work the whole season and you’re so close, you’ve literally got one hand on the trophy, you’re in the final or you’re right there to win the Premier League, or whatever trophy you’re competing for that season, and then you don’t win it. It’s like the whole year’s work and nothing to show for it.

“I know you can be proud of the season and evolution and development, but that’s why more than ever we want to take the next step and win.”