Flags from Russia and Belarus were banned from the site of the Australian Open on Tuesday after more than one was brought into the stands by spectators on Day 1 of the year's first Grand Slam tournament.

Normally, flags can be displayed during matches at Melbourne Park. But Tennis Australia reversed that policy for the two countries involved in the invasion of Ukraine that began nearly a year ago.

All Jurgen Klopp could do was ask for forgiveness.

The final whistle had just been blown on what the Liverpool manager would later describe as the worst ever performance by one of his teams, and Klopp had walked onto the field and over to the club's traveling fans.

The Italian Super Cup between AC Milan and Inter Milan should serve as the appetizer for the main course next month.

The city rivals face each other at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday with the first trophy of the Italian season at stake, but they will also likely have one eye on their Serie A clash at San Siro on Feb. 5.

After lighting up football's biggest stages, Cristiano Ronaldo faces a very different reality in Saudi Arabia with smaller stadiums and less exalted teams -- and some very high temperatures.

Ronaldo, 37, says he's embracing the "challenge" of the Saudi Pro League, a step into the unknown for a player who is more used to Real Madrid's heaving Santiago Bernabeu stadium or the "Theatre of Dreams", Manchester United's Old Trafford.

Maybe the tough times are finally over for Barcelona.

With a big victory over its main rival on Sunday, Barcelona got back to celebrating — and to feeling good about its future again.

Marc-André ter Stegen saved two penalties and Pedri converted the deciding spot kick as Barcelona defeated Real Betis 4-2 in a shootout Thursday to set up a Spanish Super Cup final against rival Real Madrid this weekend in Saudi Arabia.

Madrid defeated Valencia on penalties in the other semifinal on Wednesday, when Thibaut Courtois made the decisive save.

Novak Djokovic received a warm and enthusiastic welcome in his return to Melbourne during an exhibition match against Nick Kyrgios on Friday.

Djokovic was deported ahead of last year's Australian Open because of a visa issue relating to his refusal to say whether he had been vaccinated for COVID-19.

Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann wants a new goalkeeper before the Bundesliga season resumes next week.

Bayern has been looking for alternatives for the injured Manuel Neuer, who broke his leg in a skiing accident last month, but the club's search has failed to yield results so far.

Real Madrid will get another chance to celebrate a Spanish Super Cup title in Saudi Arabia.

Madrid defeated Valencia 4-3 in a penalty shootout in Wednesday's semifinal and will try to win its third Super Cup title in the Middle East nation on Sunday.

Morocco announced Thursday that it was cancelling its participation in the African Nations Championship, blaming host Algeria, the kingdom's neighbor and arch-rival, for closing its airspace to Moroccan flights.

"The Moroccan national team is unable to reach (the Algerian city of) Constantine because permission for their flight with Royal Air Maroc, the team's official transporter, has not been confirmed," the Morocco's FRMF football federation said in a statement.