Match

Seattle Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas is in top form, but it hasn’t earned him a call from Javier Aguirre, who he says he hasn’t spoken with about a spot. Vargas has 2,183 MLS minutes this season plus 1,107 across the Club World Cup, Champions Cup and Leagues Cup. Yet the Alaska-born 20-year-old has just one Mexico cap, with only three FIFA dates left before 2026.

Pep Guardiola has hinted he is surprised Manchester City are "apparently" not one of favourites to win this season's Champions League. City get their 2025-26 European campaign under way on Thursday evening when they play host to Serie A champions Napoli at the Etihad Stadium.

Liverpool have ended a 417-match unbroken run of naming a homegrown player in their starting XI for a European fixture. The Reds face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, and Arne Slot has not named a single English player in his team. There are four homegrown players on the bench, however.

Youngster Sam Mather was not involved in Manchester United Under-21s’ clash with Brackley Town in the National League Cup on Tuesday as he continues to weigh up a move to the United Arab Emirates. The 21-year-old was a notable absentee as the young Red Devils slipped to a narrow 2-1 defeat against National League side Brackley at St James Park.

Liverpool have named Alexander Isak in their starting lineup to take on Atletico Madrid in their first Champions League game of the season on Wednesday night. This will mark the Sweden international's debut for the Reds following his £125m move from Newcastle United over the summer. He was notably left out of the squad to face Burnley on Sunday afternoon.

Costa Rica’s path to the World Cup has been complicated after beginning the qualifiers with two draws against opponents considered weaker on paper. With Mexico, the United States, and Canada already qualified as hosts, the road seemed far more accessible for Miguel Herrera’s side, a nation that has reached three consecutive World Cups.

Javier Aguirre’s Mexico squad will close out 2025 with a friendly against Paraguay at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Nov. 18, the Mexican Football Federation confirmed on Wednesday. Days earlier, El Tri will host Uruguay at the TSM Stadium in Torreón, completing their schedule of friendlies for the remainder of the year ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has revealed Curtis Jones is expected to be fit for Saturday's Merseyside derby against Everton. The midfielder is poised to return after picking up a knock in the Reds’ 1-0 Premier League victory over Arsenal before the international break.

Forest Green Rovers manager Robbie Savage has made waves after making a quadruple substitution in the first minute of his team's match against Wolverhampton Wanderers' Under-21s on Tuesday in the National League Cup. The ex-Premier League star took advantage of an obscure loophole to make wholesale changes to his team straight after kick-off and saw Forest Green go on to win 3-2 at the New Lawn stadium.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has given a brutally honest verdict on the partnership between new signing Xavi Simons and Djed Spence after seeing Spurs beat Villarreal 1-0 in their opening Champions League match of the 2025-26 campaign. An early own goal from Yellow Submarine goalkeeper Luiz Junior ensured Tottenham took all three points in a narrow win in north London.

Leandro Trossard has been effectively confirmed as the Premier League's ultimate super-sub after his goal in Arsenal's 2-0 Champions League win over Athletic Club. The Belgian has struggled to become a regular in Mikel Arteta's team and was linked with an Emirates exit this summer. But his contributions off the bench mean the Gunners can ill-afford to sell him.

Kylian Mbappe scored twice for Real Madrid against Marseille in the Champions League on Tuesday to take his tally to 50 goals in 64 matches for Los Blancos. The France international has now become the fastest player to reach a half-century of goals for Real Madrid since Cristiano Ronaldo hit the landmark in 2010 by hitting his 51st goal in just 54 appearances.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has claimed that he knew that Gabriel Martinelli would turn out to be the match-winner against Athletic Club on Tuesday. The Gunners boss sent on the Brazilian in the second half and saw him break the deadlock just 36 seconds after coming off the bench as the Gunners started their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 victory at San Mames.

The Swede was left out of the squad for the 1-0 win over Burnley but is likely to feature at Anfield on Wednesday night

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano welcomed a bounceback 3-1 win over the Seattle Sounders after back-to-back shutout defeats, with Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba each producing a goal and an assist while Rodrigo De Paul impressed. Still, Mascherano admitted the squad lacks depth amid absences and missed signings, calling the last seven games ‘finals.’

U.S. international Tim Weah scored his first club goal for Olympique de Marseille, a moment he hailed as a “dream” considering it happened at Real Madrid's famed Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. However, the winger acknowledged he wished the Marseille could have found a result in the Champions League match Tuesday, which they ultimately lost 2-1.

AC Milan secured their second win of the Serie A season after a narrow 1-0 victory over Bologna. Mexican striker Santiago Giménez has yet to find the net for the Rossoneri, but head coach Massimiliano Allegri highlighted the forward’s contribution beyond goals. Milan now sit fifth on the Serie A table with six points.

Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany has admitted he has spoken to Nicolas Jackson about parent club Chelsea as the two teams prepare to face off in the Champions League. The striker swapped the Blues for the German giants on loan and now he could be particularly helpful for the Bundesliga outfit. Incidentally, Kompany has highlighted a "hidden strength" Enzo Maresca's team possess.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has issued a cryptic update on whether Cole Palmer will be fit enough to face Bayern Munich in their Champions League opener. The Blues star produced a goal-scoring display off the bench against Brentford following a spell on the sidelines and now his Italian head coach has spoken about his current fitness levels before taking on the German giants.

U.S. international Tim Weah has a knack for timing, delivering his first Marseille goal in dramatic fashion on Tuesday. Weah scored the opener against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in the club’s opening Champions League match of the season. The winger was assisted by Mason Greenwood, who found Weah running to his right in the 22nd minute.

After Boca Juniors’ 1-1 draw against Rosario Central, midfielder Rodrigo Battaglia highlighted the great moment his teammate Leandro Paredes is experiencing. The World Cup champion, who decided this year to leave European football for Boca, has previously played for PSG, Juventus and Roma. Since his arrival, Paredes now shares the midfield with Battaglia.

Henry Martín picked up the injury during Monday’s training session and is expected to be out for an undetermined period. The Club América captain had just returned in the 2-1 Clásico Nacional defeat to Chivas. After an injury-plagued year, he had regained fitness but still hasn’t scored this Apertura 2025 after eight rounds.

Angel Di Maria showed that form is temporary and class is permanent with a remarkable Olimpico goal for Rosario Central against Boca Juniors. The 37-year-old stunned fans at Estadio Gigante de Arroyito after scoring directly from a corner kick at the weekend.

Arsenal are set to wear an unusual kit combination for their Champions League opener against Athletic Club. The Gunners are known for their iconic red and white jersey but they will have to tweak things for their clash in Spain on Tuesday.

Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has told star forward Mason Greenwood how to become a "great top player" like Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe. The Italian has been singing the praises of the ex-Manchester United man but he also wants more from him ahead of facing Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Andy Robertson has leapt to Milos Kerkez's defence after the new Liverpool left-back was taken off early in their 1-0 win at Burnley. The 21-year-old has taken the Scot's place in the Reds' starting lineup but the experienced defender is still backing the Hungarian to the hilt.

Mikel Arteta has been hailed as "one of the best coaches in the world" ahead of Arsenal's Champions League opener against Athletic Club. The 43-year-old is highly rated among his peers and the Spanish side's boss, Ernesto Valverde, has lauded him as one of the game's elite managers.

Manchester United's players are reportedly 'losing confidence' in Ruben Amorim's tactical setup after their drubbing at the hands of Manchester City. This comes after the Red Devils head coach said he would rather be sacked than change his philosophy.

Thomas Frank has confirmed that Randal Kolo Muani could make his Tottenham debut against Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday. The forward joined the club on loan from Juventus on deadline day and is currently awaiting his debut. Now, Frank has confirmed that the France international is fit, although he has questioned his ability to play with intensity.