Manchester City remain level on points with arch-rivals Manchester United and six adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal after suffering a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Sunday. Pep Guardiola’s side headed to the West Midlands unbeaten across their last nine fixtures in all competitions, but a solitary strike from Matty Cash proved to be the difference in a match that saw Erling Haaland draw a blank for just the second time this season.
The Premier League has been warned that “all hell could break loose” once the verdict in Manchester City’s long-running Financial Fair Play (FFP) saga is finally delivered. Heavyweights from the Etihad Stadium are still waiting on an official ruling there, following an independent hearing, meaning that various potential punishments for the Blues continue to be speculated on.
Gianluigi Donnarumma has finally settled one of football’s biggest debates — Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe? The Italian shotstopper, who has shared dressing rooms with both superstars in recent years, offered a clear verdict on who hits the ball harder. Having experienced their brilliance up close, Donnarumma’s insight carries unique weight in a discussion that continues to divide everyone.
Pep Guardiola has bought a new home for himself in Barcelona as his divorce from wife Cristina Serra is almost finalised. The Manchester City boss has chosen a spot in Pedralbes, the neighbourhood where he and Serra bought their first home, and will use the place to escape from the madness of the Premier League as the pressure of managing in elite football never ceases.
Youth football is in Pep Guardiola's blood. He emerged from Barcelona's famed La Masia academy and then took his first steps as a coach after being appointed manager of the Catalans' B team all the way back in 2007. When he became first-team coach at Camp Nou one year later, he promoted the likes of Sergio Busquets and Pedro, plus the returning Gerard Pique, as Barca swept to the treble in style.
Manchester City are reportedly monitoring the progress of highly-rated Koln forward Said El Mala but face stiff competition for his signature from a number of European heavyweights. The 19-year-old has been in fine form for the Bundesliga side in 2025-26, leading to several members of Europe’s elite to register their interest in signing the winger.
Pep Guardiola gave a tongue-in-cheek response when discussing the ever-changing narrative surrounding the Premier League title race, joking Liverpool are now “done” following their recent run of poor form. The Manchester City manager delivered the wry take when recalling how his side were written off following a start to the season which saw them lose two of their opening three games.
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have been told they should “fear” in-form Manchester City striker Erling Haaland as the Premier League title race hots up. The Norway international has been in remarkable form for club and country in 2025-26, with one Premier League legend declaring he may just be in the midst of one of the greatest individual seasons of all time.
The American conglomerate that owns Premier League outfit Burnley completed a majority takeover of Espanyol earlier this month. In a recent interview, Alan Pace, the American businessman overseeing the sporting operations at both clubs, cited Manchester rivals City and United's example while explaining his ambitions and why success will follow Espanyol, even if it takes time.
Vincent Kompany’s contract extension with Bayern Munich has sparked fresh debate over his long-term ambitions, with former player Dietmar Hamann suggesting the Belgian coach could have a Manchester City exit clause. While Bayern insist the deal shows “commitment and continuity” with Kompany, speculation grows over whether the Belgian could one day succeed Pep Guardiola.
Manchester City's youth academy is one of the most productive talent factories in the world, although the reality is the vast majority of graduates end up having to seek their fortune away from the Etihad Stadium. Phil Foden is the pride and joy of City's youth system, but for many years he was the exception that proved the rule.
With the title race having already swung back and forth while the top-four and relegation battles are as open as they have been for a few years, the Premier League is becoming increasingly difficult to predict. Sure, the odd match still follows the formbook, but a number of teams are proving tough to pin down and figure out what to expect from them on a game-to-game basis.
Scott Carson has officially retired from professional football, ending a remarkable 22-year journey that saw him lift two Champions League titles, win four England caps, and become a beloved figure in the Manchester City dressing room. The veteran goalkeeper, 40, departs the game as one of English football’s most respected professionals and a cult hero among City fans.
Manchester City star Josko Gvardiol has made a stunning revelation about how his professional sports career could have taken a very different direction after temporarily falling out of love with the game. The Croatia international is a regular for City boss Pep Guardiola and has also revealed the tentative approach being taken by the club after a slow start to the season.
Erling Haaland has opened a window to all the hard work and preparation that lies behind his incredible goal-scoring form. In the first video on his brand new YouTube channel, the Norwegian takes viewers inside his home and into Manchester City's training ground to show them a day in the life of a striker who has scored 24 goals already this season for club and country.
Premier League icon, Dwight Yorke, named the best striker in Europe and brutally ranked Harry Kane, Erling Haaland & Kylian Mbappe as the trio continue their blistering form on the pitch. Arguably, the three best forwards in the world are going through a purple patch for their respective sides. And Yorke, who has never been shy of an opinion, shared his personal pecking order in a recent interview.
A Manchester City fan tragically died just hours before the club's Champions League match against Villarreal in eastern Spain. Guy Bradshaw, 35, a devoted father from Wythenshawe, was in Benidorm with friends to watch his beloved team play. He was found in bed by a friend in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made an interesting comparison between Cityzens midfielder Bernardo Silva and Lionel Messi, claiming after the Portuguese's goal against Villarreal on Tuesday night that both him and the great Argentine have a "hammer in their necks", capable of scoring great headed goals despite their comparatively short stature.
The NBA is preparing to launch a European basketball league featuring elite football clubs like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Talks are underway with major investors as part of an ambitious plan to expand basketball’s global reach, with the first season of ‘NBA Europe’ expected to tip off in 2027.
Erling Haaland scored for the 12th game running for club and country as Manchester City cruised to a 2-0 victory over Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday. Bernardo Silva also netted to rubber-stamp City's first away win in Europe's top competition for more than a year, taking Pep Guardiola's side on to seven points from their three games in the league phase.
Erling Haaland has now spent over £10 million on supercars as the Manchester City striker builds an enviable collection. Per the Daily Mail, the Norway international spent approximately two days' wages - £250,000 - on a brand-new Lamborghini, as he relaxes away from his prolific performances on the pitch.
Manchester City's Champions League visit to Villarreal should have been a triumphant homecoming for Rodri, a return to the club that made him. But the midfielder will get no warm welcome back from his former fans at the Estadio de la Ceramica on Tuesday as he instead recovers from a hamstring injury that has raised further doubts over his ability to get back to his best a year after undergoing knee surgery.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has singled out one of his summer signings for praise ahead of the team's Champions League fixture against La Liga side Villarreal on Tuesday night. The Cityzens spent big over the summer in a bid to strengthen their squad after an underwhelming campaign and Guardiola has been blown away by one player in particular.
Manchester City are set to remain without Rodri for at least two more games, with Pep Guardiola delivering another injury update on the Spain international midfielder. Having missed most of last season with knee ligament damage, Rodri has struggled to recover full match fitness in 2025-26. He currently finds himself back on the treatment table with a muscle complaint.
With the October international break now in the rearview mirror, club football returned in style over the weekend, with some huge clashes headlining Europe's biggest leagues. Manchester United plunged great rivals Liverpool into even deeper crisis in the Premier League, Bayern Munich got the better of Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker while there were changes of leader in both Serie A and Ligue 1.