Nukul Jashoria

Marcus Rashford struck twice in nine minutes to sink Newcastle and reignite his career on the Champions League stage with Barcelona. Anthony Gordon grabbed his first goal in the competition but instead chose to praise his fellow England international along with midfield duo Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, who ran the show in the 2-1 win at St James’ Park.

Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany faces a delicate decision over Manuel Neuer’s starting spot, with promises made to young goalkeeper Jonas Urbig still unfulfilled. Neuer remains first-choice at 39 and continues to impress, but Bayern pledged the 22-year-old German around 10 appearances this season. With Hoffenheim up next, Kompany must balance loyalty, succession planning and results.

Diego Simeone was sent off after clashing with Liverpool fans during Atletico Madrid’s dramatic Champions League defeat at Anfield. The Argentine international later admitted he regretted the incident but blamed “insults” from behind the dugout. Meanwhile, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso also addressed the controversy, warning that fan abuse in football has been “getting out of hand.”

Nicolas Jackson’s chaotic loan move to Bayern Munich almost collapsed on deadline day after Chelsea tried to recall him, with his agent Ali Barat revealing the details on the drama. The deal only went through in the final hours following tense negotiations. Just two weeks later, Jackson faced his parent club in the Champions League, adding extra intrigue to Bayern’s 3-1 win over Chelsea.

Borussia Dortmund have opened contract talks with Karim Adeyemi after the forward switched representation to super-agent Jorge Mendes. Adeyemi, fresh from stunning long-range goals against Juventus and Wolfsburg, is tied to the German club until 2027, but early negotiations are under way as Dortmund look to secure his long-term future.

Ousmane Dembele’s Ballon d’Or triumph has attracted many deliberations, with Serge Gnabry admitting he feels “a little bit vindicated” after previously declaring the Paris Saint-Germain star was “much better” than Kylian Mbappe. The Bayern Munich winger praised Dembele’s rare two-footed ability, while also acknowledging the Real Madrid forward's world-class pedigree.

Barcelona’s Camp Nou delays are causing further financial strain on the club, with the Spanish giants being forced to move back to the Montjuic stadium for the time being. Each match at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys costs Barca a hefty amount as institutional vice-president Elena Fort confirmed they are navigating the costs while awaiting the reopening of their iconic stadium.

Bayern Munich legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has admitted he still regrets missing out on signing Florian Wirtz, insisting the German star "would be better off at Bayern than at Liverpool". The former executive also reflected on failed attempts for Nick Woltemade after their public pursuit of the striker ended in him joining Newcastle from Stuttgart.

Fermin Lopez joked Real Madrid were not among the clubs trying to sign him in the summer as he admitted that he received more offers than just Chelsea's late bid. The midfielder insisted that leaving Barcelona was never an option, though, as he looks to become a crucial figure for Hansi Flick's side following another injury upset.

Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi urged Mason Greenwood to match the intensity of Raphinha after showing the Englishman footage of the Barcelona winger to highlight his consistency. The Italian stresses he wants to see Greenwood replicate the Brazilian's level in "every game" as the Ligue 1 side look to challenge Paris Saint-Germain to the title.

Bayern Munich are moving to secure Dayot Upamecano’s future as the French defender's contract nears its end, with Serge Gnabry’s deal also under consideration after a strong start to the season. Sporting director Max Eberl confirmed open discussions, while interest from Liverpool and Real Madrid looms, making the coming months crucial for Bayern’s squad planning and title ambitions.

Barcelona overturned a first-half deficit to claim a 3-1 win at Real Oviedo, with Robert Lewandowski making a decisive impact off the bench. The striker remains patient over his substitute role but continues to find the net, while Hansi Flick’s tactical tweaks and substitutes, including Frenkie de Jong, proved crucial in securing the comeback.

Benfica's new boss Jose Mourinho has shut down speculation linking Karim Benzema with a sensational return to Europe. While rumours swirled over a January reunion, Mourinho insisted the 37-year-old striker is happy at Al-Ittihad, thriving financially, and unlikely to leave Saudi Arabia, despite his illustrious Real Madrid past and recent form.

Rasmus Hojlund has opened up on his admiration for Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and the hard work that has driven his career. The Napoli striker, back in Serie A after two seasons at Manchester United, highlighted Erling Haaland and Viktor Gyokeres as the world’s best behind CR7. Hojlund also reflected on his early sporting life, and ambitions at Napoli.

Pep Guardiola has eased Manchester City fears by confirming Erling Haaland is fit to face Burnley despite a recent back issue. The Norwegian striker, who limped off in the 1-1 draw at Arsenal and missed the midweek Carabao Cup clash, trained with the squad on Thursday, giving a major boost for City’s attack.

Antonio Conte’s Napoli have adapted seamlessly to Kevin De Bruyne’s arrival and Romelu Lukaku’s injury, with Fabio Capello praising the Italian tactician and his AC Milan counterpart Max Allegri. Napoli reshaped their attacking approach around the Belgian star, while Conte’s flexibility contrasts with Allegri’s composed style with Sunday’s Milan clash promises a tactical showdown and Serie A spectacle.

Pafos FC’s remarkable Champions League journey reaches its biggest night yet as they host Bayern Munich and Harry Kane in Cyprus. Head coach Juan Carlos Carcedo admits one man won’t be enough to stop the English striker, but believes veteran defender David Luiz could be decisive. The Spaniard also hopes his Premier League experience will prove useful against Bayern’s prolific No.9.

Lamine Yamal’s father has come to spotlight once again after appearing in a lighthearted cooking video where he joked he will “live off” his son. Mounir Nasraoui, often outspoken on social media, defended the Barcelona starlet while brushing off critics. The remarks came just days after Yamal’s decisive return for Barca ahead of a huge Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.