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Inter Miami had won just once in their last four, but Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba made sure that skid didn’t hit four straight, leading an emphatic 3-1 win over the Seattle Sounders. Billed as a Leagues Cup final rematch from two weeks ago, the Herons looked intent on sending a message after being blanked in back-to-back games for the first time with Messi on the squad.

Tottenham opened their 2025-26 Champions League campaign with a 1-0 victory at home to Villarreal, though will be a tad grateful they were able to claim three points on opening night. Thomas Frank made his debut as a coach in Europe's top club competition and will be relieved that his side took the three points, but will know there is work to do if they are to progress from the league phase.

Kylian Mbappe buried two penalties to overcome a fine finish from Tim Weah as Real Madrid opened their Champions League campaign with a narrow 2-1 win over Marseille. It was a rather mixed night from Los Blancos, who lost Trent Alexander-Arnold to injury and saw Dani Carvajal sent off, but managed to snag a late win in their search for Champions League redemption.

Arsenal's out-of-favour forwards Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard sent a timely reminder to manager Mikel Arteta on Tuesday night, coming off the bench against Athletic Club to ensure the Gunners started their Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 2-0 win. The north Londoners' expensively-assembled attack struggled to break down the hosts' defence, but the two players who have been linked with an Emirates exit delivered in style late on.

Many of the best footballers in North America's confederation play for clubs in Italy's top flight - and that's no coincidence

The former USMNT attacking midfielder enjoyed one of the more remarkable careers in American soccer history

Describing Roberto Baggio to those who did not experience him is a sort of generational challenge, an arduous attempt at conveying something that is too difficult to explain in words. But we will try - because Roberto Baggio was, especially for Italians, a symbol, a standard-bearer, an icon and an emotion.

Heading into the summer, Arsenal fans were told to expect an 'unprecedented' window by transfer reporters. The club held up that end of the bargain, splashing out roughly £250 million ($340m) on new players to bolster Mikel Arteta's squad as they look to end their 22-year wait for a Premier League title. Through four games of the season, their recruits look right at home.

Clear your calendar for Tuesday and Wednesday nights going forward - the Champions League is back as 36 of Europe's best teams prepare to do battle across the continent over the next nine months. Last season's tournament, complete with the brand-new league phase, turned into an epic, and the 2025-26 edition of the premier club competition on the planet promises to be no different.

Ordinarily, when Sam Kerr gets the ball inside the six yard box, she shoots. We're talking about one of the deadliest strikers on the planet, someone who has set records on three continents and scored more international goals than any player in Australia's history. But when she found herself in that position on Sunday, as Chelsea visited Aston Villa, it was the first time she had done so in 634 days. So while her uncharacteristic decision to pass was somewhat jarring, given how unfamiliar it looked, it was understandable.

'The Chaaaaampions'. That's right - the most famous anthem in world football is set to ring out around Europe yet again as the 2025-26 Champions League season gets under way this week. Thirty-six teams are vying it out to lift the European Cup in Budapest on May 30, but can any of them take Paris Saint-Germain's crown away from them?

GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in MLS, including Aaronson sealing his first win with the Rapids

GOAL US unpacks the main weekend storylines from the Premier League, La Liga and other top competitions in The Euro XI

The attacking midfielder seemed primed for a fresh start at a new club, but the coach who brought him in is now gone

Who's hot, who's not? GOAL ranks all 14 teams across the National Women's Soccer League

An underwhelming weekend loss to Charlotte FC highlighted flaws, raising questions about Miami's 2025 silverware credentials

The Croatian is still producing midfield masterclasses at 40 years of age, while the egalitarian environment at Barcelona is reaping rewards

That first international break of the season always comes at just the wrong time. With teams starting to get into the groove as they switch from pre-season to competitive action, and with the final new signings of the summer arriving on deadline day, that Premier League fans had to wait two weeks to see their teams in action was almost a travesty. Fortunately, that wait is now over.

Just after Phil Foden had set Manchester City on their way to their damning 3-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday, fans could be heard chanting Ruben Amorim's name. At first it seemed that United's 3,000 visiting supporters were defiantly backing their coach, and yet it soon became clear that it was in fact City's fans who were doing the singing.

GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including Weston McKennie shining for Juventus

Fermin Lopez stole the day while Raphinha and Robert Lewandoswki struck a devastating brace off the bench each to brush aside Valencia 6-0, as Barcelona returned to winning ways in La Liga. La Blaugrana put on a true five-star display as the visitors were put to the sword.

Manchester City returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion as Erling Haaland and Phil Foden struck the decisive blows in a 3-0 thumping of local rivals Manchester United in Sunday's derby. Foden opened the scoring in the first half before Haaland took the game away from the visitors with a brace in the second period.

Manchester United were out-classed and over-powered by Manchester City in an embarrassing 3-0 defeat in Sunday's derby which compounded their poor start to the Premier League season. Luke Shaw was the worst of a terrible bunch of defenders while Benjamin Sekso's abject first start summed up the team's limp attack. United have just four points from their first four games and it could get worse before it gets better as they face Chelsea next.

It was the late show once again for Liverpool as a 95th-minute Mohamed Salah penalty sunk a defiant Burnley side to earn the Reds all three points on Sunday as the champions continued their 100 percent start to the new Premier League season with a fourth late winner in as many games.

The Lionesses' shot-stopper kept Sonia Bompastor's side in the game at times, before the champions showed their quality to battle to victory

The Red Devils may have work to do in Europe, but they have been full of goals during a faultless start to the new WSL season.

The Blaugrana were meant to host Valencia in their refurbished home on Sunday, but they'll be playing at a 6,000-seater stadium instead

EXCLUSIVE: GOAL sat down with the midfielder to discuss his record move, challenges of Europe and his USMNT ambitions

Messi was largely contained by Charlotte and Miami looked rudderless without suspended striker Suarez on the pitch