Match

Neymar has clarified his omission from the Santos squad after watching his side slump to a comprehensive 3-0 defeat against bitter rivals Palmeiras in the Copa do Brasil. The 34-year-old forward was left out of Wednesday's round-of-16 first leg entirely, sparking intense scrutiny following the Peixe's toothless display at Nubank Parque.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has challenged marquee signing Savio to add regular goals to his game following an impressive debut in Wednesday's 5-1 Carabao Cup rout of Charlton Athletic. The £85m Brazilian winger came off the bench to score late on, but his manager insisted he must reach double figures to be considered elite.

Everton striker Thierno Barry has set his sights on a breakthrough campaign after netting his first hat-trick for the club in Wednesday's 4-0 Carabao Cup demolition of Preston North End. The forward struck three times at Deepdale to steer David Moyes' side into the third round, following up on his Premier League goal at the weekend.

Santos football executive director Alexandre Mattos insisted that leaving Neymar out of their 3-0 Copa do Brasil defeat to Palmeiras was purely tactical. The veteran forward was omitted from the matchday team sheet, sparking debate surrounding his physical condition and the venue's synthetic surface.

Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes targeted silverware after coming off the bench to score twice in a 3-2 Carabao Cup victory over West Bromwich Albion. The triumph marked a first competitive win for new manager Matthias Jaissle at St James' Park, with Barnes striking late to send the Magpies into the third round.

Martin O'Neill took full responsibility after Celtic suffered an extraordinary collapse against LASK to crash out of Champions League qualifying. The Scottish giants squandered a commanding 4-0 aggregate lead before falling to a 5-1 second-leg thrashing after extra time, missing out on the league phase for the second consecutive campaign.

Joe Rodon praised the depth across the Leeds United squad after they eased past Nottingham Forest 2-0 to reach the Carabao Cup third round. Having secured their second win at the City Ground in the space of three days, the Welsh international insisted everyone will have a big role to play as the Whites look to build early-season momentum.

Keith Andrews praised the depth of talent in his Brentford squad after witnessing a heavily rotated side achieve a resounding 6-1 victory over Birmingham City in the Carabao Cup second round on Tuesday evening. The Bees produced a commanding attacking performance at St Andrew's to book their place comfortably in the third round.

Athletic Bilbao endured a nightmare start to their La Liga campaign after suffering a 3-1 home defeat against Sevilla. The setback means Edin Terzic's side have already equalled an unwanted defensive record from last season following an early red card.

Mika Godts praised Paris Saint-Germain's collective character after making his competitive debut in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Rennes. The summer signing was brought on at the interval alongside Ferran Torres with the champions trailing by two goals, playing a key role in an energetic second-half display that preserved a hard-earned point for Luis Enrique's side.

Dominik Szoboszlai felt Liverpool should have claimed all three points despite needing his dramatic 99th-minute penalty to rescue a 2-2 draw against Newcastle on Sunday. The midfielder held his nerve from the spot in front of a hostile St James' Park crowd after strikes from Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock put the hosts on the brink of an opening-day win.

Santos head coach Cuca has admitted he is uncertain whether Neymar will feature in Wednesday's Copa do Brasil quarter-final first leg against Palmeiras due to the synthetic pitch at Nubank Parque. The Brazil international is an outspoken critic of artificial surfaces, leaving his availability in doubt ahead of a crucial cup encounter in Sao Paulo.

AC Milan teenager Alphadjo Cisse admitted he never imagined scoring on his senior debut after netting the opening goal in Sunday's 2-1 victory away at Torino. Handed a starting role in place of the injured Rafael Leao, the 19-year-old struck midway through the second half to set up a winning start to Ruben Amorim's tenure in Serie A.

Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti has urged Randal Kolo Muani to rediscover his best form after expressing frustration with the striker's display against Frosinone. Despite securing a 1-0 victory courtesy of Bremer's first-half goal, the Italian coach warned that the French forward must raise his level as the club searches for attacking reinforcements.

Aston Villa captain John McGinn has issued an apology to supporters after Unai Emery's side suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Brighton on Sunday. A nightmare first-half collapse saw Villa concede four goals, score an own goal, and have Joao Gomes sent off before the interval, leaving the visiting skipper furious with the opening-day capitulation.

Ruben Amorim started his reign as AC Milan head coach with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Torino on Sunday evening. Quick-fire second-half goals from teenager Alphadjo Cisse and substitute Adrien Rabiot secured all three points at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, keeping pace with title rivals Inter, Napoli, and Juventus on the opening weekend.

Former Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah opened his Trabzonspor account in style with a match-winning brace in a 2-1 victory over Istanbul Basaksehir on Sunday. The Egyptian star struck in either half, overcoming Eldor Shomurodov's penalty equaliser, to secure his new club's first Turkish Super Lig win of the 2026-27 campaign.

Anthony Gordon marked his Barcelona debut in style by providing two assists in five minutes during a commanding 5-0 victory over Elche. The England winger replaced Lamine Yamal in the second half to set up Raphinha and Fermin Lopez, helping the reigning champions make a flawless start to their La Liga title defence on Sunday.

Jose Mourinho’s second act at Real Madrid began in the most dramatic fashion possible as debutant Carlos Espi struck a 90th-minute winner to secure a 2-1 victory over Espanyol. It was a night that encapsulated the "Special One" experience, featuring early dominance, a frustrating setback, and a late twist that kept his perfect opening-day record intact.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has hit out at his side's lack of progression after a demoralising 2-0 defeat to newly-promoted Hull City. The Portuguese midfielder claimed the Red Devils are repeating the same errors that plagued their previous campaign as Michael Carrick’s permanent tenure began in nightmare fashion.

Manchester United endured a nightmare start to the 2026-27 Premier League season as they were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Hull City at the MKM Stadium on Saturday. Michael Carrick's side were undone by their own defensive frailties during a dismal first half.

Manchester United have handed competitive debuts to Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos in their Premier League clash against Hull City, with Marcus Rashford named on the bench. The England forward returned to the club following loan spells with Aston Villa and Barcelona, taking the vacant No. 9 shirt after Rasmus Hojlund sealed a move to Napoli.

Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa insisted his longstanding friendship with Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso will be set aside when the West London rivals clash on Monday night. Both former Liverpool team-mates are preparing for their Premier League managerial debuts at Craven Cottage, adding an intriguing subplot to an already intense opening London derby.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard outlined the squad's determination to fight for back-to-back Premier League crowns following an emphatic 3-0 victory against Coventry City. The Norwegian playmaker earned Player of the Match honours as the reigning champions brushed aside the newly promoted outfit to launch their title defence in commanding fashion.

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler conceded his side must step up their performance following a frustrating goalless draw away to Tromso in their UEFA Conference League play-off first leg. The Seagulls dominated possession in Norway but survived two clear breakaway chances as the tie remains finely poised ahead of the return clash.

Lionel Messi is under investigation by the MLS Disciplinary Committee following an off-the-ball confrontation with Quinn Sullivan during Inter Miami's 2-2 draw against Philadelphia Union. Video footage captured the Argentine striking the back of his opponent's head, leaving the Herons captain vulnerable to a potential fine or a one-game ban.

La Liga matches will feature on-air referee explanations this season to provide greater clarity on controversial incidents, but Real Madrid's home ground stands as the sole exception. Strict broadcast operational rules enforced at the Santiago Bernabeu mean officials cannot participate in live post-match reviews under the new league protocol.

Japanese icon Kazuyoshi Miura has etched his name into the record books once again after becoming the oldest goalscorer in the history of the Emperor's Cup at the age of 59. Now playing in his 42nd campaign as a professional, the veteran forward scored two penalties for Fukushima United in an emphatic 7-0 first-round triumph over Oyama Soccer Club.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone hailed the decisive impact of his bench after second-half substitutes Lee Kang-in and Alex Baena inspired a 2-0 win against Malaga. The duo struck sensational goals after the break to secure all three points in their La Liga opener at the Metropolitano, overcoming a sluggish first-half performance on Wednesday.