Player ratings

  1. Mbappe stars in routine France win but injury causes concern

    Kylian Mbappe’s stunning solo goal helped France ease to a comfortable 3-0 victory and take another giant step towards qualifying for next years’ World Cup with victory over Azerbaijan in Paris. Adrien Rabiot and Florian Thavin were also on target, but there were worrying scenes towards the end as talisman Mbappe signalled to come off with what looked like an ankle injury.

  2. Rodrygo returns with a vengeance as Brazil rout South Korea

    Brazil delivered the most convincing performance of Carlo Ancelotti's reign so far as they overcame some challenging conditions to thrash South Korea 5-0 in sodden Seoul, with Real Madrid's Rodrygo starring on his return to the squad. After an underwhelming start to his tenure, the Italian tactician will be a much happier man as the Selecao's World Cup preparations begin in earnest.

  3. Saka scores a screamer as Tuchel's England rip Wales

    England warmed up for next week's World Cup qualifier away at Latvia with a 3-0 thrashing of rivals Wales in a friendly at Wembley Stadium on Thursday night. Thomas Tuchel had the perfect response to any critics who have taken aim at his team's style of play or his squad selection, with the Three Lions quickly racing into an unassailable lead and flexing their strength at picking holes in deep blocks.

  4. Park shines as Le Tissier fires Man Utd to historic UWCL win

    It was by no means a classic but Manchester United will certainly never forget the events of Wednesday night, as the Red Devils beat Valerenga 1-0 to secure their first-ever win in the Women's Champions League proper. While their formal European journey might not have started with the sort of glamour fixture many would associate the competition with, it was one that felt important to emerge from with all three points given some of the challenges ahead and United did exactly that, thanks to a first-half penalty from captain Maya Le Tissier.

  5. Electric Thompson can't help Chelsea avoid false UWCL start

    Chelsea made a surprisingly sloppy start to their Women's Champions League campaign on Wednesday night, dropping two points away to a Twente side that featured just one senior international in its starting line-up. The Blues are expected to be one of the main contenders for the trophy this season but they didn't look like it here, as Sonia Bompastor's much-changed team was made to work, and work hard, for a 1-1 draw in the Netherlands.

  6. Arsenal start UWCL defence with defeat despite Russo strike

    Just six months after Arsenal stunned Lyon on their own patch in the Champions League semi-finals on their way to a second European triumph, the French giants got some revenge on Tuesday night as they spoiled the start of the Gunners' title defence with a 2-1 victory that, in truth, flattered the holders. Alessia Russo gave the hosts the lead with seven minutes on the clock but once Melchie Dumornay had quickly cancelled that out, it was all Lyon as two goals from the Haitian star secured all three points for the eight-time winners.

  7. Haaland is unstoppable, but City sweat over Rodri injury

    A first-half strike from Erling Haaland was all that settled the two sides as Manchester City ran out 1-0 winners at Brentford on Sunday evening. The Norwegian continued his freakish scoring form with an extremely well-taken goal to move his side up to fifth in the Premier League table heading into the October international break, sitting three points behind early leaders Arsenal.

  8. Barca thumped as Lewandowski flops

    Marcus Rashford's stunning volley proved to be a consolation goal for Barcelona, who were hammered 4-1 in Seville. The defeat was compounded after Robert Lewandowski missed a penalty, but Sevilla were well worth the scoreline and it was only a fine performance from Wojciech Szczesny which kept the scoreline down.

  9. Vinicius at the double and Mbappe on target in Madrid win

    Vinicius Jr scored twice and Kylian Mbappe was on target yet again as Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid saw off Villarreal to avoid consecutive league defeats and secure a convincing 3-1 win over the 10 men at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday evening. The visitors were reduced 10 men in the second half when Santiago Mourino was sent off, while Mbappe was forced off late on through injury.

  10. Estevao has lift off: Wonderkid topples Liverpool at the death

    Chelsea struck deep into stoppage time at the end of the second half to beat Liverpool 2-1 and continue the Premier League champions' miserable run. Goals at either end of the match proved decisive for Enzo Maresca's men, who have put the pity and woe of an injury crisis behind them to come away with three massive points at the very last.

  11. Arsenal West Ham 2025-26

    Rice shines vs. former club West Ham, but Odegaard struggles

    Declan Rice came back to haunt West Ham once again as the former Hammer opened the scoring against his old club to help Arsenal to a 2-0 victory which sent them to the top of the Premier League table. Bukayo Saka was also on target but there was to be more injury agony for Martin Odegaard, as he once again had to leave the pitch prematurely in what's proving to be a bit of a nightmare start to the season on a personal level.

  12. Iman Beney that is huge: Swiss star strikes to send City second

    Iman Beney's first goal for Manchester City secured a dramatic late victory for Andree Jeglertz's side, moments after it had appeared they'd thrown away all three points. Arsenal had twice pegged the hosts back in a lively second-half but as the clock ticked towards the 90-minute mark, up stepped the summer signing from BSC YB Frauen to smash home and make it 3-2, keeping the pressure up on Chelsea at the top of the WSL table.

  13. Kelly's revenge counts for nothing as Arsenal's unbeaten start ends

    It looked like the script was written. With seven minutes remaining, Chloe Kelly had come back to haunt her former side, levelling things up for Arsenal at Manchester City with a superb strike that seemed to swing the momentum in the Gunners' favour. But the player who has so often been the hero in 2025, for club and country, would see her efforts reduced to a footnote as Iman Beney's even later effort condemned the north London side to a 3-2 defeat, one which ended their unbeaten start to the new Women's Super League season and leaves their title charge in a precarious position already.

  14. Macario impresses but Chelsea's perfect start to new season ends

    Chelsea's perfect start to the new Women's Super League season came to an end on Friday night, as the Blues were held to a stalemate by Manchester United in a 1-1 draw. Sonia Bompastor's side began their title defence in winning fashion through each of the first four weeks of the season but that run was stopped by the Red Devils, who avoided defeat for just the second time in 12 meetings with the London club.

  15. Late penalty denies City after Haaland heroics

    Erling Haaland was on the prowl and at his most dangerous but he was left disappointed as Manchester City were denied victory in the Champions League at Monaco by a late penalty given away by Nico Gonzalez. Haaland scored his 51st and 52nd goals in Europe's top competitions to tie Mohamed Salah as the 10th highest scorer. But City were pegged back, first by a scorching strike from Jordan Teze and then by Eric Dier's penalty in the 90th minute.

  16. Electric Magpies thump Union SG as superb Gordon scores brace

    Newcastle put forward a dominant display in their 4-0 win away win over Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise. Eddie Howe's side were ruthless in attack, with Anthony Elanga, Nick Woltemade and Anthony Gordon linking well in their first start together as a trio. Woltemade opened the scoring with a clever flick, before Gordon twice bagged from the spot with substitute Harvey Barnes adding the fourth.

  17. Richarlison to the rescue as Spurs get lucky in Norway

    Spurs somehow came from two goals down to rescue a late 2-2 draw against Bodo/Glimt, despite an absolutely appalling performance in the Arctic Circle. Bodo missed a penalty and also had a 2-0 lead, but could not get over the line, as the north London side showed some real grit and determination to earn a point on the road in Europe.

  18. Neto proves Mourinho right as Chelsea ruin Special One's return

    Chelsea made it an unhappy Stamford Bridge return for Jose Mourinho as the Blues picked up their first win of the 2025-26 Champions League campaign on Tuesday with a 1-0 win. Neto stole the show for Enzo Maresca’s side and picked out Alejandro Garnacho superbly to force an own goal in the first half that proved enough to secure all three points and make it a bad night for The Special One.

  19. Beever-Jones continues record-breaking start to new WSL season

    No Chelsea player had ever scored in the Blues' first four games of a Women's Super League campaign - until Aggie Beever-Jones did exactly that on Sunday to set the defending champions on their way to a dominant 4-0 win that was certainly eventful. With records broken, plenty of goals scored and a stunning red card for Ines Belloumou, for pulling the hair of United States star Alyssa Thompson, those in attendance certainly got their money's worth when it came to action - though it was the kind which only the away end could really enjoy.

  20. Blindkilde Brown continues to stake claim for Lionesses recall

    Midfield is certainly not one of England's best-stocked positions but Laura Blindkilde Brown continues to show that she could be a fantastic option for Sarina Wiegman as a new international cycle nears, with her putting in another excellent performance for Manchester City in Sunday's 4-1 win over London City Lionesses. It was a tricky game at times for the hosts but goals from Blindkilde Brown, Vivianne Miedema and a Bunny Shaw double allowed them to secure a third successive Women's Super League win for the first time since last November.