Champions League news

Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain came together ahead of their Champions League clash to honour the memory of Luis Enrique’s late daughter, Xana. Both clubs pledged support to the Xana Foundation through jersey auctions and charitable donations. For Enrique, who lost his daughter, this acts reflected the enduring spirit of his family and the broader football community.

Wayne Rooney claims that under-fire Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim would be “absolutely slaughtered” if he made selection calls similar to those which saw Arne Slot’s Liverpool suffer a disappointing Champions League defeat at Galatasaray. The Reds have now come unstuck in their last two fixtures, with the odd question being asked of why a Dutch tactician at Anfield is tinkering so much.

Juventus coach Igor Tudor expressed his fury after his side conceded a late equaliser to draw 2-2 with Villarreal in the Champions League on Wednesday. The Croatian coach blamed missed chances and nerves for the draw but came to the defence of his centre-backs amid criticism for their sloppiness in recent matches.

Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac has come to the defence of Jobe Bellingham following the young midfielder's struggles at the club in the ongoing campaign. Bellingham was substituted in the 69th minute of Wednesday's Champions League clash against Athletic Club, with Kovac shielding the ex-Sunderland starboy's underwhelming form by stating that he was "nervous" starting his first game in while.

Jamie Carragher has hailed Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya as “one of the best pieces of business” the club has done under Mikel Arteta, calling him a “real upgrade” on Aaron Ramsdale. The Spaniard’s stunning save in the first half proved crucial as Arsenal beat Olympiacos 2-0 on Wednesday to continue their perfect Champions League start with two wins in two.

Barcelona's much-anticipated return to Camp Nou has been delayed once more. The club have officially confirmed their upcoming Champions League clash with Olympiacos will be held at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, citing administrative hurdles. Financial and logistical factors also play a part, with a November homecoming now looking the most likely scenario.

Dietmar Hamann has labelled Jobe Bellingham as Borussia Dortmund's "only cause for concern" amid the club's strong start to the season. The German legend's criticism comes as the 20-year-old struggles for form, with manager Niko Kovac defending the 'nervous' star amid reports of off-field pressure from his family.

Barcelona have abandoned the European Super League project, leaving Real Madrid isolated in their push to challenge UEFA. The Catalan giants believe UEFA’s Champions League reforms now meet their demands, ending their pursuit of a breakaway competition. The move marks a dramatic shift in stance that leaves Florentino Perez as the last pillar keeping the project alive.

Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch has questioned Reds boss Arne Slot's tactics after the Premier League champions lost 1-0 at Galatasaray in the Champions League in midweek, their second consecutive defeat after going down in stoppage time against Crystal Palace. Slot opted to start Mohamed Salah on the bench in a series of mistakes Crouch cited by the Dutchman, who has faced little scrutiny so far in his tenure having won the league title in his first season in charge.

Pep Guardiola was not impressed by suggestions that his Manchester City side were pegged back late on at Monaco in the Champions League due to the replacement of Rodri with Nico Gonzalez in midfield. The City boss defended the contribution Gonzalez made off the bench after coming on in the 61st minute, while he conceded that Ballon d'Or winner Rodri is not yet fit enough to play 90 minutes multiple times a week and "needs protecting" from recurring injury issues.

UEFA have been presented with a final proposal for the Super League project that would include dramatic evolution of the current Champions League format. According to Mundo Deportivo, the project has been under tight wraps for the past eight months, with UEFA, Super League backers A22 Sports Management, and key powerhouses Barcelona and Real Madrid conducting secret negotiations to hammer out a deal that could end football’s civil war.

Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has issued a stark warning to Barcelona despite praising Hansi Flick’s side as "the most attractive in Europe". The former midfielder believes the Blaugrana’s high-risk approach leaves them vulnerable in the Champions League, claiming fatigue and tactical rigidity could cost them deep into games.

Barcelona are working to repair their reputation and relationships after the controversial European Super League plan, which promised elite clubs guaranteed participation and massive revenues but quickly collapsed under widespread backlash. Under president Joan Laporta, the club is now focusing on rebuilding trust with UEFA, European Football Clubs (EFC) chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and the wider continental football community.

Real Madrid have been urged to give up their hopes of forming a breakaway European league and told they will be welcomed back by the “football family” after years of conflict with governing body UEFA. The proposed European Super League (ESL) of 12 clubs collapsed within hours of its announcement in 2021 and Real are now alone in continuing to pursue the idea.

The Champions League has only just undergone a major shakeup with the introduction of the 'league phase' in 2024, but UEFA wants to keep evolving the competition and the next set of format changes coming into force the season after next are expected to make even more of the action accessible to fans. A big part of that is copying a season-opening tradition used in American sports.

Zinedine Zidane has revealed he has rewatched Real Madrid’s 2017 Champions League final against Juventus more than six times, describing the performance as “perfection.” The French legend called it the pinnacle of his managerial career, praising the team’s dominance in what was their second of three European successes under the Frenchman.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been handed a major boost in his bid to face former club Liverpool, with the Real Madrid defender’s recovery from a hamstring injury progressing ahead of schedule. The 27-year-old England international has returned to light training and could feature at Anfield on November 4, seven weeks after suffering an injury against Marseille.