Jose Mourinho is reportedly in advanced talks to take the reins at Benfica after the Portuguese club sacked manager Bruno Lage in the aftermath of their humiliating Champions League defeat to Qarabag FK. The Liga Portugal giants blew a two-goal lead on their way to a 3-2 defeat in their Champions League opener at home on Tuesday. Lage was immediately relieved of his duties after the game.
"Naples has always been marginalised by the rest of Italy. It is a city that suffers the most unfair racism," said Diego Maradona. When he played for Napoli in the more prosperous northern cities like Milan and Turin, he and his team-mates would be subjected to banners reading 'Welcome to Italy'; 'Napoli, cholera sufferers' or 'Vesuvius, wash them with fire'.
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.
U.S. international Tim Weah has a knack for timing, delivering his first Marseille goal in dramatic fashion on Tuesday. Weah scored the opener against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in the club’s opening Champions League match of the season. The winger was assisted by Mason Greenwood, who found Weah running to his right in the 22nd minute.
Trent Alexander-Arnold pulled up injured just three minutes into Real Madrid's Champions League clash with Marseille on Tuesday evening at the Santiago Bernabeu. The English full-back, handed his Champions League debut in the white jersey by head coach Xabi Alonso, lasted just three minutes before pulling up in pain.
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.
Arsenal’s £64 million ($74m) man Viktor Gyokeres gave supporters a scare after a brutal collision with team-mate Gabriel left him bloodied and bandaged during their Champions League clash with Athletic Club. The pair went for the same aerial ball in the box and Gabriel made forceful contact with the back of the striker's head. The Swede crumpled to the turf as blood gushed from the injury, requiring lengthy treatment.
Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy has been labelled "world-class" by sporting director Sebastian Kehl amid his impressive performances for the German club. With four goals from three games already in the Bundesliga, the striker is in fine form and the club chief insists only Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe can match him in one area.
Barcelona’s wait to return to Camp Nou drags on, as it was confirmed their upcoming La Liga clash against Getafe will be played at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium. While the club hope to secure the necessary license in time, focus is already shifting to the Champions League deadline, with UEFA demanding assurances before the crunch clash against Paris Saint-Germain on October 1.
Facundo Buonanotte has been added to Chelsea’s Champions League squad following an injury blow to another of the Blues’ summer signings. Highly-rated midfielder Dario Essugo has been forced to undergo surgery on a thigh problem. That has left the door open for Buonanotte to be drafted into Enzo Maresca’s plans ahead of a return to elite European competition.
The MET office has delivered an update amid fears Liverpool's Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid could be postponed due to extreme weather. A yellow weather warning was issued ahead of the match warning of gusty winds that could disrupt travel and cause power outages.
Johnny Cardoso and Julian Alvarez have been left out of Atletico Madrid's squad to face Liverpool in their Champions League opener. Alvarez has been a mainstay in Diego Simeone's side since completing his move to the Spanish club from Manchester City in 2024, and has two goal contributions to his name from four appearances so far this season.
Dani Ceballos reached out to Roberto De Zerbi to explain his decision to reject Marseille's offer as the midfielder opted to stay at Real Madrid. The French side approached the Spaniard late in the transfer window and even reached a deal with Madrid, with De Zerbi eager to make him a key player following Adrien Rabiot's exit.
Manchester City have shockingly been branded an “amateur team” by Premier League cult hero Paolo di Canio. The ex-West Ham star believes that another of his former clubs, Serie A title holders Napoli, are capable of claiming a notable scalp when heading to the Etihad Stadium for an intriguing opening clash in their 2025-26 Champions League campaign.
Kylian Mbappe received a Lionel Messi reality check from Leonardo Balerdi ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League opener against Marseille. Balerdi believes that Argentina team-mate Messi "will be the best player in the world until he retires", though he does admit Kylian Mbappe is among the top players in the game right now.
Cristian Romero has welcomed the arrival of an “organised” coach at Tottenham, which could be considered a swipe at former boss Ange Postecoglou. Spurs are now working under the guidance of Danish tactician Thomas Frank, with a change in the dugout being made over the summer after stumbling to a 17th-place finish in the Premier League last season.
Juventus head coach Igor Tudor has claimed Inter are the strongest Serie A side, and perhaps they are better than last season’s champions Napoli. This comment comes after the Bianconeri defeated their archrivals on Saturday, as the Derby d'Italia ended in a seven-goal thriller at the Allianz Stadium, giving them a perfect send-off for their Champions League opener.
Lamine Yamal was given an injection by the doctors and physiotherapists of the Spanish national team ahead of their World Cup qualifying clash against Turkey as he was experiencing acute lower back pain. The 18-year-old had sustained a minor injury in the sacroiliac region before joining up with the national team but was trusted to play in the international games, sparking fury at Barcelona.
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.
'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?
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.
Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has told star forward Mason Greenwood how to become a "great top player" like Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe. The Italian has been singing the praises of the ex-Manchester United man but he also wants more from him ahead of facing Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Thomas Frank has confirmed that Randal Kolo Muani could make his Tottenham debut against Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday. The forward joined the club on loan from Juventus on deadline day and is currently awaiting his debut. Now, Frank has confirmed that the France international is fit, although he has questioned his ability to play with intensity.
Birmingham City are ripping up the transfer rulebook as they reportedly target Champions League players with the Blues chasing a Premier League return. Backed by the deep pockets of Knighthead Capital and the star power of NFL icon Tom Brady, the Blues are no longer thinking like a club fresh out of League One. Instead, they are daring to dream of mixing it with Europe’s elite within the next two to three seasons, and they’re building a plan to make it happen.
Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has received his very own F50 boots as adidas launch the teenager’s second exclusive collection, just days after unveiling his personal logo. The 18-year-old attacker, who already boasts over 100 appearances for Barca, will debut the striking purple-and-pink design this week as his meteoric rise continues both on and off the pitch.
Gianluigi Donnarumma has revealed his "dream" is to win the Champions League with Manchester City following his summer switch from Paris Saint-Germain.
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