Lautaro Martinez has expressed his immense frustration after individual errors saw Inter fall to a 2-1 defeat against Real Madrid in their Champions League opener. Despite a dominant statistical performance at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Nerazzurri captain admitted that small details ultimately decided the contest.
Marcus Rashford has become something of a prodigal son at Manchester United, but Red Devils legend Andy Cole has explained to GOAL why the 28-year-old forward will not be “desperate” to register his first goal back at Old Trafford. The England international has 138 efforts for the Premier League heavyweights to his name, but none for the best part of two years.
Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League clash with Villarreal was overshadowed by worrying scenes as teenage sensation Konstantinos Karetsas collapsed on the pitch. The 18-year-old forward was making his highly anticipated debut in Europe's elite competition before the medical emergency forced him off.
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has jumped to the defence of Vinicius Junior after the Brazilian forward was once again targeted by whistles from his own supporters. The winger was substituted late on during Tuesday's narrow Champions League triumph over Inter, with supporters expressing their frustration following a subdued display.
Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos has sent a clear message to his team-mates, insisting that manager Luis Enrique will not hesitate to drop underperforming stars. The warning comes as the reigning European champions prepare to begin their title defence against Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday night.
Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca and talismanic striker Erling Haaland reserved high praise for teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi following their 2-0 Champions League win at Porto. Handed his first start in the heart of midfield, the 18-year-old delivered a composed display at Estadio do Dragao, prompting his team-mates to label him an exciting future prospect.
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho delivered a vintage defiant message following a chaotic 2-1 Champions League victory over Inter at the Santiago Bernabeu. Despite navigating a severe squad crisis against his former club, the Portuguese tactician praised his team's clinical edge while insisting he thrives on handling the toughest challenges in European football.
Enzo Fernandez expressed his delight following Manchester City's convincing 2-0 Champions League victory away at Porto, showering praise on team-mate Erling Haaland. The Argentina midfielder highlighted his burgeoning connection with the prolific Norwegian striker while also thanking manager Enzo Maresca for bringing him to the Etihad Stadium.
Erling Haaland netted a record-equalling brace to inspire Manchester City to a hard-fought 2-0 victory away at Porto in their Champions League opener. The Norwegian striker praised his team's resilience amid intense pressure at Estadio do Dragao, while moving level with Sergio Aguero as the club's joint-highest goalscorer in the competition.
Serhou Guirassy marked his 100th appearance for Borussia Dortmund in dramatic fashion by netting a decisive brace in a 3-2 victory over Villarreal. The Guinea international surpassed Robert Lewandowski in the club's all-time European scoring charts, securing three crucial points in their Champions League opener at Signal Iduna Park.
Serhou Guirassy scored twice and netted an own goal as Borussia Dortmund opened their Champions League campaign with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Villarreal. The Guinean striker endured a chaotic milestone night, ensuring BVB secured all three points despite late drama at Signal Iduna Park.
Troy Parrott continued his sensational start to life at Real Betis by firing the winning goal in a thrilling Champions League comeback victory over Lille. The Spanish side battled back twice from a goal down before Ethan Mbappe's straight red card ended any hopes of a late French fightback.
Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City opened their Champions League campaign with a convincing victory against Porto. The Norwegian striker took his European tally to 36 goals for the club as Enzo Maresca's side dominated at the Estadio do Dragao.
Kylian Mbappe equalled Raul's Champions League goalscoring tally to help Real Madrid secure a 2-1 victory over Inter. The France captain struck his 71st goal in the competition, guiding Jose Mourinho's side to a crucial European win at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez committed a costly error as Real Madrid stormed into an early 2-0 lead at the Santiago Bernabeu. Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring before Federico Valverde dispossessed the Nerazzurri shot-stopper to double Los Blancos' advantage in the Champions League clash.
Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal is relishing his first clash against Feyenoord in the Champions League. The 19-year-old revealed he sought intel on the Rotterdam side from team-mate Frenkie de Jong, who reminded him of his Ajax roots and their fierce rivalry.
Direct qualification for the knockout stage in the Champions League league phase is a tricky matter. Hummels does not believe his former club can make it into the top eight.
Feyenoord manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst is preparing for an emotional reunion as he faces former club Barcelona for the first time. The former Champions League winner insisted he feels no fear returning to Camp Nou, labelling the clash a fantastic challenge for his squad.
Feyenoord manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has confirmed that Anis Hadj Moussa has been re-integrated into the squad for their Champions League clash against Barcelona. The Algerian forward addressed his team-mates to resolve the issue following a collapsed multi-million euro move to Al-Ittihad.
Aston Villa kicked off their 2026-27 Champions League campaign with a dramatic 3-2 away victory against Club Brugge. Summer signing Nicolas Jackson scored his first goal to secure all three points for Unai Emery's side during a frantic night at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
Viking FK captain Zlatko Tripic suffered a flight ordeal ahead of their Champions League debut against VfB Stuttgart after an overload of perfume triggered an allergic reaction. Despite the distraction, manager Morten Jensen and Tripic insist the Norwegian champions remain relaxed and ready for their historic European test.
VfB Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeness has fiercely defended captain Deniz Undav following recent media criticism over his mixed form. Hoeness insisted Undav remains central to Stuttgart's Champions League return as they host Viking Stavanger.
With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly presumably disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players now beginning each campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued by injuries and inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he is among a crowded field of contenders again in 2026.
Lithuanian manager Valdas Dambrauskas is preparing to walk out at Old Trafford as he leads Azerbaijani side Sabah into the Champions League. Hailing from a basketball-obsessed nation, Dambrauskas funded his early coaching career in England using prize money won on a television game show.
