Kylian Mbappe has sent an "I score a lot of goals against Marseille" to Mason Greenwood and Co ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League opener. World Cup winner Mbappe will be lining up against opposition from his native France at Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday as Los Blancos get their European campaign for 2025-26 up and running in front of their own supporters.
Arne Slot has further outlined Liverpool’s plan for Alexander Isak, with the Reds reluctant to rush the £125 million ($170m) striker into making his debut. Isak has, after completing a record-breaking transfer from Newcastle to Anfield, become the most expensive player in British football. He is, however, lacking fitness and sharpness on the back of a hectic summer.
Andrew Robertson has revealed how close he came to leaving Liverpool for Atletico Madrid in the summer. The Scotland international was linked with a surprise move to LaLiga after the Reds secured the signing of Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth but he ultimately chose to stay put on Merseyside and fight for his place.
Harry Kane has urged Bayern Munich to start their Champions League campaign strongly as they prepare to face Chelsea on Wednesday night. The England striker is determined to avoid the “stressful period” Bayern endured last season when they were forced into an extra playoff. Kane insists an early run of wins is crucial to easing the pressure.
Jude Bellingham has been named in Real Madrid's squad for their upcoming Champions League match against Marseille. This marks a significant milestone in his recovery from shoulder surgery, signalling his readiness to return to competitive action and provide a crucial boost to the team’s midfield. The England international is set to re-join his teammates after months of intensive rehabilitation.
Trent Alexander-Arnold's ambitions of winning the Ballon d'Or have been brandished 'realistic' by a former Real Madrid star. Steve McManaman, who also left Liverpool to join the Spanish giants, believes the England star has what it takes to become the best player in the world, as long as he can overcome some major hurdles standing in his way.
Arsenal have reportedly been hit with a double injury blow ahead of their Champions League opener against Athletic Club. The Gunners have been branded as one of the favourites to win this season's competition but they will be without two talisman early on.
Tottenham defender Cristian Romero has insisted that he never said he wanted to leave the club in the summer ahead of signing a new contract at the club. The World Cup winner was heavily linked with a move to Atletico Madrid but instead committed his future, whilst also being appointed club captain.
Mikel Arteta has been hailed as "one of the best coaches in the world" ahead of Arsenal's Champions League opener against Athletic Club. The 43-year-old is highly rated among his peers and the Spanish side's boss, Ernesto Valverde, has lauded him as one of the game's elite managers.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has issued an injury update on Bukayo Saka ahead of their Champions League opener against Athletic Club. The winger has been out with a hamstring injury for several weeks and it seems he won't be back for the time being.
Arsenal are set to wear an unusual kit combination for their Champions League opener against Athletic Club. The Gunners are known for their iconic red and white jersey but they will have to tweak things for their clash in Spain on Tuesday.
Mikel Arteta was asked about Arsenal’s summer interest in Nico Williams as he faced the press ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League opener against Athletic Club. The San Sebastian-born coach played down speculation over a potential move for the Spain international but admitted the winger is a “fantastic player” admired at both club and international level.
Villarreal boss Marcelino insists Thomas Partey is 'mentally prepared' to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Tuesday, just 24 hours before the midfielder appears in court over multiple rape charges. The former Arsenal star denies all allegations but will line up against his old rivals in north London before attending his plea hearing at Southwark Crown Court.
Former Bayern Munich midfielder Lothar Matthaus has provided his thoughts ahead of the first matchday of the Champions League. According to the legendary former Germany international, Bayern Munich will be one of the seven favourites to clinch the coveted continental title this season, backing the Bavarians to overcome Club World Cup holders Chelsea in their opener on Wednesday.
Xabi Alonso heaped praise on Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal for his "competitive gene" and claimed that he will be a "fundamental" player this season. Those remarks could come as a huge setback for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has started just twice in four La Liga matches this season since joining from Liverpool in the summer window.
Former Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has stated that big clubs like Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain will have learned their lesson in the new Champions League format after their shaky performances at the start of last season. The German legend believes the top clubs have learned that they must attempt to dominate the competition from the very first round.
La Liga president Javier Tebas has denied Real Madrid's claims that the league authorities targeted the club by sending a doping team to Los Blancos’ training ground on Monday. In the process, Tebas has taken a dig at Xabi Alonso’s side, that they blame La Liga for everything after the club registered an official complaint to FIFA.
Luis Enrique believes Paris Saint-Germain's first-ever Champions League triumph has lifted a weight off the squad, insisting it will be “easier” to win again this season. The Spaniard hailed his players for breaking through mental barriers last term, as Ousmane Dembele, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Achraf Hakimi powered the club to a historic treble.
The most tantalising fixture on matchday one of the new Champions League season comes from the Allianz Arena, where kings of Germany Bayern Munich play host to Club World Cup winners Chelsea. These two teams have history - this will be the Blues' first trip back to Bavaria since lifting their first European Cup there in 2012 - but there is an extremely contemporary entity now linking them.
Diego Simeone freely admitted that he felt an overriding sense of relief after Atletico Madrid picked up their first win of the new Liga season on Saturday. As the Rojiblancos boss admitted after the 2-0 victory over Villarreal, "It wasn't just another day, after only two points from three matches."
Mason Greenwood has been told how to reach the next level with Marseille as the former Manchester United forward makes a return to Champions League football. The Englishman is preparing for the biggest game of his Marseille career so far as he readies himself to face Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. He has reignited his career in France after leaving Old Trafford under a cloud, and Tuesday night marks his return to top-tier European football.
Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos has thrown his full support behind new goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, who replaces Gianluigi Donnarumma following his move to Manchester City. The Brazilian defender hailed the 23-year-old’s personality, quick adaptation and potential to reach the pinnacle of the game as PSG prepare to begin their Champions League title defence against Atalanta.
Manchester United players have made their feelings known on Rasmus Hojlund in response to the striker's fast start at Napoli following his loan move. It took him just 14 minutes in a Napoli shirt to do what he so often struggled to do at Old Trafford: score when it mattered.
Arne Slot has jumped to the defence of Florian Wirtz after his slow start at Liverpool, while hitting out at those criticising the club's lavish spending. The Reds have been targeted after splashing £116 million ($158m) on the German and £450m ($615m) on arrivals overall, but Slot says that is not a fair assessment.
Alexander Isak might make his debut in Liverpool colours as Arne Slot revealed his plan ahead of the Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid, with the striker included in the matchday squad. The Swede, snatched from Newcastle United for a jaw-dropping £125 million ($171m), has been handed the legendary No.9 jersey and is poised to finally step onto the pitch in front of the Kop.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has issued a cryptic update on whether Cole Palmer will be fit enough to face Bayern Munich in their Champions League opener. The Blues star produced a goal-scoring display off the bench against Brentford following a spell on the sidelines and now his Italian head coach has spoken about his current fitness levels before taking on the German giants.
Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany has admitted he has spoken to Nicolas Jackson about parent club Chelsea as the two teams prepare to face off in the Champions League. The striker swapped the Blues for the German giants on loan and now he could be particularly helpful for the Bundesliga outfit. Incidentally, Kompany has highlighted a "hidden strength" Enzo Maresca's team possess.
Harry Kane admitted that Bayern Munich have a "long mountain to climb" to win the Champions League but he believes they can go all the way. The England captain, fresh off a blistering Bundesliga weekend where he netted twice in a 5-0 demolition of Hamburg, insisted that simply making up the numbers in Europe’s elite competition isn’t good enough for the German giants.