A late, if rather fortuitous, Kylian Mbappe penalty bailed out Real Madrid as they edged Rayo Vallecano, 2-1, on Sunday. Los Blancos were poor for most of the game, but a spot-kick deep into second-half stoppage time, converted by Mbappe, handed them a narrow win to stay within a point of Liga leaders Barcelona. Vinicius Jr also found the net in what was an unconvincing victory at the Bernabeu.
Marc Guehi may have felt disrespected by the failed transfer to Liverpool in the summer window and "probably" won't regret moving to Manchester City in January instead, according to former Germany international Didi Hamann. The England defender saw a switch from Crystal Palace to Anfield break down at the last minute and instead moved to the Etihad Stadium earlier this month for a reported £20 million.
Manchester United moved - at least temporarily - up to second in the Women's Super League as Lisa Naalsund's double helped Marc Skinner's side beat Liverpool 3-1 on Sunday. The Norwegian midfielder struck either side of Alice Bergstrom's equaliser before Fridolina Rolfo bagged a late third to help United pick up their third win in a row and put pressure on Chelsea before the Blues' clash with Manchester City.
Enigmatic Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez has seen his behaviour criticised again, with supposed “arrogance” on the Argentine’s part being called out by an international goalkeeping rival. Uruguayan shot-stopper Sergio Rochet does not “like the way” a fellow South American is - despite the World Cup winner being considered “phenomenal” at his job.
Jude Bellingham has suffered a serious injury scare during England’s countdown to the 2026 World Cup. The Real Madrid midfielder was left clutching at his hamstring during a La Liga clash with Rayo Vallecano. He was clearly in some pain, after crumpling to the turf, and has handed untimely fitness concerns to Blancos boss Alvaro Arbeloa and Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel.
Leicester City have reportedly been in contact with Enzo Maresca over a potential return to the King Power Stadium. The Foxes, who are struggling in the Championship, recently sacked manager Marti Cifuentes and gave the job to Andy King on an interim basis. Maresca helped the 2015-16 Premier League winners earn promotion to the top flight in 2024 after claiming England's second-tier title and has been out of work since New Year's Day when he was given the boot by Chelsea.
Declan Rice has set a “legacy” challenge for his team-mates at Arsenal, with the Gunners’ class of 2025-26 continuing to chase down major honours on multiple fronts. In the Premier League, they are seeking to become the first side since the fabled ‘Invincibles’ of 2003-04 to deliver a top-flight title to north London. Rice is determined to become an immortal in that department.
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Hansi Flick criticised his Barcelona players for not scoring enough goals in Saturday's comfortable 3-1 victory over Elche. The victory kept the Catalan giants at the top of La Liga, four points ahead of rivals Real Madrid who play Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, but the former Bayern Munich and Germany boss insisted the scoreline should have been more flattering for his side given the chances they created. In the end, goals from Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford were enough to take the points.
Ivan Toney has explained why he followed Cristiano Ronaldo to the Saudi Pro League, with the England World Cup hopeful netting more goals in that division this season than Portuguese GOAT CR7. Toney has also delivered a bold statement regarding the standard of competition in the Middle East and that which he previously graced in the Premier League.
An old Lionel Messi shirt sold for more than a Cristiano Ronaldo jersey as Chelsea legend John Terry parted with over 50 items in a recent auction. The pair are renowned as the two greatest players of their generation and have won a combined 13 Ballons d'Or, with Messi leading Ronaldo with eight of those awards. Terry reportedly sold items from across his career for just over $695,000, with a percentage of that figure going to the John Terry Foundation.
Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker apparently received drunk text messages from British media personality Katie Price, according to her ex boyfriend. JJ Slater, who was on the television show 'Married at First Sight', claimed the former 'I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!' star messaged the two England internationals behind his back while they were on holiday together in Cyprus back in October 2024.
Hugo Ekitike has insisted he will 'have to keep working' if he is to live up to iconic former Liverpool strikers such as Fernando Torres. The Frenchman scored twice in Saturday's 4-1 win at home to Newcastle, prompting club legend Steven Gerrard to compare the forward to one of his former team-mates.
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has claimed he takes no offence as the club's supporters prepare to protest against the ownership at Old Trafford before Sunday's clash with Fulham in the Premier League. While Carrick has overseen victories over Manchester City and Arsenal in his first two matches of this half-season spell, Red Devils fans remain disillusioned with the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with the former presiding over a troubled time in the club's modern history before the latter's more recent investment.
Liverpool are making one final push to sign a new defender before the transfer deadline, with Lutsharel Geertruida reportedly a top target. Geertruida played under Reds boss Arne Slot at Feyenoord and is currently halfway through a season-long loan spell at Sunderland from RB Leipzig, but talks are said to have taken place over a switch to Anfield.
Norwich City have confirmed on-loan Manchester United defender Harry Amass has suffered what could be a season-ending injury a little over a week after joining the Championship club. The teenager, who spent the first half of the campaign with Sheffield Wednesday, has only just made his Canaries debut and now faces a battle to play again in 2025-26.
Pep Lijnders has revealed Jurgen Klopp would have taken his job as Manchester City's assistant manager if he himself passed on the opportunity to work under Pep Guardiola. Lijnders spent several years at Liverpool with Klopp but decided to cross the divide to City last summer when presented with the chance to coach at the Etihad Stadium.
Ibrahima Konate has revealed he returned to Liverpool earlier than expected following the death of his father to help Arne Slot's injury-hit squad after scoring in Saturday night's 4-1 victory over Newcastle United. After a three-game absence with compassionate leave, the French centre-back returned to Anfield and scored the Reds' last goal of the evening from close range, being reduced to tears in front of the Kop. With defenders like Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni all missing, Konate's availability was a big plus for Slot.
Chelsea have reportedly decided against sending Aaron Anselmino back to Borussia Dortmund on loan as they did not appreciate comments made by the Bundesliga club during his initial spell in Germany. The Blues opted to recall Anselmino midway through his season-long stint at Dortmund earlier this month, much to the surprise of BVB and the player himself.
Inter Miami claimed a dramatic 2-1 friendly win over Atlético Nacional in Medellín, with Luis Suárez on the scoresheet and Germán Berterame making his first appearance for the club. Lionel Messi played 76 minutes, while a late own goal sealed Miami’s first preseason victory after a tough loss in Peru.
Bayern Munich and forward Harry Kane have been left fuming at the referee of the Bavarian giants' game against Hamburg, feeling aggrieved over a number of decisions that they believe did not go their way. Kane was on the scoresheet, but was unable to stop Bayern dropping points for a second consecutive Bundesliga games this season after they drew 2-2 in north Germany.
Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was filmed berating fans who booed the team off with the Blues losing 2-0 to West Ham at half-time in the Premier League. Fans vented their frustrations after a diabolical first 45 minutes from Liam Rosenior's side against the Hammers, but Sanchez was vindicated as the hosts won a thrilling contest 3-2 at Stamford Bridge.
The two forwards were on the scoresheet for Barcelona again, as Hansi Flick's side extended their lead at the top of La Liga to four points courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Elche. Yamal was in inspired form to score one and set-up another as Rashford bagged his second for the Catalans in a matter of days in a confident win for the defending Spanish champions.
Wirtz and Ekitike stepped up for Arne Slot as the big-money summer signings helped fire Liverpool to a comeback victory against Newcastle. When the Magpies took a deserved lead, the French forward took the game by the scruff of the neck and scored a quickfire brace to flip it on its head. The Reds then pressed home their advantage and ran out worthy 4-1 winners.