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Champions League news

Luis Diaz

Bayern legend defends 'extraordinary' Diaz from 'wasteful finisher' label

Former Bayern Munich forward Dieter Hoeness has dismissed criticism of Luis Diaz’s finishing, praising the Colombian for his “extraordinary” effort and impact since joining the German champions. Speaking ahead of Bayern’s Champions League showdown with PSG, Hoeness highlighted the winger’s work rate and influence despite claims of wastefulness in front of goal.

Rayan Cherki Man City GFX

City's 'free soul' Cherki can be a Pep player after all

If there was an air of inevitability about Erling Haaland scoring Manchester City's first two goals against Bournemouth on Sunday, the same could not be said of the man who provided both of the assists. Rayan Cherki was making his first Premier League start in 10 weeks due to injury, but even before he picked up a thigh problem in August, there were many questions about his suitability to playing for Pep Guardiola.

Virgil van Dijk Liverpool 2025

Madrid rejected chance to sign Van Dijk on free

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk was in contact with Real Madrid through his entourage last season regarding a potential free transfer in the summer. Van Dijk rejected offers from several other clubs, including Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, as his priority was to join Madrid. However, the Spanish side chose to look elsewhere and instead signed defender Dean Huijsen.

GFX Mohamed Salah Jude Bellingham

Salah or Bellingham? Firmino picks his favourite

Roberto Firmino has weighed in on some of football’s biggest debates ahead of Liverpool’s blockbuster clash with Real Madrid, picking Mohamed Salah over Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr over Luis Diaz. The ex-Liverpool star praised both rivals but revealed his admiration for Vinicius’ energy and Salah’s unmatched consistency ahead of Champions League clash.

Wirtz Alonso

Alonso backs 'special' Wirtz to silence Liverpool critics

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso says it is just a "matter of time" before Florian Wirtz delivers for Liverpool after a tough start to life at Anfield. The Germany international swapped Bayer Leverkusen for the Reds in a £116 million deal in the summer but so far he has flattered to deceive for Arne Slot's team. Ahead of a reunion with ex-Leverkusen boss Alonso, the Spaniard has backed the 22-year-old to come good.

Real Madrid C.F. v Juventus - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3

Spalletti listening to Yildiz's advice on Juve star's best position

Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti has shared his thoughts on the ideal role for rising star Kenan Yildiz, praising the Turkish international’s versatility and ability to excel in multiple positions. Spalletti even revealed that he personally asked the 20-year-old where he feels most comfortable playing, adding fresh insight to the ongoing debate over Yildiz’s best spot on the pitch.

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Ibrahima Konate Real Madrid GFX

Liverpool liability Konate is miles off Madrid's level

The build-up to Liverpool's Champions League meeting with Real Madrid on Tuesday has unsurprisingly focused on Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is returning to Anfield less than six months after bidding an emotional farewell. The right-back is not certain to start for the visitors - nor is it clear how he will be received by the hosts, given the acrimonious nature of his exit.

Alexander-Arnold Anfield return GFX

Trent returns to Anfield still waiting for Madrid lift-off

The conspiracy theorists were on it immediately. Less than 10 minutes into Real Madrid's Champions League opener against Marseille, Trent Alexander-Arnold went down holding his hamstring. He had that resigned look on his face, combined with the shake of the head, the pained expression and the acceptance that something wasn't right, nor could it be immediately fixed.

Trent Alexander-Arnold Pays Tribute To Diogo Jota At Anfield

Alexander-Arnold pays heartfelt tribute to Jota on Anfield return

Trent Alexander-Arnold returned to Anfield with Real Madrid and paid a touching tribute to his late former team-mate Diogo Jota, laying flowers and leaving an emotional handwritten message at the Liverpool memorial. The heartfelt gesture came as the English defender revisited his old home ahead of Los Blancos' Champions League clash with the Reds on Tuesday night.

viktor-gyokeres

'I'm concerned' - Arteta gives worrying Gyokeres injury update

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admits he is concerned about star striker Viktor Gyokeres after the Swede picked up a muscular injury during the win at Burnley on Saturday. The Gunners return to action this week in the Champions League when they travel to Slavia Prague, but they will face this test without their talisman up front after he missed training on Monday.

Real Madrid C.F. v Olympique de Marseille - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

Why Alexander-Arnold is 'highly unlikely' to start vs Liverpool

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s emotional return to Anfield is set to take a dramatic twist, with the Real Madrid defender ‘highly unlikely’ to start against his former club. The 27-year-old, still recovering from a hamstring injury, remains short of full fitness and is expected to watch from the bench as Federico Valverde continues to deputise at right-back for Xabi Alonso’s side.

isak

Slot issues injury update on Isak ahead of Real Madrid & Man City

Arne Slot has provided an injury update on Alexander Isak, Jeremie Frimpong and Alisson ahead of Liverpool's Champions League clash with Real Madrid at Anfield. The Reds are looking to keep building positive momentum after ending their winless run in the Premier League against Brentford on Saturday. The champions will face no let up though, as they take on Manchester City a few days after hosting Los Blancos.

How Bayern became Europe's best.jpg

How Bayern became the biggest threat to PSG's UCL crown

The mood surrounding Bayern Munich heading into September was not one of great optimism. Vincent Kompany missed out on his two main transfer targets, Florian Wirtz and Nick Woltemade, and his side were given a huge scare by third-tier Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, with an injury-time winner from Harry Kane ultimately sparing Bayern's blushes.

Real Madrid C.F. v Juventus - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3

Madrid hit by Mastantuono injury ahead of Liverpool clash

Real Madrid’s preparations for their Champions League showdown with Liverpool have been dealt a blow after teenage sensation Franco Mastantuono has been ruled out indefinitely with pubalgia. The 18-year-old Argentine has been a key rotational player under Xabi Alonso, but his absence comes at a crucial point in Madrid’s campaign, forcing tactical adjustments ahead of their high-stakes European clash this Tuesday.

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PSG sweat on Dembele fitness for Bayern CL clash

French football giants Paris Saint-Germain are facing an anxious wait over the fitness of Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele ahead of their massive Champions League clash with Germany's Bayern Munich. The winger sparked panic after complaining of a hamstring injury, but subsequently returned to training in a confusing twist for the French champions.

Athletic Club v FC Barcelona - La Liga EA Sports

Athletic hit by Williams injury ahead of Newcastle clash

Athletic Club face a major Champions League setback ahead of their crucial clash with Newcastle United as Nico Williams remains doubtful with a recurring groin issue. The Spanish winger, struggling with pubalgia, continues to train separately and may miss the trip to St James’ Park. His uncertain fitness leaves Ernesto Valverde’s side weakened ahead of a huge fixture.

Real Madrid CF v Valencia CF - LaLiga EA Sports

TAA reveals true feelings on Liverpool return with Real Madrid

Trent Alexander-Arnold has opened up on what it means to him to return to boyhood team Liverpool ahead of Real Madrid's trip to Anfield this week. The full-back swapped the Reds for the Spanish giants this summer after spending the entirety of his career at the Merseyside outfit. Now, the England international is preparing for an emotional return to his former employers - something he had been preparing for.

Liverpool v Aston Villa - Premier League

Van Dijk slams 'ridiculous' criticism as Liverpool return to form

Virgil van Dijk has slammed the “ridiculous” criticism Liverpool faced before they ended their Premier League losing streak against Aston Villa. The Netherlands defender has hit out at the negative “outside noise” which greeted a run of form which saw the Reds lose successive league games against Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Manchester United and Brentford.

pedri

Pedri to miss Chelsea showdown as Barca learn extent of injury

Barcelona’s injury crisis deepens as star midfielder Pedri suffers a distal hamstring tear, sidelining him for crucial fixtures including the Champions League clash against Chelsea. With Gavi, Raphinha and Andreas Christensen also out, coach Hansi Flick faces a mounting midfield crisis that threatens to derail Blaugrana's season before the year’s end.

Real Madrid C.F. v Olympique de Marseille - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

Alexander-Arnold in line for start against Liverpool

Trent Alexander-Arnold's return to fitness could not have come at a more important time for Real Madrid, following the loss of Dani Carvajal to injury. It comes just a week before Los Blancos are due to face Liverpool in the Champions League at Anfield, only five months after Alexander-Arnold decided to end a 20-year association with his boyhood team.

Crystal Palace FC v Chelsea FC - Premier League

Maresca wants Chelsea 'consistency' if they are to compete for PL title

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca urged his players to find consistency if they are to compete for the Premier League title this season. The Blues suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat against Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, bringing an end to their four-game winning run and leaving them five points adrift of leaders Arsenal ahead of Sunday's clash with Crystal Palace.

PSV Eindhoven v FC Shakhtar Donetsk - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5

Gomez: Pepi must build on Champions League performance

Former U.S. striker Herculez Gomez believes Ricardo Pepi’s goal and assist in PSV Eindhoven’s 6-2 Champions League win over Napoli should spark a consistent run, urging the forward to keep pushing for a place with both club and country. Pepi has had inconsistent playing time this season due to injury, scoring two goals in six Eredivisie appearances.

Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa - Premier League

Porro calls out Spurs team-mates after Monaco draw

Tottenham Hotspur star Pedro Porro was left disappointed after the club's second consecutive draw in the Champions League against AS Monaco this Wednesday, as he revealed that he called out his team-mates for a poor show, while warning them against making the situation worse in Europe. Porro has been a regular starter at the Premier League club under new manager Thomas Frank.

Salah benched GFX

Salah needs a spell on the bench for new-look Liverpool

Liverpool's 5-1 rout of Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League came as a major boost for Arne Slot's side after four successive defeats, but one man didn't seem in the mood to celebrate after the final whistle. Mohamed Salah clapped the away fans at Deutsche Bank Park, but then headed straight for the tunnel instead of revelling in the final result with his euphoric team-mates.

Frequently asked questions

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have won the Ligue 1 title 12 times, more than any other club. Their first win was in 1986, and they claimed their record-breaking 12th title in 2023, surpassing AS Saint-Etienne.

The Ligue 1 consists of 18 teams since the 2023-24 season, prior to which 20 teams took part in the league. The inaugural season of the French first division in 1932-33 also consisted of 20 teams, divided in two groups of 10 teams each.

Mickael Landreau holds the record for the most Ligue 1 appearances, with 618 matches as a goalkeeper. His career spanned nearly two decades, playing for clubs like Nantes, Paris Saint-Germain, Lille, and Bastia.

Delio Onnis holds the record as the all-time top scorer in Ligue 1 with 299 goals. Playing as a centre-forward, his remarkable goal-scoring feats spanned the 1970s and 1980s, where he starred for clubs like AS Monaco and Reims, making him a legend in French football.

As of 2024, Dimitri Payet holds the record for the most assists in Ligue 1 history, with a total of 130 assists. The attacking midfielder achieved this milestone during his successful stints with several clubs, including Marseille and Lille.

Pierre Braine holds the record of being the oldest player in Ligue 1 history, aged almost 45 years in a Ligue 1 game in 1945.

At 15 years and 225 days, Kalman Gerencseri is the youngest player in Ligue 1 history. The Frenchman played for Lens against Monaco in a Ligue 1 game in 1960.

Notable players who have graced Ligue 1 include legends like Zinedine Zidane, George Weah, Thierry Henry, David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe.

Prominent managers in Ligue 1 include Arsene Wenger, Laurent Blanc, Carlo Ancelotti, Adi Hutter, Luis Enrique, etc.

The Orange Velodrome in Marseille is the largest stadium in Ligue 1, with a capacity of 67,394 spectators. Home to Marseille since 1937, it is renowned for its electric atmosphere and hosting significant football events in France.

Neymar is indeed the most expensive player in Ligue 1 history. His transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 was valued at a record €222 million, which remains the highest transfer fee ever paid for a player.