FEATURES

The Saudi Under-21 League showcases a wealth of young talent.

Real Madrid are sacrificing their tactical identity to please Mbappé and his teammates.

Exciting matches await fans in the Saudi Under-21 League play-offs.

Kylian Mbappe endured an off night as Real Madrid slumped to a 1-1 draw with Girona that may well kill off their La Liga title hopes. Federico Valverde's second-half strike was countered by a Thomas Lemar goal to see the spoils shared at the Bernabeu. Los Blancos could trail Barcelona by nine points - with seven games to go - if their bitter rivals win on Saturday.

The Egyptian star is set to join Roshen next summer

GOAL spoke with the man affectionately known as "The Beast" about what it means to represent your country on the biggest stage.

GOAL looks at the biggest storylines among Americans Abroad, including massive matches in Serie A and the Premier League

Since late November, Carsten Cramer has been the new strongman at Borussia Dortmund. The 57-year-old has wasted no time implementing changes and uttering statements that BVB fans have missed hearing for too long.

Sophia Wilson is back, the midfield is settling and key roster battles are heating up as the USWNT face Japan in a crucial three-game stretch.

VfB Stuttgart splashed the cash on the striker during the winter transfer window. So far, however, Jeremy Arevalo has not made any impact whatsoever in manager Sebastian Hoeneß’s team.

A return that worries everyone… but reassures Madrid

When England's Under-23s took on Norway back in November, there was no shortage of top talent on show. Be it Ruby Mace or Maisie Symonds, who have both been involved in Sarina Wiegman's senior team; Gracie Prior, a starter in seven of the first nine games of the season for Women's Super League leaders Manchester City; or Martine Fenger on the opposite side, the teenage forward who made her Barcelona debut earlier that month. And yet it was 17-year-old Erica Parkinson, a player some five years younger than some of those involved, who stood out most.

Even when Chelsea were sweeping up trophies for fun during the first two decades of the 21st century, there was still an element of jeopardy to their seasons. Back then, however, that usually revolved around whether or not they would end the year with a piece of silverware to make up for the relative inconsistency of their Premier League campaign.

On the evening of February 28 in Verona, Romelu Lukaku came off the bench at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi to score a 96th-minute winner for Napoli against Verona with a close-range left-footed finish. It was by no means a beautiful goal - goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo had got a hand on the ball - but it was easily one of the most significant strikes of Lukaku's entire career.

The Danish sportswear company now makes kits for 26 clubs in North America, and has pushed boundaries with innovative designs for USL teams.

Crystal Palace delivered a tactical masterclass at Selhurst Park to sweep aside Fiorentina with a convincing 3-0 victory. Jean-Philippe Mateta was the protagonist, scoring once and providing another as Oliver Glasner's side took control of their Conference League destiny.

Crystal Palace dismantled Fiorentina with a ruthless 3-0 victory at Selhurst Park, leveraging a high-intensity 3-4-2-1 system to exploit the visitors' defensive frailties. While Fiorentina maintained a slight edge in possession, Oliver Glasner’s side dominated the quality of chances, accumulating a staggering 3.45 xG to secure a commanding Conference League result.

Nottingham Forest secured a hard-fought Europa League draw at the Estadio do Dragao thanks to a resilient defensive display and a stroke of luck via a Martim Fernandes own goal. Despite sustained pressure from the hosts, Forest's structure held firm to keep their semi-final ambitions on track.

Nottingham Forest secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw at the Estadio do Dragao despite being significantly out-shot by their hosts. A bizarre own goal from Martim Fernandes cancelled out an early strike from Porto's Wendel Gomes in a statistically lopsided encounter.

Aston Villa continued their remarkable European form with a clinical 3-1 victory over Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dell'Ara. Unai Emery's side displayed tactical maturity and ruthless finishing to secure a vital win on the road.

Aston Villa seized a commanding first-leg advantage in their Europa League quarter-final with a clinical 3-1 victory over Bologna. Unai Emery's tactical masterclass silenced the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara and established the Villans as the undisputed favourites to reach the final four.

GOAL sat down with Auston Trusty as the Celtic defender continues his push for a USMNT World Cup spot, opening up on the journey, pressure, and belief driving him.

The scrutiny of Saudi arbitration is weighing heavily on Cristiano.

Why does Barcelona dominate domestically yet fade when the Champions League anthem plays?

Under questionable circumstances, Aaron Anselmino was forced to leave Borussia Dortmund abruptly during the winter transfer window. Chelsea FC then immediately loaned the 20-year-old defender to Racing Strasbourg, where he has struggled to make an impact.

Arne Slot admitted on the eve of Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain that his side had suffered so many setbacks this season that he there wouldn't have been time to reference them all in the one press conference. In that sense, Wednesday's 2-0 loss at Parc des Princes could be passed off as just another disappointing defeat to add to an already lengthy list.

In the past few hours, the two clubs have found themselves in remarkably similar situations.

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 with inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he was among a crowded field of contenders as the 2026 race got going.

Much has been made of Arsenal's quadruple charge being dashed and downgraded to a double dream over the last few weeks, but that's still nothing to be sniffed at. The Gunners have an excellent chance of claiming the two top prizes available to them, though they are in danger of limping across the finish line rather than marching over it with the authority of champions.