Alvaro Arbeloa has delivered an update on Kylian Mbappe's fitness ahead of the first leg of Real Madrid's Champions League round of 16 tie against Manchester City. The French forward has been struggling with a persistent knee injury, missing Los Blancos last three games across all competitions.
Arsenal have received a significant triple fitness boost ahead of their Champions League round-of-16 first-leg encounter against Bayer Leverkusen. Key defensive and attacking figures were spotted during the club's final training session before they departed for Germany. While Mikel Arteta still faces some notable absences, the return of this influential trio strengthens the Gunners' hand for a crucial European away leg.
Arsenal came out of the 2025 summer transfer window as one of its perceived winners. They didn't go toe-to-toe with reigning Premier League champions Liverpool in terms of bringing in star talent, but they stacked their squad full of enough quality so they wouldn't be hit as hard if they suffered another injury crisis this season. Their 2024-25 campaign was derailed in large part due to a drop in talent beyond their strongest XI.
Hansi Flick has hailed teenage defender Pau Cubarsi, claiming his development mirrors that of Lamine Yamal. The Barcelona boss believes the 19-year-old is ready for the highest level ahead of the club's crunch Champions League last-16 tie against Newcastle.
Pedro Porro has moved to clarify his relationship with Tottenham interim head coach Igor Tudor following a visible show of frustration during the club's recent defeat to Crystal Palace. The Spaniard’s outburst sparked rumours of dressing room unrest as Spurs prepare for a daunting Champions League trip to Atletico Madrid. However, Porro has now insisted that Tudor was not the target of his anger.
It's been a little over two years since Victor Osimhen revealed that he'd made up his mind on which club to join after Napoli. Just three days later, Partenopei president Aurelio De Laurentiis revealed that the striker would "go to Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain or some Premier League team". Osimhen instead ended up in Istanbul playing for Galatasaray, the biggest team in Turkey but not exactly the destination the Nigeria international had in mind when he announced his intention to leave Naples.
When Real Madrid were paired with Manchester City in the Champions League last-16, the groans could be heard all the way from Plaza Mayor to Piccadilly Gardens: 'Again?!' The complaints were entirely predictable and, at some level, understandable. By the end of the second leg next Tuesday, the two teams will have faced each other 11 times in the past five seasons, and on 17 occasions since 2012.
Mauricio Pochettino is set for a high-profile return to the scene of his greatest European heartbreak, as the 54-year-old USMNT head coach is expected to attend Tuesday night’s Champions League first-leg tie between Atletico Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur. The Argentine will be present at the Metropolitano as an official guest of the Spanish giants, marking a significant moment as he watches his former club in person for the first time since his departure from London.
Tottenham interim manager Igor Tudor has made a startling admission ahead of his side's Champions League last-16 encounter with Atletico Madrid, confessing that Premier League survival remains the club's ultimate goal. Despite the prestige of Europe’s elite competition, the London side finds themselves in a precarious position domestically, sitting just one point above the relegation zone with nine matches remaining.
Paris Saint-Germain are facing mounting pressure ahead of their Champions League clash against Chelsea. Following a shock 3-1 domestic defeat to Monaco, former France international Christophe Dugarry has fiercely criticised the reigning European champions. He claims the squad is completely unrecognisable, warning that the manager's highly optimistic approach is now failing.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has carefully navigated the fallout from Xavi Hernandez's controversial remarks. Speaking ahead of this week's Champions League clash, the German coach refused to be drawn into a public dispute, opting instead to protect the privacy of their conversations while maintaining his team's focus amid the mounting political tension surrounding the club.
Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk has urged his players to harness the power of the Rams Park crowd when they face Liverpool in the Champions League last-16 on Tuesday. The Turkish side are looking to repeat their success from the league phase, where a 1-0 victory in Istanbul proved they can handle the Premier League giants on their own turf.
Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl has confirmed the club is in no rush to extend Manuel Neuer’s contract. As the legendary 39-year-old goalkeeper approaches his 40th birthday, the hierarchy is waiting for him to evaluate his physical condition. With Jonas Urbig impressing in relief, the club remains calm about the future transition between the sticks.
Real Madrid's preparations for their crucial Champions League round of 16 clash against Manchester City have suffered another major setback. Young defender Alvaro Carreras has sustained a calf injury, joining key players like Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo on the sidelines. Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa faces severe selection challenges ahead of the Bernabeu tie.
GOAL Exclusive: The American midfielder discusses adversity, gratitude, and why this year’s challenges have prepared him to fight for a World Cup spot.
Pep Guardiola can breathe a sigh of relief after Manchester City lynchpin Rodri avoided a playing suspension for his scathing assessment of match officials. The FA confirmed on Monday that an independent Regulatory Commission has sanctioned Rodri for the media comments he made following a controversial 2-2 draw with Tottenham on February 1. While the Ballon d'Or winner has been slapped with a heavy £80,000 fine, he remains available for selection as City continue their hunt for silverware.
Liverpool's Champions League ambitions have been rocked by the news that Alisson will miss the first leg of their last-16 clash against Galatasaray. The Brazilian shot-stopper, who is still widely considered to be one of the world's top goalkeepers, was a notable absentee as the Reds confirmed their 21-man travelling squad for the daunting trip to Istanbul.
Liverpool's preparations for their crucial Champions League clash against Galatasaray took a bizarre turn on Monday morning. While the focus was on who was present at the AXA Training Centre, former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood was left baffled at video footage of a training routine involving some of the club's biggest stars - a clip that was eventually deleted by Sky Sports.
Real Madrid have been handed a major boost ahead of their titanic Champions League quarter-final tie against Manchester City, as Kylian Mbappe was spotted back on the grass at Valdebebas. The France international has been away in Paris undergoing conservative treatment on a knee injury, but his return to the club's training base signals a potential turning point for manager Alvaro Arbeloa.
Bayern Munich have received a massive fitness boost ahead of their crucial Champions League knockout stage encounter against Atalanta. Harry Kane, who has been sidelined with a calf issue, was spotted back on the grass on Monday as the German giants completed their final preparations. The 32-year-old striker took part in the full session with the rest of the squad, moving freely and showing no ill effects of the knock that kept him out of domestic action recently.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has delivered a stinging assessment of Xavi Hernandez’s tenure, suggesting the legendary midfielder lacked the winning touch that successor Hansi Flick has already brought to Catalunya. Following an explosive interview where Xavi blamed the hierarchy for various failures, Laporta used a presidential debate to set the record straight on why he opted for a change in the dugout.
Tottenham are hurtling towards disaster. They could be relegated from the Premier League, and at this point of this season from hell, their best hope of staying up may simply be that football can change very quickly. There are still several key players to return from injury for the run-in, but that may prove too little, too late, particularly with the vibes in an almost irreversible tailspin.
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
