Aston Villa kicked off their 2026-27 Champions League campaign with a dramatic 3-2 away victory against Club Brugge. Summer signing Nicolas Jackson scored his first goal to secure all three points for Unai Emery's side during a frantic night at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
Viking FK captain Zlatko Tripic suffered a flight ordeal ahead of their Champions League debut against VfB Stuttgart after an overload of perfume triggered an allergic reaction. Despite the distraction, manager Morten Jensen and Tripic insist the Norwegian champions remain relaxed and ready for their historic European test.
VfB Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeness has fiercely defended captain Deniz Undav following recent media criticism over his mixed form. Hoeness insisted Undav remains central to Stuttgart's Champions League return as they host Viking Stavanger.
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 by injuries and inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he is among a crowded field of contenders again in 2026.
Lithuanian manager Valdas Dambrauskas is preparing to walk out at Old Trafford as he leads Azerbaijani side Sabah into the Champions League. Hailing from a basketball-obsessed nation, Dambrauskas funded his early coaching career in England using prize money won on a television game show.
Norwegian side Viking FK are taking the Champions League by storm using an unusual managerial structure featuring two head coaches. Morten Jensen and Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim share equal power and responsibilities, proving that having two bosses can deliver elite European success.
At the end of October, the object of desire will lose again: the Ballon d'Or. As always, the biggest fuss is made about the best player of the season just gone.
Several high-profile stars have been left out of European squad lists following key deadline decisions. From Liverpool's Federico Chiesa and Real Madrid's Ferland Mendy to Borussia Dortmund captain Emre Can, managers across the continent faced tough selection calls due to injuries and squad limits.
Alexis Mac Allister has dropped a bombshell regarding his future at Liverpool, admitting he is "very, very sad" that the club have not offered him a new contract. The Argentine midfielder, who played a pivotal role in the club's recent Premier League success, also revealed that he had concrete options to leave Anfield during the summer transfer window.
Como 1907 president Mirwan Suwarso has announced he will step aside to allow the club's longest-serving supporters to witness their European bow. The chief executive and several high-ranking board members are relinquishing their VIP tickets for the upcoming clash against RB Leipzig, ensuring that those who have supported the Lariani through the lowest depths of Italian football can now enjoy the ultimate high.
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