Erling Haaland was a surprise absentee from Manchester City's squad to face Leeds United in the Premier League at Elland Road on Saturday, with the superstar striker missing out through a minor injury. Haaland leads the Golden Boot standings but will have to wait until midweek at the earliest to get back on the goals trail after missing out on the trip to Yorkshire.

Wayne Rooney has revealed the odd gift that he once received from Argentine icon Diego Maradona, with the Manchester United legend still having that present at home. The ex-England international had been competing for the Red Devils in Champions League action when he enjoyed a surprise meeting with World Cup winner Maradona at a Chinese restaurant.

Arsenal are on the right path to unlocking Viktor Gyokeres' full potential, according to head coach Mikel Arteta. The Swede moved to the Premier League leaders in a deal worth an initial £54.8m last summer having shone for Sporting CP. Gyokeres scored 39 league goals and registered an additional seven assists as the Portuguese powerhouse pipped rivals Benfica to the title.

Former Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka has revealed how much he suffered when he first joined the club in 2019. In an honest and open interview, the player gave an insight into his struggles to adapt to his new life after leaving his friends and family behind in London. And he revealed the lengths he would go to in order to stay in touch with his loved ones.

Former England boss Gareth Southgate has sought to distance himself from reports suggesting that he could make a return to club management with Manchester United. The 55-year-old stepped down from his role with the Three Lions after enduring more European Championship heartache in 2024. Rather than heading back to the dugout, Southgate is planning to star in a “different movie”.

How to watch the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Everton, as well as kick-off time and team news

How to watch the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Sunderland, as well as kick-off time and team news

How to watch the Premier League match between Liverpool and West Ham, as well as kick-off time and team news

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has been left "confused" after hitting an unwanted career high at the club. The French forward is enjoying an impressive campaign to date having struck 23 times across 23 league outings for the Spanish giants. However, Mbappe has seen his playing time restricted owing to a series of ongoing injury issues.

A referee in Spain has been arrested over alleged identity theft in a bid to obtain Villarreal season tickets and discounts. The referee in question was one of two men detained by police as part of an investigation into the fraudulent acquisition of season tickets and the falsification of tickets at the home of Villarreal, the Estadio de la Ceramica.

How to watch the LaLiga match between Barcelona and Villarreal, as well as kick-off time and team news

Barcelona sporting director Deco has warned his side that they must reach the heights of perfection if they are to overcome Newcastle in their upcoming Champions League knockout tie. Following the draw that paired the Catalan giants with Eddie Howe’s side, the former Portugal international reflected on the challenge of facing Premier League opposition.

Real Madrid have suffered a massive blow to their defensive line ahead of their crucial La Liga matchup against Getafe. Breakout centre-back Raul Asencio has been officially ruled out following a terrifying head-on collision with teammate Eduardo Camavinga during their recent Champions League clash against Benfica. This unexpected setback leaves manager Alvaro Arbeloa scrambling for reliable options, as an escalating injury crisis threatens to derail the team's momentum at a pivotal moment in the season.

The future of Atletico Madrid's star forward Antoine Griezmann has been a hot topic of debate, with recent speculation heavily linking him to a mid-season departure to Major League Soccer. Reports suggested an immediate move to Orlando City was on the cards, casting doubt on his continuation in the Spanish capital. However, the club's hierarchy has addressed these swirling rumours, suggesting that the move will not go through just yet.

Real Madrid have been plunged into a state of nervous anticipation following the Champions League draw in Nyon after club director Emilio Butragueno admitted that Kylian Mbappe is a major doubt for their upcoming showdown with Manchester City. The fitness of the French superstar has overshadowed the excitement of the draw, with the forward currently sidelined with an injury that has no definitive recovery timeline.

The truth behind Harry Kane’s links with Barcelona has been revealed, with the Bayern Munich striker reported to have emerged as a top target for the La Liga heavyweights. A presidential candidate at Camp Nou has claimed as much, stating that initial contact has been made, but the England captain has stated that he is unaware of any talks taking place.

Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has claimed that Arsenal are "among the top favourites" to win the Champions League after the Bundesliga side were paired with the Premier League leaders in the last-16 stage of the competition.

Benfica legend Luisao has launched a second scathing public attack on the club's hierarchy following their controversial handling of the recent racism allegations involving Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior and Argentine midfielder Gianluca Prestianni. The former Eagles captain expressed profound disappointment with the institutional response, explicitly accusing Prestianni of lying about the incident. Luisao warned that the Portuguese giants are currently navigating a severe "moral crisis" that threatens to permanently tarnish their historical legacy, demanding that the leadership face the uncomfortable truth rather than simply sweeping a serious societal issue under the rug.

Chelsea have sent an early warning to Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain after the Blues drew the defending champions in the round-of-16 of the competition on Friday. The Premier League side travel to Paris for the first leg next month before the return fixture at Stamford Bridge the following week. However, despite a testing draw, Chelsea 'holds no fear' of the Parisian powerhouse.

Luis Enrique has sent a clear message to the rest of Europe following the Champions League knockout stage draw, insisting that Paris Saint-Germain are no longer flying under the radar. The Spanish tactician, who has transformed the culture at the Parc des Princes, believes his side is now viewed as a genuine heavyweight capable of lifting the trophy for a second consecutive year.

Arsenal will face Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last-16, while Liverpool have been paired with Galatasaray. Manchester City must overcome Real Madrid in order to keep their dreams of European glory in 2025-26 alive and Chelsea face a tough test against title holders Paris Saint-Germain. Newcastle are readying themselves for a clash with Barcelona and Tottenham will seek to put their Premier League struggles behind them when locking horns with Atletico Madrid.

Former Barcelona and Valencia defender Jeremy Mathieu has opened up about the difficult reality of his life after football, revealing that a combination of depression and ongoing legal battles led him to take a job at a local sports shop. The sight of a Champions League winner serving customers created a stir online, but Mathieu has now clarified that the move was a necessary step for his own wellbeing and personal circumstances.

Benfica have issued a further statement in the wake of their Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, and the storm that followed their first leg, after Gianluca Prestianni was accused of racially abusing Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian made the allegation during the game in Portugal and the club have now insisted that he did not admit to his team-mates that he had said what he is accused of.

Borussia Dortmund's crushing 4-1 Champions League exit at the hands of Atalanta in Bergamo culminated in a bizarre and inexplicable touchline incident that left the German camp outraged. In the 97th minute of the bruising defeat, referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez inexplicably showed a straight red card to Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck, who was watching from the substitutes' bench.

The former United States head coach Gregg Berhalter has heaped praise upon Weston McKennie after the Juventus midfielder continued his resurgence in Italy. The former Schalke player has been reborn this season and become integral to a new look Juventus side, even filling in as a makeshift centre-forward to great effect for the Old Lady at times this campaign.

How to watch the Serie A match between Inter and Genoa, as well as kick-off time and team news

GOAL looks at the biggest storylines among Americans Abroad, including a battle between USMNT stars in France.

Juventus appear to be charting a course toward stability after a turbulent period on and off the pitch. Following a heartbreaking European exit and the pressure of a top-four race in Serie A, the Bianconeri hierarchy is already looking at the 2026-27 campaign. While the future of manager Luciano Spalletti has been a topic of debate, the latest indications from the Allianz Stadium suggest that the club is ready to find common ground with several key stars.

The prospect of Victor Osimhen wearing the famous black and white stripes of Juventus has recently become a tantalising "what if" for the Bianconeri faithful. However, any hopes of a sensational return to Serie A for the Nigerian powerhouse have been met with a cold, hard financial reality. It has emerged that Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis orchestrated a brilliant piece of contractual engineering when sanctioned the striker's move to Galatasaray, effectively locking the door on a domestic rivals' swoop through a secret "anti-Italy" penalty clause.

While Inter remain the dominant force in the Serie A standings, Thierry Henry believes the squad has completely lost its soul following their humiliating Champions League defeat to Bodo/Glimt at San Siro this week. The legendary pundit argues that the most attractive football in Italy is no longer found in Milan, but is instead being showcased by Cesc Fabregas’ flourishing Como side.

As Alessandro Costacurta effectively admitted at the end of a dramatic final night of the Champions League play-offs, he and his fellow pundits in the Sky Sports studio had come to bury Serie A's representatives in Europe - not to praise them. And yet they were left with no option to do so after two remarkable revivals proved that Italian football isn't dead yet.

Erling Haaland has opened up about the tactical influences that have shaped his record-breaking career. While legends like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robin van Persie were expected idols, the Manchester City star surprised many by naming a specific Premier League cult hero as a key inspiration for his movement.