Tottenham opened their 2025-26 Champions League campaign with a 1-0 victory at home to Villarreal, but they didn't have things their own way as they edged to a narrow opening-night win. Thomas Frank made his debut as a coach in Europe's top club competition and will be relieved that his side took the three points, but he will know there is work to do if they are to progress from the league phase.
Arsenal's out-of-favour forwards Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard sent a timely reminder to manager Mikel Arteta on Tuesday night, coming off the bench against Athletic Club to ensure the Gunners started their Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 2-0 win. The north Londoners' expensively-assembled attack struggled to break down the hosts' defence, but the two players who have been linked with an Emirates exit delivered in style late on.
Fermin Lopez stole the day while Raphinha and Robert Lewandoswki struck a devastating brace off the bench each to brush aside Valencia 6-0, as Barcelona returned to winning ways in La Liga. La Blaugrana put on a true five-star display as the visitors were put to the sword.
Manchester City returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion as Erling Haaland and Phil Foden struck the decisive blows in a 3-0 thumping of local rivals Manchester United in Sunday's derby. Foden opened the scoring in the first half before Haaland took the game away from the visitors with a brace in the second period.
Manchester United were out-classed and over-powered by Manchester City in an embarrassing 3-0 defeat in Sunday's derby which compounded their poor start to the Premier League season. Luke Shaw was the worst of a terrible bunch of defenders while Benjamin Sekso's abject first start summed up the team's limp attack. United have just four points from their first four games and it could get worse before it gets better as they face Chelsea next.
It was the late show once again for Liverpool as a 95th-minute Mohamed Salah penalty sunk a defiant Burnley side to earn the Reds all three points on Sunday as the champions continued their 100 percent start to the new Premier League season with a fourth late winner in as many games.
Chelsea looked to have stolen all three points over local rivals Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, before a last-minute tap-in by Fabio Carvalho earned the Bees a 2-2 draw. The Blues had taken the lead thanks to second half goals by Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo. The Blues had fallen behind to Kevin Schade's opener in the 29th minute.
The Gunners suffered an early scare at the hands of the Hammers, but a dominant second-half performance and some inspired substitutions meant they walked away with all three points
The Italian manager made numerous changes, and saw his disjointed team deservedly fall to a side that needed to win to keep their dream of playing at 2026 alive