Losing Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona in the summer of 2022 was a bitter blow for Bayern Munich. The Pole had scored 344 goals in just 375 appearances for the club, after all. Replacing him was never going to be easy, but it ended up taking Bayern more than a year to find a worthy successor, as Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting rather unsurprisingly didn't exactly prove himself up to the task.
Bayern Munich head to London for a heavyweight Champions League clash with Arsenal, and Lothar Matthaus believes Vincent Kompany already knows who must start. The German legend insists teenager Lennart Karl “can make the difference” alongside Harry Kane and Michael Olise, urging Bayern to trust the 17-year-old on the biggest stage as both superpowers defend perfect European records.
Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti has warned his players of the challenges that come with Tuesday's Champions League visit to Bodo/Glimt's Aspmyra Stadion. The former Italy and Napoli manager admitted that the visitors will be at an obvious disadvantage due to the adverse weather and pitch conditions, while also reassuring that his team will improve with time.
UEFA is facing separate legal battles worth a total of €4.5 billion as Real Madrid and A22, the company behind the European Super League, are suing the governing body in the wake of a court ruling. A22 have also sent a letter to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, demanding the controversial project be given full approval.
Raphinha has admitted he is partly to blame for the two injury relapses that kept him sidelined for more than two months, but the Barcelona winger says he is finally ready to help the team again. The Brazilian revealed he endured a “very tough time” during his recovery but hopes to feature against Chelsea in a decisive Champions League clash, as he insists the team’s European ambitions remain intact.
Dayot Upamecano’s future has become one of Europe’s most closely watched contract sagas as Bayern Munich push for an extension while Real Madrid and now Paris Saint-Germain circle for a free transfer. The French defender is enjoying the best season of his career, yet negotiations remain stalled. With major clubs positioning themselves, Bayern face a defining decision over a key piece of Vincent Kompany’s defence.
When Manchester City signed Gianluigi Donnarumma, most of the reaction focused on his ability, or lack thereof, with the ball at his feet, in sharp contrast to the man he was replacing, Ederson. But nearly three months into his spell with City, the Italian is struggling with a different challenge: the Premier League’s attitude to pushing in the box.
Saturday's 4-0 rout of Athletic Club was a very meaningful match for Barcelona - and not just because it marked the Blaugrana's belated return to Camp Nou. Indeed, the Catalans winning without conceding a goal was arguably of far greater significance than the long-awaited reopening of their beloved home ground, as it was their first clean sheet for nine games in all competitions. Not since the facile 3-0 win over Getafe on September 21 had Barca shut out an opponent.
Enzo Maresca has urged Chelsea wonderkid Estevao Willian to ignore comparisons with Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, insisting the Brazilian should focus solely on improving himself. Ahead of a huge Champions League clash between two of Europe’s brightest teenagers, the Blues boss backed Estevao to become a “top player” if he keeps developing at his own pace.
Netflix are reportedly considering lodging a bid for Premier League TV rights to rival Sky Sports and TNT Sports. The streaming giant narrowly missed out on securing a deal for UEFA's Super Cup and for Champions League rights in Germany from 2027-31, but missed out to Paramount. Despite that setback, they now have their eyes on English top-flight broadcasting rights.
Marseille’s injury crisis has deepened ahead of their must-win Champions League clash with Newcastle, as defender Nayef Aguerd has been ruled out with a persistent pubalgia issue and Facundo Medina has suffered a fresh ankle relapse. With Amine Gouiri and Hamed Traore also long-term absentees, Roberto De Zerbi faces a mounting selection puzzle at the worst possible moment.
Barcelona have been handed both relief and pain ahead of their crucial Champions League tie against Chelsea. On one hand, they have Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford back in the squad, but they will yet again miss the services of their talismanic midfielder Pedri, who has been sidelined since late October.
Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi has come to Mason Greenwood's defence, calling him “a good person” and expressing sadness over the player's controversial past. The forward, who faced charges of attempted rape in England before they were subsequently dropped, has faced criticism and protests ever since the controversy, but he has managed to excel on the field since joining Marseille from Manchester United, much to De Zerbi's delight.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has backed Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian to emulate Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal but warned against comparisons ahead of the Champions League showdown between the European giants. Although his minutes have been carefully managed and he is not yet a guaranteed starter, Estevao has made an impressive start to life at Stamford Bridge, making five goal contributions already.
Is this the greatest goal Chelsea has ever conceded in the Champions League? The beautiful artistry of the Brazilian wonder is the stuff of legend at Stamford Bridge, even today.
Barcelona have received a major boost ahead of their blockbuster Champions League trip to Chelsea, with Marcus Rashford returning to full training after a spell on the sidelines against Athletic Club. But Pedri is set to miss the decisive clash as his hamstring recovery stalls, leaving Hansi Flick without one of his most influential midfielders for Tuesday’s showdown at Stamford Bridge.
Vincent Kompany insists that his Bayern Munich side will iron out their set-piece weakness before they take on Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Bayern returned to winning ways with a resounding 6-2 victory over Freiburg but went behind on home turf to two early corners as their dead-ball issues came to the fore once more.
Bayern Munich are preparing to appeal the red card picked up by Luis Diaz after he received a 'very harsh' Champions League ban for the foul that injured Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi earlier this month. Diaz was slapped with a three-game ban by UEFA, which came as a huge blow for the German giants ahead of their key Champions League clash against Arsenal.
Bayern Munich have suffered a major blow ahead of their table-topping Champions League clash with Arsenal after Luis Diaz was handed a three-game ban for his red card against Paris Saint-Germain. The Colombia international will subsequently miss his side’s trip to the Emirates Stadium after committing a dangerous challenge on defender Achraf Hakimi.
Marc Guehi is reportedly being pursued by five Champions League clubs this winter, with the Crystal Palace captain eligible for pre-contract talks with foreign outfits from January 1. The 25-year-old has already informed Palace that he will not sign a new deal, paving the way for a summer exit after being linked with Liverpool last summer.
Manuel Neuer’s illness and Serge Gnabry’s fresh fitness concerns have unsettled Vincent Kompany’s preparations for Bayern Munich's upcoming matches against Freiburg and Arsenal. With squad fatigue and strategic decisions piling up, Bayern face fitness concerns ahead of the Bundesliga and Champions League clashes.
Cole Palmer has suffered another unfortunate injury setback, in a serious blow to Chelsea’s plans, with the England international fracturing his toe following an "accident at home". The 23-year-old playmaker has made just four appearances this season, as he struggles for fitness, and has now been ruled out of the Blues’ next three fixtures across all competitions.
Kate Abdo and Co. can fly into the UK as Paramount Plus has reportedly won the rights to the Champions League from 2027 to 2031. The move signals the end of TNT Sports’ decade-long grip on Europe’s most prestigious club competition and marks a major expansion of the American-owned streaming giant into the UK market.
Achraf Hakimi was crowned African Player of the Year in Rabat after a stunning season with Paris Saint-Germain, edging Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen to the honour. The award sparked an emotional tribute from his close friend Kylian Mbappe, who hailed him as “The King of Africa” in a heartfelt message. Their bond, built at PSG and sustained despite career moves, shone through once again.
Lamine Yamal is racing against time as Barcelona build a detailed recovery plan to get him ready for the upcoming Champions League showdown against Chelsea. The 18-year-old has been sidelined by a painful pubalgia issue, forcing him out of Spain duty and limiting his training load. Barca insist they won’t rush him, but optimism is growing after he partially returned to group training this week.
Chelsea could hand Lauren James her first start of the season when they face Barcelona in their Women’s Champions League clash, though Sam Kerr will remain unavailable despite her return to action earlier in the campaign. James, who has been slowly building back towards match readiness after an ankle injury, has been named in contention for Thursday night’s heavyweight contest.
Eberechi Eze opens up on his journey to becoming an Arsenal and England star with former team-mate Adebayo Akinfenwa on the latest episode of GOAL’s Beast Mode On podcast.
In the latest episode of the Beast Mode On podcast, Adebayo Akinfenwa sits down with Arsenal and England star Eberechi Eze to discuss his incredible journey from suffering multiple club rejections as a teenager, to becoming one of the Three Lions' most gifted players. The pair, who were team-mates at Wycombe, relive their days together in the EFL, and talk through Eze's emotional return to his boyhood team last summer.
Barcelona have received a major lift in their season after UEFA approved their request to return to Camp Nou for the Champions League. The iconic stadium has been closed for major refurbishment since 2023, forcing the team to play at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuic. The original return target was late 2024, but construction delays pushed the schedule back several times.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has confirmed that a game will return to Spain in the foreseeable future. The Santiago Bernabeu, home of La Liga giants Real Madrid, hosted the meeting between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders on Sunday, in which Miami claimed a 16-13 overtime win in the final international game of the 2025 season.
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