Real Madrid’s preparations for their Champions League showdown with Liverpool have been dealt a blow after teenage sensation Franco Mastantuono has been ruled out indefinitely with pubalgia. The 18-year-old Argentine has been a key rotational player under Xabi Alonso, but his absence comes at a crucial point in Madrid’s campaign, forcing tactical adjustments ahead of their high-stakes European clash this Tuesday.
French football giants Paris Saint-Germain are facing an anxious wait over the fitness of Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele ahead of their massive Champions League clash with Germany's Bayern Munich. The winger sparked panic after complaining of a hamstring injury, but subsequently returned to training in a confusing twist for the French champions.
Athletic Club face a major Champions League setback ahead of their crucial clash with Newcastle United as Nico Williams remains doubtful with a recurring groin issue. The Spanish winger, struggling with pubalgia, continues to train separately and may miss the trip to St James’ Park. His uncertain fitness leaves Ernesto Valverde’s side weakened ahead of a huge fixture.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has opened up on what it means to him to return to boyhood team Liverpool ahead of Real Madrid's trip to Anfield this week. The full-back swapped the Reds for the Spanish giants this summer after spending the entirety of his career at the Merseyside outfit. Now, the England international is preparing for an emotional return to his former employers - something he had been preparing for.
Virgil van Dijk has slammed the “ridiculous” criticism Liverpool faced before they ended their Premier League losing streak against Aston Villa. The Netherlands defender has hit out at the negative “outside noise” which greeted a run of form which saw the Reds lose successive league games against Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Manchester United and Brentford.
Former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti believes that Kylian Mbappe's departure to Real Madrid did not play a role in Les Parisiens' historic 2024-25 campaign, which ended with Champions League glory. The Italian midfielder defended the 26-year-old Frenchman's accomplishments in Paris and reflected on the team's failure to win the European crown with Lionel Messi and Neymar.
After years of courtroom clashes and failed negotiations, Real Madrid and A22 Sports Management, the company behind the European Super League, are preparing to sue UEFA for an astonishing €4.5 billion. The lawsuit, rooted in the EU’s landmark antitrust ruling, accuses UEFA of abusing its dominance and stifling fair competition.
Barcelona’s injury crisis deepens as star midfielder Pedri suffers a distal hamstring tear, sidelining him for crucial fixtures including the Champions League clash against Chelsea. With Gavi, Raphinha and Andreas Christensen also out, coach Hansi Flick faces a mounting midfield crisis that threatens to derail Blaugrana's season before the year’s end.
Trent Alexander-Arnold's return to fitness could not have come at a more important time for Real Madrid, following the loss of Dani Carvajal to injury. It comes just a week before Los Blancos are due to face Liverpool in the Champions League at Anfield, only five months after Alexander-Arnold decided to end a 20-year association with his boyhood team.
From confronting Patrick Vieira in the Highbury tunnel to spurring his team on to victory in the 1998-99 Champions League semi-final, there is no shortage of examples of Roy Keane's aura - here, GOAL remembers the famous Ronaldo handshake snub.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca urged his players to find consistency if they are to compete for the Premier League title this season. The Blues suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat against Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, bringing an end to their four-game winning run and leaving them five points adrift of leaders Arsenal ahead of Sunday's clash with Crystal Palace.
Former U.S. striker Herculez Gomez believes Ricardo Pepi’s goal and assist in PSV Eindhoven’s 6-2 Champions League win over Napoli should spark a consistent run, urging the forward to keep pushing for a place with both club and country. Pepi has had inconsistent playing time this season due to injury, scoring two goals in six Eredivisie appearances.
Tottenham Hotspur star Pedro Porro was left disappointed after the club's second consecutive draw in the Champions League against AS Monaco this Wednesday, as he revealed that he called out his team-mates for a poor show, while warning them against making the situation worse in Europe. Porro has been a regular starter at the Premier League club under new manager Thomas Frank.
Liverpool's 5-1 rout of Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League came as a major boost for Arne Slot's side after four successive defeats, but one man didn't seem in the mood to celebrate after the final whistle. Mohamed Salah clapped the away fans at Deutsche Bank Park, but then headed straight for the tunnel instead of revelling in the final result with his euphoric team-mates.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has revealed he took the drastic action following the damaging 2-1 defeat by Liverpool in a bid to halt the Premier League champions worrying slide, which had seen them lose four matches on the bounce. The Netherlands international made the intervention ahead of the Champions League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt, which the Reds won comfortably 5-1.
Erling Haaland has opened a window to all the hard work and preparation that lies behind his incredible goal-scoring form. In the first video on his brand new YouTube channel, the Norwegian takes viewers inside his home and into Manchester City's training ground to show them a day in the life of a striker who has scored 24 goals already this season for club and country.
Marseille striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined coach Roberto De Zerbi in criticising the "scandalous" refereeing after their 2-1 Champions League loss to Sporting CP. The match turned when Emerson Palmieri received a controversial red card when a VAR review resulted in a penalty to the French side being turned into a red card for the new signing, sparking a turnaround in Portugal.
A shock battle is brewing at Borussia Dortmund, as €22.5 million signing Fabio Silva aims to usurp star striker Serhou Guirassy in the starting XI. Nico Kovac has praised the ex-Wolves man as "accurate and clean" after his goal in the Champions League in midweek while Guirassy struggles with a thigh injury and a dip in form. With Silva pushing for a start against Koln, it comes as Guirassy's release clause puts Barcelona on alert.
Jude Bellingham is feeling “really good” after bringing his goal drought at Real Madrid to a close. The England international midfielder was on target for the Blancos in a Champions League win over Juventus, with the 22-year-old opening his account for the 2025-26 campaign after recovering from summer shoulder surgery. There is now the promise of much more to come.
Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer, 39, has cheekily avoided questions about his future, joking he has to "take care of my bones" after a major 4-0 win in the Champions League. Major reports state that the German giants are planning December talks for a new deal, which could force Alexander Nubel's exit and add fuel to speculation of a possible 2026 World Cup return with Germany.
Bayern Munich cruised past Club Brugge 4-0 on Wednesday, with 17-year-old Lennart Karl stealing the spotlight by scoring a stunning opener on his full Champions League debut while becoming the club’s youngest-ever scorer in the competition. Coach Vincent Kompany hailed the teenager's brilliance but urged restraint, calling the hype around him “not normal.”
Juventus manager Igor Tudor admitted that it was “a shame” his team could not score and secure at least a point from their 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday. The coach urged all players to take responsibility and leadership, noting that the team is behind where he would like them to be. Tudor also lamented the absence of the influence of champions that the club once had but stressed that the current players must be given confidence.
Bayer Leverkusen's Aleix Garcia has apologised to fans for his side's "humiliating" 7-2 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and admitted he was "really angry" about his ill-timed shirt swap with the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele. The midfielder scored both of Leverkusen's goals in the rout, which coach Kasper Hjulmand called "painful".
Roberto De Zerbi explained why Mason Greenwood was taken off at half-time during Marseille's collapse at Sporting. The French outfit's Champions League night in Lisbon ended in heartbreak as the hosts came from behind to seal a dramatic 2-1 win. The French side had led through Igor Paixao’s thunderbolt in the first half, but the game unravelled spectacularly after Emerson Palmieri was controversially sent off just before half-time.
Guglielmo Vicario joined an elite club after bailing Tottenham out in the Champions League draw as the Monaco boss, Sebastien Pocognoli, accused the goalkeeper of time-wasting. The keeper turned into an immovable wall as Spurs clung on for a gritty 0-0 draw against a dominant Monaco side. The Italian shot-stopper produced a string of outstanding saves to rescue his side from what could have been a humiliating defeat.
Xabi Alonso has lauded Arda Guler’s impact, stating the 20-year-old gives Real Madrid "a better team dynamic" following the 1-0 Champions League win over Juventus on Wednesday. The manager also praised Jude Bellingham, who scored the winner, as "one of the most complete" players in the world after recovering from injury. Alonso also discussed defensive resilience and the upcoming Clasico.
Enzo Maresca compared wonderkid Estevao to Cole Palmer after the Brazilian dropped a Champions League masterclass. The teenager, who cost the Blues £29 million from Palmeiras, announced himself to Europe with a dazzling display that left Ajax dazed and the Chelsea faithful dreaming of a bright new era.
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane took to social media to congratulate 17-year-old Lennart Karl after he scored his first goal for the club in their 4-0 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League. Describing it as a “night to remember,” the English forward urged Karl to keep the momentum going.
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