Pep Guardiola was not impressed by suggestions that his Manchester City side were pegged back late on at Monaco in the Champions League due to the replacement of Rodri with Nico Gonzalez in midfield. The City boss defended the contribution Gonzalez made off the bench after coming on in the 61st minute, while he conceded that Ballon d'Or winner Rodri is not yet fit enough to play 90 minutes multiple times a week and "needs protecting" from recurring injury issues.
Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch has questioned Reds boss Arne Slot's tactics after the Premier League champions lost 1-0 at Galatasaray in the Champions League in midweek, their second consecutive defeat after going down in stoppage time against Crystal Palace. Slot opted to start Mohamed Salah on the bench in a series of mistakes Crouch cited by the Dutchman, who has faced little scrutiny so far in his tenure having won the league title in his first season in charge.
Barcelona have abandoned the European Super League project, leaving Real Madrid isolated in their push to challenge UEFA. The Catalan giants believe UEFA’s Champions League reforms now meet their demands, ending their pursuit of a breakaway competition. The move marks a dramatic shift in stance that leaves Florentino Perez as the last pillar keeping the project alive.
Dietmar Hamann has labelled Jobe Bellingham as Borussia Dortmund's "only cause for concern" amid the club's strong start to the season. The German legend's criticism comes as the 20-year-old struggles for form, with manager Niko Kovac defending the 'nervous' star amid reports of off-field pressure from his family.
Barcelona's much-anticipated return to Camp Nou has been delayed once more. The club have officially confirmed their upcoming Champions League clash with Olympiacos will be held at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, citing administrative hurdles. Financial and logistical factors also play a part, with a November homecoming now looking the most likely scenario.
Copenhagen confirmed that after an MRI, Rodrigo Huescas has been diagnosed with a torn ACL. The former Cruz Azul fullback will miss the rest of the season and faces a race against time to be fit for the 2026 World Cup. The injury occurred 13 minutes into Copenhagen’s Champions League clash against Qarabag. Huescas went down in clear pain.
Jamie Carragher has hailed Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya as “one of the best pieces of business” the club has done under Mikel Arteta, calling him a “real upgrade” on Aaron Ramsdale. The Spaniard’s stunning save in the first half proved crucial as Arsenal beat Olympiacos 2-0 on Wednesday to continue their perfect Champions League start with two wins in two.
Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford has set himself an ambitious target for his debut season at Barcelona, with the England star determined to be involved in 30 and 40 goals. The former Manchester United forward has made an instant impact under Hansi Flick, already contributing six goal involvements in his first nine appearances in the Blaugrana jersey.
Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac has come to the defence of Jobe Bellingham following the young midfielder's struggles at the club in the ongoing campaign. Bellingham was substituted in the 69th minute of Wednesday's Champions League clash against Athletic Club, with Kovac shielding the ex-Sunderland starboy's underwhelming form by stating that he was "nervous" starting his first game in while.
Kylian Mbappe was left raving about Achraf Hakimi’s performance for Paris Saint-Germain in the French side’s Champions League victory over Barcelona, with the Real Madrid superstar admitting that his close friend is “too much” to handle when performing at the peak of his powers. The buccaneering full-back put in another classy display as the reigning kings of European football claimed another notable scalp in Catalunya.
Juventus coach Igor Tudor expressed his fury after his side conceded a late equaliser to draw 2-2 with Villarreal in the Champions League on Wednesday. The Croatian coach blamed missed chances and nerves for the draw but came to the defence of his centre-backs amid criticism for their sloppiness in recent matches.
Rasmus Hojlund thanked his team-mate Kevin De Bruyne after the 34-year-old Belgian provided assists for both of his goals as Napoli beat Sporting CP on Wednesday. The Danish striker scored a match-winning brace in the 2-1 victory in the Champions League, their first in the competition this season having lost 2-0 to Manchester City two weeks ago.
Wayne Rooney claims that under-fire Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim would be “absolutely slaughtered” if he made selection calls similar to those which saw Arne Slot’s Liverpool suffer a disappointing Champions League defeat at Galatasaray. The Reds have now come unstuck in their last two fixtures, with the odd question being asked of why a Dutch tactician at Anfield is tinkering so much.
Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain came together ahead of their Champions League clash to honour the memory of Luis Enrique’s late daughter, Xana. Both clubs pledged support to the Xana Foundation through jersey auctions and charitable donations. For Enrique, who lost his daughter, this acts reflected the enduring spirit of his family and the broader football community.
Kevin De Bruyne has likened Rasmus Hojlund to Manchester City striker Erling Haaland after the striker scored a decisive double in Napoli's 2-1 Champions League win over Sporting CP on Wednesday. The Manchester United loanee showed composure and power with De Bruyne providing both goals as the pair's bright start to life in Italy continues.
Barcelona forward Ferran Torres says his side failed to "maintain" control of their Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain as a last-minute goal saw the Spanish giants suffer their first defeat of the season. Torres, who scored the opening goal, warned his side should not overreact to the result as he stressed they must find a way to keep up their intensity throughout matches.
Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish has offered advice to Florian Wirtz after the £116 million summer signing’s sluggish start at Anfield. The German playmaker is yet to score or assist in the Premier League and the Champions League, but Dalglish believes building chemistry with Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike could unlock his potential in Arne Slot’s system.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League night in Barcelona belonged to Senny Mayulu and Goncalo Ramos, whose goals sealed a 2-1 win against the Spanish side. Missing Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue, PSG leaned on other stars and relentless pressing to stun the Catalans and Luis Enrique labelled three of those players as 'the best in the world', showing his side has the spirit and belief to challenge Europe’s elite.
Pep Guardiola was left furious after Manchester City were denied victory in Monaco as a controversial late penalty decision cost his side two Champions League points. The Catalan tactician refused to comment directly on the incident but took a swipe at 'Spanish referees' following another night of refereeing drama in Europe, which resulted in Eric Dier scoring a late penalty equaliser.
Liverpool are anxiously awaiting scan results to determine the severity of Alisson Becker’s hamstring injury after the Brazilian goalkeeper limped off during the Champions League defeat to Galatasaray. Head coach Arne Slot has confirmed that Alisson will miss Saturday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea, sparking fears of a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Former Juventus forward Fernando Llorente has hailed Kenan Yildiz as Serie A’s most exciting talent, comparing him to club icon Alessandro Del Piero while claiming the Turkish wonderkid’s creativity would have helped him score “even more goals.” With praise coming from former stars, team-mates and Juve coach Igor Tudor, the 20-year-old forward is rapidly becoming one of Europe’s hottest prospects.
Napoli coach Antonio Conte admitted he is still trying to find the right tactical measures to bring the best out of midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay. In the 2-1 win over Sporting CP, Conte tested a three man midfield in the second half following the substitution of McTominay, and he believes the system can offer him multiple solutions.
Barcelona suffered a late 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, with Goncalo Ramos scoring the decisive goal in the dying minutes after the sides had been level for most of the match. Coach Hansi Flick was candid about his team's performance, admitting PSG were far superior, but he views the result as a necessary stepping stone for improvement.
Mikel Arteta has played down fears over Gabriel Magalhaes after the Brazilian defender was forced off during Arsenal’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Olympiacos. The centre-back went down following a collision with David Raya and received treatment before being replaced, but the Gunners boss later revealed the issue was only a precautionary concern.
Paris Saint-Germain stars “don’t give a damn” about what opponents have to say when it comes to ‘best team in the world’ titles, with Lamine Yamal and Pedri being made to eat their words as the current holders of the prestigious Champions League crown secured another notable victory over Barcelona. A thrilling contest in Catalunya, which swung one way and then the other, ended in dramatic circumstances as PSG snatched a 90th-minute winner.
Rasmus Hojlund produced a statement performance for Napoli in the Champions League, scoring twice against Sporting CP and celebrating by pointing to the competition’s badge. The on-loan Manchester United striker seemed to send a message to his parent club, who are enduring a season without European football under Ruben Amorim, which has not been going down well in Manchester.
Erling Haaland was livid with Manchester City for failing to see off Monaco as Pep Guardiola's side had to make do with a 2-2 draw in the second game of their Champions League campaign. Haaland had twice given City the lead in Monaco but a wonder strike from Jordan Teze and a late penalty from former Tottenham ace Eric Dier snatched a point for the hosts.
European champions Paris Saint-Germain defied the odds as they came from behind to beat Barcelona 2-1 at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, with substitute Goncalo Ramos deciding the game in the visitors' favour after Senny Mayulu had cancelled out Ferran Torres' opener.
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
