After a total of just over 21 years at BVB, Sebastian Kehl is bidding farewell to Borussia Dortmund. What will be remembered about Kehl the sporting director? A look back.
Beth Mead's clever reverse pass and Stina Blackstenius' clinical finish will forever be etched in the minds of Arsenal fans as the move that delivered the Gunners an incredible Champions League title in 2025. The north London side were huge underdogs against three-time winners Barcelona, but they fought hard and found a way to get the better of the Catalans in Lisbon last May, capping a European run for the ages.
Manchester City beat Arsenal in the first final of the English football season, with Pep Guardiola schooling former apprentice Mikel Arteta to secure the Carabao Cup at Wembley on Sunday. The contest was decided by two second-half goals from Nico O’Reilly, who twice crept into the Gunners’ box effectively unmarked to score from a pair of almost identical crosses.
Vinicius Jr scored twice while Federico Valverde again found the net as Real Madrid saw off Atletico Madrid, 3-2, in a frantic derby on Sunday. At no point was either side truly in control of proceedings, yet Real were clinical at the right moments, and despite finishing the game with 10 men following a red card for Valverde, were good value for a win that keeps them firmly in La Liga's title race.
Lionel Messi grabbed a goal, but it was a day for Inter Miami's defenders, as both of their center backs found the net in a back-and-forth 3-2 win over Eastern Conference leaders NYCFC. The Herons took the lead, but were never fully assured with it, and twice had to reclaim a slender advantage to return to South Florida with a hard-earned win - and move to third in the East.
Nico O'Reilly etched his name into Manchester City folklore with a stunning double in the space of four minutes to inspire his side to a 2-0 win over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final. Born in Manchester and raised in City's academy, O'Reilly pounced on a sloppy piece of goalkeeping from Kepa Arrizabalaga to give Pep Guardiola's side the edge in a cagey encounter at Wembley on the hour-mark.
Arsenal's six-year wait for a trophy will go on for at least a few months more after they were beaten 2-0 by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday. The Gunners had been tipped to win an unprecedented quadruple, but they fell short in their first attempt to claim some silverware this season, with Mikel Arteta being defeated by mentor Pep Guardiola.
Barcelona maintained their stranglehold on La Liga's title race on Sunday, though they were made to work hard for their 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano. Ronald Araujo scored the only goal of the game for the Catalans, but disappointing performances from their all-star attack meant they were indebted to yet more stunning saves from goalkeeper Joan Garcia.
Lennart Karl has an exciting few weeks ahead of him: the 18-year-old is set to make his debut for the German national team and is due to play for FC Bayern at his dream club.
When Alvaro Arbeloa took over at Real Madrid following the sacking of Xabi Alonso, he made it clear that youth would have a part to play in his reign. Sure, he has plenty of world class expensive talent to pick from, but Arbeloa, who had coached in the academy, vouched for the droves of teenagers who could make at impact in the first team.
FC Bayern are chasing every scoring record, but have recently looked vulnerable at the back. Against Union Berlin, the Munich side kept a clean sheet for the first time in a long while.
Chelsea were humbled in their first visit to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, falling 3-0 to Everton in the Premier League on Saturday evening. The Blues were hoping to bounce back from Tuesday's Champions League defeat by the same scoreline to Paris Saint-Germain but instead came unstuck against David Moyes' Toffees, who moved to within two points of Liam Rosenior's side in the table.
FC Bayern beat Union Berlin 4–0 and have extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga table to twelve points, at least for the time being. Individual player ratings for the FCB squad.
Liverpool were beaten 2-1 by Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, as a Danny Welbeck brace gave the Seagulls all three points. It was a disjointed performance from the Reds, despite Milos Kerkez's goal, after Hugo Ekitike was injured within the first 10 minutes. It is another damning result for head coach Arne Slot, who looks to have run out of ideas in the dugout.
Chelsea's hopes of retaining the Women's Super League title were all but ended at the hands of the London City Lionesses on Saturday afternoon, with the Blues pegged back to a 1-1 draw at The Den. Despite taking the lead early in the first half, Sonia Bompastor's decision to leave her heavy hitters on the bench cost her, with the hosts stepping up their efforts in the second half to claw back a point.
Khadija Shaw's record-breaking hat-trick fired Manchester City to a dominant 5-2 win over Tottenham on Saturday, allowing the Women's Super League leaders to maintain their seven-point cushion at the top with just four games to go. It took Shaw just 21 minutes from kick-off, and 13 minutes between goals, to net her treble, setting two new competition records, and that was added to by Kerolin's strike and an own goal from Amanda Nilden as City bounced back from last week's disappointing draw at Aston Villa.
In 2019, serious injuries forced Micah Richards, then aged 31, to retire from the game. Today, the popular pundit speaks openly about the depression and alcohol problems he experienced at the time.
"It sharpens your mind, and there are clear similarities to football," said Erling Haaland when he announced his investment in the Total Chess World Championship this week. "You have to think quickly, trust your instincts, and think several moves ahead. Strategy and planning are everything." The Manchester City striker’s strategy cannot be faulted except at one stadium in particular: Wembley.
Arsenal will look to end their six-year trophy drought on Sunday when they take on rivals Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. Going back even further, the Gunners haven't won silverware in front of live fans since their 2017 FA Cup triumph, a time when Arsene Wenger was still manager and Mikel Arteta had just completed his first season as Pep Guardiola's assistant.
Harry Maguire marked his return to the England squad in an unwanted manner as he was sent off in Manchester United's disappointing 2-2 draw at Bournemouth. The Red Devils twice took the lead in the second half, from a Bruno Fernandes penalty and then an own goal by James Hill. But they were pegged back each time and had reason to complain for the Cherries' first equaliser.