Champions League

Champions League news

Xavi Simons Djed Spence

'Too many times!' - Frank gives verdict on Simons & Spence partnership

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has given a brutally honest verdict on the partnership between new signing Xavi Simons and Djed Spence after seeing Spurs beat Villarreal 1-0 in their opening Champions League match of the 2025-26 campaign. An early own goal from Yellow Submarine goalkeeper Luiz Junior ensured Tottenham took all three points in a narrow win in north London.

GFX Frenkie de Jong Lamine Yamal

Yamal is out! Barca confirm absence for Newcastle clash

Lamine Yamal will not be available for the Champions League opener against Newcastle on Thursday, much to the dismay of head coach Hansi Flick. A war of words broke out between the German and the Spanish FA after he criticised the Spanish national team for not looking after Yamal. However, on the bright side, Frenkie de Jong has been named in the matchday squad.

Trent Alexander-Arnold Real Madrid 2025-26

Alexander-Arnold to miss next England camp after fresh injury blow

Trent Alexander-Arnold is reportedly set for six weeks on the sidelines after Real Madrid confirmed the full extent of his new injury. The England international lasted less than five minutes on the pitch on his Champions League debut for Madrid as he was forced off with a muscle issue against Marseille on Tuesday. Dani Carvajal came on as a replacement but the Spaniard was later sent off for headbutting an opponent.

Kane-Chelsea-fans

Kane 'motivated' to silence Chelsea faithful

Ex-Tottenham striker Harry Kane has admitted that he's "motivated" to silence the Chelsea fans as Bayern Munich prepare to host Enzo Maresca's side in their Champions League opener on Wednesday. Kane has kicked off another campaign in Germany on a fiery note, scoring eight goals across all competitions in just five appearances.

FBL-WC-CLUB-2025-MATCH30-REAL MADRID-PACHUCA

'Shouldn't be offended' - Alonso warns Vini Jr. to get used to bench

Vinicius Junior was named on the bench for Real Madrid's Champions League opener against Marseille on Tuesday, with Rodrygo starting in his place on the left wing. After the game, head coach Xabi Alonso made it clear that the squad must get used to his rotational policy and sit out a game every now and then, but reassured that Vinicius remains just as important to the cause.

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Athletic Club v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

Trossard confirmed as ultimate super sub after vital UCL goal

Leandro Trossard has been effectively confirmed as the Premier League's ultimate super-sub after his goal in Arsenal's 2-0 Champions League win over Athletic Club. The Belgian has struggled to become a regular in Mikel Arteta's team and was linked with an Emirates exit this summer. But his contributions off the bench mean the Gunners can ill-afford to sell him.

Kylian Mbappe Cristiano Ronaldo

Mbappe becomes fastest Real star since Ronaldo to hit major milestone

Kylian Mbappe scored twice for Real Madrid against Marseille in the Champions League on Tuesday to take his tally to 50 goals in 64 matches for Los Blancos. The France international has now become the fastest player to reach a half-century of goals for Real Madrid since Cristiano Ronaldo hit the landmark in 2010 by hitting his 51st goal in just 54 appearances.

FBL-EUR-C1-REAL MADRID-MARSEILLE

Alonso delivers update on Alexander-Arnold injury

Xabi Alonso delivered an update on Trent Alexander-Arnold's injury after the Real Madrid full-back was forced off in their 2-1 Champions League win against Marseille on Tuesday inside the first five minutes. Alexander-Arnold was replaced by veteran defender Dani Carvajal, who was shown a red card in the 72nd minute for headbutting Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.

FBL-EUR-C1-REAL MADRID-MARSEILLE

Marseille goalkeeper denies 'exaggerating' Carvajal headbutt

Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli has denied that he exaggerated as he fell to the ground following a clash of heads with Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal. The Madrid star was sent off for forcing his head up against the shot-stopper's late on in the Champions League clash between the two clubs on Tuesday. The Spanish side went on to score via a Kylian Mbappe penalty, sealing a 2-1 win.

Athletic Club v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

'Could see in his eyes' - Arteta knew Martinelli would be match-winner

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has claimed that he knew that Gabriel Martinelli would turn out to be the match-winner against Athletic Club on Tuesday. The Gunners boss sent on the Brazilian in the second half and saw him break the deadlock just 36 seconds after coming off the bench as the Gunners started their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 victory at San Mames.

Kenan Yildiz Karim Adeyemi Juventus Borussia Dortmund 2025

Adeyemi & Yildiz explain joke during Juve-Dortmund goal fest

Karim Adeyemi and Kenan Yildiz shared a light-hearted exchange in the pulsating 4-4 Champions League draw between Borussia Dortmund and Juventus. The pair, who once attended the same school in Germany, traded words after each scored spectacular goals. Both later clarified their comments, with Adeyemi jokingly telling Yildiz not to score again, while the Juve youngster recalled admiring his old friend as a role model.

Juventus v Borussia Dortmund - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

Juve boss slams costly referee decision in thrilling Dortmund draw

Juventus fought back with two stoppage-time goals to draw 4-4 with Borussia Dortmund in Tuesday's Champions League thriller, but coach Igor Tudor was furious after the game. The Croatian blasted referee Francois Letexier and VAR for missing a first-half handball that he felt should have given his side a penalty that would have changed the course of the game.

Diego Simeone Atletico Madrid manager GFX

Could Fernando Torres replace Diego Simeone at Atletico?

Diego Simeone freely admitted that he felt an overriding sense of relief after Atletico Madrid picked up their first win of the new Liga season on Saturday. As the Rojiblancos boss admitted after the 2-0 victory over Villarreal, "It wasn't just another day, after only two points from three matches."

Mourinho Benfica Fenerbahce

Mourinho in advanced talks with Benfica after Lage sacking

Jose Mourinho is reportedly in advanced talks to take the reins at Benfica after the Portuguese club sacked manager Bruno Lage in the aftermath of their humiliating Champions League defeat to Qarabag FK. The Liga Portugal giants blew a two-goal lead on their way to a 3-2 defeat in their Champions League opener at home on Tuesday. Lage was immediately relieved of his duties after the game.

Nicolas Jackson Chelsea Bayern Munich GFX

How Jackson's Chelsea dream turned to nightmare

The most tantalising fixture on matchday one of the new Champions League season comes from the Allianz Arena, where kings of Germany Bayern Munich play host to Club World Cup winners Chelsea. These two teams have history - this will be the Blues' first trip back to Bavaria since lifting their first European Cup there in 2012 - but there is an extremely contemporary entity now linking them.

Napoli Manchester rejects GFX 16:9

How Napoli became a safe haven for Manchester's rejects

"Naples has always been marginalised by the rest of Italy. It is a city that suffers the most unfair racism," said Diego Maradona. When he played for Napoli in the more prosperous northern cities like Milan and Turin, he and his team-mates would be subjected to banners reading 'Welcome to Italy'; 'Napoli, cholera sufferers' or 'Vesuvius, wash them with fire'.

FC Bayern München v Hamburger SV - Bundesliga

Why Jackson can play for Bayern against Chelsea

Nicolas Jackson could find himself lining up against his former team-mates when Bayern Munich collide with Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday. Thanks to UEFA’s competition integrity rules, the 24-year-old striker is free to face the Blues despite being on loan from Stamford Bridge.

Harry Kane Bayern Munich 2025-26

Kane admits Bayern have a 'long mountain to climb' to win UCL

Harry Kane admitted that Bayern Munich have a "long mountain to climb" to win the Champions League but he believes they can go all the way. The England captain, fresh off a blistering Bundesliga weekend where he netted twice in a 5-0 demolition of Hamburg, insisted that simply making up the numbers in Europe’s elite competition isn’t good enough for the German giants.

Kompany Jackson

Kompany admits seeking inside info on Chelsea from Jackson

Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany has admitted he has spoken to Nicolas Jackson about parent club Chelsea as the two teams prepare to face off in the Champions League. The striker swapped the Blues for the German giants on loan and now he could be particularly helpful for the Bundesliga outfit. Incidentally, Kompany has highlighted a "hidden strength" Enzo Maresca's team possess.

FBL-ENG-CHELSEA-AC MILAN

Maresca provides cryptic injury update on Chelsea star Palmer

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has issued a cryptic update on whether Cole Palmer will be fit enough to face Bayern Munich in their Champions League opener. The Blues star produced a goal-scoring display off the bench against Brentford following a spell on the sidelines and now his Italian head coach has spoken about his current fitness levels before taking on the German giants.

Real Madrid Marseille GFX

Mbappe keeps his cool after Carvajal's moment of madness

Kylian Mbappe buried two penalties to overcome a fine finish from Tim Weah as Real Madrid opened their Champions League campaign with a narrow 2-1 win over Marseille. It was a rather mixed night from Los Blancos, who lost Trent Alexander-Arnold to injury and saw Dani Carvajal sent off, but managed to snag a late win in their search for Champions League redemption.

Tottenham Hotspur v Villarreal CF - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

Spurs get away with one as comedy OG settles Frank's UCL debut

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.

Frequently asked questions

Spanish dark horses Sevilla are currently the most accomplished club in Europa League history, winning the competition seven times. Los Nervionenses won their maiden title in 2006, beating Middlesbrough 4-0 in the final. They defended their crown in the next season, before completing a hattrick of wins in 2014, 2015, and 2016 under Unai Emery.

The newest format, introduced ahead of the 2024-25 season, features 36 teams. Traditionally, all games were two-legged knockout ties. From 2004 to 2009, 40 teams competed. In the 2009-10 season, when the UEFA Cup was rebranded as the Europa League, a total of 48 teams featured.

Inter Milan legend Giuseppe Bergomi, with 96 appearances, holds the record of making the most Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup) appearances in history.

If we consider goals scored in qualifying games and when it was the UEFA Cup, then Swedish icon Henrik Larsson leads the charts with 40 goals. However, without qualifying games taken into account, it's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who is Europa League's top goalscorer ever with 34 goals.

Sparta Prague legend Borek Dockal has the most assists in Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup) history. Dockal made an impressive 24 assists in 62 games in the competition.

Ratko Svilar is the oldest player to ever have featured in the Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup), with the former Antwerp man taking to the pitch at the age of 44 years and 130 days.

Former Swedish striker Roger Lindevall is the youngest player to ever appear in a Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup) game. Lindevall was just 15 years and 335 days when he came on as a substitute for Djurgardens IF in their 2-1 win over Feyenoord on September 29, 1976.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Cristiano Ronaldo, Granit Xhaka, Rui Patricio, Giuseppe Bergomi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Mesut Ozil, Dimitri Payet, and Florian Wirtz are among the most famous players to have featured in the Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup).

Unai Emery, Jose Mourinho, Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Giovanni Trapattoni, Franz Beckenbauer, and Diego Simeone are some of Europa League's (formerly the UEFA Cup) most famous managers ever.