Joan Gaspart couldn't understand all of the fuss caused by Nico Williams' decision to turn down a move to Barcelona in favour of signing a lucrative new deal with Athletic Club. "The player has used us in a good way," the former Blaugrana president told EL 10 del Barca on August 3. "He's gotten a good contract, and I'm happy for him."
Thomas Frank has responded to Jamie Carragher's assessment of his Tottenham team, telling the ex-Liverpool defender that it's 'easier' to be a pundit and criticise managers for their shortcomings than to actually coach a team. Frank's Spurs lost 1-0 to Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday, tallying a club-record low of 0.05 expected goals in the process. Supporters booed the Dane's team throughout the game and at full-time.
Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele has picked up another injury and was forced off early in Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. The French winger, who was crowned the best male player in the world only weeks ago, lasted barely 25 minutes before limping off in visible distress, just moments after seeing what he thought was an equaliser ruled out by VAR.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven scored a truly astonishing goal during the team's Champions League win over Copenhagen on Tuesday night, immediately reminding fans of one that club legend Son Heung-min netted against Burnley six years ago. Son's effort went on to win the coveted FIFA Puskas Award, leading supporters to already wish the same fate for Van de Ven.
Achraf Hakimi had to be helped off the pitch and looked to be in tears after being on the receiving end of a reckless challenge by Luis Diaz during Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on Tuesday. The winger saw red for his challenge, while Hakimi is now facing an anxious wait to determine the severity of the injury. It's a huge blow for PSG and Hakimi, particularly with the Africa Cup of Nations now only weeks away.
Ricardo Pepi made his mark off the bench once again, scoring a stoppage-time equalizer for PSV against Olympiacos on Tuesday to earn them a crucial Champions League point. The goal was Pepi's third in four games in all competitions, despite playing a grand total of 75 minutes across those matches. PSV now have five points through UCL four games.
Arsenal’s Max Dowman, at just 15 years and 308 days old, stepped onto the European stage in the 72nd minute against Slavia Prague, becoming the youngest player ever to appear in a Champions League match. The teenager shattered the record previously held by Borussia Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko, who was 16 years and 18 days when he made his debut in 2020.
Liverpool secured a statement 1-0 win over an in-form Real Madrid in the Champions League at Anfield on Tuesday, sealed by a single second-half goal from Alexis Mac Allister. On the night that Trent Alexander-Arnold returne to Anfield, receiving a decidedly mixed reception from those inside the famous stadium when he was brought on, the celebrations were all red.
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were beaten 2-1 by 10-man Bayern Munich in the Champions League at Parc des Princes on Tuesday. Luis Diaz scored both goals in an impressive first half but then saw red just before half-time for a reckless challenge on Achraf Hakimi. PSG hit back after the break, pulling one goal back through substitute Joao Neves, but Bayern managed to hang on for all three points.
Real Madrid's big guns went missing, and Los Blancos failed to conjure up any Champions League magic in Tuesday's 1-0 loss to Liverpool. Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, in particular, were kept curiously quiet as Madrid saw their perfect start to their European campaign end in fairly unremarkable circumstances against Arne Slot's struggling Reds.
Tottenham boosted their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League with a commanding 4-0 win at home to Copenhagen, despite playing much of the second half one man light. Goal-scorer Brennan Johnson was sent off with Spurs already two to the good, but Thomas Frank's side showed fantastic character to score twice more as they put in arguably their best performance of his tenure so far.
Folarin Balogun scored his first Champions League goal of the season, netting in the first half of Monaco's clash with Bodo/Glimt to put his club up 1-0 at the Aspmyra Stadion. The goal is Balogun's third since scoring for the U.S. men's national team against Ecuador in a 1-1 draw during the October international break.
Former Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold was back at Anfield on Tuesday with Real Madrid in the Champions League and received a hostile reception from home supporters on Merseyside. The full-back's decision to leave his boyhood club at the end of last season and head to the Santiago Bernabeu enraged many fans who made their feelings known ahead of kick-off, but the player chose to see the funny side.
England boss Thomas Tuchel and his assistant Anthony Barry have opted to skip the chance to watch Jude Bellingham in action for Real Madrid against Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League in another blow to the 22-year-old just days before the latest England squad is announced. Bellingham was omitted from Tuchel's most recent squad and will have to wait and see if he's done enough to earn a recall.
Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Slavia Prague on Tuesday made it four wins from four in the Champions League for the high-flying Gunners so far in 2025-26. Bukayo Saka, captain for the night, got the ball rolling from the penalty spot, before Mikel Merino took over as the Spain international, playing in place of Viktor Gyokeres, scored twice in a clinical performance in the Czech capital.
Jude Bellingham eclipsed Lionel Messi and his Real Madrid co-star Kylian Mbappe to make more Champions League history when taking on Liverpool on Tuesday evening. At just 22 years and 128 days old, the former Birmingham City prodigy smashed club legend Iker Casillas’s long-standing record as the youngest player in history to reach 50 appearances in Europe’s elite club competition. It is a staggering achievement for someone who has been commanding Real Madrid’s midfield like a veteran since his big-money move from Borussia Dortmund a few years back.
Chelsea are 'hopeful' that Cole Palmer will be fit again for the upcoming clashes against Barcelona and Arsenal, as Enzo Maresca delivered a positive injury update. The 23-year-old's creative spark has been sorely missed as he has been sidelined for over a month, but the head coach has hinted at a possible comeback date that will provide the club and its supporters a significant boost.
Alexis Mac Allister's father has shed light on rumours linking the midfielder with Real Madrid and urged the Liverpool star to "do what he thinks best" regarding his future. Los Blancos have been looking to rebuild their midfield after the exits of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, and reports from Spain claimed that Xabi Alonso had made Mac Allister a key target, admiring his composure and creativity under pressure.
Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany is wary of the challenge posed by Paris Saint-Germain as his side prepare to face the French giants in the Champions League on Tuesday. The Belgian admitted that his team will need to play a "perfect game" in order to beat the defending champions. Meanwhile, PSG boss Luis Enrique is not too worried about Bayern's historic winning streak and remains confident in his team's ability.
Pep Guardiola has claimed he had never heard of Jobe Bellingham as the Borussia Dortmund midfielder and brother of England and Real Madrid star Jude prepares to face Manchester City in the Champions League. The younger Bellingham followed his older sibling's path by moving to Dortmund last summer from Sunderland, having also come through Birmingham City's youth ranks.
Bayern Munich have filed an official protest with UEFA and threatened legal action after Paris police imposed last-minute travel restrictions on their supporters ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League showdown against Paris Saint-Germain. The German club labelled the decision “unacceptable” and received backing from the host PSG themselves.
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