FEATURES

Was this Trinity Rodman’s last match for the Spirit - and is Gotham’s quiet confidence about to reshape the league? Here’s what comes next for both finalists after a dramatic NWSL final.

With just under 20 minutes to go in the first Clasico of the current campaign at Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso made a double substitution with his side 2-1 up on Barcelona. Federico Valverde accepted his withdrawal with good grace; Vinicius Jr did not. Five times he incredulously asked "Me?!", to the understandable bewilderment of his manager. "Come on, Vini, damn it!," Alonso pleaded. But there was no calming the winger down.

Arne Slot is not only facing an uphill battle to save Liverpool's season, but also his job. That is a sentence no Liverpool supporter would have imagined reading barely six months on from seeing the Dutchman deliver the club's second Premier League title, and yet it is no exaggeration. The Reds have plummeted to 11th in the table after losing six of their first 12 games in the 2025-26 campaign, which leaves them a whopping 11 points behind early pace-setters Arsenal already.

GOAL brings you the lowdown on how British players are doing away from home, with many footballers now taking their talents abroad in search of prosperity. Despite the riches and the glamour of the Premier League, it's far from the be all and end all. You can still carve out a fantastic career even while out of the intense spotlight of the English media.

While the November international break was one for the ages as teams around the globe kept their World Cup dreams alive in dramatic circumstances, the return of club football marks a magic time in the calendars of many fans, as it means we are now at the beginning of four uninterrupted months of club action. This is when narratives truly take form, with teams able to build momentum and set off on potentially season-defining runs.

Lionel Messi is one step closer to lifting his first MLS Cup after scoring once and assisting three to power Inter Miami past FC Cincinnati in a dominant 4-0 win that booked their place in the Eastern Conference finals. The Argentine was outstanding throughout, while Tadeo Allende added a brace as Miami snapped a three-year winless run at TQL Stadium.

GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including a return to form for Tillman and Pulisic doing what he does best.

Jude Bellingham scored and assisted but Real Madrid otherwise struggled against a resolute Elche in a disappointing 2-2 draw. Los Blancos will take heart from overturning a deficit, but were admittedly sloppy for long stretches against a side they are expected to beat.

It was almost the perfect weekend for Mzansi sides in continental football. Mamelodi Sundowns were in CAF Champions League action on Saturday, while Stellenbosch FC and Kaizer Chiefs did duty in the Confederation Cup on Sunday. Downs, although slightly underwhelming, managed to beat Orlando Pirates slayers Saint Eloi-Lupopo at home. Stellies, meanwhile, left it late to see off Otoho d’Oyo. It was then over to Amakhosi to ensure South African teams completed a perfect outing in the CAF interclub competition, but they disappointed.

With the playmaker experiencing limited playtime for the Glamour Boys, debate on whether he should be released or his contract extended has been intensifying. With Chiefs engaging in the CAF Confederation campaign this season, one would think Sirino's presence will give the Soweto giants a competitive edge in terms of experience. But with stiff competition for starting slots in the club, it could be hard for the former Mamelodi Sundowns star to be guaranteed regular minutes.

Eberechi Eze's brilliant hat-trick secured Arsenal bragging rights in the north London derby as Mikel Arteta's men romped to a 4-1 win over a sorry Tottenham side on Sunday. Leandro Trossard got the ball rolling for the Gunners before an Eze double either side of half-time put the hosts in control. Richarlison's wonder strike gave Spurs some hope, but another classy finish from Eze ensured Arsenal went six points clear at the top of the Premier League.

When Manchester United meet Everton on Monday it will be exactly one year since Ruben Amorim took charge of his first game against Ipswich Town. It has been a highly eventful and not always happy 12 months featuring explosions of anger, fall-outs with players and many defeats. Many people, including the man himself, thought he might not even end up completing a year in the job.

hiefs are on a three-match winning run across all competitions, and keeping it going is one of their top targets as club duties resume after the international break. As the Soweto giants embark on a historical journey in the Confederation Cup, what they need most is a win in the opening group game. Although they struggled through the preliminary rounds, Amakhosi finally made it to the group stage, and the hope is now to collect as many points as possible and advance further in the competition.

Phil Foden and Erling Haaland each missed a pair of sitters as Manchester City fell to a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle United which threatens to derail their Premier League title charge. City's two big-game players froze at St James' Park and Harvey Barnes grabbed the headlines instead, giving Newcastle the lead and then snatching the winner after Ruben Dias' deflected equaliser.

Reports suggest that the 20-year-old is a wanted man in Major League Soccer. That has divided opinion, with some fans saying it would be a career blunder while others feel it would be a good move for his progress. This comes as the centre-back, who hails from KwaZulu-Natal, has been enjoying a terrific year of football, playing for both the Buccaneers and Bafana Bafana.

Barcelona enjoyed a successful return to the Camp Nou, as they dispatched Athletic Club 3-0 in their first game at their spiritual home in almost three years. A Ferran Torres brace and goals from Robert Lewandowski and Fermin Lopez gave Hansi Flick's side a comfortable victory. The visitors' job was made harder when Oihan Sanchet was given his marching orders for a horrendous challenge on Lopez.

Although their display was not entirely convincing, Masandawana managed to collect crucial points in their CAF Champions League campaign. Starting with three points in a group that has heavyweights like Rhulani Mokwena's MC Alger and Sudanese giants Al Hilal should be considered an early achievement for Downs, who hope to go all the way to the final again. Nuno Santos, who is having a good start to life with the Tshwane giants, keeps proving why he was signed by the Brazilians, who wanted a player who would bring the X factor.

Liverpool's nightmare defence of their Premier League title took a turn for the worse on Saturday as Nottingham Forest ripped the Reds apart at Anfield. In a game that saw more than one moment of VAR controversy, Forest struck three times, courtesy of efforts from Murillo, Nicolo Savona and Morgan Gibbs-White, to leave a shellshocked Arne Slot potentially fearing for his job.

Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez scored in either half as Chelsea closed the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal with a 2-0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor. Enzo Maresca’s Blues moved up to second in the table with a performance which saw Andrey Santos shine in place of Moises Caicedo, who was rested ahead of Tuesday’s mouth-watering Champions League clash with Barcelona.

With everything on the line, here's how the Spirit can top the Gotham FC for the 2025 NWSL Championship.

Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT just delivered its best camp yet - but the emergence of new standouts has created a real selection dilemma ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Since lifting their first CAF Champions League crown in 2016, the Brazilians have been haunted by the elusive second star. Every season, the ambition burns brighter, yet heartbreak follows. Now, as they gear up to host Lupopo, Masandawana’s quest feels renewed - armed with depth, tactical clarity and continental hunger, this campaign could finally deliver the prize they covet most.

With Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic playing in big games, and others hoping to establish themselves again, it should be a captivating week

Masandawana host the Railmen at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday as they begin their CAF Champions League Group C campaign. They are keen on making a strong statement, knowing a win would help them stay at par or overtake Al Hilal, who occupy top spot after edging MC Alger on Friday. With home advantage and high expectations on them after last season's near-miss in this tournament, the Tshwane giants will be pushing to seize early control of the group.

The Conference semifinals are set to serve up plenty of drama this weekend, with Inter Miami hoping to stay alive.

Christian Pulisic has delivered in big moments for club and country - and with the Milan derby looming, the USMNT star looks poised for another signature performance.

The Winelands club have been a steady PSL mainstay since they gained promotion to the top division in 2019. Last season saw them compete in continental competition for the first time where they reached the semi finals of the CAF Confederations Cup. Now, however, they find themselves mired in a relegation fight while trying to balance the demands of CAF competition once again.

Barcelona's famed La Masia academy has long been the envy of every other top club in Europe, and for good reason. It has forged dozens of legends over the last 46 years, from Pep Guardiola and Albert Ferrer, to Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and a certain Lionel Messi. Every generation produces multiple superstars, with Lamine Yamal leading the current crop after bursting onto the scene as a 15-year-old.

It would have been easy to miss amid all of the excitement generated during arguably the most dramatic international break of all time - but some very big transfer news broke earlier this week. According to the very reliable David Ornstein, Antoine Semenyo has a £65 million ($85m) release clause in his Bournemouth contract that can be triggered during the first two weeks of the winter window.