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.
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 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.
U.S. international Tim Weah has a knack for timing, delivering his first Marseille goal in dramatic fashion on Tuesday. Weah scored the opener against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in the club’s opening Champions League match of the season. The winger was assisted by Mason Greenwood, who found Weah running to his right in the 22nd minute.
Trent Alexander-Arnold pulled up injured just three minutes into Real Madrid's Champions League clash with Marseille on Tuesday evening at the Santiago Bernabeu. The English full-back, handed his Champions League debut in the white jersey by head coach Xabi Alonso, lasted just three minutes before pulling up in pain.
Arsenal's out-of-favour forwards Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard sent a timely reminder to manager Mikel Arteta on Tuesday night, coming off the bench against Athletic Club to ensure the Gunners started their Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 2-0 win. The north Londoners' expensively-assembled attack struggled to break down the hosts' defence, but the two players who have been linked with an Emirates exit delivered in style late on.
Arsenal’s £64 million ($74m) man Viktor Gyokeres gave supporters a scare after a brutal collision with team-mate Gabriel left him bloodied and bandaged during their Champions League clash with Athletic Club. The pair went for the same aerial ball in the box and Gabriel made forceful contact with the back of the striker's head. The Swede crumpled to the turf as blood gushed from the injury, requiring lengthy treatment.
Alexander Isak might make his debut in Liverpool colours as Arne Slot revealed his plan ahead of the Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid, with the striker included in the matchday squad. The Swede, snatched from Newcastle United for a jaw-dropping £125 million ($171m), has been handed the legendary No.9 jersey and is poised to finally step onto the pitch in front of the Kop.
Arne Slot has jumped to the defence of Florian Wirtz after his slow start at Liverpool, while hitting out at those criticising the club's lavish spending. The Reds have been targeted after splashing £116 million ($158m) on the German and £450m ($615m) on arrivals overall, but Slot says that is not a fair assessment.
Manchester United players have made their feelings known on Rasmus Hojlund in response to the striker's fast start at Napoli following his loan move. It took him just 14 minutes in a Napoli shirt to do what he so often struggled to do at Old Trafford: score when it mattered.
Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos has thrown his full support behind new goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, who replaces Gianluigi Donnarumma following his move to Manchester City. The Brazilian defender hailed the 23-year-old’s personality, quick adaptation and potential to reach the pinnacle of the game as PSG prepare to begin their Champions League title defence against Atalanta.
Mason Greenwood has been told how to reach the next level with Marseille as the former Manchester United forward makes a return to Champions League football. The Englishman is preparing for the biggest game of his Marseille career so far as he readies himself to face Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. He has reignited his career in France after leaving Old Trafford under a cloud, and Tuesday night marks his return to top-tier European football.
Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy has been labelled "world-class" by sporting director Sebastian Kehl amid his impressive performances for the German club. With four goals from three games already in the Bundesliga, the striker is in fine form and the club chief insists only Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe can match him in one area.
Luis Enrique believes Paris Saint-Germain's first-ever Champions League triumph has lifted a weight off the squad, insisting it will be “easier” to win again this season. The Spaniard hailed his players for breaking through mental barriers last term, as Ousmane Dembele, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Achraf Hakimi powered the club to a historic treble.
Barcelona’s wait to return to Camp Nou drags on, as it was confirmed their upcoming La Liga clash against Getafe will be played at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium. While the club hope to secure the necessary license in time, focus is already shifting to the Champions League deadline, with UEFA demanding assurances before the crunch clash against Paris Saint-Germain on October 1.
La Liga president Javier Tebas has denied Real Madrid's claims that the league authorities targeted the club by sending a doping team to Los Blancos’ training ground on Monday. In the process, Tebas has taken a dig at Xabi Alonso’s side, that they blame La Liga for everything after the club registered an official complaint to FIFA.
Former Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has stated that big clubs like Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain will have learned their lesson in the new Champions League format after their shaky performances at the start of last season. The German legend believes the top clubs have learned that they must attempt to dominate the competition from the very first round.
Facundo Buonanotte has been added to Chelsea’s Champions League squad following an injury blow to another of the Blues’ summer signings. Highly-rated midfielder Dario Essugo has been forced to undergo surgery on a thigh problem. That has left the door open for Buonanotte to be drafted into Enzo Maresca’s plans ahead of a return to elite European competition.
The MET office has delivered an update amid fears Liverpool's Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid could be postponed due to extreme weather. A yellow weather warning was issued ahead of the match warning of gusty winds that could disrupt travel and cause power outages.
Julian Alvarez has been left out of Atletico Madrid's squad to face Liverpool in their Champions League opener, with USMNT midfielder Johnny Cardoso also missing due to an injury. Alvarez has been a mainstay in Diego Simeone's side since completing his move to the Spanish club from Manchester City in 2024, and has two goal contributions to his name from four appearances so far this season.
Dani Ceballos reached out to Roberto De Zerbi to explain his decision to reject Marseille's offer as the midfielder opted to stay at Real Madrid. The French side approached the Spaniard late in the transfer window and even reached a deal with Madrid, with De Zerbi eager to make him a key player following Adrien Rabiot's exit.
Manchester City have shockingly been branded an “amateur team” by Premier League cult hero Paolo di Canio. The ex-West Ham star believes that another of his former clubs, Serie A title holders Napoli, are capable of claiming a notable scalp when heading to the Etihad Stadium for an intriguing opening clash in their 2025-26 Champions League campaign.
Kylian Mbappe received a Lionel Messi reality check from Leonardo Balerdi ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League opener against Marseille. Balerdi believes that Argentina team-mate Messi "will be the best player in the world until he retires", though he does admit Kylian Mbappe is among the top players in the game right now.
Xabi Alonso heaped praise on Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal for his "competitive gene" and claimed that he will be a "fundamental" player this season. Those remarks could come as a huge setback for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has started just twice in four La Liga matches this season since joining from Liverpool in the summer window.
Cristian Romero has welcomed the arrival of an “organised” coach at Tottenham, which could be considered a swipe at former boss Ange Postecoglou. Spurs are now working under the guidance of Danish tactician Thomas Frank, with a change in the dugout being made over the summer after stumbling to a 17th-place finish in the Premier League last season.
Former Bayern Munich midfielder Lothar Matthaus has provided his thoughts ahead of the first matchday of the Champions League. According to the legendary former Germany international, Bayern Munich will be one of the seven favourites to clinch the coveted continental title this season, backing the Bavarians to overcome Club World Cup holders Chelsea in their opener on Wednesday.
Juventus head coach Igor Tudor has claimed Inter are the strongest Serie A side, and perhaps they are better than last season’s champions Napoli. This comment comes after the Bianconeri defeated their archrivals on Saturday, as the Derby d'Italia ended in a seven-goal thriller at the Allianz Stadium, giving them a perfect send-off for their Champions League opener.
%20(1).jpg?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)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
