Luis Suarez and Sergi Altimira reacted with delight after Sporting CP recovered from an early setback to beat Galatasaray 3-1 in their Champions League opener. The victory was capped by Rodrigo Zalazar's stunning free-kick on a hostile Alvalade return for Rafael Leao.
Thomas Frank impressed many Premier League observers at Brentford, but then suffered a 38-game flop as head coach of Tottenham. He has been out of work since severing ties with Spurs, but Clinton Morrison has explained to GOAL why the Danish tactician’s reputation has not been tarnished. He is expected to return to the dugout at some point in the not too distant future.
Chelsea survived a massive scare in the Carabao Cup third round as they roared back from two goals down to secure a chaotic 6-3 victory over Leeds. Despite providing three crucial assists off the bench to orchestrate the revival, £117 million signing Morgan Rogers watched his close friend Cole Palmer walk away with the Player of the Match accolade. The playmaker playfully slammed the decision as 'criminal', sparking a hilarious post-match exchange between the team-mates.
Rasmus Hojlund has heaped praise on Arsenal's formidable defensive unit following Napoli's narrow Champions League defeat in north London. The former Manchester United striker lauded Gabriel Magalhaes as the team's vital anchor while expressing his admiration for Mikel Arteta's impressive squad depth amid defensive absences.
The Bafana Bafana defender has been heavily linked with a move to the reigning African champions as the transfer window enters its final stages. Following the Brazilians’ victory at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday night, the Portuguese mentor weighed in on the speculation surrounding the potential move.
Atletico Madrid captain Koke has demanded that Julian Alvarez be left alone following a turbulent summer transfer saga. The veteran midfielder expressed his frustration with the constant media scrutiny surrounding the Argentine forward in the wake of Wednesday's Champions League defeat to Liverpool.
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has boldly claimed that Lamine Yamal deserves to win the Ballon d'Or following his record-breaking performance in the Champions League. The teenage sensation was the catalyst as the Catalan giants dismantled Feyenoord 5-1 to open their European campaign in emphatic fashion.
Erling Haaland will continue to generate transfer talk at Manchester City for as long as remarkable goalscoring numbers are posted, but during an exclusive interview with GOAL former Blues striker Andy Cole has pondered why the Norwegian would want to go “anywhere else”. He is also not convinced that the three-time Premier League Golden Boot winner will be concerning himself with “records”.
Inter Miami and Chicago Fire played out a thrilling 1-1 draw at Soldier Field in front of a record-breaking crowd of 63,094 fans. Robert Lewandowski's acrobatic opener was cancelled out by a Casemiro header, while Lionel Messi secured his place in MLS history with another incredible milestone.
Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has sensationally claimed that Spurs should be retrospective winners of the 2016-17 Premier League title. The Argentine argues that Chelsea’s admission of financial rule breaches means the trophy belongs in north London. Though the Blues were fined £10 million by the FA earlier this summer, Pochettino believes a lack of sporting sanctions is a betrayal of fair play.
Carlo Ancelotti has initiated a ruthless overhaul of the Brazil national team, dropping several established stars following a disappointing World Cup campaign. Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson is among the high-profile casualties as the Italian tactician turns his attention towards the next generation of South American talent.
Liverpool’s marquee summer signing Bradley Barcola saw his highly anticipated Anfield debut end in frustration and concern on Wednesday night. The blockbuster £123 million arrival was forced to withdraw during the second half of the Reds' Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid, sparking immediate fears over a long-term layoff with head coach Andoni Iraola providing fitness update.
Alexis Mac Allister delivered the perfect response to his contract frustrations by firing Liverpool to a thrilling 2-1 Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid. The Argentina international unleashed a stunning second-half strike to secure the win, proving his unwavering commitment to the Anfield club amid ongoing uncertainty over his future.
