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Bayern Munich's unbeaten start to the season came to an end on Wednesday as they fell to a 3-1 loss at Arsenal in the Champions League. Teenager Lennart Karl found the net yet again for Vincent Kompany's side after they had fallen behind to a Jurrien Timber header, but strikes from Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli settled the game in favour of the Gunners.

Bayern dominated possession in the early stages, but their weakness at defending set-pieces saw them fall behind midway through the first half as Timber headed in at the near post in front of Manuel Neuer. The Bundesliga champions battled back, however, and were level 10 minutes later when Karl finished first time from Serge Gnabry's cross.

It was all Arsenal after the break, though, and Neuer needed to be at his best to deny both Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice. However, he was powerless to stop Madueke from tapping in at the back post after Riccardo Calafiori picked him out shortly after coming off the bench. Fellow substitute Martinelli then made the game safe when he rounded Neuer miles out of his goal before stroking into an empty net.

GOAL rates Bayern's players from Emirates Stadium…

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Manuel Neuer (4/10):

Should have done better for Timber's goal as he flapped at the ball, but redeemed himself somewhat with a fine saves to deny Saka, Mosquera and Rice. Took chances with his distribution, but plenty came off, while his positioning had been excellent until he was caught miles out for Martinelli to seal victory.

Josip Stanisic (6/10):

Kept Trossard and then Madueke on a pretty tight leash. Didn't offer much going forward but otherwise a solid display.

Dayot Upamecano (4/10):

Never looked wholly comfortable. Played some sloppy passes and was pulled out of position on more than one occasion, which resulted in him being booked for a late challenge.

Jonathan Tah (7/10):

Much more composed than his central defensive partner. Showed good strength to deal with Merino.

Konrad Laimer (4/10):

Engaged in a battle with Saka that he came out second-best in. Booked in the first half before losing Madueke for the substitute's strike.

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Joshua Kimmich (7/10):

Played some outstanding passes, most notably when spreading the play in the build-up to Karl's equaliser. Did present a chance to Saka early in the second period, but that was one of his very rare miscues.

Aleksandar Pavlovic (6/10):

Gave Bayern a physical presence in midfield while he kept things simple with his passing.

Lennart Karl (8/10):

Looked completely at home whenever he got on the ball as he sought to be positive with everything he did. Showed great composure to score the equaliser in a performance where the teenager announced himself to the world.

AFPAttack

Michael Olise (6/10):

Looked dangerous when he got opportunities to run at Myles Lewis-Skelly. Didn't create much of note, but still a decent showing.

Harry Kane (5/10):

Caused problems with his movement but most of his most impactful moments came when defending as he barely had a touch inside the Arsenal box.

Serge Gnabry (6/10):

Had some eye-catching moments on his return to north London, most notably when he provided the superb first-time cross for Karl to score.

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AFPSubs & Manager

Nicolas Jackson (5/10):

Replaced Gnabry but barely had a kick.

Tom Bischof (5/10):

Struggled to get into the game after coming on in midfield.

Leon Goretzka (N/A):

Thrown on for the final 10 minutes.

Raphael Guerreiro (N/A):

No real impact.

Kim Min-jae (N/A):

Blazed a late chance over the bar.

Vincent Kompany (5/10):

Set-pieces continue to be an issue for the Belgian's side which they need to figure out, and fast. His team also needed more potency in attack for all their possession.

Newcastle United have now reportedly made their first contact to sign Ruben Neves from Al-Hilal, as they look to find a solution for their current problems under Eddie Howe.

The Magpies were in dire form before the international break and defeat at the hands of Brentford just about summed things up. For the first time in his tenure at St James’ Park, Howe is under pressure to get things right and turn things around as soon as possible, but with Manchester City up next there’s no doubt that’s easier said than done.

The manager admitted that Newcastle’s Premier League form has “not been good” at a recent charity dinner, saying: “Our Premier League form has not been good, and our away form has not been good. [But] our home form’s been strong, been good in the Champions League and we’re still in the Carabao Cup, so it’s a mixture of things.

Dream for Woltemade: Newcastle could hire "one of the best managers" in England

Eddie Howe could soon be axed at Newcastle United as this exciting name is linked to the St James’ Park dug-out.

By
Kelan Sarson

Nov 20, 2025

“It’s been difficult to pinpoint one thing but certainly, we know we have to improve the general performances. We’re looking for more consistency – we’re looking for more goals.

“We’re looking for a big response in this moment and we’re going to need them because we have got game after game. Our schedule for the next two months is relentless, so we can’t allow any sort of negative trend to continue. It’s a really important few weeks for us.”

It’s form that has arrived off the back of a fairly chaotic summer transfer window, in which Newcastle missed out on almost every top target before turning elsewhere.

Under new sporting director Ross Wilson, that simply cannot happen in January and the Magpies have already set their sights on stars such as Elliot Anderson and Neves in a midfield rebuild as a result.

Newcastle make contact to sign Neves

As reported by Caught Offside, Newcastle have now made contact to sign Neves from Al-Hilal in 2026. The midfielder has just over six months left on his current contract and will be available for just €20m (£18m) in the January transfer window.

Whilst PIF, who hold a majority stake in Al-Hilal, could be about to lose Neves in Saudi Arabia, they could use their existing relationship with the Portuguese star to bring him to Newcastle.

Unlike Al-Hilal, however, the Magpies could struggle to meet his current wage demands. As things stand, the 28-year-old earns £15m-a-year in Saudi Arabia, which would instantly make him Newcastle’s highest-earner by around £7m. It’s simply not doable unless he brings his demands down.

Putting those wage demands to one side, though, there’s little doubt that Neves would be an excellent signing. Dubbed “fantastic” by former manager Nuno Espirito Santo during his time at Wolves, Neves would ease Newcastle’s fears of struggling in the face of a potential Sandro Tonali exit and could even form an impressive partnership using the Italian.

Find a way past his salary demands and those in Tyneside should go all out to bring Neves back to the Premier League in 2026.

Newcastle hold strong interest in Elliot Anderson amid Thomas Tuchel comments

Luxury watch influencer Ziv Tamir, known as "Ziv the Watch Guy," had an interaction with Antonela Roccuzzo, Lionel Messi's wife, in Miami where he approached her after a padel match, complimenting her expensive Tiffany & Co. Schlumberger Rope watch, which is valued at around £20,500 ($26,800). But then Tamir dropped a question, which left Messi’s other half looking very confused.

• Watch out for Messi's wife

  Unaware of her identity, Tamir asked, "What do you do for a living?" as is his custom in such videos. Antonela, initially confused, smiled and looked to her friend, who spoke to her in Spanish. She did not answer the question directly, simply offering a smile and a thumbs-up to the camera before politely ending the brief, somewhat awkward exchange. The video went viral due to Ziv's obliviousness to her global fame as the Argentina legend's wife. 

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  Messi's MLS revolution

  The Argentina icon has been a revelation at Inter Miami, he’s transformed the club from an MLS also-rans into trophy winners. He has delivered two major trophies, the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters' Shield, the first silverware in franchise history. On the pitch, Messi's brilliance endures, making him the club's all-time top scorer and assist provider in record time. His exceptional 2024 season saw him win the MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals and 19 assists in 28 games, setting a league record with five assists in one match. Beyond the stats, his desire for greatness has elevated the entire squad's performance and significantly boosted the league's global profile, attendance, and revenue. But despite this, Messi has recently spoken about his desire to return to the Catalan capital.

  Messi told SPORT: "I really want to go back there, we miss Barcelona a lot. My wife and I, the kids, are constantly talking about Barcelona and the idea of moving back. We have our house there, everything, so that's what we want. I'm really looking forward to going back to the stadium when it's finished because since I left for Paris, I haven't been back to Camp Nou, and then they moved to Montjuic." 

  He added: "Obviously, I'm going to come back. I'm going to be at the stadium like any other fan, following the team, the club, and being just another supporter. For now, I'll be here [Miami] for a few more years, most likely, but we'll return to Barcelona because, as I've always said, it's my place, my home. We miss it a lot, so we'll be back there."

• Showpiece reunion shut down

  Messi made a surprise visit to the Nou Camp last week, sharing an emotional online message about the place he misses, hoping to come back one day not just to say goodbye. However, the 38-year-old recently signed a contract extension with Inter Miami through the 2028 MLS season. And Barcelona president Joan Laporta has stated that the club is building for the future and cannot live in the past, effectively shutting down transfer speculation. Both parties desire a proper tribute match to honor his legacy when the stadium renovations are complete. Laporta said: "Leo Messi’s return as a player is something just not realistic. As of now, he has a contract with Inter Miami. The club is building a project for the present and future. It's complicated, and if you live in the past you hardly move forward."

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  Play-off pressure for Messi and Co

  Inter Miami are currently competing in the Eastern Conference semi-finals of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. They beat Nashville 2-1 in their first-round, best-of-three series, overcoming a shock loss in the second match with a decisive 4-0 win in game three of the head-to-head. Their next match is a single-elimination game on Sunday against Cincinnati.

England captain Harry Kane has revealed that an 'NFL-like playbook' will help the Three Lions set-piece their way to the World Cup in North America next year. England have maximised dead ball situations to great effect in qualifying having scored five goals from set pieces and a further two from the penalty spot as they booked their flight across the pond with ease.

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  25% of England's qualifying goals have been from set pieces

  England complete their World Cup 2026 qualifying on Sunday evening when they take on Albania. The Three Lions will look to round off their qualification campaign with a 100% record having won all seven games so far and having beaten Albania at Wembley earlier this year, they'll fancy their chances of claiming another three points.

  Thomas Tuchel's men are also yet to concede a goal in their seven matches so far and have netted 20 times on their way to booking their trip stateside next summer. England have fully utilised the set-piece weapons at the their disposal with 25% of their goals coming from corners or free kicks.

  And Kane has now revealed that England have been developing an 'NFL-like playbook' as the Three Lions look to secure World Cup glory for the first time since 1966 in North America next year.

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• Kane explains England's World Cup plan

  Ahead of Sunday's game against Albania, Kane was asked about the importance of set pieces in USA, Mexico and Canada next summer. "It is massive to be honest," he said.

  "I know it is not the prettiest part of the game, but we have always been big on set plays, both defending and attacking. I feel like we are getting in some really good routines attacking-wise. Obviously Dec and players like that can put in perfect crosses and are doing it week-in, week-out for their clubs as well."

  Kane also revealed that he has been working with assistant coach Anthony Barry and set-play analyst Paul Quilter, who worked together at Chelsea, as England look to nail their set-piece routines.

  "We want to build a book of set plays," Kane added. "So we can go into the tournament, where there is not a lot of time to practice. You want to have an NFL-like playbook in a way. Where you look at the opposition and see if they are zonal or man-marking and we can pick what we want to do.

  "We don’t get loads of time to do it on the grass, as meetings are really important. With Paul and Anthony here, they try to go through the detail. It is about the lads taking it in – more mentally than physically – and hopefully by the summer we will have a good mixture of set plays that we can go from."

• AFP
  

  England no strangers to set-piece dominance

  Kane was part of the England squad that made it to the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup. The Three Lions relied heavily on set pieces to progress to the last four in Russia under Gareth Southgate, scoring six times from corners of free kicks, more than any other nation.

  As such, the England captain knows just how important set pieces can be, adding: "Ultimately, the best team at set plays normally goes on to be the best team in the tournament. They go on to have clean sheets, they go on to the latter stages. We did that in 2018, we did that in Euro 2020. Our defensive record is really good as well. So, that is a big part."

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• Three Lions could lean on Arsenal expertise

  England boss Tuchel is able to call upon Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, the pair crucial in the Gunners' superb start to the season. The north London side sit top of the table after 11 matches, four points clear of second placed Manchester City and eight above defending champions Liverpool.

  Arsenal have maximised set piece situations in their title bid and have scored more goals from corners or free kicks (10) than any other team in the Premier League this season, coining the term 'Set Piece FC' as a result. Rice himself ranks joint fourth for chances created from set pieces in England's top tier this term, with nine, 

South Africa’s batters were unable to convert starts which kept them to an under-par score at the Three Ws Oval

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jun-2025

Hayley Matthews’ unbeaten 63 and two wickets each from Afy Fletcher and Karishma Ramharack helped West Indies beat South Africa and level the series 1-1 ahead of the decider on Monday. Six of South Africa’s batters got to double figures but no one scored more than 21, which helped West Indies keep the score down to 113 before Matthews iced the chase at the Three Ws Oval in Barbados.Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits got South Africa off to a good start after being put into bat. Wolvaardt hit Jahzara Claxton and Shawnisha Hector for boundaries in a 30-run opening stand before being dismissed for 16. Matthews, who had opened the bowling, returned in the sixth over to knock over Marizanne Kapp for a duck.Fletcher, the pick of West Indies bowlers, bowled five dots in her first over and dismissed Brits for a 21-ball 14 in the seventh, as South Africa lost 3 for 10. She kept Nadine de Klerk quiet but the batter got the tempo up at the other end. De Klerk hit the only six in the innings off Aaliyah Alleyne and put on 29 off 26 balls for the fourth wicket with Karabo Meso, taking South Africa to 69 for 3 in the 13th over.Fletcher got de Klerk’s wicket in her final over, which caused another slump of 3 for 10 as Ramharack got wickets in successive overs. Annerie Dercksen joined Meso and they had an unbeaten 34-run stand which picked up pace gradually. Both boundaries in the stand came in the final two overs that went for 18, taking South Africa to 113 for 6.Qiana Joseph started the West Indies chase with two boundaries off Nonkululeko Mlaba. Matthews, with 9 off 17, was slow to start but saw off Kapp’s three-over opening spell. Ayabonga Khaka came on in the eighth to get Joseph for 17 and end the 41-run opening stand.Matthews was stable in the middle overs but her partners either got stuck or fell cheaply. Mlaba and Khaka contained Hector before she was dismissed by Masabata Klaas for 3 off 12 balls. Matthews hit three fours in the next six balls before Mlaba, the pick of South Africa’s bowlers, got Shemaine Campbelle (7) and Chinelle Henry (3) in successive overs to leave West Indies on 77 for 4, needing 37 off 35 balls.Jannillea Glasgow and Matthews kept West Indies ticking despite there being no boundary between overs 13 and 18. With 16 needed off 12, Matthews – fresh off a run-a-ball 50 – whacked Khaka for a six and a four. The 13-run over was the most expensive of the innings. Glasgow then hit the winning runs off de Klerk.

Leeds United have not been good enough at the top end of the pitch since they earned promotion back to the Premier League by winning the Championship.

The Whites have made club history by failing to score a single goal from open play in any of the first four matches of the league campaign, with their only strike coming from the penalty spot against Everton.

Lukas Nmecha’s spot kick sealed all three points for the Championship champions on the opening day of the season, but they have failed to score in three matches since then.

Leeds reportedly had a bid in for Fulham winger Harry Wilson on deadline day, and felt they matched his valuation, only for the Cottagers to pull out of a deal at the last minute.

This meant that the Whites ended the window with Noah Okafor as the only attacking signing brought in for a transfer fee, alongside free transfers for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha.

The lack of business done in the attacking positions has left Daniel Farke with a clutch of players who have previously shown that they are not up to the task in the Premier League, including Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto.

Why Leeds are struggling to score goals this season

Speaking to Beren Cross after the 1-0 loss to Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday, Farke challenged his attackers to prove people wrong.

The German boss said: “James, Harrison, Aaronson with us when we were relegated and they were called hopeless. They still have a point to prove these judgments are not right. We have this type of offensive players and I’m looking forward to improving them, but we shouldn’t expect miracles.”

Publicly admitting that critics described your players as “hopeless” and that the club have failed to replace them since that 2022/23 campaign is an interesting decision by Farke, and one that, hopefully, spurs the players on to prove people wrong.

But the fact that they have kept those three players, along with Gnonto, as their wide options alongside new signing Okafor, is part of the reason why the penalty from Nmecha in the clip above is the only goal they have scored in the top-flight.

James and Gnonto started the season as the first-choice wing pairing, after Manor Solomon returned to Tottenham Hotspur, and they have not done anywhere near enough at the top end of the pitch.

As you can see in the table above, both players have struggled badly in possession so far this season, with no shots on target or ‘big chances’ created between them after four matches.

This comes after James and Gnonto combined for four goals in 48 appearances in the Premier League for Fulham and Leeds respectively in the 2022/23 campaign, per Sofascore.

Relying on players who have previously struggled in the top-flight, instead of bringing in quality replacements, is why the Whites are now struggling so badly in the Premier League this season.

Unfortunately, the West Yorkshire outfit sold a player last year who would solve a lot of the team’s current problems in the final third, as Georginio Rutter has proven himself in the top-flight with Brighton.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Leeds sold the France U21 international to the Premier League side for a whopping fee of £40m after the 2023/24 campaign, which was a terrific fee for the club. You cannot blame them for cashing in because it was a release clause in his contract.

However, the Whites, even after winning promotion to the Premier League and having a summer transfer window to recruit more talent, have failed to replace the quality that he provided at the top end of the pitch.

Why Georginio Rutter would solve Leeds United's attacking issues

The left-footed star is a mercurial and versatile attacking talent who would be a difference-maker for Leeds in their current condition, because they lack quality in the final third.

Rutter, who can play centrally or out wide, proved his quality in the Premier League during his first season at Brighton, as he scored eight goals and provided five assists in all competitions, per Sofascore.

As you can see in the table above, the French magician delivered 11 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in just 19 starts for his current club in the top-flight last term.

He scored as many goals in the Premier League last season as Aaronson, James, and Gnonto managed in their last full seasons in the division combined, which illustrates the kind of goal threat that he can offer.

The left-footed forward’s form in the 2023/24 Championship campaign for Leeds also shows that he has far more to offer to the team than Gnonto and James as a creative force.

Per Sofascore, Rutter created a staggering 22 ‘big chances’ and racked up 10.52 xA in 45 appearances in the 2023/24 season. Last term, Gnonto created ten ‘big chances’ and 3.74 xA and James created 16 ‘big chances’ and 8.66 xA in the Championship for Leeds.

These statistics suggest that the £40m-rated star can also create high-quality chances at the top end of the pitch for his teammates more frequently than Gnonto and James.

Rutter, who talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed has “blistering” pace, would be a big upgrade on Farke’s current attacking options because of his ability to score and create goals more effectively than the likes of Gnonto, James, and Aaronson.

Of course, it was not a mistake by Leeds to sell the attacker last year, because there was a release clause in his contract, but it now seems like they could use a player with his quality to solve the team’s attacking issues in the Premier League this season.

It's not Calvert-Lewin: Leeds star is quickly becoming their new Bamford

Leeds United have found their new Patrick Bamford at Elland Road and it is not Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 11, 2025

After taking the reins during the summer, new boss Thomas Frank will want to bring added success to Tottenham Hotspur after the Europa League triumph last season.

The Dane has key Premier League experience, spending four years in charge at Brentford after getting the Bees promoted back in the 2020/21 campaign.

However, his appointment is undoubtedly the next step in his career, but his tactical knowledge could see him be a huge hit with the Lilywhites faithful in the years ahead.

The 51-year-old has already made an immediate impact in the role, winning two of his three outings in England’s top-flight – one of which was against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

Despite his impressive start to life at the club, Frank will undoubtedly be wishing that he had one former player to rely upon in his hunt for trophies in North London.

Gareth Bale’s time at Tottenham Hotspur

After arriving from Southampton as a 17-year-old, Gareth Bale originally moved to Spurs as a left-back, but that quickly changed during his time in North London.

His trajectory changed massively after transitioning into a more attacking role, with his hat-trick in the Champions League meeting with Inter Milan at the San Siro back in 2010 certainly aiding his claim for a forward-minded position.

In the following campaign, the Welsh international registered 26 combined goals and assists – catching the eye of various sides across Europe, but staying put to continue his impressive development.

The former Saints youngster became settled in a right-wing position, with such a move helping him achieve the best season of his career for goal contributions in 2012/13.

Bale scored 26 times that year, subsequently becoming known for his trademark cut-in off the right-hand side before finding the top corner – which made him one of Europe’s hottest properties.

Real Madrid would win the race for his signature that summer, moving to the LaLiga side for a reported £85m fee – a then world-record fee, overtaking the money forked out for Cristiano Ronaldo a few years prior.

The Spurs star who could be Frank’s own Bale

Whilst Bale was a player who endured huge levels of success at Spurs, his time at the club wasn’t all plain sailing – he nearly departed the Lilywhites back in the summer of 2009.

It was previously reported that Nottingham Forest made a £2m bid for the Welshman, with the hierarchy even accepting the offer to allow him to depart after just a couple of years in North London.

Whilst a deal appeared close at one stage, the player himself, in the end, had a change of heart, deciding to stay and fight for his place in the first-team rather than starting afresh.

The decision proved to be a blessing in disguise for the club and the player himself, with no one anticipating such a rise at the time of his proposed move to the City Ground.

Such a situation has reoccurred over the last couple of years, with full-back Djed Spence a player who looked almost certain to leave the Lilywhites at one point.

The 25-year-old joined the club back in the summer of 2022, arriving in a £20m deal from Middlesbrough – even though manager Antonio Conte was against the signing at the time.

He only made six appearances for the first-team, before three unsuccessful loan spells at Rennes, Leeds United and Genoa – with the latter having an option to buy at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

However, the immense injury crisis last season handed the right-back the opportunity to impress – one that he took with both hands – subsequently going on to make 35 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25.

Spence, who’s been labelled “sensational” by one analyst, has played in every minute of Frank’s tenure to date – earning himself a maiden England call-up during the recent international break.

No supporter could’ve predicted such a rise given his lack of action in previous seasons, but it’s safe to say the Englishman now looks a bargain and a player who will play a huge part in any success during the Dane’s tenure.

Should he continue on his current trajectory, there’s no reason why the defender can’t be a part of the 2026 World Cup squad – not to mention further impressing in North London.

His situation is extremely similar to that of Bale, with the Lilywhites once again having another huge talent on their hands, which could see another massive payday in the years ahead.

Frank's new Wissa: Spurs striker sold for just £12m is now outscoring Kane

Tottenham Hotspur made a huge mistake in allowing one youngster to depart the club.

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 12, 2025

Kylian Mbappe bagged himself a hat-trick in the Champions League and became the third quickest to reach 60 goals in Europe's premier competition, which puts him on course to beat Cristiano Ronaldo's incredible record tally. The Real Madrid superstar reached the landmark in just 89 games, courtesy of a treble against Kairat, while it took Ronaldo 98 games to reach the same number. And the France international is the second youngest to hit 60 goals, beaten by a matter of days, by Lionel Messi.

Getty ImagesMbappe stars as Real run riot

Mbappe delivered a scintillating performance in Real’s 5-0 victory over Kairat Almaty, bagging himself a hat-trick, and contributing significantly to a dominant display that saw his team bounce back from the disastrous 5-2 defeat by Atletico Madrid in La Liga last weekend. Mbappe opened the scoring in the 25th minute from the penalty spot after Franco Mastantuono was fouled in the box, and doubled his tally shortly after half-time, latching onto a long ball from Thibaut Courtois before executing a deft chip over the advancing goalkeeper. He sealed his hat-trick in the 73rd minute with a powerful strike from the edge of the box following a skilful run from Rodrygo.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportIs Ronaldo's record under threat?

Mbappe has been breaking records since he burst onto the scene for Monaco in 2015. And he's on course to match or beat Ronaldo in the Champions League scoring tables. But he's got his work cut out. It's important to acknowledge that Ronaldo's dominance in the Champions League spanned an extended period and resulted in an unparalleled overall goal tally and a remarkable seven Champions League top scorer titles. Ronaldo also holds the record for most Champions League final wins with five. To eclipse Ronaldo's total of 140 goals, Mbappe would need to continue playing at a high level in the Champions League for many more years, potentially well into his late 30s, based on current scoring rates.

Fewest appearances to reach 60 Champions League goals:

80: Lionel Messi

85: Robert Lewandowski

89: Kylian Mbappe

98: Cristiano Ronaldo

111: Karim Benzema

115: Raul Gonzalez

Mbappe claims he should score even more

Following his hat-trick against Kairat, Mbappe said: "A player like me, when I have five chances I should score five goals. Today, I scored three, and that's good, but I could have scored more. I'll keep working to be more clinical in front of goal. You should never forget, we can't forget what happened this weekend (the defeat by Atleti), this is another competition, but we have to keep thinking about what happened, and work to be better so as not to experience another night like that."

And Mbappe also singled out goalkeeper Courtois for special praise after his incredible long-range pass set up his second goal. He added: "I don't know if he meant to do it, but it's a great pass. He made 80 per cent of the goal and I made the other 20 per cent."

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AFPFlying start to 2025-26 season at Real

Mbappe has enjoyed a prolific start to the 2025-26 season with Real, bagging 13 goals in nine games in domestic and European competition – he’s become the club’s ‘main man’. He has scored in four consecutive La Liga appearances and leads the league's scoring charts. His performances have been instrumental in Real Madrid's early successes in the season, despite that notable 5-2 defeat by cross-city rivals Atletico Madrid.

The next milestone for Mbappe is to reach 70 Champions League goals, and he's got 17 games to match Ronaldo's scoring rate.

Fewest appearances to reach 70 Champions League goals

90: Lionel Messi

93: Robert Lewandowski

106: Cristiano Ronaldo

126: Karim Benzema

139: Raul Gonzalez

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca looked as if he had gone public with his desire to sign a new centre-back this summer after Levi Colwill’s injury, amid their ongoing attempts to bring in both Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho and RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons.

Colwill will miss the majority of 2025/2026 after tearing his ACL, leaving Maresca with precious few options for his backline, and the Italian stated last week that the club need more names in that area.

However, in his press conference prior to Chelsea’s clash with West Ham at the London Stadium, Maresca has now gone back on that message, claiming it was lost in translation, and they’re looking at finding an internal solution.

Benoit Badiashile is still injured and will remain out until September, but it is worth noting that members of the Chelsea coaching staff are backing him as a reliable option behind-the-scenes.

Renato Veiga has just sealed a £26 million move to Villarreal, so he can no longer be called upon, while Axel Disasi is believed to be attracting serious interest from Bournemouth.

According to journalist Sebastian Staszewski, they were considering a defensive rising star earlier in the window, but talks have hit a “standstill”.

Chelsea pause talks for Motor Lublin defender Bright Ede

As per the reporter, Chelsea have “paused talks” for Motor Lublin defender Bright Ede, after previously being interested, and this has handed Man United a chance to swoop in and get the teenager instead.

The £7 million defender would come in among BlueCo’s pool of promising young talents, but if Chelsea were to sign a centre-back before the deadline, they arguably need a more proven asset, despite lots of praise for Ede from certain sectors.

A late collapse which saw them lose five wickets for 19 runs was not enough to prevent Haryana from beating Gujarat and advancing to the semi-finals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.Haryana bowled Gujarat out for 196, thanks to an all-round display, before they completed the chase in 44 overs in Vadodara.Arsh Ranga had got Haryana off to a rapid start in their modest chase, scoring 25 off 16 in a 29-run opening stand. His opening partner, Himanshu Rana, then ensured Haryana stayed on course with half-century partnerships with captain Ankit Kumar and Parth Vats.Ravi Bishnoi gave Gujarat an important breakthrough with Rana’s wicket for 66, but Vats held steady at the other end, his 35-run stand with Nishant Sindhu putting the game beyond Gujarat’s reach.Sindhu’s wicket triggered a collapse as Haryana went from 173 for 3 to 192 for 8, with Bishnoi picking three of those wickets, but the contributions from their top five meant they managed to stay ahead of the game.Gujarat had started well, with the openers Urvil Patel and Aarya Desai racing to 45 in seven overs. Then, Gujarat lost three wickets in the space of two overs after which Chintan Gaja dropped anchor at one end.But when Saurabh Chauhan and Gaja fell in quick succession after a 34-run stand, and Bishnoi was dismissed not long after, it looked like Gujarat would struggle to cross 150. However, Hemang Patel dominated a 54-run partnership for the ninth wicket to take Gujarat close to 200. He finished with 54 off 62 balls.Sindhu and debutant Anuj Thakral took three wickets each, while Anshul Kamboj struck twice.