Author: Andrew Rogers

Tottenham salvaged a 2-2 draw at Bodø/Glimt thanks to a late own goal after Jens Petter Hauge’s double had put the Norwegian champions on the brink of a famous Champions League victory. Thomas Frank’s side were 2-0 down midway through the second half and struggling, only to rally through Micky van de Ven’s header and a fortuitous deflection off Jostein Gundersen in the 89th minute. It was Spurs’ fourth own-goal reprieve of the season, and one that spared them from a damaging defeat in the Arctic Circle. Bodø/Glimt, playing their first home game in the Champions League group stage, were…

Atlético Madrid produced a stunning 5-2 victory over Real Madrid at the Metropolitano, their first five-goal haul against their city rivals in 75 years. Diego Simeone’s side came from behind after goals from Kylian Mbappé and Arda Güler had put Madrid 2-1 up. Robin Le Normand, Alexander Sørloth, Julián Álvarez (two) and Antoine Griezmann struck to turn the derby into a night to remember for Atleti, leaving their coach in tears on the touchline after Álvarez’s free-kick made it 4-2. For Simeone, it was more than three points. “Faith is the most important thing,” he said, praising his players’ relentless…

Aston Villa secured their first Premier League victory of the season with a much-needed 3-1 comeback win over Fulham, easing the pressure after a shaky start to the campaign. Villa were punished early when Raúl Jiménez headed Fulham in front from a Sasa Lukic corner inside three minutes. The Mexican striker, however, was forced off shortly afterwards with an injury. Ollie Watkins, who had not scored since May, levelled in the 36th minute after latching on to Lucas Digne’s long pass and lifting the ball over Bernd Leno. The goal shifted momentum firmly in Villa’s favour. Unai Emery’s side struck…

Enzo Maresca heads into a crucial stretch of Chelsea’s season with his squad stretched thin across the pitch. The headline setback came on Friday morning: Cole Palmer, Chelsea’s creative heartbeat, will miss the next three games – Brighton, Benfica, and Liverpool – with a persistent groin issue, ruling him out of England duty as well. But Palmer’s absence is only the start of Maresca’s problems. Tosin Adarabioyo (calf) is sidelined until after the international break, while Wesley Fofana has entered concussion protocols following a clash with stand-in goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen at Lincoln in midweek. Levi Colwill remains a long-term absentee,…

Marc Guéhi heads into Crystal Palace’s clash with Liverpool determined to prove his worth, weeks after his deadline-day move to Anfield collapsed. Palace chairman Steve Parish pulled the plug on the £35m deal at the last minute, leaving Guéhi frustrated but undeterred. Since then, the 25-year-old has impressed for both club and country, scoring his first international goal and cementing his place in Thomas Tuchel’s England setup. Palace manager Oliver Glasner admitted Guéhi had been disappointed by the failed transfer but praised his professionalism. “Sometimes my children would like to have something,” Glasner said. “Then you have to say: ‘Sorry,…

Diego Simeone sprinted down the touchline in relief as Atlético Madrid snatched a dramatic 3-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano. Julián Álvarez scored twice in the final 13 minutes, completing his first hat-trick for the club and rescuing a side that had been sliding into crisis. Atlético led early through Álvarez’s volley but a spectacular strike from Pep Chavarría and Álvaro García’s finish turned the game around. Just 36 seconds after VAR confirmed Rayo’s second, Álvarez equalised before curling in the 89th-minute winner. Simeone, who had introduced two full-backs in a baffling switch, was vindicated as the Metropolitano erupted. The relief…

Real Madrid extended their perfect start to the Spanish league with a 4-1 win at Levante on Tuesday. Vinícius Júnior shone in the first half, scoring a superb opener in the 28th minute before setting up Franco Mastantuono to double the lead. Levante reduced the deficit through Etta Eyong’s header early in the second half, but Kylian Mbappé restored control. The French forward converted a Panenka penalty after Unai Elgezabal’s foul, then rounded Mat Ryan to slot home his second. The victory keeps Xabi Alonso’s side five points clear at the top with 18 points from six matches. Levante remain…

Mikel Arteta has hit back at criticism of Arsenal’s tactics in their 1-1 draw with Manchester City, insisting he was “extremely surprised” by the negative reaction. Gabriel Martinelli’s late equaliser earned Arsenal a point after Erling Haaland’s opener, with the Gunners dominating possession. City’s 33.2% share was the lowest ever recorded by a Pep Guardiola team in more than 600 league games. Despite this, pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher accused Arteta of playing with the “handbrake on” after leaving £67.5m signing Eberechi Eze out of the starting lineup in favour of the more defensive Mikel Merino. Arteta dismissed the…

Girona FC, just a year after reaching the Champions League, are staring into the abyss at the bottom of La Liga following a 4-0 drubbing by Levante. The defeat marked their fifth consecutive loss and left the club with a single point from their opening games, extending a troubling run in which they have won only two of their last 21 matches. Once praised for their entertaining, high-flying football under Míchel Sanchez, Girona have been ravaged by key departures, including top scorers and playmakers, leaving the squad unrecognizable. The coach described his team as “a dead team,” highlighting a lack…

Le Classique—Marseille versus Paris Saint-Germain—is one of France’s most storied football rivalries. Yet today, it is more a clash of tradition and record books than a genuinely competitive fixture. Historically, Marseille could pride themselves on being France’s first and only European champions after winning the 1993 Champions League. PSG, despite recent dominance in domestic football, only recently matched that continental achievement with their own European triumph, ending Marseille’s 32-year claim to exclusivity. The rivalry’s origins were rooted in genuine competition. In the early 1990s, Marseille, under Bernard Tapie, dominated Ligue 1, but PSG’s rise—boosted by Canal+ investment—challenged their supremacy, sparking…