The league phase of this season’s Champions League comes reaches its conclusion this week, with several teams still battling to secure qualification for the knockout phase. For the rest of the 28 clubs with something to play for on the final matchday, the race is on to either secure a place in the top-eight, and…
The final round of league phase fixtures in the 2025-26 Champions League is finally upon us, and it promises to be the most dramatic yet. Only table toppers Arsenal and Bayern Munich have already secured automatic qualification for the round of 16, with the former boasting a 100 percent record through their first seven games,…
Qarabag are one of the stories of this season’s Champions League. The Azerbaijani side are in contention for a play-off spot after a 3-2 win against Eintracht Frankfurt last week. That would mean a historic first appearance in the knockout rounds of Europe’s premier competition — but, before that, they visit Anfield to face six-time…
Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa): He was the best player on the pitch by a country mile. He’s slowly become Villa’s most important player. He dictates the play, breaks it up, and does everything right. Very, very good player and that pains me to say as a Birmingham City fan. Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest): Lost him…
After squandering the chance to squeeze the life out of this Premier League title race, Arsenal’s lead has been trimmed to four points. Matheus Cunha’s outstanding finish from distance was celebrated across Manchester and the West Midlands, as Michael Carrick’s re-emerging Red Devils scored a 3–2 victory at a nervous Emirates Stadium to embolden the…
Declan Rice should be Arsenal captain, not Martin Ødegaard. Rice is a more natural on-field leader, the more ruthless competitor and the more likely to impose himself more effectively on opponents. Ødegaard is a fine role model for Arsenal, more of a club captain, and undeniably represents them well. Arsenal’s board and marketing department must…
Another weekend boxed off, and the Premier League narratives continue to be written. With Arsenal without a win in three league games, is their title charge beginning to wobble? Could Aston Villa continue to stick in the three-horse race for the rest of the season? Are West Ham United building enough momentum to escape relegation?…
2 Borussia Dortmund continued their fine form in the Bundesliga this weekend with a comfortable 3-0 win over Union Berlin at the Alte Försterei. Crucial to their victory were the performances of several players, but defender Nico Schlotterbeck stood out with a commanding display. Despite the noise surrounding his uncertain future beyond this season, Schlotterbeck…
We may be wrapping up only the first month of 2026, but The Athletic already has major honors being decided in this week’s super schedule of live coverage. It’s all eyes on Melbourne as tennis’ opening Grand Slam of the season comes to its conclusion. This week is important in UEFA Champions League soccer, too,…
‘You don’t win a league and get it all your own way’published at 09:12 GMT 09:12 GMT Arsenal 2-3 Man Utd Lee DixonFormer Arsenal defender on BBC Radio 5 Live That is the sloppiest I have seen Arsenal in a long time. It was a disappointing performance. I think they were in control for the…