Dribble Diaries

The second night of the new Champions League season was less tumultuous than the first, but there were still plenty of discussion points. These are the best among them. Inter demonstrates their class versus City. In the previous 41 Champions League games at the Etihad Stadium, only one visitor team had kept a clean sheet, but Inter did just that tonight. The Serie A winners defended admirably throughout, limiting Erling Haaland to only one serious chance and appearing mostly at ease in the process. That is not to argue that the three-time European Cup winners lacked opportunities. Inter created some fantastic opportunities, both in general play and in some deadly counterattacks. Marcus Thuram and Matteo Darmian should have done better in front of the goal. Simone Inzaghi's brave decision to sit captain Lautoro Martínez proved successful, with Nicolò Barella relishing the opportunity to test himself against Rodri and company. Inter's performance and result should not have surpri

Salvatore "Toto" Schillaci, an icon of Italian football and the top scorer in the 1990 World Cup, died at the age of 59. Schillaci scored six goals and was the standout player for Italy in their home World Cup, helping the Azzurri to the semi-finals. The striker, who previously played for Inter Milan and Juventus, won the Golden Ball as tournament MVP and placed second in the Ballon d'Or that year. Inter reported his death on Wednesday. Schillaci was hospitalized to Palermo's hospital last week after receiving treatment for colorectal cancer. "He made an entire nation dream during the' magic nights' of Italia '90," Inter wrote on Twitter/X. "FC Internazionale Milano gathers around the Schillaci family for the passing of Toto." Giorgia Meloni, Italy's prime minister, led the honors to the striker. "A football icon is leaving us, a man who has entered the hearts of Italians and sports fans around the world," Meloni told the

The Champions League began with a bang on Tuesday. Check out our five takeaways from Tuesday's action here. Here are the top five things to watch out for as the action continues on Wednesday. ⚔️ Match of the day Matchday one is definitely spoiling us, with the UEFA supercomputer throwing up a mouthwatering replay of Manchester City's 2023 final against Inter. Both are once again national champions heading into this game, with retribution on the Nerazzurri's mind after that heartbreaking tight loss in Istanbul. City have won all four league games this season, while Simone Inzaghi's side has already dropped points twice, most recently against Monza. Furthermore, Pep Guardiola's side has gone unbeaten in their past 23 games in the competition and would set an all-time European Cup/Champions League record (eclipsing Manchester United from September 2007 to May 2009) if they avoid defeat in their first three league games this season. 🔎 Team to watch. Girona is not just

Paulo Fonseca admits Milan did not adhere to the 'plan' prepared against Liverpool when attacking or defending, causing them to 'lose mental balance' during their Champions League collapse. The coach was already under fire after only two points in his first three Serie A rounds and believed the 4-0 victory over Venezia was the start of a new era, especially when Christian Pulisic put them ahead within three minutes of their Champions League debut against Liverpool. However, they conceded two identical goals from Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk, both free headers on set plays, and Dominik Szoboszlai completed a counter-attack for 3-1. "We played against Liverpool, a strong team. We started well, both attacking and defending, but then we let up two goals from set pieces, which transformed the game," Fonseca told Sky Sport Italia. "We lost our mental equilibrium because when a team lacks confidence, difficulties arise and we fail to perform as planned in

Kylian Mbappé gave the Santiago Bernabéu crowd exactly what they expected as he scored Real Madrid's first Champions League goal against Stuttgart after 46 minutes. Madrid labored in the first half, with Stuttgart the more superior team who were extremely unlucky not to score before halftime. However, as is often the case, if you don't seize your chances against the reigning champions, they will eventually punish you. So they did only 21 seconds into the second half. It came as a result of a German error, which allowed Rodrygo to streak away on the right before passing the ball to the French captain, who tapped it into an empty net. Mbappé's 49th Champions League goal ties him with Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stéfano for the all-time record. Of all, Real Madrid has 15 titles, including two of the last three, and Mbappé is still hunting for his first. He's off to a great start in his mission, and there's no question he'll accomplish many more goals.

Harry Kane was thrilled to be in the same "conversation" with Wayne Rooney after breaking his Champions League record in style. The Bayern Munich striker needed one goal against Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday night to equal Wayne Rooney's 30-goal record in the competition's main draw. Ninety minutes later, the current England captain was three goals ahead of one of his predecessors, having scored four in a 9-2 victory at the Allianz Arena, three of which came from the penalty spot. Kane told Prime Video: "When you have a chat with Wayne Rooney, it implies you're doing something well. He is one of the greatest English players ever, as well as one of the best in the game. "It's a nice achievement." Kane took just 19 minutes to match Rooney's score from the spot, and he increased his total from open play 12 minutes after the break before converting twice more from 12 yards. The 31-year-old stated, "It's the first time I've ever had three

The 2024/25 Champions League began with a surprising set of outcomes, including broken records and impressive comebacks. Here are the top five talking points from all the action in Europe. Mbappé is off the mark. Kylian Mbappé had a big night as he started his first Champions League game for new club Real Madrid. His goal shortly after halftime put Real Madrid ahead, marking the first of many for Los Blancos. It wasn't an easy trip for the tournament holders, as Stuttgart managed to square the scores, but the Frenchman will be relieved that his team won and that he scored in European competition. There is no stopping him now. Harry Kane keeps breaking records. Tonight, Harry Kane became the most prolific Englishman in Champions League history, equaling and then breaking Wayne Rooney's record of 30 goals in the competition. The fact that three of his four goals on the night were penalties should not detract from his performance, as he finished the evening with 33 goals in Europ

The Champions League returns for a new season, with a fresh format and plenty of interest. ⚔️ Match of the day There is no doubt that the most important game on the first night of the new Champions League will be a clash between two of the tournament's regular foes. Milan will meet Liverpool FC at San Siro in a rematch of the 2005 and 2007 finals. New Rossoneri manager Paulo Fonseca finally achieved his first win as coach over the weekend, as everything clicking in a 4-0 win over Venezia, while Arne Slot's early Anfield optimism was dashed as he suffered his first setback with a stunning 1-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest. Interestingly, Liverpool FC has won all three Champions League excursions to San Siro (twice against Inter and once against Milan), making them the only visiting team in history to have a perfect record in the competition. 🔎 Team to watch. Rúben Amorim's tremendous effort at Sporting CP deserves recognition across the continent. In May, they won their

Aitana Bonmatí, the winner of the Ballon d'Or, has signed a new four-year contract with Barcelona, making her the highest-paid female footballer. According to ESPN sources, the Spanish midfielder now earns more than the top earners in the Women's Super League and National Women's Soccer League, who each make €600,000. The 26-year-old, who came up through Barcelona's academy, has established herself as one of the game's top players, winning three Champions Leagues, the World Cup, and other individual awards in recent years. Her previous contract was set to expire next year, but she has already signed an extension until 2028. With the new season approaching, she is also on track to reach 100 goals for Barça, having previously scored 96 in 275 games.

Liverpool's comeback to the Champions League starts with a challenging trip to Italy, where they will face AC Milan at the San Siro. Arne Slot, in his first season as Liverpool manager, faces early obstacles both domestically and in Europe. A surprising defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend has increased the strain, and the focus now goes to this crucial European match. The Champions League's revised group stage has pitted Liverpool against some dangerous opponents. Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen, led by former Liverpool player Xabi Alonso, are also expected to test Slot's team. However, Liverpool's first encounter against Milan, a club with a rich European history, has the potential to set the tone for the rest of their season. Liverpool has had a tough start in Europe. While Liverpool has a successful history in the Champions League, this season's competition is not without its challenges. Meeting AC Milan away from home is a difficult test for any team, but

Here are five things we learnt from this weekend's Premier League games, including a lesson on set pieces from Arsenal's win over Tottenham, Everton's implosion, Arne Slot's first defeat as Liverpool manager, and Newcastle United's unbeaten start. Set pieces are one of Arsenal's best weapons—and Spurs' Achilles' heel. It's the usual script for Tottenham: dominate the ball, generate more chances than the opposition, and surrender from set pieces. Mikel Arteta understood this better than anyone else. Arsenal remained defensively disciplined throughout the encounter, even as Spurs knocked on the door repeatedly, hoping for an opening. However, it was the Gunners who struck first, from a corner. They crowded the six-yard box to keep Guglielmo Vicario out, while Gabriel breezed past Cristian Romero to score. The Argentine center-back let his man go way too easily. Ange Postecoglou has been resolute in his refusal to place a premium on set pieces, but they

Arsenal captured a small piece of Premier League history on Saturday by defeating arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur. The Gunners defeated their north London rivals courtesy to a second-half header from centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes and a strong defensive display. It was their third consecutive away victory over Spurs, a feat they had never accomplished in the Premier League - or at all since 1953. "It's unbelievable," Mikel Arteta told BBC Match of the Day following the final whistle. "I'm not sure when it happened in our history. "After the international break, we received a few knocks. The team's reaction was spectacular. It demonstrated a high level of team maturity. "When they reach the last third, it's quite difficult because they have a structure. We were lacking key players and had to adapt. I'm quite satisfied. "We had to adapt and utilize various players and attributes. I hoped they'd do something with the ball, and we did. S

The first half of Sunday's north London derby has been feisty. Tempers have risen on a few times, most notably after Jurrien Timber's rash challenge on Pedro Porro. Spurs players are wanted Jurrien Timber was sent off after his challenge on Pedro Porro. 👀 35'  Timber received a yellow card for a challenge on Porro. VAR checked for a potential red card and validated the referee's call of no red card, determining that this was a reckless challenge rather than significant foul play. The Dutchman's foul sparked a 20-man melee, with VAR consulted to determine if the challenge warranted a red card. However, the video assistant chose to uphold the referee's original ruling and award a yellow card. What are your thoughts? Should that have been a send-off?

Arsenal's 1-0 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby was marred by rising injury fears, with Bukayo Saka perhaps joining an already long list of injured players. Saka was taken off the pitch in the 86th minute due to what appeared to be a thigh ailment, and was replaced by teenager Ethan Nwaneri. Arsenal's Bukayo Saka receives medical attention during a Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 15, 2024 in London, England. After the game, Mikel Arteta said of Saka's injury, "I don't know. I made two substitutions to the front players, and now he's down. I'm not sure what it is, but he couldn't continue." Arsenal's injury problems A Saka injury would be a big setback to Arsenal, which already has a thin team. Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice were ruled out of the encounter, with Odegaard nursing an ankle injury incurred while on international duty. "Martin,

Real Madrid has had bad luck with injuries since the beginning of the season. Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham, and Eduardo Camavinga are among those who have been removed, with Brahim Diaz being the most recent. Brahim suffered an adductor injury in the first half of Real Madrid's triumph over Real Sociedad on Saturday, and the club has verified this after medical tests on Sunday. Despite various rumors claiming that Brahim would be sidelined for four weeks, Arancha Rodriguez has revealed that the Moroccan attacker is anticipated to miss the next three months. This is due to an injury to the long adductor muscle. Losing Brahim for an extended period of time is a significant loss for Real Madrid, as he would have been an important player during Carlo Ancelotti's side's forthcoming rigorous schedule. It is possible that Rodrygo Goes, Arda Guler, and others will not get as much rest as they need.

Marseille has confirmed that it has reached an agreement to sign Adrien Rabiot. The 29-year-old French international will return to his hometown if and when he passes his physical in the coming days. Rabiot, who played for rivals PSG before joining Juventus on a free transfer in 2019, has been available since his contract with the Old Lady expired at the end of June. If the transfer is completed, he will become the latest high-profile player to join the Stade Veledrome as Roberto De Zerbi attempts to return the club to the top tier of French football. His team is currently in second place in the Ligue 1 standings, having won three and drawn their first four games.

Conor Gallagher has officially begun his career with Atlético de Madrid after only three games. Gallagher joined Diego Simeone's side after five years with Chelsea's first squad, and he wasted no time winning over his new fans. The midfielder's efforts have been consistent, and he eventually opened his account in Sunday's La Liga match against Valencia. Three young English footballers have scored in La Liga in the 21st century. 1. Jude Bellingham in 2023 (20 years, 44 days). 2. Mason Greenwood in 2023 (22 years and 7 days). In 2024, CONOR GALLAGHER will be 24 years and 222 days old. 🆕 Talents. A sweeping finish from Rodrigo De Paul's through ball opened up a previously tense encounter at the Civitas Metropolitano for the hosts. Gallagher's first goal for the Colchoneros also put him on the list of the youngest English players to score in Spain's top division this century. Beginning as he intends to carry on.

Jack Grealish praised Erling Haaland after the striker scored twice to secure a 2-1 Premier League comeback victory over Brentford. The visitors scored after only 22 seconds at the Etihad Stadium, with Yoane Wissa heading in following a sloppy clearing inside the City box. However, Haaland turned the game on its head before the break, leveling with a deflected shot in the 19th minute before latching onto Ederson's long pass and beautifully dinking us into the lead shortly after half-time. The forward currently has 99 goals for the club in all competitions, and his league tally this season is nine goals in four appearances. "The second [goal] showed what he is all about," Grealish remarked after the win. "He used his body effectively, and it's a fantastic finish. "It is a pleasure to play with him and hopefully he can continue." Grealish, who started the game after good performances for England during the international break, was lively and active, but h

Juventus went to Tuscany to play Empoli on Saturday evening. This is what occurred. In the first 45 minutes, Juventus fans had little to cheer about, with Federico Gatti's header saved from a Teun Koopmeiners cross. Dušan Vlahović nearly scored in the second half, but Empoli's Devis Vásquez made a crucial stop. Juve huffed and puffed, had lots of possession, but just couldn't get through on this occasion. Thiago Motta concedes the 0-0 draw with Empoli was 'not the result we expected,' but he is hopeful Juventus can continue to improve ahead of the Champions League clash with PSV. The Bianconeri enjoyed a flawless start to the season, winning back-to-back games against Como and Verona, but while their defense remains rock solid, difficulties are arising in attack. They were held to a 0-0 stalemate by Roma before leaving for international duty, and they faced a similar result in the Stadio Castellani against still unbeaten Empoli. More was expected this evening, espec

Reds suffer their first defeat of the season in unexpected fashion. Arne Slot was "frustrated" by his Liverpool side's "hardly creating any chances" in their 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday. Slot suffered his first setback as Reds manager, as Callum Hudson-Odoi scored the game's sole goal for the visitors midway through the second half. Liverpool entered the game with three wins in a row and had not allowed a goal in the Premier League season, but they returned from the international break to deliver their poorest performance of the season. "The result is the most frustrating, and we can't be happy with how the game went," he stated afterwards. "It was a stop-start game, and we barely produced any opportunities. "We only have to look at ourselves; we have to improve. We lost the ball far too often in this region. It wasn't good enough. We need to improve our ballhandling. "We did not make sound decisions

Bayern Munich won 6-1 away to Holstein Kiel on Saturday. Vincent Kompany's side clinched the Bundesliga title with a commanding performance over the newly promoted hosts. Bayern took the lead after 14 seconds as Jamal Musiala shot the ball into the net. Only six passes were made during the game, indicating that Holstein Kiel may have a long night. And it was. Harry Kane, who assisted the opener, extended the advantage after a defensive error, and Musiala forced an own goal from Nicolai Remberg after 13 minutes to make it 3-0. Kane scored a brace right before halftime with a strike from outside the area, and the game was effectively over. He has now scored more than 50 goals in 35 Bundesliga appearances, shattering Erling Haaland's previous mark. Jamal Musiala didn't let Yoane Wissa score the fastest goal of the day 😂⚡️ The hosts remarkably limited the attack in the second half, which might be attributed in large part to Musiala's removal. Bayern eventually added a fift

Jhon Durán, an Aston Villa forward, will not soon forget his game-winning goal against Everton on Saturday. The visiting Toffees led 2-0 after around 30 minutes before collapsing for the second time in the Premier League. Ollie Watkins scored twice to tie the game before Durán struck a stunning long-range goal from around 30 yards away. It left even his teammates speechless. Jhon Duran completes Aston Villa's comeback with a long-range rocket. 🤯 Martinez's expression conveys it all 😅    He is possibly the epitome of a super sub, having scored seven of Villa's eight Premier League goals from the bench. Everton's loss of all three points was quite upsetting.

According to Lorenzo Bettoni, Luciano Spalletti's decisions and Italy's results during the September break indicate that Jorginho's career with the Azzurri is likely to end. Jorginho had a lengthy, successful, and controversial history with the Italian national team. The Brazil-born midfielder played a key role in Italy's shock EURO 2020 victory three years ago, but his career has since stalled. The former Napoli and Hellas Verona midfielder notably missed two penalty attempts in the 2022 World Cup qualifier against Switzerland. This prompted the Azzurri to compete in a playoff stage, when they were defeated and eliminated by North Macedonia. When Luciano Spalletti came over in September 2023, he benched Jorginho for the first four games. The Arsenal midfielder had not received enough playing time in London, so Spalletti chose Bryan Cristante and Manuel Locatelli for the Italy Regista position, but he swiftly changed his mind. Jorginho's Italy career is likely ended

After a brief hiatus for the first international break of the season, we're back with the top picks for football fans to watch this weekend. Here are our five must-see games. Birmingham versus Wrexham Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney believes his team's Monday night clash with big-spending Birmingham City will be a 'absolute banger'. Rob McElhenney can't wait to see Tom Brady when Wrexham head to Birmingham next Monday... 👀 Who's coming out on top? 🤔 Despite their League One status, the two teams have sparked widespread attention, thanks to celebrity owners and significant investment. After recording the ownership journey of actor McElhenney and Hollywood A-lister Ryan Reynolds, the 'Welcome to Wrexham' docuseries has elevated a modest Welsh town to the forefront of American attention. Tom Brady, an NFL icon, is on the Birmingham board, and the Blues have broken transfer records since their relegation last season. Birmingham spent more than £20 million