“Scott McTominay was leaving nothing to doubt. He appeared to have scored with a close-range header early in the second half of Napoli’s game at home to Roma, but Pierluigi Gollini clawed the ball out from inside the goal. McTominay got his noggin to the rebound, nudging it back across the line. Roma’s keeper pushed away again, so the Napolimidfielder got to his feet and smashed the loose ball into the back of the net. Just typical. You wait two months for your first goal of the Serie A season, then three show up at once. They only counted for one, of course, but McTominay looked happy enough with that as he ran to thank Matteo Politano for the assist. …”
Guardian
European Round-up: United they fall
“THE subject of Manchester United is dominating the airwaves at the moment after their 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Bournemouth in front of their own dissatisfied supporters. Images of United fans heading for the exit long before the end of home games have become commonplace over the past few weeks. There’s clearly something very wrong at Old Trafford and we are not talking about a leaky roof. As it stands, the latest victim of United’s lack of direction and transfer market blunders will be Michael Carrick, but what about the men in charge of transfer activity? Surely if heads are to roll, United’s board should be looking at those who are bringing second rate players to the club? United’s latest disaster came just a few days after they were humbled 4-1 away to Como in the Champions League. Carrick was actually cheered by the supporters after Bournemouth had strolled to victory, but then the team was jeered as they stood forlorn on the pitch. …”
Game of the People
Isak finally living up to price tag as Liverpool patience rewarded
“It has been a long time coming but Alexander Isak might finally be living up to his price tag. The Sweden striker arrived at Anfield amid huge fanfare in August 2025 when he signed from Newcastle for a British record £125m. But a combination of a slow start and then suffering a broken leg in December meant his first season at the Reds became something of a nightmare – scoring just four goals in 22 games. This season has been a different story. Isak’s goal against Brighton on Sunday helped Liverpool to an impressive 2-0 win against the Premier League’s in-form side, taking his tally to six for the campaign already. …”
BBC (Video)
Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action
“Cherries buy smart while United burn billions. The three Bournemouth goalscorers cost a combined £85m, joining from Vasco da Gama, Middlesbrough, and Porto. The Cherries are smart at investing, far more so than Manchester United, who have wasted a lot of money by failing to look outside the box for players like Rayan, Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson. United may not have the wealth they previously showed in the transfer market but Bournemouth are showing what can be done within a budget and, more importantly, will be able to make a profit on signings. United, however, only know losses as everyone’s price tag diminishes the moment they come through the Old Trafford door. Jason Wilcox and others can point to certain factors that are against them but there are quality signings to be made at the right price if you have the ability to find them. …”
Guardian
“Paris Saint-Germain vs Barcelona. Bayern Munich vs Arsenal. This week, four of the favourites to win the Champions League were pitted against each other. Since the start of last season, they make up four of the top five for wins across Europe’s top competition and their respective leagues. Despite 
“This was the night Rio Ngumoha announced himself on the Champions League stage Liverpool’s prodigiously gifted 18-year-old was excellent in the 6-3 win over LASK last week but against sterner opposition in the form of Villarreal he delivered a display that had Merseyside — and, indeed, the whole of Europe — salivating. He produced two assists to write his name into Liverpool’s record books, becoming the youngest player to assist a goal in the Champions League, and helped Andoni Iraola’s side overcome a dreadful start which saw them fall 2-0 behind after 29 minutes but ultimately win 4-3 thanks to two goals from Alexis Mac Allister, and strikes by Ronald Araujo and Florian Wirtz. Our experts analyse the big talking points. …”
“Barcelona’s La Liga juggernaut rolled into Seville on Saturday and left with the scoreboard smoking, as the leaders beat Real Betis 5-2 to make it nine wins from nine, stretching their blistering league goal tally to 39. Lamine Yamal lit the fuse with a dazzling opener before Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric García and the substitute Dani Olmo joined the party, while Valentín Gómez and Ez Abde replied for Betis, who played much of the second half with 10 men after Facundo Bernal was sent off for headbutting Lamine Yamal. … Álex Baena struck in the 89th minute to snatch a 1-0 win for Atlético Madridat Espanyol. Baena smashed in from the edge of the box to claim the Rojiblancos victory from a tight game in Cornella. Atlético have won six consecutive games across all competitions and remain five points behind Barcelona. Valencia and Athletic Bilbao drew 0-0 at Estadio de Mestalla. … In Germany, Luis Díaz scored a hat-trick as Bayern Munich pummelled a listless RB Leipzig 6-1 at home on Saturday to climb to the top of the Bundesliga table. Borussia Dortmund had edged ahead of Freiburg into top spot after their earlier goalless draw at Union Berlin, but Bayern responded in typically ruthless fashion. … In Italy, Inter pulled clear at the top of Serie A by coming from behind to beat Bologna 3-1. The champions were criticised after a 4-3 Champions League defeat against Club Brugge in midweek, but bounced back to move three points clear of second-placed Lazio, who face Juventus in Turin on Sunday. …”
“It took 147 days for Rayo Vallecano to walk out for a competitive game on the Avenida de Albufera and 24 minutes and 56 seconds for them to walk off again. Half of those had been spent watching thousands of paper planes touch down on the turf, play suspended while a message was delivered, over and over, until it was impossible to avoid. Forced from their home, the team from the barrio had been away for five months. On the bright Saturday afternoon that they came back, there were just 13 minutes of football, a fans’ protest instead forcing the abandonment of their match with Athletic Club, the 
“Diego Simeone is such an established part of top-level European football that you sometimes forget how unusual his tenure is. Approaching 15 years in charge of Atletico Madrid, ‘only’ winning two league titles doesn’t quite summarise his considerable impact on European football, and the extent to which he has overachieved in a division that had become a two-horse race. Atletico had spent the previous decade as a mid-table side in La Liga, even dropping into Spain’s second tier for a couple of seasons. It is one of the most impressive dynasties in the modern game, and all the more special because of something we all know, but take for granted: Simeone is South American. For all the South American playing talent in European football over the decades, it’s very rare for a South American manager or head coach to succeed in Europe. …”
“Just over two weeks remain until the winner of the 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or is revealed, and the race for the prestigious award seems to have taken an unexpected twist. According to most bookmakers, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is now the joint-favourite to be crowned the world’s best player at the ceremony in London later this month, the first of its kind to take place outside of France. He has joined Harry Kane — born just under 10 miles from the London Palladium venue — at the top of the running, with Kane hoping to become just the fifth English winner after Blackpool’s Stanley Matthews won the first in 1956. …”
“Anthony Gordon scored his first goal for Barcelona as the Spanish champions extended their perfect start in La Liga with a 3-0 home win over Getafe. The England international opened the scoring in the second minute and Gabriel Jesus added another after half an hour for the league leaders, who have won every match they have played this season. Jules Koundé tucked home the third from Lamine Yamal’s cross to cap Barça’s solid win at the Camp Nou. Barça moved five points clear of second-placed Atlético Madrid, who won 2-1 at Alavés earlier, and lead Real Madrid, fourth, by nine points before Los Blancos host Villarreal later on. …”
“THERE are surprise early leaders in the Bundesliga in the form of Freiburg, who won 5-0 against Borussia Mönchengladbach, taking their tally for the season to 10 goals in three games. Freiburg’s Yannik Engelhardt and Igor Matanovic scored two apiece. After the game, Gladbach’s third defeat of the campaign, coach Eugen Polanski became the first Bundesliga coach to be sacked this season. Polanski was appointed a year ago and had a win rate of 29.73% in his 37 games with Gladbach. Borussia Dortmund also maintained their 100% record with a 3-0 win against Paderborn with goals from Serhou Guirassy, Maximilian Beier and Marcel Sabitzer. Bayern Munich made hard work of beating newly-promoted Elversberg, who fell to their first defeat since arriving in the top flight. Harry Kane and Lennart Karl scored Bayern’s goals. Augsburg kept pace with the leaders but were denied a 2-1 win by a last-minute goal from Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick. Frankfurt picked up their first win at Mainz with Can Uzun netting twice in a 3-1 win. …”
“Kiat Lim wanted to see 
“Lamine Yamal struck twice for Barcelona as they demolished Valencia 5-0 on Sunday to maintain their 100% start in La Liga. The reigning champions moved three points clear at the top of La Liga after Jose Mourinho’s 
“If Raphinha has any misgivings about playing as a makeshift No 9 for 
“As Barcelona have 
Julian Alvarez in Atletico Madrid training Julian Alvarez in Atletico Madrid training last week 
“
“Robert Lewandowski has confirmed he will leave Barcelona this season and is set to play his last game at the Camp Nou on Sunday. Lewandowski, 37, delivered an emotional speech during a training session this week to his team-mates and the backroom staff, highlighting that it has been a pleasure for him to be a part of the club and this Barca squad. He confirmed the news in a social media post on Saturday in which he said ‘the mission is complete’. The Poland striker’s next destination is unclear at this stage, but he is set to play his final home game for Barca against Real Betis on Sunday. On Saturday, head coach Hansi Flick confirmed he would start that match. …”
“If there was ever a dream scenario for Barcelona to win La Liga, it had to be with victory over Real Madrid. That Sunday’s game came at the end of such a tumultuous week for their Clasico rivals — including the 
“Barcelona are celebrating winning La Liga for the second season in a row, after victory over Real Madrid confirmed their successful title defence. Hansi Flick’s side 
“Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champions if they avoid defeat against Real Madrid in the upcoming El Clasico. Hansi Flick’s side require just one point to take an unassailable lead over second-place Madrid, who defeated Espanyol 2-0 on Sunday. Vinicius Junior scored twice in 11 minutes in the second half of the fixture to keep Barca from taking the title this weekend. Barca are 11 points clear of Alvaro Arbeloa’s side with four rounds of matches remaining, with the visitors needing to win at Camp Nou if they are to keep alive the mathematic possibility of catching their rivals. If Barca were to win, it would be the first time that a La Liga title was decided in a Clasico. …”
“Domestic leagues would be limited to staging one game a season in foreign countries under 
“Barcelona’s defeat in the Champions League quarter-finals means their suffering goes on in a competition they have not won since 2015. Luis Enrique was in charge when Barca last claimed the trophy, with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar up front in a treble-winning team. Last season, they reached the semi-finals — and progressing further was the big aim this campaign. Instead, Hansi Flick’s side were again knocked out by Atletico Madrid, who also defeated them in the Copa del Rey. …”
“FANS leaving the game early if their team is losing on their own ground is a curious sight. It seems to be a growing trend within the game and the TV cameras love it, scanning the stands for signs of supporters flicking their seats up and heading, grim-faced, to the exits. Symbolic gestures like destroying their season tickets and comments like ‘I’m finished with this lot’ often accompany the exodus. We’ve seen it regularly this season, at Old Trafford (frequently), Tottenham, Stamford Bridge and others. While this has always been a feature of football, more often than not, a negative scoreline at most grounds was met with defiance and the chant, ‘We’ll support you evermore’. There was something very stoic about the football fan, who reacted to adversary by declaring their life-long affection for their club, even in bad times. …”
“Football is one of the mirrors through which Spanish political polarization can be better understood. Despite the best efforts of political parties based in Madrid to construct a narrative that separates sports and politics, the tension between the center (Madrid) and the periphery (especially the Basques and Catalans) remains a long-standing dynamic. This article takes the multidisciplinary analysis from 
“SPANISH clubs liked the Inter-Cities Fairs’ Cup in the first decade of its existence. From the inaugural edition that ran from 1955-1958 to 1965-66, the rather attractive trophy landed in Spain six times. Only in 1961 (Roma) and 1965 (Ferencvaros) did a team from outside Spain win the Fairs Cup. Valencia, after World War Two, were serious title contenders and in 1946-47, won the Spanish league, finishing above Athletic Bilbao. In the years following that success, they were permanent residents in the top three, but by the mid-1950s, Real Madrid had started to dominate Spanish – and European – football. Valencia were invited to participate in the 1961-62 Fairs Cup along with fellow Spanish sides Barcelona and Espanyol and then made the competition their own. …”
“It’s the halfway stage of the Champions League quarter-finals, which is the perfect time to pause for breath to reflect. In football parlance, the job is only ‘half done’ for Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid, all of whom go into the second leg next week with a lead. As for Real Madrid, Liverpool, Sporting CP and Barcelona, they ‘have it all to do’ to reach the last four. …”
“The graphics are laid out and printed on A4. They are slipped into plastic sheets and placed in files. Corner kicks. Dead-ball routines. Designs that have defined this season in football, making celebrities out of specialist coaches, their impact so outsized they have become almost as prominent as head coaches. The discourse around set pieces has changed accordingly. Whenever they are brought up in the context of today’s game, it’s about the quality of the delivery, the block on the goalkeeper, a push on the back of a defender, a training-ground routine well-executed. The conversation is hardly ever about a free-kick shot. A curler. A daisy-cutter. A kiss on the underside of the bar. A goal of the year. …”
“Atletico Madrid exorcised their Camp Nou demons and will take a 2-0 advantage into next week’s Champions League quarter-final second leg after humbling Barcelona behind enemy lines for the first time in two decades. Julian Alvarez emphatically punished a Pau Cubarsi red card, bending home an unstoppable free kick from the resulting dead ball to put Diego Simeone’s side ahead in the first half, before Alexander Sorloth poked home the visitors’ second to hand Atletico their first win at the Camp Nou since February 2006. …”
Can PSG become the first team other than Real Madrid to retain the European Cup since Milan in 1990?
“There were shocking scenes this week as Spain played their last game on home soil before the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer. Ten minutes into Tuesday’s friendly against Egypt at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, a large section of the crowd joined in with chants of ‘
“The day before Spain played the European Championship final against England in Berlin, Germany, in July 2024, manager Luis de la Fuente announced the team would be welcoming a special guest. It was Spain’s most important match in a decade, and Gavi had to be there — De la Fuente called him ‘the 27th player of this squad’. Gavi was not called up to the tournament in Germany because he was injured. The previous November, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in Spain’s final Euro 2024 qualifier against Georgia. Back then, he was essentially the face of the team, its most recognisable and popular star. …”
“It has not been a great week for Premier League clubs in the Champions League. Just two of the six teams that made it into the last 16 are through to the quarter-finals, with the other four losing their ties by a combined score of 28-11 on aggregate. Newcastle United’s 8-3 loss to Barcelona and Chelsea’s 8-2 against Paris Saint-Germain will especially sting, given both Premier League sides matched their opponents for a sizeable part of the four games. …”
“We’re at the business end of the Champions League, with the eight quarter-finalists now decided. It’s a heavyweight line-up, with four of the competition’s five most successful clubs still in the tournament, plus last year’s winners Paris Saint-Germain and Premier League leaders Arsenal. Real Madrid (15), Liverpool (six), Bayern Munich (six) and Barcelona (five) have won 32 of the 70 European Cup/Champions League trophies between them since Madrid lifted the first trophy back in 1956, but who has their name on this year’s trophy? …”
“Barcelona advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 7-2 (8-3 aggregate) win over Newcastle United. Newcastle started the game well, but when the ball broke to Raphinha in the visiting team’s box in the sixth minute, the former Leeds United forward fired past Aaron Ramsdale to open the scoring. Although Newcastle levelled in the 15th minute, when Anthony Elanga latched onto a fine ball from the left before firing past Joan Garcia, Marc Bernal scored following a Raphinha free kick moments later, restoring Barca’s lead. Elanga equalised once again in the 28th minute, meeting a low cross at the back post to fire home, but the game swung in Barcelona’s favour again just before half-time. Kieran Trippier committed a foul on Raphinha in the box, with referee Francois Letexier awarding a penalty after consulting the pitchside monitor. …”
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s technical brilliance was in evidence against Chelsea
“After much uncertainty about the Finalissima match between Spain and Argentina in Qatar later this month, its cancellation was finally — and dramatically — confirmed on Sunday. The war in the Middle East is why the game, pitting the reigning champions of Europe and South America against one another, 
“Welcome to the latest edition of Inside Barcelona, our weekly series to follow throughout La Liga’s 2025-26 season. We will bring you key information and analysis on the biggest talking points in and around the Camp Nou, cutting through the noisy world of all things Barca with reporting you can trust. The information contained in this article reflects multiple conversations with various sources at the Spanish champions, all of whom wanted to speak anonymously to protect relationships. …”
“On a dramatic night at St James’ Park, Newcastle United looked like they had secured a famous victory over Barcelona only to be denied by a penalty deep into stoppage time. With the last kick of the game, Lamine Yamal converted a spot kick after Malick Thiaw tripped Dani Olmo inside the box. It meant honours were even in a thrilling first leg of this last-16 Champions League tie. Newcastle looked to have won it when Harvey Barnes scored from close range from Jacob Murphy’s cross. By the time the hosts finally scored, they had missed a host of chances as they repeatedly used their pace to get in behind the high line of Barcelona’s defence. …”
“Welcome to the latest edition of Inside Barcelona, our weekly series to follow throughout La Liga’s 2025-26 season. Every week, we will bring you key information and analysis on the biggest talking points, cutting through the noisy world of all things Barca with reporting you can trust. The information contained in this article reflects multiple conversations with various sources at the Spanish champions, all of whom wanted to speak anonymously to protect relationships. …”
“When UEFA changed the format of the Champions League, it was for nights like this. The Swiss model, now more famous than Swiss Cottage station on the London Tube network but not yet as famous as Swiss cheese, replaced the old eight groups of four model (less catchy) in 2024. The final day was pretty good last year, with 64 goals in the 18 games, but no big teams dropped out and the big will-they-won’t-they? of the night saw Paris Saint-Germain stroll past Stuttgart 4-1 to avoid an early elimination (wonder what happened to them). …”
“Whatever Hansi Flick said in the Barcelona dressing room at half time, it worked wonders. Having gone 1-0 down to Copenhagen in the fourth minute, goals from Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Marcus Rashford steered the Catalans into the Champions League last 16 with a 4-1 home victory on Wednesday night. It means Barca avoid having to contest a play-off to reach the knockout stages proper, after a win that moved them up into the top eight of the league phase table. For Copenhagen, a spirited and battling display ultimately ends with defeat and elimination. …”
“Welcome to the latest edition of Inside Barcelona, our weekly series to follow throughout La Liga’s 2025-26 season. Every week, we will bring you key information and analysis on the biggest talking points, cutting through the noisy world of all things Barca with reporting you can trust. The information contained in this article reflects multiple conversations with various sources at the Spanish champions, all of whom wanted to speak anonymously to protect relationships. …”
“Real Madrid and Barcelona were football’s top-earning superpowers last season, according to Deloitte’s latest Football Money League report. Madrid topped the annual listing of club revenues for the third year running and 15th time in 21 seasons, generating £975million ($1.309bn) in 2024-25, leading second-placed Barcelona by more than £150m. Liverpool became the second English club to book more than £700million in revenue during their charge to the Premier League title, yet their income last term was only enough to rank them fifth worldwide. It is the first time in the report’s 29-year history that no English side has featured in the top four. …”
Galatasaray should now make the play-offs, despite a tricky-looking final-day trip to Manchester City “We are down to next Wednesday’s final-day bonanza in the Champions League, with 18 simultaneous games to close out the initial league phase. Seven matchdays in, only Arsenal and Bayern Munich have guaranteed spots in the round of 16 in March. Third-placed Real Madrid and Juventus in 15th are separated by just three points, and with some of the teams in-between them playing each other in the final round of matches, expect the table to undergo a bewildering amount of change during Matchday 8. …”
Perez, pictured at the Bernabeu on Saturday
“Welcome to the latest edition of Inside Barcelona, our weekly series to follow throughout La Liga’s 2025-26 season. Every week, we will bring you key information and analysis on the biggest talking points, cutting through the noisy world of all things Barca with reporting you can trust. The information contained in this article reflects multiple conversations with various sources at the Spanish champions, all of whom wanted to speak anonymously to protect relationships. …”
“The Supercopa de Espana, Spain’s equivalent of the English Community Shield, kicks off with Barcelona’s semi-final against Athletic Club on Wednesday… in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. For six of the past seven seasons, the Supercopa has been held as a four-team mini-tournament in the Gulf nation. Saudi Arabia has a contract to host the event until 2029, although The Athletic reported on Wednesday that the Spanish football federation (RFEF) is considering 
“Welcome to the latest edition of Inside Barcelona, our weekly series to follow throughout the 2025-26 La Liga season. Every Monday, we will bring you information and analysis on the biggest talking points, cutting through the noisy world of all things Barca with reporting you can trust. The information contained in this article reflects multiple conversations with various sources at the Spanish champions, all of whom wanted to speak anonymously to protect relationships. …”
