World Cup News

FORMER Chelsea defender Glen Johnson has slammed Liam Rosenior's move to suspend Enzo Fernandez as 'egotistical'. Argentine midfielder Fernandez, 25, missed Chelsea's 7-0 win over Port Vale in the FA Cup after he came out with comments stoking the fire over a potential move to Real Madrid. His comments came on international duty with Argentina,...

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a new episode of State of the Union! With the news becoming official that Patrick Agyemang will miss the World Cup with an Achilles injury, Alexi and Mosse discuss what that means for the US roster this summer and what strikers could step up and step in for the injured Agyemang. After, the pair break down all the happenings from the first leg of the UCL quarterfinals, including PSG dominating Liverpool, Bayern beating Real Madrid away, Arsenal winning late, and Atletico Madrid seeing off Barcelona. In U.S. Abroad, Alexi asks if it is time for Christian Pulisic to leave AC Milan in the wake of his poor form. Alexi and Mosse then preview the upcoming MLS weekend matches that will see Messi and Inter Miami host Michael Bradley’s NYRB and old rivals New England DC facing off once more. In #AskAlexi, Alexi recounts his favorite trash talk moments and gives a full postmortem for Italy missing the World Cup and in One For The Road, Alexi and Mosse discuss negativity within the USA fanbase and tease a giveaway. Presented by Zillow #Zillow Patrick Agyemang OUT for the World Cup (5:11)UCL Quarterfinal first leg recap (11:43)Should Pulisic leave AC Milan? (24:38)MLS Weekend Preview (31:50)#AskAlexi (42:39)One for the Road (53:32) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich met once again in the UEFA Champions League, two years after their previous knockout encounter, but this time with very different identities. The Real Madrid of Álvaro Arbeloa arrived in the middle of an inconsistent season, struggling to find continuity in their performances. Bayern, in contrast, travelled to Estadio Bernabéu […] The post Real Madrid Vs Bayern Munich [1-2] Champions League Quarter-Final First Leg 2025/2026: Vincent Kompany Press & Structure Take Control – Tactical Analysis appeared first on Total Football Analysis.

Chelsea have made a formal enquiry about the availability of Vinicius Junior, according to Fichajes, with the Blues moving proactively to explore a transfer as contract negotiations between the Brazilian and Real Madrid continue to stall. Vinicius Jr enters the final year of his contract at the Bernabeu this summer. Real Madrid have offered him […] The post Chelsea have made a formal approach to sign the best winger in the world from Real Madrid first appeared on Premier League News Now.

Chelsea paid £65.1 million in agent fees between February 2025 and February 2026, making them the highest-spending club on intermediaries in the Premier League for the third consecutive season, and a former top-flight chief executive has not held back in calling out the club’s sporting directors over the figures. According to FA data, Chelsea’s agent […] The post Former CEO is furious with what Chelsea just did for the third year running; It cost the Blues £65.1 million first appeared on Premier League News Now.

As the season enters its defining period, clubs are beginning to formulate their lists for what and who they may may need for next season. Daily Mail Sport runs through who is likely be on the move.

Liverpool have been urged to sack Premier League title-winning manager Arne Slot and hire a 'perfect' former Chelsea boss as his replacement.

The Chelsea midfielder was dropped for the Blues' 7-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Port Vale

Good morning. Here’s a really quick blog for you because I’m heading back to Dublin this morning. Did I really need that extra Negroni before returning to the hotel? I don’t think so, but I blame Andrew Allen for that. I’m just a 54 year old person without any agency and an inability to say […] The post A European trip appeared first on Arseblog ... an Arsenal blog.

Bayern Munich’s 2-1 win against Real Madrid on Tuesday marked Vincent Kompany’s 100th game as head coach of the club, and the result perfectly encapsulated all that Kompany has built at Bayern since taking over in the summer of 2024.

Match of the Day pundits Rory Smith and Stephen Warnock look at the impact Harry Kane and Trent Alexander-Arnold had on the Champions League quarter-final first leg between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Real Madrid and Brazil legend Marcelo chose Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo. Marcelo is well qualified to speak about many of the biggest soccer stars of this century. He was teammates with Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid and with Neymar on the Brazil national team, but he picked Lionel Messi—whom he faced numerous times while playing against Barcelona. During a recent conversation on Romario’s YouTube channel, Marcelo was asked which player was the toughest to face, specifically between Ronaldo and Messi. The former left back did not hesitate: “Messi. He was, and is, extraordinary.” Marcelo then explained the reasoning behind his choice of the Argentine forward. “He understands everything very well. Every position on the field,” the 37-year-old said. “When the ball is coming to him, he already knows where to go and what to do… Messi is incredible, very difficult.” The matchups between Marcelo and Messi During his years with Real Madrid and Brazil, Marcelo faced Lionel Messi on numerous occasions. In fact, Messi is the opponent he faced most often in his professional career: 33 matches, with the defender winning 10, drawing seven, and losing the remaining 16. Marcelo playing for Real Madrid. This matchup was especially demanding for Marcelo given their positions on the field. Messi typically starts his runs on the right side before cutting diagonally toward the center, which often puts him up against opposing left backs—who, if left-footed, must defend him using their weaker right foot. That was exactly the situation the Brazilian defender found himself in during his battles with Messi, and it clearly left a lasting impression. “I’m still looking for him to this day, damn it,” Marcelo joked, recalling the moments when Messi would dribble past him. Marcelo also praises Cristiano Ronaldo In the same conversation, Romario asked Marcelo who the best teammate of his career was. “Cristiano. I played with Gaucho (Ronaldinho), with Roberto Carlos, with Ronaldo (Nazario), with many players. But Cristiano surprised me with his consistency. If he scored 30 goals one year, the next he scored 40,” the former left back said. He then added that Cristiano Ronaldo is the most professional player he has ever seen: “He is. It’s unbelievable. And it’s not just about arriving earlier or leaving later. No, he’s professional in everything—every aspect shows dedication. Sleep, training, recovery, the game—everything.”

Arne Slot believes it was better for Mohamed Salah to 'save his energy' after he was left on the bench for Liverpool's 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League

Luis Enrique admits he was 'surprised' by Arne Slot's decision to play five at the back in Liverpool's 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League

CHELSEA have reportedly joined a host of top clubs in the hunt for Werder Bremen wonderkid Karim Coulibaly. The centre-back, 18, has started 20 of Werder's 28 Bundesliga games this season having graduated from their youth set-up. And the Blues are said to be mightily impressed by his development. Manchester United, Newcastle, Real Madrid, Paris...

The former Real Madrid player didn't hesitate to name the most challenging opponent among the two soccer stars. Leer

Atletico Madrid took the lead over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League thanks to Julian Alvarez. One of the most intriguing matchups in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals is the clash between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. In the first leg at Camp Nou, Los Colchoneros took the lead thanks to a brilliant goal from Julian Alvarez. It is a showdown between two of Spain’s giants, who have faced each other in crucial matchups across multiple competitions this season. In La Liga, Los Blaugranas hold the edge and, in fact, took a major step toward the title by defeating Atletico Madrid over the weekend. That result served as a measure of revenge after Atletico Madrid knocked them out in the Copa del Rey semifinals. On Wednesday, the match remained level until just minutes before halftime, with both teams creating scoring chances—especially the hosts. However, the deadlock was broken when VAR intervened, prompting referee Istvan Kovacs to upgrade a yellow card shown to Pau Cubarsi to a red. From that foul on the edge of the box came the moment that changed the match. Julian Alvarez, who had drawn the foul, stepped up and delivered a superb free kick, curling his shot into the top-left corner past Joan Garcia, who had no chance to stop it. Absolute brilliance from Julián Álvarez 😮‍💨🔥 pic.twitter.com/SeyR3AjDrg — CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 8, 2026 In the second half, Barcelona controlled possession but lacked the precision to find an equalizer, while Atletico Madrid stayed compact defensively and capitalized on their lone clear opportunity. In the 70th minute, Alexander Sorloth scored after a cross from the left by Matteo Ruggeri, sealing the 2-0 result. Julian Alvarez perfects his free kicks The goal he scored this Wednesday against Barcelona was not the first free-kick goal of Julian Alvarez’s professional career. On the contrary, in recent years he has refined that skill, turning it into a valuable weapon to break open tightly contested matches. That ability, however, did not always define the Argentine forward, who failed to score a single free-kick goal during his four years with River Plate. Alvarez’s first free-kick goal came in September 2023—five years after his professional debut—in a match between Manchester City and Red Star Belgrade. Since joining Atletico Madrid, Julian Alvarez has scored five free-kick goals in fewer than two seasons. In fact, during this campaign, he had already found the net from a set piece in another crucial match, against Real Madrid in La Liga.

Goals from Luis Diaz and Harry Kane help Bayern Munich beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Bernabeu in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

⚽ Champions League updates from the 8pm BST kick-off ⚽ Barcelona v Atlético Madrid – live | Latest scores “I am beset by dread,” writes Joe Pearson, “and not in the ‘I am the law’ kind of way. Although admittedly PSG are giving off ‘You’re next, punk!’ vibes. IYKYK.” While Arsenal were busy Arsenaling their way to a worthy but dull Bigger Cup quarter-final first leg win at Sporting on Tuesday, the players of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich released the collective handbrake and performed many high-speed donuts, wheel spins and Rockfords as a pleasing counterpoint to the careful mirror-signal-manoeuvring on display at Lisbon’s Estádio José Alvalade. Like a couple of stolen supercars racing each other around a shopping mall in The Fast and the Furious: Bicester Village, these two European heavyweights massively committed to the bit, not unlike a daily football email bogged down in a laboured motoring metaphor.

Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior was heavily criticized by Rafael van der Vaart following the loss to Bayern Munich. The 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu left Real Madrid on the brink of elimination in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. Vinicius Junior came under heavy criticism after the match from Rafael van der Vaart. “Vinicius is horrible,” the former Dutch midfielder said during an appearance on Ziggo Sport following Tuesday’s Champions League match in Spain. “He annoys me to no end when I see him.” Van der Vaart went on to explain the reasons behind his criticism of the Brazilian winger. “As soon as he gets a little push, he throws himself down, hoping to see a red card for the opponent, and then gets up as if nothing happened,” he said. However, the former Ajax and Real Madrid player did not hesitate to acknowledge Vinicius’ talent on the field. In fact, he emphasized how that behavior detracts from his ability: “That’s the part that I find sad about him. I find it incredibly sad because he’s a fantastic player.” Rafael Van der Vaart playing for Real Madrid in 2010. Vinicius’ performances this season Criticism of Vinicius is common, and in most cases it is not related to his performances on the field or his ability on the ball, but rather to his behavior. The 25-year-old winger has often drawn the frustration of opponents, who believe he does not always conduct himself with respect. However, Vinicius’ on-field production is beyond question, and that is reflected in his numbers. Even in a season in which Real Madrid have posted disappointing results and gone through a coaching change, the Brazilian has stood out: Vinicius has recorded 17 goals and 13 assists in 45 appearances. Van der Vaart knows what he’s talking about Criticism of Vinicius Junior coming from Rafael van der Vaart carries added weight compared to most opinions. The former Dutch international speaks from experience, having played for Real Madrid and understanding the club’s culture and its fanbase. Van der Vaart began his professional career at Ajax in 1999 before moving to Hamburger SV six years later, where his performances prompted Real Madrid to pay around $15 million for him. In Spain, he spent two seasons with the club between 2008 and 2010, making 73 appearances, scoring 12 goals, and winning one title.

Set to face Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, Raphinha will be a major absence for FC Barcelona. Barcelona host Atletico Madrid in a high-stakes first leg of their 2025-26 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie at Spotify Camp Nou. While fans will be hoping to see every available star on the pitch, Raphinha‘s absence from the squad has raised questions ahead of the match. Raphinha will not feature against Atletico Madrid due to injury. The winger suffered a tear in the biceps femoris of his right leg while representing Brazil in their friendly against France during the March international break on the 26th, and has been sidelined ever since. The timing could hardly be worse for both the player and the club, with Raphinha expected to be out for a minimum of five weeks. Under that recovery timeline, the Brazilian will miss both legs of the Atletico Madrid tie as well as Barcelona’s next four La Liga fixtures. According to Mundo Deportivo, head coach Hansi Flick is targeting El Clásico on Sunday, May 10, as the date Raphinha could return to action. Should Barcelona maintain their winning form up to that point, a victory over Real Madrid could clinch the 2025-26 La Liga title with three games to spare, making it a significant moment for the winger to make his comeback. Raphinha got injured playing for Brazil FIFA to reimburse Barcelona Currently sitting atop the La Liga table with 76 points and still alive in the Champions League, Raphinha’s injury has prompted Barcelona to direct their frustration toward FIFA. As reported by Diario Sport, the governing body will be compensating the club for the duration of his absence. Re-elected president Joan Laporta aired his grievances with Món Esport over the situation: “In some way, we should demand that FIFA create an international calendar that takes into account the competitions of the most important clubs. It’s true that when one of your best players gets injured in a friendly match between France and Brazil in the United States, it is very frustrating. The problem is the congested fixture list, especially at this point in the season when we are playing for everything. It is exasperating!” Under FIFA’s established compensation framework, clubs receive a daily payment of 20,548 euros, applicable for a maximum of 365 days and capped at 7.5 million euros per player. With Raphinha projected to miss approximately five weeks, reports indicate Barcelona stand to receive around 143,836 euros in reimbursement.

The performance of Manuel Neuer with Bayern Munich against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League has sparked debate in Germany over whether he should be part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Bayern Munich’s 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals was built, in part, on Manuel Neuer’s performance. That put the veteran goalkeeper back in the spotlight, fueling debate over whether he should return to the Germany national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “This version of Neuer is world-class; he belongs in the national team,” said legend Lothar Matthaus after the match, according to Marca. He also sent a message to the Germany head coach: “I hope Nagelsmann watched the match. I would love to see Neuer in this kind of form at the World Cup… but I also know that won’t happen. Nagelsmann won’t open that door.” That push comes nearly two years after Neuer’s retirement from international soccer. He chose to close that chapter of his career following Germany’s elimination from UEFA Euro 2024 in the quarterfinals against Spain. In that way, the goalkeeper said goodbye to Germany after 15 years, having first been called up in 2009. During that span, he played in four World Cups and four European Championships, and won the sport’s biggest prize at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final. In total, he made 124 international appearances and recorded 54 clean sheets. Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann. “The best players have to go to the World Cup, and Manu is by far the best goalkeeper in the world,” said former star Benedikt Howedes, who was Neuer’s teammate at the 2014 World Cup. Even a current Germany and Bayern Munich player, Aleksandar Pavlovic, shared his view: “I would never say no to Manu, no matter his age. He is still an exceptional goalkeeper.” What did Neuer say about a possible return to Germany? Those calls for Manuel Neuer’s return to the Germany national team generated enough speculation that the 40-year-old goalkeeper addressed the topic himself after the match against Real Madrid in the Champions League. “Everything has already been said about it,” Neuer replied when asked about a potential appearance at the 2026 World Cup. Instead, he chose to focus on his club objectives: “What matters now is finishing the rest of the season with Bayern. I’m enjoying my time with the team, at the club, with the coaching staff. It’s true that I’m 40 years old, but I’m still here.” How have Germany replaced Neuer? Since Manuel Neuer’s international retirement, Julian Nagelsmann has been forced to test different options in goal for Germany. Over the past two years, the coach has used three different goalkeepers in official matches and friendlies. The most-used has been Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann, with a total of 11 appearances. Behind him is Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has managed just four matches due to injury issues during his time with Barcelona, which have also kept him sidelined at Girona. The third goalkeeper selected by Nagelsmann is Stuttgart’s Alexander Nubel, who has featured in three matches.

ENZO FERNANDEZ is clearly after a move to Real Madrid this summer, and if he gets it, Chelsea are going to have some cash to play around with. How exactly they choose to replace their £107million midfield man, though, who will miss their crunch game against Manchester City through a club suspension, would leave them...

Should he return to the national team for the upcoming 2026 World Cup? The goalkeeper made his position clear. Leer

Bayern Munich’s 2-1 win against Real Madrid on Tuesday marked Vincent Kompany’s 100th game as head coach of the club, and the result perfectly encapsulated all that Kompany has built at Bayern since taking over in the summer of 2024.

Michael Olise has been linked with Liverpool in recent weeks and the Bayern Munich star put on an impressive show in the Champions League win away at Real Madrid

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! While Arsenal were busy Arsenaling their way to a worthy but dull Bigger Cup quarter-final first leg win at Sporting on Tuesday, the players of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich released the collective handbrake and performed many high-speed donuts, wheel spins and Rockfords as a pleasing counterpoint to the careful mirror-signal-manoeuvring on display at Lisbon’s Estádio José Alvalade. Like a couple of stolen supercars racing each other around a shopping mall in The Fast and the Furious: Bicester Village, these two European heavyweights massively committed to the bit, not unlike a daily football email bogged down in a laboured motoring metaphor. “When I see the chances we had, that has to give us confidence that we can score more goals,” whooped Vincent Kompany following a hi-octane Bernabéu white-knuckle ride from which his team emerged deserving winners, even if it was their 40-year-old goalkeeper who took home the gong for player of the match. A doff of the Romanian cap to the great Mircea Lucescu. As a player, he captained his national team against World Cup holders England and eventual World Cup winners Brazil at the tournament in 1970, after which Pelé wanted to exchange shirts with him. And, as a manager, apart from all his domestic success, he was the first manager to get Romania to qualify for the Euros in 1984 and nearly led a poor Romania team to the World Cup in 2026, a couple of weeks ago, while very sick. What a football man, what a tremendous football man …” – Noble Francis. Interesting to see the report about Nike’s new Geopolitics World Cup kits bunching up ridiculously at the shoulder seams. You never got problems like that back in my day, principally because, on the massively oversized kits of the 90s, the shoulder seam was positioned halfway down the arm. The tendency of these kits to make even professional athletes look like Sunday pub league players is exemplified by the photo of Blackburn’s relegated 1999 team in today’s edition of The Knowledge – an effect amplified by the fact one of them seems to have been playing in tracksuit bottoms, and another in sliders” – Phil Taverner. After being emotionally blackmailed into running the LLHM by my friend and broadcasting colleague Max Rushden, I began training in late October. Having done little or no exercise beyond nimbly climbing on and off bar stools for almost 30 years, I was heroically unfit and literally couldn’t jog 100 metres without stopping to catch my breath. Reader – I had bitten off more than I could chew. At the start line I will be 53 years old and I remain overweight despite all my training. I still drink too much and have resigned myself to the fact that I won’t win the race, but I plan to enjoy a unique day. If you’d like to add to the already huge sum raised, every little helps. It would be absolutely magic to hit the £60,000 mark before race day. With that in mind, please give anything you can, safe in the knowledge that I’ll be enduring a world of pain to try to alleviate that of that experienced by so many wonderful and brave kids.” Donate here.

Jimbo is joined by Art De Roché, Liam Twomey and Daniel Storey to discuss Tuesday night's Champions League action. Bayern beat Real Madrid 2-1 in an end to end encounter at the Bernabéu. It could have been more for Bayern and yet Mbappe could have got a hat-trick too, with both teams racking up 20 shots each. Are Bayern the team to beat? Is Harry Kane the best in the world? Meanwhile in Lisbon, Arsenal fought hard against an impressive Sporting Clube to earn a revitalising away win in the Estádio José Alvalade, via a stoppage time goal made by two substitutes Martinelli and Havertz. How big a difference did David Raya make? Plus an EFL roundup, Ramsey retires, Mudryk trains and a tribute to Mircea Lucescu. Producer: Charlie Jones Video Producer: Jake Liascos Listen to the audio version of the Totally Football Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or by following this link: https://podfollow.com/totallyfootballshow 00:00 Rundown of the results 03:24 Real Madrid 1-2 Bayern 19:12 Sporting 0-1 Arsenal 26:10 Ramsey retires & where’s Mudryk? 37:50 A tribute to Mircea Lucescu 38:58 EFL roundup Get in touch with the show: Email: [email protected] X: @thetotallyshow Instagram: @totallyfootballshow TikTok: @thetotallyshow BlueSky: ‪@totallyshow.bsky.social‬ The Totally Football Show is with you four times a week this season, giving you all the football news you need to know - and plenty that you don't. We've got views, stats and analysis from the very best football writers around. It's smart, it's funny, and it's totally free – so listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thumbnail: Aitor Alcalde / Stringer #bayern #championsleague #realmadrid #arsenal

There has recently been much speculation about the future of Enzo Fernandez and his potential departure from Chelsea, with the Argentine midfielder openly speaking about Real Madrid. The best proof that the situation is rather serious is the confirmation of Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior that Fernandez was left out of Chelsea’s FA Cup thrashing of […] The post Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez to hand in a transfer request appeared first on Soccer News.

There is a concept in ancient Stoic philosophy called Amor Fati. Love of fate. The idea that a person of true character does not merely tolerate what the world throws at them. They do not grit their teeth and endure it. They embrace it. They walk toward the fire and find it warm. Marcus Aurelius… The post Lamine Yamal: The Boy Who Skipped the Development Curve first appeared on Breaking The Lines.

Paulo Fonseca arrived in Lyon after a negative experience at AC Milan, one that was not entirely his fault, but rather the fault of a nonexistent club, one of the worst in AC Milan’s history, and of a number of players who had never been with him from the start. Despite having proven himself a… The post How Paulo Fonseca got his groove back at Lyon first appeared on Breaking The Lines.

“I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was: man is but an ass, if he go about to expound this dream.” – William Shakespeare Let me ask you something: A Brazilian talent, born in the favelas, who managed to rise from deep poverty and reach the… The post Ronaldinho – A Midsummer Night’s Dream first appeared on Breaking The Lines.

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Nicky Bandini and Archie Rhind-Tutt as Arsenal get a late winner against Sporting and Real Madrid and Bayern Munich play out a belter at the Bernabéu On the podcast today: a vital win for Arsenal in the Champions League. Having lost their previous two Arsenal had to find a way and in injury time Gabriel Martinelli drew the defence and Kai Havertz slotted home. Elsewhere, a much better game at the Bernabéu. Should Bayern have put it to bed? Trent Alexander-Arnold’s perfect ball for Kylian Mbappé means the tie remains alive. Plus, there’s a big Easter of Football League action to look back on, a salute to Aaron Ramsey and your questions answered.

Jimbo is joined by Art De Roché, Liam Twomey and Daniel Storey to discuss Tuesday night's Champions League action. Bayern beat Real Madrid 2-1 in an end to end encounter at the Bernabéu. It could have been more for Bayern and yet Mbappe could have got a hat-trick too, with both teams racking up 20 shots each. Are Bayern the team to beat? Is Harry Kane the best in the world? Meanwhile in Lisbon, Arsenal fought hard against an impressive Sporting Clube to earn a revitalising away win in the Estádio José Alvalade, via a stoppage time goal made by two substitutes Martinelli and Havertz. How big a difference did David Raya make? Plus an EFL roundup, Ramsey retires, Mudryk trains and a tribute to Mircea Lucescu. Produced by Charlie Jones and Jesse Howard. • PART 1: Rundown of the results (0.40) • PART 2: Real Madrid 1-2 Bayern (3.45) • PART 3a: Sporting 0-1 Arsenal (20.20) • PART 3b: Ramsey retires & where’s Mudryk? (27.40) • PART 4a: A tribute to Mircea Lucescu (40.15) • PART 4b: EFL roundup (41.30) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Wednesday's Football Daily, Phil Egan brings you news from the Champions League, the international game and the Premier League. Arsenal take a first-leg advantage after a late 1-0 win away to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League. Substitute Kai Havertz scores stoppage-time winner in Lisbon. Mikel Arteta praises Arsenal’s bench impact ahead of the second leg. Bayern Munich beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Bernabéu. Goals from Luis Díaz and Harry Kane give Bayern the edge. Kylian Mbappé pulls one back after a cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold. Vincent Kompany insists Bayern will not sit back in the return leg. Antonio Rüdiger says Madrid’s goal could prove vital. Liverpool travel to face Paris Saint-Germain in tonight’s quarter-final first leg. Arne Slot warns Liverpool must improve after recent poor form. Luis Enrique says there is no favourite between PSG and Liverpool. Europa League quarter-finals begin with Sporting Braga hosting Real Betis. Discussion around Benfica prospect Jaden Umeh and a potential Ireland call-up. Manchester United interim boss Michael Carrick backed by Amad Diallo. Tribute paid to Romanian football legend Mircea Lucescu following his passing aged 80. Become a member and sign up at offtheball.com/join

Bayern's cohesion, and their ability to carry out a well-crafted gameplan, makes them strong favourites to progress to the semi-finals

The team need to stage a heroic and unlikely comeback in Munich Leer

A REAL MADRID fan got a haircut at the stands of the Bernabeu during the Champions League match against Bayern Munich. Real suffered a 2-1 loss to Bayern in the first leg of the quarter-finals with Kylian Mbappe hitting back after goals from Luis Diaz and Harry Kane. Thousands of fans filled up the Bernabeu...

The Premier League has guaranteed itself a fifth Champions League slot for next season. English sides have been rewarded for their place in the UEFA Coefficient Table by being handed a European Per…

Today in TAFC: Fans explain anger after FIFA changes World Cup seating maps. Plus: Bayern win Champions League first leg vs Real Madrid.

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has named the 'best team in the world' after the Champions League quarter-finals got underway.

LEGENDARY right-back Philipp Lahm made a low-key appearance at Bayern Munich's Champions League clash last night. The German giants faced 15-time European champions Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. Lahm, 42, appeared to be in amongst the home support as he was surrounded by Real Madrid fans. He watched his former club prevail in the first...

We’re at the business end of the football season now. Titles are on the line as the pressure kicks in. It’s time for heroes to step up and be counted with Premier League, Champions Leag…

Maxence Lacroix made a big move from VfL Wolfsburg to Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024 for an €18m fee, which was below his market value of €20m at the time. He recently received his first call-up to the France national team in March and played quite well, suggesting he could be called up […] The post Maxence Lacroix Scout Report At Crystal Palace 2025/2026: Ready For The Next Step? – Player Analysis appeared first on Total Football Analysis.

Alexander-Arnold struggled defensively against Luis Diaz but the quality of his delivery cannot be ignored after he and Jude Bellingham led Real Madrid’s second-half resurgence, writes Chris Wilson

Arsenal have been linked with a potential blockbuster transfer - with Real Madrid "willing" to do business for the £70million star in the summer

Jamie Carragher explained why Arsenal could miss out on the Premier League title after the Champions League quarter-final win over Sporting.

In this London Is Blue special, Nick and Ben Jacobs dives deep into the financial maneuvers Chelsea is using to navigate a record £262 million loss while attempting to stay compliant with PSR, FFP, and SCR regulations. The discussion explores the club's high-stakes gamble on reaching a £700 million revenue target and the internal disciplinary message sent by Enzo Fernández’s recent suspension amid Real Madrid transfer rumors. Finally, they break down the complex reality of the club’s stadium plans and the long-term "credit card" risk of their aggressive player amortization strategy. Join our Discord community! Join Link: https://discord.com/invite/londonbluepod Follow London is Blue, Get in Touch! 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: http://bit.ly/33ZRQ0P ⚽️ Player Interviews – http://bit.ly/2ZrP05n 📷 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/londonbluepod/ 🐦 Twitter – https://twitter.com/londonbluepod 📰 Newsletter – https://londonisblue.beehiiv.com/ 🍎 Apple Podcasts – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/london-is-blue-chelsea-fc-soccer-podcast/id914691565?mt=2 🟢 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5I0NZIy6hdFWj6oRtpL8qI Brandon: https://twitter.com/bbbusbee Dan: https://twitter.com/dandormer Nick: https://twitter.com/nickverlaney 📧 Email us at [email protected] Audio Edited by Jorel Corpus jorelcorp.us Until next time Chelsea fans, keep the Blue flag flyin’ high! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Manuel Neuer earned the player of the match award for his performance in Bayern Munich's 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League, but was tetchy post-match

Bayern Munich and Freiburg's European ties against Spanish opposition in the 2025/26 quarter-finals will be extra important as the Bundesliga look to secure an extra UEFA Champions League qualifying spot for the following season.