European Super Football

Liverpool 3 - 2 Atletico Madrid Arne Slot's side are certainly making a habit of these late winners. This time it was Virgil van Dijk with the deciding goal. Author | William G Stadium | Anfield Virgil van Dijk’s header in the 92nd minute sealed the victory, marking the third time this season that the side have struck in stoppage time.  Arne Slot’s side had looked in danger of letting the game slip away after surrendering a two-goal lead, established inside the opening six minutes by Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah. Marcos Llorente scored twice for Atletico , but Liverpool’s habit of finding late winners endured. A closer look at what happened Liverpool made the perfect start, taking the lead inside four minutes in fortunate circumstances. Salah’s low free-kick deflected off Robertson, wrong-footing Jan Oblak and finding the net. Two minutes later, the Reds doubled their advantage with a slick move. Salah exchanged passes with Ryan Gravenberch before calmly finishi...

Real Madrid 2 - 1 Marseille Kylian Mbappé scored twice from the penalty spot as 10-man Real Madrid fought back to beat Marseille in their opening Champions League fixture. Author | Jack L Stadium | Santiago Bernabéu Madrid were dealt an early setback when Trent Alexander-Arnold hobbled off with a suspected hamstring injury inside three minutes. Matters worsened when his replacement, Dani Carvajal , was dismissed 18 minutes from time for a head-to-head confrontation with Marseille goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the 15-time European champions prevailed thanks to Mbappé, who dispatched both spot-kicks with power and precision to take his tally to six goals in five appearances this season. A closer analysis of what happened Marseille had drawn first blood in the 22nd minute through Timothy Weah , whose thunderous effort beat Thibaut Courtois after Mason Greenwood had seized on an error from Arda Güler in midfield. Their advantage was short-lived, ho...

Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 0 Villarreal Thomas Frank marked his Champions League bow with a win as Tottenham profited from a gift of a goal by Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior. Author | Greg S Stadium | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Spurs pre match display Just four minutes in, Junior inexplicably spilled Lucas Bergvall ’s cross into his own net, handing Spurs the perfect start in north London. It was a dream opening for Frank, managing in Europe’s premier competition for the first time since leaving Brentford , though his side were made to sweat before the interval. Micky van de Ven produced a vital block to deny former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pépé, while Tajon Buchanan squandered a clear chance when through on goal. Junior atoned in part with a sharp save from  Pape Matar Sarr  midway through the first half, keeping  Villarreal  in the contest. READ MORE |  Arsenal start Champions League campaign with a win READ MORE |  Champions League news and stories 25/26 se...

Athletic Club 0 - 2 Arsenal Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard came off the bench to deliver the goals as Arsenal opened their Champions League campaign with victory over Athletic Club. Author | DJ Stadium | San Mames Martinelli needed just 36 seconds to make his mark, racing through to score after being set up by Trossard midway through the second half. The Brazilian then turned provider, beating his man before laying the ball back for Trossard to tuck in a second with four minutes to play. It was far from straightforward for Mikel Arteta’s side. Athletic, returning to the competition for the first time since 2014-15, flew out of the blocks backed by a raucous San Mamés crowd. Alejandro Berenguer was a persistent threat and the hosts had Arsenal penned in for long spells of the first half. The Gunners did create the clearest chance before the interval, Viktor Gyökeres heading wide from close range, but overall struggled to assert themselves. Gyökeres later finished the match...

Real Madrid 2 - 1 Mallorca Real Madrid overturned an early deficit to secure their third successive victory at the start of the La Liga season. Author | Jack L Stadium | Santiago Bernabéu The visitors struck first when Vedat Muriqi forced the ball over the line from Pablo Torre ’s corner. Madrid responded quickly as Arda Güler headed in from Dean Huijsen ’s knockdown, before Vinícius Júnior sealed the points with a superb individual finish. Xabi Alonso ’s side saw three further efforts ruled out. Kylian Mbappé twice had goals chalked off for offside, while Güler was denied by a handball decision. Trent back to his best? Trent Alexander-Arnold , deployed on the right of a back four, once again operated in an inverted role at the Bernabéu, drifting centrally and frequently joining attacks rather than playing as a conventional full-back. At 0-0 he produced a superb 50-yard pass from deep inside his own half to pick out Kylian Mbappé, who finished clinically only to see the flag rai...

Real Oviedo 0 - 3 Real Madrid Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Real Madrid extended their flawless start to the La Liga season with a win at Oviedo. Author | Jack L Stadium | Estadio Municipal Carlos Tartiere Mbappe , who had netted the only goal against Osasuna , made it three goals in two games, opening the scoring eight minutes before half-time with a composed finish from the edge of the box and later side footing home a second late in the match. Trent Alexander-Arnold was named among the substitutes after starting the previous fixture, with manager Xabi Alonso opting for Dani Carvajal at right-back. The England international came on for the final three minutes with Real already 2-0 ahead. READ MORE |  The latest La Liga news and stories Vinicius Jr, another player who began on the bench, added a third in stoppage time with a clinical strike. Alonso also handed a start to 18-year-old Franco Mastantuono in attack, and the teenager impressed with a lively display. Oviedo ’s ...

Mallorca 0 -  3 Barcelona Marcus Rashford made his competitive debut as Barcelona opened their La Liga title defence with a win at Mallorca, who finished the match with nine players. Author | Jack L Stadium |    Estadi Mallorca Son Moix Barcelona on the attack Raphinha headed in the opener from a precise right-wing cross by Lamine Yamal , before Ferran Torres added a second as Mallorca captain Antonio Raillo lay injured in the box after blocking a Yamal shot. Manu Morlanes was then booked for dissent following the incident and received a second yellow shortly after for a foul on Yamal. Vedat Muriqi was sent off for a high boot on debutant goalkeeper Joan Garcia , a decision upgraded from a yellow after a VAR review . Barcelona took until the 60th minute plus stoppage time to score their third, with Yamal hammering in the goal near the final whistle.  The home fans backing their team despite defeat What impact did Marcus Rashford have? Rashford entered in the 69...

It's time to explore another legendary footballer.  Sergio Ramos is a Spanish professional footballer renowned as one of the greatest defenders ever.  Author | Peter Grainger Known for his tackling prowess, aerial strength, leadership, and an impressive goalscoring record for a defender, he netted over 100 goals for Real Madrid. During his sixteen seasons at Real Madrid, he won multiple UEFA Champions League titles, as well as two UEFA European Championships and the 2010 FIFA World Cup with the Spanish national team. An overview of his club career Ramos was born in Seville and developed his skills in Sevilla ’s youth academy. After two seasons with Sevilla's senior team, he made a high-profile move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2005. He became an integral part of the squad, winning 22 major honours, including five La Liga titles and four Champions League titles. Ramos was pivotal to each of those Champions League triumphs, earning a spot in the Team of the Season each ti...

England 1 - 1 Spain (England won 3-1 on penalties) England etched their name into the history books once again with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Spain. Author | Lauren W Stadium | St. Jakob-Park Chloe Kelly, who famously scored the winner in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley, was the hero once more. She calmly converted the decisive penalty after Spain missed three in a row, with goalkeeper Hannah Hampton making two crucial saves. It is the first time any England team has won a major tournament on foreign soil. The result also reinforces Sarina Wiegman’s status as one of the finest managers in the game , having now secured three consecutive European titles with two different nations. The Lionesses became the first team to win a single-legged Euros final after trailing at half-time, showing remarkable resilience yet again. They had fallen behind in all three knockout matches and once more found a way to respond. READ MORE |  The story of Euro 2025 READ MORE |  New...

Germany 0 - 1 Spain Aitana Bonmatí produced a moment of brilliance in extra time to send Spain into the final of Euro 2025. Author | Georgie B Stadium | Stadion Letzigrund This dramatic victory has set up a World Cup final rematch with England. With the tie still goalless after 90 minutes, the two-time Ballon d’Or winner turned smartly on the edge of the area before firing low past Ann-Katrin Berger in the 113th minute. It was a finish that reflected her class and composure, and one that proved decisive on a tense night. Germany rallied in the closing minutes and almost forced a penalty shootout. Cata Coll made a crucial diving stop to deny Lea Schüller and preserve Spain’s slender advantage, booking La Roja's place in their first European Championship final. The result sets up a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final, which Spain edged 1-0 thanks to Olga Carmona’s first-half strike.  A closer look at what happened on another dramatic night Bth teams were well matched across the pitc...

England v Spain Euro 2025 final preview After a month of continental football played across Switzerland, Euro 2025 will come to a close on Sunday in Basel, where Spain face England in a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final. Author | Lauren W This will be Sarina Wiegman’s fifth consecutive major tournament final as a manager, a remarkable record that underlines her consistency at the highest level. How the sides reached the final England’s path to their 2022 European Championship triumph was largely serene, with six wins from six and only two goals conceded. Their title defence has been far more turbulent. A defeat to France in their opening match was followed by confident victories over the Netherlands and Wales, but they were forced to come from behind against both Sweden and Italy in the knockout rounds. Yet Sarina Wiegman’s side, aided by the strength of their bench, continue to find a way through. READ MORE |  What else has happened at Euro 2025 Spain, by contrast, have loo...

Italy 1 - 3 Spain Esther González continued her impressive form with her fourth goal of Euro 2025 as Spain edged past Italy to maintain their perfect record Author | Ajay Stadium | Stadion Wankdorf Despite the defeat, Italy progressed to the quarter-finals as group runners-up after Portugal slipped to a surprise defeat against already-eliminated Belgium in Friday’s other Group B fixture. A closer look at what happened Italy made a spirited start in Salerno, unsettling the world champions early on. Captain Elena Linari rattled the crossbar with a thumping header before Elisabetta Oliviero struck a fierce left-footed shot beyond Adriana Nanclares to give Le Azzurre a deserved lead. The advantage, however, was short-lived. Just four minutes later, Athenea del Castillo cut through the Italian defence and exchanged passes with Alexia Putellas, who cleverly backheeled the return for Del Castillo to slam home the equaliser. READ MORE | Spain 6 - 2 Belgium READ MORE | What else has bee...

PSG 4 - 0 Real Madrid Paris St-Germain cruised into the Fifa Club World Cup final with a commanding win over Real Madrid, setting up a showdown with Chelsea on Sunday. Author | Peter Grainger Stadium | MetLife Stadium The semi-final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was effectively settled within the opening 25 minutes, as the European champions tore through a surprisingly fragile Madrid side. Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring in the sixth minute after Raul Asencio failed to clear under pressure, with the referee allowing play to continue despite Thibaut Courtois bringing down Ousmane Dembele moments earlier. Dembele, a constant menace, doubled the lead soon after when he pounced on a miscued clearance from Antonio Rudiger and calmly slotted past Courtois. READ MORE |  Club World Cup news and stories The third arrived before the half-hour mark, Ruiz finishing neatly after an intricate exchange between Achraf Hakimi and Dembele carved open the defence. Real, without the injured...

Spain 6 - 2 Belgium Alexia Putellas delivered a masterclass in creativity and composure as Spain reinforced their status as Euro 2025 favourites with a commanding win over Belgium Author | Jack L Stadium | Stockhorn Arena Putellas scored twice and provided two assists in a performance that highlighted her enduring class and influence. After making a flying start in their opener against Portugal, Spain took a little longer to find their rhythm in Thun, but once they did, they took full control. She opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a rifled finish following a neat exchange with Vicky Lopez. Belgium responded almost immediately, with Justine Vanhaevermaet rising above the defence to head in Tessa Wullaert’s corner. Spain regained the lead six minutes before the break when Irene Paredes, back in the side after suspension, powered home a header from a set-piece. READ MORE |  What else has been happening at Euro 2025 READ MORE |  England’s Euros defence begins on ...

Real Madrid 3 - 2 Borussia Dortmund  Real Madrid held their nerve through a frantic period of stoppage time to see off Borussia Dortmund and book their place in the Club World Cup semi-finals. Author | Josh D Stadium | MetLife Stadium The Spanish giants looked to be cruising towards victory with a 2-0 lead as the match entered added time. Gonzalo Garcia opened the scoring with a crisp volley inside 10 minutes, his fourth goal in five games, before Fran Garcia doubled the advantage by turning in a cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold. But the contest burst into life in injury time. Substitute Maximilian Beier pulled one back for Dortmund to set up a tense finale. READ MORE | Club World Cup news and stories from across the network READ MORE |  Fluminense 2 - 0 Inter Milan Kylian Mbappe responded almost immediately with an acrobatic volley to restore Real’s two-goal cushion. However, there was still time for more drama as Dean Huijsen was shown a red card for pulling down S...

PSG 4 - 0 Atletico Madrid Champions League winners start Club World Cup with emphatic win Author | Jack L Stadium | Rose Bowl Paris Saint-Germain made a commanding start to their first-ever Fifa Club World Cup campaign with a comfortable victory over Atletico Madrid in Pasadena. The newly crowned European champions controlled proceedings from the outset in the sweltering California heat, dominating possession in front of a crowd of 80,619 at the iconic Rose Bowl.  They had a remarkable 82.6% of the ball in the opening 15 minutes, setting the tone for what turned into a one-sided affair. Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring with a precise low strike from the edge of the area, giving Jan Oblak no chance. Goncalo Ramos had several opportunities to extend the lead but was wasteful in front of goal, missing the target three times. Vitinha doubled the advantage just before the break, gliding through the heart of the Atletico defence before finishing coolly past Oblak. The Slovenian goalkee...

Andy Robertson to Atlético Madrid?  Is another title-winning full back about to move to Spain?  Author | William G Atlético Madrid have expressed an interest in signing Andy Robertson, as Liverpool prepare to make a move for Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez to become their first-choice left-back.  Robertson said last week that he had not given much thought to his future, instead focusing on enjoying a well-earned break after another long campaign, one that ended with his second Premier League title. However, with the transfer window set to open in the coming days, uncertainty surrounds the Scotland captain’s future at Anfield for the first time in eight years.  Kerkez is expected to be Arne Slot’s preferred option at left-back, with a fee of around £45m to £50m likely to be required to prise him from Bournemouth. Liverpool are eager to keep hold of Robertson and would prefer to let current understudy Kostas Tsimikas depart.  READ MORE |  Transfer News an...

Portugal 2 - 2 Spain (Portugal won 5-3 on penalties) A dramatic night in Munich has two of the favourites for next year's World Cup faced off.  Author | Jack L Stadium | Allianz Arena Portugal defeated Spain in a dramatic penalty shootout to secure their second UEFA Nations League title, following a pulsating 2-2 draw in Munich. Cristiano Ronaldo levelled the scores in the second half after a back-and-forth contest that saw both sides squander leads. Although substituted before extra time, the Portugal captain was overcome with emotion on the sidelines after Ruben Neves struck the decisive penalty and Diogo Costa saved from Álvaro Morata. Spain, the 2023 champions, took the lead midway through the first half when Martín Zubimendi pounced on a loose ball to finish from close range. But Portugal responded quickly as Nuno Mendes drilled a powerful shot past Unai Simón to equalise just five minutes later. La Roja regained the advantage before the break through Mikel Oyarzabal, whos...

Spain 5 - 4 France Spain edged a breathless nine-goal contest against France to book their place in the Nations League final, with 17-year-old Lamine Yamal stealing the spotlight in Stuttgart. Author | Jack L Stadium | MHPArena The Barcelona prodigy struck twice in a dazzling performance as Spain raced into a commanding 5-1 lead. Yamal, already being tipped as a Ballon d’Or contender, won and converted a penalty, before adding a smart finish to cap a stunning attacking display.RE Goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Merino had put Spain 2-0 up before Yamal's spot-kick, while Pedri added a fourth after a slick move involving Williams. Kylian Mbappé responded for France from the penalty spot after Pedro Porro was penalised. READ MORE |  Portugal reach Nations League final Yamal’s second seemed to have killed the game, but France mounted a remarkable late comeback. Substitute Rayan Cherki announced himself on debut with a spectacular volley from the edge of the box, before a Dani Vi...

A sign that Real Madrid are taking the Club World Cup seriously? Trent Alexander-Arnold will officially become a Real Madrid player on Sunday 1 June after Liverpool agreed to an early termination of his contract in exchange for a fee. Author | William G Liverpool sources suggest the Spanish club has paid €10m (£8.4m) in a single up-front payment, although figures close to Madrid claim the fee is lower. The payment allows Alexander-Arnold to complete his move in time to feature in the expanded Club World Cup next month. The 26-year-old England international had been due to leave Anfield on a free transfer when his contract expired on 30 June, but had already made clear his intention to depart this summer. He has now signed a six-year deal with Madrid that includes a €1bn (£840m) buy-out clause. Fifa has approved a special transfer window from 1 to 10 June for clubs competing in the month-long Club World Cup, which begins on 14 June in the United States. READ MORE | News from across ...