This should be about the game. About a club, Paris Saint-Germain, taking yet another crack at winning the biggest prize in club football after three straight seasons of controversial exits by wafer-thin margins. And their visitors Real Madrid, the game’s ultimate blue-bloods, halfway in rebuild mode as they pursue their 14th European Cup as an
3:00 PM ET Substitute Nicolo Barella scored a stoppage-time equaliser on his Champions League debut to rescue a dramatic 1-1 draw for Inter Milan at home to Slavia Prague in their opening Champions League group game on Tuesday. The Czech champions, beaten on all six previous visits to Italy, took a shock lead through Peter
Craig Burley says Zlatan Ibrahimovic reminds him of Ruud Gullit late in his career and lays out how Zlatan would fare if he returned to Europe. Marcus Rashford converted an early penalty to help a depleted Manchester United side fend off Leicester City at Old Trafford. Alejandro Moreno feels the current version of Manchester United
Valencia players were upset by the decision to fire Marcelino. Valencia players are on a self-imposed silence heading into Tuesday’s Champions League opener at Chelsea as a sign of protest over the sacking of coach Marcelino. Marcelino was dismissed last week despite winning the Copa del Rey and securing Champions League football last season, a
Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola insists he will continue to back his players after they believed in him during his first season in charge. ESPN’s Alexis Nunes and Julien Laurens discuss the factors that will make or break Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes. Steve Nicol explains why Manchester City’s defence is likely to cost them more
Andrew Robertson’s silly penalty led to Liverpool’s loss at Napoli. European champions Liverpool were unable to get their Champions League campaign off to a bright start as they fell to a 2-0 loss at Napoli on Tuesday. Dries Mertens scored from the penalty spot following a poor Andrew Robertson challenge, with Fernando Llorente sealing the
Gab Marcotti recommends closed-door games to punish fans following the racist chants directed at Romelu Lukaku during Inter’s win over Cagliari. ESPN FC’s Gab Marcotti gives reasons why Inter Milan have yet to condemn their own ultras’ statement of support of Cagliari’s racist chants towards Romelu Lukaku. Serie A club Cagliari again escaped sanctions over
There’s lots to talk about in this week’s Monday Musings following a wild weekend. Gab Marcotti is here to recap the big stories around soccer. Jump to: No crisis yet for Man City | End of Bayern’s dominance? | Fati masks Barca’s issues | Juventus get lucky | Neymar gets rude welcome | Arsenal woe
ESPN FC’s Alejandro Moreno joins Ross Dyer to react to Chelsea’s thumping 5-2 win at Wolves which included a hat trick from Tammy Abraham. Brian McBride feels Mason Mount’s time with Frank Lampard at Derby has given him an early advantage over Christian Pulisic. Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount speaks to the media ahead of England’s
Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati is the name on everyone’s lips after the 16-year-old continued to write history in La Liga this weekend, following a start to the season that no one saw coming. The Bissau-born youngster has already broken records this season after stepping into an unexpectedly prominent role at Barca. He became the club’s
ESPN FC’s Julien Laurens weighs in on 16-year-old Ansu Fati’s impact at Barcelona so far with two goals in his first three matches. Lionel Messi is in Barcelona’s squad to face Dortmund despite missing the first four matches in La Liga. Should Ernesto Valverde risk playing him? Exactly a year ago Wednesday, on Sept. 18,
Roberto Pereyra’s converted penalty brought Watford back from their two-goal deficit, to force a 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Vicarage Road. Shaka Hislop slams Unai Emery for his lack of leadership and Arsenal for their calamitous play out of the back in their draw against Watford. The Toe Poke Daily is here every day to
ESPN FC’s Sid Lowe analyzes how Eden Hazard changes the feel for Real Madrid and gives them creativity and speed. Shaka Hislop explains what he thinks would be the only scenario that Virgi van Dijk leaves Liverpool for a club like Barcelona or Real Madrid. Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Gareth Bale all miss out on
C.J. Sapong scored a brace as the Chicago Fire gave FC Dallas a day to forget with a 4-0 drubbing. To watch MLS sign up to ESPN+. Chicago Fire and USMNT midfielder Djordje Mihailovic picks his favourite ever goal and his toughest opponent in “14 questions.” New Chicago Fire owner Joe Mansueto says making the
Alejandro Moreno feels the current version of Manchester United can only grind out wins and doesn’t intimidate other Premier League sides. The Premier League transfer window has closed, but the rest of Europe remains open for business until Monday. Plus, it’s never too late to look forward to January! Click here to view the latest
ESPN FC’s Ale Moreno explains why Kylian Mbappe’s presence at PSG makes Neymar an expendable asset. Alejandro Moreno says that Real Madrid displayed their excellent ability along with their fragility in their nail-biting 3-2 win against Levante. Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid will be both play their Champions League Group A opener on Wednesday without
4:54 PM ET AC Milan’s Krzysztof Piatek returned to the starting lineup and converted the winner with a penalty in a hard-fought 1-0 victory at 10-man Hellas Verona in Serie A on Sunday. The Polish striker was dropped by coach Marco Giampaolo for the win over Brescia before the international break but led the line
ESPN FC’s Julien Laurens weighs in on 16 year old Ansu Fati’s impact at Barcelona so far with two goals in his first three matches. Sid Lowe explains the significance of Lionel Messi publicly commenting on Barcelona’s failed effort to bring back Neymar. ESPN FC’s Shaka Hislop explains how Lionel Messi could add to his
ESPN FC’s Julien Laurens weighs in on 16 year old Ansu Fati’s impact at Barcelona so far with two goals in his first three matches. Sid Lowe explains the significance of Lionel Messi publicly commenting on Barcelona’s failed effort to bring back Neymar. Julien Laurens reads between the lines of Lionel Messi’s latest comments on
Cristiano Ronaldo claims it has been difficult for him and his family to cope with rape allegations aimed at him. Cristiano Ronaldo, who is still facing a civil rape case in Las Vegas, said in an interview this week that he felt “embarrassed” by the allegations against him. The pending civil case by his accuser,