Mikel Merino's two second-half goals helped Arsenal to a 3-0 win at Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday, the Gunners' fourth in as many games in the competition.

For the Premier League leaders, the result also constituted a 10th straight win in all competitions and an eighth consecutive clean sheet.

Racking up our fourth win of the league phase 💪 pic.twitter.com/yjuUUkundl

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 4, 2025

They have now scored 11 goals and conceded none in the Champions League so far as they moved clear at the top of the standings.

Saka x Mikel Merino 📸⚽

The Gunners are on their way to another three points in the Champions League 🙌

📺 Stream #UCL on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/uyqv4BbDEo

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) November 4, 2025

The match also saw a moment of history as Arsenal's Max Dowman became the youngest-ever player in a Champions League game aged just 15 years and 309 days when he came onto the pitch in the 73rd minute.

Stand-in captain Bukayo Saka opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 32 minutes after Slavia captain Lukas Provod had handled the ball in the box clearing a corner.

It's bad news for Slavia Praha 👀

VAR spots a handball and it's a penalty to Arsenal 👇

📺 Stream #UCL on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/4uYPSybUIX

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) November 4, 2025

Merino made it 2-0 from a quick breakaway 30 seconds into the second half as he volleyed home at the near post after Leandro Trossard's superb pass found him unmarked in the Slavia box.

He then beat Slavia goalkeeper Jakub Markovic with a header from Declan Rice's cross on 68 minutes.

Merino was one of four changes made by Gunners coach Mikel Arteta against Arsenal's 2-0 league win at Burnley on Saturday.

A special night for our Hale Enders. pic.twitter.com/F5i198kC78

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 4, 2025

The game got off to an eventful start as Gabriel Magalhaes blasted wide from outside the box and Provod followed suit at the other end inside the opening two minutes.

Any effort by Slavia to get close to the Arsenal goal stumbled on the Gunners' rock-solid defence, and the reigning Czech champions failed to produce a single shot on target during the match.

Arsenal were soon on the front foot, dominating possession and creating chances despite missing injured strikers Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli.

Saka alone had three shots on goal within eight minutes midway through the first half but was denied by Slavia's Markovic each time.

The goalkeeper also then stopped the Arsenal captain's low shot from inside the box on 60 minutes.

The loss leaves Slavia, the Czech top-flight leaders, with two points from four games in the Champions League.

Arsenal midfielder Max Dowman became the youngest Champions League player ever after coming on as a 73rd-minute substitute at Slavia Prague on Tuesday.

Dowman, who is 15 years and 309 days old, beat German striker Youssoufa Moukoko, who played for Dortmund at Zenit St Petersburg at 16 years and 18 days in 2020.

Moukoko currently plays for FC Copenhagen, who face Tottenham Hotspur later on Tuesday.

Dowman made his Premier League debut aged 15 years and 234 days during the Gunners' 5-0 win over Leeds on August 23.

He is the second-youngest Premiership player ever after Arsenal teammate Ethan Nwaneri, who was 53 days younger on his 2022 debut.

But Dowman became the youngest-ever player to start a match for Arsenal in the Gunners' 2-0 win over Brighton in the League Cup fourth round last week.

Dan Burn has urged Newcastle to accept winning with ugly performances at times as they prepare to face Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Eddie Howe's side host Bilbao at St James' Park looking to bounce back from a lacklustre 3-1 defeat against struggling West Ham in the Premier League last weekend.

The limp loss in east London has extended Newcastle's miserable domestic away form, but they can erase the painful memories of that setback with a victory over Bilbao.

Newcastle defender Burn believes his team need to show a more tenacious streak when times are tough, rather than relying on their skill to get them out of trouble.

"It comes down to mentality. The manager will look at that and I'm sure he will come up with a plan on what we can do better and how we can win games," Burn told reporters on Tuesday.

"Probably be a bit more ugly with stuff. If you go away from home, sometimes it's important not to get beaten as well, pick up points and keep yourself ticking along.

"As long as you're winning your home games and not getting beaten away, it's better. But we have not done that well enough."

Bilbao will be missing influential brothers Inaki and Nico Williams, while Howe will make a late decision on skipper Bruno Guimaraes after he trained away from the group on Tuesday because of illness.

Howe knows how crucial the Bilbao fixture could be to Newcastle's hopes of qualifying for the last 16.

Winners of two of their first three matches in this season's tournament, the Magpies face tricky trips to Marseille and Bayer Leverkusen later in the league phase.

"It's a really important game for us because we know what we have ahead in the Champions League. But that's not to say that this game is going to be easy either," he said.

"We are back at home, we love playing here as we say many times, but Athletic Club will provide stiff opposition.

"They're a very good defensive team - their defensive numbers are very, very strong. Off the ball, they've delivered this year some really strong performances in particular.

"From that side, our attacking game is going to have to be at its very best, and of course Champions League nights here are always very special."

Erling Haaland has warned opponents he is still not the finished article despite his phenomenal goalscoring record for Manchester City.

The Norwegian forward, who faces former club Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday, has netted a staggering 26 goals in 16 games for club and country this season.

Former England striker Alan Shearer said last month that if Haaland stays long enough, he will "no doubt" shatter his own all-time Premier League record of 260 goals.

Haaland, 25, was asked at City's pre-match press conference on Tuesday whether he could beat his record for goals in a season.

"Not to sound arrogant, but which one?" he asked.

The reporter clarified that he was asking about Haaland's tally of 52 goals for City in 2022/23, when the club won the Treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup.

During that season, Haaland's first in England, he scored 36 Premier League goals – setting a new record for a single campaign.

The marauding 1.95-metre (six feet, five inches) striker admitted he was "in a good way" this season but said he was more focused on the team than individual records.

-- NIGERIA ONLY --

"I can't think about records I can break," he said. "That's the last thing I think of. I try to help the team win football games. That's my job and that's my main focus.

"I know it's boring. I know you want me to say the complete opposite, but that's not how it is."

In a scary message for his opponents, Haaland said he was improving as a player, adding that he had been working on his headers.

"I think you can always get better and better," he said. "So there's something I try to practise still and you can see I'm getting better and better and there's still a long way to go."

City boss Pep Guardiola made Haaland part of his leadership team this season and described him at his own press conference on Tuesday as a "real world-class player who is incredibly humble".

"I know he wants to score goals, but I have the feeling he always wants what is best for the team," he said. "And that is difficult to find.

"He has this ability, talent, kindness, whatever you want to say. Of course he has to score goals, that's the best way to help us, that is perfectly clear, but he signed a contract for 10 years and he is involved in many things."

Haaland himself, who became a father last year, said he was "still the same kid", just with more experience.

"I'm still the same kid in some situations, and I'm still that kid from Bryne (in Norway), but with much more experience in life," he said.

Champions League winner and Chelsea legend Salomon Kalou is joining SuperSport’s Match Centre as an expert analyst for the rest of the season, bringing his insider perspective on European football’s most prestigious tournament. He kicks off his debut tonight, offering unique insight into massive fixtures such as the Liverpool v Real Madrid clash , as SuperSport continues to deliver the best live UCL coverage and analysis to a rapidly growing audience.

Your World of Champions, SuperSport, is proud to announce a major addition to its UEFA Champions League coverage: Salomon Kalou, former Chelsea star and winner of European football’s most prestigious club trophy, is joining the esteemed SuperSport studio panel for the remainder of the season.

Kalou, one of Ivory Coast’s most decorated footballers, takes his seat as an expert pundit for his debut tonight, Tuesday, 04 November 2025, instantly elevating the SuperSport Champions League Match Centre.

Kalou brings a wealth of direct experience, having lifted the Champions League trophy with Chelsea in a night of football history on 19 May 2012.

That dramatic final saw the Blues conquer Bayern Munich in their own backyard at the Allianz Arena on penalties, with Kalou featuring in the starting line-up for the historic win.

During his six stand-out years at Chelsea, Kalou secured the coveted Champions League title alongside a League double, playing a crucial role in one of the most successful eras for the London-based club.

His experience—which also includes spells at Lille, Hertha Berlin, and Botafogo—provides a unique, champion’s perspective for SuperSport viewers.

Kalou starts his SuperSport journey with an explosive line-up of fixtures.

Tonight, the action is headlined by a classic European rivalry as Liverpool lock horns with Real Madrid at Anfield, kicking off at 22:00 (SAST).

Kalou, no stranger to the Reds from his playing days, will provide his exclusive analysis for this massive European encounter, which will be shown live on Your World of Champions across SuperSport Premier League (EPL), SuperSport Football Plus Africa (FTPA), Football Plus Canal+ (FTPC), and SuperSport Football Plus Nigeria (FTPN).

Earlier this evening, at 19:45 (SAST), Arsenal take on Slavia Praha, with Mikel Arteta’s men hoping to continue their perfect form in Europe.

The game will be broadcast on SuperSport Premier League (EPL), SuperSport Football Plus Africa (FTPA), Football Plus Canal+ (FTPC), and SuperSport Football Plus Nigeria (FTPN).

At the same time, Italian powerhouse Napoli will also take on Germans Eintracht Frankfurt in what is expected to be a thrilling encounter.

The excitement continues on Wednesday, 05 November 2025, with a massive 22:00 (SAST) encounter between last year’s Champions League winners Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich at Parc des Princes.

This high-octane match will be shown live on SuperSport Premier League Africa (EPLA), SuperSport Premier League Nigeria (EPLN), SuperSport GOtv Premier League (GEPL), and Maximo 2 (SSM2).

Before that, at 19:45 (SAST), Kalou will bring his expert, insider analysis to his former club's game as Chelsea travel to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag.

That game is live on SuperSport Premier League (EPL), SuperSport Football Plus Africa (FTPA), Football Plus Canal+ (FTPC), and SuperSport Football Plus Nigeria (FTPN).

Wednesday also features other intriguing fixtures, including Manchester City v Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle v Athletic Club, Ajax v Galatasaray, Club Brugge v Barcelona, Benfica v Bayern Leverkusen, Inter Milan v Kairat, and Marseille v Atlanta.

 

Kalou joins a star-studded panel dedicated to delivering the best analysis, complementing the exhilarating live coverage SuperSport is famous for.

This commitment to quality is mirrored by the tournament’s immense growth on the continent.

According to official data from Nielsen Sports SA, the new format of the UEFA Champions League has seen a massive surge in popularity, recording a 57 per cent year-on-year increase in total unique viewers, climbing from 3.3 million to over 5.1 million.

Join Kalou as he dissects every tactical battle, every brilliant goal, and every minute that matters, live on Your World of Champions, SuperSport

Match Week 4 of the UEFA Champions League kicks off on Tuesday night with nine thrilling encounters, all broadcast live on SuperSport.

The spotlight falls on two headline fixtures, Liverpool v Real Madrid and Bayern Munich v defending champions Paris Saint-Germain as Europe’s elite battle for crucial group stage points.

Here's a look at what the stats reveal ahead of all nine matchups on the night.

Napoli v Eintracht Frankfurt

Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt have met on four previous occasions in Europe, all of which have come at the last 16 stage – the German side won both legs in the UEFA Cup in 1994-95, before Napoli won both in the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League.

The last meeting between these two sides ended in a 3-0 home victory for Napoli in March 2023, a result that eliminated Eintracht Frankfurt from the UEFA Champions League (last 16). This remains Napoli’s joint-second biggest margin of victory in a home match in the competition, only behind a 4-0 win versus Genk in December 2019.

Eintracht Frankfurt have lost their last three games against Italian sides in Europe, all without scoring (two v Napoli and one v Roma). Prior to this, they had only lost two of their first 11 matches against Italian sides across all European competitions (W6 D3).

A big week in the #UCL 🍿 pic.twitter.com/cs69t0sLMu

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 3, 2025

Only three sides have conceded more goals in the UEFA Champions League this season than Napoli (9). They’re facing an average of 16.7 shots per game, only facing more in two previous campaigns – 17 per game in 2011-12 and 16.9 per game in 2023-24.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s three UEFA Champions League games this season have all ended 5-1 (W1 L2), becoming the first team in the history of the competition to see their first three games in a season all have 6+ goals. Only Borussia Dortmund’s games (6.3) are averaging a higher goals per game this season than Frankfurt’s six per game.

Napoli have only lost one of their last 18 home UEFA Champions League matches (W11 D6), losing 3-2 to Real Madrid in October 2023. They’ve scored at least once in each of their last 21 on home soil – since a 0-0 draw with Dynamo Kyiv in November 2016 – with only Real Madrid on a longer current run (38 games).

Eintracht Frankfurt have conceded five goals in each of their last two UEFA Champions League matches – no side has ever done so in three in a row (since 1992-93). Across all major European competitions, no side from Europe’s big-five leagues has ever conceded 5+ goals in three games in a row.

Napoli manager Antonio Conte has lost two of his three UEFA Champions League group games this season – only once has he lost three in a single edition, doing so in 2019-20 for Internazionale. He is unbeaten in both previous games against Eintracht Frankfurt, however (W1 D1 in 2022-23 with Spurs).

Napoli’s Scott McTominay netted both of their goals in the 6-2 defeat to PSV on MD3 of this season’s UEFA Champions League. The only Scottish players to score more than twice in a single season in the competition are Celtic’s Kenny Miller in 2006-07 (3) and Aston Villa’s John McGinn in 2024-25 (3).

Mario Götze has three assists in his last seven UEFA Champions League appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt and his assist against Liverpool was his 15th overall in the competition, becoming the eighth German player with 15+ assists. Only Brazil and France have as many players with that many assists (both 8).

Slavia Prague v Arsenal

Slavia Prague are winless in their four meetings with Arsenal (D2 L2); only facing Anderlecht (5) more times in European competition without managing a victory.

Slavia Prague have only won one of their eight home games against English teams in European competition (D2 L5), going winless in seven since beating Leeds United in March 2000 in the UEFA Cup (2-1). After scoring twice in that game versus Leeds, they only netted one goal across the following seven.

Arsenal are unbeaten in their 10 matches against sides from Czechia, with eight of those ending in wins (D2). The Gunners have scored 27 goals across those 10 games, while only conceding three in return and keeping eight clean sheets.

Slavia Prague are winless in their last 14 UEFA Champions League matches (D6 L8) since winning their first game in the competition in September 2007 against FCSB. It’s the longest current run of any of the 36 sides in this season’s competition, and the joint longest run by a Czechia side – Sparta Prague also went 14 without a win between February 2004 and December 2005.

Arsenal have won their first three UEFA Champions League matches this season without conceding a goal, one of two sides to do this, along with Internazionale. The Gunners are looking to win their opening four games of a season for the first time since 2005-06, while the only English team in European Cup history to win their first four matches of a season without conceding were Leeds United in 1969-70.

Slavia Prague are one of four sides who didn’t score on MD2 and MD3 of this season’s UEFA Champions League, with the Czechia side accumulating the lowest xG of any side (0.84), while their shots had the lowest xG per shot value (0.04).

Only Bayern Munich (1.37) have faced a lower xG in UEFA Champions League games this season than Arsenal (1.51), while the Gunners have faced the joint fewest shots on target (6, level with Man City).

2 017 of the minutes Slavia Prague have awarded to players in the UEFA Champions League this season have been for Czechia players, the third most a team has given to players of their own affiliation, behind Athletic Club (2 717 to Spanish players) and Bodø/Glimt (2 403 to Norwegian players).

Gabriel Martinelli has scored in all three of Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League matches in 2025-26. The only Gunners player to score in their first four matches in a major European campaign was Ian Wright in the 1994-95 Cup Winners’ Cup (scored in first eight).

Mikel Arteta has won 63 per cent of his UEFA Champions League matches as Arsenal manager (won 17 of 27 games) – that’s the eighth best win ratio for a manager to take charge of 20+ games at a club, and the best at an English side.

Atlético de Madrid v Union Saint-Gilloise

Atlético de Madrid and Union Saint-Gilloise will meet for the first time here; the Spanish side have only won two of their previous six games against Belgian sides in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League (D2 L2), and are winless in the last three (D2 L1).

Atlético de Madrid have failed to score in three consecutive matches against Belgian teams in the UEFA Champions League, all of which were against Club Brugge between December 2018 and October 2022 (D2 L1).

This will be the 23rd time that a Belgian team have faced a Spanish opponent away from home in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, while they have won just two of the previous 22 (D6 L14). The last side to do so were Anderlecht in December 2005, winning 1-0 away at Real Betis (D3 L4 since then).

Atlético de Madrid have lost two of their three UEFA Champions League group games this season, as many as they lost in 2023-24 and 2024-25 combined (W10 D2 L2). They last suffered three group defeats in 2022-23.

After winning their first UEFA Champions League match 3-1 against PSV, Union Saint-Gilloise have lost their last two both 4-0, against Newcastle and Internazionale. Only two teams have lost by 4+ goals without scoring in three Champions League games in a row – Malmö FF in November/December 2015 and Crvena Zvezda in October/November 2019.

Atlético de Madrid are unbeaten in their last 16 home UEFA Champions League matches against sides from a nation outside of Europe’s big-five leagues (W11 D5), with their last five home defeats coming against sides from England (3), Italy (1) and France (1) since a 2-1 defeat to Benfica in September 2015.

Although they’ve lost their two home UEFA Champions League games, Union Saint-Gilloise won their first away game 3-1 at PSV. Only five teams have won their first two away games in the competition – most recently Brest last season – and no side has ever lost their first two home games but won their first two on the road.

Union Saint-Gilloise’s Kevin Mac Allister has scored in each of his last three away major European appearances, including his only away UEFA Champions League appearance. The only Argentinian to score in his first two away games in the competition is Julio Rossi in 2002 for Basle.

Antoine Griezmann’s next UEFA Champions League appearance will be his 109th, moving ahead of Patrice Evra (108) into the outright third spot for most games played by a Frenchman in the competition. He’s had a hand in 37 goals in 43 home appearances for Atlético de Madrid (28 goals, 9 assists), including 12 in his last 12 on home soil (9 goals, 3 assists).

Between spells at Manchester City and his current club Atlético de Madrid, Julián Alvarez has been directly involved in 15 goals in 10 home matches he has started in the UEFA Champions League (10 goals, five assists). Across those 10 starts, he has averaged a goal or assist every 59 minutes played.

Liverpool v Real Madrid

Liverpool and Real Madrid have faced each other on 12 previous occasions in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League. After winning the first three between 1981 and 2009, Liverpool have only won one of the last nine (D1 L7).

This will be the eighth time that Liverpool and Real Madrid have met in the UEFA Champions League since the start of the 2017-18 season, with the Spanish side winning five of the previous seven (D1 L1). Including all MD4 games this season, only two fixtures will have been played more often in the competition in this period: Manchester City v Real Madrid (10) and Paris SG v Bayern Munich (9).

All four of Liverpool’s wins over Real Madrid in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League have been to nil, including the most recent one in November 2024 (2-0 at Anfield). Only Juventus (5) have won and kept a clean sheet against Real Madrid across the two competitions on more occasions.

Liverpool have won 20 of their last 22 home UEFA Champions League group stage games (D1 L1), including each of their last 12 in a row. However, three of their seven home group defeats have come versus Spanish sides (one each v Barcelona, Valencia and Real Madrid).

Real Madrid have won their first three UEFA Champions League matches this season – on two of the previous four occasions they’ve started with four consecutive wins, they’ve lifted the trophy (2001-02 and 2023-24), reaching the semifinals in the other two (2011-12 and 2014-15).

Real Madrid have had the most shots on target in the UEFA Champions League this season (37), having 10+ in all three games (15 v Marseille, 12 v Kairat, 10 v Juventus). Since 2003-04, the only team to do so in four in a row are Madrid themselves in the 2013-14 campaign, though Liverpool have only faced 10+ shots on target twice since 2003-04, and never at Anfield.

Arne Slot has won 10 of his 13 UEFA Champions League matches as Liverpool manager (L3), with only Hansi Flick at Bayern Munich (10), Luis Enrique at Barcelona (11) and Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid (12) reaching 10 wins in fewer games with a club. Slot at Liverpool is the fastest any manager has won 10 games with an English club, however.

Of the 10 players with 50+ goals in European Cup/UEFA Champions League history, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has the highest per centage scored in away matches (53 per cent - 32/60). The Frenchman netted a hat-trick in his previous away game in the competition (v Kairat on MD2), and now has the joint-most away hat-tricks of any player in European Cup/Champions League history (3 – level with Filippo Inzaghi).

This game could be Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham’s 50th UEFA Champions League appearance, reaching that total aged just 22 years and 128 days – the youngest of any player in the competition’s history. The current youngest is Iker Casillas, who hit 50 games aged 22 years and 155 days, just 115 days after Bellingham was born in 2003.

Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold could become just the second Englishman to play against Liverpool in the European Cup having previously played for them in the competition, after Nottingham Forest’s Larry Lloyd in September 1978 (played both games against Liverpool in the first round in 1978-79).

Tottenham Hotspur v Copenhagen

This will be the first meeting between Tottenham and Copenhagen, and just the English side’s second match against a Danish opponent in European competition, after a 3-2 win versus Aalborg in the UEFA Cup in November 2007.

Copenhagen have only won two of their previous 19 matches against English sides in European competition (D5 L12), with both of those victories coming against Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League (1-0 in November 2006 and 4-3 in November 2023).

Copenhagen have never won away to an English opponent in Europe, losing in seven of their nine attempts (D2). Indeed, they’ve lost each of the last five in a row, with four of those coming since the start of the 2022-23 campaign.

This will be Thomas Frank’s first match against a Danish opponent since March 2016, in a 3-1 defeat against SønderjyskE while in charge of Brøndby. The Tottenham manager has faced Copenhagen on eight previous occasions – all in the Danish Superliga with Brøndby – winning just two of them (D3 L3).

Tottenham Hotspur have drawn each of their last two UEFA Champions League matches, while two of their last four games in the competition have been 0-0. Spurs haven’t drawn three in a row in major European competition since doing so between March and October 2014 in the UEFA Europa League.

Copenhagen have conceded two or more goals in each of their last five UEFA Champions League matches, shipping 14 in total (D1 L4). They’ve only won one of 19 games in the competition when shipping 2+ goals (D2 L16), a 4-3 win over Man Utd in November 2023.

Tottenham Hotspur are unbeaten in their last nine major European matches (W6 D3) – they last had a run of 10 undefeated games between December 2011 and March 2013 in the UEFA Europa League.

Excluding own goals, two of Copenhagen’s three UEFA Champions League goals this season have come via headers – they’ve scored with 33 per cent of shots via their heads (2/6), compared to just one of their 29 attempts not from a header (3.4 per cent).

Copenhagen’s Viktor Dadason netted on his UEFA Champions League debut on MD3 aged just 17 years and 113 days, the youngest ever debutant scorer in the competition’s history. The current youngest player to score in his first two appearances is Karim Benzema (18 years, 281 days), who is now the fourth highest scoring player in the competition’s history with 90 goals.

Pedro Porro has made 28 line-breaking passes across his three UEFA Champions League games this season, at least 10 more than any other Tottenham Hotspur player. The Spaniard also has the joint-most chances created for the London side in the competitions this term (4), level with attacker Mohammed Kudus.

Olympiakos v PSV Eindhoven

The only previous meetings between Olympiakos and PSV came in the last 32 of the UEFA Europa League in 2020-21, where the Greek side progressed with a 5-4 aggregate victory over two legs (won 4-2 at home in the first leg, lost 2-1 away in the second).

PSV have lost four of their last six away trips to face Greek sides in European competition (W2), including the most recent two versus PAOK Salonika (November 2020) and Olympiakos (February 2021), both in the UEFA Europa League. Their last one in the UEFA Champions League was a 4-1 loss to Panathinaikos in December 2004.

PSV have conceded 14 goals across their last four away matches versus Greek sides (W1 L3), conceding exactly four goals in each of the three defeats they suffered in this run: 4-1 losses to Panathinaikos and PAOK Salonika, along with a 4-2 defeat to Olympiakos.

Since the 2017-18 campaign, only Crvena Zvezda (77 per cent, 20/26) have lost a higher per centage of their UEFA Champions League matches than Olympiakos (76 per cent, 16/21) among teams to play 20+ games in that time. Indeed, Olympiakos have lost as many games as Man City since 2017-18, despite City playing 69 more games.

PSV’s nine UEFA Champions League matches 2025 have seen 43 goals scored (21 for, 22 against), with that average of 4.8 per game the highest of any side to feature in both last season and this season’s competition.

Between 2009-10 and 2014-15, Olympiakos won 13 out of 17 home matches in the UEFA Champions League (L4). Since then, the Greek side have only won three out of 13 games (D3 L7), failing to score in each of their last three at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.

PSV have just three wins in their last 30 away matches in the UEFA Champions League (D9 L18) and they have gone 17 away games without a clean sheet since a 0-0 draw at Atlético de Madrid back in March 2016. 13 of their last 16 victories have come at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven.

Ayoub El Kaabi has scored 22 major European goals for Olympiakos, netting his first in the UEFA Champions League in the 6-1 defeat to Barcelona on MD3. The only player to score more goals for a Greek club in Europe is Dimitrios Saravakos for Panathinaikos (23).

Guus Til has four assists in his last six UEFA Champions League starts for PSV, including one in each of his last three starts. No Dutch player has ever assisted a goal in four starts in a row, with Philipp Cocu in 1999/00 and Clarence Seedorf in 2007 also doing so in three in a row.

PSV’s last two UEFA Champions League goals against Napoli on MD3 were scored by Ricardo Pepi and Couhaib Driouech, who both assisted one another goals as well and both had come on as substitutes. It was only the fifth time a substitute duo had combined for goals in a match in Champions League history.

Juventus v Sporting CP

Juventus are unbeaten in their four meetings with Sporting CP to date (W2 D2), with their most recent clash seeing Juve eliminate the Portuguese side from the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals in 2022-23 (2-1 aggregate victory – won 1-0 at home, drew 1-1 away).

Sporting CP – who are winless in four games against Juventus (D2 L2) – have only faced three other sides as many as five times in major European competition without ever winning: Arsenal (7), Partizan Belgrade (6) and Bayer Leverkusen (6).

This will be the 20th time that Sporting CP have faced an Italian side away from home in Europe, while they’re still looking for their first victory (D5 L14). Indeed, they have lost in Italy in three of the last four seasons (P4 D1 L3), versus Juventus in 2022-23 (0-1), Atalanta in 2023-24 (1-2) and Napoli in 2025-26 (1-2).

Juventus are winless in their last four UEFA Champions League matches (D2 L2) since beating PSV 2-1 in February. They last had a longer winless run in the competition between April and November 2013 (6 games).

Sporting CP have won two of their last three UEFA Champions League matches (L1), only one fewer than they’d won in their previous 14 combined (W3 D4 L7). They’re looking for consecutive wins for the first time since winning their final two under Rúben Amorim in October/November last season.

Five of the six goals Juventus have scored in the UEFA Champions League this season have been when they’ve been losing, the most of any side in that game state. Although they’ve only spent 37 per cent of their games losing – the 15th most of any side – they’ve had the second-most shots when they’ve been behind (25).

Sporting CP have won just one of their 24 away UEFA Champions League matches against sides from one of Europe’s big-five leagues (D4 L19), beating Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 in September 2022.

Four of Sporting CP’s seven UEFA Champions League goals this season have been scored by substitutes, the most of any side. Indeed, of their nine goals scored across 2025, only two of them have not had an involvement from a sub either scoring (5) or assisting (4) or both.

Dusan Vlahovic’s next UEFA Champions League appearance will be his 20th for Juventus – since his debut in the competition in February 2022, he’s been involved in 11 goals (8 goals, 3 assists), more than twice as many as any of his teammates (Weston McKennie, 5).

Pote has been involved in nine goals in 16 UEFA Champions League appearances for Sporting CP (4 goals, 5 assists) – the most of any player in their Champions League history. He’s assisted a goal in three of his last four starts in the competition, all of which have been in victories.

Paris SG v Bayern Munich

Paris SG have lost each of their last four matches against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League, with this being their longest ever losing run against a team in the competition.

Bayern Munich are the team that have beaten Paris SG the most times in the UEFA Champions League, winning eight of their 14 meetings in the competition (L6). If the German side win here, they would also become the only team to have won three consecutive away matches against Paris SG in the Champions League (won the last two by 1-0 scorelines – April 2021 and February 2023).

Paris SG have failed to score a single goal across their last four meetings with Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League; their longest run without scoring against an opponent in the competition. Across the four games, they have attempted a total of 40 shots and hit the target on 14 occasions without finding the net.

Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern München? #UCL pic.twitter.com/jxPxD7U2za

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 3, 2025

This will be Bayern Munich’s first UEFA Champions League match against the previous season’s winners since a 2-2 draw with Real Madrid in May 2018; a result which saw them eliminated from the tournament at the semifinal stage (lost 4-3 on aggregate). Bayern are winless in their last five matches against the competition’s reigning champions (D1 L4), conceding at least two goals in each of them (13 conceded overall).

Paris SG have won their last six matches in the UEFA Champions League, their joint best winning run in the competition – they also won their first six games in 1994-95 under Luis Fernandez. They haven’t won their fourth group match in any of the last four seasons, however (D2 L2).

Bayern Munich are looking to win four consecutive UEFA Champions League matches for the first time since winning their first four in 2023-24, while the last time they netted three or more goals in four games in a row was between September and November 2021 under Julian Nagelsmann.

Paris SG have scored more goals than any other team in this season’s UEFA Champions League (13), the most netted in a side’s first three games since Napoli scored 13 in 2022-23. The record for goals in a team’s first four matches is 17, achieved by Paris SG in 2017-18, Bayern Munich in 2021-22 and Napoli in 2022-23.

Paris SG’s Achraf Hakimi has been directly involved in a goal in each of his last five UEFA Champions League appearances (two goals, three assists); the joint-longest run by a defender in the competition (since 1992-93), along with Marcelo for Real Madrid (April-October 2018) and Ian Harte for Leeds United (February-April 2001).

Harry Kane could score in five consecutive UEFA Champions League appearances for the first time in his career (netted in each of last four – six goals), while only two other players have scored in five in a row in the competition as a Bayern Munich player (Arjen Robben in October 2013 and Robert Lewandowski on three different occasions).

Paris SG’s Vitinha has completed 92.4 per cent of his passes made under high-intensity pressure in the UEFA Champions League this season (134/145); the highest of any player to attempt 100 across the first three matchdays. Indeed, he also leads all players for total passes completed under high-intensity pressure (134).

Bodø/Glimt v Monaco

This will be the first meeting between Bodø/Glimt and Monaco, as well as just the second time that the Norwegian side have faced a French opponent in Europe (after a 1-1 draw with Nice in January this year in the UEFA Europa League).

Monaco’s only previous game against a Norwegian side in Europe came over two decades ago, losing 1-0 away to Viking in the UEFA Cup group stage in October 2005.

This will be the first match played between teams from Norway and France in the UEFA Champions League in almost two decades, with Rosenborg losing 2-1 to Lyon back on December 6th 2005 in the previous one.

Of the 10 meetings between Norwegian and French sides in European Cup/UEFA Champions League history, only one of those has been won by the Norway outfit (D2 L7): Rosenborg 3-1 Paris SG in September 2000.

Bodø/Glimt are winless in their last six matches in major European competition (D2 L4), conceding at least two goals on each occasion (15 in total). Only once previously have they conceded 2+ goals in more consecutive games in major European action (7 between October 1978 and September 1999).

Since winning three consecutive UEFA Champions League matches between March and April 2017, Monaco have only managed one more victory (4) in their last 27 matches in the competition (D7 L16).

Monaco have drawn three of their last four matches in the UEFA Champions League (L1), including the most recent two; only once have they drawn three in a row in the competition, doing so in the 1997-98 edition (3).

Only two teams – Atalanta (-4.1) and Slavia Prague (-2.8) – have underperformed against their expected goals by a bigger margin than Monaco (-2.4) in the UEFA Champions League this season. The French side have scored just three goals from an xG total of 5.4 so far.

Both of Bodø/Glimt’s goals at the Aspmyra Stadion in the UEFA Champions League have been scored by Jens Petter Hauge and assisted by Håkon Evjen (both v Tottenham Hotspur). This was just one of five instances of a player assisting a teammate twice in a Champions League match in 2025-26.

Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche has had the most shots (12) of any player yet to score in the UEFA Champions League this season. The Frenchman attempted six against Tottenham Hotspur on MD3, with only one Monaco player on record (since 2003-04) having more in a Champions League match without finding the net (7 by Javier Chevantón v PSV in March 2005).

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham is gradually making his mark after a slow start ahead of his return to England to face Manchester City on Wednesday.

Jobe joined Dortmund in the summer aged 19 for a reported fee of 30.5 million euros ($35 million) from Sunderland, among the most expensive transfers in Dortmund's history.

Jobe followed in the footsteps of his brother Jude, who moved to the Westfalenstadion five years earlier, aged 17.

Jude became one of the most sought-after players at Dortmund and is now a true superstar after moving to Real Madrid in 2023.

While Jobe has returned to England to play for the under-21s side he captains, Wednesday's match will be his first on English soil for his new club.

A big week in the #UCL 🍿 pic.twitter.com/cs69t0sLMu

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 3, 2025

Like City, Dortmund sit in the top eight, having won two and drawn one of their three Champions League games so far.

'ANXIETIES'

The younger Bellingham understood a move to Dortmund would provoke comparisons with Jude, but felt the club offered the best place for him to develop.

Like he did at Sunderland, the younger Bellingham has 'Jobe' on his jersey rather than his last name, due to his famous brother.

On arriving in Dortmund, Jobe admitted in pre-season comparisons with his older brother were on his mind.

"It's something you do think about. You have these anxieties, especially me as I'm only young," he told reporters, adding "I'm not perfect. I do think about these things."

With Jude's exploits in black and yellow fresh in the mind, Jobe took longer than many expected to find his feet in Germany.

A decent Club World Cup showing – Jobe started three games, scoring a goal and assisting another before missing a showdown with his brother due to a yellow card suspension – was followed by a more difficult time when the season started.

Jobe was hooked at halftime in his opening Bundesliga game. Jobe's father and agent Mark confronted Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl in the player tunnel after the match.

The incident forced Dortmund to publicly reiterate "the active area is and remains reserved for players, coaches and management, not families and advisors."

Jobe started his next league match but was then benched, only picking up minutes in the dying stages of matches and failing to record any goals or assists during his brief cameos.

In mid-October at Bayern Munich, Jobe made a high-profile error, failing to clear the ball off the goal-line, allowing Michael Olise to score what would eventually be the winner.

The setback seemed to spark the midfielder, however.

Three days later, Jobe started in the Champions League at Copenhagen, laying on two assists in a 4-2 win.

On Tuesday, Jobe helped create Dortmund's equaliser in a German Cup clash at Eintracht Frankfurt, which his side won on penalties.

And last Friday, the 20-year-old put his body on the line late to block a potential equaliser in the dying stages of a hard-fought 1-0 win at Augsburg.

A Dortmund source told German tabloid Bild on Monday Jobe was in line to start against City.

'A LOT OF QUALITY'

While the noise had grown louder around Jobe – perhaps also from inside the Bellingham family itself – Dortmund feel his development is not lagging, but actually ahead of schedule.

Speaking on Friday, Dortmund coach Niko Kovac praised the midfielder.

"You could see in our last game against Frankfurt what qualities he has. He's present. He's physical.

"I'm not concerned, on the contrary, I know what he can do.

"We're building him up slowly here and it's going even faster than what I had imagined myself, because the lad really has a lot of quality."

Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel echoed his coach's words, saying: "Jobe is doing great, he's been good in the last few games too.

"He's getting better week to week – outstanding."

Arsenal will be without Viktor Gyokeres for Tuesday's Champions League game at Slavia Prague after the Swedish striker picked up a muscle injury at the weekend, manager Mikel Arteta said on Monday.

Gyokeres scored the opener in Arsenal's 2-0 win at Burnley on Saturday, his fourth Premier League goal of the season, but did not emerge for the second half, and Arteta confirmed he would not feature in the match in Prague.

"He's definitely not available," Arteta told reporters.

"He hasn't trained today, and we need to do some more tests and scans in the next few days to understand the extent of the injury, but for this game he is not available."

Gyokeres, who joined Arsenal from Sporting in July for 55 million euros ($64.14 million), has started 13 games this season for the club across the domestic league and the Champions League, and his absence is a worry for the manager.

"Concern because he hasn't had many muscular issues, and he had to leave the pitch, and he was feeling something," Arteta said.

"That's obviously never a good sign, especially for a player that is very, very explosive. So we are digging in a little bit more to understand where we are in terms of the injury, and we'll announce the moment we know more."

Gyokeres netted 39 league goals for Sporting last season, along with six in the Champions League and the Swede's injury comes just when he looked to be hitting his stride with Arsenal.

Saturday's goal was his first in the league since September 13, and he also netted twice in the most recent Champions League game, a 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid.

"Obviously he was very disappointed after the match with what he felt, but this is part of football," Arteta said.

"If you expect a linear line, everything going up, it's not going to happen, and if he's got something, he's going to have to deal with it, we will help him to do that.

"He was in a really good moment, in really good form, very important for the team. But for tomorrow, we don't have him, so that's it."

Arsenal have won all three Champions League games this season without conceding a goal while Slavia are still without a win in the league phase of the competition and are on two points.

 

🚨Viktor Gyokeres hasn’t trained and hasn’t travelled today as Arsenal prepare to face Slavia Prague tomorrow.

The striker suffered a muscular injury against Burnley and is currently undergoing scans to determine the extent of the injury.

Mikel Arteta currently has no centre… pic.twitter.com/b48pJWZ6PV

— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) November 3, 2025

 

Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer says Bayern Munich know how to "hurt" Paris Saint-Germain as the Bavarians brace for their away clash with the Champions League title-holders on Tuesday.

PSG won the Champions League last year at Bayern's Allianz Arena home, thumping Inter Milan 5-0, but the Bavarian giants travel to the Parc des Princes in incredible form.

Bayern have won all 15 of their matches in all competitions so far this campaign, setting a record for the best-ever start in Europe's top-five leagues.

The 39-year-old captain said his side "don't have any fear" of the French champions, adding: "We love to play against PSG and we're playing to win."

Neuer, a two-time Champions League winner with Bayern, said the visitors have a clear plan to rattle PSG.

"We are both teams that like to have the ball, that's well-known, and perhaps we don't like to defend much," he said.

"There will certainly be opportunities to counter-attack. You have to be wide awake for that, and also try to have a good defensive structure against these strong and fast opponents.

"That's exactly how we want to hurt the Parisians."

Front-and-centre in Bayern's historic season has been the superb form of England captain Harry Kane.

Kane has 22 goals in Bayern's 15-game winning streak but has also been playing a greater creative role in the side, dropping deep to help out in build-up play.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany told reporters Kane's "understanding of the role has evolved" this season.

"It's a bit of a mix of creating the conditions for him to do what he does really well, but ensuring he is where he needs to be to score goals," the Belgian said.

"Harry has a lot of experience and a good feeling for the game... Harry doesn't have a very different role to last year, but he's evolved in how he sees the role."

Bayern Munich will need to play a perfect game against holders Paris St Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday if they are to have any chance of protecting their record-breaking start to the season, coach Vincent Kompany said on Monday.

The German champions extended their record run in Europe's top five leagues with 15 wins from 15 games after a 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

The previous best of 13 wins was held by AC Milan from 1992/3.

"I think you have to believe you can do it and then need a perfect game," Kompany told a press conference ahead of the match in the French capital.

"It's a classic answer. They are the winners of last season's Champions League and favourites this season. But we still have to believe in our chances."

Both Bayern and PSG have won all three of their Champions League matches so far and are level on goal difference. PSG are unbeaten in their last eight competitive matches.

Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, who scored in PSG's win over Bayern Munich in the Club World Cup quarterfinals, is available for the match.

"With PSG it is the collective. It is not enough to concentrate on one player," Kompany said. "There is an individual aspect... but what makes this team so strong is they are working as a team in all phases of the game.

"The reality is we have similar conditions. It is not only about dominance but what the team communicated until now and we have communicated the same things and we have to see what will happen now. That is what people want to see."

"Whoever wins tomorrow will take a big step to get under the top eight (and qualify for the knockout stage)," Kompany said.

📌 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗨𝗣: All eyes on #PSGFCB 👀

Tomorrow night, a #UCL cracker awaits! 👊🔥 pic.twitter.com/FPpMdlVq6r

— FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) November 3, 2025

 

Trent Alexander-Arnold could face a rancorous reception when he returns to Anfield for Tuesday's Champions League game against Liverpool but the Real Madrid defender said no amount of hostility from fans could dampen his love for his boyhood club.

Liverpool-born Alexander-Arnold came up through the club's youth ranks and won two Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Club World Cup with the Merseyside team.

His decision not to sign a new deal at the club prompted an angry response from many Liverpool supporters, who jeered him in a Premier League game against Arsenal in May after he said he wanted to experience a new challenge.

"I think whichever way I am received is the decision of the fans," Alexander-Arnold told Amazon Prime on Sunday. "I will always love the club. I will always be a fan of the club.

"No matter what, my feelings won't change towards Liverpool. I have got memories there that will last me a lifetime and no matter how I am received, that won't change."

Liverpool manager Arne Slot told reporters later that the 27-year-old could count on a warm welcome from him.

"I can only tell you what kind of reception he gets from me. I only have good memories from him as a player and as a human being," he said.

"I have memories of working with him that are only positive and memories of watching him when I'm in front of the TV and they are only positive. I can remember multiple great moments of him in a Liverpool shirt.

"Let's see if he is on the pitch and then how the fans react I've no clue but he gets a warm welcome from me, that's for sure."

Liverpool have struggled in recent weeks, suffering six defeats in their last eight games in all competitions, but Alexander-Arnold said no one at Real would underestimate the Premier League champions.

"It will be a very difficult game, the reception and atmosphere will contribute to that, but more so the football for me," he added.

"Although they haven't had the results of late, they're still a top footballing team, and nobody here thinks it's going to be an easy game."

Trent Alexander-Arnold's time at Liverpool was simply sensational 😮‍💨✨ pic.twitter.com/GeGbs1CguJ

— OneFootball (@OneFootball) November 3, 2025

 

Liverpool boss Arne Slot says he will give Trent Alexander-Arnold a warm welcome when Real Madrid visit Anfield on Tuesday, even if the right-back receives a frosty reception from his formerly adoring fans.

The England international, a boyhood Reds fan, ran down his contract to join the Spanish giants in June for a nominal fee.

The 27-year-old played a huge role in the Reds' return to the top of English and European football under Jurgen Klopp and Slot, winning two Premier League titles and the Champions League.

"I have great memories of the player and of the human being," said Slot, who won the Premier League during his only season working with Alexander-Arnold.

"I have memories working with him, which were only positive and I have memories when I was watching him in front of the television, which are only positive as well.

"I can remember multiple great moments of him wearing the Liverpool shirt."

The Dutchman told reporters on Monday: "He will get a warm welcome by me. Let's first wait and see if he's on the pitch tomorrow, and how our fans will react."

The England international was booed by Liverpool fans at times during his final few months at the club as his expected departure approached.

Liverpool have badly missed his presence in a difficult start to Slot's second season, with six defeats in their past eight games.

But the move to Spain is also yet to work out for Alexander-Arnold, who has been hampered by a hamstring injury and has found himself on the bench a number of times.

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso is expected to keep faith with Federico Valverde at right-back from the start of Tuesday's blockbuster Champions League clash.

 

Arne Slot confirmed Alisson Becker, Jeremie Frimpong and Alexander Isak remain unavailable for tomorrow's clash with Real Madrid 💬

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 3, 2025

 

Just under a year ago Liverpool beat the 15-time European champions 2-0 at this stage of the competition.

However, Madrid arrive on Merseyside in far better form this time around, with French striker Kylian Mbappe in scintillating form.

Los Blancos are five points clear of Barcelona at the top of LaLiga and have a perfect record of three wins from three games in the league phase of the Champions League.

"They have always been a big force in this competition," said Slot. "A very good team, but we are a very good team as well."

Slot confirmed Alisson Becker, Alexander Isak and Jeremie Frimpong are out injured, with only Isak in contention to return to face Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.

Ousmane Dembele, who scored in Paris St Germain's win over Bayern Munich in the Club World Cup quarterfinals, is available for Tuesday's Champions League clash between the French and German champions, PSG coach Luis Enrique said.

France striker Dembele, who had scored in stoppage time when a nine-man PSG beat Bayern 2-0 in July, left the field after feeling discomfort in his right thigh at Lorient last week, and only played 18 minutes in Saturday's Ligue 1 match against Nice.

"We do not take risks with any players. But Ousmane Dembele is fit, he has been in every training session for the last two weeks," Luis Enrique told reporters on Monday.

"He is improving his physical fitness and he will certainly play tomorrow. I do not know for how many minutes, but he will play because he is ready to compete."

Bayern have won every single match since their loss to European champions PSG. They have won 15 competitive matches in a row, including all nine in their Bundesliga campaign.

Both Bayern and PSG have won all three of their Champions League matches so far and are equal on goal difference.

PSG are unbeaten in their last eight competitive matches and the manager is confident of extending that streak at home against the Bavarians.

"We know how difficult it will be. We are ready and motivated to win," Luis Enrique said.

"I think there will be similar situations to what we saw in the United States last summer, with lots of intensity... in front of our supporters, with the atmosphere we created every game, we're confident that we can improve our performance level to try to overcome their pressure."

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield to face his former side Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday after a nearly immaculate start to life in the Spanish capital.

While Premier League giants Liverpool have just two wins in their last eight games, Alonso's Madrid are on a high, transformed from last season and improving weekly under the Basque manager.

The 15-time European champions beat Clasico rivals Barcelona last weekend in LaLiga and aim to flex their muscles in another high-calibre match against Arne Slot's Liverpool.

Their only defeat this season came in a 5-2 derby humiliation by Atletico Madrid and Alonso's side have progressed rapidly since.

Many Liverpool fans hoped the Spaniard would take the reins at Anfield when Jurgen Klopp announced he would leave the club at the end of the 2023/24 season.

Elegant on the ball, Alonso was the brains of Liverpool's midfield between 2004 and 2009. He was key to the 2005 Champions League triumph in Istanbul and won the FA Cup among other silverware before departing for Real Madrid.

Alonso stayed for an extra year at Bayer Leverkusen and instead stepped into Carlo Ancelotti's shoes after Madrid ended last season without a major trophy.

He has made a quick impact at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Madrid winning 13 of their 14 matches this season.

Ancelotti found it hard to make his star-studded attack press opponents, but Alonso's side have been diligent. With greater intensity without the ball, Madrid are more sturdy.

"To win trophies you have to defend well, obtaining many clean sheets," said Alonso, as Madrid secured their seventh of the season in a 4-0 rout of Valencia on Saturday.

Spanish newspaper Marca wrote Madrid have "forged a new identity" and now "dominate, suffocate and subdue their opponents" – a far cry from the lethargy of Ancelotti's final season.

The Italian could not bring himself to drop Rodrygo Goes even though playing him with Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham made Madrid top heavy.

Now no team in Europe has more ball recoveries in the final third than Madrid.

Alonso has also shown his willingness to make tactical shifts during games and between matches, whereas Ancelotti's side were more predictible.

The coach decided his team will train before heading to Merseyside, so Liverpool get no hints to how he will approach the match.

"It's my decision (not to train at Anfield), we prefer to do it at home, in our space, so they don't put 200 cameras on us," said Alonso.

STARS RISING 

Alonso has also got the best out of his team's star players, with perhaps one exception.

Winger Vinicius showed his frustration with his coach publicly during the Clasico, substituted and storming off in a fit of histrionics.

The Brazilian made a public apology to the fans and the club, without mentioning his coach, although Alonso said the matter was resolved.

Vinicius impressed against Valencia despite missing a penalty, and Alonso's cautious handling may be the right way to keep the forward as a useful asset this season.

Mbappe is in sensational form, continuing his resurgence from the second half of last season.

The French forward missed a penalty last season at Anfield as Madrid fell to a 2-0 defeat. It was a low point as he struggled for confidence which Mbappe rebounded from.

Mbappe has 18 goals across all competitions already this season while adding pressing to his game at the behest of Alonso.

Another revitalised player is England international Jude Bellingham. With goals against Barcelona, Juventus and Valencia in the past fortnight, the midfielder is becoming key to Alonso's side.

Following shoulder surgery in the summer to fix a long-running problem, Alonso brought Bellingham back for his first start against Atletico as Los Blancos crumbled.

The coach recognised his error in rushing the Englishman back, and benched him for the next two games until he was ready to shine.

Alonso is also fashioning Turkish playmaker Arda Guler into a midfielder that can supplant the departures of stalwarts Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.

The Spaniard wants to make his Anfield return an unhappy one for the hosts and prove his Madrid machine can compete for major silverware again as they continue to fit his mould.

Bayern Munich's trip to holders Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday is a test to determine where they stand among the European elite this season.

Bayern have won 15 from 15 matches in all competitions so far this campaign, setting a new record for the best start to a season in the top five European leagues.

The incredible start has Bayern dreaming of Champions League glory.

But taking on the European champions in their own back yard will provide the Bavarian giants with a clearer understanding of where they measure up.

Bayern have had an incredible start to the season, breaking a record set by AC Milan in 1992-93.

Bayern have only been behind for five minutes during their run, in Wednesday's 4-1 German Cup win over Cologne.

The Bavarians have beaten the teams placed second to fifth in the Bundesliga table domestically, as well as Club World Cup winners Chelsea.

Coach Vincent Kompany has Bayern firing across the park but the star of the show has undoubtedly been Harry Kane.

Far from resting on his laurels after finally lifting a trophy last season when Bayern won the Bundesliga, Kane has gone to another level.

The England captain has 22 goals in 15 games in all competitions, but his creative impact has been crucial with the injured Jamal Musiala out for six months.

Kompany has begun playing Kane as a number 10 and encouraging him to drop deep, sometimes as far as defensive midfield.

Even squad rotation has not stopped the Bayern machine from rolling on.

On Saturday, Kompany benched Kane, wingers Luis Diaz and Michael Olise along with central defender Dayot Upamecano for a match against Bayer Leverkusen, who Bayern had not beaten in the league since 2022.

The Bavarians were 3-0 up at halftime, with the reborn Serge Gnabry and improving Chelsea loanee Nicolas Jackson among the scorers.

"We've won 15 games, that's good. But it has to continue – it's not enough yet," Kompany told fans at Bayern's AGM on Sunday.

"I promise we will do everything to give you a successful season."

PSG DOMINATING IN EUROPE

Like Bayern, more often than not PSG can comfortably dispose of their domestic rivals and are judged by their European exploits.

Last season, PSG finally delivered on the continental stage, hitting form at just the right time.

The Parisians won their first Champions League title in June, thrashing Inter Milan at Bayern's Allianz Arena.

PSG are yet to hit their straps in Ligue 1 this season, but have saved their best performances for Europe.

With three games played – all victories – PSG sit atop the Champions League table, one place ahead of Bayern.

PSG won at Barcelona, thumped Atalanta and annihilated Leverkusen 7-2 away.

"Two top teams are meeting each other," said Bayern sporting director Max Eberl.

"We're going there, we're still unbeaten at the moment. We want to keep it that way."

Luciano Spalletti begins his Champions League salvage operation with Juventus on Tuesday night as the Italians face Sporting Lisbon in search of a first win in Europe this season.

Former Italy coach Spalletti got off to a winning start with his new team on Saturday with a 2-1 success at Cremonese in which his touch could already be seen after less than two days in charge.

Juve looked more threatening in the first half in Cremona than they had in most of their fixtures before Igor Tudor's sacking on Monday, and Spalletti managed to plug a yawning defensive gap by selecting Netherlands midfielder Teun Koopmeiners in three-man defence.

It was the sort of unorthodox move which has the been the hallmark of Spalletti's long and eventful coaching career, right back to making Francesco Totti a "false nine" years before Pep Guardiola did the same with Lionel Messi at Barcelona.

"It's the team that counts and not the individual. If you create a good rapport with everyone and they all feel the same way, then one day you wake up and feel like you've moved up a level,” Spalletti said on Saturday.

"You have to be brave, we are not in a situation where nobody is watching us. Either you play it the right way or you have to step aside."

Taking over Juventus is a chance for Spalletti, a hugely accomplished and influential coach, to rehabilitate his reputation after his nightmare period in charge of Italy which he called a "scar" after he was sacked in June.

And Juve fans are hoping that he can recreate the magic of his two years at Napoli, when he ended a 33-year wait for a Serie A title and earned himself the chance to coach the national team.

Now 66, Spalletti has always been an odd character even within the volatile confines of Italian football, and his spiky personality has caused run-ins with key players.

REBUILDING REPUTATIONS 

He famously fell out with Totti during his second spell at Roma nearly a decade ago, when he was frequently criticised by media, fans and Totti himself for not playing an ageing icon nearing retirement.

And in his next job at Inter Milan he had a months-long public spat with star striker Mauro Icardi, during which the Argentine's model wife (and agent) Wanda Nara would routinely harangue Spalletti during her regular appearances on a football chat show.

Reports of Spalletti clashing with his players also dogged his time as Italy boss, and he cannot afford another training ground bust-up in what could be his last big job.

"What's important is establishing relationships with the players, that's what I've always done," said Spalletti after Saturday's win.

"Let's hope I manage to do that here seeing as I didn't with the national team."

Spalletti has a near blank slate to work with as Juve have just two points from their first three Champions League matches and sit 25th, inside the elimination zone.

But he had to do without star player Kenan Yildiz and starting centre-back Lloyd Kelly at Cremonese, with neither player certain of being fit for Tuesday night.

Turkey playmaker Yildiz has a knee niggle which caused him to be left out of Saturday's match while Kelly has hurt his back, adding to the list of injured Juve defenders which already included Juan Cabal and Gleison Bremer.

That crisis was what pushed Spalletti to move Koopmeiners to defence, while the goalscoring performances from Filip Kostic and Andrea Cambiaso on Saturday suggest he may have a trick or two up his sleeve in his bid to revive Italian football's Old Lady.

Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena is the sole candidate for the 2028 Champions League final while Wembley and the renovated Camp Nou are both vying for the 2029 final, UEFA said on Friday.

Munich was the only city that stepped forward for the 2028 final after hosting it in 2025 when Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Inter Milan 5-0.

Munich also hosted the elite European club final in 1979, 1993 and 1997 in the Olympic Stadium and 2012 and 2025 at the Allianz Arena.

This season the final is scheduled for the Puskas Arena in Budapest while the Metropolitano in Madrid hosts in 2027.

UEFA will decide between London and Barcelona for the 2029 final in September 2026.

Hugo Ekitike scored against his old club as Liverpool got back on track with a 5-1 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday while Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich were among the night's other winners.

The Anfield side came into their trip to Germany reeling after a run of four consecutive defeats which included a 1-0 loss to Galatasaray in their last Champions League outing.

They bounced back in style by coming from behind to hammer Eintracht, who suffered a second straight 5-1 defeat in Europe – having started their Champions League campaign with a 5-1 win.

Rasmus Kristensen gave the hosts the lead but Ekitike broke away to equalise against the team he left in July in a £79 million deal.

Virgil van Dijk headed the visitors in front at a corner on 39 minutes and Ibrahima Konate made it 3-1 before the interval in almost identical fashion.

Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai added further goals in the second half as Liverpool moved up to 10th in the 36-team league phase standings.

"I don't know if it's a statement but it is a win and something to build on," Van Dijk told broadcaster TNT Sports.

Van Dijk 🤳🏆#UCL pic.twitter.com/7G3nFaMgHi

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 22, 2025

KANE SCORES AGAIN

Chelsea won by the same scoreline against Ajax at Stamford Bridge, in a match which featured an early red card and three first-half penalties.

Kenneth Taylor was sent off for the Dutch visitors before Marc Guiu and Moises Caicedo scored for the Premier League side.

Wout Weghorst pulled one back from the spot for Ajax but Enzo Fernandez and Estevao both converted penalties before halftime for Chelsea.

Tyrique George rounded off the scoring in the second half as for the first time in Champions League history three teenagers scored for the same team.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#CFC | #UCL pic.twitter.com/yJiBTheqOl

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 22, 2025

"We trust a lot of young players," said Maresca after the goals for Guiu, Estevao and George. "That is the strategy of the club, but not only the ones that we buy. Also the ones from the academy."

Chelsea have now won their last two European outings since beginning their campaign with a 3-1 defeat at Bayern.

Ajax, meanwhile, are bottom of the standings as one of only two teams without a point after three games – the other is Jose Mourinho's Benfica.

The Premier League clubs get the biggest wins in Wednesday's #UCL action 🇪🇺⚽#SSUCL pic.twitter.com/4Fm5kLKloe

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 22, 2025

Bayern are one of five teams with the maximum nine points as Harry Kane scored his 20th goal in 12 club appearances this season in a 4-0 cruise against Club Brugge at the Allianz Arena.

Lennart Karl, 17, got the opener before Kane, Luis Diaz and Nicolas Jackson also hit the target for the Bundesliga champions.

Brilliant Champions League night at the Allianz. Congrats Lennart Karl on a night to remember! Gotta keep this momentum going 🙌 pic.twitter.com/2oKn7dl0Mk

— Harry Kane (@HKane) October 22, 2025

Madrid also have nine points following a hard-earned 1-0 victory against Juventus at the Santiago Bernabeu as England captain Kane's compatriot Jude Bellingham scored for the first time this season.

The goal came just before the hour mark, with Bellingham converting the rebound after Vinicius hit the upright. Juventus have now gone seven games without a win.

NEW SCREENSAVER UNLOCKED pic.twitter.com/6f7mA0dLa7

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) October 22, 2025

"I'm very happy with the win, it was a very tough game with chances at both ends and we had to sweat for it, but it was an important win against a big team," Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois told Movistar.

SPURS DRAW WITH MONACO

Tottenham Hotspur became the only one of England's six representatives to fail to win this midweek as they were held to a 0-0 draw away to Monaco.

In Lisbon, Portuguese champions Sporting came from behind to defeat Marseille 2-1 in a game which hinged on a red card in first-half stoppage time.

Igor Paixao's stunner put Marseille ahead, but Emerson Palmieri was dismissed for a second yellow for diving after a decision to award him a penalty was overturned.

Sporting used the extra man to equalise in the second half through Geny Catamo before Alisson Santos got their winner.

Nigeria superstar Victor Osimhen netted twice as Galatasaray beat Bodo/Glimt 3-1 in Istanbul, with Yunus Akgun scoring their other goal before Andreas Helmersen pulled one back.

Athletic Bilbao beat Qarabag of Azerbaijan 3-1 at San Mames, coming from behind after Leandro Andrade had given the visitors a first-minute lead. Gorka Guruzeta bagged a brace for the Basque side either side of a Robert Navarro goal.

Atalanta and Slavia Prague drew 0-0 in the night's other game.

Here's how things stand after three matches in the #UCL 🔢#SSUCL pic.twitter.com/8iojZ0xE3r

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 22, 2025

The next round of Champions League action in a fortnight will include clashes between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern, and Liverpool and Real.

Athletic Bilbao conceded an opening-minute goal but came back to beat Qarabag 3-1 at home on Wednesday, earning their first points of this season's Champions League against the Azerbaijani side which had won their opening two games.

Bilbao had lost to Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund while Qarabag had beaten both Benfica and Copenhagen, and after a nightmare start at the San Mames stadium, a Gorka Guruzeta double helped the Basque side kickstart their European campaign.

The visitors went in front after 48 seconds, the quickest Champions League goal this season, after Bilbao defenders Aymeric Laporte and Aitor Paredes failed to deal with a throw-in and Leandro Andrade nipped in to fire past Unai Simon.

Bilbao hit back five minutes before the break when a long ball over the top from Mikel Jauregizar sent Guruzeta racing into the box to smash his low shot under keeper Mateusz Kochalski.

Athletic continued to create chances after the interval, Kochalski denying Guruzeta, and a ball to the back post bounced off the chest of Paredes and over the Qarabag bar, before substitute Robert Navarro scored 20 minutes from time.

Navarro, who had been on the pitch five minutes after replacing Nico Williams, hit a stunning strike from the edge of the area which found the far top corner, and Guruzeta wrapped up the win two minutes from time with a shot from distance.

Bilbao are away to Newcastle United on 5 November, with Qarabag hosting Chelsea the same day.

Galatasaray made the most of a litany of errors by Norwegian visitors Bodo/Glimt as they cruised to a 3-1 home win in the Champions League on Wednesday, with striker Victor Osimhen netting twice for the Turkish side in the first half.

Osimhen wasted no time giving the home side an early lead, sweeping a sumptuous first-time finish past Nikita Haikin in the third minute as the Norwegian side was quickly punished for giving the ball away cheaply in midfield.

Osimhen doubled his tally in the 33rd minute after another error. Under pressure as he ran infield, Bodo left-back Fredrik Bjorkan inexplicably passed the ball straight to Osimhen in a central position, and the forward gratefully tucked the ball away.

Bodo created some decent chances of their own but were made to pay again on the hour mark as centre-back Haitam Aleesami was robbed just outside his penalty area by Osimhen, and Yunus Akgun was able to score at the second attempt to make it 3-0.

Osimhen had plenty of opportunities to complete his hat-trick but he was thwarted by keeper Haikin, and Bodo substitute Andreas Helmersen was able to head home a close-range consolation goal in the 76th minute as his side finished strongly.

With seven games kicking off later on Wednesday, the win leaves Galatasaray on six points from three games, while Bodo/Glimt have two points ahead of their home clash with Monaco of France in two weeks.

Galatasaray are next away at Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam.