IN ENGLAND
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Paris Saint-Germain have continued their impressive Champions League campaign as they thrashed Villarreal six-nil.
Some home supporters departed the ground before the clock had even reached twenty minutes as a rampant PSG netted four times within the opening seventeen minutes.
All four of those goals came as a result of sloppiness at the back from the Spanish club, which was punished by an attacking line who have already put four past Barcelona and Manchester City in Europe this season.
Fabian Ruiz scored a brace while Joao Neves, Desire Doue, Senny Mayulu
and David Boly scored a goal each for PSG.
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Manchester United have dragged themselves up off the canvas to come from two goals down to record a three-two sensational Champions League victory against Roma at Old Trafford.
United seemed finished and head coach Michael Carrick destined for the sack as Roma scored twice in six first-half minutes, through Matias Soule and a Donyell Malan penalty.
Matheus Cunha scored a brace and Bruno Fernandes netted a goal for Manchester United.
Cunha was sent off for a second booking as the game entered stoppage time but in front of a frenzied crowd, United survived to end their nine-game wait for a victory.
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Barcelona has ended Aston Villa’s perfect Champions League start with an enthralling three-nil win at the Spotify Nou Camp.
Lamine Yamal and Raphinha’s double eventually eased the five-time European champions to victory after the Premier League side gave them a first-half scare.
Matty Cash, Victor Lindelof and Johan Manzambi had chances, but Villa were left to contemplate what might have been.
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Bayern Munich have continued their unbeaten start to the Champions League season with an assured two-nil victory at Atletico Madrid.
Teenage star Lennart Karl had a first half to forget, but he redeemed himself by breaking the deadlock with a sneaky finish nine minutes after the restart.
Konrad Laimer doubled the visitors’ lead, blasting a ferocious strike over Oblak and into the roof of the net after he was picked out in space by Harry Kane.
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Galatasaray have boosted their hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the Champions League with victory at home to Stuttgart.
The Turkish champions struck twice in the space of three first-half minutes to take control of the contest and condemn their German opponents to a first defeat of the league phase.
Aleksey Batrakov opened the scoring in the 12th minute when he fired home an effort after a Roland Sallai cross was cleared to him on the edge of the area.
The result gave Galatasaray back-to-back Champions League victories following their four-two win at Lille, moving them to six points after four matches, while Stuttgart remained on seven.
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Sporting got their Champions League campaign back on track as they claimed a one-nil win over Shakhtar Donetsk just one day after they sacked their head coach.
Rui Borges was dismissed after the Portuguese side’s poor start to the domestic league which leaves them third, nine points off leaders Porto.
Under interim boss Tiago Fernandes, who took charge of just one training session before Tuesday’s tie at Stamford Bridge, Sporting broke the deadlock in the 59th minute when Issa Doumbia slotted a smart finish past Dmytro Riznyk.
Shakhtar, who have four points from their opening four games, return to Stamford Bridge to play Fenerbahce in their next Champions League outing on Wednesday, 25th November.
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Arsenal star, William Saliba has handed Arsenal a huge boost by taking part in the final training session before the Champions League match against Slavia Prague.
The Frenchman has not played a single minute since he limped off after half an hour of France’s World Cup semi-final against Spain.
It remains to be seen whether Saliba is included in that travelling squad, with Arsenal understandably cautious over his return to action.
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Real Madrid manager, José Mourinho has called on Federico Valverde to demonstrate true leadership by accepting emergency positional changes ahead of their Champions League trip to AEK Athens.
With defensive injuries thinning his options, the Portuguese coach emphasised that captaincy requires placing team necessity above individual preferences.
Addressing the media in Greece, Mourinho insisted that wearing the captain’s armband comes with a duty to lead by example on the pitch.
Mourinho expressed full confidence that Valverde would embrace whatever tactical role is assigned to him without complaint.
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Crystal Palace is appealing against Jean-Philippe Mateta’s red card in the defeat by Tottenham on Saturday.
The striker was shown a straight red card by referee Michael Oliver for a late challenge on Micky van de Ven when the game was still goalless, after just thirteen minutes.
Oliver originally gave a yellow card but it was upgraded after a VAR review.
The France international is facing a three-match suspension but Palace hope the decision is either overturned or his ban reduced.
Palace face Liverpool this weekend in a game that could have a bearing on manager Pierre Sage’s long-term future at the club following a disappointing start to his reign.
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Manchester United goalkeeper Dermot Mee and Portsmouth forward Eoin Kenny have been handed their first Northern Ireland call-ups for November’s final Nations League matches with Ukraine and Hungary.
The 20-year-old has made one league appearance for the Championship club, but has been handed a first call after impressing for the Northern Ireland Under-21s under Tommy Wright.
Striker Dion Charles and goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell drop out of the squad.
Sunderland defender Dan Ballard is missing after he injured his hamstring in the September win over Georgia in Tbilisi, while defender Eoin Toal, midfielders Ali McCann and Jamie McDonnell are also absent through injury.
Liverpool’s Conor Bradley, who has not played since January, remains a long-term absentee.
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West Ham United are expected to appoint Scott Parker as head coach after sacking Nuno Espirito Santo.
The 52-year-old Portuguese head coach has paid the price for West Ham’s disappointing start to the Championship season, having overseen their relegation from the Premier League last season.
The club are in advanced talks with former Burnley, Bournemouth and Fulham boss Parker and he could be confirmed before Wednesday’s Championship trip to Cardiff City.
The former England midfielder had four seasons as a player with the Hammers and led Bournemouth and Burnley to promotion from the Championship as a manager.
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Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel has died after the 30-year-old suffered a serious injury during a Spanish second-division match.
The forward suffered head and chest injuries during a match against FC Andorra on Monday in a heavy collision with goalkeeper Jesus Owono, who was sent off for his challenge.
De Miguel’s condition was described as ‘stable but serious’ on Monday but his health deteriorated on Tuesday.
Police in Spain opened an investigation for possible involuntary manslaughter following De Miguel’s death.
Under Spanish law, any death that is deemed non-natural automatically triggers a judicial inquiry.
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England have been drawn to face France, Austria and Portugal in next year’s Women’s Nations League.
In Nyon, Switzerland, Sarina Wiegman’s side were drawn alongside familiar opponents, having faced Portugal in the previous Nations League campaign, while France and Austria have both been recent rivals in major tournament qualifying campaigns.
The Lionesses will begin their campaign in Group A2 across three international windows in February-March, April and June 2027, with each team playing home and away fixtures.
Now in its third edition, the Nations League also forms part of the qualification pathway for the 2028 Olympic Games and Euro 2029.
The four League A group winners will progress to the semi-finals in October 2027, before the final is played to decide the Nations League champions.
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IN NIGERIA
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Vice President Kashim Shettima has asked the newly appointed General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Samson Adamu, to protect Nigeria’s interests while advancing the development of football across the continent.
Shettima, who described Adamu’s appointment as a major milestone for Nigeria, said the country possessed the talent, expertise and institutional capacity to produce leaders capable of excelling at the highest levels of global sports administration.
The Vice President spoke at the State House, Abuja, while receiving Adamu and a delegation led by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko.
Conveying President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill to the new CAF chief administrator, Shettima urged him to discharge his responsibilities with integrity, diligence and a strong sense of national pride.
Shettima noted that Nigeria’s remarkable sporting achievements over the decades demonstrated the enormous potential of its citizens to compete and lead internationally.
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National Institute for Sports (NIS) Director-General and CEO Philip Shaibu has declared his firm belief that Nigeria’s Flamingos, have what it takes to win the ongoing tournament and return home as world champions.
Shaibu, who closely watched the team’s local training sessions and praised the final squad selection, noted that the squad’s execution of a tactical, game-by-game strategy has proven their championship credentials.
He emphasised that success in international tournaments comes down to focus, discipline, and adaptability.
Looking ahead of the game against Brazil, Shaibu urged Nigerians to rally behind the team while pointing out that top global rivals have already crashed out.
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Brazil Under-seventeen women’s head coach, Rilany Silva, has admitted that her side faces a difficult challenge against Nigeria’s Flamingos in the semi-finals of the ongoing 2026 FIFA Under-seventeen Women’s World Cup.
Silva believes Nigeria will pose a serious threat, particularly because of their physical strength and stamina.
The South Americans are scheduled to face Nigeria on Wednesday as both teams battle for a place in the final.
The semi-final encounter will take place at Mohammed VI Football Complex, Pitch 3, in Rabat, with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 pm
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Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Falconets duo Christiana Uzoma and Janet Akekoromowei and Flamingos star Oluwakemi Adegbuyi have been nominated in the women’s category of the 2026 CAF Awards.
CAF released the shortlists on Tuesday, ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled for Monday, 7th December, 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria.
The Super Falcons were nominated for the Women’s National Team of the Year despite a disappointing 2026 WAFCON campaign.
Uzoma was nominated in the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year category.
The Women’s Young Player of the Year category saw Nigeria get double nominations with Adegbuyi and Akekoromowei making the cut in the 10-player shortlist.
The winners will be decided by votes from CAF Technical Committee, media and captains/coaches.
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Rangers International have unveiled the nominees for their October Goal of the Month award.
Midfielder Chidiebere Nwobodo earned a nomination for his stunning strike in Rangers’ two-all draw against Barau FC.
Nwobodo found the back of the net with a powerful effort from the edge of the penalty area late in the encounter to rescue a point for the visitors.
Winger Emo James is also in contention following his brilliant goal in Rangers’ CAF Champions League second preliminary round first-leg clash against Algerian side MC Alger.
James embarked on an impressive solo run from Rangers’ half into the opposition’s penalty area before calmly firing the ball into the net.
Fans have been invited to vote for their preferred goal through a poll on the club’s official X account.
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Tanzania’s Taifa Stars are expected to arrive in Uyo on Sunday as preparations intensify for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying encounter against Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
The early arrival will give head coach Miguel Gamondi sufficient time to prepare his team ahead of the crucial Matchday Three fixture.
Gamondi’s side will take on Nigeria in their Matchday Three encounter at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, 13th November.
The two sides will meet again four days later, with Tanzania hosting the return fixture in Dar es Salaam.
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OTHER LEAGUES
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Scott McTominay, Kieran Tierney and Che Adams have returned to the Scotland squad for the remaining Nations League matches at home to North Macedonia and away to Switzerland.
There is a first call up for James Penrice and uncapped Kristi Montgomery, a late addition last time, retains his place.
Scott McKenna and Kenny McLean miss out through injury, while Lennon Miller, Josh Doig, Colby Donovan and James Wilson drop out.
Head coach Sebastien Pocognoli chose an extended pool of twenty-eight for the first four matches, which included disappointing home defeats to Switzerland and Slovenia.
Scotland are third in Group B1 and require a minimum of four points to have any chance of finishing second to feature in the promotion play-offs.
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The 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been postponed because of a series of deadly attacks on the host country.
The 24-team tournament was scheduled to take place from 7th January to 5th February but has been rescheduled to run from 23rd December, 2027 to 21st January, 2028.
In October, a missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi movement on Riyadh’s airport killed thirteen people and wounded more than 300.
The Saudi Pro League has postponed this week’s round of fixtures following the rescheduling of the Asian Cup.
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OTHER SPORTS
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In Boxing, John Fury has expressed deep reservations over the upcoming December 11 showdown between his son Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, admitting he wishes the fight had never been booked.
Despite the two heavyweight icons finally set to clash after a decade of rivalry, the 61-year-old fears the loser of the contest will struggle to deal with both the physical toll and the public backlash.
Fury Senior highlighted the danger of both aging heavyweights damaging their legacies.
The comments come shortly after John and Tyson repaired their relationship following a period of total estrangement earlier in the year.
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In Tennis, Britain’s Jodie Burrage has received death threats and abuse on social media after she was beaten in her first WTA Tour singles match proper for 16 months.
The 27-year-old, ranked 474th in the world, suffered a first-round exit at the Chennai Open after India’s Vaishnavi Adkar fought back from a set down to triumph 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Burrage later shared a story on her Instagram account, external with a video scroll of direct messages, including abuse, she was sent following the match.
British number 15 Burrage’s last match on the WTA Tour, excluding qualifiers, was in July 2025 when she lost to Catherine McNally in the first round at Wimbledon.
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In Formula one, Esteban Ocon has been permanently dropped by the Haas team.
The Frenchman will be replaced at this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix by Brazilian rookie Rafael Camara, who has been signed by the team for 2027.
Haas released a statement saying Ocon would no longer compete on its behalf in the 2026 world championship.
The move comes after Ocon was replaced following Friday’s practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend, apparently after a row with team principal Ayao Komatsu.
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In Rugby, Scrum-half Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of the whole of England’s Nations Championship after suffering his fourth hamstring injury of the year.
The Northampton pivot limped out of his club’s Prem game with Gloucester last Saturday, and England confirmed he will play no part in the matches with Australia, Japan and New Zealand this month.
Meanwhile, fly-half Fin Smith took a limited part in training as he continues his recovery from a calf problem.
He took part, however, in running drills on arrival in camp, with England sources remaining optimistic about his chances of being fit for Sunday’s showdown with the Wallabies.
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TODAY’S FIXTURES
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IN UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – LEAGUE STAGE
AEK Athens vs Real Madrid
Fenerbahçe vs Liverpool
Borussia Dortmund vs Real Betis
Lens vs Como
PSV vs Club Brugge
Porto vs Napoli
RB Leipzig vs Manchester City
Slavia Prague vs Arsenal
Viking vs Sabah FK
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
In football, the greatest satisfaction is winning when they say you can not…words from Robert Lewandowski.
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