Football

MANCHESTER, England — Pep Guardiola said it would be “easier” for Manchester City to defend their Champions League crown than win it for the first time as his team prepared to launch the defence of their title against Red Star Belgrade, but even after starting off with a 3-1 victory at the Etihad, it was

Sep 19, 2023, 02:00 PM ET Champions League soccer is back! Europe’s premier club competition returns for 2023-24 with eight matches on Tuesday across the continent, providing exciting matchups, top talent and drama. Enjoy the play-by-play from all the matches as Newcastle make their Champions League return and Manchester City kick off their title defense.

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentSep 19, 2023, 05:05 AM ET The UK television broadcaster of Manchester United‘s trip to Bayern Munich in the Champions League this week billed the match as a clash between “two of the biggest teams in the world” in their advertising push, but Erik ten Hag and his players will arrive in southern

Graham Hunter, Spain writerSep 18, 2023, 03:53 PM ET Close Graham Hunter is a Barcelona-based freelance writer for ESPN.com who specializes in La Liga and the Spanish national team. Xavi and Van Bommel clashed in the 2010 World Cup final, but they also had a fair share of disagreements when they were Barcelona teammates. One

Video Assistant Referee causes controversy every week in the Premier League, but how are decisions made, and are they correct? After each weekend we take a look at the major incidents, to examine and explain the process both in terms of VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game. – How VAR decisions have affected

Sep 17, 2023, 07:27 AM ET Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom has hit out at the “appalling” level of referees in the Premier League after his side suffered a stoppage-time defeat at Tottenham on Saturday. The Premier League newboys were on course for their first win of the season through Gustavo Hamer‘s goal but Spurs

Arsenal claimed their first Premier League win at Everton for six years as Leandro Trossard‘s second-half strike proved enough to secure the points at Goodison Park on Sunday. Everton, still without a win this season, had managed to frustrate the visitors who had a Gabriel Martinelli goal ruled out for offside via VAR in the

Sep 17, 2023, 09:40 AM ET Mason Greenwood made his return to football after coming off the bench for his debut with new club Getafe on Sunday. The striker, who moved to the LaLiga club on loan from Manchester United, made his substitute appearance in the second half as Getafe edged Osasuna in a 3-2

Sep 16, 2023, 06:00 PM ET It’s another busy weekend in European club football as the Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Serie A all have tasty match-ups on the menu. The weekend started with Paris Saint-Germain getting upset by Nice while Bayern Munich battled Leverkusen to a draw. Meanwhile, Saturday had its own

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentSep 16, 2023, 01:53 PM ET MANCHESTER, England — After an international break filled with controversy and club statements, Manchester United got an opportunity to let their football do the talking. Rather than taking a positive step forward to help steady the ship, Erik ten Hag and his team were plunged further into

Manchester United slipped to their third defeat of the Premier League season as an impressive Brighton & Hove Albion left Old Trafford with a 3-1 victory on Saturday. Despite making a bright start, United fell behind in the 20th minute when Danny Welbeck slotted home against his former club when left unmarked in the penalty

ESPN News Services Sep 15, 2023, 12:06 PM ET Inter Miami CF star Lionel Messi didn’t travel with the team for Saturday’s road game against Atlanta United FC, a source told ESPN Argentina. Messi uncharacteristically left Argentina‘s World Cup qualifying win last week over Ecuador before the final whistle, and although he did make Wednesday’s

Associated Press Sep 15, 2023, 01:18 PM ET The U.S. Soccer Federation is planning to build a national training center in Atlanta with financial support from Arthur Blank. The USSF announced plans for the training center on Friday. Blank, who owns the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS’ Atlanta United, is contributing $50 million for the

Alex Kirkland Rodrigo Faez Sep 15, 2023, 08:52 AM ET Prosecutors requested a restraining order on Friday to prevent former Spanish football federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales from approaching Spain player Jenni Hermoso, as he appeared in court on sexual assault charges for kissing her on the lips. Rubiales denied any wrongdoing during the hearing,

Alex Kirkland Rodrigo Faez Sep 14, 2023, 02:31 PM ET A player for Real Madrid’s reserve team Castilla, and three players for the club’s third team, Real Madrid C, have given evidence to Spanish police over “the sharing of a private video on WhatsApp,” the club has confirmed. Earlier on Thursday, Spanish newspaper El Confidencial

Jeff Kassouf Sep 14, 2023, 11:10 AM ET Even by last year’s standards, the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League playoff race is as tight as it ever has been with four rounds of fixtures to play. Four points separate first-place San Diego Wave FC from the Washington Spirit, who currently hold the sixth and final

Kyle Bonagura, ESPN Staff WriterSep 14, 2023, 11:43 AM ET Close Covers the Pac-12. Joined ESPN in 2014. Attended Washington State University. Gregg Berhalter is back as U.S. men’s national team boss, the September international window is over and next summer’s Copa America has come closer into focus. Unlike when Berhalter first took over at

Germany have lost four of their past six friendly matches, including Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Japan. Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images via Getty Images Germany and Italy both suffered a turbulent few days in the past week after poor performances at the weekend: the Germans lost at home to Japan 4-1 and eventually fired coach Hansi Flick, while