Football news
Transfers, results, rules and everything that moves world football, updated throughout the day.
Real Betis are back in the Champions League draw more than two decades after their only previous appearance. As fifth-place finishers in LaLiga, the Andalusian club benefits from the extra spot earned by Spanish teams in Europe last season.
InfoBlaugrana
·5 min read
Ander Herrera, formerly of Manchester United, PSG and Boca Juniors, has rejoined Real Zaragoza 15 years after leaving and will play without a salary in Spain's third division. The 37-year-old midfielder wants to help the club of his life return to the top and is donating his wages to the club's foundation. His next match is against Gimnàstic de Tarragona.
Matt·8 min read
Louis van Gaal has sent a video message welcoming Xavi Hernandez as the new Netherlands national team coach. The Dutch manager, who gave Xavi his Barcelona debut in 1998, looks back on their time together at Camp Nou and shows full confidence despite the debate over hiring a foreign coach. Frank Rijkaard also joins in wishing the former midfielder success.
varela·5 min read
Fenerbahçe clinched their place in the Champions League league phase by knocking out Olympique Lyonnais, and the night ended in a brawl. Lyon goalkeeper coach Antonio Ferreira went after Mattéo Guendouzi as soon as the final whistle blew.
Natilla·4 min read
Nico Gonzalez now knows what it feels like to be loved at St James' Park. The Spanish midfielder, fresh from a £52m move from Manchester City, was serenaded by Newcastle supporters before the 3-2 Carabao Cup win over West Bromwich Albion. Head coach Matthias Jaissle praised the commitment the player showed from the very first conversations.
InfoBlaugrana·7 min read
Fenerbahçe beat Olympique Lyon 2-1 on Wednesday to win the tie 3-2 on aggregate and secure a place in the Champions League league phase. Vedat Muriqi and Archie Brown scored before the half-hour mark, and the Turkish side held off a late Lyon push. Athens, Viking and Slovan Bratislava also advanced, completing the 36 teams for Thursday's draw in Monaco.
varela·5 min read
The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League keeps the 36-team single-league format introduced two seasons ago, with eight matchdays per club. The league phase draw takes place on Thursday 27 August at 18:00 CET using a hybrid system of manual balls and computer software. Each team plays four home and four away games against two opponents from every pot.
Javi·5 min read
Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday, in their first home game since José Mourinho returned as head coach. The French forward put Madrid ahead in the 40th minute, but Luka Sucic levelled shortly after. After the break, the hosts ran away with it thanks to two more goals from Mbappé and one from Vinícius Júnior.
Javi·6 min read
The third round draw of the Carabao Cup has paired Liverpool with Tottenham in the standout tie of the stage. Teams competing in European competitions enter at this point, with matches scheduled across the weeks of 7 and 14 September. Holders Manchester City will face Norwich, while Manchester United take on Brighton.
Matt·5 min read
Deportivo de La Coruña confirmed on Wednesday the signing of Adama Traoré, a 30-year-old winger who has agreed to a two-year deal running until June 2028. The Spanish forward arrives with extensive Premier League experience and will reunite with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, his former Barcelona teammate. The move strengthens Deportivo's project with a proven international profile.
varela·5 min read