The supersized Champions League resumed this week, with all 36 teams back in action over 48 frene...

The supersized Champions League resumed this week, with all 36 teams back in action over 48 frenetic hours. Below, theScore's soccer editors reflect on Matchday 4 in Europe's premier club competition while also taking a step back to survey the landscape at the midway point of the opening round.<h3>Key takeaway from Matchday 4 📝</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753785/cropped_GettyImages-2182456262.jpg?ts=1730849011" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753785/w220xh124_GettyImages-2182456262.jpg?ts=1730849011 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753785/w320xh180_GettyImages-2182456262.jpg?ts=1730849011 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753785/w640xh360_GettyImages-2182456262.jpg?ts=1730849011 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753785/w768xh432_GettyImages-2182456262.jpg?ts=1730849011 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753785/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2182456262.jpg?ts=1730849011 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> NurPhoto / NurPhoto / Getty</figcaption></figure>Gordon Brunt: There's never a shortage of excuses after Arsenal lose. Some complaints about outside forces conspiring against them have even seemed justified. But this time it's their struggling attack that needs to shoulder the blame. The latest perceived injustice involved the ever-confusing handball rule in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to Inter Milan. The decision to award Inter a spot-kick felt harsh on Mikel Merino, especially after he was denied one of his own after being punched in the head by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer at the other end. Another Arsenal grievance for the pile. From a perceived refereeing agenda against them to injuries that have proved costly, Arsenal routinely have something to moan about. But their lack of creativity after conceding right before halftime was the real reason they lost. The glaring issue that Mikel Arteta needs to fix is an Arsenal attack that can't cope when Kai Havertz is in a slump. Signing another proven striker last summer might've helped.Anthony Lopopolo: The little guys still stand a chance. In the tournaments of old, a newcomer like Brest, who had never qualified for the Champions League, would've been buried at the bottom of a group of heavyweights with zero chance of progressing. They would've simply enjoyed the ride. But here they are in fourth place in the Champions League table with 10 points out of a possible 12 after Wednesday's 2-1 win over Sparta Prague. Those 10 points should be enough for Brest to earn at least a playoff spot, according to Opta's projections. But with matches to come against 24th-placed PSV Eindhoven and 28th-placed Shakhtar Donetsk, Brest could reasonably finish with the 16 points likely necessary to earn automatic qualification to the knockout round. UEFA expanded the tournament to make it more profitable, but in a weird way, it has offered previously overlooked teams a lifeline.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Gianluca Nesci: Matchday 4 was a turning point in the competition. One of the biggest gripes about the new format, aside from fixture congestion and general resistance to change, was that the supersized opening round created less jeopardy for the top clubs, which had more time to recover from any setback because there were simply more points available. Even when some stumbled early, there was no sense of panic. That's changing now. Shocking - and comprehensive - losses for Real Madrid and Manchester City, the two overwhelming tournament favorites, have blown things open, while other teams such as Paris Saint-Germain, expected to cruise comfortably into the next round, still have lots of work to do and little time to do it.<h3>This week's crisis club 😬</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753820/cropped_GettyImages-2183149838.jpg?ts=1730899151" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753820/w220xh124_GettyImages-2183149838.jpg?ts=1730899151 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753820/w320xh180_GettyImages-2183149838.jpg?ts=1730899151 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753820/w640xh360_GettyImages-2183149838.jpg?ts=1730899151 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753820/w768xh432_GettyImages-2183149838.jpg?ts=1730899151 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753820/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2183149838.jpg?ts=1730899151 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> David Ramos - UEFA / UEFA / Getty</figcaption></figure>Brunt: Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's side is in panic mode after getting pummeled by Sporting CP. Manchester City's long list of injuries was a major talking point heading into the encounter, and rightfully so with stars like Rodri missing and Kevin De Bruyne not fit enough to start. But that didn't make Tuesday's 4-1 scoreline any less shocking. City did well to get back into the game, threatening to cut the deficit down to one goal before disaster struck when Erling Haaland's penalty rattled off the crossbar. Heads went down and the team showed an uncharacteristic lack of fight on its way to losing three straight games in a season for the first time since April 2018. Is this the beginning of City's downfall? Highly unlikely. But it presents a rare opportunity for rivals to take advantage of a City side that won't likely be down for long.Lopopolo: Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti is on the hot seat after losing back-to-back matches at home to Barcelona and AC Milan. They conceded seven goals across the pair of games and looked entirely out of sorts in Tuesday's 3-1 defeat to Serie A's seventh-placed team. Kylian Mbappe doesn't look comfortable alongside Vinicius Junior, and Dani Carvajal's injury-enforced absence has allowed opponents to wreak havoc on Madrid's right flank. Jude Bellingham hasn't scored for Madrid in 177 days and seems unsure how to interpret his deeper midfield role. It doesn't get any easier for Los Blancos: Liverpool and Atalanta are up next, and they only have one more game to play at home. With just six points in the bag, Madrid have to win at least two of their final four games just to have a chance to make the playoffs.Nesci: RB Leipzig. A last-second away loss to Atletico Madrid on Matchday 1? Aggravating, but not panic inducing. Blowing a lead, at home, against 10-man Juventus and losing? Rough, but it was one of "those" games. Falling to Liverpool, the best team in the tournament so far? No shame in that. But Leipzig followed up those results by getting outplayed - and comfortably beaten - by Celtic in a match they badly needed to have in order to keep their dwindling hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive. That is cause for serious concern. Leipzig are one of only five teams in the competition without a point. Instead of tussling with Europe's elite, their peers at the bottom of the table are the likes of Slovan Bratislava and Sturm Graz. With no points and a tough remaining schedule, Leipzig now look destined for a very early exit.<h3>Player of the week 🌟</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753438/cropped_GettyImages-2182360914.jpg?ts=1730726301" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753438/w220xh124_GettyImages-2182360914.jpg?ts=1730726301 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753438/w320xh180_GettyImages-2182360914.jpg?ts=1730726301 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753438/w640xh360_GettyImages-2182360914.jpg?ts=1730726301 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753438/w768xh432_GettyImages-2182360914.jpg?ts=1730726301 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/753438/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2182360914.jpg?ts=1730726301 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Gualter Fatia / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Brunt: Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish striker is finally getting the recognition he deserves. After more than a year of tormenting defenses in Portugal, it took scoring a hat-trick against Manchester City in Tuesday's Champions League win for the spotlight to truly beam on Gyokeres. While everyone's been in awe watching Haaland score at a record-setting pace in England, the 26-year-old Gyokeres has mastered his craft at Sporting to become one of the most prolific strikers in the world. He went from scoring 21 goals for Championship side Coventry City in 2022 to more than doubling that amount with 43 goals in his debut season for Sporting. And he's showing no signs of slowing down. Recording his third hat-trick of the season Tuesday gives him 23 goals in 17 games and launched him into a share of the lead atop the Champions League scoring chart with five tallies.Lopopolo: Luis Diaz. The Colombian's evolution continued Tuesday with a hat-trick performance against Bayer Leverkusen, the first of his professional career and the strongest evidence yet that he can lead Liverpool's attack. A left-winger by trade, Diaz has played more centrally under head coach Arne Slot and reminded fans of Roberto Firmino with the way he hustled and pounced on opportunities in Liverpool's 4-0 win. Diaz chipped the 'keeper like he had done it a million times before, shrugged off his marker at the far post to score, and finished off an odd-man rush to complete the hat-trick. He can hurt opponents, and if he plays centrally, Slot can shelter Darwin Nunez on the wing where he'll have less pressure to score.Nesci: Edon Zhegrova. A baller, pure and simple. The winger was at his dynamic best in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Juventus, setting up Jonathan David's first-half goal with one of his many mesmerizing runs and incisive passes. The 25-year-old completed eight successful dribbles in the match, continually twisting Juan Cabal into a pretzel until the Juve left-back was mercifully substituted after chasing Zhegrova's shadow around for over an hour. Nobody has attempted more take-ons in this season's Champions League than the Kosovo international, who could dribble past an opponent inside a phone booth.<h3>Best XI so far 😎</h3>With the league phase officially hitting the midway point, here's a look at our standout players of the tournament thus far.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=268375:Martinez,279461:Lala,1027472:Singo,939780:Hien,671529:Tsimikas,868344:Reijnders,541820:Barella,696679:Raphinha,846033:Vinicius,664500:Gy%C3%B6keres,939569:David&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Champions%20League%20Best%20XI" srcset="https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=268375:Martinez,279461:Lala,1027472:Singo,939780:Hien,671529:Tsimikas,868344:Reijnders,541820:Barella,696679:Raphinha,846033:Vinicius,664500:Gy%C3%B6keres,939569:David&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Champions%20League%20Best%20XI 220w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=268375:Martinez,279461:Lala,1027472:Singo,939780:Hien,671529:Tsimikas,868344:Reijnders,541820:Barella,696679:Raphinha,846033:Vinicius,664500:Gy%C3%B6keres,939569:David&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Champions%20League%20Best%20XI 320w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=268375:Martinez,279461:Lala,1027472:Singo,939780:Hien,671529:Tsimikas,868344:Reijnders,541820:Barella,696679:Raphinha,846033:Vinicius,664500:Gy%C3%B6keres,939569:David&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Champions%20League%20Best%20XI 640w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=268375:Martinez,279461:Lala,1027472:Singo,939780:Hien,671529:Tsimikas,868344:Reijnders,541820:Barella,696679:Raphinha,846033:Vinicius,664500:Gy%C3%B6keres,939569:David&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Champions%20League%20Best%20XI 768w, https://www.fotmob.com/api/lineup-builder/team?players=268375:Martinez,279461:Lala,1027472:Singo,939780:Hien,671529:Tsimikas,868344:Reijnders,541820:Barella,696679:Raphinha,846033:Vinicius,664500:Gy%C3%B6keres,939569:David&amp;formation=4-2-2-2&amp;lineupTitle=Champions%20League%20Best%20XI 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> </figcaption></figure>(Courtesy: <a href="https://www.fotmob.com/">FotMob</a>)<h3>Where we stand 👀</h3>Here's the complete league phase table after Matchday 4. Remember: The top eight teams advance directly to the last 16, and the sides that finish ninth to 24th head to the new knockout phase playoffs, two-legged ties that determine who joins the eight automatic qualifiers in the round of 16. The bottom 12 clubs are eliminated from the Champions League.<figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Liverpool</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Sporting CP</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Monaco</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Brest</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Inter</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Barcelona</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Borussia Dortmund</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Aston Villa</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Atalanta</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Man City</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>Juventus</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Arsenal</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Leverkusen</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Lille</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>Celtic</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Dinamo Zagreb</td>
<td>-2</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Bayern Munich</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Real Madrid</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Benfica</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>AC Milan</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>Feyenoord</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22</td>
<td>Club Brugge</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td>Atletico</td>
<td>-4</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>PSV</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>PSG</td>
<td>-2</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>26</td>
<td>Sparta Prague</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>27</td>
<td>Stuttgart</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>28</td>
<td>Shakhtar</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>29</td>
<td>Girona</td>
<td>-4</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>30</td>
<td>Salzburg</td>
<td>-7</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>31</td>
<td>Bologna</td>
<td>-5</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>32</td>
<td>RB Leipzig</td>
<td>-5</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>33</td>
<td>Sturm Graz</td>
<td>-5</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>34</td>
<td>Young Boys</td>
<td>-10</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>35</td>
<td>Crvena Zvezda</td>
<td>-12</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>36</td>
<td>S. Bratislava</td>
<td>-13</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>

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The good, bad, and ugly as UCL opening round hits midway point

Substitute Angel Correa scored a dramatic winner with the last kick of the game as Atletico Madri...

Substitute Angel Correa scored a dramatic winner with the last kick of the game as Atletico Madrid snatched a 2-1 victory away to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, kick-starting their Champions League campaign and casting a large cloud over the French club's European hopes.It looked as if the game at the Parc des Princes would end in a draw after Warren Zaire-Emery's early opener for PSG was quickly cancelled out by Nahuel Molina in what was the first-ever meeting between the clubs.PSG have been let down by their finishing in the Champions League all season and that was the case again here as they failed to convert a host of chances, but Atletico did not look like winning it until Correa struck in the 93rd minute.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Spaniards would have been the happier of the two teams with a draw, especially as goalkeeper Jan Oblak had been forced into several second-half saves.Having lost back-to-back matches against Benfica and Lille, Atletico are back on track to at least make the play-off round of this new-look Champions League with the league phase now at the halfway stage.The evening was also notable for the pre-match unfurling by PSG fans at one end of the stadium of an enormous banner in support of Palestinians in Gaza."War on the pitch but peace in the world," said the banner, which also featured a Lebanese flag.That may lead to disciplinary action from UEFA, but that will probably be the least of PSG's worries right now.<h3>Parisian woes</h3>They may be comfortably on top of Ligue 1, but in the Champions League, last season's semi-finalists have just four points despite playing three of their four games so far at home.Having edged Girona 1-0 on the opening matchday and then lost 2-0 away to Arsenal, the French champions have since drawn at home to PSV Eindhoven and now lost to Atletico.They face a tough assignment next away to Bayern Munich and also still have to play Manchester City, meaning their hopes of finishing in the top 24 places and qualifying at least for the play-off round must be in doubt.Luis Enrique's side will need to quickly improve in front of goal having now scored just three times in their last six Champions League matches, a run stretching back to last season's semi-final loss against Borussia Dortmund.Atletico were missing two key defenders here in Jose Maria Gimenez and Robin Le Normand. French international Clement Lenglet therefore started at centre-back, and he was at fault as PSG took the lead in the 14th minute.Lenglet, on loan from Barcelona, dithered on the ball in his own box and was dispossessed by Ousmane Dembele. He set up Zaire-Emery and the 18-year-old took his time before coolly clipping the ball over Oblak and in.However, Atletico were level just four minutes later when a ball into the box by Giuliano Simeone - son of visiting coach Diego Simeone - came off a PSG defender and fell for Molina to fire in.Atletico were then more than happy to soak up PSG's pressure, and the hosts could not find a second goal despite ending the game with almost 70 percent of possession and 21 attempts.Oblak excelled in the second half with notable saves on two occasions from Bradley Barcola, as well as one from a Marquinhos header and another to deny Achraf Hakimi.Then came the third minute of injury time in which Lee Kang-in was denied by the Atletico goalkeeper, and Hakimi failed to convert the follow-up.Atletico then broke downfield and the ball came to Correa, who stroked a shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma to leave the PSG fans stunned.

Atletico's team celebrates after scoring and winning the UEFA Champions League, League phase - Matchday 4, football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Atletico Madrid, at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on November 6, 2024.

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PSG sink to 25th place in UCL after Atletico's last-gasp winner

First Vinicius Junior tried to rev up the crowd. Then Rodrygo lifted his arms, begging for more n...

First Vinicius Junior tried to rev up the crowd. Then Rodrygo lifted his arms, begging for more noise. The Santiago Bernabeu barely responded. There were more whistles than cheers during Tuesday's match against AC Milan. Some of them were for Milan. Most of them were for Real Madrid.Briefly, the mood shifted. Antonio Rudiger rifled in a rebound with nine minutes to go, making it 3-2. Madrid's anthem started to play. Then the video assistant stepped in and ruled Rudiger offside. Just like that, the inevitable comeback, the key ingredient of Madrid's most impressive Champions League victories, didn't seem so inevitable. A number of chances came and went. Vinicius steered a header wide. Brahim Diaz couldn't beat Mike Maignan from point-blank range. Eder Militao skied a volley well over the crossbar. And it was over. Milan won 3-1, beating Madrid for the first time since 2009.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>It all seemed so desperate. Madrid made so much of their recent history from losing positions, refusing to accept defeat with the clock running out. They showed composure when most teams would melt. But they were in a puddle on Tuesday. The team of match-winning moments couldn't produce another.Milan, meanwhile, played with real courage in the Spanish capital. You could argue they had no choice. They're seventh in Serie A and entered the week 25th in the Champions League table. They had to show something.The Rossoneri could also take encouragement from the way Lille beat Madrid last month and the manner in which Borussia Dortmund so easily soared to an early 2-0 lead at the Bernabeu two weeks ago. But this result wasn't just an upset. It was convincing. Madrid conceded nine shots on target Tuesday - more than they have allowed in any home game at this stage of the competition since the start of the 2003-04 season.Madrid have conceded a lot before and still found a way to win. They teased their opponents, giving them a lead only to snatch it back for good. Carlo Ancelotti - and Zinedine Zidane before him - trusted his players to problem-solve their way to victory. Ancelotti and Zidane let them do their thing, knowing they'd come good.But they didn't when Barcelona swarmed them in El Clasico last weekend, and they didn't here. The comeback win over Dortmund - in which they turned a 2-0 deficit into a 5-2 finish - now feels like the exception.Los Blancos used to play with a sense of restraint and control when they went down, as if they knew what was going to happen next, waiting for their chance to show up and doing everything to take it. They have none of that conviction now. They go end-to-end and suffer the consequences. Players who should know better give up the ball in neutral situations. They press, but only briefly, letting teams like Milan snake their way out from the back.If Ancelotti wants rock-and-roll football, the stars of the band have to nail each note. But they haven't. Kylian Mbappe doesn't look comfortable as the target man. Jude Bellingham doesn't look happy doing the dirty work in midfield. Rodrygo is in and out of the lineup and without a goal in six matches. It's like they've lost their compass. Karim Benzema isn't there to score in stoppage time. Nacho Fernandez isn't there to keep heads cool at the back. Toni Kroos isn't there to play tidy passes. It's not that these players could deliver on command. It's that Madrid knew they would.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/28930588/related

Real Madrid are losing the aura that made them seem invincible

Aitana Bonmati became the second woman to win the Ballon d'Or two years in a row on Monday, beati...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wwcup/players/122471" href="https://thescore.com/wwcup/players/122471">Aitana Bonmati</a> became the second woman to win the Ballon d'Or two years in a row on Monday, beating out competition from Barcelona teammates Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo to claim the sport's highest individual honor in Paris.<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///olymsw/players/122479" href="https://thescore.com/olymsw/players/122479">Alexia Putellas</a> won the Ballon d'Or in 2021 and 2022, giving Spain and Barcelona complete ownership of the award over the last four years.Ada Hegerberg and Megan Rapinoe are the only other players to earn the honor since it was inaugurated in 2018.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I always say this is not something that you can do alone, I'm so lucky to be surrounded by wonderful players who help me to keep growing into a better player. So thank you to my teammates because without them I wouldn't be here," Bonmati said upon receiving the trophy once more.Prior to receiving her individual accolade, Bonmati and some of those teammates took the stage as Barca was recognized as the best women's team of the year.Bonmati played a key role in Barcelona's historic quadruple, recording 19 goals and a single-season career-high 18 assists while helping the team win La Liga F for the fifth consecutive year, the Women's Champions League for a third time, and the Copa de la Reina and Supercopa de Espana.The 26-year-old - who dispatched the decisive goal in Barcelona's 2-0 win over Lyon in the Champions League final - was also named the competition's best player for a second season running.<h3>2024 Ballon d'Or Feminin rankings</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Club</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1. Aitana Bonmati 🇪🇸</td>
<td>Barcelona</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2. Caroline Graham Hansen 🇳🇴</td>
<td>Barcelona</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3. Salma Paralluelo 🇪🇸</td>
<td>Barcelona</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4. Sophia Smith 🇺🇸</td>
<td>Portland Thorns</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5. Lindsey Horan 🇺🇸</td>
<td>Lyon</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6. Mallory Swanson 🇺🇸</td>
<td>Chicago Red Stars</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7. Marie-Antoinette Katoto 🇫🇷</td>
<td>PSG</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8. Mariona Caldentey 🇪🇸</td>
<td>Arsenal/Barcelona</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9. Trinity Rodman 🇺🇸</td>
<td>Washington Spirit</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10. Alexia Putellas 🇪🇸</td>
<td>Barcelona</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11. Patricia Guijarro 🇪🇸</td>
<td>Barcelona</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12. Barbra Banda 🇿🇲</td>
<td>Orlando/Shanghai RCB</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13. Lauren James 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿</td>
<td>Chelsea</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14. Ada Hegerberg 🇳🇴</td>
<td>Lyon</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15. Khadija Shaw 🇯🇲</td>
<td>Manchester City</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16. Tabitha Chawinga 🇲🇼</td>
<td>Lyon/PSG</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17. Alyssa Naeher 🇺🇸</td>
<td>Chicago Red Stars</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18. Gabi Portilho 🇧🇷</td>
<td>Corinthians</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19. Giulia Gwinn 🇩🇪</td>
<td>Bayern Munich</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20. Lucy Bronze 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿</td>
<td>Chelsea/Barcelona</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21. Mayra Ramirez 🇨🇴</td>
<td>Chelsea/Levante</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22. Glodis Viggosdottir 🇮🇸</td>
<td>Bayern Munich</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23. Tarciane 🇧🇷</td>
<td>Houston/Corinthians</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24. Lea Schuller 🇩🇪</td>
<td>Bayern Munich</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25. Sjoeke Nusken 🇩🇪</td>
<td>Chelsea</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>26. Yui Hasegawa 🇯🇵</td>
<td>Manchester City</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>27. Manuela Giugliano 🇮🇹</td>
<td>Roma</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>28. Lauren Hemp 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿</td>
<td>Manchester City</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>29. Ewa Pajor 🇵🇱</td>
<td>Barcelona/Wolfsburg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>30. Grace Geyoro 🇫🇷</td>
<td>PSG</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>U.S. trio Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, and Trinity Rodman entered the ceremony with a decent shot of dethroning Bonmati after winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. France's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie-Antoinette_Katoto">Marie-Antoinette Katoto</a>, who finished seventh in voting, had high hopes herself after finishing as the tournament's top scorer with five goals.The United States' success in Paris didn't go unrecognized on Monday though, as bench boss Emma Hayes was named the best women's coach after leading the team back to the top step of the Olympic podium.

Barcelona's Spansih midfielder Aitana Bonmati receives the Woman Ballon d'Or award during the 2024 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 28, 2024.

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Barcelona's Bonmati claims Women's Ballon d'Or for 2nd straight year

Manchester United are set to pay the €10 million required to hire Sporting CP's Ruben Amorim as E...

Manchester United are set to pay the €10 million required to hire Sporting CP's Ruben Amorim as Erik ten Hag's replacement, Sporting CP confirmed Tuesday.United entered talks with Sporting hours after firing Ten Hag as manager on Monday.There's now hope to have Amorim in place for Sunday's match against Chelsea, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/42070645/man-united-hope-hire-ruben-amorim-chelsea-clash-sources">ESPN's Mark Ogden</a>.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Ruud van Nistelrooy is expected to take charge of United's League Cup match against Leicester City on Wednesday.Sporting said in a statement obtained by <a href="https://x.com/MiguelDelaney/status/1851285231581499496/">The Independent's Miguel Delaney</a> that United had expressed willingness to trigger Amorim's €10-million release clause in his contract, which still has a year and a half left. Sporting are obligated to report all financial information to the Securities Market Commission in Lisbon.Sporting have also moved quickly to replace the 39-year-old, with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/oct/29/manchester-united-ruben-amorim-sporting-replacement">The Guardian's Marcus Christenson</a> reporting Joao Pereira, head coach of the club's reserve team, as their next manager.Pereira won the Primeira Liga under Amorim in 2021 before retiring and becoming an assistant for the club's under-23 side.Amorim has been linked with a number of job openings in England over the last two years. Chelsea reportedly approached the 39-year-old before hiring Mauricio Pochettino in 2023, and he was on Liverpool's short list of candidates to replace Jurgen Klopp. Amorim flew to London to interview for the vacancy at West Ham United in May but later apologized to fans in Portugal for doing so.United <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3110918" href="https://thescore.com/news/3110918">parted with</a> Ten Hag and installed assistant and former striker Van Nistelrooy as caretaker manager days after a 2-1 loss to West Ham extended their worst start to a season in 35 years. The Red Devils are also winless in the Europa League after three matches.It's the first managerial change INEOS has overseen since founder Jim Ratcliffe purchased a minority stake in February. The club extended Ten Hag's contract until June 2026 after conducting an internal review and interviews with outside candidates, including Thomas Tuchel, who was briefly available after leaving Bayern Munich.England's national team appointed Tuchel as Gareth Southgate's permanent successor earlier this month.United have reportedly held Brentford's Thomas Frank in high esteem for some time but would have to pay double the amount to release him from his contract.Amorim has enjoyed another incredible start at Sporting. The team is currently 9-0-0 in Portugal's Primeira Liga with 30 goals scored and just two against. It's also in eighth place in the Champions League table - good enough to qualify automatically for the knockout round - after winning two of its first three games.Sporting are also set to lose sporting director Hugo Viana to Manchester City. Viana reportedly struck a deal with the reigning Premier League champions to replace Txiki Begiristain as their new director of football, sparking rumors that Amorim would follow him to the Etihad as Pep Guardiola's eventual successor.United have anticipated any move with a preemptive strike of their own.

LISBOA, PORTUGAL - 2024/09/27: Head Coach Ruben Amorim of Sporting CP seen in action during the Liga Portugal Betclic match between GD Estoril Praia and Sporting CP at Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota. (Final score: Estoril Praia 0 - 3 Sporting CP).

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Man United set to pay €10M to hire Sporting's Amorim as next manager

Erik ten Hag is gone, and Manchester United's managerial search is on.  Ten Hag left United on Mo...

Erik ten Hag is gone, and Manchester United's managerial search is on.Ten Hag <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3110861" href="https://thescore.com/news/3110861">left United</a> on Monday, with assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy taking over on a temporary basis. But the Dutchman is widely expected to relinquish the role to a permanent successor.So who's fit and ready to take the job? Several would-be candidates, including Inter Milan's Simone Inzaghi and Marseille's Roberto De Zerbi, are under contract for the foreseeable future. Former Barcelona boss Xavi is reportedly committed to a year-long sabbatical, ex-Chelsea coach Graham Potter doesn't seem ready to handle another pressure-cooker situation, and Gareth Southgate has already ruled himself out of the running.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Below, we assess five candidates with the resumes to win over co-owner Jim Ratcliffe and his newly hired suite of executives, offering our probability of each manager being hired.<h3>Ruben Amorim</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/625742/cropped_GettyImages-2147989212.jpg?ts=1713800023" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/625742/w220xh124_GettyImages-2147989212.jpg?ts=1713800023 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/625742/w320xh180_GettyImages-2147989212.jpg?ts=1713800023 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/625742/w640xh360_GettyImages-2147989212.jpg?ts=1713800023 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/625742/w768xh432_GettyImages-2147989212.jpg?ts=1713800023 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/625742/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2147989212.jpg?ts=1713800023 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Carlos Rodrigues / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Probability: 60%Amorim has been linked with virtually every big Premier League job over the last year and is <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3111185" href="https://thescore.com/news/3111185">now in talks</a> with United. Chelsea reportedly interviewed the Sporting CP boss before electing to hire Mauricio Pochettino in 2023, and he was apparently on Liverpool's short list of candidates to replace Jurgen Klopp. West Ham also flew in Amorim for an interview - which the Portuguese coach later apologized for doing - earlier this year. Now may be his best chance to seal a move to England. He's won two Portuguese titles with Sporting and claimed big Champions League results against Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur. His team is 9-0-0 in the Primeira Liga, with an impressive 30 goals scored and two against, and is currently unbeaten in the Champions League. His contract expires in 2026, but he reportedly has a €10-million release clause, which United seem all too happy to pay.<h3>Thomas Frank</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/741601/cropped_GettyImages-2166553480.jpg?ts=1723994095" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/741601/w220xh124_GettyImages-2166553480.jpg?ts=1723994095 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/741601/w320xh180_GettyImages-2166553480.jpg?ts=1723994095 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/741601/w640xh360_GettyImages-2166553480.jpg?ts=1723994095 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/741601/w768xh432_GettyImages-2166553480.jpg?ts=1723994095 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/741601/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2166553480.jpg?ts=1723994095 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> John Walton - PA Images / PA Images / Getty</figcaption></figure>Probability: 20%Frank is currently one of the longest-serving managers in all of England's professional tiers and has never publicly courted interest from other teams. He <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/video/12606/13243544/thomas-frank-very-happy-at-brentford-despite-man-utd-links-lets-see-in-the-future">reiterated</a> hours after Monday's news broke that he's "very happy" at Brentford and did his best to skirt every follow-up question. But he deserves to move up a level after what he's achieved at Brentford. He's helped consolidate the club's position in the Premier League after earning promotion in 2021 and adapted his tactics along the way, resisting the temptation to push the kind of high-risk football that has cost many other promoted teams their top-flight status. United already hold Frank in high esteem and reportedly considered him for the job before handing Ten Hag an extension in the summer.<h3>Massimiliano Allegri</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/558666/cropped_GettyImages-1461770322.jpg?ts=1675703046" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/558666/w220xh124_GettyImages-1461770322.jpg?ts=1675703046 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/558666/w320xh180_GettyImages-1461770322.jpg?ts=1675703046 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/558666/w640xh360_GettyImages-1461770322.jpg?ts=1675703046 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/558666/w768xh432_GettyImages-1461770322.jpg?ts=1675703046 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/558666/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1461770322.jpg?ts=1675703046 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Valerio Pennicino / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Probability: 10%Allegri was fired by Juventus in May for an explosive outburst that marred the team's big win in the Coppa Italia final. The cameras caught him roasting officials and sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli in a fiery final act that had been bubbling underneath the surface for some time. While he won five Serie A titles over two stints at Juventus, Allegri's overly cautious football seemed to keep the club from moving forward. That's not to say he's a bad choice for United. The Red Devils have conceded an alarming number of chances and late goals, rendering any improvements in attack useless. Allegri would certainly provide structure to a side lacking an identity. Even if his football isn't the most pleasing, we at least know what to expect from him. The same couldn't be said for Ten Hag and his United.<h3>Sergio Conceicao</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/531621/cropped_GettyImages-1243174651.jpg?ts=1663162237" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/531621/w220xh124_GettyImages-1243174651.jpg?ts=1663162237 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/531621/w320xh180_GettyImages-1243174651.jpg?ts=1663162237 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/531621/w640xh360_GettyImages-1243174651.jpg?ts=1663162237 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/531621/w768xh432_GettyImages-1243174651.jpg?ts=1663162237 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/531621/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1243174651.jpg?ts=1663162237 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Soccrates Images / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Probability: 5%Conceicao is one of the most interesting candidates. After leaving Porto and reportedly holding talks with AC Milan and Marseille, the Portuguese is clearly waiting for the right opportunity. He can work right away and has a track record of managing established players and helping talented youngsters grow. Porto won the league three times under the 49-year-old's watch and competed well in the Champions League. As a hard-nosed coach who demands a high work rate, Conceicao would increase accountability at United, where such an attribute has been lacking. Even if he can't speak English well, United's captain, Bruno Fernandes, could help him give instructions. A number of players on the team - including Diogo Dalot and Casemiro - also speak Portuguese.<h3>Zinedine Zidane</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/630568/cropped_GettyImages-2154394599.jpg?ts=1716914349" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/630568/w220xh124_GettyImages-2154394599.jpg?ts=1716914349 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/630568/w320xh180_GettyImages-2154394599.jpg?ts=1716914349 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/630568/w640xh360_GettyImages-2154394599.jpg?ts=1716914349 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/630568/w768xh432_GettyImages-2154394599.jpg?ts=1716914349 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/630568/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2154394599.jpg?ts=1716914349 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP / Getty</figcaption></figure>Probability: 5%Zidane is a pipe dream. Any club would love to hire the Frenchman, not only for his charisma but also because of his winning record with Real Madrid, whom he led to three consecutive Champions League titles from 2016-18. But he's been elusive since leaving Madrid for a second time in 2021. He also doesn't speak English and doesn't seem to be in any rush to learn it. The consensus is that he'll eventually replace Didier Deschamps when he steps down as manager of the French national team. But it's worth calling Zidane just to see if he has any interest at all. After persisting with a disciplinarian in Ten Hag, United would benefit from Zidane's more calming presence.

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Man United should consider these 5 candidates to replace Ten Hag

Mario Balotelli is set to seal a headline-grabbing return to Serie A after agreeing to join Genoa...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///itaci/players/137" href="https://thescore.com/itaci/players/137">Mario Balotelli</a> is set to seal a headline-grabbing return to Serie A after agreeing to join Genoa."Save for any surprises, he will be a Genoa player tomorrow," Genoa sporting director Marco Ottolini <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3109902" href="https://thescore.com/news/3109902">said</a> Sunday.He added: "We've decided to go all-in with Balotelli. We're hoping for real enthusiasm, he has shown a huge desire to come back (to Italy) and play for Genoa."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The 34-year-old agreed to reduce his salary to sign a deal until the end of the season with Genoa, transfer insider <a href="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1850224003366998155">Fabrizio Romano</a> reports. It means the striker will again play in Italy, where he previously suited up for Inter, AC Milan, Brescia, and Monza.Balotelli spent two of the last three seasons in Turkey with Adana Demirspor, scoring 25 goals in 49 Super Lig appearances. He left as a free agent at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.Genoa will become Balotelli's 12th professional club. He began his career at Lumezzane and played under Jose Mourinho at Inter before winning the Premier League with Manchester City in 2012. He then joined Milan in 2013 for the first of two stints with the Rossoneri. He floundered during his single season with Liverpool in 2014 but enjoyed a mid-career renaissance with Nice and Marseille before returning to Serie A with Brescia in 2019.A short stint with Monza, then in Serie B, preceded his time at Adana. He also spent a season at Switzerland's Sion in between spells in Turkey.As much attention as Balotelli brings, Genoa can't afford to waste time. The club is currently in 18th place in the Serie A table with just six points from its opening nine matches. Genoa are also facing an ownership crisis, with majority shareholders 777 Capital being ordered by court to wind up its operations over unpaid debts.Balotelli will find a familiar face in Alberto Gilardino, a former striker who now coaches the Grifoni. The two were teammates on the Italian national team from 2010-13.Balotelli hasn't played for the Azzurri since 2018.

ADANA, TURKIYE - APRIL 13: Balotelli (9) of Adana Demirspor in action during the Turkish Super Lig week 32 football match between Yukatel Adana Demirspor and Mondihome Kayserispor at New Adana Stadium in Adana, Turkiye on April 13, 2024.

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Balotelli deal excites Genoa director: He showed 'huge desire' to join us

The supersized Champions League resumed this week, with all 36 teams back in action over 48 frenetic hours. Below, theScore's soccer editors reflect on Matchday 3 in Europe's premier club competition.<h3>Key takeaway from Matchday 3 📝</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751351/cropped_GettyImages-2179698095.jpg?ts=1729721296" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751351/w220xh124_GettyImages-2179698095.jpg?ts=1729721296 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751351/w320xh180_GettyImages-2179698095.jpg?ts=1729721296 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751351/w640xh360_GettyImages-2179698095.jpg?ts=1729721296 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751351/w768xh432_GettyImages-2179698095.jpg?ts=1729721296 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751351/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2179698095.jpg?ts=1729721296 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> picture alliance / picture alliance / Getty</figcaption></figure>Anthony Lopopolo: What happened to Red Bull's swashbuckling sides? RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg are each without a point after three matches. Salzburg haven't even scored yet. Leipzig at least have an excuse, opening their campaign against Atletico Madrid, Juventus, and Liverpool. And while they dropped all of them, Leipzig played well enough in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to the Reds, controlling the tempo for large chunks of the game. Leipzig also had two goals disallowed for offside. But the project is over a decade old now. Leipzig have lost steam in Europe since reaching the semifinals in 2020. Salzburg have never made it past the round of 16. This is an inflection point for Red Bull. Jurgen Klopp, its new head of soccer operations, may have a real job on his hands.Gianluca Nesci: The proverbial "big" teams actually have to work for this. Concern that more matches in the new <s>group</s> league phase would give the bigger, richer contenders more leeway to coast through to the next round was a fair critique, but it's clear through three games that many of those sides can't put things into cruise control. Paris Saint-Germain are 19th in the table after three forgettable performances. Bayern Munich have lost two straight and sit 23rd. After a bright start, Juventus was trucked at home by Stuttgart and tumbled down the standings. Atletico Madrid are in one of the elimination places. Teams will need roughly 11 points to get into the knockout playoffs, while 15 or 16 points could secure an automatic berth in the round of 16. Some of Europe's most decorated clubs need to turn things around quickly to reach those benchmarks.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Which fairy-tale team do you most believe in? 🦄</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743540/cropped_GettyImages-2165575916.jpg?ts=1725297176" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743540/w220xh124_GettyImages-2165575916.jpg?ts=1725297176 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743540/w320xh180_GettyImages-2165575916.jpg?ts=1725297176 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743540/w640xh360_GettyImages-2165575916.jpg?ts=1725297176 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743540/w768xh432_GettyImages-2165575916.jpg?ts=1725297176 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743540/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2165575916.jpg?ts=1725297176 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Carlos Rodrigues / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Lopopolo: Sporting CP. They're unbeaten after 12 matches to start the season and have one of Europe's most reliable scorers in Viktor Gyokeres, who already has 13 goals across the Primeira Liga and Champions League. While Manchester City and Arsenal will surely test the Portuguese side in its next two Champions League fixtures, the rest of its schedule is winnable, with matches against Club Brugge, Leipzig, and Bologna. This team has scored in all but one of its last 21 matches in European competition, and with seven points in tow, Sporting can even afford a couple of slip-ups on the path to qualifying.Nesci: Aston Villa. Despite this being their first appearance in Europe's top-tier competition since 1983, nobody thought Villa would be a pushover going into the Champions League. But let's be real: not even the most ardent supporters could have expected this level of success. Unai Emery, who arrived in Birmingham with the club mired in relegation trouble, has Villa sitting atop the 36-team Champions League table with a 100% record after beating Bologna on Tuesday. They haven't conceded a goal in the tournament thus far and have a relatively friendly schedule the rest of the way. Their league form - Villa sit fourth in the Premier League - crystalizes what everyone on the continent is quickly learning: Aston Villa are for real.<h3>This week's crisis club 😬</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751349/cropped_GettyImages-2179609397.jpg?ts=1729721132" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751349/w220xh124_GettyImages-2179609397.jpg?ts=1729721132 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751349/w320xh180_GettyImages-2179609397.jpg?ts=1729721132 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751349/w640xh360_GettyImages-2179609397.jpg?ts=1729721132 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751349/w768xh432_GettyImages-2179609397.jpg?ts=1729721132 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/751349/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2179609397.jpg?ts=1729721132 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> NurPhoto / NurPhoto / Getty</figcaption></figure>Lopopolo: Paris Saint-Germain. Luis Enrique's side could only convert one of its 26 attempts on goal in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with PSV Eindhoven, leaving the club with just four points from three matches ahead of a challenging slate of games. PSG face Atletico, Bayern, and Manchester City and may have no choice but to accept a play-off spot when it's all said and done. The problem is that they don't have composure in front of goal. They have two goals for the 62 shots they've fired thus far. That's the third-most any team has attempted in the Champions League and a conversion rate of a little over 3%.Nesci: Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone's team, synonymous with solidity for so many years, is having an identity crisis. Atletico dropped their second straight Champions League match Wednesday, throwing away a lead and crumbling late in a 3-1 loss to Lille. That comes on the back of a 4-0 shellacking against Benfica. Once Europe's most miserly defensive unit, playing against Atleti was like running headfirst into a brick wall. But that wall and the aura that came with it have crumbled as the club has tried to evolve and play a more ambitious attacking game. Atleti, without a clean sheet in nearly a month, occupy one of the automatic elimination places near the bottom of the Champions League table. It's time to stick or twist.<h3>Player of the week 🌟</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743273/cropped_GettyImages-2169614706.jpg?ts=1725124609" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743273/w220xh124_GettyImages-2169614706.jpg?ts=1725124609 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743273/w320xh180_GettyImages-2169614706.jpg?ts=1725124609 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743273/w640xh360_GettyImages-2169614706.jpg?ts=1725124609 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743273/w768xh432_GettyImages-2169614706.jpg?ts=1725124609 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/743273/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2169614706.jpg?ts=1725124609 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Alex Caparros / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Lopopolo: Vinicius Junior. Once Real Madrid got their comeback effort underway, the Brazilian took over, flying past defenders as he completed a hat-trick in the second half of their 5-2 win over Borussia Dortmund. His second goal was breathtaking. Vinicius collected the ball in Madrid's half of the field before galloping up the pitch and bending a perfect shot past the goalkeeper. It was the kind of goal only a match-winner would score. And Vinicius has been exactly that. Like Karim Benzema before him, the 24-year-old always comes up clutch when Madrid are desperate for a reaction. But he didn't just provide the breakthrough. He recovered the ball five times in the second half, showing the hunger to make something happen, even when he was dozens of yards away from the opposition third. Vinicius' energy clearly rubbed off on his teammates.Nesci: Raphinha. What a turnaround. Many Barcelona fans were longing for the club to sign Nico Williams this summer to relegate Raphinha to the bench - or have him shipped out entirely. Not anymore. The Brazilian is quickly becoming the poster child of Hansi Flick's revitalized and reinvented team. He scored a sublime hat-trick in Wednesday's 4-1 demolition of Bayern Munich, wearing the armband and leading his club to a cathartic win over an old foe. With four Champions League goals on the campaign, Raphinha has already surpassed his total from last season's tournament. In all, he has nine tallies on the season, thriving in a nominal left-wing role that gives him more freedom to drift inside and attack the heart of the opposition backline.<h3>Should Vini win Ballon d'Or on Monday? 🏆</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747900/cropped_GettyImages-2174753643.jpg?ts=1727793481" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747900/w220xh124_GettyImages-2174753643.jpg?ts=1727793481 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747900/w320xh180_GettyImages-2174753643.jpg?ts=1727793481 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747900/w640xh360_GettyImages-2174753643.jpg?ts=1727793481 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747900/w768xh432_GettyImages-2174753643.jpg?ts=1727793481 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/747900/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2174753643.jpg?ts=1727793481 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> NurPhoto / NurPhoto / Getty</figcaption></figure>Lopopolo: Absolutely. You could find players who scored more last season, but Vinicius excelled in virtually every attacking category, producing in big moments and electrifying fans with a season-high 37 successful take-ons in the Champions League last term. His two goals in last year's quarterfinals against Bayern Munich helped propel Madrid to the final, where he also scored. Also, Los Blancos never lost a game in which Vinicius found the net last season. All told, he was the most valuable player on the team that won the Champions League and La Liga. Why shouldn't he win the Ballon d'Or? That's the more interesting question.Nesci: He's going to, and he's fully deserving. But it's a little disconcerting how much of a foregone conclusion this seems considering the body of work by his closest challenger. Rodri, inarguably the most important player on a Manchester City team that made history by winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title in 2023-24, followed up that continued success at club level by earning Player of the Tournament honors during Spain's run to the Euro 2024 crown. Fair or not, Ballon d'Or voters have always placed outsize importance on international competitions when deciding who takes home the sport's most coveted individual trophy. Vinicius' Brazil flopped badly at the Copa America, while Rodri was critical to Spain's Euro triumph. Are we sure this is so cut-and-dried?<h3>Where we stand 👀</h3>Here's the complete league phase table after Matchday 3. Remember: The top eight teams advance directly to the last 16, and the sides that finish ninth to 24th head to the new knockout phase playoffs, two-legged ties that determine who joins the eight automatic qualifiers in the round of 16. The bottom 12 clubs are eliminated from the Champions League.<figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Club</th>
<th>GD</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Aston Villa</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Liverpool</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Man City</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Monaco</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Brest</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Leverkusen</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Inter</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Sporting CP</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Arsenal</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Barcelona</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>Borussia Dortmund</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Real Madrid</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Benfica</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Juventus</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>Lille</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Feyenoord</td>
<td>-1</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Atalanta</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Stuttgart</td>
<td>-1</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>PSG</td>
<td>-1</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Celtic</td>
<td>-2</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>Sparta Prague</td>
<td>-2</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22</td>
<td>Dinamo Zagreb</td>
<td>-5</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td>Bayern Munich</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>Girona</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>AC Milan</td>
<td>-1</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>26</td>
<td>Club Brugge</td>
<td>-4</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>27</td>
<td>Atletico</td>
<td>-5</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>28</td>
<td>PSV</td>
<td>-2</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>29</td>
<td>Bologna</td>
<td>-4</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>30</td>
<td>Shakhtar</td>
<td>-4</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>31</td>
<td>RB Leipzig</td>
<td>-3</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>32</td>
<td>Sturm Graz</td>
<td>-4</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>33</td>
<td>Crvena Zvezda</td>
<td>-9</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>34</td>
<td>Salzburg</td>
<td>-9</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>35</td>
<td>Young Boys</td>
<td>-9</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>36</td>
<td>S. Bratislava</td>
<td>-10</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/28768320/related

Champions League, Matchday 3: Big teams wobble, but Barca are back

Real Madrid once again made the extraordinary look routine Tuesday, fighting back from 2-0 down a...

Real Madrid once again made the extraordinary look routine Tuesday, fighting back from 2-0 down at halftime to beat Borussia Dortmund 5-2 in a rematch of last season's Champions League final.<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/101248" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/101248">Vinicius Junior</a> powered Madrid's comeback effort with a hat-trick that helped cement his case for the Ballon d'Or.(Available to view in U.S. only)<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
VINICIUS JR. WITH A SOLO EFFORT TO COMPLETE THE HAT TRICK 🎯 <a href="https://t.co/CtdCx4Qa5L">pic.twitter.com/CtdCx4Qa5L</a>— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1848831957913747731?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>(Available to view in Canada only)<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
VINI JR SCORES A HAT-TRICK 🔥 📺 Watch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCL</a> live on <a href="https://t.co/6e0eQThQd3">https://t.co/6e0eQThQd3</a> <a href="https://t.co/rv8M9vxNUv">pic.twitter.com/rv8M9vxNUv</a>— DAZN Canada (@DAZN_CA) <a href="https://twitter.com/DAZN_CA/status/1848831727419941195?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>It's only the second time Madrid have won a Champions League home game when trailing by two goals. They also beat Roma 4-2 in September 2004 after conceding the first two goals.<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/93738" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/93738">Donyell Malen</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/188349" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/188349">Jamie Gittens</a> silenced the Santiago Bernabeu with strikes four minutes apart in a first half that exposed Madrid defensively. Fans whistled the players off the pitch as they broke for halftime. But as they often do, the reigning European champions regained control, scoring five times in the second period to complete the turnaround.<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/16577" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/16577">Antonio Rudiger</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/49943" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/49943">Lucas Vazquez</a> also found the net as Madrid improved to 2-0-1 to start their Champions League campaign."We know that when we are at home, with our fans, anything can happen," Vinicius <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3105861" href="https://thescore.com/news/3105861">told</a> Spanish TV channel Movistar. "We went in (at half-time) very quiet and just listened to the coach. We said just one thing: If we scored the first, we would come back once again. And we made another comeback. Thanks to the fans and the whole team who gave everything."Carlo Ancelotti's side stumbled in Lille in its previous match and looked sluggish from the start against Dortmund. Both teams have been off their best form since reaching the final, which Madrid won 2-0 to clinch a record-extending 15th European crown.<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/49943" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/49943">Lucas Vazquez</a> struggled down the right and was at fault for both of Dortmund's goals, first losing possession ahead of Malen's 30th-minute strike and then losing Bynoe-Gittens as he raced in behind and crashed home the visitors' second.But Madrid suffocated Dortmund after the interval, outshooting them 17-2. Rudiger cut the deficit in half in the 60th minute with a header off <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/66967" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/66967">Kylian Mbappe</a>'s cross, and Vinicius jumped on a stray ball in the penalty area to tie it two minutes later. Vazquez redeemed himself with the game-clinching goal in the 83rd, and Vinicius struck twice more to add gloss to yet another heroic effort.

Madrid, Spain - October 22: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between Real Madrid C.F. and Borussia Dortmund at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on October 22, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.

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Vinicius Jr. powers Madrid's latest comeback in UCL final rematch vs. Dortmund

Christian Pulisic built on his incredible start to the season Tuesday, scoring an Olimpico goal f...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/60435" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/60435">Christian Pulisic</a> built on his incredible start to the season Tuesday, scoring an Olimpico goal for AC Milan in the first half of their Champions League win over Club Brugge.Pulisic fired in straight from a corner kick to collect his seventh goal in all competitions.(Available to view in U.S. only)<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 CHRISTIAN PULISIC <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCL</a> OLIMPICO!!! 🚨 <a href="https://t.co/NSgfJMunLu">pic.twitter.com/NSgfJMunLu</a>— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1848778689397268827?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>(Available to view in Canada only)<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
CHRISTIAN PULISIC SCORES DIRECTLY FROM A CORNER KICK! Watch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCL</a> live on DAZN <a href="https://t.co/Tcyg49qlXg">pic.twitter.com/Tcyg49qlXg</a>— DAZN Canada (@DAZN_CA) <a href="https://twitter.com/DAZN_CA/status/1848777935966085627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>It's his second tally in the Champions League this term and 10th of his career in the competition.Pulisic gave Milan a 1-0 halftime lead that the hosts later converted into a 3-1 victory after a pair of goals from <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/162409" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/162409">Tijjani Reijnders</a>."There was a bit of luck today. But it counts as a goal and I'm really pleased," Pulisic <a href="https://x.com/acmilan/status/1848833456551448904">told</a> Milan TV. "I've not practiced that, but it was a good cross."Brugge made a game of it despite going down a man in the 40th minute, with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/184817" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/184817">Raphael Onyedika</a> sent off for stepping on the ankle of Milan counterpart Reijnders.<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/190637" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/190637">Kyriani Sabbe</a> equalized for the visitors off a goalmouth scramble in the 51st minute, but Milan's numerical advantage eventually told when substitutes <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/99445" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/99445">Noah Okafor</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/103058" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/103058">Samuel Chukwueze</a> set up Reijnders' game-clinching goals.The VAR denied Milan's <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///chlg/players/204888" href="https://thescore.com/chlg/players/204888">Francesco Camarda</a> a piece of history with just three minutes remaining, ruling the 16-year-old's header offside and preventing him from becoming the Champions League's youngest-ever scorer.With their first win of the campaign, the Rossoneri move up to 18th in the Champions League table. They lost their opening two matches to Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen.

MILAN, ITALY - OCTOBER 22: Christian Pulisic of Milan celebrates his goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between AC Milan and Club Brugge KV at Stadio San Siro on October 22, 2024 in Milan, Italy.

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Watch: Pulisic scores directly from corner kick as Milan finally win in UCL

Dean Henderson's error against his former club cost Crystal Palace as Chris Wood's second-half st...

Dean Henderson's error against his former club cost Crystal Palace as Chris Wood's second-half strike moved Nottingham Forest up to eighth in the Premier League with a 1-0 win on Monday.The England goalkeeper allowed Wood's low shot from outside the box to slip through his grasp to leave the Eagles still in the bottom three and without a league win this season.Eddie Nketiah and Eberechi Eze hit the woodwork for Palace, but they remain the lowest scorers in the division with just five goals from their opening eight games.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Forest, by contrast, are enjoying a stunning start to the campaign and move above Manchester United and Newcastle into the top half.Nuno Espirito Santo had to watch his side's first home win since April from the stands as he began a three-match touchline ban, while Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis started a five-game stadium suspension for his behaviour in a 1-0 defeat to Fulham last month.Morgan Gibbs-White and James Ward-Prowse were also suspended for the hosts, but they possess what Palace do not in a striker in form.Only Erling Haaland, Cole Palmer and Bryan Mbeumo have scored more Premier League goals than Wood this season as the New Zealand international took his tally to five in eight games.Henderson played a major role in keeping Forest up during his spell on loan at the City Ground in the 2022-23 season but had a moment to forget as he got a hand to Wood's effort but could not keep it out 25 minutes from time.It was a tale of contrasting fortunes for the two goalkeepers.Matz Sels produced an outstanding stop to turn Eze's piledriver onto the bar seconds before the goal and then tipped over Jeffrey Schlupp's rising drive.Nketiah struck the outside of the post from long range in the first half as his wait for a Premier League goal since a £30-million move from Arsenal goes on.Ryan Yates also hit the woodwork for Forest early on, but, as in all three of their wins so far this season, Nuno's men only needed the one goal for all three points.

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: Dean Henderson of Crystal Palace reacts after conceding the opening goal during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Crystal Palace FC at City Ground on October 19, 2024 in Nottingham, England.

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Forest up to 8th after Henderson's howler gifts victory over Palace

John Stones produced another decisive goal for Manchester City on Sunday, nodding home from a cor...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/14100" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/14100">John Stones</a> produced another decisive goal for Manchester City on Sunday, nodding home from a corner kick in the 95th minute to clinch a 2-1 win over Wolverhampton.<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/29076" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/29076">Bernardo Silva</a> was suspected of interfering with Wolves 'keeper <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/67717" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/67717">Jose Sa</a> while in an offside position, but match official Chris Kavanagh determined the goal was good after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor.(Available to view in U.S. only)<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
JOHN STONES WINS IT IN THE FINAL SECONDS FOR MANCHESTER CITY. INCREDIBLE. <a href="https://t.co/JsO025yDeF">pic.twitter.com/JsO025yDeF</a>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1848016675318464919?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>(Available to view in Canada only)<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
John Stones SCORES!! ⚽ 1-2 Wolverhampton vs Manchester City WATCH EVERY GOAL 👉 <a href="https://t.co/2w98QqADfX">https://t.co/2w98QqADfX</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PremierLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PremierLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/1vYPAVk8Vk">pic.twitter.com/1vYPAVk8Vk</a>— FuboCanada 🇨🇦 (@fuboTVCanada) <a href="https://twitter.com/fuboTVCanada/status/1848015849006752206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>By rule, Silva couldn't have been offside while the corner kick was taken, leaving Kavanagh to decide whether the midfielder was blocking Sa's line of vision in an offside position when Stones sent his header goal-bound. The referee also had to determine whether Silva committed a standard foul.But replays showed Silva moving out of the way and Sa in the ready position as Stones made contact.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GaV5wm2XkAAEwHE?format=jpg&amp;name=large" srcset="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GaV5wm2XkAAEwHE?format=jpg&amp;name=large 220w, https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GaV5wm2XkAAEwHE?format=jpg&amp;name=large 320w, https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GaV5wm2XkAAEwHE?format=jpg&amp;name=large 640w, https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GaV5wm2XkAAEwHE?format=jpg&amp;name=large 768w, https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GaV5wm2XkAAEwHE?format=jpg&amp;name=large 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> </figcaption></figure>(Courtesy: <a href="https://x.com/PLMatchCentre/status/1848017633133613354/photo/1">@PLMatchCentre</a>)Kavanagh was summoned to review the incident because the VAR didn't agree with the linesman's offside ruling.The match official is required to provide input when there's a subjective call.Despite the evidence, Wolves boss Gary O'Neil fumed at the decision, saying there was a "subconscious" bias against his club."There's no chance that people are purposely against Wolves. But is there something in the subconscious around decision-making or, without even knowing it, are you more likely to give it to Manchester City than Wolves?" O'Neil <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3103671" href="https://thescore.com/news/3103671">told</a> reporters."Manchester City scoring a last-minute winner is a big thing. I might be miles off, but if I had to upset someone in a street and there was a little guy and a big guy, I'm upsetting a little guy. Nothing against little guys."Stones famously equalized for City in the 98th minute of last month's 2-2 draw with title rivals Arsenal and popped up again with winless Wolves threatening to take a point off the reigning champions.Wolves took a shock lead in the seventh minute when <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///natleagueb/players/99544" href="https://thescore.com/natleagueb/players/99544">Jorgen Strand Larsen</a> tapped home <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/59778" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/59778">Nelson Semedo</a>'s cross-field pass. It was one of just four times the hosts found themselves in City's area.<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/162375" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/162375">Josko Gvardiol</a> equalized in the 33rd minute with a long-range strike that Sa couldn't handle.The win leaves City in second place with 20 points from eight matches. Liverpool are one point ahead at the top of the table after beating Chelsea 2-1.

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: John Stones of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Jack Grealish during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Manchester City FC at Molineux on October 20, 2024 in Wolverhampton, England.

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Bournemouth took a page out of Arsenal's set-piece playbook on Saturday, executing a clever corne...

Bournemouth took a page out of Arsenal's set-piece playbook on Saturday, executing a clever corner-kick routine of their own to become the first team to beat the Premier League title hopefuls this season.<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/67725" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/67725">Ryan Christie</a> lashed home Bournemouth's first goal in the 70th minute after <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/90873" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/90873">Justin Kluivert</a> tipped <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/30891" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/30891">Lewis Cook</a>'s corner into his teammate's path.Kluivert secured the 2-0 win for the Cherries from the penalty spot nine minutes later. Arsenal 'keeper <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/24606" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/24606">David Raya</a> conceded the spot-kick after chopping down <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/167817" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/167817">Evanilson</a>, who was only in scoring position thanks to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/184975" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/184975">Jakub Kiwior</a>'s woeful back pass.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>(Available to view in U.S. only)<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
SET PIECE PERFECTION. 🍒 BOURNEMOUTH LEAD ARSENAL ON THE SOUTH COAST. Ryan Christie with the goal! 📺 NBC &amp; Peacock | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BOUARS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BOUARS</a> <a href="https://t.co/aMG8hW9JCS">pic.twitter.com/aMG8hW9JCS</a>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1847700713704497208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2024</a>
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Ryan Christie SCORES!! ⚽ 1-0 AFC Bournemouth vs Arsenal FC WATCH EVERY GOAL 👉 <a href="https://t.co/2w98QqADfX">https://t.co/2w98QqADfX</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PremierLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PremierLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/cekCkCZgOy">pic.twitter.com/cekCkCZgOy</a>— FuboCanada 🇨🇦 (@fuboTVCanada) <a href="https://twitter.com/fuboTVCanada/status/1847701104907141205?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Arsenal played more than an hour with 10 men after defender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/101707" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/101707">William Saliba</a> was sent off by the VAR for a last-man challenge. The red card was their third in eight league matches.The Gunners could find themselves as far as four points out of first place if Liverpool beat Chelsea on Sunday.

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: Ryan Christie of AFC Bournemouth celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal FC at Vitality Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Bournemouth, England.

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The most interesting thing about Thomas Tuchel becoming England's next manager is not that the na...

The most interesting thing about Thomas Tuchel becoming England's next manager is not that the national team finally has someone with a trophy-winning pedigree. It's that he's German.Tuchel, the third foreigner to coach England after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3100194" href="https://thescore.com/news/3100194">accepted</a> the toughest gig of his career on Wednesday. That's saying something about a man who's coached Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich in recent years. He's looking to win things England hasn't won in decades, and he has to do it while convincing skeptics he's better than any of the English coaches the Football Association could've possibly hired in his place.The reaction was predictable. Pundits and fans on X asked <a href="https://x.com/JacobSteinberg/status/1846254650443387139">similar questions</a>: How could the FA betray its grassroots efforts and give the biggest job in England to someone who's barely lived there? What does it say about England that it can't possibly source a local coach to guide one of the greatest generations of players the country has ever produced?<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Even if Tuchel enjoyed a successful 15-month spell at Chelsea that culminated in Champions League glory in 2021, even if he speaks impeccable English, and even if, by all accounts, he's a downright Anglophile, he's still German at his core. All the good things about him - that he's had success everywhere he's coached, that he has a great rapport with England's captain and record scorer, Harry Kane - inevitably come with an asterisk.There is a certain irony about England having two Europeans as national team coaches so soon after Brexit. But the fact is that Tuchel is as much of a slam dunk hire as Sarina Wiegman was when she replaced Phil Neville as the permanent coach of England's women's team in 2021. Back then, Wiegman was the standout candidate and a far better choice than her predecessor, with a Euro title and a World Cup final appearance on her resume.She ended up winning Euro 2022 with England's Lionesses.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/626945/cropped_GettyImages-2150371110.jpg?ts=1714511766" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/626945/w220xh124_GettyImages-2150371110.jpg?ts=1714511766 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/626945/w320xh180_GettyImages-2150371110.jpg?ts=1714511766 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/626945/w640xh360_GettyImages-2150371110.jpg?ts=1714511766 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/626945/w768xh432_GettyImages-2150371110.jpg?ts=1714511766 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/626945/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2150371110.jpg?ts=1714511766 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> picture alliance / picture alliance / Getty</figcaption></figure>While Tuchel doesn't have the same international experience Wiegman does, there's a lot to like about his tournament record. He reached the 2020 Champions League final with PSG and led Chelsea to the summit the following season, beating Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, and Manchester City in the process. He's methodical in training and a charismatic spokesperson for his players, and while he often clashes with upper management, he never compromises on the one thing the English love to see: high-energy, attacking football that wins matches.Was the FA really going to give the reins to Lee Carsley, a man who <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3097241" href="https://thescore.com/news/3097241">seemed reluctant</a> to do anything other than keep the seat warm for Gareth Southgate's ultimate successor? He's never coached in the top flight before, and his experiences in senior management were largely in a caretaker capacity. He's not ready to take on this kind of role. He admitted that much himself.Fellow contender Eddie Howe is in the middle of a project at Newcastle United, and Graham Potter, while available, couldn't juggle the politics of coaching a Premier League powerhouse at Chelsea. By comparison, the national team is the Oval Office.Besides, how can England take such a self-righteous stance against foreigners when the country's top division, the Premier League, has established itself as the world's best with the help of so many of them?When England's top clubs and executives decided to break away from the Football League and establish a self-serving "superleague" in 1992, it went on a mission to become a global phenomenon. It went from having only 13 players from outside the British Isles to showcasing players from 120 different countries and negotiating foreign broadcast deals surpassing £5 billion in value. It has attracted - and profited from - the ideas of the most influential managers in the world, tactics that have helped shape the headliners of England's latest generation. Its players have competed both alongside and against the best there is. All the while, the money has flowed, and the cycle has repeated itself.England decided long ago what it wanted to be. It has been all about winning for a while now - and winning well. Its national team should be no different.As much as Southgate achieved, picking up England after a newspaper sting ended Sam Allardyce's short reign and leading the team to back-to-back Euro finals, he ultimately fell short. Southgate's teams entertained until they lost. When the going got tough, they played it safe. Southgate even complained about "English entitlement" and seemed to understand the process didn't matter to people as much as it may have earlier in his tenure. Good vibes alone weren't enough. England has celebrated enough moral victories. The people have witnessed the brightest coaches and best athletes from Spain and Germany and France and the whole world over. If the most popular clubs in England can have the very best, why shouldn't its biggest team of all?

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Who cares if Tuchel is foreign? England hired the best man for the job

Pep Guardiola is considering a one-year extension with Manchester City after being offered the ch...

Pep Guardiola is considering a one-year extension with Manchester City after being offered the chance to coach England, <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/10/14/pep-guardiola/">The Telegraph's Jason Burt</a> reports.If Guardiola agrees to stay at City until the end of next season, he will complete a decade at the club.While the English FA approached Guardiola's camp as early as August about replacing Gareth Southgate as England's next manager, the governing body had little hope of actually appointing him, according to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/oct/14/pep-guardiola-england-job-fa-lee-carsley">The Guardian's David Hytner and Jacob Steinberg</a>. The FA reportedly turned to former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel after failing to get a definitive answer from Guardiola.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Burt's sources caution that Guardiola could still take a sabbatical when his contract with City expires in June. The Spanish coach moved to New York for a year after leaving Barcelona in 2012.The 53-year-old kept his options open when discussing his future during an appearance on Italian TV."Leaving City? It's not true. I haven't decided yet," Guardiola <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3098823" href="https://thescore.com/news/3098823">said</a> Sunday.Lee Carsley, who's served as interim manager of the national team since Southgate stepped down in August, deferred interest in the job last week, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/czd1eq04rlvo">saying</a> the team deserves a "world-class" coach and that he's "still on the path" to becoming one.Carsley also drew widespread criticism for trialing a team without a defined striker in Thursday's 2-1 loss to Greece in the Nations League. England beat Finland 3-1 three days later.

MILAN, ITALY - OCTOBER 13: Pep Guardiola attends the "Che Tempo Che Fa" TV show at Nove Studios on October 13, 2024 in Milan, Italy.

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Report: Guardiola considering Man City contract extension

Vangelis Pavlidis scored Greece's first-ever goals at Wembley Stadium to secure a historic 2-1 wi...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///natleagueb/players/55385" href="https://thescore.com/natleagueb/players/55385">Vangelis Pavlidis</a> scored Greece's first-ever goals at Wembley Stadium to secure a historic 2-1 win over England in the Nations League on Thursday.Pavlidis tiptoed into the area and fired a low shot past goalkeeper <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///natleagueb/players/53437" href="https://thescore.com/natleagueb/players/53437">Jordan Pickford</a> to open the scoring at the start of the second half. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///natleagueb/players/161381" href="https://thescore.com/natleagueb/players/161381">Jude Bellingham</a> equalized in the 87th minute with a shot from range, but Pavlidis seized on a goalmouth scramble deep into stoppage time to hand Greece its first victory over the Three Lions.Greece celebrated the first of Pavlidis' goals by holding <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///uefa/players/53921" href="https://thescore.com/uefa/players/53921">George Baldock</a>'s shirt high into the sky. The English-born Greek defender, who played for Sheffield United and Panathinaikos, was found dead on Wednesday in his swimming pool in an Athens suburb.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Greece is now in first place in Nations League Group B2 with nine points out of nine. England is second with six.Pavlidis would've had a hat-trick had he managed to stay onside when attempting to convert <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///natleagueb/players/166693" href="https://thescore.com/natleagueb/players/166693">Christos Tzolis</a>' pass in the 83rd minute. The No. 48-ranked side had another two goals ruled offside and an attempt cleared off the goal line.Greece lost seven of its previous nine matches against England, drawing two, but summoned something special on a night of somber remembrance. Barely 24 hours before kickoff, the Greek national team confirmed Baldock - a right-back born in Buckingham, England, with Greek roots on his father's side - had died at the age of 31. He earned his first call-up in June 2022 and made 12 appearances for his country of ancestry.Baldock wasn't part of head coach Ivan Jovanovic's squad for October's Nations League matches.The players in Greece's starting lineup held up Baldock's shirt pre-match, and Pavlidis again summoned his teammate's former No. 2 after scoring the opener."It was a really special day for us because of George," Pavlidis <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3095905" href="https://thescore.com/news/3095905">said</a>. "We have thought about him a lot since we heard it yesterday. A difficult moment for us because George was part of the team. "Special guy. We have to play for him and it doesn't matter the score today. We gave everything for him."For just the third time in its history, England has lost three times at Wembley in a calendar year. Thursday's defeat is also Lee Carsley's first as England's interim manager. Carsley replaced Gareth Southgate on a temporary basis in August and led the national team to back-to-back 2-0 victories over the Republic of Ireland and Finland. He must now answer for his unusual tactical setup on Thursday. With <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///natleagueb/players/3804" href="https://thescore.com/natleagueb/players/3804">Harry Kane</a> sidelined by a suspected leg injury, Carsley opted against fielding another striker, rolling instead with five attacking midfielders and without forwards <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///natleagueb/players/35483" href="https://thescore.com/natleagueb/players/35483">Ollie Watkins</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///epl/players/34983" href="https://thescore.com/epl/players/34983">Dominic Solanke</a> for the first hour. England ended up going 84 minutes without a shot on target."We tried something different and tried to overload the midfield. We tried it for 20 minutes yesterday, we experimented, and I'm disappointed it didn't come off," Carsley <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3095882" href="https://thescore.com/news/3095882">said</a>. "With the quality of players we've got, that's the challenge, to get them all on the pitch."I thought it was a creative way to play. But we were second best for a lot of tonight. You are going to get setbacks and it's important we respond."

Greece players hold aloft a shirt in memory of George Baldock after Evangelos Pavlidis scores the opening goal of the game during the UEFA Nations League Group B2 match at Wembley Stadium, London. Picture date: Thursday October 10, 2024.

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Greek players pay tribute to Baldock during historic upset win over England

Txiki Begiristain, the architect behind Manchester City's rise and the man who brought Pep Guardi...

Txiki Begiristain, the architect behind Manchester City's rise and the man who brought Pep Guardiola to the Premier League, is expected to leave the club at the end of the season, sources told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/football/premier-league/">The Athletic's David Ornstein and Sam Lee</a>.The departure of City's director of football could convince Guardiola to end his time as manager of the defending Premier League champions, according to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/oct/08/guardiolas-future-in-fresh-doubt-with-begiristain-set-to-leave-manchester-city">The Guardian's Jamie Jackson</a>.Begiristain joined City in 2012 after working with Guardiola at Barcelona, where he served as technical director from 2003-10. The two have a close relationship and reportedly discuss strategy daily.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>While City have reportedly lined up a replacement for Begiristain, Guardiola's future is less certain. Lee <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5828979/2024/10/08/txiki-begiristain-man-city-guardiola-future/">reports</a> that Begiristain and Guardiola had planned as recently as last season to leave City at the same time.Guardiola's contract expires at the end of the campaign, with City fans imploring the manager to renew his deal."We want you to stay," read a banner commissioned by supporters before Saturday's win over Fulham.The Spaniard has won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and the Champions League since moving to City in 2016.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola shakes hands with director of football Aitor "Txiki" Begiristain following the 2024 FA Community Shield match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on August 10, 2024 in London, England.

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Andres Iniesta, who scored the goal that won Spain the World Cup in 2010, appeared to announce hi...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///worldcup/players/1120" href="https://thescore.com/worldcup/players/1120">Andres Iniesta</a>, who scored the goal that won Spain the World Cup in 2010, appeared to announce his retirement at 40 years old on Monday.In a video posted on X, entitled "The Game Continues," the 40-year-old breaks down when he's asked what football means to him.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
El Juego Continúa ❤️⚽️ 8️⃣🔟2️⃣4️⃣ <a href="https://t.co/YLrDOfxVCB">pic.twitter.com/YLrDOfxVCB</a>— Andrés Iniesta (@andresiniesta8) <a href="https://twitter.com/andresiniesta8/status/1843299436539306352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Iniesta celebrated more than 30 titles during a legacy-making 16 seasons at Barcelona, where he formed one of the greatest-ever midfield trios alongside Xavi and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/1114" href="https://thescore.com/mls/players/1114">Sergio Busquets</a> during the club's most successful era.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>He left Barcelona at the end of the 2017-18 season and spent the following six years in Japan with Vissel Kobe before seemingly closing out his professional career in the United Arab Emirates.Widely regarded as one of the game's greatest passers, Iniesta also scored in pivotal moments, as he did in the Champions League to eliminate Chelsea in May 2009 and later in extra time of the 2010 World Cup final. His 116th-minute goal against the Netherlands delivered Spain's first-ever World Cup, which came in-between back-to-back European Championships for La Roja. Iniesta was also named player of the tournament at Euro 2012.From a small town in the province of Albacete, Iniesta joined Barcelona's famous La Masia academy when he was 12 - just a few years before <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wcqcon/players/1126" href="https://thescore.com/wcqcon/players/1126">Lionel Messi</a> arrived - and proceeded to build a dynasty that led to nine La Liga championships, six Copa del Rey titles, and four Champions League victories.He earned the respect of his adversaries over the more than 900 matches he played competitively and was never once sent off for a red-card offense. Fans of rivals Espanyol famously gave Iniesta <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peJSbfZYJSk">a standing ovation</a> with Barcelona up 5-1 in the local Catalan derby in December 2010.Iniesta never won the Ballon d'Or - he finished runner-up to Messi in 2010 and third in voting in 2012 - and received an official apology from the magazine that's presented the award since 1956."Forgive us, Andres," France Football director Pascal Ferre wrote in 2018. "For us, he wasn't just a player. He was the player. His sacrifices for the team ultimately deprived him of greater individual recognition."Of all the absences on the list of Ballon d'Or winners, his is particularly painful."

TOPSHOT - Spain's midfielder Andres Iniesta (C) raises the trophy as Spain's national football team players celebrate winning the 2010 World Cup football final Netherlands vs. Spain on July 11, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban Johannesburg. NO PUSH TO MOBILE / MOBILE USE SOLELY WITHIN EDITORIAL ARTICLE - AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANO

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Paul Pogba's four-year doping ban has been cut to 18 months, allowing him to resume his once-glit...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///seri/players/13802" href="https://thescore.com/seri/players/13802">Paul Pogba</a>'s four-year doping ban has been cut to 18 months, allowing him to resume his once-glittering career as early as March, Matthieu Reeb, the director general of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, told <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/pogba-has-doping-suspension-cut-18-months-eligible-play-next-march-2024-10-04/">Reuters</a> on Friday."The suspension is now 18 months, starting Sept. 11, 2023," Reeb confirmed.Pogba was provisionally suspended in September 2023 after testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone, which is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of prohibited substances because it can produce testosterone. The 31-year-old immediately brought the case to the CAS, which resolves legal disputes in the field of sports.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Pogba released a statement after the verdict to thank judges for hearing his explanation while saying he "never knowingly breached World Anti-Doping Agency regulations.""I took a nutritional supplement prescribed to me by a doctor, which does not affect or enhance the performance of male athletes," he added, according to <a href="https://x.com/danroan/status/1842286917108257141?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet">BBC Sport's Dan Roan</a>.Pogba can now suit up for Juventus starting March 11. While the club suspended his estimated €8-million annual salary during the appeals process, it didn't terminate his contract, leaving him with another year and a half remaining on his deal."This has been a hugely distressing period in my life because everything I have worked so hard for has been put on hold," Pogba said in his statement. "Thank you for your love and support. I just cannot wait to get back on the pitch."In an earlier post on X, the player seemed to suggest he was ready to play again.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
⌛️ <a href="https://t.co/yx3FKbTfB2">pic.twitter.com/yx3FKbTfB2</a>— Paul Pogba (@paulpogba) <a href="https://twitter.com/paulpogba/status/1842252845229232395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Pogba's initial ban was set to run until August 2027. He would've been 34 by the time it expired, as well as a free agent.Italy's anti-doping tribunal issued the four-year ban after learning the 2018 World Cup winner tested positive following Juventus' 2023-24 opener against Udinese in August 2023. A subsequent sample also showed testosterone metabolites were present in his system.Pogba appealed the verdict and insisted he "never knowingly or deliberately" took any substances that "violate anti-doping regulations." His representatives emphasized that the testosterone had come from a food supplement a U.S. doctor had prescribed to the player.The doping violation threatened to bring a premature end to the career of one of the most expensive players of all time. Manchester United bought Pogba from Juventus in 2016 for a then-world-record transfer fee of €105 million. After six up-and-down seasons with United, during which time he was often criticized for his lackadaisical performances, the French midfielder returned to Juventus on a free transfer in July 2022.Injuries and fitness issues limited Pogba to 12 competitive appearances and forced him to miss the 2022 World Cup. He also suffered an extortion attempt led by his brother Mathias, who threatened to reveal embarrassing secrets about his sibling. French prosecutors confirmed Pogba was held at gunpoint by childhood friends until he agreed to pay them €100,000."Money changes people. It can break up a family, it can create a war, it can create everything," he said last year."Sometimes I was just by myself thinking, 'I don't want to have money anymore. I just don't want to play anymore. I just want to be with normal people so they will love me for me, not for the fame, not for the money.'"

DUSSELDORF, GERMANY - JULY 01: Former France, Manchester United and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba reacts with former France, Juventus and Barceloona defender Lilian Thuram ( also the father of Marcus Thuram of France ) in the tribune prior to during the UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16 match between France and Belgium at Düsseldorf Arena on July 01, 2024 in Dusseldorf, Germany.

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