Winger’s thrilling performance made elite footballers vanish and surely ended Liverpool’s title defence For heaven’s sake, Jérémy. You’re not supposed to actually enjoy these games. Except, it seems sometimes you can, even at this rarefied level. Perhaps the most striking part of Jérémy Doku’s thrilling performance here was its playfulness, the sense of fun, the way he was into it from the first moment, basically dancing out there. Doku has the nickname The Count, a reference to the Star Wars Sith Lord Count Dooku. His performance against Liverpool was more like watching the young Yoda scything his way around one of those mass lightsaber massacres, whirling and gliding, aware of space, wind, the crumpling of a blade of grass behind him. Continue reading...

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Belgian Red Devil and Napoli player Kevin De Bruyne successfully underwent hamstring surgery. The operation took place at the AZ Monica Hospital in Deurne (Antwerp). Leading physiotherapist Lieven Maesschalck went to check on his protégé, who is doing “great”. The procedure also went according to plan. “Starting tomorrow, we will discuss the further course of his rehabilitation,” Maesschalck shared in a brief update.

As expected, Kevin De Bruyne will need surgery on his hamstrings and will then face a lengthy period of rehabilitation. He is definitely set to miss Belgium’s World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan.

Napoli midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a high-grade tear in his right thigh against Inter Milan.

It wasn’t a classic, but the chorus from the Santiago Bernabéu was. It had been a while and they had missed moments like this, but for the first time since April Fool’s Day Jude Bellingham stood before the south end of this stadium with his arms wide listening to them sing Hey Jude. There had been a shoulder injury, and doubts about his role too, but now he had scored his first goal of the season, ultimately took Real Madrid to a 1-0 win over a Juventus side that aren’t what they once were. With just two points and sitting below the cut, the Italians may yet struggle to progress from the league phase of a competition in which they have played nine finals. They may reflect on a decent start, an exceptional Thibaut Courtois save, a great opportunity wasted on 85 minutes and another save from Courtois in added time. Madrid had lived dangerously at times, but ultimately though had done more, racking up 30 shots and their third win in three. Continue reading...

Erling Haaland’s double seized the points, took him to 23 goals in 13 games for club and country, and kept Tottenham as the only foes the uber-striker has failed to score against this season. The 25-year-old’s finishes – on 58 and 63 minutes – shredded David Moyes’ visitors in two high-quality moments that decorated a generally middling affair. Without the injured Rodri and the departed Kevin De Bruyne, this Guardiola iteration does not purr along like his finest ones have. Jack Grealish was not on the sward for Everton, because of the parent-club rule, and City’s manager may ponder the wisdom of allowing the forward’s nous and class to be loaned away. Continue reading...

CARDIFF, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Kevin De Bruyne tucked away two penalties as Belgium came back after conceding an early goal to beat Wales 4-2 away in their World Cup qualifier on Monday, moving them closer to a place at next year's finals.

Wales’s World Cup qualifying loss to Belgium interrupted ‘It’s something I’ve not seen in my 36 years at Cardiff City’ Cardiff City have defended their pest control policy after a rat halted play during the second half of Wales’s World Cup qualifier against Belgium. The Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made an unsuccessful attempt to catch the rodent during Belgium’s 4-2 win on Monday night before the Wales substitute Brennan Johnson ushered the rat off the Cardiff City Stadium pitch. The rat then slipped past a ball boy and disappeared behind the VAR monitor and was not seen again. Continue reading...

Craig Bellamy cited Nostradamus in the buildup to this contest, advising to expect the unexpected given the 4‑3 thriller that unfolded the last time these nations met. But while Wales gave Belgium an early fright, two Kevin De Bruyne penalties and a Thomas Meunier strike paved the way to a comeback victory that surely ends the hosts’ hopes of qualifying automatically for the World Cup. Nathan Broadhead, on as a substitute, pulled a goal back in the 89th minute but almost immediately Leandro Trossard converted from close range to cap the victory, this time featuring just the six goals. Joe Rodon headed in to give Wales a welcome leg‑up but Belgium stirred to maintain their pristine qualifying record; their last defeat in a qualifier coming here in June 2015, when Gareth Bale scored to propel Wales towards Euro 2016. Wales will likely have to do it the hard way if they are to reach North America next summer. Continue reading...

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola praises Jeremy Doku who is "so important against a low block" after the Belgian played a key part in the Blues 5-1 victory over Burnley.

With its lightning ball-recycling that swept play left to right and then back into the area for a second Maxime Estève own goal, Manchester City’s third was a picture of their dominance under Pep Guardiola before last season’s decline. Jérémy Doku raced inside from the left and found Phil Foden, whose instant turn-and-pass to Matheus Nunes scattered Burnley. The right-back’s cross was smacked in at velocity and Oscar Bobb’s attempt rebounded off Estève and past Martin Dubravka. Continue reading...

⚽ Premier League updates from the 4.30pm BST kick-off ⚽ Live scores | Top scorers | Follow us over on Bluesky Ed Aarons assesses the new, improved Arsenal There were rumours that [Gabriel] Martinelli and [Leandro] Trossard could be allowed to depart in the summer but it is understood [Mikel] Arteta was keen to keep both despite the arrivals of Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze. Martinelli and Trossard scored 10 goals each last season and made regular contributions, even if the former has struggled to hit the heights of the 2022-23 campaign when he managed 15. But the Brazilian’s pace provides a very different option on the left to Eze, who prefers to drift inside. Pep Guardiola’s eyes boggled with pleasure as he spoke about the relentlessness of his players. “Erling is a machine,” was Jérémy Doku’s verdict after Erling Haaland had scored two fine goals and in between spent much of the game running over the various portions of sullen human flesh acting as the United defence. Continue reading...

Manchester City striker reaches mark in 49th game Manager backs Norwegian to beat Ronaldo’s record Pep Guardiola hailed Erling Haaland’s 50th Champions League goal in a record 49 games and said he was now in the company of the “monsters Cristiano and Messi” in the competition’s all-time greatest scorers, as Manchester City beat Napoli 2-0 in the opening group match. Haaland’s 56th-minute opener was his 12th in seven appearances for City and Norway, Jérémy Doku’s second clinching victory for Guardiola’s side. Haaland beat Ruud van Nistelrooy’s previous 62-appearance mark for 50 goals. Continue reading...

Pep Guardiola said of drawing Napoli and having Kevin De Bruyne return: “It was always going to happen, right?” But he might have spoken of his No 9’s ruthlessness, as Erling Haaland broke this game open with Champions League goal No 50 in a record 49 matches, a feat that handsomely beats Ruud van Nistelrooy’s previous 62-appearance mark. Continue reading...