Guardiola brings up 1,000 games as a manager Arne Slot unhappy with Van Dijk’s disallowed goal Pep Guardiola praised Jérémy Doku and thanked Manchester City for giving him the “incredible present” of a 3-0 victory against Liverpool, in his 1,000th match as a manager. First-half goals from Erling Haaland and Nico González and an outstanding 20-yard individual Doku effort after the break took City to within four points of the Premier League leaders Arsenal. Continue reading...

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.

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...

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...

Atlético Madrid are alive, the Metropolitano interrupting all the singing and the bouncing to erupt one last time as deep into added time at the end of a derby day they will never forget, Antoine Griezmann slotted the ball under Thibaut Courtois to score their fifth. Yes, five. So much for boring, so much for the title race being over already. So much for Real Madrid’s invincibility; this was a destruction and it was thoroughly deserved. When that last one went in, it seemed almost absurd to recall that Atlético had been 2-1 down, that a familiar fear had hung here. This was fun instead; for almost the entire second half it had been certain too: there had been no doubts, just enjoyment. Goals from Robin Le Normand, Alex Sørloth and two from Julián Alvarez had seen them come back from 2-1 down to 4-2 and now, here it was, one last flourish. A manita as they call it in Spain: a little hand, a goal for each finger. Clenched perhaps: it had hit Madrid hard, and unexpectedly so. Continue reading...

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...

⚽ Champions League updates from the 8pm BST kick-off ⚽ Latest scores | Follow us on Bluesky | And mail Simon He’s back! Kevin de Bruyne returns to Manchester, having only just left, this time plotting City’s downfall. “I’ve spoken to Kevin, I’ve asked him a few things,” said Antonio Conte, the Napoli coach. Well, it would probably be awkward if he hadn’t, but sure. De Bruyne, inevitably, has settled beautifully in Italy, and has already scored twice in three league games this season (a free kick and a penalty). "He’s been a part of this club for 10 years and had a great coach like Pep Guardiola,” Conte continued of the Belgian. “Kevin will be excited to be playing but I’m hoping that after the starting whistle he will find his feet and remember he’s playing for our great Napoli.” Well, it would certainly be awkward if he didn’t, but sure. Gianluigi Donnarumma has said he believes Pep Guardiola will help improve his ball-playing skills and that Manchester City were interested in signing him before the summer. Donnarumma joined from Paris Saint-Germain for about £30m (€35m) on transfer deadline day. The move caused surprise because of the view that the 26-year-old is not as accomplished with his feet as Ederson, who left for Fenerbahce, or James Trafford, the £27m signing from Burnley in July. Continue reading...

As the Manchester City legend returns to face his former team, we look back at moments that will never be forgotten On 22 May 2022, in a dictionary definition of carpe diem, De Bruyne shows his greatness with the assist that harvests another title for City, just as Pep Guardiola’s men veer near to losing the plot. After 69 minutes Aston Villa are cruising at 2-0 up and the title is heading to Anfield where Liverpool, drawing with Wolves 1-1, need a goal to seal a famous last-day triumph. But, after City strikes on 76 and 78 minutes, De Bruyne takes charge. A piercing burst along the right prompts a pinpoint cross to Ilkay Gündogan, whose threaded finish on 81 minutes sends the Etihad Stadium ballistic. Continue reading...

Coach has asked Belgian for advice on former team ‘We’re against a team where history speaks for itself’ Antonio Conte said Napoli’s opening Champions League game at Manchester City will pit his “students against the teachers” of Pep Guardiola’s side, with the Italian asking Kevin De Bruyne for advice about his former team. Napoli will make their debut in the 36-club format in Thursday’s meeting with City. While they were last in the competition two years ago, Conte was not in charge then. He views his side as still in development despite being Serie A champions. Continue reading...

Italian preparing to face Napoli, whom his mother supports De Bruyne, McTominay and Højlund could face City Gianluigi Donnarumma has said he believes Pep Guardiola will help improve his ball-playing skills and that Manchester City were interested in signing him before the summer. Donnarumma joined from Paris Saint-Germain for about £30m (€35m) on transfer deadline day. The move caused surprise because of the view that the 26-year-old is not as accomplished with his feet as Ederson, who left for Fenerbahce, or James Trafford, the £27m signing from Burnley in July. Continue reading...