Chelsea took a major hit in their Champions League campaign after Atalanta overturned a first-half deficit to claim a deserved victory in Bergamo.
Both sides entered the fixture level on 10 points, but the result leaves the Blues outside the automatic qualification zone with two league-phase matches left.
Chelsea start fast but lose control
The visitors drew first blood when Joao Pedro converted Reece James’ pinpoint cross, capping a composed early sequence.
For much of the opening period, the margins were slim, even if Ademola Lookman’s direct running continually stressed Chelsea’s defense.
Lookman made life difficult for Chelsea defenders in the encounter – Getty image
James later fired wide after the break, but the momentum had already begun shifting.
Atalanta take charge
Atalanta intensified their press and were rewarded when Gianluca Scamacca met a well-weighted delivery to level the score.
Alejandro Garnacho forced a save with a powerful effort, but the decisive blow came late: Charles De Ketelaere was afforded too much space on the edge of the box and punished the lapse with a driven finish.
Blues drop out of qualification zone
The loss sends Chelsea tumbling to 11th, outside the top eight required for automatic progression, while Atalanta surge to third, opening a three-point buffer.
The pressure metrics for Chelsea are now non-negotiable heading into the final two fixtures.
Lionel Messi has rewritten Major League Soccer’s record books once again, becoming the first player in league history to win consecutive Landon Donovan MLS MVP awards.
The Inter Miami superstar delivered a landmark 2025 campaign, posting numbers unmatched by nearly every player who has competed in the league.
Messi finished the regular season with 48 goal contributions, 29 goals and 19 assists, the second-highest total ever recorded, while leading Inter Miami to a third-place finish in the Eastern Conference.
Unprecedented output fuels historic MVP run
Messi’s year was defined by sustained dominance. He averaged 1.78 goal involvements per 90 minutes, trailing only his own record from the 2024 season.
He also became only the second player to lead MLS in both goals and assists in a single campaign, matching Sebastian Giovinco’s 2015 achievement.
Lionel Messi wins MLS MVP award for the second time in a roll – Getty image
The Argentine shattered multiple league benchmarks along the way. He became the first MLS player to record 10 multi-goal matches in a single season and produced three or more goal contributions in nine games.
His streak of scoring multiple goals across five straight fixtures from May to July is now the longest such run in MLS history.
Trophy haul points to complete dominance
Messi’s accolades prove the scope of his impact. Beyond his second straight MVP crown, he secured the MLS Golden Boot, was named MLS Cup MVP after orchestrating Inter Miami’s title win with two assists, and earned a suite of monthly and matchday honors.
Across his MLS tenure, Messi now holds:
2 MVP awards
1 MLS Cup MVP
2 Best XI selections
2 All-Star nods
1 Golden Boot
12 Player of the Matchday awards
5 Player of the Month awards
His MVP victory was a landslide, capturing more than 70% of the total vote, well ahead of Anders Dreyer, Denis Bouanga, Evander, and Sam Surridge.
Chasing records and surpassing legends
Messi is now only the second two-time MLS MVP winner, joining Preki, who claimed the award in 1997 and 2003. No other player has won it in consecutive seasons.
Miami’s season ends in triumph despite setbacks
Despite Messi’s statistical brilliance, Miami’s campaign came with turbulence. They exited the CONCACAF Champions Cup early, fell to Seattle in the Leagues Cup final, and failed to defend the Supporters’ Shield.
Their turnaround arrived in the postseason, where Messi’s leadership powered the club to its first-ever MLS Cup
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, is reportedly owing the head coach of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, for at least three months.
This was revealed by BBC Sport’s journalist, Oluwashina Okeleji, via his X account on Tuesday.
Okeleji, however, noted that Chelle is yet to make an official complaint to his employers.
“Nigeria coach Eric Chelle is owed three months salary and bonuses ahead of the AFCON,” Okeleji wrote.
“The Malian, who led the Eagles to 2026 World Cup playoff, has however yet to make an official complaint to his employers (the NFF) about the non-payment of his salary.”
Chelle is expected to submit his final 28-man squad ahead of the AFCON by Wednesday, December 10.
The global football community has been thrown into a state of total frenzy following a spectacular display of athleticism by Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 40-year-old legend has once again proven that age is merely a number. He scored a jaw-dropping bicycle kick for Al Nassr during their recent clash against Al Khaleej, sealing a convincing victory that has everyone talking.
It was a moment that demanded immediate attention from fans worldwide. In the past, supporters might have quietly tracked live scores on data-friendly platforms like bet9ja old mobile while on the go. However, the sheer brilliance of this goal meant that static updates were not enough. In fact, video clips of the strike began circulating instantly, showcasing a moment of magic that simply had to be seen to be believed.
A Stoppage Time Wonder At Al-Awwal Park
Reports confirm that the match was played at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh. Al Nassr was already leading, but the team continued to press forward late into the game.
The clock had ticked deep into stoppage time when the magic happened. It seems that Ronaldo was perfectly positioned to meet a right-wing cross delivered by his teammate, Nawaf Boushal.
With his back to the goal, the veteran striker launched himself into the air. He connected with an acrobatic overhead kick that flew past the goalkeeper. This effort secured a 4–1 win for his side in the 2025–26 Saudi Pro League season.
Defying Age And Breaking Records
This goal is not just about the spectacle. Rather, it highlights the incredible physical condition of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Analysts have noted that this strike is recorded as roughly the 954th goal of his professional career. Moreover, it marks his 10th league goal of the current campaign.
Here is a breakdown of the key stats surrounding the match:
Total Career Goals: Approximately 954
Current Season Goals: 10 in the League
Team Record: 9 Wins in 9 Matches
Match Outcome: Al Nassr 4–1 Al Khaleej
Due to this victory, Al Nassr has kept their perfect start to the season intact. They have secured nine wins from nine matches, ensuring they remain firmly at the top of the Saudi Pro League table.
Social Media Goes Wild
The reaction to the goal has been massive across the internet. Especially on X (formerly Twitter), where the clip has trended for hours.
Many football pundits are comparing this latest effort to his famous 2018 bicycle kickfor Real Madrid against Juventus.
Ronaldo himself decided to have fun with the moment. He posted the video on his personal account and launched a “best caption wins” challenge. This move sparked a wave of creativity from his followers and ensured the highlight remained the biggest topic of the day.
Real Madrid suffered their second La Liga defeat of the campaign as Celta Vigo delivered a disciplined, high-impact performance to claim a stunning victory at the Bernabéu.
Los Blancos controlled much of the first half but lacked clear execution in the final third.
Jude Bellingham, Arda Güler and Vinícius Júnior all missed clear chances, with Güler’s close-range miss the most glaring.
The opening period was further soured by a suspected hamstring injury to Eder Militão, forcing his early withdrawal.
Celta Vigo beat Real Madrid in front of their fans – Getty image
Swedberg breakthrough turns the tide
Celta punished Madrid’s wastefulness shortly after the interval. A sharp collective move ended with Bryan Zaragoza whipping in a precise cross, and Williot Swedberg produced a superb back-heeled finish to put the visitors ahead.
Just minutes later, Real Madrid’s task became even harder. Fran García, already booked for a foul on Sergio Carreira, lunged recklessly into Swedberg and was shown a second yellow card, reducing the hosts to ten men.
Late pressure falls flat as chaos ensues
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Madrid mounted sustained pressure in the final stages, but Celta’s defensive held firm.
Five minutes of stoppage time offered a lifeline, yet frustration boiled over instead.
Álvaro Carreras was dismissed for dissent before Swedberg capitalised again, rounding Thibaut Courtois to calmly slot home his second goal of the night.
Title race blow for Madrid
The defeat leaves Real Madrid four points behind Barcelona in the title race and intensifies criticsm on Xabi Alonso, whose side now face an even bigger challenge with Manchester City visiting the Bernabéu in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Rasmus Hojlund delivered a match-winning brace as Napoli defeated Juventus 2-1, handing Luciano Spalletti his first loss as Bianconeri boss and spoiling his long-awaited return to the Stadio Maradona.
The encounter marked Spalletti’s first visit to Naples since his 2023 Scudetto triumph and his first managerial clash with Antonio Conte, adding extra weight to an already high-stakes Serie A fixture.
Injury troubles hit both camps
Both teams entered the match with extensive injury lists. Juventus were without Dusan Vlahovic and Federico Gatti following surgery, as well as Gleison Bremer, Daniele Rugani, and Arek Milik.
Kenan Yildiz led the line, with Weston McKennie pushed into a more advanced role.
Napoli were similarly depleted, missing Stanislav Lobotka, Billy Gilmour, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Miguel Gutierrez, Kevin De Bruyne, Alex Meret, and Romelu Lukaku, prompting Eljif Elmas to step into midfield.
Rasmus Hojlund bagged double in the encounter – Getty image
Hojlund strikes early
Napoli started aggressively. After Scott McTominay glanced a header wide, David Neres once again carved open the Juventus defence, beating Juan Cabal and Teun Koopmeiners before cutting back for Hojlund to stab home from close range, his first goal in two months.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo came close to doubling the lead with a looping header that forced Michele Di Gregorio into an acrobatic save.
Juventus struggle to create
Spalletti’s side found chances hard to come by. Yildiz twice broke down the left to create openings, while McTominay’s set-piece threat continued as another header grazed the post on the stroke of halftime.
With Juventus posting an xG of just 0.04 in the opening period, Spalletti introduced Jonathan David after the break to spark the attack.
Yildiz equaliser against the run of play
Napoli remained dominant, with Hojlund forcing another save from Di Gregorio and tensions rising following Pierre Kalulu’s studs-up challenge on Matias Olivera.
But Juventus struck from nothing. Yildiz surged forward on the counter, exchanged a neat one-two with McKennie, and curled a precise finish across Vanja Milinkovic-Savic for Juve’s first shot on target, and the equaliser.
Hojlund restores the advantage
Napoli responded almost immediately. A David Neres cross caused chaos at the back post, where McKennie inadvertently cushioned the ball into Hojlund’s path.
The striker reacted quickly, heading in from close range to reclaim the lead.
Juventus chased a late equaliser, but Edon Zhegrova’s stoppage-time effort was straight at Milinkovic-Savic, confirming a valuable win for Conte’s men.
Spalletti’s run of four wins and three draws ends in the city that defined his legacy, while Napoli strengthened their early title credentials.
Mohamed Salah says he feels he has been “thrown under the bus” by Liverpool, adding that his relationship with head coach Arne Slot has collapsed.
The Egypt forward was an unused substitute in Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds United, the third consecutive match he has started on the bench.
Breakdown in relationship with Slot
After the match, Salah delivered an unusually blunt interview, claiming he was being positioned to take the blame for Liverpool’s struggles.
“I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame,” Salah said.
“I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why, but it seems someone doesn’t want me in the club.”
Salah feels he’s no longer needed at Liverpool – Getty image
Salah added that the situation had become “unacceptable,” insisting that he had “earned” his position in the squad and felt unfairly treated.
Future at Liverpool uncertain
The 33-year-old, who signed a two-year contract extension in April, admitted he is unsure about his long-term future at Anfield as he prepares for the Africa Cup of Nations from 15 December.
Salah scored 29 Premier League goals last season as Liverpool won the title under Slot. However, he has struggled to reproduce that form, scoring only four league goals in 13 appearances this term.
Saudi interest growing
Salah remains a prime target for the Saudi Pro League, with Al-Hilal among the clubs tracking him. Liverpool are said to be “open-minded” about his future amid renewed interest from the region.
Slot explains decision to bench Salah
Slot defended his decision not to introduce Salah at Elland Road, saying the team needed to “control the game” when leading 3-2.
He acknowledged the interest around Salah’s benching but maintained that the forward remains a “top professional.”
Legendary status but a sour ending?
Salah is third on Liverpool’s all-time scoring list with 250 goals in 420 appearances. Since joining from Roma in 2017, he has won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.
He has also collected four Premier League Golden Boots, matching Thierry Henry’s record, and won last season’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.
Salah rarely stops to speak in the mixed zone, making his latest remarks even more significant. “I’m very disappointed. I have done so much for this club,” he said on Saturday. “It seems to me that someone doesn’t want me in the club.”
Unless the situation changes quickly, Salah’s impending departure to AFCON may mark the beginning of the end.
The key question now is whether he returns in January as a Liverpool player, or whether the breakdown becomes permanent.
Lionel Messi delivered the all important quality Inter Miami needed, orchestrating a 3-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps to claim the club’s first-ever MLS Cup title and add another laurel to his storied career.
Messi punished Vancouver’s only major mistake of the night, seizing on an errant pass from Andrés Cubas before threading a world-class, defence-splitting ball to Rodrigo De Paul.
The midfielder finished calmly to put Miami 2-1 up, shifting the gear, and closing out a tense final at Chase Stadium.
Messi leads Miami to first MLS title – Getty image
Early breakthrough, Vancouver push back
Miami struck first inside 10 minutes. Messi slalomed between two defenders and released Tadeo Allende, whose cut-back was turned into the net by Edier Ocampo for an own goal.
The visitors regrouped and asserted control in the second half, with Emmanuel Sabbi tormenting Miami’s right flank and Ali Ahmed capitalising on a Rocco Rios-Novo error to level in the 60th minute.
With Vancouver dominating possession, it briefly appeared momentum had swung. Then Messi intervened with the match-defining assist to De Paul, restoring Miami’s advantage.
Messi provided two assists to inspire Miami – Getty image
Allende breaks record, Miami close it out
Allende eventually sealed the win in extra time, firing home to break the postseason scoring record after another incisive pass from Messi.
The result capped a landmark night for Miami and served as a fitting farewell for Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, both retiring at season’s end.
Inter Miami, powered by Messi’s composure and vision, finally claim their place among MLS champions.
Arsenal tightened their grip on the Premier League summit with a controlled 2-0 victory over Brentford on Wednesday night, driven by goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka.
Mikel Arteta refreshed his starting XI with three changes from the Chelsea draw, introducing Ben White, Noni Madueke and captain Martin Ødegaard. The adjustments delivered immediate impact.
Merino breaks the deadlock
Arsenal took the lead in the 11th minute. White advanced on the right and delivered a precise cross that found Merino, who powered a header past Caoimhin Kelleher.
Mikel Merino opened the scoring for Arsenal – Getty image
Forced into a makeshift striking role due to injuries to Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyökeres, Merino continued his productive run.
The goal marked his 13th of 2025, the highest tally by any Arsenal player this calendar year.
Brentford came closest to responding when Kevin Schade’s header from a corner was tipped onto the crossbar by David Raya, but the visitors struggled to sustain pressure.
Saka seals the result
Arsenal doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time. Merino slipped a well-weighted pass through midfield to Saka, who finished despite Kelleher’s initial touch.
The hosts maintained control after the break, though Arteta suffered two injury concerns, with Cristhian Mosquera and Declan Rice withdrawn after sustaining knocks.
The result extends Arsenal’s unbeaten streak to 18 matches in all competitions and marks their eighth consecutive home victory, reinforcing their strong position at the top of the league.
Real Madrid delivered one of their most assertive performances of the season as Kylian Mbappe led a dominant 3-0 victory over Athletic Club at San Mamés.
With both managers under criticism, it was Xabi Alonso who walked away with a statement win, while Ernesto Valverde was left with more questions than answers.
Mbappé strikes early to set the Tone
The match opened with Madrid’s attacking trident in full flow. Trent Alexander-Arnold initiated the breakthrough with a pinpoint diagonal pass that found Mbappé in space.
The Frenchman surged past two defenders before rifling a decisive finish into the bottom corner.
Mbappe was invoiced in all three goals for Real Madrid, scoring two and assisting one – Photo from RuriBarlow on X
Madrid repeatedly exposed Athletic’s defensive structure, with Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior all finding room between the lines.
Madrid were inches from doubling their lead when the post denied Mbappé, and Unai Simón later produced a strong save to stop another chance.
Thibaut Courtois, meanwhile, produced his trademark highlight moment by denying Álex Berenguer with an elite low stop.
Fluent team move doubles the lead
Real Madrid’s second goal was a showcase of fluid, high-tempo football. Bellingham, Vinicius and Álvaro Carreras combined intricately before the ball was worked to Alexander-Arnold.
The right-back delivered a measured cross that Mbappé headed across goal, leaving Eduardo Camavinga to apply a simple finish.
Athletic rally fizzles out as Mbappé strikes again
Athletic started the second half aggressively, forcing Courtois into another sharp save from Mikel Jauregizar.
But just as they began to grow into the match, Mbappé crushed any hopes of a comeback. Given time outside the box, he unleashed a venomous strike that left Simón helpless.
The goal effectively sealed the contest. Madrid dropped deeper and absorbed pressure, while Athletic struggled to break them down.
Injuries to Alexander-Arnold and Camavinga created minor concerns for Alonso, though neither appeared serious.
Simón was tested again by a long-range Fede Valverde strike, but the final stages were marked by a subdued San Mamés crowd, a clear acknowledgement that the game was out of reach.
