Noni Madueke has sent a stern warning to Arsenal's Champions League and Premier League rivals as the Gunners maintained their perfect European record with a 3-0 victory over Club Brugge. The forward stole the show with a devastating double, becoming the first player in the club’s history to score his first three goals in the Champions League. It is a rare feat that has vaulted him into the spotlight at a time when Mikel Arteta’s side are chasing silverware on multiple fronts.

• Madueke’s magic: A performance to remember

  Madueke’s first goal was the kind that can transform a player’s trajectory. Picking up the ball on the right flank, he powered past one defender, brushed aside another and unleashed a ferocious strike that cannoned in off the underside of the crossbar. His second was far simpler. When Martin Zubimendi curled a measured cross into the six-yard box, Madueke ghosted in unmarked to nod home from close range. Two goals, two contrasting finishes, and a display that confirmed his growing influence within this Arsenal side. Moments later, Gabriel Martinelli, perhaps inspired by the heroics unfolding on the opposite wing, carved out a sensational effort of his own. After a fortuitous ricochet, the Brazilian burst forward and curled an unstoppable strike into the far corner, sealing the victory in style. 

  The victory, Arsenal’s sixth in six group-stage games, places them firmly atop the league phase standings. Opta’s supercomputer now gives them a 95.2 per cent chance of finishing first and rates them as outright tournament favourites with a 23.3 per cent probability of lifting the trophy. Arsenal could have added more. Their control was total as Brugge rarely threatened and Arteta’s men looked every bit the title contenders their numbers suggest.

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  Madueke wants a double in May

  "We’re fighting on all fronts," Madueke told . "I feel like we can win this competition and win the league, that has to be the aim. We're in a good place at the moment."

  The young England international emphasised the unity of the squad, a theme that Arteta has championed throughout the campaign.

  "We're tight, that's the main thing," he said. "We want each other to do well, we know there are loads of minutes for all of us. It's about all of us as a collective, we know we all have a part to play. That's the good thing about this team."

  On his own development, he added: "I think the bare minimum I need to give to my team is threat. Obviously, trying to score and be as decisive as possible, that's the next level I need to get to in terms of being consistently decisive for club and country. I think I can reach that level. Last Champions League game I scored, nice to get another two, hopefully I can bring that form into the league."

• Arteta praises 'magic moments' from Madueke and Martinelli

  Arteta has spoken frequently about the need for individual brilliance to unlock games in Europe, and on Wednesday night, he saw exactly that.

  "Unbelievable goal," he said of Madueke’s opener. "When you talk about individual quality, individual action, a magic moment, that's it. A player that is able to pick the ball that far, dribble past people and finish with the quality and the power that he's done."

  The manager was equally effusive about Martinelli’s strike. He added: "The same as Martinelli as well, I think at this level you want to win games, you need individual players to step up and to do something different. So, I'm very happy because now we have some players back in the front line and you can tell how much better we have done."

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  Saka vs Madueke: A healthy rivalry brewing

  Bukayo Saka remains one of the first names on Arteta’s team sheet, but Madueke’s explosive run in Europe has sparked conversation among supporters about his claim to more regular Premier League starts. And Arteta welcomed the competition.

  "Yes, maintaining the level," he said. "They both have different qualities as well and it's great because we're going to need them. We are playing every three days and players with that freshness and with that bite in the teeth as well, understanding that they have to perform at that level and this is the standard that we set, it's something really good."

  Arsenal now turn their attention to the Premier League, where they face bottom club Wolves on Saturday. Rob Edwards’ side have mustered only two points from 15 matches and sit eight adrift at the foot of the table. Anything other than a home victory would be a seismic shock, particularly given the form Arsenal displayed in Belgium.

Everything was looking rosy for Xabi Alonso after a thumping 4-0 home win over Valencia on November 1, which was Real Madrid's 13th victory out of 14 games across all competitions in the first few months of the season. Los Blancos were top of La Liga by five points ahead of Clasico rivals Barcelona, who they beat 2-1 at the Bernabeu seven days earlier, and they'd racked up nine points out of a possible nine in the Champions League, with Juventus among their victims.

But the wheels have fallen off spectacularly since then. Madrid have only won two of their last eight, and now find themselves four points adrift of Barca domestically and six off European pace-setters Arsenal. A 1-0 defeat to an out-of-sorts Liverpool at Anfield started the slide, and alarm bells started ringing after three successive draws against Rayo Vallecano, Elche and Girona.

Alonso's side then hit rock bottom with a dismal 2-0 loss against Celta Vigo in front of their own fans on Sunday, prompting the board into action. According to , senior Real Madrid officials, including president Florentino Perez and general director Jose Angel Sanchez, held crunch talks over Alonso's future, concluding that the manager does "not have a good connection with a significant part of the dressing room".  It has been suggested that some players are struggling to get on board with Alonso's tactics, while a well-publicised fallout with star winger Vinicius Jr has led to a distracting transfer sideshow. 

The Madrid squad did appear to be behind Alonso in their latest outing, showing plenty of heart and urgency in attack during Manchester City's visit to the Spanish capital on Wednesday. However, it was City who ultimately emerged with a 2-1 win, and whistles rained down on Alonso from the frustrated Bernabeu crowd after the final whistle. 

Alonso is a progressive coach who needs time to stamp an identity, but that luxury is never on offer in Madrid. Change is inevitable if the inconsistency continues, and there are already seven candidates in the frame to replace the Spaniard. GOAL runs through their credentials below…

Getty Images SportJurgen Klopp

Jurgen Klopp decided to step away from coaching after calling time on his stellar nine-year spell at Liverpool in the summer of 2024, and has since taken on the role of global head of soccer for the Red Bull Group. The charismatic German spoke to about his new life in September, saying when quizzed on whether his time in the dugout is now over: "That’s what I think. But you don’t know. I’m 58. If I started again at 65, everybody will say, 'You said you’ll never do it again!' I don’t miss anything."

His stance appeared to have softened last month, though, as he described a potential return to Liverpool as "theoretically possible". Back in April, Klopp was in the frame for the Madrid job alongside Alonso when murmurs of Carlo Ancelotti's departure began, but reported that he would wait until next summer to decide on any management opportunities. 

However, now claims that Madrid are ready to test Klopp's resolve. He is said to be one of the "favourites" to step in if Alonso is sacked, and he certainly has the personality and experience to spark an instant turnaround. Klopp's heavy-metal brand of football would surely be a hit with the Madrid faithful, too, but his true motivations remain unclear, so this feels like a dream appointment rather than a realistic one at the moment.

AdvertisementAFPZinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane is one of the greatest players and managers to ever grace the Bernabeu, which is why his name pops up every time there is talk of a coaching reshuffle in Madrid. claims that Perez still has great "confidence and affection" for Zidane, who delivered three successive Champions League titles during his first stint in the hot seat.

The president brought him back once before, in similar times of crisis back in March 2019 after the disastrous short reigns of Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari. Zidane went on to deliver the 2019-20 La Liga title, but resigned at the end of the following campaign, and has been unemployed ever since.

Zidane is an adaptable coach who balances defensive solidity with attacking flair, and he knows how to get the best out of world-class players, much like Ancelotti. But it is the worst-kept secret in football that Zidane is waiting to take the reins of the France national team. With Didier Deschamps set to step down after the 2026 World Cup, it is expected that Zidane is being primed to usher in a new era for Les Bleus. It would be a huge surprise if he performed a U-turn now, especially for a Madrid squad dealing with a crisis of confidence and numerous injuries.

Getty Images SportAndoni Iraola

In February, the claimed that Madrid had identified Andoni Iraola as a lead contender to succeed Ancelotti. Iraola previously managed in Madrid at Rayo Vallecano, who he took from the Segunda Division to 11th in La Liga and the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. 

Bournemouth bought into his billing as one of the most exciting young coaches in Europe when handing him a two-year contract in June 2023, and he's since enhanced his reputation. The Cherries are now in the mix for European qualification thanks to Iraola's attack-minded blueprint for success, with a high-pressing system and focus on vertical passing making them a match for even the very best Premier League teams.

The consensus is, Iraola will soon move on to bigger and better things. The 43-year-old has exceeded expectations in both La Liga and the Premier League, and Madrid's interest has probably only increased over the past 11 months. The Bernabeu is a pressure cooker like no other, but Iraola has the calm demeanour to deal with it, and wouldn't be afraid to take risks in order to bring the team out of its funk. 

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gettyMarcelino

If Madrid decide to look close to home, one name stands out above all others in La Liga: Marcelino Garcia Toral. Thanks to his disciplined approach, Villarreal are sitting third in La Liga, five points behind Barca with a game in hand, and there is genuine belief in the Castellon province that they can push for the title.

Villarreal boast the best defensive record in La Liga at present, with Marcelino's compact 4-4-2 formation forcing opponents wide, and they can be devastating on the transition with plenty of pace and guile in the final third. The 60-year-old Spaniard inherited a squad languishing in 14th when he returned to El Madrigal for a second spell in November 2023, and has transformed their fortunes in remarkable style, with a fifth-placed finish last term taking the club back into the Champions League.

The Yellow Submarine have really struggled in Europe's elite competition, which would be a concern for Madrid if they do seriously consider Marcelino, but only Alonso, Hansi Flick, Diego Simeone and Manuel Pellegrini have stronger CVs among the current coaching pool in Spain. Marcelino guided Villarreal to the Europa League semis in his first stint, won the Copa del Rey with Valencia in 2018-19 and reached the final a further two times with Athletic Club.

If Villarreal can move ahead of Madrid as the main challengers for Barca's crown, Perez may decide Marcelino is the right man to bring domestic glory back to the Bernabeu.

Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington will remain away from the team for the remainder of the season due to a medical issue, the team announced on Friday.

The 73-year-old stepped away from the team last Friday because of health reasons. The team has not detailed the reasons for Washington's absence. Bench coach Ray Montgomery will remain the Angels' interim coach in the meantime.

In 2025, Washington's second year with the Angels, the team has posted a 40-40 record thus far. The Angels finished last in the American League West last season with a 63-99 record.

As a manager, Washington is primarily known for his stint with the Texas Rangers from 2007 to '14. He guided the Rangers to their first two pennants in 2010 and 2011, and remains the club's all-time winningest skipper.

Thursday's game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles was delayed after pitcher Hunter Bigge was hit in the head by a foul ball while watching from the dugout. Bigge received medical care and gave a thumbs-up as he left the field on a stretcher.

The scary moment happened in the top of the 7th with Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman at the plate. During a nine pitch at-bat, Rutschman fouled off three straight pitches before earning a walk. One of those foul balls was pulled hard into the Tampa Bay dugout down the third baseline and hit Bigge.

You can see the foul ball that hit Bigge here.

Bigge has not pitched since May 1 and was recently on the 15-day IL in May.

The Yankees have had a tumultuous start following the trade deadline where they reworked their bullpen and acquired Ryan McMahon to help address their need at third base.

On Friday, new Yankees relievers gave up nine runs in three innings which led to a devastating 13–12 loss to the Marlins on a dribbler that brought in the walk-off run. Then, on Saturday, they were shutout by the Marlins 2–0 where they saw unfortunate mistakes on the base paths.

Major League Baseball held the Speedway Classic Saturday which pitted the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves in the middle of the track at Bristol Motor Speedway. The first-ever MLB game in the state of Tennessee started in a rain delay which allowed the Fox broadcast crew plenty of time to discuss the happenings across the league as they waited out the weather. As part of the broadcast crew, Yankees legend and Hall of Famer Derek Jeter didn't hold back on the team's recent struggles.

"They make way too many mistakes. Way too many mistakes," Jeter said Saturday. "And you can't get away with making that number of mistakes against great teams, it just doesn't happen. They had a baserunning mistake today, we saw the guy get thrown out at home plate.

"You can't continue to do it. You have to clean it up. I mean, it's that simple, there's no excuses. You have to play better. If you don't play better, you're not going to go very far."

Unfortunately for the Yankees, their AL East rival Red Sox won Saturday which moved them ahead of New York in the division standings by half of a game and into the AL's top wild-card spot. With many new deadline additions, it will take some time. After winning the final three games of their four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays during the week, the Yankees dropped the first two in Miami. They have a chance to avoid the sweep in a Sunday matinée at LoanDepot Park.

كشف مصدر داخل نادي الزمالك، عن تطورات جديدة تخص ملف اللاعبين الأجانب في الفريق، وسط حالة توتر نتيجة تأخر المستحقات المالية لأشهر طويلة.

وأكد المصدر، أن عدد من اللاعبين حركوا إنذارات قانونية تجاه النادي من خلال محامي خاص، في ظل غياب الحلول لصرف المتأخرات، وهو ما يضع الإدارة تحت ضغط كبير قبل الميركاتو الشتوي.

اقرأ أيضًا.. خاص | بعد صدامه الأخير.. لاعب الزمالك يبحث عن عرض خليجي في يناير

وأوضح المصدر عبر بطولات: “حتى الآن، ليس هناك فسخ للعقود لكل من محمود بنتايج وخوان بيزيرا وآدم كايد وعدي الدباغ، لكن هناك إنذارات وصلت الزمالك بالفعل بعد انتهاء مهلة الثلاث أشهر القانونية بسبب عدم الحصول على أي مرتبات”.

وأشار المصدر إلى أن اللاعبين الأجانب داخل الزمالك “لا يشعرون بالاستقرار”، ما جعل رغبتهم قوية في الرحيل قبل يناير، بحثًا عن أندية جديدة تضمن حقوقهم المالية في أسرع وقت.

وأوضح أن مشاعر القلق تتزايد بين اللاعبين، خاصة مع غياب وضوح رؤية الإدارة بشأن مستحقاتهم وعدم وجود أي تطمينات عملية لحل الأزمة قبل حلول فترة الانتقالات.

وكشف المصدر أن “مهلة بنتايج وبيزيرا تنتهي بعد أسبوع رسميًا”، ما يعني اقتراب إمكانية فسخ التعاقد من طرفهما إذا لم يتم دفع المستحقات، وهو ما قد يزيد من معاناة الفريق فنيًا.

واختتم المصدر تصريحاته مؤكداً أن الأزمة المالية “لا تخص كرة القدم فقط”، موضحًا أن هناك مشكلة مالية في جميع الألعاب داخل النادي، وأن المجلس عاجز عن سداد تلك الديون في الوقت الحالي.

وكان الثنائي عبد الحميد معالي وصلاح مصدق قد فسخا عقدهما مع الزمالك قبل أيام رسميًا بعد إنذار بمهلة انتهت بسبب عدم حصولهما على مستحقاتهما المالية منذ بداية الموسم الحالي، ويبدو أن هناك المزيد في الطريق.

Yankees catcher Austin Wells made one of the most embarrassing mistakes of the MLB season Wednesday night when he lost track of the number of outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and got tagged out on a weird play that left the announcers stunned and had Yankees fans on social media going nuts.

Making things even worse for Wells was that his gaffe happened in a tie game in the middle of a heated playoff race. The Yankees would go on to get a 5-4 win in extra innings, but his mistake can't be overlooked.

This all happened after New York's Trent Grisham laid down a bunt and got thrown out at first. Wells was able to get to second base but then wandered off the bag thinking the inning was over. He then got tagged out and heard a chorus of boos as he slowly made his way back to the dugout.

Wells was asked after the game if the Rays baited in him to thinking there were three outs. He denied that and instead put all of the blame on himself, saying: “I think I just was being an idiot.”

Here are his full comments on the moment:

Here's the play:

Wells is lucky the Yankees were still able to get a win because he never would have heard the end of that in New York if they hadn't.

MatériaMais Notícias

A procuradoria do Supremo Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva irá denunciar o dono da SAF do Botafogo, John Textor, por não ter entregue supostas provas de corrupção no futebol brasileiro ao tribunal. Na última sexta-feira (8), a instituição determinou que o empresário deveria apresentar o material que diz possuir e comprovaria casos de propina envolvendo árbitros do país.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Fogão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Botafogo

Em um primeiro momento, Textor chegou a ter sua suspensão automática decretada pelo relator do inquérito que investiga o caso, Mauro Marcelo. No entanto, o auditor recuou após a decisão não ser referendada por seus colegas e levará a denúncia ao pleno do STJD. A informação foi primeiramente publicada pelo Jornal O Globo e confirmada em apuração do Lance!.

John Textor ignorou o prazo de três dias dado pelo tribunal e não apresentou as provas que afirmou ter no dia 6 de março. A defesa do empresário norte-americano respondeu ao STJD argumentando que o órgão não tem competência para atuar no caso, e que as provassó serão apresentadas ao Ministério Público do Rio de Janeiro e de Brasília.

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Desta forma, o dono da SAF do Botafogo pode ser denunciado no artigo 223 do Código Brasileiro de Justiça Desportiva (CBJD), que estabelece pena para quem deixar de cumprir ou retardar o cumprimento de decisão. Assim, Textor pode ser suspenso entre 90 a 360 dias, além ter de pagar multa de R$ 100 mil, caso seja julgado culpado.

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BotafogoJohn Textor

Turning into quite the saga, Rangers have now reportedly launched a move to sign another fresh managerial candidate as they look to find their replacement for Russell Martin.

Latest on Rangers' manager search

It’s been a hectic few days for those at Ibrox, who have gone from Steven Gerrard all the way back to the drawing board. By this stage of the international break, the Gers would have been hoping to have their new manager signed and sealed, but their top candidate quickly spoiled those plans. With their next game against Dundee United on the horizon, Rangers are set to be manager-less.

That’s not to say work isn’t being done in pursuit of certain candidates, however, and Kevin Muscat is one of the favourites. The 52-year-old, who has won everywhere he’s been, is currently in charge of Shanghai Port but could ditch the Chinese club in favour of Rangers when the Chinese Super League campaign concludes in mid-November.

Whether the 49ers deem Muscat worth the wait remains to be seen. Of course, if the answer is a resounding no, then they will have to look elsewhere entirely after Danny Rohl removed himself from the running.

The 36-year-old wasn’t the most inexperienced name on the list, but was admired by many for the promise that he has after a successful spell in the chaos surrounding Sheffield Wednesday.

Fabrizio Romano shares what he's heard from Rangers on new "leading candidate"

The Gers have identified a new favourite for the job.

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 15, 2025

So much so that current Owls star Barry Bannan recently told reporters when asked about his former manager: “If he’s appointed, I definitely think he’ll go in there and get results right away. For me, he’s up there with the very best I’ve worked with during my career.”

Once again though, it’s not an appointment that would come without question marks and if the 49ers really want to avoid more controversy, then they should turn towards a former Premier League manager.

Rangers launch Ole Gunnar Solskjaer move

As reported by Fotboll Direkt and relayed by Sports Witness, Rangers have now launched their move for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who is still a free agent after leaving Besiktas in August. The two-time Eliteserien title winner and former Manchester United boss has reportedly received contact from the Gers and now has a decision to make.

Whilst some may look back on his time at Old Trafford as a failure, Solskjaer is still a manager who showed plenty of promise as a winner at Molde and when asked to steady the ship at United. Whether he’d do the same at Ibrox is something that the 49ers may find out.

Many have had their say about what Solskjaer should do next as a result, including ex-Man United player Nicky Butt, who advised him not to take the Old Trafford job if INEOS sack Ruben Amorim.

After being sacked by Besiktas, the next stage of the 52-year-old’s manager career could be his most important one yet. Fail and he may fall into the abyss of free agent managers. Succeed at Ibrox, however, and he could be a legend.

Aston Villa have now joined the race to sign an “insane” new striker, having identified the need to have greater strength in depth in attacking areas.

Villa keen on new striker amid Watkins' struggles

Villa are very much back on track in the Premier League, having made it five wins in a row courtesy of the 1-0 victory over Manchester City at the weekend, but there are still a few problems for Unai Emery to deal with beneath the surface.

There has been plenty of discussion about the manager’s decision to omit Harvey Elliott from the squad entirely on Sunday, while Jeff Stelling was less than impressed with the decision to substitute Jadon Sancho in the second half, claiming “it was wrong.”

There will also be concerns about some of Ollie Watkins’ performances, with the striker scoring just one goal in nine Premier League games so far this season, and he was once again ineffectual against Pep Guardiola’s side.

The 29-year-old recorded an xG of just 0.13 prior to being replaced by Donyell Malen with just under five minutes left to play, finishing the match with a SofaScore match rating of 6.3, the joint-lowest of any Villa player.

Perhaps with that in mind, Aston Villa have now joined the race for a new striker, according to a report from Caught Offside, which credits them with an interest in Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee, amid his uncertain future at Old Trafford.

It has been revealed that Zirkzee wants to leave Man United, having only played a limited role this season, and his current employers could choose to cash in for a fee of around €35m – €40m (£31m – £35m).

Aston Villa take hilarious swipe at Haaland after victory against Man City

The Villans defeated Pep Guardiola’s side 1-0 at Villa Park on Sunday.

ByDominic Lund Oct 27, 2025

A January exit is deemed likely, and there is no shortage of interest in the centre-forward’s signature, with a number of Serie A clubs set to battle it out, while Brighton & Hove Albion are also keen, and West Ham United have made initial contact.

"Insane" Zirkzee may need fresh start

Despite being lauded for his “insane” quality by scout Ben Mattinson, the 24-year-old has been unable to force his way into Ruben Amorim’s plans, having featured for just 82 minutes across four appearances in the Premier League this season.

However, it is always difficult to make an impact when predominantly featuring as a substitute, and there are signs the Dutchman could flourish if given more regular game time, having regularly chipped in with goals and assists for Bologna across the 2023-24 campaign.

Competition

Appearances

Goal contributions

Serie A

34

16

Italian Cup

3

3

That said, the former Bayern Munich man’s unhappiness stems from a lack of game time, so it would be a questionable decision for Villa to sign him, given that Watkins is likely to remain ahead of the United ace in the pecking order.

While the Englishman hasn’t been at his best this season, he is Premier League-proven, unlike Zirkzee, having scored 76 top-flight goals, which indicates it may only be a matter of time before he rediscovers his top form.