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1

Sturdy defence puts Gunners on top

“One-nil to the Arsenal†may not be thrilling but it is certainly effective. Sundayâ€s victory over Crystal Palace was Mikel Artetaâ€s sideâ€s third by that margin in nine Premier League games. Last season, Arsenal managed that result five times in the league, while also drawing 1-1 in seven matches. Clean sheets in just half of those might have made for an intriguing title race. For all the noise surrounding Arsenalâ€s attacking talent, their defence is just as vital. It is their solidity at that end of the pitch that will probably lead them to glory, with three goals conceded in nine top-flight games so far. Sunday also marked a century of games across all competitions since they have conceded more than twice. The last to put three past David Raya? Luton – remember them? – back in December 2023. Sam Dalling

David Raya and Gabriel Magalhães congratulate each other after Arsenalâ€s latest clean sheet. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

2

Elliott must wait for a chance

Aston Villa earned a statement victory against Manchester City to make it four straight top-flight wins but Harvey Elliott, who joined from Liverpool last month in search of game time, was a high profile absentee. Unai Emery explained Elliottâ€s performances across a total of 167 minutes in a Villa shirt simply did not warrant a place in the matchday squad, particularly given the return to form of Morgan Rogers and the rebirth of Emiliano Buendía, who was forced off against City approaching the half-hour and left Villa Park on crutches. Elliott was withdrawn at half-time on his sole league start for Villa, against his former club Fulham last month, and last featured as a 86th-minute substitute at Feyenoord at the start of October. Elliott left Anfield in search of regular minutes but has found them hard to come by. “I spoke with him about it,†Emery said. “My advice was: keep going. He is a very good player. Our demands are on a high level. He needs time to work and wait for his moment.†Ben Fisher

3

Kayode offers more than long throws

The temptation with a player such as Michael Kayode is to overprioritise the aspect of the game at which he is exceptional, which is to say his long throws. But even without the prodigious distance he can hurl a ball, the 21-year-old Italian is an extremely promising full-back. He has the physicality and energy of the modern defender and, while it may be more chaotic than graceful, his dribbling style is effective. Again and again against Liverpool, his forward surges carried Brentford out of trouble and created opportunities. Sometimes he ended up on the left and never seemed entirely comfortable shooting with his left foot, but Kayode did play two important passes, two-thirds of his crosses found a Brentford player and he ended up with a passing accuracy of 87%. He has started every league game, allowing Kristoffer Ajer to move to the left, with Keane Lewis-Potter becoming an option off the bench. Jonathan Wilson

4

Mbeumo and Cunha clicking for United

After Bryan Mbeumoâ€s double took Manchester United to a third consecutive Premier League win on Saturday night, the forward said he was aiming to emulate last seasonâ€s 20 league goals for Brentford – or do even better. “I try to not set limits on myself, on what I can reach. Iâ€m just going to work and try to do as best as possible,†said the Cameroon international, who has four goals in nine league appearances, and five in 10 in all competitions for United. Matheus Cunhaâ€s fine opener from distance against Brighton was the Brazilianâ€s first goal, 10 games in for Ruben Amorimâ€s team, easing pressure on him. “I think he took some off his shoulders today,†Mbeumo said. “He was waiting for it. We were waiting for it for him as well. So we are very happy for him.†Jamie Jackson

5

Van de Ven steps up for Spurs

Without the services of the injured captain, Cristian Romero, among others, there were concerns from Tottenham fans that they might lose their undefeated road record at Everton. They need not have worried as the Dutch giant Micky van de Ven stepped into the Romero-shaped void and more than filled it. Van de Ven was handed the captainâ€s armband at Hill Dickinson Stadium and the 6ft 4in defender responded by muscling in two headers from set plays to take his tally to five goals in all competitions. Perhaps concerningly, he is now out on his own as Tottenhamâ€s top scorer this season. Van de Ven was also required to show the kind of basic defensive instincts that Spurs lacked under Ange Postecoglou. As part of a back line that made 53 clearances, Van de Ven excelled. Playing on the road suits Thomas Frankâ€s team. They do not need to make the running, can sit in defensively and fall back on set pieces for their threat. At home against Chelsea on Saturday, Spurs and Van de Ven will need to show their more expansive side, especially if Romero is still absent. Tom Bassam

Tottenhamâ€s Micky van de Ven scores the first of his two goals at Everton. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images/Reuters

6

Chelsea feel Palmerâ€s absence in defeat

This was the first time Chelsea have properly felt the absence of Cole Palmer this season. They have mostly coped well during the playmakerâ€s absence with a persistent groin problem but they needed his ingenuity during their 2-1 home defeat against Sunderland. João Pedro, operating in Palmerâ€s No 10 position, was poor and has been out of form for a while, while Enzo Marescaâ€s wide players were largely blunt and predictable. “We didnâ€t create a lot,†said the Chelsea manager, who continues to encounter problems against teams who set up with low blocks. The hosts did not move the ball with enough speed and they ran out of ideas long before the end, and Sunderlandâ€s stoppage-time winner. The concern with Maresca is that his football sometimes becomes rigid and formulaic. Palmer has the imagination to open up stubborn defences by altering angles and doing the unexpected. He was missed on Saturday; Chelsea are eagerly awaiting his return. Jacob Steinberg

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7

Adams hitting the heights for Iraola

Tyler Adams had been a slow burner for Bournemouth but in the past 12 months, since recovering from back surgery, the American has become vital for Andoni Iraola. His energy in midfield was a leading reason for Nottingham Forest finding space so tight, and it was his robbing of Elliot Anderson that led to Junior Kroupi scoring the second, clinching goal. Alongside him, Alex Scott was given free hand to add his loose-limbed creativity to attack. Where last season, Iraola was often down to bare bones, at one point capable of fielding only 12 senior players, he now has options for the battles ahead. Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook, previous constants, were kept in reserve. “I have to take even more difficult decisions,†said a manager granted the novel luxury of choice – “internal competitionâ€, as he termed it. On current form, his performance against Forest the latest demonstration of his box-to-box capabilities, Adams appears to be an easy selection. John Brewin

8

Win on the road boosts Clarets†hopes

Now five points clear of the bottom three, Burnley picked up their first away win this season at Molineux. For a side that set a second-tier record on the road last season with 49 points and 14 wins, fans might have hoped it would not take the Clarets this long to secure points away from Turf Moor in the top flight. That being said, Scott Parkerâ€s side conceded 16 goals in 46 games last season; they have leaked one more so far this season in 37 fewer matches. Such is the difference in level between the two divisions, but that does not have to be a negative for Burnley. Three important points, taken right at the death after losing a two-goal lead, adds to the tally and puts them in 16th – eight points above their winless opponents. Peter Lansley

9

Shirt-pulling is still going unchecked

At the start of this season, there was a big song and dance about referees supposedly clamping down on holding and shirt-pulling. The clocks have only just gone back but that initiative seems to have gone the way of the late summer sun. Anyone seeking confirmation of this only needed to be at St James†Park on Saturday to see Nick Woltemadeâ€s shirt tugged so hard, and so persistently, by Fulhamâ€s Issa Diop and Calvin Bassey that the only surprise was the fabric did not tear. The Newcastle centre-forwardâ€s gangly 6ft 6in frame – allied to his preference for wearing slightly oversized tops – dictates there is plenty of shirt for his markers to pull, but surely referees should be offering Woltemade more protection? The Germanâ€s technical skills are a joy to watch and he should have been afforded more freedom to express them on a day when Bruno Guimarãesâ€s 90th-minute goal secured Eddie Howeâ€s side a much needed win, and consigned Fulham to a fourth straight defeat. Louise Taylor

10

Calvert-Lewin proving an asset for Leeds

Goals are hard to come by for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has scored only once since joining Leeds on a free transfer this summer. However, the former Everton striker has quickly become critical to Daniel Farkeâ€s structure and style of play, despite his struggles in front of goal. Sending direct passes down the pitch for Calvert-Lewin to either hold up or flick on was a regular feature of the victory against West Ham. It helped relieve the pressure the visitors were putting Leeds under, offering an ideal outlet. There is plenty of focus on set pieces under Farke and Calvert-Lewin is a constant threat when the ball is sent into the box. Out of contract at Everton, Calvert-Lewin took a long time to find a new club but he may have found the right one at Elland Road. He offered plenty of endeavour on Friday but did not receive the level of service a striker needs to thrive. If he can add goals soon, he will become an even greater asset. Will Unwin

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The main point of discussion before the match was which position Manchester United captain Maya le Tissier should play in.

Wiegman has made it clear she sees her as a right-back in the current England squad, despite Le Tissier playing her weekly football at centre-back for United.

The talented 23-year-old has started 72 consecutive games at centre-back in the Women’s Super League, and in her 104 appearances for United has only played one at right-back.

Manchester United were keen to highlight this in a social media post last week, which sparked debate among supporters and thrust Wiegman’s decision into question.

But against Brazil, Le Tissier started in the full-back role and moved to the middle with just under 40 minutes remaining.

“I play week-in-week out at centre-half, so I feel much more comfortable at centre-half,” she said afterwards.

“I have to think a bit more at right-back, but to be honest I’m just happy to play and get on the pitch. It’s been frustrating for me.”

Wiegman highlighted Le Tissier’s qualities, pointing out her pace and energy as valuable assets to the attacking full-back role she wants.

The Dutchwoman stressed she knows what Le Tissier is capable of at centre-back but now was the time to try out new things.

With Lucy Bronze guarding the position on a long-term basis, are there enough back-up options available or has Le Tissier become a victim of lack of squad depth?

“I think we have players but Lucy Bronze is still building her [fitness] and Niamh Charles is still building who can play there,” Wiegman said.

“It’s also what you need from the game. I definitely keep thinking Maya can play right-back and I know she can play centre-back too.

“It’s about what the game is asking. This is the exact period to try. There are two years to go [until the World Cup] so I hope that we have many players that are going to challenge for that position.”

One of the potential back-ups is young Tottenham full-back Ella Morris, who received a senior call-up for Euro 2025 but sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in training with England.

But Le Tissier’s showing at both right-back and centre-back in Saturday’s defeat will have pleased Wiegman as she confirmed she was right at home in an England shirt.

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1

Amorim gets his tactics spot on

The high-stakes duel in one of the fiercest rivalries in the English game came down to a crucial in-game management decision. Arne Slot, a manager lauded for smart substitutions last season, took a gamble in the 62nd minute, making three changes that aggressively shifted Liverpool into a 4-2-4, leaving Curtis Jones and Florian Wirtz dangerously exposed in midfield. The gamble initially appeared worthwhile: after rattling the post twice, Cody Gakpo finally delivered a 78th-minute equaliser to breathe some life into the deflated Anfield crowd. But Ruben Amorim remained calm and trusted his vision. Liverpool were undone just six minutes later after Bruno Fernandesâ€s fantastic cross found Harry Maguire inexplicably alone at the far post, the lack of defensive bodies evident as he thumped in the winner. Slot was hoping for a high-risk, high-reward outcome but ultimately, Unitedâ€s grit in the second half paid off. Amorim has his critics – droves of them – but his tactics, including starting Maguire, were vindicated to earn Unitedâ€s first win at Anfield since 2016. Two league wins on the bounce is a first for Amorim at United. Are the wheels shifting? “Itâ€s an embarrassing stat to have had,†said Maguire. “We have to start putting a bit more consistency together. We have set a benchmark.†Yara El-Shaboury

Match report: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United

2

Spurs struggle to paper over cracks

Tottenham began the day aiming to go second in the table, yet ended it pondering all-too familiar failings. Despite dominating for long periods Thomas Frankâ€s side created few clearcut chances, reflecting their continued problems playing at home, where they have won just three of their last 18 league games, and taken only four points this season. Mohammed Kudus and Wilson Odobert are threatening from wide areas, but Xavi Simmons has not settled and Mathys Tel looks raw, which suggests scoring goals will continue to be an issue, particularly against deep-lying defences. Were it not for an impressive haul of 10 points out of a possible 12 away from home the boos that greeted the final whistle would have been far louder. Matt Hughes

3

Gunners sharpen focus at Fulham

For Arsenal this was another day like all the others: the Kind Of Game You Just Have to Win To Be Champions. Maybe one day Arsenal will play a Game You Donâ€t Have To Win, or a Game You Would Just Quite Like To Win. But not yet. There will be questions of course. One: is it boring to win like winning is everything when winning is everything (answer: no). And two, is there a case of Bukayo Saka dependence here? Saka was both brilliant against Fulham and also the only sharp creative element as Victor Gyökeres battered away and Eberechi Eze had a quiet day. It is hard to see too much wrong in channeling your main threat through a very good, very reliable academy-reared player. Could be worse eh? Plus Kai Havertz will be back next month and may play ahead of Gyökeres in The Super Vital Games You Really Really Have To Win. Behind all this the key stat is still one goal conceded from open play all season. This is how you win a league. And itâ€s deceptively hard to do. Barney Ronay

4

Maresca swats away disciplinary issues

Ange Postecoglouâ€s misery was Chelseaâ€s satisfaction. Victory at Nottingham Forest was Chelseaâ€s third in a row before hosting Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday. The frustrating thing for Enzo Maresca was he had to watch from the directors†box, a few rows below Evangelos Marinakis, who departed the stadium at 2-0; Maresca served a touchline ban after being sent off against Liverpool and Malo Gustoâ€s red card late on against Forest, after picking up a second yellow, raised further questions of ill-discipline. Chelsea have received five red cards in six matches, including Marescaâ€s. The Italian argued there is context behind the sendings-off, in this case stating Gusto was desperate to keep a clean sheet, though in reality the versatile defender needlessly fouled Neco Williams midway inside the Forest half, with the hosts trailing 3-0 and going nowhere fast. “It is something we can do better, but Iâ€m not concerned,†Maresca said. “But, for sure, we can avoid it.†Ben Fisher

Unlike Evangelos Marinakis, Enzo Maresca, the Chelsea manager, watched the entirety of their match at the City Ground from the stands. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

5

Minteh shows what might have been

As Anthony Elanga struggled for Newcastle, a player who got away, Yankuba Minteh, showed what Eddie Howe missed out on. After struggling to meet profit and sustainability rules, Newcastle had to cash out Minteh to Brighton for £30m and Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest for £35m in the summer of 2024, a continued source of regret. Anderson has become an England regular and, even if Lewis Miley showed off his talents as a half-time sub, Newcastleâ€s midfield department is bare beyond Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Bruno Guimarães. Minteh is ideal for Fabian Hürzelerâ€s high-pressing, quick transition game, his speed a surrogate for the absence of the injured Kaoru Mitoma. He would suit Newcastle, too. Dan Burn had a torrid afternoon against his old club; Minteh ran rings round the team he never played a match for. Coincidentally, his time on Newcastleâ€s books included him impressing on loan at Arne Slotâ€s Feyenoord. John Brewin

6

Guardiola runs rule over Rodri deputies

Pep Guardiola said Rodriâ€s hamstring injury will continue to rule him out for Manchester Cityâ€s next two games – at least. “I donâ€t think [he will be available] for Villarreal or Aston Villa. Itâ€s not [for] long, but itâ€s muscular and you have to be careful. Weâ€ve tried so many times [to ease him back]. Weâ€ve tried to not take a risk, but we have not been able to [prevent more setbacks]. So we will see,†said the manager. To potentially deputise, Guardiola has the returning Mateo Kovacic, whose 86th-minute substitute appearance was a first for City this term after an achilles problem. “Kovacic has a special quality with the ball to keep it, but we cannot forget he came after surgery and a three or four month injury.†Nico Oâ€Reilly may also be unavailable for the Champions League trip to Villarreal. “A knock I think,†said Guardiola. “Weâ€ll see.†Jamie Jackson

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Pep Guardiola ponders his options on the sidelines. Photograph: Xinhua/Shutterstock

7

Kroupi shows quality in striking style

In the absence of Evanilson with a calf injury that could also keep him out of next weekâ€s meeting with Nottingham Forest, Eli Junior Kroupi took his opportunity on his first league start by scoring twice against Crystal Palace in a 3-3 thriller that showed the 19-year-old could prove to be a shrewd investment. Signed from Bournemouthâ€s sister club Lorient for around £12m and sent back on loan to finish as top scorer in Ligue 2 last season, the son of a prolific striker with the same first name, who helped the French side win the 2002 Coupe de France, already has three Premier League goals and also scored twice for Franceâ€s Under-21s last week. “Heâ€s a goalscorer because he smells the chances,†said the Bournemouth manager, Andoni Iraola. “Heâ€s someone who is very aware of the second balls, where the balls can finish. Heâ€s a good finisher. But obviously, he still has a lot of things to improve. The physicality, the rhythm, a lot of things that he has to learn.†Ed Aarons

8

Mbeumo starting to make his mark

It had barely been a minute at Anfield before the controversy began. Bryan Mbeumo struck quickly for the visitors but, in the frantic buildup, Virgil van Dijk had elbowed his own teammate Alexis Mac Allister in the head while challenging Mbeumo for a header. Liverpool were furious as United celebrated in front of the Kop, arguing Michael Oliver should have stopped play under concussion protocol, though Van Dijk admitted post-match that “there was still plenty of football left to be playedâ€. The opener cemented a purposefully aggressive start from Manchester United – a rarity from them at Anfield in recent years – and Mbeumo provided the high-intensity pressing and work ethic the club have desperately lacked. For a club heavily criticised for their recent transfer decisions, the 26-year-old is starting to look like an astute bit of business. YE-S

Bryan Mbeumo laps up the acclaim from the travelling fans, and Amad Diallo, after opening the scoring at Anfield. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

9

Pereira faces crucial test as woes resume

Will Wolves secure their first league win of the season at home to Burnley or at Fulham? If not, , the head coach, Vítor Pereira, could really be in trouble. In losing 2-0 to a once again impressive, upwardly mobile Sunderland, it was telling that Wolves did not test Régis Le Brisâ€s goalkeeper, Robin Roefs, until the 70th minute. Pereira admits that Jørgen Strand Larsen is “strugglingâ€. The Norway striker is without a league goal this season but, in mitigation, a player disappointed not to join Newcastle in August is carrying an achilles injury and barely able to train between games. Pereira, meanwhile, remains convinced his defensively fragile team will come good. “If in one minute of my work I feel that my players are not with me, that is the end, but I didnâ€t feel it,†he said. “I feel they are frustrated but this is a moment when I need to help them.†Louise Taylor

10

Burnley reap rewards of Florentino move

It was a very busy summer at Burnley as they invested heavily in the hope of building a squad capable of staying in the Premier League. Someone was effectively signed for every position; the final arrival was Florentino Luís on deadline from Benfica. The Portuguese midfielder was a shining light in the clubâ€s academy and it was thought he would follow in the footsteps of Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias by making a big-money move but Florentinoâ€s career had stalled somewhat. Loan moves to Monaco and Getafe did not work out, so he returned to Benfica, needing to prove himself once more, doing so domestically and in the Champions League. At 26, Burnley saw the right attributes; he is energetic, comfortable in possession and rarely panics even in tight situations. His contributions have been impressive thus far. He looks to be a smart acquisition. Will Unwin

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Matchday One of this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League saw some exciting matchups and gave us a taste of what’s to come.

The UWCL table has a very Liga F look about it, with the top three spots occupied by Barcelona, Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid after some very impressive wins to open their campaigns.

Manchester United, meanwhile, were surprisingly the only Women’s Super League team to bag all three points on Matchday One.

We asked our writers Emily Keogh, Julien Laurens and Sam Marsden to answer some of our burning questions.

– Women’s Champions League: How the new format plays out
– Don’t know which UWCL team to support? ESPN can help
– Yohannes, Caldentey: Who is the MVP on all 18 UWCL teams?

Q1: Melchie Dumornay ranked No. 21 in the 2024 ESPN Women’s Rank, but has her two-goal performance in OL Lyonnes’ win at Arsenal cemented her as a top 10 player right now?

Keogh: I genuinely believe Dumornay will be a top 10 player sooner rather than later. What sets her apart isn’t just the flair, the flamboyant finishes or the fancy footwork — though she certainly has those in her locker. It’s the way she masters the fundamentals: her presence, physicality, intelligent movement off the ball, and clinical, simple finishing. These are the details that elevate her game. We’ve seen top players lose their edge when they stray from the basics, but Dumornay is doing the opposite and she’s building on them. Her football IQ, relentless work ethic, and sharp reading of the game are driving her development at a remarkable pace. Dumornay was a standout in 2023, and she’s only continued to rise. With Lyonnes looking so strong, 2025 could very well cement her as a top star. It’s unfortunate that players from lower-ranked nations often struggle to gain recognition in the global rankings, though. Haiti’s limited international presence could unfairly hold her back, despite her individual brilliance.

Melchie Dumornay punished two Arsenal mistakes to help OL Lyonnes to a 2-1 win over Arsenal at Meadow Park. Molly Darlington – UEFA

Laurens: I don’t want to say I told you so, but I did. (This is my Parisian arrogance at its best!)

Before the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia, when ESPN writers were asked to pick who would be the revelation of the tournament, I picked Dumornay. And she was. I had seen her grow in France, with Reims first as a 17-year-old and then at Lyonnes, and she’s only gotten better. Now 22, she was excellent at Arsenal on Tuesday off the back of a season where she registered 22 goals and nine assists in 28 games across all competitions.

I voted for her much higher than the 21st position in our renowned and respected FC 50 Women’s rankings last year (and 14th last month in the Ballon d’Or list), but she will definitely be in the top 10 this year. She is among the top 10 players in the world right now, and she has all the tools to even break into the top five despite playing for a tiny nation like Haiti.

Marsden: Probably. In terms of posting the kind of numbers at a top club you need to really stand out, and last year’s rank probably came just too soon for her. She’s possibly also been held back by Lyonnes’ failure to win a Champions League since she joined. But last year’s performances and statistics were no fluke; as she showed at Arsenal, and it’s just a matter of time before she’s flying up that list.

Q2: Does Barcelona’s 7-1 rout of Bayern Munich say more about Barça’s strength, or the size of the gap Bayern need to close in order to keep up with the best sides in Europe?

Laurens: When you look at Bayern Munich’s squad this season, they should not be losing 7-1 away at Barcelona after being 2-0 down after 12 minutes. Even their bench on Tuesday included some top international players. This is a terrible result for them. I was not sure that José Barçala was the right choice as Bayern manager in the summer, and I’m even more skeptical now.

Maybe the Germans thought that this Barça side, which went through a bit of a crisis in the summer, was not going to be very good for some reason? What’s for sure is that you can never underestimate Aitana Bonmatí & Co., even with only 15 or 16 players available. But then, Bayern were also battered by Lyonnes last season in the quarterfinals of the Champions League (6-1 on aggregate), so maybe we should not be expecting too much from them anyway.

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Barcelona’s Brugts: 7-1 win the perfect response to last season’s failure

Esmee Brugts says beating Bayern Munich 7-1 was the perfect start to Barcelona’s attempt to reclaim the Women’s Champions League title.

Marsden: Probably the latter for now. Like Juls says, there is no shortage of talent on that Bayern roster, yet they were awful in Barcelona, with several goals coming from their own slack play at the back. It’s not like they even can claim they were surprised by Barça — coach Barçala said the Spanish champions have some of the most predictable patterns in the game — but they just couldn’t cope with the speed. The good news is they won’t have any harder games than that in the league phase.

As for Barça, it’s hard to proclaim they are as good as they have ever been after one game, but they certainly look like a team desperate to prove a point after last year’s final defeat. The big names are still taking the plaudits for now, but don’t sleep on the younger generation (like World Cup winner Salma Paralluelo) coming through.

Keogh:Bayern played Barcelona at the worst possible time. There’s been a lot of noise around the Catalans lately, and their summer dealings — or lack thereof — has raised real questions about whether they’re still the powerhouse they once were with a dangerously thin squad.

Barcelona, therefore, came into the match with a point to prove and they did just that. But Bayern can’t chalk up the defeat to Barça simply wanting it more. They looked passive, flat, and miles off the intensity we’ve come to expect. Maybe it’s just early teething issues under a new manager, but more likely, it reflects where these two clubs are right now. Bayern have always been a little behind the curve in Europe, but as others pick up momentum, they seem to be slipping further behind. Perhaps a lack of real domestic competition has lulled them into complacency, because they were simply torn apart by Barcelona.

Q3: Taking it a step further, the whole of Liga F really put on a show in MD1, with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid racking up 19 goals across their three matches. We know about Barça, but what can the Madrid teams do? Are these results just down to nice fixtures — Atlético thumped St. Pölten 6-0, while Real Madrid beat AS Roma 6-2 — or are they positioning themselves as dark horses?

Marsden: The Madrid teams are ones to watch this year. Given how Barça dominate in Spain, they have slipped under the radar, but both could cause a few upsets.

Real are buoyed by the belief of beating Barça in a competitive game for the first time earlier this year and have gradually increased their investment in the squad. They have quality in the likes of Caroline Weir, Sara Däbritz and Linda Caicedo. They are strong at home — beating Arsenal before losing the reverse leg in last season’s quarterfinal — and should have no problem reaching the playoff round.

Atlético have also started the season well, including a win over Real in the derby, after underperforming in recent years. Luany and Fiamma Benitez are both firing. Next week’s games will be key in telling us just how good both teams are or whether they benefitted from kind opening fixtures — I don’t think they did — as Real go to Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético host Manchester United.

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Caroline Weir reflects on a big win for Real Madrid over Roma

Caroline Weir looks back on Real Madrid’s crushing 6-2 win over Roma in the opening game of their Women’s Champions League campaign.

Keogh:What I find most interesting is that Atlético had 31 shots, with 18 on target against St. Pölten while Real Madrid had 25 with 14 on target in their match. So, there’s no denying the strength of their attacking capabilities. However, when facing a defence that is more disciplined and structurally sound than St. Pölten or Roma, it remains to be seen how effective they truly are.

Atlético’s next test comes against Man United and while their opening match may not offer much to analyse, they did manage to keep VÃ¥lerenga at bay, limiting the Norwegian side to just two attempts. It was a controlled performance, but hardly a definitive measure. Defensive vulnerabilities are showing across the board — Chelsea and Arsenal being notable examples — breaking down a well-drilled, title-contending back line is where I believe Atlético (and to an extent, Real Madrid) will be more accurately assessed. Both sides are strong contenders for the playoffs, but I’m reserving final judgment — particularly on Atlético — until they face a more cohesive press and organised defence.

Laurens: I am more on the Real Madrid bandwagon than the Atlético Madrid one, which is not really a hot take. Atleti got lucky in the playoffs against BK Häcken and are now rediscovering this competition after a few years of absence. They have some talent in certain positions (Luany and Benitez especially), but we should not expect too much from them.

However, for Real Madrid, it is a different dynamic. They have to show progress and they’re definitely capable of it. Caicedo is a wonderful talent and needs to carry this team to the next level now, raising her side beyond the quarterfinal loss against Arsenal last season. Pau Quesada is a young manager, and it is a big job for him, but he has to deliver. The recruitment was interesting in the summer (Dabritz, Merle Frohms and Sara Holmgaard all arrived) and their opening destruction of Roma on Wednesday is very promising.

Q4: Let’s give some praise for the minnows! Oud-Heverlee Leuven and FC Twente both grabbed big results, the former holding Paris FC to a 2-2 draw in France and the latter frustrating Chelsea to a 1-1 result. These moments are why the new format was created, but can either side sustain this over the remainder of the league phase?

Laurens:Expanding and reformatting this competition meant welcoming newcomers and smaller teams, and it is great for the game. Leuven, the Belgian champions, produced an excellent second half in Paris against Paris FC to get a point while Twente, the Dutch champions, frustrated Chelsea’s star-studded team to also get a draw and create the first surprise of this campaign. They face each other in Belgium next week in what is already a huge game for both of them in the view of finishing in the top 12 of this league phase. It was not just them either. I thought Norwegian champions VÃ¥lerenga did ok away at Manchester United.

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Pusztai: OH Leuven missed opportunities in UWCL draw

Sara Pusztai reacts to OH Leuven’s comeback draw vs. Paris FC in the Women’s Champions League.

Marsden: Five of the nine fixtures were either settled by just one goal or were draws, which is a good sign moving forward, with only really the Spanish sides — and VfL Wolfsburg against PSG — dishing out lopsided results. Leuven’s comeback against Paris FC was brilliant, but Twente holding English champions Chelsea was probably the result of the round, and the beauty of the calendar means they both meet each other next week.

Looking at their respective fixture lists after that, it’s still going to be a struggle for either side to advance, but Twente, especially after matching one of the favourites, could spring a surprise and creep into the top 12.

Keogh: Leuven celebrated being drawn against Barcelona and Arsenal and now we’re beginning to see why. They know, on their day, they can pull off something special. Their comeback against Paris FC was impressive, and based on their second-half performance, they arguably deserved more than just a point. It won’t be so easy against the two most recent winners, but they’re certainly going to influence who makes the playoffs, even if they don’t themselves.

VÃ¥lerenga, despite their 1-0 loss to United, have managed to avoid the traditional “big four.” While their opening performance wasn’t the standout of the round, there was controversy over the penalty decision — one their manager believed should have been overturned by VAR. Had it been ruled out, the result could’ve looked very different. Twente, too, look like they’ve taken lessons from their previous encounters — especially their match-up with Chelsea last season — and executed their game plan with real discipline.

What we’re seeing is a growing tactical maturity among these smaller clubs. They’re learning, adapting, and finding ways to take points off the top sides. With increased investment, expanded backroom teams, and more footage and data to work with, the gap is clearly narrowing. And that’s a promising sign, not just for the underdogs, but for the competition as a whole.

Q5: Dealer’s choice. What’s one thing that stood out to you this week? Could be a player, could be a club, positive or negative. Basically, what’s the one thing you think should be a bigger story?

Keogh: Given the way United claimed their historic first win, you have to give it to Maya Le Tissier for what can only be described as a fairytale moment. Scoring Manchester United’s first-ever goal in European competition to secure their debut victory on the continent — and doing so as captain, at just 23 — is the kind of story that captures the heart of this tournament. Since arriving in 2022, she’s been a rock for this team, quietly becoming indispensable by playing nearly every minute across competitions. But this moment was different. At full-time, she was in tears fully aware of the weight of what that goal meant.

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1:15

Le Tissier: ‘Really special’ to score Manchester United’s first UWCL goal

Maya Le Tissier reflects on a dream start to Manchester United’s first Women’s Champions League campaign.

Laurens: For a long time, PSG were an outside chance of winning this competition. With competitive squads, the Parisians always believed they could cause an upset, make their way to the semifinals — like in 2021, 2022 and 2024 — with an eye on the big prize. The Qatari owners dreamed big for their women’s side, investing in it massively. But while the club finally won the men’s Champions League in Munich last season, the PSG Féminines are in crisis. They lost some key players again in the summer (like Grace Geyoro and Marie-Antoinette Katoto), were humiliated already by Lyonnes in the league, and battered at Wolfsburg on Wednesday too. The Parisians have fallen away quite dramatically.

Marsden: The underperforming Women’s Super League sides. Given their budget, Chelsea should not be dropping points at Twente. Manchester United did what was needed against VÃ¥lerenga, earning a 1-0 win via a penalty, but will need to up their game in next week’s fascinating match against Atlético. Yes, Arsenal can lose to a powerful Lyonnes side, even at home, but more worrying is that the European champions have now failed to win in four matches in all competitions. It is very early days, but I want to see more from what is widely considered Europe’s strongest league.

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1

Duo keen to offer Anderson shelter

Elliot Anderson spent much of Nottingham Forestâ€s 2-0 defeat on Tyneside reminding Eddie Howe how much he lost when Premier League spending rules demanded that the midfielder be sold to fend off the threat of a points deduction. That was back in the summer of 2024 and Anderson, now an England international, has rarely looked back since joining Forest. For much of the first half he eclipsed even Sandro Tonali and, overall, was comfortably Ange Postecoglouâ€s best player. Yet Anderson is human and when his loose pass offered Bruno Guimarães an opening, his subsequent attempt at a recovery tackle was mistimed and sent Guimarães crashing in the area. The Brazilian had already shot Newcastle ahead from 25 yards and from the spot Nick Woltemade scored his fourth goal in five starts. Tellingly, at the final whistle both Postecoglou and Howe made concerted efforts to console Anderson. If Forestâ€s manager is to survive and then thrive at Forest he will inevitably be heavily dependent on Andersonâ€s talent. Howe, meanwhile, would love to buy the Newcastle academy graduate back. Should Forest, with or without Postecoglou, continue to founder Newcastle may yet be in with a chance. Louise Taylor

Match report:Newcastle 2-0 Nottingham Forest

2

More Rodri worries mar City win

Rodriâ€s face told its own story. As he sank to the Brentford turf staring at his feet, there was a barely discernible shake of the head – though his body language spoke volumes. Another setback for the Spanish midfielder? It looked more than likely. Pep Guardiola has tried his best to manage Rodriâ€s game time this season since his tentative return from a serious knee injury; now he must put more faith in alternatives. Nico González is the most obvious replacement in Cityâ€s squad, yet has only been trusted to start one league game since 23 August. The former Porto man was a £49.8m signing in January and will be needed to step up more often after his 22nd-minute introduction for City in west London. On whether he can bring a measure of control akin to peak Rodri, the jury is still out. Dominic Booth

Match report:Brentford 0-1 Manchester City

Players check on Rodri (second left) after the midfielder pulled up. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

3

Mount climbs pecking order for United

Injuries have hampered Mason Mountâ€s United career. His start against Sunderland was only his 17th in the league since joining in 2023 from Chelsea. His pedigree has never been questioned but finding a position and sufficient minutes to play himself into form, has proved problematic. On Saturday, his touch was impeccable and he brought creativity and discipline in equal measure, which might explain why Ruben Amorim selected him over Matheus Cunha. He took his goal superbly, scoring the quickest opener for Amorimâ€s team since his first game in charge 11 months ago. In an intense environment, Mountâ€s experience could prove vital. “I see myself as bringing a lot of energy into the team and setting off the press at times, being a bit of a catalyst going forward,†Mount said. “Thatâ€s always something that I focus on, helping the people around me and really bringing the energy. To get the goal was obviously massive for me.†Will Unwin

Match report:Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland

4

Nuno puts faith in youngster Marshall

Nuno Espírito Santoâ€s decision to bring on Callum Marshall for his debut at the Emirates against Arsenal, instead of the more experienced Callum Wilson, was an enormous show of faith in the 20-year-old Northern Ireland striker who spent last year on loan at Huddersfield. Given that Wilson – who joined on a free transfer in the summer – and Niclas Füllkrug have contributed just one goal between them so far in the Premier League, Marshall could get plenty of more opportunities if the new managerâ€s post-match assessment is anything to go by. “Itâ€s not easy to put a young lad in front of Callum Wilson,†said Nuno. “Itâ€s important for us, as soon as possible, to have total knowledge of who we have in the squad. What Iâ€ve been seeing in training sessions, [Marshall] has energy, heâ€s a good finisher, good mobility, he can recognise the gaps in the space. I think we have something we can use.†Ed Aarons

Match report:Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

5

Calm Frank slowly earns his Spurs

Nobody seems quite sure how good Tottenham can be this season, least of all themselves. What is undeniable is that they are heading in the right direction under Thomas Frank. After a third win from four unbeaten away games this season, belief is growing that Spurs are developing into a far more cohesive and resilient outfit to the one which slumped to their worst Premier League finish under Ange Postecoglou last term. There is a calm assuredness to Frank, who spoke glowingly of his teamâ€s mentality and collective desire in seeing off a pugnacious Leeds side at a raucous, windswept Elland Road. Frank had not beaten his Leeds counterpart and good friend Daniel Farke in five previous meetings in charge of Brentford and Norwich respectively, but goals from Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus, either side of Noah Okaforâ€s first-half equaliser, ensued the tables were turned. It is early days, but things are looking up for Spurs. Ross Heppenstall

Match report:Leeds 1-2 Tottenham

Mohammed Kudus scored what proved to be the winner against Leeds. Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/Shutterstock

6

Acheampong and Badiashile step up

Enzo Maresca wanted a new centre-back after losing Levi Colwill to a knee injury before the start of the season. His bosses thought otherwise. Chelseaâ€s resources are deep and a panic buy was not required. Then came more injuries, leaving Maresca stretched. There were nerves about Josh Acheampong and Benoît Badiashile lining up against Liverpool on Saturday, but there need not have been. Acheampong is only 19 but few doubt his potential. The teenager dealt with Crystal Palaceâ€s Jean-Philippe Mateta well on the opening weekend and he was assured again as Liverpool were beaten at Stamford Bridge, with Alexander Isakâ€s influence was dimmed by Chelseaâ€s fine defending. For Maresca, the only problem was Acheampong and Badiashile having to go off in the second half. Badiashile has only just returned from injury and it is hoped he was only suffering from cramp. The 24-year-old Frenchman has not always been convincing, but he appears to have stepped up a level since coming back into the starting lineup. Jacob Steinberg

Match report:Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool

7

Glasner stays calm as Eagles finally dip

To his credit, Oliver Glasner refused to blame fatigue as Crystal Palaceâ€s proud 19-game unbeaten run came to an end four days after their Conference League exertions in Poland. “That would be a cheap excuse,†he said while attempting to come to terms with Evertonâ€s unexpected late win at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Defeat to Jack Grealishâ€s first Everton goal was entirely self-inflicted, according to the Palace manager, with Jean Philippe-Mateta missing two clear chances to double the visitors†advantage before Maxence Lacroixâ€s foul on Tim Iroegbunam offered David Moyesâ€s side a way back via the penalty spot. “We didnâ€t decide the game when we could have done and that has happened a few times now,†explained Glasner. “It is part of our development. Weâ€ve made a few steps forward in the last few months and now we have to feel this pain and learn from it.†Andy Hunter

Match report:Everton 2-1 Crystal Palace

Maxence Lacroix fouls Tim Iroegbunam to concede the penalty that let Everton back into the game. Photograph: Peter Powell/Reuters

8

Bogarde has Villa fans on their feet

It is a staple of junior football and if there was a Most Improved Player prize at Aston Villa it would surely go to Lamare Bogarde. The 21-year-old, who signed from Feyenoord at 16, was given a standing ovation upon being substituted in the victory at home to Burnley, a week on from Unai Emery leading the applause when Bogarde was withdrawn late on in the win against Fulham. Emery admires Bogardeâ€s versatility but it was at the base of midfield where the Dutchman, who has started Villaâ€s past two league matches and featured in eight of Villaâ€s 10 games in all competitions, looks most at home. He was Villaâ€s most-fouled player against Burnley, a statistic indicative of his involvement, but perhaps more tellingly he completed 97% of his attempted passes (56 out of 58). Villaâ€s rise has meant academy youngsters have had few opportunities but Bogarde is proving increasingly instrumental. Ben Fisher

Match report:Aston Villa 2-1 Burnley

9

Brightonâ€s note of curious caution

Brighton remain the team to have received the most yellow cards in the Premier League this season after another four in the frustrating draw away at Wolves took them to 22. Manager Fabian Hürzeler was frustrated by the refereeing decisions. “I didnâ€t understand it,†he said. “Every first foul from us was a yellow card and in the hardest league in the world, thatâ€s very frustrating.†He added that he was forced to substitute Carlos Baleba at half-time because of his midfielderâ€s caution. Itâ€s not as if Brighton are overly aggressive or cynical is it? Peter Lansley

Match report:Wolves 1-1 Brighton

Carlos Baleba and Hugo Bueno battle for the ball as their managers watch on from the sidelines. Photograph: David Davies/PA

10

Kluivert family make Patrick proud

If the summer transfer market divested Bournemouth of a first-choice defence, Andoni Iraola retains much of his teamâ€s attacking talent. Antoine Semenyo was the subject of serious interest but instead signed an extension to stay on until 2030. The match-winner in Fridayâ€s late defeat of Fulham is in rare form, his two well-taken goals taking him to second in the Premier League scoring charts. “World class,†said fellow scorer Justin Kluivert on his colleague. “I want to try to keep him at this level, especially, confidence wise,†said Iraola of Semenyo. Kluivert had come off the bench to score a fine goal, completing a fine week for the Kluivert clan. On Wednesday, 18-year-old half-brother, Shane, scored for Barcelona in the Uefa Youth League against Paris Saint-Germain while his full brother, Ruben, scored for Lyon in the Europa League against Red Bull Salzburg on Thursday. Father Patrick shared his delight on social media as a “proud dadâ€. John Brewin

Match report:Bournemouth 3-1 Fulham

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• Emily Keogh

  Close

  Emily Keogh

  Correspondent

  Based in London, Emily Keogh is ESPN’s women’s soccer correspondent, specializing in the WSL and UWCL

• Sam Marsden

Oct 2, 2025, 03:53 AM ET

The UEFA Women’s Champions League is back! With a new 18-team format, single group-stage table and tons of the world’s best female players on show, this season will be bigger than ever. And you can catch every game live on Disney+ across Europe.

Holders Arsenal face eight-time winners OL Lyonnes in the first round of fixtures, while the second of last year’s semifinals, Chelsea vs. Barcelona, is also on the cards for later in the competition.

So what do you need to know? What are the talking points? What about each of the 18 teams? And where might they all finish in the table? Emily Keogh and Sam Marsden give us the lowdown.

– Thakur: How will OL Lyonnes’ spending impact UWCL charge?
– Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí ready for ‘more competitive’ UWCL
– Thakur: Why are Barça’s Ballon d’Or pair Bonmati, Lopez so special?

Are we excited for the new format?

The switch to the Swiss model, mirroring the men’s Champions League, comes at a good time. As the quality rises across the board, an increase to 18 teams enables more sides to benefit from playing against better opposition regularly. Even if that means some heavy defeats for the smaller teams this year, it should bring long-term improvements.

Disney+ becomes new home of Women’s Champions League in Europe

Disney+ will be the only place football fans can watch all 75 matches live each season. Visit the Disney+ website to get access.

There are also heavyweight matchups from the start, with holders Arsenal meeting eight-time winners OL Lyonnes and Barcelona hosting Bayern Munich in the opening round of games. Barça also travel to Chelsea later in the league phase. These are games that would have been impossible to see in the group stage, when the top seeds didn’t play each other.

“It’s [going to be] a very exciting season because the Champions League is changing,” Barça midfielder Aitana Bonmatí told ESPN this month. “I think it’s one of the best [things] they could do because it makes it more competitive. It’s better for everyone.” — Sam Marsden

Can Arsenal defend their title and who has the best chance from England’s participants?

Staying at the top is often harder than getting there, and Arsenal face a tough season ahead. Underdogs in last year’s final against Barcelona, they pulled off what few could, breaking down the Catalan side while keeping them out at the other end for an historic 1-0 win. With key additions this summer and a full season under manager Renée Slegers, who took over last October, a semifinal spot seems a realistic goal.

For Chelsea, this is a make-or-break year. Despite domestic dominance — winning every WSL title since 2019 — they’ve failed to reach a European final since 2021, and the aggregate 8-2 thrashing by Barcelona in last season’s semifinal still stings. With millions spent to sign center back Naomi Girma, winger Alyssa Thompson, and right back Ellie Carpenter this summer, they must prove that investment can finally take them further and make it to Oslo for the final.

Finally, Manchester United enter their first-ever European campaign as underdogs. The pressure of the club’s legacy in the men’s game looms large, but with a thin squad, keeping their players fit is key. If they manage that, they might just sneak through into the latter stages. — Emily Keogh

Can anyone stop Barcelona?

Arsenal showed in last season’s final that Barça are beatable. We already knew that, on their day, Chelsea or OL Lyonnes can also compete with the Spanish champions, but what Arsenal’s win does is give confidence to other teams — especially from England and Germany, and even Real Madrid, who beat Barça for the first time in Liga F last season — that the competition is opening up.

Barça’s cost-cutting has been well documented this summer. They have perhaps been slightly overplayed, with the Catalan side not losing any of their best players. However, they have lost depth, which opens them up to problems should they have any injuries this season. To compete on all fronts, they could find a squad of around 18 players is a little short come springtime. — SM

How has OL Lyonnes’ spending helped their cause?

While their biggest rivals in recent years, Barça, have been quiet this summer, OL Lyonnes have been extremely busy. They have picked off players from Paris Saint-Germain, Barça, Chelsea and Wolfsburg, bringing in both experience and potential. Ex-PSG striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto is one of the best goal scorers in Europe, Jule Brand is a brilliant attacking option and USWNT internationals Korbin Shrader and Lily Yohannes have heaps of promise.

Perhaps the French side’s biggest pickup, though, is former Barça coach Jonatan Giráldez, who arrived from sister club Washington Spirit. Giráldez led Barça to back-to-back Champions Leagues and his move sets up a fascinating narrative ahead of a potential meeting with his former club later in the competition.

However, with his reputation — and OL Lyonnes’ summer spending — comes pressure. With the squad he has at his disposal, Giráldez will be expected to deliver a first European trophy since 2022 playing in the manner that bought Barça so much success. — SM

Will German clubs mount a challenge this year?

Probably not. It may sound harsh, but expectations are low for both German clubs. Wolfsburg were once a force to be reckoned with in the women’s game, but have steadily lost key players over the past two seasons and appear to be in transition. Since their last UWCL win and the 3-2 defeat in the 2023 final, they’ve struggled to reassert themselves at the top level, failing to even qualify the following year.

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Bayern Munich, by contrast, have greater squad cohesion and depth than their domestic rivals but were dealt one of the toughest draws in the competition. While they are better positioned on paper, neither team have truly impressed in recent European campaigns and it feels like there are too many obstacles for them to make a serious run this time.

That said, the new 18-team, single-table format creates unpredictability across the board. If results elsewhere fall in their favor and they find form at the right time, there’s a slim chance one could progress further than expected. — EK

Who are the outsiders?

Paris FC have standout players like Clara Mateo and valuable experience in the competition, so they know what it takes to go toe-to-toe with Europe’s best. With top clubs now regularly facing each other in the group stage, more points will be dropped across the board, creating an opening for well-organized sides to sneak into a knockout spot. And Paris FC could be one.

Elsewhere, Roma remain on the fringes after moving on from manager Alessandro Spugna in the summer. They’re a strong attacking side with growing pedigree, but inconsistency may be their undoing — though that could also work in their favor if opponents underestimate them.

Of all the team, Norwegian side VÃ¥lerenga are probably the true outsiders. They managed to avoid the toughest teams in the league phase and could quietly build momentum. It’s a long shot, but in a competition where small margins matter and upsets are common, a bit of luck could work wonders. — EK

Can Arsenal defend their crown this year? Or Will Barcelona, OL Lyonnes, or Chelsea get there instead? ESPN Illustration

TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEW

Stats via ESPN Global Sports Research.

ARSENAL

Fixtures:Lyon (h), Benfica (a), Bayern (a), Real Madrid (h), Twente (h), OH Leuven (a)
Manager:Renée Slegers
Star player:Mariona Caldentey
Key stat:Looking to join OL Lyonnes (8), Eintracht Frankfurt (4) and Barcelona (3) as the only teams with at least three UWCL titles.

As reigning champions, the Gunners are under pressure to deliver and all eyes will be on them. After ending an 18-year title drought, they’ve rediscovered their winning edge and are hungry for more. But with the crown comes a big target on their backs as every team will be eager to take points off them. Arsenal have strengthened their squad this summer to meet the challenge, adding Canada sensation Olivia Smith to a forward line already boasting Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly, and Caitlin Foord. And, after missing out on the Ballon d’Or to Aitana Bonmatí, Caldentey will be a key player in the engine room and looking to reach a fifth final in a row. — EK

ATLÉTICO MADRID

Fixtures: St. Pölten (a), Manchester United (h), Juventus (h), Twente (a), Bayern Munich (h), OL Lyonnes (a)
Manager: Víctor Martín
Star player: Fiamma Benítez
Key stat: The first time the team have got past the qualifying rounds since 2020-21. Their four Liga F titles are tied for third-most behind Barcelona (10) and Athletic Club (5).

Atlético were the dominant force in Spain for several years but have fallen away since the emergence of Barça as one of the game’s super powers. There are signs this year, though, that they could be one of the surprise packages in Europe. They have started well in Liga F, beating rivals Real Madrid already, and have some interesting young players in their squad. Fiamma Benítez, Luany and Júlia Bartel, on loan from Chelsea, have all started the campaign well. They are unlikely to compete with the very best sides, but could provide a few upsets. — SM

BARCELONA
Fixtures: Bayern Munich (h), Roma (a), OH Leuven (h), Chelsea, (a), Benfica (h), Paris FC (a)
Manager: Pere Romeu
Star player: Aitana Bonmatí
Key stat: Could tie Frankfurt for the second-most titles in the competition, with their fourth. They could also break a tie for the most consecutive UWCL finals (both OL Lyonnes and Barcelona have previously made it to the final in five-straight seasons).

Barcelona lost depth this summer, but not quality, so don’t sleep on them. Laia Aleixandri is the only addition to the squad, but they still have the best midfield in the game in Patri Guijarro, Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas. Caroline Graham Hansen and Ewa Pajor are a constant threat in the final third, too, but perhaps more importantly, they have a core of young players ready to make their mark. Kika Nazareth, Claudia Pina, Vicky López, Salma Paralluelo, Sydney Schertenleib and Esmee Brugts are all ready to play big roles. — SM

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0:48

Bonmatí: New Women’s Champions League format improves competitiveness

Aitana Bonmatí speaks about the Women’s Champions League adopting the league phase format.

BAYERN MUNICH

Fixtures: Barcelona (h), Juventus (a), Arsenal (h), PSG (a), Atlético (h), Vålerenga (a)
Manager: Jose Barcala
Star player: Klara Bühl
Key stat:Looking for their first final appearance, having lost twice in the semifinals in 2018-19 and 2020-21 to Barcelona and Chelsea respectively.

Of all the teams in the competition, Bayern Munich arguably have one of the hardest runs of fixtures. Facing former winners Barcelona and current holders Arsenal, along with competition veterans Juventus and PSG, will be anything but easy for the German champions. They have never really kicked on past the quarterfinals either, so history isn’t on their side. With good squad and some other results going their way, they could make it through but can’t afford to drop many points. — EK

BENFICA

Fixtures: Juventus (a), Arsenal (h), Twente (h), Paris FC (a), Barcelona (a), Paris Saint-Germain (h)
Manager: Ivan Baptista
Star player: Cristina Martín-Prieto
Key stat: Became the first Portuguese side to make the quarterfinals in 2023-24.

The Portuguese champions are as dominant in their homeland as they are unpredictable in Europe. They went from reaching the quarterfinals in 2024 — drawing 4-4 with eventual winners Barça in the group stage — to not even qualifying last year. They will have an eye on a top-12 finish this year and a place in the playoff round. Getting there may depend on the goals of Spain striker Martín-Prieto, a throwback No. 9 striker who has been superb since moving to Portugal in 2024. They have drawn some tough fixtures, though. — SM

Chelsea have never won the UWCL title and lost to Barcelona last season in the semifinals. David Ramos/Getty Images

CHELSEA

Fixtures:Twente (a), Paris FC (h), St Pölten (a), Barcelona (h), Roma (h), Wolfsburg (a)
Manager: Sonia Bompastor
Star player:Sam Kerr
Key stat:Their only three defeats last season (and first losses under Bompastor) came in the Champions League knockouts (one loss vs Manchester City, and two vs. Barcelona). They completed their second domestic Treble, after 2021, to win the WSL, FA Cup and League Cup titles.

Despite holding the English title for the past six years, Chelsea have been unable to claim European glory. The title eluded them for 12 years under Emma Hayes and last season, under the guidance of former OL Lyonnes boss Sonia Bompastor, the club crashed out in the semifinals 8-2 on aggregate to Barcelona. Chelsea have failed to make it past the semis for the last three seasons, but now they have a squad depth unrivalled by any on the continent, it is crunch time. Prolific striker Sam Kerr is back from her 22-month injury absence, adding even more options up front, so there are no excuses for another disappointing campaign. — EK

JUVENTUS

Fixtures: Benfica (h), Bayern Munich (a), Atlético Madrid (a), OL Lyonnes (h), St. Pölten (a), Manchester United (h)
Manager: Massimiliano Canzi
Star player: Cristiana Girelli
Key stat: Won their third domestic double in eight seasons of existence in 2024-25 as well as beating Paris Saint-Germain to make the Champions League group stage for the third time.

Italy will hope the national team’s run to the semifinals at Euro 2025 will have a knock-on effect for their clubs in Europe this season. Eight members of that Italy squad play for Juventus, who will be relatively happy with the way their fixtures have fallen. There is plenty of experience in the side, with former Arsenal midfielder Lia Wälti added to veterans Cristiana Girelli and Barbara Bonansea, and the Italian champions will be disappointed if they don’t make the playoff round. — SM

MANCHESTER UNITED

Fixtures: Vålerenga (h), Atlético (a), PSG (h), Wolfsburg (a), Lyon (h), Juventus (a)
Manager:Marc Skinner
Star player: Elisabeth Terland
Key stat: Progressed past the qualifying rounds for the first time in history, as Elisabeth Terland hit hat tricks against PSV and her former club Brann to finish as top scorer in qualifying with seven goals.

It’s United’s debut in the competition, having only reached the qualifiers once before — when they failed to get through PSG in 2023 — but a reunion with former goalkeeper Mary Earps is on the cards now. They have nothing to lose in their first campaign and although they’re a top-three side in England, facing Juve, OL Lyonnes, Wolfsburg and PSG will be a real test of where they stand among the European elite. Manager Skinner has a dangerously thin squad, so competing in the WSL and on the continent in midweek will be tough to manage if there are any injuries. They deserve to be in the competition, but need to prove they can compete. — EK

OH LEUVEN

Fixtures: Paris FC (a), Twente (h), Barcelona (h), Roma (h), PSG (a), Arsenal (h)
Manager: Arno van den Abbeel
Star player:Aurélie Reynders
Key stat:The first team from Belgium to reach the group stage, and the seventh of all countries to get this far on their European debut.

It was a remarkable feat for the Belgian minnows to make it to the league phase. Their first taste of Europe came in the second qualifying round vs. SFK 2000, then RosengÃ¥rd — before beating Vorskla Poltava over two legs in the third round — but that will be nothing compared to the caliber of teams that awaits them now. There is clearly a huge contrast between their players, facilities and resources, and those of their opponents but they were seen celebrating their draw and won’t be cowering in fear at the prospect of stepping up a level. OH Levuen will be eager to prove themselves and everyone loves an underdog, so if you’re wanting to back a history-making team then you should get behind them. — EK

OL Lyonnes are looking to reclaim their perch at the top of the game. Michael Regan – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

OL LYONNES

Fixtures: Arsenal (a), St. Pölten (h), Wolfsburg (h), Juventus (a), Manchester United (a), Atlético Madrid (h)
Manager: Jonatan Giráldez
Star player: Melchie Dumornay
Key stat: Record-holders with eight UWCL titles. Ada Hegerberg is also the top goal scorer in the history of the competition with 66 (scored with Stabaek, Turbine Potsdam, Lyonnes).

Picking a star player from this OL Lyonnes side is an impossible task. It’s not an exaggeration to say they have 10 players who would be the star for most other teams in this year’s competition. Coach Giráldez’s dilemma is fitting all that talent into the same side and keeping them happy throughout the season. It may also take time for all the new signings to settle and Giráldez to implement his playing style, but the early signs are positive — they have already smashed PSG 3-1 in the French league. — SM

PARIS FC

Fixtures: Leuven (h), Chelsea (a), Real Madrid (a), Benfica (h), VÃ¥lerenga (a), Barcelona (h)
Manager: Sandrine Soubeyrand
Star player: Clara Mateo
Key stat:Became the first team ever to knock out two-time champions Wolfsburg before the quarterfinals in 2023-24.

It has previously been a rocky round for Paris FC in the UWCL. They pulled off a huge shock in the 2023-24 season, defeating both Arsenal and Wolfsburg to reach the competition, before beating Real Madrid 1-0 to finish a respectable third in their group. And though they lost 8-0 on aggregate to Manchester City in the qualifiers last season, the French club are excited to be back among the best in Europe. Paris FC will certainly be among the middle pack of teams who will be desperate to reach the quarterfinals, and they have a decent draw to help their chances. Though they face Barcelona and old foes Chelsea, they are more than capable of winning their other four games, so the new format may give them a shot at the knockout rounds. — EK

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

Fixtures: Wolfsburg (a), Real Madrid (h), Manchester United (a), Bayern Munich (h), OH Leuven (h), Benfica (a)
Manager: Paulo César
Star player: Sakina Karchaoui
Key stat: Missed out on the group stage in 2024-25 after defeat by Juventus, ending a run of reaching at least the quarterfinals six years in a row and nine times in 10 seasons. Despite that record, they have not made the final since 2016-17.

PSG are regulars in the latter stages of the Champions League — if you ignore the catastrophe of not qualifying for the group stage last year — and are desperate to take the next step. A sign of their ambition was their €1 million move for Barça’s Alexia Putellas this summer. That was a transfer they could not pull off in the end and the feeling is that their squad is weaker this year than last. Crystal Dunn, Olga Carmona and Rasheedat Ajibade are among the arrivals, but they lost some of their best players. Katoto and Shrader both moved to Lyon, while Grace Geyoro joined London City Lionesses. — SM

REAL MADRID

Fixtures: Roma (h), Paris Saint‑Germain (a), Paris FC (h), Arsenal (a), Wolfsburg (h), Twente (a)
Manager: Pau Quesada
Star player: Sara Dabritz
Key stat: Contesting their fifth straight UWCL, their best result is reaching the quarterfinals twice in 2021-22 and 2024-25.

There is a talent in this Real Madrid squad and the disappointment is that they could be doing better than they have done in recent seasons. A change of coach, with Pau Quesada replacing Alberto Toril, may help them improve. Germany’s Dabritz was added to a team this summer that already features Linda Caicedo, Caroline Weir and Athenea del Castillo, among others, and which should be closing the gap on the best teams in Europe. Beating Barcelona for the first time earlier this year will have boosted confidence and the belief they can go far in the Champions League. — SM

ROMA

Fixtures: Real Madrid (a), Barcelona (h), Vålerenga (h), OH Leuven (a), Chelsea (a), St. Pölten (h)
Manager: Luca Rossettini
Star player: Manuela Giugliano
Key stat: Qualified for group stage phase in all four of their UWCL campaigns, with the furthest stage being the quarterfinals in 2022-23.

Roma have three tough matches and three winnable games. Under the leadership of new coach Luca Rossettini, they should be targeting a place in the playoff rounds. That may ultimately be the ceiling for this side, though. It sometimes feels they are too dependent on midfielder and captain Giugliano — and her goals — although others have chipped in this season so far. Switzerland’s Alayah Pilgrim impressed in the recent Serie A Women’s Cup, when Roma progressed to the final, where they suffered a 3-2 stoppage time loss to Juventus. — SM

ST. POLTEN

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Fixtures: Atlético (h), OL Lyonnes (a), Chelsea (h), Vålerenga (a), Juventus (h), Roma (a)
Manager: Tuğberk Tanrıvermiş
Star player: Carina Brunold
Key stat:Advanced through qualifying for fourth year in a row and have won the Austrian Bundesliga in the last 10 completed seasons.

The Austrian side have been a staple in the group stage for the past few seasons, but have failed to kick on and reach the quarterfinals — though maybe fourth time will be the charm as the new format has created more opportunities for the lower-ranked sides to make it through. Having beaten Fortuna Hjørring in qualifying, St. Pölten will fancy their chances against most of their league phase opponents except for OL Lyonnes and Chelsea. They have shown plenty of grit and determination before and could play a huge role in who makes it through. — EK

TWENTE

Fixtures: Chelsea (h), Leuven (a), Benfica (a), Atlético (h), Arsenal (a), Real Madrid (h)
Manager: Joran Pot
Star player: Jill Roord
Key stat:They fell in three-straight qualifying phases before advancing to the group stage in the last two seasons. They are also 10-time Dutch league champions, the most titles in league history (started in 2007-08).

Roord, one of the Champions League’s most-experienced veterans is back where it all began. The 28-year-old Netherlands midfielder has played in the competition with Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Wolfsburg and Manchester City, and returned to her former club Twente — where she played from 2013-2017, and scored 57 goals over 100 appearances. A reunion with Arsenal will be interesting, but Twente will be looking to make it past the league phase having struggled against Europe’s elite since 2019.

VALARENGA

Fixtures: Man United (a), Wolfsburg (h), Roma (a), St Pölten (h), Paris FC (h), Bayern Munich (a)
Manager: Nils Lexerød
Star player: Olaug Tvedten
Key stat:Had the only draw in 48 group-stage matches last season (vs. Bayern Munich.)

As hosts of the Oslo final at their home ground in May, no team will be as eager to progress as VÃ¥lerenga. But, given their inexperience — they have only been in the competition once before and finished bottom of their group — it is a very, very long shot. Still, having avoided the “top four” of Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea and OL Lyonnes in the draw, they will feel confident. Yes, they’ll need to be close to perfect to defeat Wolfsburg, but they are more than capable of battling against Roma, Paris FC, St Pölten and Man United. And, even if the first five games don’t go their way, they could play a role in deciding who gets through with their final game against Bayern. — EK

WOLFSBURG

Fixtures: Paris Saint‑Germain (h), Vålerenga (h), OL Lyonnes (a), Manchester United (h), Real Madrid (a), Chelsea (h)
Manager: Stephan Lerch
Star player: Alexandra Popp
Key stat: 104 matches played in the tournament is the third-most all-time, after OL Lyonnes (152) and Arsenal (124).

The days of Wolfsburg being among the main contenders to win this competition feel like they have passed. Every summer they have to deal with the departure of their best players. This year it was Jule Brand’s move to Lyon; last year it was Ewa Pajor joining Barcelona. It’s hard to compete when you keep losing talent. That said, they remain competitive in Germany and still have a solid squad packed with experience. Decreased expectations may favour them when they face some of Europe’s biggest teams this year with little to lose.

FINAL TABLE PREDICTION

Reminder: How the new UWCL format works

• The top four go straight through to the quarterfinals, played in March and April.
• The eight teams in positions 5-12 play in the knockout phase playoffs, in February, to earn a place in the quarterfinals.
• Teams in positions 13-18 are eliminated at the end of the league phase in December.

Automatic qualifiers: 1-4.Barcelona, Chelsea, Arsenal, OL Lyonnes.
Playoffs: 5-12.Juventus, Paris FC, Paris Saint-Germain, Roma, Wolfsburg, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester United.
Eliminated: 13-18.Atlético, Benfica, Vålerenga, St. Pölten, Twente, OH Leuven.

No deviation from the traditional big four, but Paris FC and Roma could meet the likes of Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the playoffs. — EK

Automatic qualifiers: 1-4. OL Lyonnes, Barcelona, Chelsea, Arsenal.
Playoffs: 5-12.Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Roma.
Eliminated: 13-18.Benfica, Paris FC, Twente, St. Pölten, Vålerenga, OH Leuven.

A similar look to the top four and playoffs, but I fancy Atlético to get through and Paris FC to drop out early. — SM

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SAN FRANCISCO — Giants executive Buster Posey doesn’t consider his former manager Bruce Bochy a candidate to fill the vacant position again for San Francisco.

Posey, the club’s president of baseball operations, said Wednesday that he had spoken to Bochy a couple of days earlier and mentioned there could be a position for Bochy in the organization — just not the managerial job.

“The door’s always open here for some sort of role,” Posey said during a news conference at Oracle Park. “I don’t see us going that route with Boch.”

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The Giants fired Bob Melvin on Monday after his second season ended with an 81-81 record — one more victory than last year — and a fourth straight missed playoff opportunity.

Later Monday, the Texas Rangers announced Bochy, 70, was out after three seasons that featured the organization’s first World Series championship in 2023.

Posey expressed the hope of finding someone who could provide stability for years to come on the dugout’s top step as the club tries to become a regular contender again, but he didn’t provide any details about the process except that interviews are happening this week. Under Bochy, the Giants won biennial World Series championships in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

“We had a pretty consistent stretch of not playing good baseball,” Posey said. “There’s a lot of good things in place, but ultimately we did not achieve our goal this year.”

When Posey, 38, took over in his current job at this time last year to replace Farhan Zaidi, the Giants’ longtime catcher committed to three seasons. He is still planning to fulfill that agreement.

“I’m fully committed, but I think the focus has to be on the present,” Posey said. “That’s the way I try to look at it. Would I like to do it longer, sure, but I think the focus has to be in the moment.”

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SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

NXT TV REPORT
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
ORLANDO, FLA. AT THE WWE PERFORMANCE CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON THE CW
REPORT BY DAVID MILLER, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T

Ring Announcer: Mike Rome

Backstage Correspondent(s): Kelly Kincaid

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[HOUR ONE]

-The show opened with a recap of the TNA wrestlers getting involved in last weekâ€s main event, triggering a huge brawl. They followed that with a recap of No Mercy, including Sol Ruca , Ethan Page, and Jacy Jayne retaining their respective titles, Jordynne Grace and Blake Monroe hitting each other with pink weapons, and Ricky Saints taking the NXT title from Oba Femi.

-The new NXT Champion, Ricky Saints, came to the ring to an ovation from the NXT crowd, who chanted, “You deserve it.†He talked about his journey to the top of NXT, and asked them, “Did we do it?†He continued to cut an impassioned and inspired promo, but was inexplicably interrupted by NXT Womenâ€s Champion Jacy Jayne.

-She congratulated him, but said they had bigger things to worry about, namely TNA. She said she couldnâ€t blame them for being upset because they held both of their titles. Ava came out and told them they were both going to be captains of NXT. She said they both had to put their pride aside and pick the best women and men out of NXT. TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella came out and said heâ€d let his captains pick their teams, too. He said he didnâ€t trust “Tricky†Saints.

-Santino introduced one of his captains as Mike Santana. He said there was someone he trusted to be a captain, and introduced newly-crowned TNA Knockouts Champion Kelani Jordan as his other team captain. Jayne complained to Santino about choosing Jordan as a team captain, but Saints told her not to worry about them and concern herself with their own teams.

-Lash Legend and Jaida Parker were shown walking in the back as Vic Joseph said they were going to run it back next. [c]

-In the back, Jeâ€Von Evans bumped into TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater. They were very cordial with each other until they were interrupted by The Culling. Shawn Spears chastized Evans for chatting it up with Slater. Niko Vance challenged them to a match, which they accepted. After they walked away, Lyra Valkyria walked up to Tatum Paxley and told her she had something for her. She gave her a Lyra doll, which Paxley was so thrilled over that she tossed her Izzi doll into the air as she grabbed it. A sour-faced Izzi ushered her away from Lyra.

(1) JAIDA PARKER vs. LASH LEGEND

Legend dropped her boa and rushed the ring to attack Parker as the referee called for the bell. She lifted Parker into a delayed vertical suplex after a hard elbow. She tried a comeback, but Legend nearly chopped the skin off her. She dragged Parker to the floor, but paid for it as Miss Parker put her down hard before they cut to a commercial break. [c]

Back from the break, Parker struggled to complete a sunset flip, but was soon locked in a half-crab by Legend. Jaida finally kicked it into high gear and put Legend down hard with a shoulder block. Legend grabbed Parkerâ€s ring gear as she was running the ropes and pulled her into a sleeper, which Parker promptly fought out of and hit her hip attack with Legend perched on the ropes. It only served to enrage Legend, who nailed her with a pump kick. On the outside, she ran Parker into the ring steps and barricade, then tossed her back inside and set her up for her finisher. Parker slipped out, whipped her neck-first into the ropes, then blasted her with the Hipnotic for the win.

WINNER: Jaida Parker at 9:07.

(Millerâ€s Take: Parker really needed that win. Sheâ€s come up short in so many matches lately, that it was imperative for her to get a little of her mojo back. Legend beat on her quite a bit through the match and looked very strong in defeat, so this loss wonâ€t affect her as much as it would have affected Jaida.)

-In the locker room, Ricky Saints was being congratulated by everyone when TNA champ Trick Williams walked in. He announced himself as Co-Captain of NXT and said they needed to be undeniable. Saints said if he was going to be on his team, there were only two spots left and picked Jeâ€Von Evans and Myles Borne. Williams said they needed some size and wanted Jasper Troy and Josh Briggs. Evans objected, but Saints said they needed Briggs. Evans walked away, but Saints told Trick not to worry about him, and that heâ€d handle that later. Williams suggested Borne and Briggs slug it out tonight for a spot on the team, which Saints agreed to. [c]

-North American Champion Ethan Page smirked his way to the ring. He claimed to be the greatest North American alive and bragged about beating Tavion Heights at No Mercy. He turned his attention to El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. A white SUV was shown pulling into the parking lot, and somebody stepped out of it, but was only shot from the knees down. Page invited Wagner to come to the ring. Page was surprised to see not Wagner, but TNAâ€s Mustafa Ali come to the ring. Ali said he had no problem with Page, but he had a problem with what he was holding. He said not that long ago, he was looking at challenging for the North American title.

-He said instead of a title match, he got a phone call saying his services were no longer needed, and 749 days later heâ€s here for that title shot that he earned. Page said it was a hell of a sob story, but he didnâ€t want to hear it. Ali said he spoke to Ava and Santino and next week at Showdown heâ€ll get that shot. Page said he wouldnâ€t fire him next week, but heâ€d wish him the best in his future endeavors. They scuffled briefly before Page decided discretion was the better part of valor and made a quick exit, snatching his belt as he hit the floor.

-In the womenâ€s locker room, Jacy Jayne said she had the important task of picking their team. She said after seeing what she just saw, Jaida Parker was looking strong. She turned to Sol Ruca, pointed out that she was still a double champ, and she needed winners. Ruca accepted. Lola Vice stepped up to Jayne and offered her services. Fallon Henley said the last spot was hers. Lainey Reid told Jayne she couldnâ€t trust Vice. All of the women started arguing loudly. Jayne called for decorum as Thea Hail was hilariously sticking her tongue out at her. Jayne said the winner of Vice vs. Henley would get the spot, and then walked off. Zaria asked Ruca if she could speak to her privately. [c]

-TNA World Tag Team Champions Matt & Jeff Hardy talked about cementing their legacy as the GOATS by winning the only WWE tag belts theyâ€ve never won; the NXT Tag Team titles.

(2) MYLES BORNE vs. JOSH BRIGGS – Winner Fills the Final Spot For Team NXT

Briggs shoved Borne down, but he got right back up and gave him a shove. The two butted heads like a couple of angry rams. As Briggs went to the floor, Borne hit a huge cannonball to the outside, knocking him for a loop. Back in the ring, it didnâ€t take long for Briggs to take control. Saints and Williams were shown watching the match on a monitor in the back and obviously sharing their thoughts on it. Another camera showed the TNA group collaborating behind closed doors before they cut to a split-screen commercial break. [c]

ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…

Check out the latest episode of “PWT Talks NXT” with Kelly Wells and Nate Lindberg, part of the PWTorch Dailycast line-up: CLICK HERE to stream (or search “pwtorch†on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)

[HOUR TWO]

The larger screen on the right showed a bunch of terribly uninteresting commercials while Briggs and Borne fought on the microscopic screen on the left. Back to full-screen, Briggs kept trying to put Borne down, but was getting frustrated at not getting the job done. Borne clubbed him with a couple of clotheslines, whipped him from corner to corner, then delivered an Orton-ish snap powerslam for a two-count.

Briggs again took the chain off his neck, but he was stopped from using it by Matt Cardona. That distracted Briggs enough to get caught with the chain by the referee, eat a high dropkick, and fall victim to Borneâ€s version of a Zig Zag for the pin.

WINNER: Myles Borne at 10:22 to secure the final spot for Team NXT.

(Millerâ€s Take: No way was Briggs going to get away with using the chain a second time, but it was surprising to see it thwarted by TNAâ€s Matt Cardona, who got a good pop for his appearance. Iâ€m starting to warm up to Briggs a bit more, but I still wish heâ€d get rid of that stupid oversized smoking skull on his ring jacket. Maybe if he had one on each side or at least not have one the size of a sasquatch skull on just one side. Borne continues to impress.)

-In the back, Jordynne Grace told Kelani Jordan that she didnâ€t trust Jacy Jayne and, considering how much TNA meant to her, sheâ€d much rather be on Jordanâ€s team. Jordan told Grace that she was NXT now and nobody knows where her and Joe stand. A soon as Grace asked, “Joe Hendry?â€, sure enough…he appeared from behind a frosted glass door. As he began to talk to Jordan, Mike Santana walked up and said Grace and Hendry each had one foot in and one foot out. He told Jordan he had some people for her to meet and ushered her away as Hendry and Jordan pondered how to become a part of Showdown.

-Lola Vice made her ring entrance before they cut to a commercial break. [c]

(3) FALLON HENLEY (w/Jacy Jayne) vs. LOLA VICE – Winner Fills the Final Spot For Team NXT

Vice tackled Henley as she gyrated, then landed a hard kick to the outside thigh, followed by some knee strikes. Henley came back with a very cool sliding German suplex that had to be seen to be effectively described, then got a two count after a sliding forearm. Vice came back with a flurry of those silly side kicks, but followed it up with a back fist that knocked Henley out.

WINNER: Lola Vice at 3:50 to become the final member of Team NXT.

(Millerâ€s Take: Well, that lasted about as long as a tissue paper kite in a strong wind. No surprise that the winner was Vice, as she just came off a very strong showing at No Mercy. Jayne looked displeased.) [c]

-Next up was DarkStateâ€s turn to talk about their upcoming title match. All four took turns bragging about what they were going to do to Matt & Jeff Hardy.

-Jacy Jayne told a sore Fallon Henley she shouldnâ€t have put her in the match. Lainey Reid walked up and told Jayne not to be so hard on herself. Henley asked her what was up with her and that sheâ€s not even cleared. Reid said that didnâ€t stop her on Saturday, then threw a black hood at Jayne and admitted that it was her that attacked Vice. She also said that the thing with Jazmyn was free and that she never really belonged in Fatal Influence. A stunned Jayne and Henley looked at each other quizzically as Reid walked away.

-Jeâ€Von Evans made his ring entrance before the commercial break. [c]

(4) JEâ€VON EVANS & LEON SLATER vs. THE CULLING (Shawn Spears & Niko Vance w/Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley)

Spears started the match against Slater, who immediately took the advantage. He tagged out to Evans after hitting a sky-high dropkick. Evans tried to outdropkick him. On the outside, Paxley was enamored with the Lyra doll, and Izzi admonished her and sent her to the back. In the ring, Evans and Slater hit stereo high dives to the floor, which was a perfect time to cut to commercial, in case you couldnâ€t have guessed. [c]

As we returned, Vance was working over Slater. Spears tagged in, but ate a kick from Slater. Evans took the hot tag and rolled with a whip by Vance, diving through the ropes and hitting Spears at about 100 miles per hour, nearly knocking him over the announce desk. Moments later, Slater took the tag and flew over Evans and onto The Culling. Back in the ring, the action hit light speed, with Evans and Slater both hitting double springboard cutters. Evans flew over the ropes and onto Vance as Slater landed a 450 splash onto Spears for the win.

WINNERS: Jeâ€Von Evans & Leon Slater at 10:23.

(Milerâ€s Take: You talk about a dynamic duo? Batman & Robin, move over! I would love to see these two form a permanent tag team and go up against Evolveâ€s Adrenaline Drip. I donâ€t think thereâ€s a speedometer that would register high enough. The upcoming match between these two for the TNA X-Division title is going to be a show-stealer.)

-As they celebrated their win, the big screen showed a mob of TNA wrestlers walking toward the Performance Center, looking ready to rumble. Santino Marella ran out to try to stop them, but the NXT contingent came out and faced off with them. The NXT women broke through to the front, and Thea Hail and Jaida Parker were especially animated in their aggressiveness, which was returned by the TNA ladies. Just as it looked like the two promotions were getting ready to throw down in the parking lot, somebody thought this would be a perfect time to cut to a split-screen commercial break. Ugh. [c]

-Whatever nonsense was being advertised on the right couldnâ€t distract me from Ava and Santino ushering their respective promotions away from each other. NXT walked back inside, through the hallway, and back into the arena. Thea Hail still looked comically psychopathic. Evans and Slater were still standing in the ring, apparently watching the whole thing go down. TNA started filing back into the arena as well, and the whole ringside area was soon overrun. Officials and referees tried to keep order as the ring and ringside area were swarmed with on-edge talent from both promotions.

-After what seemed like ten minutes, they finally cut back to full-screen. Ava, Saints, Williams, and Jayne stood on one side of the ring with Marella, Santana, and Jordan on the other side. Williams interruped Ava, then argued with Saints over who would be calling the shots for their team. Saints introduced Evans and Borne as his teammates. Santana chose Frankie Kazarian, Moose, and Leon Slater. Jayne, after calling Jordan a traitor, introduced Sol Ruca, Jaida Parker, and Lola Vice. Jordan said for Team TNA, she was picking two “iconic†women, The Iinspiration (Jessie McKay & Cassie Lee), and Mara Sade (the former Jakara Jackson).

-Santana concluded by saying TNA would win showdown the same way he would win the TNA title at Bound For Glory. With that, Santana slugged Williams, which set off a huge riot. Shawn Michaels walked out with a half-smile on his face as he observed the chaos from the ramp. The show ended with about 36 wrestlers still fighting each other and officials pulling their hair out.

FINAL THOUGHTS: If you like a lot of in-ring action, this probably wasnâ€t your type of show. If you like lots of drama and interpromotional interaction, this was a must-see. After the atrocious WCW invasion angle many years ago, the only way for this to go is up, but it actually shows a lot of promise. I think this event would have been much better suited as a PLE, but what do I know? All four women on the team are better known for their time in WWE than as TNA stars, with Kelani Jordan playing the role of Steve Austin. Nearly lost in the shuffle was the fact that Oba Femi was nowhere to be found, which is no real surprise, as itâ€s usually standard for a long-reigning champion to be off TV for awhile after dropping the strap.

It looks like Fatal Influence has found their replacement for Jazmyn Nyx, and Lainey Reid honestly never came to mind as the masked marauder who cost Vice the championship last Saturday. I do think sheâ€ll make a pretty good fit for them. That last commercial break may take the prize for worst-timed commercial break of the year. Even though actual in-ring action was at a minimum this week, they crammed a lot into two hours tonight and left me looking forward to Showdown next week. See you for Evolve!

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1

Guardiola and Arteta opt for muscle

Pep Guardiola becomes ever more the traditional English football man. As his Manchester City stay extends to 10 seasons, he relies ever more on the principle that big players can win big matches. Hence his late-career conversion to employing a wrecking ball striker in the peerless Erling Haaland. As for his former assistant Mikel Arteta, Arsenal looked stuck in the weeds of over-thinking. Benching Eberechi Eze, who tortured City in last seasonâ€s FA Cup final, till half-time was just too clever by half. Artetaâ€s recent talk of using rugby strategy, of thinking of substitutes as finishers, in the style of South Africaâ€s “bomb squad†is all very well. Even if the substitute Gabriel Martinelli scored the equaliser from an Eze long ball, a talented, capable squad playing one-dimensional fare is far less explicable. This is not the City who previously dominated the Premier League. They showed their own limitations, particularly once Haaland, brilliant as attacker and defender, was removed. John Brewin

Match report: Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City

Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta showed their tactical limitations during the 1-1 draw between their teams. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Action Images/Reuters

2

Grealish gives Liverpool a scare

Jack Grealish knows he has a point to prove at Everton. After being cast aside at Manchester City and allowed to depart on loan, the wingerâ€s career faced questions. He took the opportunity to join an Everton side heading into a new era at Hill Dickinson Stadium and with a new, more attacking strategy under David Moyes. Having someone of Grealishâ€s quality almost feels like a luxury at a club more accustomed to finishing in the bottom half but the England international is backing up his natural ability with hard work. He had the better of Conor Bradley for much of the Merseyside derby, helped set up the Everton goal and was repeatedly fouled as Liverpool did what they could to stop him. With an international break not too far away, Grealish will once more be a serious contender for a call-up. It would be merited. Will Unwin

Match report:Liverpool 2-1 Everton

3

Shaw accepts Keane criticism

In the aftermath of victory over Chelsea, Luke Shaw admitted that Roy Keaneâ€s criticism of him that “he doesnâ€t even want to tackle†during Manchester Unitedâ€s 3-0 defeat at Manchester City hurts. The defender said: “Sometimes you have to take it on the chin. I wasnâ€t at my level at all. I donâ€t need Roy Keane to tell me. The most important thing is knowing how good I can be. The manager knows that. The managers who I played with in the past know that. Iâ€m always in the team and Iâ€m always playing, so there must be something that the managers believe in. Iâ€m not getting any younger now and I need to be consistent.†Jamie Jackson

Match report:Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea

Luke Shaw tackles Chelseaâ€s Andrey Santos during Saturdayâ€s much-needed defeat of Enzo Marescaâ€s team. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

4

Exasperated Emery looks for identity

Unai Emery had seen enough. With 30 seconds remaining Aston Villaâ€s manager stormed down the tunnel, presumably in search of his sideâ€s missing identity. No matter that Matty Cash had scored Villaâ€s first Premier League goal of the season, a 1-1 draw against a Sunderland side reduced to 10 men when Reinildo was sent off for violent conduct in the 33rd minute was not good enough for the Spaniard. “We are not like a team we want to be,†said Emery. “Iâ€m disappointed. We need to get our confidence back, collectively and as individuals. My worry is that we are not playing with our identity.†If something is wrong at Villa Park, Régis Le Bris is doing an awful lot right at Sunderland. This was the promoted sideâ€s eighth point from five games and Le Bris was evidently delighted by his supremely organised 10-men teamâ€s willingness “to suffer†before Wilson Isidorâ€s equalising half-volley. Louise Taylor

Match report: Sunderland 1-1 Aston Villa

5

Brighton handle Baleba with care

Fabian Hürzeler removed Carlos Baleba at half-time after 45 minutes in which Tottenham dominated midfield but conceded two well-taken Brighton goals. The explanation given was not injury but fatigue. Hürzeler proceeded to deliver a sermon on the pitfalls of husbanding talent when players become subject to transfer speculation. Baleba was linked during the summer transfer window with a £100m-plus move to Manchester United. “When a young boy reads there is interest from Manchester United with a big, big offer, it might affect him deep. Even if heâ€s not saying: ‘It affects me,†maybe deep inside of him there is something,†said Brightonâ€s manager. “Itâ€s also part of the development, to understand when you play well and a big club comes, to keep pushing, to stay humble, to stay at Brighton and to make the next step as a team.†Baleba had lost possession eight times, completing just 17 passes. “There are waves in the development,†said Hürzeler. “Itâ€s not always linear. Heâ€s not a machine.†John Brewin

Match report: Brighton 2-2 Tottenham

6

Midfield leads West Hamâ€s problems

It was obvious that West Ham had to fix their midfield last summer. It is absurd that they focus on other positions first, signing Mads Hermansen to be their new goalkeeper and replacing Emerson Palmieri with El Hadji Malick Diouf at left-back. Priorities were skewed. It was only after West Ham lost their first two games that they brought in new midfielders. Even then, though, Graham Potter and the clubâ€s recruitment chief, Kyle Macaulay, chose questionably. Mateus Fernandes has done well since joining from Southampton but Soungoutou Magassa has been restricted to two substitute appearances. The France Under-21d international has not played much senior football, is adapting to the English game and has joined a team short of leaders and quality. It is not fair to expect a 21-year-old to make an immediate impact. He has potential and may come good in the long run but he feels like a bonus signing. Jacob Steinberg

Match report: West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

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7

Newcastle a tough watch on travels

Newcastle supporters rack up plenty of mileage when travelling around the country every season. Down on the south coast on Sunday, they saw their team eke out a third successive 0-0 draw away from home, making it 270 minutes of goalless football on the road after stalemates at Aston Villa and Leeds. Across those trips to Elland Road and the Vitality Stadium, Newcastle mustered just 12 shots. Nick Woltemade, who looked so imposing on debut against Wolves at St James†Park, was kept quiet by Bafodé Diakité and Marcos Senesi in the middle of the Bournemouth defence. “That wasnâ€t necessarily an easy watch all the way through but I think they can see the commitment from the players,†Howe said, somewhat guardedly, after the game. Billy Munday

Match report: Bournemouth 0-0 Newcastle

Ange Postecoglou was soaked at Burnley but should have felt some inner warmth after Nottingham Forest showed some spirit. Photograph: Ian Hodgson/PA

8

Postecoglou plan is taking shape

After losing to Arsenal, Ange Postecoglou was asked when his trademark Ange-ball style might be discernible in his new Nottingham Forest team. “Wednesday,†was the unequivocal answer from the straight-talking Australian. In reality, he was three days out. A much-changed Forest side collapsed to a chaotic late defeat at Swansea on the day in question. The players who turned out at Burnley on Saturday, however, exhibited exactly the kind of verve and vigour in attack that Postecoglou demands. He stressed there was still work ahead, especially around finishing, but believes already that Forest look “a different team†to the one he inherited from Nuno Espírito Santo. Forest are winless in three games under Postecoglou so far, but the early signs of progress are there. Dominic Booth

Match report: Burnley 1-1 Nottingham Forest

9

Wolves†bleak start continues

This time last season, Wolves had also failed to win any of their first five league matches, but the difference this time is the fixture list. Gary Oâ€Neil could point towards the difficulty of a bruising set of opening fixtures as mitigation given their first five games were against teams who went on to finish in the top seven: Arsenal, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Aston Villa. The schedule this season has been kind by comparison but Wolves are worse off, pointless after Leeds stormed to a comeback win at Molineux on Saturday. Wolves, also beaten by Manchester City, Bournemouth, Everton and Newcastle in the league this campaign, travel to Tottenham next weekend after a Carabao Cup third-round tie at home to David Moyesâ€s side. “A win would give us confidence,†Vítor Pereira said. “We need to improve, I need to improve.†Ben Fisher

Match report: Wolves 1-3 Leeds

10

Sessegnon flourishing back home

Itâ€s easy to forget that Ryan Sessegnon is still only 25. The full-back emerged as a teen sensation in 2017-18, scoring 15 goals in the Championship on the way to promotion with Fulham. His career has not been simple, blighted by injury and an inability to break through at Tottenham. After rejoining his childhood club last season he has been rebuilding and is starting to show what a player he is. Sessegnon has started every Premier League match so far this season and against Brentford he was a constant offensive threat, either driving with the ball or with his deliveries. An irresistible whipped cross tempted Ethan Pinnock into making contact and an own goal that sealed the game. His combination play with Alex Iwobi was key to the Cottagers†success. The result will reaffirm supporters†belief that Fulham can look upwards this season, something that – fingers crossed – will apply to Sessegnon personally too. Paul MacInnes

Match report: Fulham 3-1 Brentford

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