Matchday 1 of the Champions League group-stage resumes on Thursday with another round of high-profile clashes across Europe. Manchester City’s meeting with Napoli and Newcastle’s showdown against Barcelona headline the night, while elsewhere Sporting CP host Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty and Frankfurt face Galatasaray. Early kick-offs see Club Brugge welcome Monaco and Copenhagen take on Bayer Leverkusen

Virgil van Dijk's stoppage-time winner sparked a confrontation between Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone and Liverpool fans at Anfield as the Reds opened their Champions League campaign with a dramatic 3-2 victory on Wednesday.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored a superb goal as Paris Saint-Germain began the defence of their Champions League crown with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Atalanta at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

Forward Harry Kane scored once in either half to guide German champions Bayern Munich to a 3-1 victory over Chelsea in their Champions League opener on Wednesday.

Pep Guardiola acknowledged that Manchester City are not considered among the favourites to win the Champions League ahead of their opening game against Napoli on Thursday.

The opening matchday of the Champions League group-stage continues on Wednesday with a mouth-watering set of fixtures. Reigning champions PSG begin their title defence, Liverpool face familiar foes in Atletico Madrid, Chelsea revisit old memories in Munich, and last season’s finalists Inter travel to Amsterdam for a historic clash with Ajax. Early in the evening, Olympiacos host Pafos, while Slavia Praha take on Bodo/Glimt. 

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said Monday superstar striker Kylian Mbappe feels no anxiety to win the Champions League for the first time as Los Blancos prepare to face Marseille.

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has suffered a hamstring injury and may miss the start of the La Liga season, the Catalan club announced on Friday.

What began as a glittering 18th birthday celebration for Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has spiralled into controversy, with the Spanish government now calling for an official investigation into alleged exploitation at the event which took place in a country house he rented in Olivella, a small town 50 kilometres north-west of Barcelona.

Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey was on Friday charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault after complaints by three women, UK police said.

The 32-year-old midfielder last played a competitive game in September 2023 before serving the suspension and has made only 12 appearances across the last three seasons due to injuries, an 18-month doping ban and an extortion case in which he was the victim.

Nearly 10 weeks after Leicester City, where Bangladesh midfielder Hamza Choudhury is set to play next season after loan deal ended at Sheffield United, were relegated from the Premier League, manager Ruud van Nistelrooy parted ways with the club.

Kylian Mbappe returned to training on Wednesday after missing Real Madrid's first two matches at the Club World Cup in the United States due to illness, the Spanish giants confirmed to AFP.

Newly crowned European Champions Paris Saint-Germain launched their bid for Club World Cup glory with a convincing 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Tottenham hired Brentford's Thomas Frank as their new manager on Thursday as the Dane replaced the sacked Ange Postecoglou.

Kevin De Bruyne has signed for Napoli as a free agent after being released by Manchester City, the Serie A champions' president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed on Thursday.

Galatasaray announced on Wednesday they had started talks with Bayern Munich attacker Leroy Sane with his contract at the German champions up at the end of the season.

Inter Milan have chosen Cristian Chivu to lead the Serie A club into a new era, confirming the former Romania defender as Simone Inzaghi's replacement ahead of the upcoming Club World Cup.

Inter Milan will appoint their former player and youth coach Cristian Chivu as manager to replace the recently departed Simone Inzaghi once details are worked out with his current club Parma, Inter president Giuseppe Marotta said on Friday.

The city of Paris will show its support for Paris St Germain during their date with destiny in Saturday's Champions League final by lighting up the city's iconic landmark, the Eiffel Tower, which is also set to sparkle should the team score.