Football/Soccer 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 18, 2026, 4:40 AM ET
Premier League
Manchester City face substantial hurdles bbc.co.uk in their appeal, while Erling Haaland's brace espn.com carried City to a win that ended in a limp scare espn.com for the striker, which Enzo Maresca has played down. Liverpool returned to winning ways bbc.co.uk at Brentford, with Florian Wirtz instrumental, though Andoni Iraola questioned espn.com the VAR decision that overturned a penalty. Aston Villa beat Newcastle skysports.com 1-0 as Johan Manzambi scored the winner. Chelsea won 2-0 at Everton, with Pedro Neto scoring both goals, and Emiliano Martinez was taken to hospital bbc.co.uk for precautionary tests. West Ham won 1-0 skysports.com at Championship leaders Swansea, and Jordan Henderson, at 36 the league's oldest player, is becoming undroppable espn.com at Chelsea.
La Liga and Europe
Barcelona matched the best espn.com start to a LaLiga season in history, with Lamine Yamal scoring a brace in a 5-2 win over Betis. Bayern Munich thrashed RB Leipzig espn.com 6-1 with a Díaz hat trick to go top of the Bundesliga. Real Madrid have demanded espn.com that LaLiga chief Javier Tebas resign after he compared the club's efforts to Nazi propaganda. Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez is likely to miss espn.com the next seven matches with a hamstring injury.
MLS and USMNT
Lionel Messi scored twice espn.com in Miami's win at Atlanta, taking his season tally to, and Miami coach Cristian González says espn.com a trip to Spain to collect an award will not be a concern. Gio Reyna continued his resurgence espn.com with a goal for Strasbourg in a defeat to PSG, which went on to win 3-1. Chicago and Portland have joined the race espn.com to host 2031 Women's World Cup games.
Manchester United and Arsenal
Michael Carrick dismissed espn.com questions about his future as United head coach as "not important," and said the squad has moved past Lisandro Martínez's outburst espn.com. Manchester United may look at January signings skysports.com to strengthen the squad. Viktor Gyokeres wants to leave bbc.co.uk Arsenal amid a lack of minutes. Mikel Arteta has been told the club's job cuts aim at success espn.com. In the Women's Super League, Arsenal were booed skysports.com after a 1-1 draw with Birmingham, and Renee Slegers is under mounting pressure, with Olivia Smith's strike saving a point.
Championship and Scottish Football
Liam Millar scored twice skysports.com as Birmingham beat QPR 3-0. West Brom came back skysports.com from two early goals to beat Blackburn 3-2, and Wrexham thumped Preston skysports.com 4-1, easing pressure on Phil Parkinson. Norwich lost again, beaten by Portsmouth skysports.com. Rangers were held skysports.com to 2-2 at Dundee and missed the chance to go top. Greg Kiltie scored twice skysports.com to lift Kilmarnock off the bottom of the Premiership, and Aberdeen beat St Mirren skysports.com 3-1. Falkirk completed an Edinburgh double skysports.com by beating Hibs.
Other Football
Sonay Kartal reached skysports.com her first WTA 1000 final at Wuhan, and Dan Evans backs skysports.com Emma Raducanu to win Wimbledon one day. Gianni Infantino apologized espn.com, but his reelection as FIFA president remains uncertain. Fran Kirby said she was stressed bbc.co.uk by the abrupt exit of Brighton head coach Dario Vidosic.
Coming Up
Dubois has called for a trilogy fight skysports.com with Usyk after stopping Wardley in the second round. Rangers and Celtic's next meetings and Hearts' trip to Parkhead are a test bbc.co.uk for Hearts' title credentials.