Last updated: September 8, 2026, 6:35 AM ET
Champions League: Mourinho's Return and Porto's Debut
Jose Mourinho begins his second Real Madrid spell in the Champions League against former club Inter Milan, 16 years after winning the trophy with Inter at the Bernabeu. The Portuguese tactician's career nosedived after he left Madrid in 2013, and this tie represents a chance at redemption on Europe's biggest stage. The matchup with Inter carries extra weight given his history with both clubs. Meanwhile, Porto boss Francesco Farioli, one of the most highly regarded young managers in the game, takes charge in the Champions League for the first time on Tuesday as he aims to stun Manchester City in his debut.
The competition's return brings with it questions about favourites and players to watch, with expert predictions split across several European giants. ESPN's panel has assembled its Champions League Power Rankings ahead of Matchday, with Paris Saint-Germain earning the top spot in their initial assessment of the 36-team field.
Premier League: Arsenal's Statement and Villa's Struggles
Arsenal came from behind to record a statement 2-1 win in a vintage London derby against Chelsea at the Emirates on Sunday, with the result sending a clear message to their title rivals. The Gunners looked rattled after conceding an early goal, but Mikel Arteta's side quickly showed why it remains the team to beat in England, according to Gab Marcotti's analysis. Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso said his side must resolve their defensive frailties after the defeat took their goals conceded tally to seven in just three games this season.
Manchester United dropped points for the second time in three matches, drawing 2-2 with Everton in a result that raises questions about whether the Red Devils remain a work in progress under their new manager. Aston Villa have not scored in their opening three Premier League games, and Unai Emery knows his forwards need time as he rebuilds the attacking line. Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori returns to Italy this week, and the defender has become the best left-back in the league by far, a dramatically different player compared to the one who departed for England two years ago.
Newcastle United sporting director Ross Wilson says the club were preparing for former head coach Eddie Howe's departure for up to nine months, insisting the summer never felt chaotic. The Magpies had a contingency plan ready, with Wilson revealing they were preparing for months before Howe's exit was confirmed. In other club news, global head of football Edu has left Nottingham Forest after just over a year at the City Ground, with his departure confirmed on Tuesday.
Transfer Rumours and Club News
Chelsea showed late interest in Fulham's Sander Berge as they attempted to strengthen their midfield options before Enzo Fernandez's departure, with the Blues having explored a move for the Norwegian international. The west London club are also monitoring Manchester United's interest in Borussia Dortmund star Felix Nmecha, according to Tuesday's newspaper reports. Federico Chiesa's future at Liverpool is in doubt, Jadon Sancho might return to the Premier League, and Real Madrid's Endrick is attracting interest from Italy, according to the latest transfer gossip.
Monaco are keen to move on from U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, with Saudi clubs keen to take him in, while Chelsea are eyeing a move for Alex Scott to replace Enzo Fernandez, per Transfer Talk. Liverpool are searching for their fifth sporting director since 2022, with the club facing numerous tasks and decisions Ballon d'Or Contenders Speak Out
Harry Kane has said he is happy to be in contention for the Ballon d'Or and that he is "extremely proud" of his stunning goalscoring campaign last season, hoping his best season earns him the historic award. History suggests Ballon d'Or winners come from those who have recently lifted one of football's biggest trophies, and the question is whether Kane can become a rare exception to that rule.
Kylian Mbappé launched a passionate defence of his playing style, denying that his work-rate off the ball — alongside teammate Vinícius Júnior — is an issue for Real Madrid. The French forward believes this could be a good year for him to win the Ballon d'Or for the first time, while also defending his work rate in a wide-ranging interview.
USMNT and International Football
USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino said he hasn't spoken with U.S. and AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun about his aborted move to Everton, but plans to in the coming days to offer his support, hoping the forward finds the best place to perform. Pochettino also urged caution regarding the buzz around Philadelphia Union's Cavan Sullivan and other young talents in the U.S. pool, saying "we need to be careful" with the young stars ahead of the upcoming camp.
The Belgian football federation said it can't support Gianni Infantino's bid for another term as FIFA president, citing transparency and governance issues and the way FIFA handled clearing Folarin Balogun to play against them at the World Cup. Belgium's FA says it still wants answers about why Balogun was allowed to play, with the federation refusing to back Infantino's re-election bid over the incident.
Ex-Wales captain Ashley Williams and former Swansea boss Alan Sheehan have joined Craig Bellamy's backroom staff before Wales' Nations League campaign, strengthening the coaching setup. Meanwhile, Livingston have pulled the trigger on a managerial change as Rangers lose their captain Lawrence Shankland to a significant injury, with the striker facing up to three months out with a hamstring problem. Rangers captain and Dundee forward face spells on the sidelines as Celtic forward is set for a Colombia call-up, according to the latest gossip column.
Saudi Pro League and European Leagues
Al Hilal's 47-game unbeaten run in the Saudi Pro League ended after a 2-0 home loss to Neom on Monday, with the streak finally broken in stunning fashion. Al Ittihad poked fun at Al Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo after inflicting the first defeat of the season on the Saudi Pro League defending champions, with mocking chants of "cheating, still losing" aimed at the Portuguese superstar.
Ruben Amorim has called for patience after his winning run as AC Milan manager came to a halt on Sunday as his side were held to a 1-1 draw against Juventus, with the win streak ending at the San Siro. Leicester City have sunk to a new low under Russell Martin, a decade after they were preparing to play in the Champions League, and questions mount over whether he can turn it around at the club. Goalkeeper Ronald Koeman Jr. was on the scoresheet not once, but twice for Telstar in the Dutch Eredivisie on Sunday, scoring two late penalties to earn his side a point in a remarkable keeper performance.
US Open Tennis
Coco Gauff won the all-American showdown against teenager Iva Jovic to reach the US Open quarter-finals, continuing her title defence in impressive fashion. Elena Rybakina cruised into the quarter-finals with a straight-sets victory over Naomi Osaka to keep her push for the world No 1 ranking on track, while Qinwen Zheng produced a remarkable comeback to stun Iga Swiatek after trailing 5-0 in the first set. Zheng's extraordinary fightback saw her win the opening set from 5-0 down as Swiatek crumbled under pressure in a dramatic turnaround.
Solheim Cup and Golf
There has been little to separate Team Europe and Team USA in recent editions of the Solheim Cup, with nothing to suggest that this week's contest at Bernardus Golf will be any different, as Europe look to make home advantage count. Mimi Rhodes is relishing the chance to fulfil a childhood dream at the Solheim Cup and is backing Anna Nordqvist to lead Team Europe to victory in the Netherlands, declaring "we're going to bring Solheim home." Live updates from Bernardus Golf are available throughout the competition, with the latest scores and news being tracked closely.
Formula 1
Kimi Antonelli's stunning Italian Grand Prix victory felt like a key moment in this year's championship as he landed a psychological blow on his title rivals by winning from 19th on the grid. The result has sparked debate about whether the F1 title race is over, with Martin Brundle offering his verdict on the Antonelli fairytale, a "bruised" George Russell and the Ferrari "skirmish" in his latest column. Whatever your feelings about the 2026 Formula 1 cars, that was a cracking Italian Grand Prix, one of the very best in 30 years of commentary, according to Brundle.
Isack Hadjar will miss this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid as he continues to recover from a fractured wrist, with Liam Lawson continuing in his seat at Red Bull for the upcoming race.
Cricket
As a Test summer during which English cricket appeared to be in crisis nears its end, Joe Root's side go into their final fixture against Pakistan with the only major talking point being whether the hosts should rotate their bowling attack by resting the likes of Jofra Archer. The Pakistan Cricket Board has launched an investigation into "media reports concerning discipline and conduct" amid the team's crisis tour of England, adding another twist to the saga.
Boxing and Other Sports
Oleksandr Usyk's manager has dismissed Tyson Fury's call for a third fight with the Ukrainian amid continued doubt over an all-British heavyweight showdown with Anthony Joshua, labelling Fury's offer to be a "backup plan" for the Joshua fight as unrealistic. Former footballer Joey Barton, who is accused of an assault at a golf club, has been refused bail and will remain in custody before his trial in 2027, with the custody decision confirmed by the court.
Women's Football
Italian club Como have renewed the contract of forward Roberta Picchi after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, showing tremendous support for their player during her treatment. The United States lost its opening match at the U20 Women's World Cup on Sunday in Lódź, Poland, falling 2-1 to Italy, a result that leaves the Americans in an early hole in a difficult group after being stunned by Italy.
There were plenty of big transfer moves in women's soccer this summer, but which players would have been a better fit elsewhere? Our writers consider the transfers we wish we'd seen, including hypothetical moves like Putellas to Bayern and Paralluelo to Arsenal. In the Women's Super League, Alexia Putellas was outshone by Delphine Cascarino on debut, but the Spanish star remains the spine of London City's success according to tactical analysis. The BBC Women's Football Weekly podcast discusses whether the league should be supporting home-grown talent more as the WSL returns, with kick-off times and the Palace subs error among the talking points.
The Red Roses have named an experienced 36-player squad for the home leg of the WXV Global Series, with 25 World Cup winners included in John Mitchell's squad selection.
MLS and NWSL
With eight goal contributions in eight games since joining the Lions, Antoine Griezmann has turned around Orlando's season and catapulted the club into the playoff picture in the latest MLS Power Rankings. With Gotham and San Diego each suffering defeats, Washington has leaped to the top spot in the NWSL Power Rankings, establishing themselves as the new league leaders.
Rugby League
The dust has settled on the fact that St Helens have missed out on play-off rugby for the first time after their seventh-placed finish in Super League, with the club's stagnation analysed following their 2023 exit. The final round of the regular Betfred Super League season is here and there is still so much on the line, with the League Leaders' Shield and third place both to be decided on a frantic Friday of action. Wigan Warriors captain Liam Farrell says he is not sure if he will play for the club again after he announced he will retire at the end of the 2026 Super League season, with the veteran's future now uncertain.
Other Football News
Joe Worrall, the deadline-day Wrexham signing, says opportunities were "scarce" at Burnley as he prepares to welcome his former side to the Racecourse, hoping to make a point against his old club. Shrewsbury Town's long-running takeover saga is set to end after an American consortium is granted approval to buy the club, with the EFL clearing the deal. Motherwell have failed in an attempt to reduce a £5,000 fine for their reaction to a last-gasp penalty award to Celtic at Fir Park in May, but former player Elliot Watt's suspension has been cut following the appeal hearing.
Red Star Belgrade fans unveiled a tifo of war criminal Ratko Mladic before their derby win over Partizan Belgrade on Sunday, a deeply controversial display that has drawn widespread condemnation. A new camera angle shows the ball coming off Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams' arms as he scores his disallowed goal against Tottenham, but the footage won't end the VAR row surrounding the controversial decision.
In his latest column, Paul Merson says he would be worried by Roberto De Zerbi's post-match comments criticising Spurs' forward players and medical staff, expressing concern about the manager's approach. Barcelona's Lamine Yamal scored his 50th club goal this week at 19 years and 49 days old, prompting comparisons with other prodigies who became greats of the modern game, including Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappé and Haaland and how they reached their half-centuries.
Enzo Maresca has introduced musical training at Manchester City in an attempt to put his stamp on the team after replacing Pep Guardiola as manager, with players training to club-inspired beats under the new regime.
NFL and Racing
The 2026 NFL season gets under way with a Super Bowl rematch as defending champions Seattle Seahawks host New England Patriots on Wednesday night, with games live on Sky Sports in Week One. Jumps action from Bangor-on-Dee features live on Sky Sports Racing on Tuesday, with Roadlesstravelled making his chase debut at the Bangor meeting headlining the card.