Barcelona will try to open the La Liga season with a 10th straight win when it faces Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday. Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho says the teams’ recent form will matter less than the rivalry, while Barcelona manager Hansi Flick says his side must tighten its defense after a 4-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
Key Facts
A Barcelona win would break Real Madrid’s record of nine consecutive wins to start the league season, set in 1968-69.
Real Madrid has a chance to stop Barcelona’s record bid in Sunday’s El Clasico, scheduled for 20:00 GMT.
Barcelona lost 4-2 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League before the match.
Real Madrid has won its last two matches, beating Sevilla and RB Leipzig 4-1.
Real Madrid is third in the league, six points behind leaders Barcelona.
Kylian Mbappe has scored 12 goals in 12 appearances this season, according to the article.
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr will miss the match through suspension.
Flick said Barcelona needs compact positioning and better organization to defend against Real Madrid’s attack.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tony Pulis argues that Manchester United need stability rather than another managerial change, and says the club’s problems extend beyond Michael Carrick. He points to the squad Carrick inherited, the club’s recent spending and recruitment, and the difficulty managers face when balancing team performance with players’ transfer value.
Key Facts
Michael Carrick became Manchester United’s interim manager in January, according to the article.
Pulis says United improved under Carrick and finished third, reaching the Champions League places.
The article says United had three other permanent managers since 2021: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim.
It reports that more than £1 billion was spent on 27 major signings under those managers, with many players still at the club.
The article says United spent another £150 million this year, mainly on three midfielders.
Pulis says managers should set clear standards for hard work and team spirit, then identify which players will meet them.
Pulis says managers can face pressure to improve inherited players and preserve their value in the transfer market.
The article says defender Lisandro Martinez recently questioned the club’s recruitment strategy.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Liverpool have scored nine goals in seven Premier League matches under manager Andoni Iraola, far fewer than their output in other competitions. Iraola pointed to differences in opponents and match styles: Liverpool have often faced low defensive blocks in the league, while their Premier League defending has been stronger than in cup and European games.
Key Facts
Liverpool scored nine goals in their first seven Premier League matches.
Brighton had scored 23 Premier League goals and Manchester City had scored 20, according to the article.
Liverpool scored 15 goals across three Champions League matches and a Carabao Cup tie.
The team averaged 1.29 goals per Premier League game and 3.75 per game outside the league, according to the article.
Liverpool had kept three Premier League clean sheets and conceded eight league goals.
Liverpool conceded first in four of their seven league matches.
Liverpool faced a low defensive block in 28% of their games, the highest share among Premier League teams, while they faced a high block in 15%, the lowest share.
The article says Liverpool had 10 different goalscorers that season.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Premier League managerial exits are most common in November and December, when nearly one-third of in-season departures occur. No manager has left a club so far this campaign, but Manchester United manager Michael Carrick faces increased scrutiny after a 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como.
Key Facts
Managers who left Premier League clubs last season had held their jobs for an average of 310 days, the second-lowest average on record.
Eleven managers left their clubs during the 2025-26 campaign; Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca resigned, while the others did not leave of their own accord.
All 20 Premier League managers remain in their jobs so far this season.
November and December together account for nearly one-third of in-season managerial departures in the league’s history.
Club boards often make managerial changes around autumn international breaks and before Christmas and the winter transfer window.
An average of 154 days for departing managers in 1994-95 is the league’s lowest recorded figure.
Nine clubs began this season with new permanent managers, and five of those clubs are in the bottom half of the table.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 in Game 2 of the World Series, taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Milwaukee came back from a four-run deficit, with Sal Frelick tying the score on a sixth-inning home run and Cooper Pratt driving in the winning run in the seventh.
Key Facts
The Rays led 4-0 after the first inning.
The Brewers scored two runs in the first inning and narrowed the deficit to 4-3 in the fourth.
Frelick hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to tie the game at 4-4.
Pratt singled in the seventh inning to score Brice Turang and put Milwaukee ahead.
Abner Uribe pitched one and one-third hitless innings and earned the win.
The Brewers have won seven straight games and took the first two games of the World Series.
Game 3 is scheduled for Monday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Barcelona host Real Madrid in a La Liga Clásico featuring Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé, with Jose Mourinho returning to the fixture as Madrid manager. Barcelona lead the league by six points after winning their first nine matches, but both teams enter with selection concerns and contrasting results in Europe.
Key Facts
Barcelona have won all nine of their league matches and scored 39 goals.
Real Madrid trail Barcelona by six points and are third in the standings, behind Atletico Madrid.
A Barcelona win would extend their lead to nine points; a Madrid win would cut it to three.
Barcelona lost 4-2 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday, their first defeat of the season.
Barcelona defenders Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde were unavailable because of injuries, and midfielder Dani Olmo also had an adductor injury.
Real Madrid beat RB Leipzig 4-1 in the Champions League and have won all three of their matches in that competition.
Real Madrid will be without the suspended Vinicius Junior for the Clásico.
Madrid have lost six of their past seven Clásicos, according to the article.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Kimi Antonelli took pole position for the United States Grand Prix and can clinch the Formula 1 title on Sunday if he wins, while George Russell finishes below eighth and Lewis Hamilton below fourth. At 20 years and 61 days old, Antonelli would become the youngest F1 champion, surpassing Sebastian Vettel’s record by more than three years.
Key Facts
Antonelli beat Max Verstappen to pole by 0.179 seconds at Circuit of the Americas.
Antonelli has won eight of the 17 races held so far this season.
He leads Russell by 102 points and Hamilton by 111 points.
Russell starts the race sixth, while Hamilton starts fifth.
Antonelli said he is enjoying the weekend and spending time with friends to relax.
Max Verstappen said Antonelli could secure the title at a later race if he does not win it in Austin.
The article identifies Alberto Ascari, who won in 1953, as the last Italian F1 world champion.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
BBC iPlayer lists a 69-minute episode of Match of the Day dated 24 October 2026. It features highlights from five Premier League games, including Aston Villa against Manchester City and Arsenal against Everton.
Key Facts
The episode first aired at 10:30 p.m. on 24 October 2026.
The program runs for 1 hour and 9 minutes.
The episode covers highlights from five Premier League games.
Manchester City travel to Aston Villa for Saturday’s early game.
Arsenal host Everton at the Emirates.
The episode is available on iPlayer for 30 days.
The listing offers audio description and sign language.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Kimi Antonelli took pole position for the United States Grand Prix, beating Max Verstappen by 0.179 seconds. Antonelli can clinch the Formula 1 title if he wins Sunday’s race, Lewis Hamilton finishes lower than fourth, and George Russell finishes lower than eighth.
Key Facts
Antonelli, a Mercedes driver, secured his first pole since the Belgian Grand Prix in July.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen qualified second, 0.179 seconds behind Antonelli.
Verstappen’s team-mate Isack Hadjar qualified third, ahead of Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton qualified fifth and Russell sixth, so Hamilton already meets the required finishing condition for Antonelli to clinch the title.
Antonelli said he would aim for a strong start and to lead into Turn One.
Verstappen said his car lacked grip in the final qualifying session.
Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris qualified behind Russell; Norris had a lap deleted for exceeding track limits.
Racing Bulls drivers Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson qualified ninth and tenth; Lawson will receive a five-place grid penalty for using too many engine parts.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Dalton Smith retained his WBC light-welterweight title with a split-decision win over Alberto Puello in Sheffield. The victory extended Smith’s unbeaten professional record to 20 wins and completed his first title defence.
Key Facts
Smith won by scores of 115-113 on two judges’ cards; the third judge scored the bout 116-112 for Puello.
The 29-year-old Smith fought at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena in a tactical contest.
Smith first won the title by knocking out Subriel Matias in the fifth round in Brooklyn in January.
Puello is a two-time world champion whose only previous career loss was to Matias last year.
Smith had withdrawn from the bout, originally scheduled for June, because of an elbow injury.
Potential future opponents mentioned include WBO champion Shakur Stevenson, WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell and British fighter Adam Azim.
Smith has said he would welcome a fight with Azim at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough Stadium in 2027.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick rejected the idea that the club is impossible to manage as he faces pressure after a run of seven games without a win. He called the team’s 4-1 loss to Como unacceptable, disputed claims that the players do not press or run enough, and said he trusts them to respond against Bournemouth.
Key Facts
Manchester United were due to host Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday.
United had gone seven games without a win before the Bournemouth match.
Carrick said the club was not unmanageable.
United lost 4-1 to Como in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Carrick described the team’s performance against Como as unacceptable.
Senior players Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes had criticised the club’s recruitment and Carrick’s tactics.
Carrick said he had spoken with Sir Alex Ferguson and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during the week.
Carrick said he trusted his squad and expected the team to play differently against Bournemouth.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tottenham beat Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, moving up to 12th in the Premier League, their highest position since 2 January. The win was their second time winning consecutive league games in 42 attempts, with James Maddison and Mathys Tel playing starring roles; Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders scored an own goal and Cole Palmer was sent off.
Key Facts
Tottenham won 2-0 away at Chelsea on Saturday.
The result lifted Tottenham to 12th in the Premier League, their highest league position since 2 January.
Tottenham had won two league games in a row only once in their previous 42 attempts.
Tottenham had 68% possession, their highest share in a match since April 2025.
James Maddison and Mathys Tel were among Tottenham's leading performers.
Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders punched the opening goal into his own net.
Chelsea's Cole Palmer was sent off after receiving two yellow cards.
Roberto De Zerbi took charge of Tottenham at the end of March 2026, when the club was one point clear of the relegation zone.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Nashville SC beat CF Montreal 2-0 on Saturday to secure the club’s first MLS Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the league’s top regular-season team. Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar scored in the second half, while the loss officially eliminated Montreal from playoff contention.
Key Facts
Nashville improved its record to 21-3-7 and reached 70 points.
The win extended Nashville’s unbeaten streak to seven games, with five wins and two draws.
Sam Surridge scored in the 52nd minute after goalkeeper Samsy Keita saved his initial header.
Hany Mukhtar made it 2-0 in the 76th minute after intercepting a clearance by Brayan Vera.
Surridge’s goal was his 18th of the season, leading Nashville in scoring.
Seventeen-year-old Samsy Keita made his MLS debut for Montreal.
Montreal fell to 6-18-7 and has one win in its past 11 games.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 to move level with Manchester City on 21 points at the top of the Premier League after City lost 2-1 to Aston Villa. Tottenham beat Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, while Fulham defeated Coventry City 1-0.
Key Facts
Arsenal’s Ezri Konsa scored in the seventh minute, and Gabriel added a second in the 68th minute.
Manchester City suffered their first league defeat of the season, losing 2-1 at Aston Villa.
Nicolas Jackson scored both goals for Aston Villa, including the winner in the 60th minute.
Erling Haaland scored City’s goal with a header shortly after halftime.
Tottenham took the lead when Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders put a corner into his own net in the 77th minute.
Chelsea captain Cole Palmer was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the 80th minute.
Mathys Tel scored Tottenham’s second goal in the 87th minute.
Fulham beat Coventry City 1-0 for their second league win of the season.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tottenham Hotspur beat Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, earning only their second win there in 36 years. Chelsea finished with 10 players after Cole Palmer was sent off.
Key Facts
Tottenham scored twice and kept Chelsea scoreless.
The match took place at Stamford Bridge.
The result was Tottenham's second victory over Chelsea at the stadium in 36 years.
Chelsea finished the match with 10 players.
Cole Palmer was sent off.
The match was a Premier League game.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Former NBA player Malik Beasley is negotiating a plea agreement with the Justice Department over federal charges tied to an alleged sports-betting scheme. He pleaded not guilty in July; the charges accuse him of changing his performance in at least four games while playing for Milwaukee in 2024.
Key Facts
Beasley's attorney, Steve Haney, said Saturday that the defense and government were negotiating an agreement.
Prosecutors allege Beasley altered his play to benefit bettors and reduce or erase debts he owed former teammate Ed Davis.
Beasley and sports agent Paolo Zamorano are among six people charged in the case; all six initially pleaded not guilty, according to the article.
The indictment charges the six with conspiracy involving wire fraud, bribery in sporting contests, honest-services wire fraud, and money laundering.
Former NBA player Damon Jones pleaded guilty in April, becoming the first person to do so in the broader gambling investigation.
Beasley last played in the NBA for the Detroit Pistons during the 2024–25 season, averaging 16 points per game.
A sports marketing agency received a $1 million default judgment against Beasley in a 2025 lawsuit.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tottenham beat Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders scored an own goal, Cole Palmer was sent off, and Mathys Tel sealed the win with a goal in the 87th minute.
Key Facts
Penders scored an own goal during his first Premier League start.
Palmer received the first red card of his senior career after a late tackle; he had earlier been booked for pushing Fernandes.
Tel scored in the 87th minute after dribbling past defenders.
The win was Tottenham’s second at Stamford Bridge in 42 visits.
Pedro Neto and Moises Caicedo were among Chelsea’s strongest performers, according to the player ratings.
The article rated Penders 4 out of 10 and Caicedo 8 out of 10.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
