Champions League Match of the Day pundits Nedum Onuoha, Stephen Warnock, and Rory Smith analyse Lisandro Martinez’s comments following Manchester United’s 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid and the impact they’ll have on the club.
Paris Saint-Germain score three first-half goals, but Erling Haaland brace nearly drags Manchester City back in UCL.
Published On 14 Oct 202614 Oct 2026
Paris Saint-Germain further soured the mood at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City’s first home game since the guilty verdict on widespread flouting of Premier League financial rules ended in a 4-2 Champions League defeat on Wednesday.
The European champions turned on the style to strike three times inside the opening 35 minutes through Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha.
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But City stormed back in the second half as Erling Haaland scored twice on either side of Maghnes Akliouche’s strike, which briefly restored PSG’s three-goal cushion.
The 10-time English champions face swingeing sanctions unless they can successfully appeal last month’s ruling by an independent commission, which found the club guilty on more than 100 charges of financial impropriety.
City shrugged off the uncertainty over their future to win 3-0 at Liverpool on Sunday and remain top of the Premier League, but PSG showed why they are the favourites to win this competition for a third consecutive season.
Former City manager Pep Guardiola returned to the Etihad for the first time since his departure in May, sitting behind the club’s embattled chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and CEO, Ferran Soriano, in a show of solidarity.
City made passing reference to the guilty verdict with a lengthy pre-match video detailing the club’s historic moments of celebration both before and after an Abu Dhabi-backed takeover in 2008 that transformed their fortunes.
Behind one end, supporters unfurled a giant banner reading: “I’m City till I die.”
Yet the fighting talk in the stands didn’t match the on-field action as City were blown away by a scintillating first 45 minutes from the visitors.
Luis Enrique’s decision to leave Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the bench proved inspired, as it meant Doue started wide on the left.
Gianluigi Donnarumma had a point to prove after the Italian goalkeeper was let go by the PSG coach just months after helping deliver the club’s first Champions League title in 2025.
However, it turned out to be a night to forget for the giant Italian.
Donnarumma was caught out at his near post by Doue’s outside-the-box effort after a lightning counter-attack to open the scoring.
The move for the second goal two minutes later was even more impressive, as Doue and Dembele exchanged an elaborate one-two before the latter headed in at the far post.
Achraf Hakimi hit the post before Vitinha rattled in PSG’s third from the edge of the box.
Maresca responded with a triple substitution at half-time and managed to salvage some pride, even if the deficit proved too much to overturn.
Antoine Semenyo and Enzo Fernandez missed glaring chances to pull a goal back even before Haaland glanced home a header from Iliman Ndiaye’s cross.
Yet City were hit by a sucker punch when Donnarumma got a hand to Akliouche’s effort, but the ball looped high and spun back into the net.
Nuno Mendes made a brilliant clearance off his own line, and Haaland hit the bar before the Norwegian slotted home his second of the night.
Donnarumma saved a late Ferran Torres penalty, denying the French champions a fifth goal.
But in the battle between two state-backed projects that have reshaped European football, Qatar-owned PSG are the top dogs right now as City face a scandal that puts their trophy haul over the past 15 years in question.
Jose Mourinho enjoyed a Roma reunion to remember as Real Madrid completed an astonishing comeback by scoring three late goals to claim a 4-3 away win in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Marten de Roon gave the hosts a deserved opener before Kylian Mbappe struck back on his 100th Champions League appearance to level the scores at the break.
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Two Donyell Malen strikes in the space of six minutes early in the second half seemed to take the game away from the 15-time European champions as Roma ran rampant.
But Real scored three goals in the space of seven minutes late on, all stemming from corners, to turn the game on its head as Carlos Espi, Endrick and ex-Roma defender Antonio Rudiger struck at a stunned Stadio Olimpico.
Mourinho was a popular figure, leading Roma to the UEFA Conference League title and an Europa League final during two-and-a-half years in charge.
The home crowd honoured the Portuguese with banners and chants in Roma’s first home Champions League match in more than seven years, and the hosts started strongly as Mario Hermoso forced Thibaut Courtois into a flying fingertip save.
Roma took a deserved lead when De Roon swept a shot past Courtois from 25 yards in the 20th minute, and almost doubled it when Malen’s powerful shot squirmed under Courtois before being plucked off the line.
However, one costly moment of switching off proved enough to send them back to square one within five minutes of the opener being scored.
Hermoso misjudged an interception to allow Mbappe a clear run at goal, and the French striker’s deflected shot flew into the roof of the net to level the scores with Real’s first meaningful chance of the game.
Mbappe marked his Champions League centurion status – he is the youngest player to reach the milestone, aged 27 – with his 72nd tournament goal, one that moved him into the all-time top five ahead of Real legend Raul Gonzalez.
The equaliser appeared to subdue Roma and steady Mourinho’s men, who twice threatened a second before the break as Marc Cucurella and Jude Bellingham came close.
Roma take game to Real Madrid
But Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini insisted pre-match that Roma would not compromise on their full-throttle style regardless of opposition, and he was true to his word as they came out firing after the break.
Roma quickly retook the lead when half-time substitute Rodrigo Mora fed the ball to Malen, who finished brilliantly by taking the ball in his stride with his first touch and lifting it over Courtois with his second.
Things got even better for the Italians just six minutes later when Malen raced onto a through ball to power home his second, given following a VAR review after initially being flagged for offside.
Real looked for a response as Mbappe twice tested Pierluigi Gollini, before having his second goal of the night ruled out for offside.
But set-pieces proved to be the key to unlock the Roma defence, as Espi tucked home a close-range rebound from a header to pull one back before Endrick powered home a header from another corner just two minutes later.
The final blow was struck by Rudiger in the 90th minute, the defender getting in front of his marker to guide home a close-range finish and complete an extraordinary turnaround.
The result leaves Real Madrid with six points from their opening two league phase matches, while Roma are on one point.
Shakhtar Donetsk beat AEK Athens in London debut
Nomadic Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk celebrated moving into their new Champions League “home” at Stamford Bridge by storming back to beat AEK Athens 3-1.
Fans of the club turned up in the thousands to support the team, who emerged from the tunnel draped in blue-and-yellow national flags.
The Greek side took the lead in the 28th minute through Lovro Majer but Pedrinho levelled confidently from the penalty spot just six minutes later.
With about 10 minutes of normal time to go, Vinicius Tobias found the net from a tight angle and substitute Gleiker Mendoza made the game safe, smashing home after cutting in from the left.
The result leaves Shakhtar on four points after two games, following a draw against PSV Eindhoven in their opening match in the league phase of the Champions League.
Giant-killers Bodo sink Dortmund in Champions League
Fredrik Sjovold’s 52nd-minute strike secured a 1-0 victory for Bodo/Glimt over Borussia Dortmund, extending the Norwegian side’s remarkable home record against Europe’s elite.
Bodo were a cut above the 2024 Champions League runners-up and took the lead through Sjovold just after the break.
Dortmund improved in the final half hour but were unable to strike back, despite a late chance for Felix Nmecha.
Dortmund join Manchester City, Inter Milan and Sporting as recent big-name scalps on the artificial turf of Bodo’s Aspmyra stadium.
Aston Villa put six past Fenerbahce in record rout
Aston Villa recorded their biggest ever European victory as Nicolas Jackson inspired a 6-0 rout of Fenerbahce.
Unai Emery’s side won at Villa Park for the first time this season to maintain their 100 percent start in Europe’s elite club competition.
Swiss forward Johan Manzambi put Villa in front, and Jackson was on target twice before the interval.
Ross Barkley scored twice in the second half before Tammy Abraham’s late strike completed the rout.
Kallum Watkins has been called up to England’s Rugby League World Cup squad as a late replacement after Morgan Smithies was forced to withdraw through injury.
The 35-year-old Leeds Rhinos second-row forward is set to take part in his fourth World Cup having previously featured in 2013, 2017 and 2022.
The loss of lock and second-row forward Smithies, who is set to join Perth Bears for the 2027 NRL season, comes as a blow to England.
However, in Watkins, head coach Brian McDermott has found a replacement he knows well having previously coached him during a trophy-laden spell at Leeds.
“It’s really unfortunate what has happened to Morgan with an injury picked up in training,” said McDermott.
“Morgan has been great since we entered camp. He’s a real team player and his work ethic and toughness are qualities that we will certainly miss.
“Kallum enjoyed a terrific season with Leeds this year and has been part of our England performance programme building into this World Cup.
“I look forward to welcoming him into camp as we step up our preparations.”
Watkins, who has 32 caps, is set to arrive in Perth before England’s World Cup opener against Tonga on Saturday (10:05 BST) but will not play.
He started his career as a centre before shifting into the pack in recent years and will be available for England’s other group matches against France and Papua New Guinea.
Who: Manchester City vs Paris Saint-Germain What: UEFA Champions League, matchday 2 Where: City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester, United Kingdom When: Wednesday, October 14, at 8pm (19:00 GMT) How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the build-up and live updates from 16:00 GMT.
After being found guilty of an unprecedented breach of the Premier League’s financial rules, Manchester City turn their focus to the Champions League this week, as they host two-time holders PSG on matchday two.
Fans will have a golden opportunity to witness a mouthwatering battle between Erling Haaland, City’s lethal striker, and forward Ferran Torres, who is enjoying his new spell at PSG after helping Spain win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Haaland has eight goals across all competitions; Torres has seven. On Wednesday, more could be added to those tallies in this round of the UCL.
After Tuesday’s league matches, PSG are ranked fifth while Man City are ninth.
Here’s everything to know about the clash:
Which financial rules have Man City breached?
An independent commission found City guilty of almost all of the 115 charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, as well as three of four charges relating to failures to cooperate with the investigation.
No sanctions have been decided yet, but if City’s appeal fails, potential punishments include a significant point deduction and expulsion from the Premier League.
There is even the prospect of three Premier League titles being stripped from City, who won them from 2009 to 2018, the period to which the charges relate.
How have Man City played this season?
Man City have maintained a perfect record in the Premier League, winning all six matches.
Their only defeat across all competitions this season came in mid-August, when they lost to Arsenal in the Community Shield, the traditional curtain-raiser to the English football season.
How have PSG played this season?
PSG, who usually dominate Ligue 1 having won a record 14 titles, are fifth in the table, three points adrift of leaders Barcelona.
What happened in the first round of Champions League matches?
Reigning champions PSG thrashed Slovan Bratislava 6-1 at home in their first UCL match of the season, while Man City won 2-0 away to Porto in their campaign opener.
That keeps PSG fifth and Man City ninth in the league phase of this year’s Champions League.
The top eight teams at the end of the league phase qualify directly to the knockout rounds, which begin with the round of 16.
Man City vs PSG: Predictions
The Opta supercomputer has made City the favourites, with a win probability of 44.1 percent. PSG were given a 32 percent chance of winning, while a draw was estimated at a 23.9 percent likelihood.
Man City vs PSG: Head-to-head
(In the Champions League)
Matches: 7
Man City wins: 4
PSG wins: 2
Draws: 1
Man City vs PSG: Form guide
(Last five matches across all competitions, latest match first)
Man City: W-W-W-W-W
PSG: W-W-W-W-L
Who are the top players to watch?
Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki (Man City): Haaland’s six goals make him the Premier League’s leading scorer this season. His excellent form follows an equally impressive World Cup debut with Norway in North America. Haaland’s teammate Cherki is another vital City attacker with five goals and two assists in all competitions.
Ferran Torres and Marquinhos (PSG): Torres, whose extra-time goal guided Spain to the 2026 World Cup triumph, has made a quick start to life at his new club PSG, scoring seven goals in all competitions. That includes a hat-trick in PSG’s first UCL fixture. Meanwhile, captain Marquinhos has been an important presence in defence and has also scored three times.
Ferran Torres celebrates scoring the goal that won Spain the 2026 World Cup [AFP]
Did you know?
City are unbeaten at home against PSG (W3 D1), winning each of the last three games – most recently 2-1 on matchday 5 in 2021-22.
City also defeated PSG in the 2015-16 quarterfinals (2-2 away, 1-0 home) and the 2020-21 semifinals (2-1 away, 2-0 home).
City have lost only two of their last eight matches against French opponents (W5 D1), although they have won only one of their last four (D1 L2), drawing 2-2 at Monaco on Matchday 2 last season.
PSG are unbeaten in their last 11 matches against English teams (W8 D3), beating Aston Villa 2-1 in August’s UEFA Super Cup. Last season’s Champions League final against Arsenal is the only fixture in the last six they did not win in normal time.
A 2-0 victory at Liverpool in last season’s quarterfinal second leg was PSG’s third in succession in England.
Team news and predicted lineups
Man City team news
City have a fully fit squad for the match.
Predicted starting XI:
Gianluigi Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Marc Guehi, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol; Ayyoub Bouaddi, Enzo Fernandez; Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo; Erling Haaland
PSG team news
Senny Mayulu is out until late October with a thigh injury.
Jurrien Timber, Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka score as Arsenal overcome Lille in UEFA Champions League.
Published On 13 Oct 202613 Oct 2026
Arsenal blew away Lille with a three-goal blitz in seven second-half minutes for a 3-0 win to extend their perfect start to the Champions League on Tuesday.
Jurrien Timber’s deft finish opened the floodgates just after the hour mark at the Emirates Stadium before Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka rounded off the scoring.
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Victory takes Arsenal into a share of the lead at the top of the Champions League table alongside Barcelona and Sporting Lisbon.
Mikel Arteta was able to use the wealth of resources at his disposal as he made five changes to the side that beat Leeds 2-1 on Saturday.
But it was Lille boss Davide Ancelotti, son of Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti, who was the happier after a goalless first half.
The visitors even had the ball in the net but Ayase Ueda was flagged offside.
Bruno Guimaraes came closest to breaking the deadlock for Arsenal before the break when he fired wide from close range and then saw a powerful shot from range parried by Berke Ozer.
The Gunners quickly went through the gears in the second period once Timber dinked the ball over Ozer from Noni Madueke’s pass.
Arteta had left arguably his three most potent attacking weapons on the bench and the introduction of Saka, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard made an immediate impact.
Saka’s low cross picked out Eze whose deflected shot flew into the top corner to end any doubt over the destiny of the three points.
The England winger then finished off an exquisite team move from Havertz’s cut-back for Arsenal’s third.
There were further cheers from the home fans when Olivier Giroud came on as a late substitute for Lille on his return to the club, where he scored 105 goals in a six-year spell.
But Giroud could not conjure up another Emirates goal as Lille remain without a Champions League point after their defeat to Real Betis on matchday one.
Coventry backed up their victory at Nottingham Forest before the international break, scoring four goals in the top flight for the first time since a 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday in May 2000.
Those around the Sky Blues’ training ground at Ryton feel that, if they are competitive over the next seven games, they will have a platform for survival.
“It’s big and we have to tap into that in a good way, in a humble way,” said Lampard, whose side are now 14th.
“We have to be excited and I’m seeing players in my eyes that are developing quite quickly.
“A lot of players had low Premier League minutes, or zero Premier League minutes – Jack Rudoni, [Brandon] Thomas Asante, [Ephron] Mason-Clark, a lot of them.
“So is it human nature in the first few games we’ve had two top teams in the league (Arsenal and Manchester City) and we’ve had Brighton and we’ve gone: ‘hmm, it’s not easy here’.
“This [win] gives good confidence, so it’s the balance of confidence against overconfidence. But it’s great when you have a template of feeling when you get a result of that level.”
It can be a defining six weeks for Lampard’s men after a resounding, if not perfect, win against Newcastle.
Coventry’s previous home games had seen them fall to a 1-0 defeat by fellow promoted side Hull before a 5-0 thumping by Brighton.
Sandwiched in the middle was a 3-1 loss to Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup, meaning it was imperative they found form at the CBS Arena.
“We’re going to be a relative underdog in pretty much every game,” added Lampard. “So we have to maximise everything and be on the limit and I thought we were on the limit in loads of ways.
“They need to keep their feet on the ground because the next one’s tough and the one after that will be tough.
“But we look like a team that [will make it] hard for teams to come here. That’s the feeling we haven’t quite had in our first CBS games this season.”
Who: Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United What: UEFA Champions League, matchday 2 Where: Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain When: Tuesday, October 13, at 9pm (19:00 GMT) How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the build-up and live updates from 16:00 GMT.
Action in Europe’s premier club competition returns with a matchday two clash between in-form La Liga side Atletico Madrid and Premier League strugglers Manchester United.
There are contrasting moods in the camps ahead of Tuesday’s fixture in the Spanish capital.
Atletico are challenging Barcelona for the top spot in Spain’s top flight, while Man United are in the bottom half of England’s Premier League, several places below all their traditional rivals.
Left winger Alex Baena and striker Jonathan David have been running the show for Atletico, while playmaker Bruno Fernandes and marksman Bryan Mbeumo are trying to keep United’s hopes alive of turning things around.
Atletico and Man United are set to clash for only the fifth time in history and the third in the Champions League.
Here’s all you need to know about the match:
How have Atletico Madrid played this season?
Atletico have made a promising start to the 2026-27 La Liga season, as they sit in second place, five points adrift of leaders and title holders, Barcelona.
Of the eight league games they have played, Atletico have won six, drawn one and lost one.
That keeps Atletico 25th and Man United fourth in the league phase of this year’s Champions League.
The top eight teams at the end of the league phase qualify directly to the knockout rounds.
Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United: Predictions
Opta’s supercomputer has given Atletico a 48.5 percent probability of victory, while Man United have a 27.2 percent chance and a draw is estimated at a likelihood of 24.3 percent.
Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United: Head-to-head
Matches: 4
Atletico wins: 2
Man United wins: 0
Draws: 2
Encounters:
March 15, 2022: Manchester United 0-1 Atletico Madrid (Champions League)
February 23, 2022: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Manchester United (Champions League)
November 06, 1991: Manchester United 1-1 Atletico Madrid (UEFA European Cup Winners Cup)
October 23, 1991: Atletico Madrid 3-0 Manchester United (UEFA European Cup Winners Cup)
Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United: Form guide
(Last five matches across all competitions, latest match first)
Atletico Madrid: W-W-W-W-L
Manchester United: D-D-L-L-W
Alex Baena celebrates scoring for Atletico [File: Fran Santiago/Getty Images]
Who are the top players to watch?
Alex Baena and Jonathan David (Atletico): Baena is in good form for club and country, with four goals and two assists for Atletico this season. Further up the pitch, centre-forward David has three goals and two assists.
Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo (Man United): Midfielder Fernandes, the United captain, has been the team’s top scorer with four goals in all competitions, while the playmaker also has an assist. Forward Mbeumo, meanwhile, has three goals and an assist.
What have the coaches said?
Diego Simeone (Atletico):
On Julian Alvarez failing to find the net so far this season: “I think strikers with Julian’s characteristics always need goals, not just him. It’s true that beyond his finishing, he’s a team player, a player that can link very well, he can assist and he’s got many more tools than just goalscoring.”
On facing Man United: “The game will be long, it will be tough and we have to manage our efforts to compete well.”
Michael Carrick (Man United):
On United’s poor form: “We’ve got to stay positive and keep doing the right things. We need to do better and we need more points, of course we do.”
On facing Atletico: “We’ve got big games coming up and are looking forward to Tuesday now. A fresh start, a fresh game and we will go there looking forward to the game.”
Did you know?
Atleti are unbeaten in the four meetings between the sides (W2 D2). Their most recent encounters came in the 2021-22 Champions League round of 16, where they drew 1-1 in Madrid before winning 1-0 in Manchester.
Atleti also dethroned United as European Cup Winners’ Cup holders in 1991-92, winning the second-round tie 4-1 on aggregate (3-0 home, 1-1 away).
United have lost only one of their last 11 matches against Spanish opponents (W7 D3). They beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 away and 4-1 at home in the last fixtures in the 2024-25 Europa League semifinals to make it three successive victories.
United’s last 10 matches against Spanish opponents have produced 35 goals, an average of 3.5 per game.
United manager Michael Carrick is under pressure after a poor start this season [File: Carl Recine/Getty Images]
Team news and predicted lineups
Atletico Madrid
Atletico have a fully fit squad.
Predicted starting XI:
Jan Oblak; Marc Pubill, Cristian Romero, David Hancko; Marcos Llorente, Pablo Barrios, Koke, Giuliano Simeone; Kang-in Lee, Alex Baena; Julian Alvarez
Manchester United
As many as five United players are out with injuries. Those include Patrick Dorgu (hamstring), Benjamin Sesko (shin), Tom Heaton (abdomen), Manuel Ugarte (knee) and Matthijs de Ligt (back).
Atletico vs Man United and Man City vs PSG headline the Champions League match day two action as the competition returns.
Published On 12 Oct 202612 Oct 2026
The UEFA Champions League (UCL) 2026-27 enters its second round of matches this week, with 36 teams in action across Europe as clubs return to the elite football competition.
After the first set of league fixtures, two-time title holders Paris Saint-Germain lead the points table with three points, followed by six-time champions Bayern Munich and five-time winners Barcelona, who also won their opening matches.
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The competition’s league phase format, now in its third year, started in September and runs until January 2027. It will be followed by the knockout rounds, with the champions crowned in early June.
Here’s all you need to know about this year’s competition:
What is the Champions League?
The Champions League is an annual club competition that features the best teams from across Europe.
This season marks the third time that 36 teams will participate in the main round, an increase from 32 under the old format.
What is the 2026-27 Champions League format?
Since 2003, the UCL has featured 32 clubs split into eight groups of four, with the top two from each section advancing to the last 16.
That has changed radically in recent years.
From the 2024-25 season, the 36 clubs are pooled into a single league in a “Swiss system” more commonly associated with chess.
Earlier, participating teams played six games in the group stage, facing each opponent home and away. Now, each club plays eight games, one each against eight different opponents.
How does the Champions League knockout format work?
At the end of the league phase, the top eight qualify directly for the knockouts, while those between the ninth and 24th places have to compete in two-legged knockout-phase playoffs.
Teams ranked 25th and below are eliminated.
The UCL knockout format is straightforward – it begins with the round of 16, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and the final.
When are the league phase and knockout matches?
The league phase matches are scheduled for:
Match day 1: September 8-10
Match day 2: October 13 and 14
Match day 3: October 20 and 21
Match day 4: November 3 and 4
Match day 5: November 24 and 25
Match day 6: December 8 and 9
Match day 7: January 19 and 20
Match day 8: January 27
The knockout phase matches are scheduled for (all dates in 2027):
Playoffs: February 16, 17 and 23, 24
Round of 16: March 9, 10 and 16, 17
Quarterfinals: April 6, 7 and 13, 14
Semifinals: April 27, 28 and May 4, 5
Final: June 5
Which are the best Champions League matches to watch?
The key matches to follow on matchdays two and three are as follows:
Top five UCL matches to watch this week
Arsenal vs Lille, Tuesday 19:00 GMT
Atletico vs Manchester United, Tuesday 19:00 GMT
Galatasaray vs Barcelona, Tuesday 19:00 GMT
Manchester City vs PSG, Wednesday 19:00 GMT
AS Roma vs Real Madrid, Wednesday 19:00 GMT
Top five Champions League matches to watch next week:
PSG vs Barcelona, October 20, 19:00 GMT
Liverpool vs Villarreal, October 20, 19:00 GMT
Como vs Manchester United, October 21, 16:45 GMT
Bayern Munich vs Arsenal, October 21, 19:00 GMT
Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig, October 21, 19:00 GMT
What are the key UCL storylines to follow?
Man City’s home clash with PSG headlines the upcoming round of matches, marking the troubled Etihad club’s first Champions League match since an independent commission found them guilty of breaking more than 100 Premier League financial rules.
Elsewhere, City’s crosstown rivals, under-fire Man United, are also in action this week. They head to Madrid to face an in-form Atletico, hoping to register just their third win this season.
Meanwhile, manager Jose Mourinho will face his former club AS Roma when Real travel to the Italian capital.
Who are the top players to watch in the Champions League?
PSG’s Ferran Torres, who scored a hat-trick in the first UCL match, is a joint top scorer in this year’s UCL alongside Ermedin Demirovic of Stuttgart.
Also watch out for Man City’s Erling Haaland, Bayern Munich’s talented Michael Olise and PSG forward Ousmane Dembele, all of whom scored two goals in their respective UCL openers.
The rivalry between Manchester City and Liverpool will be renewed when they meet in Sunday’s supercharged Premier League clash at Anfield.
History suggests Liverpool are often favourites in this fixture, but recent form heavily favours the Manchester club.
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City, who have dominated headlines in recent weeks over serious financial breach charges, lead the league’s points table with 15 points – six ahead of Liverpool, who are sixth in the standings.
Sunday’s match will be the 202nd fixture between the teams across all competitions, with Liverpool firmly leading the head-to-head with 95 victories, while City have won 53 matches with 53 drawn.
As Enzo Maresca faces off with Andoni Iraola this weekend, Al Jazeera looks back at the top five clashes over the years:
Liverpool 4-3 Manchester City (January 14, 2018 – Premier League)
Our list begins with this seven-goal league thriller from eight years ago.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave Liverpool an early lead that night at Anfield before Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah scored in a rousing eight-minute spell in the second half to build a staggering 4-1 lead.
But Man City struck twice in the final six minutes through Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan, forcing Liverpool to hold on for a nervous finish.
That result not only strengthened Liverpool’s top-four bid but also ended City’s unbeaten run that season.
Nonetheless, City went on to lift the title that term with a record-breaking 100 points, while Liverpool came fourth.
Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the fourth Liverpool goal [File: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images]
Liverpool 3-2 Manchester City (April 13, 2014 – Premier League)
This game goes further back in history and it’s another laden with goals.
Early goals by Raheem Sterling and Martin Skrtel put Liverpool in control, but City fought back through David Silva and a Glen Johnson own goal before Philippe Coutinho struck the winner for Liverpool 12 minutes from time.
Coutinho pounced on a loose clearance by City’s Vincent Kompany in the box, drilling the ball into the bottom corner as Anfield went wild for the ‘Little Magician’.
The victory marked a huge step towards Liverpool’s title charge, but ultimately it was City who won the league that season, finishing two points ahead of the Merseyside club.
Philippe Coutinho celebrates with Steven Gerrard after scoring the winning goal for Liverpool [File: Alex Livesey/Getty Images]
Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool (January 3, 2019 – Premier League)
The next game on our list sees City on the winning side.
Sergio Aguero had given City the lead with his first-half strike before Firmino equalised four minutes from the hour -mark.
But Leroy Sane won the three vital points for the hosts, scoring the winner in the 72nd minute.
After a quick counterattack, Sterling picked out the onrushing Sane on the left side, just outside the box, before the German’s left-footed shot hit the inside of the post and the ball rolled into the bottom corner.
With that, Liverpool suffered their first loss of the season, ending a 20-game unbeaten streak.
City also went on to reduce Liverpool’s lead at the top to four points and eventually lifted the trophy, beating the Reds by just one point.
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool challenges Leroy Sane of Manchester City [File: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images]
Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City (November 10, 2019 – Premier League)
This match goes back to the season that was the first to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Goals from Fabinho, Salah and Mane guided the Reds to a hugely impressive 3-1 home win over the title holders.
The match is best remembered by Liverpool fans for Fabinho’s stunning goal, as the Brazilian launched the ball into the net from about 25 yards (23 metres) out.
The result also opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the table and went down as a defining moment in Liverpool’s campaign as they ended their 30-year quest to win the league.
That season, Liverpool finished with 99 points, a whopping 18 points ahead of second-placed City.
Sadio Mane celebrates with Virgil van Dijk after scoring his team’s third goal [File: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images]
Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City (April 4, 2018 – Champions League quarterfinal, first leg)
Our top five list ends with a Champions League clash.
Liverpool fired three goals in the opening half-hour, ripping through their opponents in the first leg of this UCL quarterfinal clash.
Once again, Salah, Mane and Oxlade-Chamberlain were among the scorers as Liverpool took control of the knockout tie.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s fierce finish – a thundering strike from outside the box – was the highlight of this fixture.
Liverpool went on to reach the final, where they fell to Real Madrid.
Liverpool celebrate their 1-0 win over Man City in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal [File: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images]
Champions League: Pundits react to Lisandro Martinez comments
Champions League Match of the Day pundits Nedum Onuoha, Stephen Warnock, and Rory Smith analyse Lisandro Martinez’s comments following Manchester United’s 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid and the impact they’ll have on the club.
READ MORE: Man Utd defender Martinez issues scathing attack on board
Available to UK users only.
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PSG beat Man City 4-2 in Champions League thriller | Football
Paris Saint-Germain score three first-half goals, but Erling Haaland brace nearly drags Manchester City back in UCL.
Published On 14 Oct 202614 Oct 2026
Paris Saint-Germain further soured the mood at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City’s first home game since the guilty verdict on widespread flouting of Premier League financial rules ended in a 4-2 Champions League defeat on Wednesday.
The European champions turned on the style to strike three times inside the opening 35 minutes through Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha.
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But City stormed back in the second half as Erling Haaland scored twice on either side of Maghnes Akliouche’s strike, which briefly restored PSG’s three-goal cushion.
The 10-time English champions face swingeing sanctions unless they can successfully appeal last month’s ruling by an independent commission, which found the club guilty on more than 100 charges of financial impropriety.
City shrugged off the uncertainty over their future to win 3-0 at Liverpool on Sunday and remain top of the Premier League, but PSG showed why they are the favourites to win this competition for a third consecutive season.
Former City manager Pep Guardiola returned to the Etihad for the first time since his departure in May, sitting behind the club’s embattled chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and CEO, Ferran Soriano, in a show of solidarity.
City made passing reference to the guilty verdict with a lengthy pre-match video detailing the club’s historic moments of celebration both before and after an Abu Dhabi-backed takeover in 2008 that transformed their fortunes.
Behind one end, supporters unfurled a giant banner reading: “I’m City till I die.”
Yet the fighting talk in the stands didn’t match the on-field action as City were blown away by a scintillating first 45 minutes from the visitors.
Luis Enrique’s decision to leave Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the bench proved inspired, as it meant Doue started wide on the left.
Gianluigi Donnarumma had a point to prove after the Italian goalkeeper was let go by the PSG coach just months after helping deliver the club’s first Champions League title in 2025.
However, it turned out to be a night to forget for the giant Italian.
Donnarumma was caught out at his near post by Doue’s outside-the-box effort after a lightning counter-attack to open the scoring.
The move for the second goal two minutes later was even more impressive, as Doue and Dembele exchanged an elaborate one-two before the latter headed in at the far post.
Achraf Hakimi hit the post before Vitinha rattled in PSG’s third from the edge of the box.
Maresca responded with a triple substitution at half-time and managed to salvage some pride, even if the deficit proved too much to overturn.
Antoine Semenyo and Enzo Fernandez missed glaring chances to pull a goal back even before Haaland glanced home a header from Iliman Ndiaye’s cross.
Yet City were hit by a sucker punch when Donnarumma got a hand to Akliouche’s effort, but the ball looped high and spun back into the net.
Nuno Mendes made a brilliant clearance off his own line, and Haaland hit the bar before the Norwegian slotted home his second of the night.
Donnarumma saved a late Ferran Torres penalty, denying the French champions a fifth goal.
But in the battle between two state-backed projects that have reshaped European football, Qatar-owned PSG are the top dogs right now as City face a scandal that puts their trophy haul over the past 15 years in question.
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Real Madrid come from 3-1 down to beat Roma on Champions League travels | Football
By AFP and The Associated Press
Published On 14 Oct 202614 Oct 2026
Jose Mourinho enjoyed a Roma reunion to remember as Real Madrid completed an astonishing comeback by scoring three late goals to claim a 4-3 away win in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Marten de Roon gave the hosts a deserved opener before Kylian Mbappe struck back on his 100th Champions League appearance to level the scores at the break.
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Two Donyell Malen strikes in the space of six minutes early in the second half seemed to take the game away from the 15-time European champions as Roma ran rampant.
But Real scored three goals in the space of seven minutes late on, all stemming from corners, to turn the game on its head as Carlos Espi, Endrick and ex-Roma defender Antonio Rudiger struck at a stunned Stadio Olimpico.
Mourinho was a popular figure, leading Roma to the UEFA Conference League title and an Europa League final during two-and-a-half years in charge.
The home crowd honoured the Portuguese with banners and chants in Roma’s first home Champions League match in more than seven years, and the hosts started strongly as Mario Hermoso forced Thibaut Courtois into a flying fingertip save.
Roma took a deserved lead when De Roon swept a shot past Courtois from 25 yards in the 20th minute, and almost doubled it when Malen’s powerful shot squirmed under Courtois before being plucked off the line.
However, one costly moment of switching off proved enough to send them back to square one within five minutes of the opener being scored.
Hermoso misjudged an interception to allow Mbappe a clear run at goal, and the French striker’s deflected shot flew into the roof of the net to level the scores with Real’s first meaningful chance of the game.
Mbappe marked his Champions League centurion status – he is the youngest player to reach the milestone, aged 27 – with his 72nd tournament goal, one that moved him into the all-time top five ahead of Real legend Raul Gonzalez.
The equaliser appeared to subdue Roma and steady Mourinho’s men, who twice threatened a second before the break as Marc Cucurella and Jude Bellingham came close.
Roma take game to Real Madrid
But Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini insisted pre-match that Roma would not compromise on their full-throttle style regardless of opposition, and he was true to his word as they came out firing after the break.
Roma quickly retook the lead when half-time substitute Rodrigo Mora fed the ball to Malen, who finished brilliantly by taking the ball in his stride with his first touch and lifting it over Courtois with his second.
Things got even better for the Italians just six minutes later when Malen raced onto a through ball to power home his second, given following a VAR review after initially being flagged for offside.
Real looked for a response as Mbappe twice tested Pierluigi Gollini, before having his second goal of the night ruled out for offside.
But set-pieces proved to be the key to unlock the Roma defence, as Espi tucked home a close-range rebound from a header to pull one back before Endrick powered home a header from another corner just two minutes later.
The final blow was struck by Rudiger in the 90th minute, the defender getting in front of his marker to guide home a close-range finish and complete an extraordinary turnaround.
The result leaves Real Madrid with six points from their opening two league phase matches, while Roma are on one point.
Shakhtar Donetsk beat AEK Athens in London debut
Nomadic Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk celebrated moving into their new Champions League “home” at Stamford Bridge by storming back to beat AEK Athens 3-1.
Fans of the club turned up in the thousands to support the team, who emerged from the tunnel draped in blue-and-yellow national flags.
The Greek side took the lead in the 28th minute through Lovro Majer but Pedrinho levelled confidently from the penalty spot just six minutes later.
With about 10 minutes of normal time to go, Vinicius Tobias found the net from a tight angle and substitute Gleiker Mendoza made the game safe, smashing home after cutting in from the left.
The result leaves Shakhtar on four points after two games, following a draw against PSV Eindhoven in their opening match in the league phase of the Champions League.
Giant-killers Bodo sink Dortmund in Champions League
Fredrik Sjovold’s 52nd-minute strike secured a 1-0 victory for Bodo/Glimt over Borussia Dortmund, extending the Norwegian side’s remarkable home record against Europe’s elite.
Bodo were a cut above the 2024 Champions League runners-up and took the lead through Sjovold just after the break.
Dortmund improved in the final half hour but were unable to strike back, despite a late chance for Felix Nmecha.
Dortmund join Manchester City, Inter Milan and Sporting as recent big-name scalps on the artificial turf of Bodo’s Aspmyra stadium.
Aston Villa put six past Fenerbahce in record rout
Aston Villa recorded their biggest ever European victory as Nicolas Jackson inspired a 6-0 rout of Fenerbahce.
Unai Emery’s side won at Villa Park for the first time this season to maintain their 100 percent start in Europe’s elite club competition.
Swiss forward Johan Manzambi put Villa in front, and Jackson was on target twice before the interval.
Ross Barkley scored twice in the second half before Tammy Abraham’s late strike completed the rout.
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Rugby League World Cup 2026: Kallum Watkins replaces injured Morgan Smithies in England squad
Kallum Watkins has been called up to England’s Rugby League World Cup squad as a late replacement after Morgan Smithies was forced to withdraw through injury.
The 35-year-old Leeds Rhinos second-row forward is set to take part in his fourth World Cup having previously featured in 2013, 2017 and 2022.
The loss of lock and second-row forward Smithies, who is set to join Perth Bears for the 2027 NRL season, comes as a blow to England.
However, in Watkins, head coach Brian McDermott has found a replacement he knows well having previously coached him during a trophy-laden spell at Leeds.
“It’s really unfortunate what has happened to Morgan with an injury picked up in training,” said McDermott.
“Morgan has been great since we entered camp. He’s a real team player and his work ethic and toughness are qualities that we will certainly miss.
“Kallum enjoyed a terrific season with Leeds this year and has been part of our England performance programme building into this World Cup.
“I look forward to welcoming him into camp as we step up our preparations.”
Watkins, who has 32 caps, is set to arrive in Perth before England’s World Cup opener against Tonga on Saturday (10:05 BST) but will not play.
He started his career as a centre before shifting into the pack in recent years and will be available for England’s other group matches against France and Papua New Guinea.
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Man City vs PSG: Champions League – teams, predictions, line ups | Football
Who: Manchester City vs Paris Saint-Germain
What: UEFA Champions League, matchday 2
Where: City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester, United Kingdom
When: Wednesday, October 14, at 8pm (19:00 GMT)
How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the build-up and live updates from 16:00 GMT.
After being found guilty of an unprecedented breach of the Premier League’s financial rules, Manchester City turn their focus to the Champions League this week, as they host two-time holders PSG on matchday two.
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Fresh off a defiant league win over Liverpool at a hostile Anfield, City have momentum on their side as they welcome PSG in a clash of two of Europe’s finest teams.
Fans will have a golden opportunity to witness a mouthwatering battle between Erling Haaland, City’s lethal striker, and forward Ferran Torres, who is enjoying his new spell at PSG after helping Spain win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Haaland has eight goals across all competitions; Torres has seven. On Wednesday, more could be added to those tallies in this round of the UCL.
After Tuesday’s league matches, PSG are ranked fifth while Man City are ninth.
Here’s everything to know about the clash:
Which financial rules have Man City breached?
An independent commission found City guilty of almost all of the 115 charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, as well as three of four charges relating to failures to cooperate with the investigation.
City have denied wrongdoing and lodged an appeal.
No sanctions have been decided yet, but if City’s appeal fails, potential punishments include a significant point deduction and expulsion from the Premier League.
There is even the prospect of three Premier League titles being stripped from City, who won them from 2009 to 2018, the period to which the charges relate.
How have Man City played this season?
Man City have maintained a perfect record in the Premier League, winning all six matches.
Their only defeat across all competitions this season came in mid-August, when they lost to Arsenal in the Community Shield, the traditional curtain-raiser to the English football season.
How have PSG played this season?
PSG, who usually dominate Ligue 1 having won a record 14 titles, are fifth in the table, three points adrift of leaders Barcelona.
What happened in the first round of Champions League matches?
Reigning champions PSG thrashed Slovan Bratislava 6-1 at home in their first UCL match of the season, while Man City won 2-0 away to Porto in their campaign opener.
That keeps PSG fifth and Man City ninth in the league phase of this year’s Champions League.
The top eight teams at the end of the league phase qualify directly to the knockout rounds, which begin with the round of 16.
Man City vs PSG: Predictions
The Opta supercomputer has made City the favourites, with a win probability of 44.1 percent. PSG were given a 32 percent chance of winning, while a draw was estimated at a 23.9 percent likelihood.
Man City vs PSG: Head-to-head
(In the Champions League)
Man City vs PSG: Form guide
(Last five matches across all competitions, latest match first)
Man City: W-W-W-W-W
PSG: W-W-W-W-L
Who are the top players to watch?
Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki (Man City): Haaland’s six goals make him the Premier League’s leading scorer this season. His excellent form follows an equally impressive World Cup debut with Norway in North America. Haaland’s teammate Cherki is another vital City attacker with five goals and two assists in all competitions.
Ferran Torres and Marquinhos (PSG): Torres, whose extra-time goal guided Spain to the 2026 World Cup triumph, has made a quick start to life at his new club PSG, scoring seven goals in all competitions. That includes a hat-trick in PSG’s first UCL fixture. Meanwhile, captain Marquinhos has been an important presence in defence and has also scored three times.
Did you know?
Team news and predicted lineups
Man City team news
City have a fully fit squad for the match.
Predicted starting XI:
Gianluigi Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Marc Guehi, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol; Ayyoub Bouaddi, Enzo Fernandez; Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo; Erling Haaland
PSG team news
Senny Mayulu is out until late October with a thigh injury.
Predicted starting XI:
Matvey Safonov; Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Dro Fernandez, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Maghnes Akliouche, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ferran Torres
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Arsenal beat Lille 3-0 as perfect Champions League start continues | Football
Jurrien Timber, Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka score as Arsenal overcome Lille in UEFA Champions League.
Published On 13 Oct 202613 Oct 2026
Arsenal blew away Lille with a three-goal blitz in seven second-half minutes for a 3-0 win to extend their perfect start to the Champions League on Tuesday.
Jurrien Timber’s deft finish opened the floodgates just after the hour mark at the Emirates Stadium before Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka rounded off the scoring.
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Victory takes Arsenal into a share of the lead at the top of the Champions League table alongside Barcelona and Sporting Lisbon.
Mikel Arteta was able to use the wealth of resources at his disposal as he made five changes to the side that beat Leeds 2-1 on Saturday.
But it was Lille boss Davide Ancelotti, son of Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti, who was the happier after a goalless first half.
The visitors even had the ball in the net but Ayase Ueda was flagged offside.
Bruno Guimaraes came closest to breaking the deadlock for Arsenal before the break when he fired wide from close range and then saw a powerful shot from range parried by Berke Ozer.
The Gunners quickly went through the gears in the second period once Timber dinked the ball over Ozer from Noni Madueke’s pass.
Arteta had left arguably his three most potent attacking weapons on the bench and the introduction of Saka, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard made an immediate impact.
Saka’s low cross picked out Eze whose deflected shot flew into the top corner to end any doubt over the destiny of the three points.
The England winger then finished off an exquisite team move from Havertz’s cut-back for Arsenal’s third.
There were further cheers from the home fans when Olivier Giroud came on as a late substitute for Lille on his return to the club, where he scored 105 goals in a six-year spell.
But Giroud could not conjure up another Emirates goal as Lille remain without a Champions League point after their defeat to Real Betis on matchday one.
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Coventry 4-1 Newcastle: Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues out of Premier League drop zone
Coventry backed up their victory at Nottingham Forest before the international break, scoring four goals in the top flight for the first time since a 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday in May 2000.
Those around the Sky Blues’ training ground at Ryton feel that, if they are competitive over the next seven games, they will have a platform for survival.
A trip to Tottenham and the visit of Fulham – both winless – come next, with games against Sunderland, Everton, Crystal Palace, Leeds and Ipswich to take them into December.
“It’s big and we have to tap into that in a good way, in a humble way,” said Lampard, whose side are now 14th.
“We have to be excited and I’m seeing players in my eyes that are developing quite quickly.
“A lot of players had low Premier League minutes, or zero Premier League minutes – Jack Rudoni, [Brandon] Thomas Asante, [Ephron] Mason-Clark, a lot of them.
“So is it human nature in the first few games we’ve had two top teams in the league (Arsenal and Manchester City) and we’ve had Brighton and we’ve gone: ‘hmm, it’s not easy here’.
“This [win] gives good confidence, so it’s the balance of confidence against overconfidence. But it’s great when you have a template of feeling when you get a result of that level.”
It can be a defining six weeks for Lampard’s men after a resounding, if not perfect, win against Newcastle.
Coventry’s previous home games had seen them fall to a 1-0 defeat by fellow promoted side Hull before a 5-0 thumping by Brighton.
Sandwiched in the middle was a 3-1 loss to Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup, meaning it was imperative they found form at the CBS Arena.
“We’re going to be a relative underdog in pretty much every game,” added Lampard. “So we have to maximise everything and be on the limit and I thought we were on the limit in loads of ways.
“They need to keep their feet on the ground because the next one’s tough and the one after that will be tough.
“But we look like a team that [will make it] hard for teams to come here. That’s the feeling we haven’t quite had in our first CBS games this season.”
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Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United: Champions League – Predictions, teams | Football
Who: Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United
What: UEFA Champions League, matchday 2
Where: Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain
When: Tuesday, October 13, at 9pm (19:00 GMT)
How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the build-up and live updates from 16:00 GMT.
Action in Europe’s premier club competition returns with a matchday two clash between in-form La Liga side Atletico Madrid and Premier League strugglers Manchester United.
There are contrasting moods in the camps ahead of Tuesday’s fixture in the Spanish capital.
Atletico are challenging Barcelona for the top spot in Spain’s top flight, while Man United are in the bottom half of England’s Premier League, several places below all their traditional rivals.
Left winger Alex Baena and striker Jonathan David have been running the show for Atletico, while playmaker Bruno Fernandes and marksman Bryan Mbeumo are trying to keep United’s hopes alive of turning things around.
Atletico and Man United are set to clash for only the fifth time in history and the third in the Champions League.
Here’s all you need to know about the match:
How have Atletico Madrid played this season?
Atletico have made a promising start to the 2026-27 La Liga season, as they sit in second place, five points adrift of leaders and title holders, Barcelona.
Of the eight league games they have played, Atletico have won six, drawn one and lost one.
One of those results included a feisty 2-1 derby win over giants Real Madrid.
How have Manchester United played this season?
United are experiencing one of their worst starts to a league campaign.
They are 12th in the Premier League standings with six points, having won only one of six matches (D3 L2).
Those defeats also include a controversial 1-0 loss to their bitter rivals, Manchester City.
What happened in the first round of Champions League matches?
Atletico suffered a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in their first UCL match of the season, while Man United thrashed Azerbaijani club Sabah 4-0 in their campaign opener.
That keeps Atletico 25th and Man United fourth in the league phase of this year’s Champions League.
The top eight teams at the end of the league phase qualify directly to the knockout rounds.
Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United: Predictions
Opta’s supercomputer has given Atletico a 48.5 percent probability of victory, while Man United have a 27.2 percent chance and a draw is estimated at a likelihood of 24.3 percent.
Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United: Head-to-head
Encounters:
Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United: Form guide
(Last five matches across all competitions, latest match first)
Atletico Madrid: W-W-W-W-L
Manchester United: D-D-L-L-W
Who are the top players to watch?
Alex Baena and Jonathan David (Atletico): Baena is in good form for club and country, with four goals and two assists for Atletico this season. Further up the pitch, centre-forward David has three goals and two assists.
Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo (Man United): Midfielder Fernandes, the United captain, has been the team’s top scorer with four goals in all competitions, while the playmaker also has an assist. Forward Mbeumo, meanwhile, has three goals and an assist.
What have the coaches said?
Diego Simeone (Atletico):
On Julian Alvarez failing to find the net so far this season: “I think strikers with Julian’s characteristics always need goals, not just him. It’s true that beyond his finishing, he’s a team player, a player that can link very well, he can assist and he’s got many more tools than just goalscoring.”
On facing Man United: “The game will be long, it will be tough and we have to manage our efforts to compete well.”
Michael Carrick (Man United):
On United’s poor form: “We’ve got to stay positive and keep doing the right things. We need to do better and we need more points, of course we do.”
On facing Atletico: “We’ve got big games coming up and are looking forward to Tuesday now. A fresh start, a fresh game and we will go there looking forward to the game.”
Did you know?
Team news and predicted lineups
Atletico Madrid
Atletico have a fully fit squad.
Predicted starting XI:
Jan Oblak; Marc Pubill, Cristian Romero, David Hancko; Marcos Llorente, Pablo Barrios, Koke, Giuliano Simeone; Kang-in Lee, Alex Baena; Julian Alvarez
Manchester United
As many as five United players are out with injuries. Those include Patrick Dorgu (hamstring), Benjamin Sesko (shin), Tom Heaton (abdomen), Manuel Ugarte (knee) and Matthijs de Ligt (back).
Predicted starting XI:
Senne Lammens; Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez, Diogo Dalot; Youri Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo; Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha; Marcus Rashford
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What are the key matches to watch as the UEFA Champions League returns? | Football
EXPLAINER
Atletico vs Man United and Man City vs PSG headline the Champions League match day two action as the competition returns.
Published On 12 Oct 202612 Oct 2026
The UEFA Champions League (UCL) 2026-27 enters its second round of matches this week, with 36 teams in action across Europe as clubs return to the elite football competition.
After the first set of league fixtures, two-time title holders Paris Saint-Germain lead the points table with three points, followed by six-time champions Bayern Munich and five-time winners Barcelona, who also won their opening matches.
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The competition’s league phase format, now in its third year, started in September and runs until January 2027. It will be followed by the knockout rounds, with the champions crowned in early June.
Here’s all you need to know about this year’s competition:
What is the Champions League?
The Champions League is an annual club competition that features the best teams from across Europe.
This season marks the third time that 36 teams will participate in the main round, an increase from 32 under the old format.
What is the 2026-27 Champions League format?
Since 2003, the UCL has featured 32 clubs split into eight groups of four, with the top two from each section advancing to the last 16.
That has changed radically in recent years.
From the 2024-25 season, the 36 clubs are pooled into a single league in a “Swiss system” more commonly associated with chess.
Earlier, participating teams played six games in the group stage, facing each opponent home and away. Now, each club plays eight games, one each against eight different opponents.
How does the Champions League knockout format work?
At the end of the league phase, the top eight qualify directly for the knockouts, while those between the ninth and 24th places have to compete in two-legged knockout-phase playoffs.
Teams ranked 25th and below are eliminated.
The UCL knockout format is straightforward – it begins with the round of 16, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and the final.
When are the league phase and knockout matches?
The league phase matches are scheduled for:
The knockout phase matches are scheduled for (all dates in 2027):
Which are the best Champions League matches to watch?
The key matches to follow on matchdays two and three are as follows:
Top five UCL matches to watch this week
Top five Champions League matches to watch next week:
What are the key UCL storylines to follow?
Man City’s home clash with PSG headlines the upcoming round of matches, marking the troubled Etihad club’s first Champions League match since an independent commission found them guilty of breaking more than 100 Premier League financial rules.
Elsewhere, City’s crosstown rivals, under-fire Man United, are also in action this week. They head to Madrid to face an in-form Atletico, hoping to register just their third win this season.
Meanwhile, manager Jose Mourinho will face his former club AS Roma when Real travel to the Italian capital.
Who are the top players to watch in the Champions League?
PSG’s Ferran Torres, who scored a hat-trick in the first UCL match, is a joint top scorer in this year’s UCL alongside Ermedin Demirovic of Stuttgart.
Also watch out for Man City’s Erling Haaland, Bayern Munich’s talented Michael Olise and PSG forward Ousmane Dembele, all of whom scored two goals in their respective UCL openers.
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Liverpool vs Man City live: Premier League
Follow updates from the clash at Anfield, including the build-up, analysis and live text commentary of the game.
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Liverpool vs Man City: the top five clashes between Premier League giants | Football
The rivalry between Manchester City and Liverpool will be renewed when they meet in Sunday’s supercharged Premier League clash at Anfield.
History suggests Liverpool are often favourites in this fixture, but recent form heavily favours the Manchester club.
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City, who have dominated headlines in recent weeks over serious financial breach charges, lead the league’s points table with 15 points – six ahead of Liverpool, who are sixth in the standings.
Sunday’s match will be the 202nd fixture between the teams across all competitions, with Liverpool firmly leading the head-to-head with 95 victories, while City have won 53 matches with 53 drawn.
As Enzo Maresca faces off with Andoni Iraola this weekend, Al Jazeera looks back at the top five clashes over the years:
Liverpool 4-3 Manchester City (January 14, 2018 – Premier League)
Our list begins with this seven-goal league thriller from eight years ago.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave Liverpool an early lead that night at Anfield before Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah scored in a rousing eight-minute spell in the second half to build a staggering 4-1 lead.
But Man City struck twice in the final six minutes through Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan, forcing Liverpool to hold on for a nervous finish.
That result not only strengthened Liverpool’s top-four bid but also ended City’s unbeaten run that season.
Nonetheless, City went on to lift the title that term with a record-breaking 100 points, while Liverpool came fourth.
Liverpool 3-2 Manchester City (April 13, 2014 – Premier League)
This game goes further back in history and it’s another laden with goals.
On the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster when 97 Liverpool supporters died, a 10-man Liverpool side beat City 3-2 in a dramatic title-race clash.
Early goals by Raheem Sterling and Martin Skrtel put Liverpool in control, but City fought back through David Silva and a Glen Johnson own goal before Philippe Coutinho struck the winner for Liverpool 12 minutes from time.
Coutinho pounced on a loose clearance by City’s Vincent Kompany in the box, drilling the ball into the bottom corner as Anfield went wild for the ‘Little Magician’.
The victory marked a huge step towards Liverpool’s title charge, but ultimately it was City who won the league that season, finishing two points ahead of the Merseyside club.
Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool (January 3, 2019 – Premier League)
The next game on our list sees City on the winning side.
Sergio Aguero had given City the lead with his first-half strike before Firmino equalised four minutes from the hour -mark.
But Leroy Sane won the three vital points for the hosts, scoring the winner in the 72nd minute.
After a quick counterattack, Sterling picked out the onrushing Sane on the left side, just outside the box, before the German’s left-footed shot hit the inside of the post and the ball rolled into the bottom corner.
With that, Liverpool suffered their first loss of the season, ending a 20-game unbeaten streak.
City also went on to reduce Liverpool’s lead at the top to four points and eventually lifted the trophy, beating the Reds by just one point.
Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City (November 10, 2019 – Premier League)
This match goes back to the season that was the first to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Goals from Fabinho, Salah and Mane guided the Reds to a hugely impressive 3-1 home win over the title holders.
The match is best remembered by Liverpool fans for Fabinho’s stunning goal, as the Brazilian launched the ball into the net from about 25 yards (23 metres) out.
The result also opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the table and went down as a defining moment in Liverpool’s campaign as they ended their 30-year quest to win the league.
That season, Liverpool finished with 99 points, a whopping 18 points ahead of second-placed City.
Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City (April 4, 2018 – Champions League quarterfinal, first leg)
Our top five list ends with a Champions League clash.
Liverpool fired three goals in the opening half-hour, ripping through their opponents in the first leg of this UCL quarterfinal clash.
Once again, Salah, Mane and Oxlade-Chamberlain were among the scorers as Liverpool took control of the knockout tie.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s fierce finish – a thundering strike from outside the box – was the highlight of this fixture.
Liverpool went on to reach the final, where they fell to Real Madrid.
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