Finishing

As the calendar approaches Halloween, Sergiño Dest is having a truly horrifying streak of missed chances in LaLiga. Barcelona fell 1-0 to Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday in league action and a brutal Sergiño Dest miss could have been the difference.

With Barcelona trailing in the 36th minute, Memphis Depay made a brilliant move to fire in a dangerous cross toward the back post. Dest timed his run to perfection, and with the speed of a bullet he got on to the end of Depay’s cross. The only issue was Dest fired the ball into the stratosphere.

A F̶l̶o̶r̶i̶a̶n̶ ̶W̶i̶r̶t̶z̶ ̶t̶r̶y̶o̶u̶t̶ top-of-the-table Bundesliga clash between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday failed to live up to the billing, instead playing out like a fight between Tyson Fury and a piece of toast that’s been soaking in a bucket. 

It’s too early to award the title to Bayern — Borussia Dortmund still has something to say about that — but it’s not too early to give the Ballon d’Or to Robert Lewandowski. 

Is Salah the best player in the world right now? Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says that he thinks that’s the case as Salah put on another magical performance during his side’s 5-0 victory against Watford on Saturday.

Arsenal defeated Hoffenheim 4-0 in the Women’s Champions League on Thursday to move up to second-place in Group C. The Gunners’ victory saw the first Tobin Heath Arsenal goal, along with scores from Vivianne Miedema, Leah Williamson and Kim Little.

Heath got her first Champions League start with Arsenal. She previously made an appearance as a substitute in Arsenal’s Champions League opener against Barcelona, where Heath picked up an assist.

BARCELONA - Sergio Agüero is finally set to make his Barcelona debut at home to Valencia in LaLiga on Sunday and the Catalans will be hoping the prolific Argentine can lift their spirits after a dismal start to the season.

Agüero joined Barça on a free transfer in the close-season after a trophy-laden decade with Manchester City in which he became the fourth leading scorer in Premier League history and struck 260 times to become the club's all-time top scorer.

Oman’s national team may have created one of the best corner kick strategies ever seen on a soccer field. Oman defeated Vietnam 3-1 on Tuesday with a game that featured a bicycle kick, an Olimpico goal and a horrendous VAR decision.

By defeating the Chicago Red Stars 3-2 at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Washington, on Sunday afternoon, the OL Reign clinched a spot in the NWSL playoffs with three matches remaining in the regular season.

The Portland Thorns still lead the Shield race with 39 points, but the Reign is just one point back and six points clear of third-place Houston (the top two finishers receive byes to the playoff semifinals).

The Reign reached the postseason in fine style. After Mallory Pugh had given Chicago a 14th-minute lead, the Reign responded through Jess Fishlock in the 31st.