Europe

The UEFA Champions League has confirmed the fixtures for the new "league phase" format for the 2024/25 season. The draw marks a significant change from the traditional group stage format, with a shift towards a league phase that includes 36 teams, an increase from the previous 32.

Spoiler: Paris Saint-Germain are not liking the new format.

Confirmed: New UEFA Champions League "league phase" draw fixtures

Pot 1 fixtures:

Napoli have signed Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea, the Serie A club said on Thursday.

Financial details of the transfer were not revealed by either club but British media reported Napoli paid $39.47 million for the 31-year-old.

Lukaku Napoli transfer details

Official, confirmed. Romelu Lukaku signs in as new Napoli player on permanent move from Chelsea.

€30m plus add-ons, 3 year contract.

Chelsea's main aim in the transfer window is to offload players from their squad so the club can balance its books, manager Enzo Maresca said on Tuesday.

Chelsea have been busy in the market since American owner Todd Boehly took over two years ago.

The West London club have spent over $211.50 million on 11 new signings for this season, including winger Pedro Neto, forward Joao Felix, midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen.

MADRID, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Second-half strikes by Federico Valverde, Brahim Díaz and Endrick gave feeble Real Madrid an unconvincing 3-0 win over lowly Real Valladolid on Sunday, earning the defending champions their first win of the LaLiga season.

Although Real dominated possession, they struggled to breach Valladolid's ultra-defensive approach until breaking the deadlock from a free kick in the 50th minute, with Valverde slotting in a thunderous strike from the edge of the box.

Christian Pulisic had his best club season of his career with AC Milan in the previous campaign. A Pulisic goal vs Parma on Saturday during Milan’s 2-1 defeat showed that he looks poised for another fruitful year of goals.

Let’s start with the good news and Pulisic’s goal.

The USMNT forward equalized in the second half for Milan with one of the easier goals of his life. Rafael Leão did the hard work to get the ball deep into Parma’s box. Pulisic then made the right run at the right time to be wide open for a tap in.

Pulisic goal vs Parma

Tomas Soucek played the hero for West Ham twice on Saturday as he scored the game’s opening goal vs. Crystal Palace and then stepped in to save a ball boy.

While celebrating his goal with the away end at Selhurst Park, the excited West Ham fans tumbled over onto the field as an advertisement board collapsed. One of the Crystal Palace ball boys was then trapped under the board and weight of the fans.

Soucek was quick to respond to get the young man to safety.

Tomas Soucek ball boy moment

BRIGHTON — Brighton & Hove Albion's new manager Fabian Hürzeler said he was proud of his team's never-say-die display after they beat Manchester United 2-1 on Saturday with a winning goal in stoppage time.

Brighton came into their first Premier League home game of the season as the table toppers and almost found themselves 2-1 down before United had their second goal chalked off for offside.

MADRID — Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham sustained a muscle injury during training, the Spanish club said on Friday, and will miss key games for club and country.

The 21-year-old England international, who was a key player last season when Real won the Champions League and LaLiga titles, will be sidelined for several weeks, according to club sources.

Jude Bellingham injury

Chelsea defeated Swiss club Servette FC 2-0 in the Europa Conference League playoffs on Thursday, however a Marc Guiu miss is the big talking point.

The Chelsea youngster was given his first start for the Blues and ended up having a lowlight that will give him nightmares years from now.

In the 51st minute the 18-year-old had the entire goal gaping in front of him after robbing possession from Servette’s goalkeeper. All that was needed was a pass into the goal.

Instead Guiu made a mess of things.

Marc Guiu miss vs. Servette