Bayern Munich are desperate to extend the contract of defender Dayot Upamecano amid rumours of Real Madrid closing in on the player, Softfootball reports.
The France international has been a super regular for the Bavarians and a key figure in Coach Vincent Kompany’s side. He was outstanding in midweek when Bayern defeated Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 with 10-men in the UEFA Champions League in Paris.
Dayot Upamecano of Bayern Munich (Photo Credit: Bayern via X)
In a recent post by football expert, Fabrizio Roman, via his official X handle, he shared an interview Bayern director Christoph Freund talking about the situation of the player. He wrote:
Bayern director Freund on reports of agreement between Upamecano and Real Madrid: We are in talks to extend his contract. He feels very, very much at home here. There can be clubs interested in him but our aim is for him to stay with us.
Upamecano has helped Bayern Munich keep six clean sheets this season across all competitions and was particularly outstanding when the Bavarians beat 10-man Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-0 before repeating the score line against Bayer Leverkusen as they march on in their quest to retain their Bundesliga title.
Upamecano has play every game this season for the Bavarians including the Bundesliga, Franz Beckenbauer Super Cup, DFB-Pokal, and the UEFA Champions League in the 2025–26 season.
Bayern Munich will face Union Berlin in the Match-Day 10 of the Bundesliga and Upamecano will surely start for Vincent Knompany’s ment.
Union Berlin will hope to create a shocker at Stadion An der Alten Försterei after getting positive results against Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt this season but they’ve never won against Bayern München in their past 12 meetings.
Coach Steffen Baumgart’s side are among the lowest scoring sides in the Bundesliga after scoring just 11 goals in nine matches so far. They are built on a strong defense and will hope it will help them against the in-form Bavarians.
Star player
Union Berlin are a very compact side and the main star there is the team. The Coach has built a solid unit they are willing to suffer to pick points during games. They are happy to be without the ball and hit on a break when they have it.
Bayern Munich shared a video of Harry Kane scoring a freekick on their official X handle. Watch below.
Harry Kane is undoubtably the star for this Bayern Munich side. He has been phenomenal since he joined the club in the summer of 2023.This season, he has scored 22 goals in his first 14 matches across all official competitions. But he might be rested against Union Berlin with the UEFA Champions League game against Arsenal in mind.
Team News
Union Berlin will be without Robert Skov due to a muscle injury since September. Also not available is defender Christopher Trimmel will after accumulating five yellow cards and earning himself a suspension.
25-year-old forward Andrej Ilic is expected to lead the attack but he is still awaiting his first goal in the Bundesliga.
Vincent Kompany in his press conference made available via Bayern Munich’s official X handle talked about his team updates and the opponent ahead of the game. He said:
The Union’s home strength is so obvious. They’re a compact team, they’re all strong in the tackle, strong runners, have a lot of experience, defend crosses superbly and immediately put pressure on the ball.
It’s going to be a battle. It won’t just be about pressing and possession, but very often about set-pieces, tackling, second balls. It’s also about taking away the opposition’s momentum. We drew there last season, so I don’t have to explain much to the lads.
It feels like the squad has got a bit bigger because Lennart Karl has developed so well. He’s shown that he can already have an impact. We also have Luis Díaz, who has needed very little time and is always fit. Harry Kane and Michael Olise too – they’re always fit.
After every game, we have to reset our account to zero immediately. I say that because that’s what I’ve experienced in my career, as a player and as a coach: it’s always about the next game. We have to learn from every game, this process never stops – whether we win or lose. I want us to remain consistent.
Alphonso Davis in training. Photo credit: Davis official X account
Neuer; Boey, Upamecano, Kim, Bischof; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Kane, Diaz; Jackson
Softfootball prediction
Union Berlin are a good side and very compact but Bayern Munich are built like a machine and are prepared for any type of situation and that would give them the edge over their host. Union Berlin 0-2 Bayer Munich.
Chelsea are ready for the Match-day 11 of the premier league as they eye a win against managerless Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night, Softfootball reports.
Wolves sacked Vitor Pereira last weekend and are looking to bring in a successor but the game against Chelsea may come too soon for the new manager. The Blues are buzzing after beating Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 last week in a London Derby and want to follow up with another win.
Vitor Pereira. Photo Credit: Wolves Media.
Chelsea are excited to be back home for the game against Wolves after playing away against Spurs last week. The Blues shared this on their official X handle.
Interestingly, Chelsea and Wolves met a couple of weeks ago in the Carabao Cup and it was a seven-goal thriller during the fourth round of the competition and the Blues emerged 4-3 winners against the Old Gold.
There have been 120 matches between Wolves and Chelsea with the Old Gold winning 43, the Blues with 47 victories while 30 games have ended in draws.
Star Player
Jørgen Strand Larsen is the star man for Wolves since the departure of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United in the summer. He scored 14 goals in the Premier League last season to help Wolves avoid relegation. He was slowed down at the start of this season by injury but has scored one Premier League goal and two Carabao Cup goals. Wolves would rely on him for goals at Stamford Bridge.
Moises Caicedo (Photo Credit – Chelsea Media)
For Chelsea, since injury kept Cole Palmer out, Moisés Caicedo has been the star man for Chelsea, scoring three goals out of 10 premier league games for Chelsea. Winning Player of the Month and Goal of the Month in the process.
Team News
Chelsea midfielder, Romeo Lavia is out with a thigh injury for an unspecified amount of time. Also out are Cole Palmer (groin), Levi Colwill (ACL), Dario Essugo (thigh), Benoit Badiashile (muscle) and the suspended Mykhaylo Mudryk on the sidelines. But ex-Wolves winger Pedro Neto is set to return from a minor knock and could face his old club. Liam Delap returns after suspension.
Chelsea shared the press conference of manager Enzo Maresca via their official Youtube channel. Watch below.
Wolves interim manager, James Collins’ is leading the team to Stadium Bridge and he is keen to get a good result for his side as shared in a post via the club’s official X handle.
James Collins' thoughts ahead of taking charge of our game at Chelsea
Wolves will be without defender Emmanuel Agbadou due to his straight red card in the first half of the 3-0 loos to Fulham. Also out are Matt Doherty (knee), Leon Chiwome (knee) and Rodrigo Gomes (groin) in the treatment room.
Ladislav Krejci may have a defensive role to cover for his suspended teammate while the likes of Andre, Joao Gomes and Jackson Tchatchoua will push for a starting spot.
Rio Ferdinand looking fly in a Man United jersey. Photo Credit: Man United Media.
Manchester United celebrated the player on their official X handle as he turns 46 following years of dedication to the club and trophies he has helped delivered to the Red Devils.
Ferdinand is a highly decorated and widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s greatest-ever defenders. Since retiring in 2015, he has become a prominent television pundit, businessman, and a member of the Premier League Hall of Fame.
Ferdinand won six Premier League titles with Manchester United, one Champions League, and two League Cups. He also won the FIFA Club World Cup and multiple Community Shields. He is considered one of the best defenders of his generation, with a career marked by his elegance, pace, and ball-playing ability, and earned 81 caps for the England national team.
Rio Ferdinand relaxed and handsome. Photo Credit: Man United Media.
The 46-year-old is likely to be a pundit this weekend as Manchester United face Tottenham United this weekend. Spurs beat the Red Devils to win the UEFA Europa League last season and Ruben Amorim’s men will be eyeing a revenge.
Happy birthday Rio Ferdinand from all of us at Softfootball, ‘Hip hip hooray!’
Manchester United has for the first time this season produced the Player and Manager of the Month in the premier league courtesy Bryan Mbeumo and Ruben Amorim, Softfootball reports.
Mbeumo was outstanding for the Red Devils in the month of October as he scored three goals and added an assist. The Cameroonian had an assist for Manchester United during the 2-0 win over Sunderland and it was the first game the Red Devils kept a clean sheet. He then opened the scoring in the 2-1 win at Liverpool before scoring a brace against Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford.
Bryan Mbeumo. Photo credit: Man United Media.
Mbeumo beat competition from Matty Cash (Aston Villa), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth), Nordi Mukiele (Sunderland), Igor Thiago (Brentford) and Jurrien Timber (Arsenal) to become only the second Cameroonian to land the trophy, after former Liverpool defender Joel Matip, in February 2022.
Manchester United celebrated both Amorim and Mbeumo via their official X handle for winning the premier league awards.
Ruben Amorim won the Premier League manager of the Month for the first time since he arrived at Old Trafford. Amorim have endured very difficult time since he joined Red Devils, finishing 15th last season and losing the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur. Coincidently, Manchester United face Tottenham this weekend and Amorim wants his boys to be confidence.
Ruben Amorim. Photo credit: Man United Media.
Amorim beat off competition from Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta, Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola. He becomes the sixth Portuguese boss to earn the award, following in the footsteps of ex-Red Jose Mourinho, Andre Villas-Boas, Nuno Espirito Santo, Bruno Lage and Vitor Pereira.
The last time a Manchester United manager won the award was in November 2023 by Erik Ten Hag. Legendary United manager, now retired Sir Alex Ferguson has most the most individual, securing 21 trophies.
Football is a unique sport that brings fans around the world together and when there’s a healthy banter, it’s even better as it brings laughter and joy to everyone involved and Celta Vigo is no different, Softfootball reports.
The Spanish club came out to troll a Manchester United fan, who has become popular for refusing to cut his hair until they win five consecutive matches. This happened after the LaLiga side defeated Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 in the Europa League.
Celta Vigo players. Photo Credit: Celta Media.
Manchester United fan Frank Ilett started a personal challenge after he vowed not to cut his hair until the Red Devils won five consecutive games. The challenge, which began in October 2024, has become a long-term commitment, with Ilett posting updates on his progress and the team’s performance on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
It was the first time this season that Celta have won five matches in a roll and it was just the perfect timing for them to troll Manchester United and the fan, Frank Ilett for the 5-game challenge which has been on for a while.
Manchester United won three matches against Chelsea, Liverpool and Sunderland and fans were hopeful that they would finally win five in a roll, considering they were playing against struggling Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspurs. But it wasn’t meant to be as Manchester United drew 2-2 against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground courtesy a late equalizer by Amad Diallo.
Ruben Amorim and his players have the opportunity of starting another sequence of winning five matches in a roll when they travel to London to face Tottenham Hotspurs. Thomas Frank will be eyeing a win as Spurs lost 1-0 against Chelsea at home last weekend.
Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand has advised premier league defenders on how to tackle in-form Manchester City striker, Erling Haaland, Softfootball reports.
The Norway international has been scoring with wreckless freedom since he moved to the premier league, regarded in many quarters as the biggest in the world. But he has defiled the odds with brilliant goals week in, week out for the Cityzens and his last ones came over the weekend as he got a brace in City’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth.
Erling Haaland and Ryan Cherki celebrate after scoring (Photo Credit: Manchester City X handle)
Rio Ferdinand was having a conversation on his official podcast and the question was asked by one of the presenters on how he would defend against Haaland during his prime. He replied:
Defend the space. Do not let him run, bounce him before he starts running. Don’t try and get physical because he is mauling these center halves. Just bounce him, put him off a little bit.
Push to go round one side, come the other. Like, little things like that. Before the ball comes in, before the referee’s looking at where the ball is going, you are there early and given him a little nudge out of the way. All of a sudden, he is looking at you and his focus is gone from the game. He is never going to get a pass.
Erling Haaland is truly a goals machine and has scored 17 goals in all competitions so far, 13 goals in the premier league and four in the UEFA Champions League and may add to his goals tally when Manchester City hosts his former side Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad later tonight.
Erling Haaland (Photo Credit: Manchester City via X)
Interestingly, Haaland was born in Leeds in 2000 and his father played professional football for former Nottingham Forest, Leeds and Manchester City. The great defender Alf-Inge Haaland watches his son play at the Etihad almost every time.
Haaland is one of the highest paid players in the premier league but he nurses a secret dream of playing for Real Madrid and the Los Blancos are a huge fan of the big Norwegian but it remains to be seen if he would league the Cityzens anytime soon despite signing a long-term contract at the club.
Dominik Szoboszlai has hailed German international, Florian Wirtz following his performance against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Match-Day 4, Softfootball reports.
The Reds beat Real Madrid 1-0 at Anfield courtesy a goal by Argentine FIFA World Cup winner, Alexis Mac Allister. The win takes Arne Slot’s men into sixth position with nine points after three wins and a defeat so far in the competition.
Florian Wirtz (Photo Credit: Liverpool X handle)
In an interview shared by Fabrizio Roman via his official X handle, Hungarian captain Szoboszlai was full of praise for his teammate. He said:
Let me mention Florian Wirtz. What a game!. He just kept on running, kept on winning the balls, running back, having his chances and giving me almost an assist too so sorry from me as well!, told CBS.
Liverpool have endured some poor form in recent times with the team suffering six defeats out of seven matches in all competitions with four consecutive defeats coming in the premier league before a win against Aston Villa stopped the decline in form.
During these periods, Wirtz has been heavily criticised as a very poor signing, considering he joined the Reds for a huge transfer fee from Bundesliga outfit, Bayer Leverkusen. Although, Liverpool fans praised Conor Bradley for caging Vinicius, Wirtz will be happy he got the support of his teammate.
Liverpool will return to action in the premier league on Sunday when they face Manchester City at the Etihad.
Diego Simeone has revealed that his relationship with his son, Giuliano is not affecting their professionalism at Atletico Madrid, Softfootball reports.
Giuliano was outstanding in the UEFA Champions League Match-day four as Atletico beat Union Saint-Gilloise 3-1 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. Simeone’s picked the match of the match award which made it his third in a roll.
Giuliano Simeone. Photo Credit: Atletico Media.
In a recent interview shared by football expert, Fabrizio Romano via his official X handle. He wrote:
Giuliano Simeone won Man of the Match Award in three consecutive games for Atlético.
He has earned his place and built a relationship with the group, that’s what I value the most. I try to separate the feeling of father/son from that of coach and player, says El Cholo.
After losing 4-0 to Arsenal on Match-Day three, Atletico needed to bounce back from that defeat and they took a deserved first half lead through former Manchester City’s forward, Julián Alvarez.
The second had three more goals pour in. Another premier league import, Conor Gallagher made it 2-0 but the visitors fought back as they reduced the deficit in the 80th minute through Ross Sykes but Marcos Llorente restored Atletico’s 2-goal lead with a third that made it 3-1.
Atletico Madrid are now ranked 14th on the UEFA Champions League table with just six points after two wins and two defeats in four matches played so far.
Sometimes the beauty of football is viewed from the eyes of the fans as they see the game differently and enjoy it in their own ways as they follow their teams as a religion.
@ARABIANVID hailed Liverpool for being outstanding against the 15-time Champions League winners. He wrote:
Beyond sensational performance considering how poor we’ve been in recent weeks. Made us Liverpool fans proud. Anfield was insane. Every player + Slot gave it their best. Bradley pocketed Actor Vini. Szoboszlai dominated their midfield. Great Win. Onto Sunday’s game. YNWA.
@Dieggo praised the Reds right back for being so good against the Los Blancos. He wrote:
Can we seriously just appreciate how good Conor Bradley is? He knew all eyes were on him especially with Trent watching and he put on one of the best performances.
@ValarDoaheris71 comment that Real Madrid were lucky to have Thibaut Courtois as the Belgium had a great game despite the loss. He went on to hail Bradley’s performance. He wrote:
If it’s not Courtois then it’s 6-0 .. Bradley’s best performance so far
What a night at Anfield! That 1-0 grind vs Madrid screams ‘we’re back’ Liverpool’s press was relentless, Bradley bossing the right, and the whole squad looking sharp. Slot’s tweaks are paying off big time. YNWA!
@ogmaghrabi2 was happy watching a matured performance from Bradley and praised the Liverpool academy graduate.
Did you see Bradley’s brilliance, Arnold? He completely neutralized Vinicius Junior. We weren’t affected by your absence. And you sat humiliated on the bench.
@TheUAEKops dropped a hilarious video with a funny caption after the match.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven has claimed that his goal during the 4-0 win over Copenhagen is the best goal of his career so far, Softfootball reports.
The Dutch defender, who only at the weekend lost the ball which Joao Pedro scored from to hand Chelsea a 1-0 victory against Tottenham in the London derby was a different player against the Danish side as he helped the defense keep a clean sheet while getting among the goals with a goal of the season contender.
Micky Van der Ven celebrates after scoring (Photo Credit: Tottenham X handle)
Speaking after the encounter in an interview shared on Tottenham’s official X handle. Van de Ven narrates the goal:
I saw the goal back in the dressing room, let me be honest. I get the ball in my own box and saw a little gap or space in front of me. And as I dribble and I was like yeah, I can get a little more. I know when I get my speed and acceleration its difficult to catch up sometimes and along the way, I said I’m through and will go all the way now and try to score, yeah, I did…. best goal of my career for sure.
Brennan Johnson opened scoring for the home side in the 19th as he rounded the goalkeeper before finishing in style with a low shot. Six minutes into the second half, Kolo Muani intercepted a clearance from Copenhagen’s goalkeeper and passed to Wilson Odobert, who made no mistake with his finish in the 51st minute.
In the 64th minute came the moment of absolute magic from Micky van de Ven as he took the ball from the edge of his box, beat three players in midfield and pushed into the final third with great pace, leaving defenders behind like it was a Sunday league for amateur footballers and struck home a powerful shot with his left foot.
Here is the full video of Micky van de Ven’s interview as shared on Tottenham’s official X handle.
That goal came despite Spurs being down to 10-men after Brennan Johnson saw red in the 57th minute. Thomas Franks men eventual killed off the game with a fourth goal as João Palhinha scored in the 67th minute to wrap it up at 4-0.
The win takes Tottenham Hotspur up to seventh on the Champions League table with eight points following two wins and two draws out of four matches played so far.
Interestingly, Verratti’s current team Al Duhail did not post any birthday wishes nor did Paris Saint-Germain on their social media handles for the midfielder as at the time this article was published but Ligue 1’s official X handle did as they recognised and celebrated the Italian as a legend that played in France.
Verratti is a technically gifted midfielder that began his career with Italian club Pescara in 2008, helping the team to win the 2011–12 Serie B title, and winning the 2012 Bravo Award. The 33-year-old’s playing style drew comparisons with Andrea Pirlo, due to his passing, vision, and ability to control a game. He also initiates attacks from his position.
In the summer of 2012, Verratti joined Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain and was part of the team that won a then-record nine Ligue 1 titles, among other domestic and individual trophies, establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in the world. He ranks third for all-time appearances for PSG. And just like every PSG fan, he was delighted when Ousmane Dembele Crowned 2025 Ballon D or Winner.
There are current rumours that Verratti wants a return to Europe with Juventus a likely option for the player but he would need to take a huge pay-cut to be able to make the transfer possible.
Verratti is reportedly eyeing a return to the Azzurri ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Switzerland international, Manuel Akanji has revealed that he is open to joining Serie A giants, Inter Milan on a permanent basis after his loan spell from Manchester City, Softfootball understands.
Inter Milan are ready to Trigger Akanji €15m buy clause set by the Cityzens but would need to wait until at least the January window to discuss details of the transfer. Akanji was in action for 90 minutes at the weekend as Inter beat stubborn Verona 2-1 courtesy a late own goal by Martin Frese.
Manuel Akanji. Photo Credit: Inter Milan Media.
According to football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano via his official X handle, Akanji is in love with Italy and will like to remain at Inter Milan. He wrote:
Manuel Akanji on €15m buy option for June 2026: We will see… I hope Inter will buy me on permanent deal.I feel very good here. I will give my best and then we will see.
Akanji has quickly become a crucial part of Inter’s defense despite just arriving at the club. He is reportedly being the most frequently used defender early in the season.
He is admired a lot by Inter Milan new manager, Christian Chivu, who has continued to play him regularly and also pushing the club to make his transfer to the club a permanent one at the end of this season.
Akanji is known for his cultured style of play, which is characterised by his technical ability, composure on the ball, and excellent passing range. He is also a strong and physical defender who is comfortable in one-on-one situations and is adept at intercepting passes and making tackles.
Inter Milan lost the league title to Napoli last season and Akanji will be hoping to help the club wrestle the title away from Antonio Conte’s men this season.
Arsenal defender, William Saliba has revealed that he was tempted by the interest of Real Madrid during the last transfer window, Softfootball understands.
According to football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano through his official X handle, the player is happy at Arsenal but like every other player, Real Madrid is the dream. He wrote:
William Saliba on Real Madrid interest: ‘Of course, it’s really tempting when a club like that is interested in you…
but I wanted to win titles at Arsenal first before thinking about anything else”, told Telefoot.
Saliba has developed into one of the finest center-backs in the world since joining Arsenal in 2019. He was initially sent on loa to French clubs Saint-Étienne, Nice, and Marseille before making his Arsenal debut in August 2022. He came back to Arsenal as a better defender and helped them to a strong Premier League title challenge in the 2023/24 season. However, an injury in March 2023 forced his campaign to end early.
The following season, he returned even stronger, playing every minute of the Premier League season for Arsenal, a feat not achieved by an Arsenal outfield player since 1989/90. He was a cornerstone of the league’s stingiest defense, winning possession more times than any other central defender in the division.
Arsenal has finished second in three consecutive seasons and got eliminated in the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League last season and Saliba is determined to help the Gunners win both competitions this term.
Premier league side, Arsenal aim to maintain their 100% record in the UEFA Champions League when they battle Slavia Prague on Tuesday, Softfootball reports.
Slavia Prague and Arsenal have met four times down the years, and the Gunners are unsurprisingly unbeaten against their less revered foes. The Gunners have won two and drawn two against their Czech opponents, most recently strolling to a 4-0 success in the second leg of their 2020-21 Europa League quarter-final battle.
Arsenal and Slavia Prague crossed paths for the first time in the group stage of the 2007-08 Champions League and the Coach in-charge then was the legendary Arsene Wenger and he led the Gunners to a 7-0 win at the Emirates. Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott both score twice, while Nicklas Bendtner and Aleksandr Hleb also got in on the goals alongside a David Hubacek own goal, and that 7-0 win remains their joint-biggest in any European competition.
The second leg end goalless on Slavia’s turf in November 2007 as the Gunners progressed to the quarter-finals. Arsenal are unbeaten in all 10 of their previous meetings with Czech opponents but Slavia Prague have won only two of their 15 battles against English outfits.
Star Player
Lukas Provod is a creative midfielder that has incisive passes and can score by himself. He plays well in tight spaces and not afraid to take on players.
Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring Arsenal’s second goal against Brighton (Photo Credit: Arsenal X)
Arsenal rely a lot on Bukayo Saka, although Mikel Arteta has brought in more exciting players during the transfer window, the England international remains the main man in the team and will be ready to help them again tomorrow.
Team News
Jindrich Trpisovsky’s troops are not in full flow as Ivan Schranz (muscle), Filip Horsky (ACL), Petr Sevcik (ACL), Dominik Javorcek (knee), Tomas Holes (knee), Igoh Ogbu (hamstring) and captain Jan Boril (unspecified) are all out of contention.
With Boril stricken, creative focal point Lukas Provod will don the armband from the number 10 role, while former Luton Town defender Daiki Hashioka is likely to be on the bench.
Star player Lukas Provod. Photo Credit: Slavia Prague M?edia.
For Arsenal, Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres are doubtful for this clash as they picked up knocks against Burnley in the premier league clash over the weekend. Zubi’s situation presents Christian Norgaard the chance to make a first-ever start in the Champions League.
Martinelli, who has scored in every Champions League game so far this season is also expected to miss the match as he is currently struggling with a muscle injury. He joins Martin Odegaard (knee), Noni Madueke (knee), Gabriel Jesus (knee) and Kai Havertz (knee) on the sidelines.
Arsenal has the best defense in Europe and they are efficient in attack. It won’t be a difficult game for the Gunners as they are expected to win. Slavia Prague 0-2 Arsenal.
Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand has advised Kobbie Mainoo to follow the Casemiro example if he wants to earn Ruben Amorim’s trust for first team football rather than go elsewhere in search of playing-time, Softfootball reports.
The England international has struggled for game time under the Manchester United gaffer and he informed the club during the summer of his desire to leave possibly on loan as he got his eyes on making the Three Lions squad to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo. Photo credit: Man United Media.
Rio Ferdinand who is a huge fan of Mainoo has advised him via his official podcast not to follow in the footsteps of Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jordon Sancho that leave the club after failing to fight for their places. Instead, he encouraged the youngster to fight for his spot like Casemiro did. He said:
You are never too old, too experienced and never too successful to learn and he’s a glowing reference point for any young player at Manchester United. Character-wise, personality wise, they got a lot to learn from Casemiro.
Yes, there’s football-wise too but they are very different players. You’ve got Casemiro, a man in form and Bruno [Fernandes], the most exciting player we’ve got, it’s going to be hard for Kobbie to get in here right now.
Casemiro was tipped to be sold last January as Amorim wanted a different kind of holding midfielder. He was benched in many matches but fought his way back into the team and showed his leadership qualities with dedication and determination despite having won the UEFA Champions League and LaLiga multiple times with Real Madrid.
Here is the full video of the Rio Ferdinand conversation during his official podcast. Watch below.
What Kobbie Mainoo can learn from Casemiro's redemption Why he's the most professional player at #MUFC since CR7
Manchester United finished 15th last season and have already started the current season better than they did last term despite having tougher opening fixtures. It is left to be seen if Mainoo will follow Ferdinand’s advise to stay at Old Trafford and help they finish in the top half of the premier league or still insist on a move in January.
Marcus Rashford has declared that Barcelona’s 3-1 win over Elche is very important in the push to retain their LaLiga title this season, Softfootball reports.
The England international scored the third goal after Lamine Yamal opened scoring and Ferran Torres netted his 50th goal for Barcelona with the away side getting a consolation through Rafa Mir. Barcelona bounced back from the 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the El Clasico last week.
Marcus Rashford (Photo Credit: Barcelona media file)
Speaking after the match in an interview shared on Barcelona’s official X handle. Rashford said:
Very important. Its always important after win to lost a game, to win the next game is the most important thing. I’m very happy with this and we will try to build a momentum and I’m happy today.
Confidence is a huge thing in football and the onus is on us to work hard to win and to feel good with our relationships on the pitch. Winning is helping us but we take it game by game and focus on ourselves and try to improve our performances.
Rashford has been on a fantastic form since he joined Barcelona on the final day of the transfer window from Manchester United on loan and he is one of the key players for German manager Hansi Flick.
Rashford and his Barcelona teammates will be back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Belgium to face Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League.
Born on November 3, 2000, Dest’s career began at Ajax, where he broke into the senior team before transferring to FC Barcelona in 2020 for approximately €21m.
He won the 2020–21 Copa del Rey with Barcelona but his time at the club was limited by injuries and a lack of necessary opportunities under manager Xavi, leading to his departure.
So, he spent the following two seasons on loan at AC Milan and PSV Eindhoven, respectively. At AC Milan during the 2022–23 season, he was limited to just 14 appearances while his loan to PSV the 2023–24 season was more successful as he won the Eredivisie title with them and made his transfer permanent after that.
Dest will hope to get a perfect birthday gift with a victory over Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Roma started lively, pushing Milan deep into their own half. Bryan Cristante had the first real chance after skipping past two defenders, while Evan Ndicka’s header from a Matías Soulé cross flashed just wide. Paulo Dybala also went close, but his shot lacked direction. Then came the turning point — Milan broke quickly, Rafael Leão carried the ball half the pitch and rolled it across for Strahinja Pavlovic to slot home calmly. The stadium erupted.
Dybala (Photo Credit: AS Roma via X)
After the break, Milan looked more settled and created chances to kill the game. Leão’s strike was brilliantly saved by Mile Svilar, and both Davide Bartesaghi and Samuele Ricci tested the keeper again. Mario Hermoso later cleared another Leão effort right off the line. Roma tried to respond, and when Lorenzo Pellegrini’s free kick hit Youssouf Fofana’s arm, they got a penalty. Dybala stepped up, but Mike Maignan guessed right, diving low to deny him.
Maignan (Photo Credit: AC Milan via X)
AS Roma’s official X account shared a post announcing their 1-0 Serie A defeat to AC Milan at San Siro, where Strahinja Pavlović scored the lone goal and Mike Maignan saved a late penalty from Paulo Dybala.
That save sealed a huge win. Milan have now gone ten games unbeaten in all competitions, a run that speaks volumes about their growing confidence. For Roma, the night ended in frustration. They will need to bounce back fast if they want to stay in touch at the top.
Arsenal have taken set pieces to another level, transforming them into a trademark weapon that defines their dominance this season. A recent report by SoftFootball revealed that the Gunners recorded another set-piece goal as they beat Burnley to maintain top spot. They have scored 11 goals from set-pieces so far in the 2025/26 Premier League campaign—two more than any other club.
Mikel Arteta (Photo Credit: Arsenal Website)
Nearly 70% of their goals have come from dead-ball situations, showing how deliberate and precise their approach has become under Mikel Arteta. Fans have also noticed the pattern. On X, @ChetuniAFC posted:
I’m glad we scored from a set-piece today. I want to see them cry about our set-piece goals. Two more goals to go. Viktor Gyökeres’ brace incoming. COYG!
Behind the success is Nicolas Jover, Arsenal’s set-piece coach who joined from Manchester City in 2021. Jover’s analytical and detail-driven approach has turned dead-ball scenarios into science. Players rehearse routines that focus on timing, positioning, and disruption, ensuring every corner or free kick feels like a planned attack. Arsenal’s six corner goals in their first six league games speak volumes about this precision.
Nicolas Jover (Photo Credit: Nicolas Jover via Instagram)
Arteta’s philosophy reinforces this method. He does not view set pieces as lucky breaks but as crucial opportunities within the flow of play. His pressing system naturally earns corners and fouls, turning pressure into scoring chances. With players like Gyökeres, Gabriel, and Rice thriving under this model, Arsenal’s set-piece mastery has become a symbol of their evolution — disciplined, creative, and ruthlessly efficient.
Erling Haaland and Ryan Cherki celebrate after scoring (Photo Credit: Manchester City X handle)
The young Frenchman, starting only his second Premier League game after recovering from a thigh injury, demonstrated poise, awareness, and vision that drew praise from both fans and his teammates. For the opener, Cherki guided a deft header from Nico González’s pass perfectly into Haaland’s stride, and the Norwegian stormed forward to finish calmly past Bournemouth’s Dorde Petrovic.
Haaland on Rayan Cherki’s two assists: “We all know his qualities so it's about trying to get the best out of everyone!”.
His second assist came moments later, threading a through ball that sliced open the defense and allowed Haaland to round Petrovic before finding the net. Haaland could not hide his delight after the match, saying in a post shared by Fabrizio Romano on his official X account:
We all know his qualities, so it’s about trying to get the best out of everyone. Today he had two amazing assists to me, so hopefully many more.
Ryan Cherki and Pep Guardiola (Photo Credit: Manchester City via X)
Beyond the assists, Cherki’s performance stood out statistically—85% passing accuracy, two key passes, and three tackles. His ability to operate between the lines and create in tight spaces offered the kind of spark City have missed since Kevin De Bruyne’s departure.
With Haaland now on 13 league goals in 10 matches, and Cherki proving a capable supplier, the duo’s chemistry could become the driving force behind City’s title chase as they look to close the gap on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.
West Ham United finally broke their poor run with a 3-1 win over Newcastle United at the London Stadium, a night that brought smiles back to East London. It was the kind of gritty performance that fans had been waiting for, especially after recently losing 2-1 to Leeds United, as reported by SoftFootball. Under Nuno Espírito Santo, there were signs of fight and togetherness that had gone missing.
Jacob Murphy (Photo Credit: Newcastle via X)
Before this game, the Hammers had struggled badly at home, losing matches they could have won, like the defeat to Brentford reported by SoftFootball. But this time it felt different. Even when Jacob Murphy put Newcastle ahead early, West Ham didn’t drop their heads. The response came fast as Lucas Paquetá’s low strike somehow squirmed past Nick Pope, and before halftime, an unlucky Sven Botman turned the ball into his own net.
Lucas Paquetá (Photo Credit: West Ham via X)
From there, West Ham looked the sharper side. They pressed higher, played with belief, and didn’t give Newcastle much room to breathe. Nuno kept shouting instructions from the touchline, urging calm when the visitors tried to push back. As the match moved into stoppage time, Tomáš Souček bundled in a scrappy third to seal it, and the noise around the ground said it all — relief, joy, and maybe even hope.
Tomáš Souček (Photo Credit: West Ham via X)
Newcastle, though, are still searching for answers. Their away form now looks worrying: eight league trips without a single win. Eddie Howe, in his post-match comments posted on the team’s official X account, admitted his team were not themselves, and he’s right—they looked flat and tired. For West Ham, it might just be the spark they needed to believe again.
Arsenal fans could not hide their excitement after another set-piece goal highlighted their team’s growing dominance this season. A passionate supporter, @ChetuniAFC, took to X to express his delight, saying:
I’m glad we scored from a set-piece today. I want to see them cry about our set-piece goals. Two more goals to go. Viktor Gyökeres’ brace incoming. COYG!
Viktor Gyokeres (Photo Credit: Arsenal via X account)
This continued efficiency reflects the tactical precision Arsenal have developed under Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff. Players have often credited their structured approach and commitment to detail, with stars like Declan Rice reaffirming in a recent SoftFootball report that the team’s aim is to deliver for Arsenal fans every week. The results seem to show that intent clearly, as set pieces now represent a consistent scoring outlet for the North London side.
Declan Rice. Photo Credit: Arsenal Media.
Social media was buzzing after the latest goal, with many fans showing their admiration for the team’s tactical growth. @Nekstylez commented:
We need to go on a run and win 10 more games in a row to create big gap.
The goal, a powerful close-range header by Viktor Gyökeres, set the tone for yet another confident Arsenal performance. With every precise corner and free-kick delivery, the Gunners continue to silence critics and strengthen their case as genuine title contenders this season.
Conor Bradley expressed joy after Liverpool returned to winning ways in the Premier League, beating Aston Villa 2-0 at Anfield on Saturday night. The win came after a difficult run of four straight defeats, with goals from Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenberch sealing the result. As reported by SoftFootball, Arne Slot said fans chanting his name was great, and he gave credit to the players for responding well to pressure.
Liverpool Players (Photo Credit: Liverpool via website)
The Reds looked composed and confident throughout, as Salah scored his 250th goal for the club to help reclaim their rhythm—a landmark celebrated by the fans and covered in detail by SoftFootball. Gravenberch’s deflected effort gave Liverpool a comfortable cushion before the hour mark, and it was a performance that reflected renewed belief across the pitch.
Conor Bradley (Photo Credit: Conor Bradley via Instagram)
Speaking after the match, Bradley said it felt like a much-needed lift for the team. He explained, as shared by Liverpool on their official X account:
It was going to be a tough game. Villa are a good side. But we showed control, pressed well, and kept our energy high. It’s nice to get back to winning ways after the last few weeks.
Conor Bradley: Really happy – but we've got to recover for massive games
Trent Alexander-Arnold has made it clear that he would not celebrate if he were to score against Liverpool, the club he represented for nearly two decades before joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2025. The English full-back, now 27, is preparing for an emotional return to Anfield in the Champions League.
His comments came as part of a wider media session reflecting on his journey and the love he still holds for his boyhood club, which he once captained. In a recent feature, SoftFootball highlighted how legends like David Beckham have praised Trent’s technical evolution and maturity, comparing him to football’s greats.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Photo Credit: Trent Alexander-Arnold via Instagram)
Speaking candidly, Alexander-Arnold admitted his affection for Liverpool remains strong despite moving to Spain. He said:
Liverpool is a club I will always love. The memories there will last forever. Whatever way I am received, that is up to the fans.
The defender acknowledged that his transfer was emotionally difficult but added that he fully respects the supporters’ right to respond however they feel. His honesty and calmness reflect the same leadership qualities that earned him respect at Anfield.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Photo Credit: Trent Alexander-Arnold via Instagram)
Asked directly if he would celebrate a goal against his former side, Alexander-Arnold replied without hesitation. He said in a post shared by Fabrizio Romano on his official X account:
If I was to score against Liverpool, I wouldn’t celebrate to be honest.
The statement reinforces his sense of loyalty, consistent with footballers who have shared deep bonds with former clubs. His time at Liverpool brought major honours, including two Premier League titles, a Champions League, and an FA Cup.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: “If I was to score against Liverpool, I wouldn’t celebrate to be honest”, told Prime Video Sport. pic.twitter.com/UggfKcyOf7
Now focused on success with Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso, he faces Liverpool as part of a confident squad that recently defeated Valencia 4-0, led by Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, as reported by SoftFootball. Even with his attention on Madrid’s campaign, Trent admitted this fixture would feel different, carrying both pride and nostalgia.
Tottenham Hotspur manager, Thomas Frank says his team was second best against Chelsea in the London derby, Softfootball reports.
Joao Pedro scored the only goal of the match as Chelsea ran away with a 1-0 win against Spurs at the London stadium and that left the former Brentford manager disappointed. Tottenham came into the match-day 10 in high spirits after beating Everton 3-0 away from home last weekend but were dealt a huge blow by Chelsea on Saturday evening.
Chelsea players celebrating the derby win over Tottenham (Photo Credit: Chelsea X handle)
Speaking after the encounter in an interview posted by Tottenham’s official X handle. Frank said:
First and foremost, I think Chelsea performed very well. We were the second-best team today. There’s no two ways about that. It was bad performance. So, we’re frustrated about that in a London derby against Chelsea, a game that means the world to the fans, we’re very irritated about it.
I think we lacked the energy and intensity. We couldn’t match, for whatever reason, Chelsea on the day. I think that was part of it. Then I think the way they solved their high pressure, the way we solved our high pressure, the two solutions, I think they got more in the game than us.
Here is a video of the full interview. Watch below.
Interestingly, Spurs have lost three out of their five home matches played so far in the premier league and would like to change that the next time they play at home in the premier league against Manchester United on Saturday.
Tottenham are fourth on the premier league table with 17 points after 10 matches and will return to action on Tuesday against Danish side, Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League.
Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca believes Moises Caicedo is in the same level as Rodri and both players can be regarded as ‘two best defensive midfielders in the world,’ Softfootball reports.
Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspurs 1-0 courtesy a goal by Joao Pedro to win the London derby. The Brazilian scored his first goal after six games and it came in the enemy’s ground which made it the sweeter for Blues fans.
Moises Caicedo. Photo Credit: Chelsea Media.
However, that goal was created by Moises Caicedo after he robbed Dutch international Micky van de Ven of possession and played it into the path of Pedro and the Brazilian made no mistake with his finish.
In a post-match interview shared by football expert, Fabrizio Romano via his official X handle. Maresca said:
Moises Caicedo is top. Caicedo and (Manchester City midfielder and former Ballon D’Or winner) Rodri are the two best defensive midfielders in the world in my view.
Chelsea are now fifth on the premier league log with 17 points after 10 matches and will return to action in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday when they take-on Qarabag FK.
Arteta and his Arsenal Players (Photo Credit; Arsenal via X)
Arteta was impressed with the victory but what left him more amazed is the connection between his players and the fans. This he revealed in an interview that was shared via Arsenal’s official X handle. He said:
It was great to witness the chemistry, the energy, that connection that we have built with them. Hopefully, we can give them a lot of nice moments because they fully deserve it.
Viktor Gyokeres gave Arsenal the lead in the first half. Although, the Sweden international did not finish the match as he was replaced after 45 minutes with a knock. Declan Rice finished off the opponents with a brilliant header to make it 2-0 and hand the Gunners all three points.
A video of the Arteta interview was also shared via Arsenal’s official X handle and the fans roar could be heard at the background.
Arsenal will face Sunderland next week where they would play against former club captain, Granit Xhaka. The Switzerland international left Arsenal for Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2023 after making 297 appearances, scoring 23 goals and winning two FA Cups.
Arsenal midfielder, Declan Rice has declared that the goal of team is to deliver every week for the fans as they aim to win the premier league this season, Softfootball reports.
The England international scored the second goals as Arsenal beat Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor on Saturday evening. The Gunners are flying high and are comfortably on top of the premier league table with 25 points after 10 matches so far this season.
Declan Rice scores a powerful header. Photo Credit: Arsenal Media.
Speaking in an interview shared via Arsenal’s official X handle after the game. Rice said:
I’m so focused on and off the pitch. Every weekend I know how important it is to win football matches. I realise the position we’re in and what we can achieve as a club. So I’m doing everything I can, on and off the pitch, to prepare myself and prepare the team to win football matches.
We always have one goal in this team this season and that’s to deliver for the fans, for each other and we’re going to keep trying to do that. One game at a time. I’m very happy with where my game’s at.
Here is a video of the interview as shared by Arsenal’s official X handle. Watch below.
Declan Rice and his Arsenal teammates will return to action on Tuesday when they face Slavia Praha in the UEFA Champions League before traveling to play Sunderland in the premier league on Saturday.
Joao Pedro was the hero for Chelsea as they defeated Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in the London derby as the Blues claimed into the premier league top four, Softfootball reports.
Joao Pedro (Photo Credit: Chelsea Official Website)
But the Blues are not exactly the type of opponents Spurs want on Halloween weekend as Chelsea had won five out of their last six visits and they surely made it count for the sixth time on Saturday evening.
Chelsea was delighted with the win that they shared a cheeky post on their official X handle about the victory.
The game was cagey and not many chances created throughout the encounter but Chelsea took initiative in the first half as current club player of the month Moises Caicedo robbed Micky van de Ven of the ball and played it into the path of Pedro and the Brazilian made no mistake with his finish. It was Pedro’s first goal after failing to score in six matches for Chelsea.
The FIFA Club World Cup champions pushed to get a second goal but Guglielmo Vicario in goal denied the Blues with fine saves. The game was not brilliant in terms of attacking play as both sides remained tactically cautious for 90 minutes.
Here are scenes from the end of the match as posted by Chelsea’s official X handle.
With the latest win, Chelsea moves into fourth position in the premier league with 17 points after 10 matches while Tottenham Hotspur remain third with same points but with a superior goals difference.
Declan Rice scores a powerful header. Photo Credit: Arsenal Media.
They stayed solid at the back as usual and got the second goal at the other end just before half-time when Leandro Trossar’s cross was headed in by Declan Rice to make it 2-0 for Mikel Arteta’s men.
Arsenal celebrated the win with their fans through the club’s official X handle as it gave them a good lead on top of the table as things begins to heat up in the premier league, often regarded as the best in the world.
In a match dominated by the Gunners, Viktor Gyokeres scored his fourth goal for the club since his big money arrival from Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon. It was another set-piece goal from the North London club as Gyokeres finished off a corner kick from former West Ham United player, Declan Rice.
Mikel Arteta’s side pushed for the second goal but Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka produced a one-handed save to deny Bukayo Saka and Belgium international Leandro Trossard had an effort cleared off the line.
Arsenal’s official X handle shared a video showing how the away fans roared after the game and celebrated with the players.
However, Arsenal eventually got the second goal they wanted through Rice. The England international rose like superman to head home Trossard’s cross and made it 2-0 before half-time.
Arsenal controlled the rest of the encounter and won 2-0 in a convincing manner. The Gummers stay top of the premier league with 25 points after 10 matches while Burnley sit 17th with just 10 points after the same number of matches this season.
Chelsea will be aiming to recover when they travel to face Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. The match could see the Blues move level on points with their London rivals if they can find the right response after last weekend’s shock 2-1 defeat to Sunderland, as reported by Softfootball. Tottenham, who defeated Everton 3-0 in their last Premier League outing, are still struggling to rediscover consistency at home, having gone three league games without a win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Estevao (Photo Credit – Chelsea Official Website)
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has asked for more precision from his attackers despite being one of the league’s highest-scoring teams after nine rounds. Spurs started this round sitting third on the table, and a victory could take them into second position before Bournemouth’s clash with Manchester City on Sunday. Their strong away record has carried them this far, but Frank will surely want his side to turn their home form around sooner rather than later.
Chelsea have been unpredictable under Enzo Maresca this season. They won 4-3 against Wolves in a wild Carabao Cup tie earlier in the week, as reported by Softfootball, but the defensive lapses and poor discipline were clear once again. Maresca criticised Liam Delap’s red card, calling it “stupid and embarrassing,” and said he expects more control from his players. The Italian coach will know this is another big test for his young team.
Micky Van der Ven both celebrate after scoring (Photo Credit: Tottenham X handle)
Recent history, however, favours Chelsea. They have won eight of the last ten competitive meetings against Tottenham since 2021, including last season’s 4-1 victory in north London when Spurs finished with nine men. Tottenham have lost five of their six home games against Chelsea since moving to their new stadium, which might create an extra layer of pressure this weekend.
Team News Tottenham will play without Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Ben Davies, and Dominic Solanke, while Brennan Johnson hopes to break his poor record against Chelsea. He has never scored nor won against them in seven attempts. Chelsea remain without Cole Palmer, who is still recovering from a groin injury, and Liam Delap is suspended following his red card against Wolves. Levi Colwill, Benoît Badiashile, and Dario Essugo are also unavailable. Maresca confirmed that João Pedro, Enzo Fernández, and Moisés Caicedo are ready to return to action, as shared by Chelsea on their official X account.
The latest team update from Cobham ahead of #TOTCHE.
Possible Lineups Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Palhinha; Kudus, Bergvall, Simons; Kolo Muani. Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Santos, Garnacho; Pedro.
SoftFootball’s Prediction Tottenham have looked confident on their travels but less so at home. Chelsea’s young squad continues to mix brilliant attacking football with moments of inexperience. The match could be intense, full of energy, and open to surprises. Both teams are expected to score, and it might end level.
Chelsea must find maturity if they want to climb the table, while Tottenham need to turn their stadium into a fortress again. The London derby is set to deliver excitement, mistakes, and possibly a few unexpected turns.
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