Shakhtar Donetsk captain Taras Stepanenko said it was beyond his  wildest dreams to thrash RB Leipzig 4-1 in their Champions League opener at the Red Bull Arena.

Igor Jovicevic s team became the first Ukrainian side to compete in the Champions League since the country was invaded by Russia, and they marked the occasion with an unlikely victory on their travels.

Despite enjoying just 32 per cent of the possession and attempting a mere four shots on target, Shakhtar scored with each of those through a Marian Shved double and further goals from Mykhaylo Mudryk and Lassina Traore.

Jovicevic s visitors finished with an expected goals total of just 1.2, compared to the 1.4 of Leipzig, who thought they had got back into the game through Mohamed Simakan s equal…

Injuries may have dampened Roma s early season optimism, but results have done the opposite.

An impressive transfer window has had Giallorossi supporters dreaming of the Scudetto, even if Jose Mourinho protested on the eve of the campaign only Sampdoria and Lecce spent less than us .

That was a little disingenuous – very out of character for Mourinho – for his immediate concern would have been how to fit free agents Nemanja Matic and Paulo Dybala and loan signing Georginio Wijnaldum into the same XI as Bryan Cristante, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Tammy Abraham and Nicolo Zaniolo.

While injuries to Wijnaldum and Zaniolo seemingly solved that particular problem in unsatisfactory fashion, Roma have still taken six points from six thanks to a pair of 1-0 wins over Saler…

Former Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel has announced his retirement at the age of 35.

The midfielder, who had most recently played for Kuwait SC, called time on his 20-year career on Tuesday.

Mikel spent the majority of his playing days with Chelsea, winning two Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Europa League.

The enforcer also lifted the FA Cup three times during his time with the Blues and got his hands on the EFL Cup in 2007.

Mikel won 91 caps for the Super Eagles and the highlight of his international career was a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations triumph.

He posted on Instagram: There is a saying that all good things must come to an end , and for my professional football career, that day is today.

I look back at the past 20…

With the return of all of Europe’s elite fast approaching on the horizon, we have plenty of action from across the globe this weekend.

As the likes of Belgium’s Pro League open up the 2024/25 campaign on Saturday, there are also a host of eye-catching affairs from across Brazil.

For those of you looking to stick on a Saturday flutter, we have taken a glance at two of the most appealing betting markets.

19:45 Anderlecht vs St. Truiden

Enjoying what was an eye-catching Pro League campaign last season as they clinched a bronze medal among Belgium’s elite, some around Lotto Park could be dreaming of the chance to mount a genuine title charge this time around. Storming their way to a Europa League ticket and excited to open the 2024/25 campaign this w…

The World Cup in Qatar starts on Sunday afternoon as the home nation takes on Ecuador in Group A at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, and between its kick-off and the last whistle of the final, set to take place on December 18th at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, the eyes of the football world will be turned towards the Middle East. 

Reluctantly so, perhaps, for a number of countries, due to various controversies around Qatar being awarded the tournament, and for some teams it may even prove an unwelcome distraction when they take to the pitch.

But leaving the non-football matters aside, let s take a look at the teams most likely to win the crown this year.

Brazil to end 20-year wait?

There can never be a serious conversation about which team wins the World Cup witho…

Cristiano Ronaldo s move to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr looks likely to bring the curtain down on one of the greatest careers in the history of European football.

While writing off Ronaldo is always unwise, a combination of the striker s age and the unsavoury nature of his second spell at Manchester United make a return to elite European football seem improbable.

As a five-time Champions League winner and the top scorer in the history of European football s premier club competition, Ronaldo s legacy as one of the all-time greats is secure.

However, with seven top-flight league titles and a plethora of other trophies to his name, Ronaldo s impact on the continental game went beyond his goals on the grandest club stage.

With the five-time Ballon d Or win…

St. Louis City must use this week s home clash with Atlanta United to turn things around after seven games without a victory, says defender Anthony Markanich.

St. Louis were thrashed 3-0 by the Colorado Rapids in midweek to extend their miserable run of form, with their last victory coming against the Chicago Fire back on May 12.

They have slipped to 12th in the Western Conference standings after topping the pile in their first campaign in MLS in 2023, and Markanich says they need to harness the support they receive at CITYPARK.

I think every home game should be a win, Markanich said. These next two games are very important.

Reflecting on their midweek defeat, head coach Bradley Carnell said: At the moment, we can have certain things not going our way. …

Scotland have qualified for Euro 2024 after Norway were beaten 1-0 by Spain in Oslo.

The result meant Steve Clarke’s men were guaranteed a top-two finish in Group A with two games to spare.

A Norway victory would have meant Scotland needed a point from their remaining matches, in Georgia and at home to Norway, next month.

…AND WE RE OFF TO GERMANY

…

Antoine Griezmann stepped off the bench to guide Atletico Madrid to a remarkable 2-1 win over 10-man Porto in the Champions League, in a match that featured three stoppage-time goals.

Atleti and Porto played out a goalless draw when they met on the opening matchday of last season s Champions League, and a repeat looked likely for the duration of normal time on Wednesday.

But after Mehdi Taremi picked up a second yellow card for simulation, Mario Hermoso fired Atleti ahead before handling in his own area, allowing Mateus Uribe to level the scores with a 96th-minute penalty.

There was to be one final twist in the 11th minute of added time, however, as Griezmann reacted quickest from an Atleti corner to cap a remarkable contest with a dramatic winner.