Real Sociedad defeated Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 in Friendlies Clubs. The fixture is part of the Club Friendlies 3 stage in the 2023 season. The match was played at Reale Arena in Donostia-San Sebastián. The full-time result capped a Real Sociedad vs Bayer Leverkusen meeting in Friendlies Clubs with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Real Sociedad and Bayer Leverkusen. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Friendlies ClubsRecorded meetings: 2 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
Real Sociedad defeated Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 in Friendlies Clubs. The fixture is part of the Club Friendlies 3 stage in the 2023 season. The match was played at Reale Arena in Donostia-San Sebastián. The full-time result capped a Real Sociedad vs Bayer Leverkusen meeting in Friendlies Clubs with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Real Sociedad and Bayer Leverkusen. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Friendlies ClubsRecorded meetings: 2 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
Spirits are especially high among fans of Txuri-urdin (the white-and-blues) going into the 2026-27 LaLiga season. That’s thanks to the New Jerseyan coach Pellegrino "Rino" Matarazzo, who took Real Sociedad’s helm last December. The post Rino Matarazzo: After a dream start in Spain, LaLiga’s American coach enters season 2 appeared first on Soccer America.
The 2026-27 La Liga season has already begun, but none of the Spanish giants Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid have made their debut yet. Top leagues across Europe are already kicking off following the 2026 World Cup, and over the weekend, La Liga began its 2026-27 campaign in Spain. However, while several clubs have already taken the pitch, the league’s three heavyweights, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid, have yet to play their opening matches. The tournament opened on Saturday, August 15, with Deportivo Alaves hosting Getafe in a 3-0 victory for the home side. Throughout the weekend, only four of the 10 scheduled Matchday 1 fixtures were played, with games involving Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid postponed for a specific logistical reason. La Liga reached an official agreement with clubs that had players participating in the late stages of the 2026 World Cup to delay their domestic debuts. Teams with rostered players who reached the World Cup semifinals or beyond were granted additional mandatory rest and recovery time before starting their league schedules. Across the two semifinal matchups, seven Spanish clubs were represented: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Club, Real Sociedad, Real Betis, and Celta Vigo. Those clubs worked alongside the Spanish Footballers Association (AFE) and La Liga to reschedule their opening league fixtures to accommodate the extended break. Dean Huijsen of Real Madrid celebrates the second goal against Schalke 04. (Christof Koepsel/Getty Images) The only eligible club that chose not to request a special postponement was Celta Vigo, whose striker Borja Iglesias made Spain’s squad but logged just two minutes against Portugal in the round of 16. However, a fungal outbreak ruined the pitch at Celta’s stadium, ultimately forcing the league to reschedule their opening match against Osasuna anyway. Having an extra week before making their official debuts did not mean total rest for the clubs. Over the weekend, Barcelona played a friendly against FC Basel (a 5-2 win), Real Madrid faced Schalke 04 (a 3-0 win), and Atletico took on Olympique Marseille on Friday (a 2-1 win) to maintain match fitness ahead of the season. When are Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid debuting in La Liga? The first of the trio to make their official debut will be Atletico Madrid. The Colchoneros host Malaga at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Wednesday, August 19, meaning their overall scheduling and match preparation will experience minimal disruption compared to the rest of the league. As for Barcelona and Real Madrid, both clubs will make their 2026-27 La Liga debuts during Matchday 2 rather than Matchday 1. The Blaugrana travel to face Elche on Sunday, August 23, while Los Blancos head to Catalonia to take on Espanyol on Saturday, August 22. The two powerhouse clubs will then make up their postponed Matchday 1 fixtures during midweek action. Real Madrid face Real Sociedad on Wednesday, August 26, while Barcelona host Athletic Club on Thursday, August 27.
Manchester United should have signed Joao Pedro, according to Michael Owen (Picture: Getty) Michael Owen says he is a ‘huge fan’ of Joao Pedro and Manchester United should have looked to sign the ‘unbelievable’ forward before he joined Chelsea. Pedro left Brighton to complete a £60million move to Chelsea 12 months ago and the 24-year-old went on to enjoy an impressive debut season in an otherwise wretched campaign for the club. The versatile attacker quickly established himself as the Blues’ first-choice centre-forward ahead of fellow summer signing Liam Delap and finished with 20 goals to his name in all competitions. No doubt still hurting after missing out on Brazil’s World Cup squad, he will be looking to get off on the right foot under new manager Xabi Alonso this coming season, starting against local rivals Fulham in a week’s time. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. After finishing down in tenth last term, Chelsea have no European football to contend with this time around – giving Alonso the luxury of being able to focus purely on domestic football over the coming weeks and months. According to Owen, this could prove massively beneficial for Alonso’s men, who he is backing to finish second in the top flight behind reigning champions Arsenal. Asked to name his favourites to challenge Arsenal, Owen told The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast: ‘Chelsea. This could be way off the mark but they’ve got no Europe at all and you see how important that has been over the years. It was brilliant for Manchester United last year. Owen has high hopes for Chelsea under new manager Alonso (Picture: The Good, The Bad & The Football) Pedro scored 20 goals for Chelsea last season (Picture: Getty) ‘This manager [Xabi Alonso] did something similar with an unfancied team in Germany [Bayer Leverkusen], he’s going to change a lot, they’ve bought well.’ Owen has high hopes for Chelsea’s all-star attack this season and believes Manchester United missed a trick not trying to sign Pedro before the Blues came in for the Brazilian last year. ‘I’m a huge Joao Pedro fan, I think he’s unbelievable. In fact, Manchester United should have bought him about four years ago when he was at Watford,’ the ex-England, United and Liverpool striker explained. {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Xabi Alonso unveiled as new Chelsea manager","contentUrl":"https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2026\/07\/13\/2914846474672192337\/480x270_MP4_2914846474672192337.mp4","description":"Xabi Alonso has been posing with his own Chelsea shirt as he holds his first press conference as the new manager at Stamford Bridge.","duration":"T30S","height":270,"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/07\/13\/17\/109989603-0-image-m-5_1783958963915.jpg","uploadDate":"2026-07-13T17:13:59+0100","width":480} To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page window.addEventListener('metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded', function(data) { if (typeof(data.detail) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === 'undefined') { return; } var player = data.detail.carousel.el_; var container = player.closest('.metro-video-player'); var placeholder = container.querySelector('.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder'); if (placeholder) { container.removeChild(placeholder); container.classList.add('metro-video-player--related-videos-loaded'); } }); ‘United had nobody up front for years and I thought, “That Joao Pedro”, I love him. ‘Him, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer as a front three… strange signings in Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson obviously.’ While acknowledging ‘question marks’ surrounding Robert Sanchez, Owen feels Chelsea could ‘catch fire’ and have a ‘big
Edmond Tapsoba has been linked with a move away from Bayer Leverkusen this summer. The Burkina Faso International has done quite well in the Bundesliga, and he has the quality to succeed in the Premier League as well. Tapsoba has also been linked with Chelsea. Edmond Tapsoba could be an ideal defensive addition According to […] The post Manchester United and Tottenham make contact over €50m defender appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Real Madrid are interested in Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi, according to Teamtalk, and the move has received a seal of approval from head coach Jose Mourinho. Zubimendi played an important role in Arsenal’s Premier League title-winning campaign following his arrival from Real Sociedad for €65 million last summer, but injuries significantly reduced his influence towards the […] The post Real Madrid interested in Martin Zubimendi appeared first on SoccerNews.
Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez could take Arsenal to ‘another level’, says Martin Keown (Picture: talkSPORT) Martin Keown says Julian Alvarez could be the calibre of player to take Arsenal to ‘another level’ and help bring the club’s wait for Champions League glory to an end. Arsenal have set out their stall across a busy summer transfer window, eager to strengthen on the back of their Premier League title triumph under Mikel Arteta last season. After activating their £35million option to sign Piero Hincapie on a permanent basis from Bayer Leverkusen, the Gunners moved quickly to wrap up deals for Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis and free agent Illan Meslier. While there was disappointment as Arsenal fell short in their pursuit of top attacking target Vinicius Junior, the £75m arrival of Bruno Guimaraes came as a statement to the rest of the league that Arteta’s side are determined to build on their success. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. A comprehensive Community Shield victory over Manchester City on Sunday was further proof of this renewed desire within the group ahead of the new campaign, with new signings Tzolis and Guimaraes both impressing on their full debuts in Cardiff. But Arteta is reportedly determined to freshen up his attacking options before the transfer deadline and the English champions continue to be linked with potential big-money additions such as Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen, PSG’s Bradley Barcola and Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz. Former Arsenal and England defender Keown believes it could be time to revisit a possible deal for Atletico Madrid star Alvarez, though, despite Diego Simoene’s insistence that the striker is not for sale. Arsenal have been credited with an interest in Alvarez for some time (Picture: Getty) The Gunners prevailed over Manchester City to claim an 18th Community Shield title on Sunday (Picture: Getty) Asked if there could still be a ‘missing link’ in Arteta’s squad after Arsenal’s 3-0 win over City, Keown told talkSPORT’s Jim White: ‘We’re talking about key signings and what they do next. Obviously that’s an area… European dominance, never mind domestic dominance, the next step. ‘Of course, the two strikers are under pressure to make that happen. ‘It may be that someone like Alvarez [could be the man]. He’s a player that they looked at last season, they thought about bringing in and that could be the sort of player they’re looking at. ‘They need to decide. That’s the key at the moment, is the decisions. The ambition is there but they’ve got to make key signings at the right times. {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Arteta says Community Shield statement win proves Arsenal are 'ready for it'","contentUrl":"https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2026\/08\/17\/7779755569864816200\/480x270_MP4_7779755569864816200.mp4","description":"Mikel Arteta hailed Arsenal's desire \"to go straight again\" after Manchester City were overwhelmed 3-0 by the Premier League champions in the Community Shield.","duration":"T8M14S","height":270,"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/08\/17\/07\/110678029-0-image-a-8_1786947795231.jpg","uploadDate":"2026-08-17T07:22:17+0100","width":480} To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page window.addEventListener('metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded', function(data) { if (typeof(data.detail) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === 'undefined') { return; } var player = data.detail.carousel.el_; var container = player.closest('.metro-video-player'); var placeholder = container.querySelector('.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder'); if (placeholder) { container.removeChild(placeholder); container.classList.ad
Chelsea could be heading for a busy finish to the summer transfer window, with Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap and Tosin Adarabioyo all available for moves away from Stamford Bridge. The trio were left out of Chelsea’s squad for their 3-1 pre-season victory over Real Sociedad, a significant decision with the Premier League campaign approaching. Want […] The post Trio for sale: Romano confirms three high profile Chelsea exits are still possible appeared first on CaughtOffside.
With his penalty against Nashville SC, Lionel Messi has reached three consecutive misses from the 12 yards between Argentina and Inter Miami, tying the worst record in his career. Lionel Messi‘s return to Major League Soccer action was far from a dream night, as he failed to convert a penalty during Inter Miami‘s humbling 4-1 loss to Nashville SC on Saturday. The failed attempt marks his third consecutive missed penalty across competitions for club and with the Argentina national team, matching the longest spot-kick drought of his career. After Andy Najar put Nashville ahead in the 17th minute off an accurate cross from Elias Saad, Inter Miami pressed aggressively for an immediate equalizer. Following a lofted pass over the defense from Casemiro, Luis Suarez controlled the ball, cut back onto his left foot, and was brought down in the box by Jeisson Palacios after a mistimed tackle in the 22nd minute. Messi stepped up to the spot, using a stutter-step approach to try and freeze Brian Schwake. Though the goalkeeper committed early and dived to his right, Schwake managed to stick out his legs and make the save. Sergio Reguilon pounced on the rebound and slotted it into the back of the net, but the goal was quickly disallowed due to encroaching into the penalty area. Failing to convert from the spot against Nashville extends Messi’s current slide to three straight misses from 12 yards out. Saturday’s failure was also his second missed penalty in an Inter Miami shirt, with the first occurring back in September 2025 during a 3-0 regular-season defeat against Charlotte FC. Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF takes a misses the penalty against Nashville SC. (Carly Mackler/Getty Images) The penalty miss against Nashville highlights a rare dip in execution for the Argentine legend when facing opposing goalkeepers from the spot. During the 2026 World Cup with Argentina, he dragged a penalty wide in a group-stage match against Austria, and had another attempt saved by Mostafa Shobeir in a round of 16 clash against Egypt, bringing his total to three straight failures. Despite the recent slump, Messi remains one of the premier dead-ball technicians in modern soccer history. Across 149 career penalty attempts for club and country, the forward has converted 114 times while missing 35, maintaining a respectable 76.5% conversion rate. When did Messi last miss three consecutive penalties? As the captain and primary penalty taker for both Inter Miami and Argentina, Messi naturally carries the responsibility whenever a spot kick is awarded. While this three-match slump is an unusual sight, it is not the first time he has endured a cold stretch from the spot. The only other time Lionel Messi missed three consecutive penalties was back in 2014 while playing for FC Barcelona and Argentina. That run began in an April 2014 match against Real Betis, where Antonio Adan saved a late attempt in the 86th minute. His next miss came that September in a 5-0 win over Levante UD when he fired completely wide, followed by an October friendly with Argentina where Brazil goalkeeper Jefferson stopped his 40th-minute effort. Messi ultimately snapped that 2014 drought in November during an international friendly against Croatia at Boleyn Ground, converting from the spot to secure a 2-1 victory. Inter Miami return to action next Wednesday against the Philadelphia Union, where Messi will look to end his current drought or risk setting an unprecedented personal low.
Belgian is the first non-Scot in role since Berti VogtsSFA welcomes ‘aggressive, front-foot style of play’The Scottish Football Association has appointed the Belgian Sébastien Pocognoli as the successor to Steve Clarke as manager. The 39-year-old, who was sacked by Monaco in June, will become the country’s first non-Scottish manager since Berti Vogts, who was in charge from 2002 to 2004.Clarke’s abrupt departure came after Scotland were knocked out of the World Cup at the group stage. He had signed a four-year contract extension immediately before the tournament. It quickly became clear the SFA would turn towards a foreign manager with the Danes Jon Dahl Tomasson and Kasper Hjulmand being linked with the position. Continue reading...
It took Morgan Rogers only seven minutes to score his first goal in a Chelsea shirt in Saturday's 3-1 friendly win over Real Sociedad as he reacted quickest after Alex Remiro saved Joao Pedro's initial header. The £117m club record signing from Aston Villa initially looked sharp and linked well with Cole Palmer and Pedro in Chelsea's front three. Beyond Rogers, Joao Pedro has been the star of Chelsea's pre-season.
Newcastle United are exploring an ambitious move for Bayer Leverkusen forward Christian Kofane as Matthias Jaissle and sporting director Ross Wilson continue rebuilding a squad hit by major departures. The Magpies have lost Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon this summer, leaving Jaissle short of the attacking quality and established personalities previously central to […] The post Newcastle United scout £87m striker as Magpies look to make major statement appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Coventry manager and Chelsea legend Frank Lampard (Picture: Getty) Frank Lampard has expressed interest in signing a second Chelsea star for Coventry City after making an approach for Mykhailo Mudryk. Lampard is keen to bolster his Coventry squad further as he prepares for their return to the Premier League. Coventry face Premier League champions Arsenal in their opening fixture of the new season after storming to the Championship title last term. The Sky Blues have signed Caleb Yirenkyi, Carl Rushworth, Lous Tchauouna, Aurele Amenda, Gustavo Hamer, Frank Onyenka and Normal Bassette so far this summer. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. But Lampard wants to welcome a few more signings to the Midlands club before the end of the summer transfer window and has informed Chelsea of his interest in Mudryk. Mudryk joined the latter stages of Chelsea’s pre-season tour after resolving his doping case with the Football Association. The Ukraine international has not been allowed to play since November 2024 after being provisionally suspended for returning an ‘adverse finding’ for the banned substance meldonium. Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk (Picture: Reuters) The FA ended its anti-doping proceedings after Mudryk accepted breaching anti-doping rules and agreed to a suspension equal to the one year and eight months already served. New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said he was ‘very happy’ to welcome Mudryk back into his squad but that it was ‘too early’ to determine his performance levels. A loan move seems likely to give Mudryk the chance to get regular minutes and get back to the form that earned him a £62m move to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea academy graduate Josh Acheampong (Picture: Getty) Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg are interested in striking a deal but Fabrizio Romano has reported that Mudryk would prefer to remain in the Premier League next season if a loan becomes inevitable. Mudryk is not the only Chelsea player attracting interest from Coventry, with Lampard also keen to discuss a possible deal for Josh Acheampong, according to talkSPORT. Stamford Bridge academy graduate Acheampong has made 44 appearances for Chelsea since making his first-team debut in 2024, including 30 last season. New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso (Picture: Getty) The 20-year-old is viewed as one of the most highly-rated young defenders in Europe and as a result is deemed ‘untouchable’ by Chelsea bosses. Chelsea have already rejected several approaches for Acheampong but may see the benefit of the youngster spending a season under club legend Lampard. ‘Keep an eye on Josh Acheampong,’ talkSPORT’s Alex Crook said. ‘He’s a player that Frank Lampard would like to take to Coventry. ‘And as we get towards the end of this window, there is a possibility that Chelsea might be willing to do that deal as well.’ Alonso suggested Chelsea would offload multiple centre-backs after signing Maxence Lacroix in a £52m deal from Crystal Palace. England’s Trevor Chalobah has also departed the west London giants, joining ex-Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas at Italian side Como. Chelsea beat Real Sociedad 3-1 in their final pre-season friendly and kick-start the 2026-27 Premier League campaign against Fulham. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
BOBBY MANZI AT STAMFORD BRIDGE: There were perhaps expected boos when his name was read out before kick-off, with the World Cup runner-up starting on the bench.
Tap a headline to view metadata and excerpt fields in Sportra, then use the article website button to continue on the original publisher page.
Spirits are especially high among fans of Txuri-urdin (the white-and-blues) going into the 2026-27 LaLiga season. That’s thanks to the New Jerseyan coach Pellegrino "Rino" Matarazzo, who took Real Sociedad’s helm last December. The post Rino Matarazzo: After a dream start in Spain, LaLiga’s American coach enters season 2 appeared first on Soccer America.
The 2026-27 La Liga season has already begun, but none of the Spanish giants Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid have made their debut yet. Top leagues across Europe are already kicking off following the 2026 World Cup, and over the weekend, La Liga began its 2026-27 campaign in Spain. However, while several clubs have already taken the pitch, the league’s three heavyweights, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid, have yet to play their opening matches. The tournament opened on Saturday, August 15, with Deportivo Alaves hosting Getafe in a 3-0 victory for the home side. Throughout the weekend, only four of the 10 scheduled Matchday 1 fixtures were played, with games involving Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid postponed for a specific logistical reason. La Liga reached an official agreement with clubs that had players participating in the late stages of the 2026 World Cup to delay their domestic debuts. Teams with rostered players who reached the World Cup semifinals or beyond were granted additional mandatory rest and recovery time before starting their league schedules. Across the two semifinal matchups, seven Spanish clubs were represented: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Club, Real Sociedad, Real Betis, and Celta Vigo. Those clubs worked alongside the Spanish Footballers Association (AFE) and La Liga to reschedule their opening league fixtures to accommodate the extended break. Dean Huijsen of Real Madrid celebrates the second goal against Schalke 04. (Christof Koepsel/Getty Images) The only eligible club that chose not to request a special postponement was Celta Vigo, whose striker Borja Iglesias made Spain’s squad but logged just two minutes against Portugal in the round of 16. However, a fungal outbreak ruined the pitch at Celta’s stadium, ultimately forcing the league to reschedule their opening match against Osasuna anyway. Having an extra week before making their official debuts did not mean total rest for the clubs. Over the weekend, Barcelona played a friendly against FC Basel (a 5-2 win), Real Madrid faced Schalke 04 (a 3-0 win), and Atletico took on Olympique Marseille on Friday (a 2-1 win) to maintain match fitness ahead of the season. When are Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid debuting in La Liga? The first of the trio to make their official debut will be Atletico Madrid. The Colchoneros host Malaga at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Wednesday, August 19, meaning their overall scheduling and match preparation will experience minimal disruption compared to the rest of the league. As for Barcelona and Real Madrid, both clubs will make their 2026-27 La Liga debuts during Matchday 2 rather than Matchday 1. The Blaugrana travel to face Elche on Sunday, August 23, while Los Blancos head to Catalonia to take on Espanyol on Saturday, August 22. The two powerhouse clubs will then make up their postponed Matchday 1 fixtures during midweek action. Real Madrid face Real Sociedad on Wednesday, August 26, while Barcelona host Athletic Club on Thursday, August 27.
Manchester United should have signed Joao Pedro, according to Michael Owen (Picture: Getty) Michael Owen says he is a ‘huge fan’ of Joao Pedro and Manchester United should have looked to sign the ‘unbelievable’ forward before he joined Chelsea. Pedro left Brighton to complete a £60million move to Chelsea 12 months ago and the 24-year-old went on to enjoy an impressive debut season in an otherwise wretched campaign for the club. The versatile attacker quickly established himself as the Blues’ first-choice centre-forward ahead of fellow summer signing Liam Delap and finished with 20 goals to his name in all competitions. No doubt still hurting after missing out on Brazil’s World Cup squad, he will be looking to get off on the right foot under new manager Xabi Alonso this coming season, starting against local rivals Fulham in a week’s time. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. After finishing down in tenth last term, Chelsea have no European football to contend with this time around – giving Alonso the luxury of being able to focus purely on domestic football over the coming weeks and months. According to Owen, this could prove massively beneficial for Alonso’s men, who he is backing to finish second in the top flight behind reigning champions Arsenal. Asked to name his favourites to challenge Arsenal, Owen told The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast: ‘Chelsea. This could be way off the mark but they’ve got no Europe at all and you see how important that has been over the years. It was brilliant for Manchester United last year. Owen has high hopes for Chelsea under new manager Alonso (Picture: The Good, The Bad & The Football) Pedro scored 20 goals for Chelsea last season (Picture: Getty) ‘This manager [Xabi Alonso] did something similar with an unfancied team in Germany [Bayer Leverkusen], he’s going to change a lot, they’ve bought well.’ Owen has high hopes for Chelsea’s all-star attack this season and believes Manchester United missed a trick not trying to sign Pedro before the Blues came in for the Brazilian last year. ‘I’m a huge Joao Pedro fan, I think he’s unbelievable. In fact, Manchester United should have bought him about four years ago when he was at Watford,’ the ex-England, United and Liverpool striker explained. {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Xabi Alonso unveiled as new Chelsea manager","contentUrl":"https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2026\/07\/13\/2914846474672192337\/480x270_MP4_2914846474672192337.mp4","description":"Xabi Alonso has been posing with his own Chelsea shirt as he holds his first press conference as the new manager at Stamford Bridge.","duration":"T30S","height":270,"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/07\/13\/17\/109989603-0-image-m-5_1783958963915.jpg","uploadDate":"2026-07-13T17:13:59+0100","width":480} To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page window.addEventListener('metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded', function(data) { if (typeof(data.detail) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === 'undefined') { return; } var player = data.detail.carousel.el_; var container = player.closest('.metro-video-player'); var placeholder = container.querySelector('.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder'); if (placeholder) { container.removeChild(placeholder); container.classList.add('metro-video-player--related-videos-loaded'); } }); ‘United had nobody up front for years and I thought, “That Joao Pedro”, I love him. ‘Him, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer as a front three… strange signings in Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson obviously.’ While acknowledging ‘question marks’ surrounding Robert Sanchez, Owen feels Chelsea could ‘catch fire’ and have a ‘big
Edmond Tapsoba has been linked with a move away from Bayer Leverkusen this summer. The Burkina Faso International has done quite well in the Bundesliga, and he has the quality to succeed in the Premier League as well. Tapsoba has also been linked with Chelsea. Edmond Tapsoba could be an ideal defensive addition According to […] The post Manchester United and Tottenham make contact over €50m defender appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Real Madrid are interested in Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi, according to Teamtalk, and the move has received a seal of approval from head coach Jose Mourinho. Zubimendi played an important role in Arsenal’s Premier League title-winning campaign following his arrival from Real Sociedad for €65 million last summer, but injuries significantly reduced his influence towards the […] The post Real Madrid interested in Martin Zubimendi appeared first on SoccerNews.
Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez could take Arsenal to ‘another level’, says Martin Keown (Picture: talkSPORT) Martin Keown says Julian Alvarez could be the calibre of player to take Arsenal to ‘another level’ and help bring the club’s wait for Champions League glory to an end. Arsenal have set out their stall across a busy summer transfer window, eager to strengthen on the back of their Premier League title triumph under Mikel Arteta last season. After activating their £35million option to sign Piero Hincapie on a permanent basis from Bayer Leverkusen, the Gunners moved quickly to wrap up deals for Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis and free agent Illan Meslier. While there was disappointment as Arsenal fell short in their pursuit of top attacking target Vinicius Junior, the £75m arrival of Bruno Guimaraes came as a statement to the rest of the league that Arteta’s side are determined to build on their success. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. A comprehensive Community Shield victory over Manchester City on Sunday was further proof of this renewed desire within the group ahead of the new campaign, with new signings Tzolis and Guimaraes both impressing on their full debuts in Cardiff. But Arteta is reportedly determined to freshen up his attacking options before the transfer deadline and the English champions continue to be linked with potential big-money additions such as Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen, PSG’s Bradley Barcola and Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz. Former Arsenal and England defender Keown believes it could be time to revisit a possible deal for Atletico Madrid star Alvarez, though, despite Diego Simoene’s insistence that the striker is not for sale. Arsenal have been credited with an interest in Alvarez for some time (Picture: Getty) The Gunners prevailed over Manchester City to claim an 18th Community Shield title on Sunday (Picture: Getty) Asked if there could still be a ‘missing link’ in Arteta’s squad after Arsenal’s 3-0 win over City, Keown told talkSPORT’s Jim White: ‘We’re talking about key signings and what they do next. Obviously that’s an area… European dominance, never mind domestic dominance, the next step. ‘Of course, the two strikers are under pressure to make that happen. ‘It may be that someone like Alvarez [could be the man]. He’s a player that they looked at last season, they thought about bringing in and that could be the sort of player they’re looking at. ‘They need to decide. That’s the key at the moment, is the decisions. The ambition is there but they’ve got to make key signings at the right times. {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Arteta says Community Shield statement win proves Arsenal are 'ready for it'","contentUrl":"https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2026\/08\/17\/7779755569864816200\/480x270_MP4_7779755569864816200.mp4","description":"Mikel Arteta hailed Arsenal's desire \"to go straight again\" after Manchester City were overwhelmed 3-0 by the Premier League champions in the Community Shield.","duration":"T8M14S","height":270,"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/08\/17\/07\/110678029-0-image-a-8_1786947795231.jpg","uploadDate":"2026-08-17T07:22:17+0100","width":480} To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page window.addEventListener('metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded', function(data) { if (typeof(data.detail) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === 'undefined') { return; } var player = data.detail.carousel.el_; var container = player.closest('.metro-video-player'); var placeholder = container.querySelector('.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder'); if (placeholder) { container.removeChild(placeholder); container.classList.ad
Chelsea could be heading for a busy finish to the summer transfer window, with Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap and Tosin Adarabioyo all available for moves away from Stamford Bridge. The trio were left out of Chelsea’s squad for their 3-1 pre-season victory over Real Sociedad, a significant decision with the Premier League campaign approaching. Want […] The post Trio for sale: Romano confirms three high profile Chelsea exits are still possible appeared first on CaughtOffside.
With his penalty against Nashville SC, Lionel Messi has reached three consecutive misses from the 12 yards between Argentina and Inter Miami, tying the worst record in his career. Lionel Messi‘s return to Major League Soccer action was far from a dream night, as he failed to convert a penalty during Inter Miami‘s humbling 4-1 loss to Nashville SC on Saturday. The failed attempt marks his third consecutive missed penalty across competitions for club and with the Argentina national team, matching the longest spot-kick drought of his career. After Andy Najar put Nashville ahead in the 17th minute off an accurate cross from Elias Saad, Inter Miami pressed aggressively for an immediate equalizer. Following a lofted pass over the defense from Casemiro, Luis Suarez controlled the ball, cut back onto his left foot, and was brought down in the box by Jeisson Palacios after a mistimed tackle in the 22nd minute. Messi stepped up to the spot, using a stutter-step approach to try and freeze Brian Schwake. Though the goalkeeper committed early and dived to his right, Schwake managed to stick out his legs and make the save. Sergio Reguilon pounced on the rebound and slotted it into the back of the net, but the goal was quickly disallowed due to encroaching into the penalty area. Failing to convert from the spot against Nashville extends Messi’s current slide to three straight misses from 12 yards out. Saturday’s failure was also his second missed penalty in an Inter Miami shirt, with the first occurring back in September 2025 during a 3-0 regular-season defeat against Charlotte FC. Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF takes a misses the penalty against Nashville SC. (Carly Mackler/Getty Images) The penalty miss against Nashville highlights a rare dip in execution for the Argentine legend when facing opposing goalkeepers from the spot. During the 2026 World Cup with Argentina, he dragged a penalty wide in a group-stage match against Austria, and had another attempt saved by Mostafa Shobeir in a round of 16 clash against Egypt, bringing his total to three straight failures. Despite the recent slump, Messi remains one of the premier dead-ball technicians in modern soccer history. Across 149 career penalty attempts for club and country, the forward has converted 114 times while missing 35, maintaining a respectable 76.5% conversion rate. When did Messi last miss three consecutive penalties? As the captain and primary penalty taker for both Inter Miami and Argentina, Messi naturally carries the responsibility whenever a spot kick is awarded. While this three-match slump is an unusual sight, it is not the first time he has endured a cold stretch from the spot. The only other time Lionel Messi missed three consecutive penalties was back in 2014 while playing for FC Barcelona and Argentina. That run began in an April 2014 match against Real Betis, where Antonio Adan saved a late attempt in the 86th minute. His next miss came that September in a 5-0 win over Levante UD when he fired completely wide, followed by an October friendly with Argentina where Brazil goalkeeper Jefferson stopped his 40th-minute effort. Messi ultimately snapped that 2014 drought in November during an international friendly against Croatia at Boleyn Ground, converting from the spot to secure a 2-1 victory. Inter Miami return to action next Wednesday against the Philadelphia Union, where Messi will look to end his current drought or risk setting an unprecedented personal low.
Belgian is the first non-Scot in role since Berti VogtsSFA welcomes ‘aggressive, front-foot style of play’The Scottish Football Association has appointed the Belgian Sébastien Pocognoli as the successor to Steve Clarke as manager. The 39-year-old, who was sacked by Monaco in June, will become the country’s first non-Scottish manager since Berti Vogts, who was in charge from 2002 to 2004.Clarke’s abrupt departure came after Scotland were knocked out of the World Cup at the group stage. He had signed a four-year contract extension immediately before the tournament. It quickly became clear the SFA would turn towards a foreign manager with the Danes Jon Dahl Tomasson and Kasper Hjulmand being linked with the position. Continue reading...
It took Morgan Rogers only seven minutes to score his first goal in a Chelsea shirt in Saturday's 3-1 friendly win over Real Sociedad as he reacted quickest after Alex Remiro saved Joao Pedro's initial header. The £117m club record signing from Aston Villa initially looked sharp and linked well with Cole Palmer and Pedro in Chelsea's front three. Beyond Rogers, Joao Pedro has been the star of Chelsea's pre-season.
Newcastle United are exploring an ambitious move for Bayer Leverkusen forward Christian Kofane as Matthias Jaissle and sporting director Ross Wilson continue rebuilding a squad hit by major departures. The Magpies have lost Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon this summer, leaving Jaissle short of the attacking quality and established personalities previously central to […] The post Newcastle United scout £87m striker as Magpies look to make major statement appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Coventry manager and Chelsea legend Frank Lampard (Picture: Getty) Frank Lampard has expressed interest in signing a second Chelsea star for Coventry City after making an approach for Mykhailo Mudryk. Lampard is keen to bolster his Coventry squad further as he prepares for their return to the Premier League. Coventry face Premier League champions Arsenal in their opening fixture of the new season after storming to the Championship title last term. The Sky Blues have signed Caleb Yirenkyi, Carl Rushworth, Lous Tchauouna, Aurele Amenda, Gustavo Hamer, Frank Onyenka and Normal Bassette so far this summer. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. But Lampard wants to welcome a few more signings to the Midlands club before the end of the summer transfer window and has informed Chelsea of his interest in Mudryk. Mudryk joined the latter stages of Chelsea’s pre-season tour after resolving his doping case with the Football Association. The Ukraine international has not been allowed to play since November 2024 after being provisionally suspended for returning an ‘adverse finding’ for the banned substance meldonium. Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk (Picture: Reuters) The FA ended its anti-doping proceedings after Mudryk accepted breaching anti-doping rules and agreed to a suspension equal to the one year and eight months already served. New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said he was ‘very happy’ to welcome Mudryk back into his squad but that it was ‘too early’ to determine his performance levels. A loan move seems likely to give Mudryk the chance to get regular minutes and get back to the form that earned him a £62m move to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea academy graduate Josh Acheampong (Picture: Getty) Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg are interested in striking a deal but Fabrizio Romano has reported that Mudryk would prefer to remain in the Premier League next season if a loan becomes inevitable. Mudryk is not the only Chelsea player attracting interest from Coventry, with Lampard also keen to discuss a possible deal for Josh Acheampong, according to talkSPORT. Stamford Bridge academy graduate Acheampong has made 44 appearances for Chelsea since making his first-team debut in 2024, including 30 last season. New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso (Picture: Getty) The 20-year-old is viewed as one of the most highly-rated young defenders in Europe and as a result is deemed ‘untouchable’ by Chelsea bosses. Chelsea have already rejected several approaches for Acheampong but may see the benefit of the youngster spending a season under club legend Lampard. ‘Keep an eye on Josh Acheampong,’ talkSPORT’s Alex Crook said. ‘He’s a player that Frank Lampard would like to take to Coventry. ‘And as we get towards the end of this window, there is a possibility that Chelsea might be willing to do that deal as well.’ Alonso suggested Chelsea would offload multiple centre-backs after signing Maxence Lacroix in a £52m deal from Crystal Palace. England’s Trevor Chalobah has also departed the west London giants, joining ex-Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas at Italian side Como. Chelsea beat Real Sociedad 3-1 in their final pre-season friendly and kick-start the 2026-27 Premier League campaign against Fulham. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
BOBBY MANZI AT STAMFORD BRIDGE: There were perhaps expected boos when his name was read out before kick-off, with the World Cup runner-up starting on the bench.
Tap a headline to view metadata and excerpt fields in Sportra, then use the article website button to continue on the original publisher page.
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Fcarrick-tapsoba-email-sportmole-6a83ff593ae05832751770.png)
