For Real Madrid supporters, the new season had been worryingly labored, bordering on wasteful. It began with a 0-0 draw against Real Sociedad, continued with a narrow win over 10-man Real Betis that required a late Sergio Ramos penalty and reached a crescendo at mid-week after Vinícius Júnior’s scuffed effort was the only difference in a home victory over Valladolid.
Irrepressible Atalanta kept up their record of scoring at least four goals in every game this season as they despatched Cagliari 5-2 on Sunday to maintain their 100 percent record in Serie A.
Luis Muriel, Alejandro Gómez, Mario Pašalić, Duván Zapata and Sam Lammers shared the goals in another hugely entertaining Atalanta performance while Diego Godín and João Pedro replied for the Sardinians, whose goalkeeper Alessio Cragno spared them further damage.
Italian champion Juventus announced on Saturday that its entire squad has gone into isolation after two staff members tested positive for COVID-19.
Juventus, which is scheduled to host Napoli on Sunday, confirmed those returning positive tests were "neither players nor members of the technical or medical staff."
Team in fiduciary isolationhttps://t.co/iVRUG23N4e pic.twitter.com/GWe5dRxHsj
NYON, Switzerland — Seven-time European champion AC Milan, winners of a marathon 24-penalty shootout against Rio Ave on Thursday, were rewarded by being drawn against Celtic and Lille in their Europa League Group on Thursday.
Milan, banned from the competition last season for breaching UEFA's break-even Financial Fair Play rule, scraped through 9-8 on penalties after snatching a last-gasp 2-2 draw with the Portuguese side.
The 2020/21 group stage is set
The clubs competing in the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League group stage have been announced and boy oh boy do we have some great games to look forward to. Let’s skip the chit-chat and show you the full look of the groups and the takeaways.
The official result of the #UCLdraw!
Most exciting group stage match? pic.twitter.com/d7ynuEjPq3
It was one of football's most successful midfield partnerships: on the one hand, the snarling, combative Gennaro Gattuso, and on the other, the thoughtful, elegant, unflappable Andrea Pirlo.
The pair formed the backbone of a memorable AC Milan team for more than a decade and helped Italy win the 2006 World Cup.
Barcelona have completed the signing of United States full back Sergiño Dest from Ajax for $24.70 million plus five more in variables, the LaLiga side said on Thursday.
Barca's statement added that Dest, 19, had agreed to sign a five-year contract with a release clause of $470 million. Dest, who broke into Ajax's first team from their academy last season and has played three times for the U.S., will be officially presented on Friday.
After losing 2-0 to Santa Clara in their Primeira Liga opener, the pressure was on Marítimo to secure a result against Tondela on Saturday.
Things started off well enough with Rodrigo Pinho finishing from close range in the 34th minute to open the scoring for Marítimo, but things turned sour when defender Fábio China was handed a straight red for the denial of a goal-scoring opportunity in the 41st minute.
In what is perhaps one of the most surprising transfer developments of the week, Aston Villa completed the season-long loan signing of Ross Barkley from Chelsea on Wednesday.
Morning, Villans.
Welcome to Aston Villa, @RBarkley8!
The biggest matchup in Germany will see its latest edition play out on Tuesday as Bayern Munich will take on Borussia Dortmund with the German Supercup on the line.
Bring on the Supercup
FC Bayern
Supercup
9/30/20
2:30 PM ET / 19:30 BST / 20:30 CEST
Allianz Arena pic.twitter.com/WpywCSUPYm— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) September 29, 2020