Former Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure says football is entering “a new era” as he prepares to become the first African coach to lead a team in the UEFA Champions League.

Toure will take charge of Slovan Bratislava against reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the competition’s league phase, having guided the Slovakian club through three qualifying rounds to secure their place among Europe’s elite.

“It is true that it feels a bit strange,” Toure told reporters in Paris on the eve of Slovan’s opening match.

“But on a personal level it is really nice. This is an important new era. We can say that things are now changing and moving forward.

“There are people who are brave enough to take young coaches, who are eager to work, who want to move things forward in a positive way.”

Toure, 43, became Slovan manager in July after leaving his role as an assistant coach with the Saudi Arabia national team. The club have won the Slovakian domestic title in each of the past eight seasons.

His appointment has now led to a landmark moment for African coaches in the Champions League. No African-born coach has previously managed a team in the competition, although several European coaches who were born in Africa have taken charge in the tournament.

Portugal’s Carlos Queiroz was born in Mozambique, as was fellow Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca, while former France manager Jean Tigana was born in Bamako, Mali.

Toure credited Slovan’s management, including former Slovakia striker Robert Vittek, who is now the club’s sporting director, for giving him the opportunity.

“Because it's not easy. It's very, very difficult for us. We have to work two or three times harder” to get such an opportunity, Toure said.

The Ivorian won 97 international caps and was part of the Barcelona side managed by Pep Guardiola that lifted the Champions League trophy in 2009.

His first weeks in charge of Slovan began positively, with the club winning their opening four domestic league matches of the season. They have since suffered successive defeats before travelling to Paris.

Toure, however, said Slovan would not be weighed down by pressure against Luis Enrique’s side. The Slovakian champions lost all eight of their matches during their previous league-phase campaign two years ago.

Despite facing the back-to-back European champions, Toure said the occasion should be welcomed rather than feared.

“It is a pleasure. Luis Enrique is a great coach and one of the best around just now. So to play against his team is just a pleasure.”

Graeme Souness has criticised Declan Rice’s role in the Arsenal midfield, claiming the England international plays too deeply to influence matches and describing his approach as “old man's football” and “cheating”.

Rice was involved in a heated confrontation with England team-mate Morgan Rogers during Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea at the weekend. The incident began when Rice appeared to trip Rogers, with the two players then pushing and grabbing each other.

Despite the clash, Rice escaped without receiving a yellow card.

The midfielder’s involvement has come under scrutiny after a difficult start to the season. Arsenal have made a perfect start, but Rice has so far struggled to make the same impact he has previously produced under manager Mikel Arteta.

Speaking on Piers Morgan's Football Uncensored show, former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder Souness questioned whether Rice should be regarded as an elite midfielder because of his defensive positioning.

"How many times do you see him as the last man with the ball? In the build-up, he's last man. He's sitting between two centre-halves or between the centre-half and the full-back. He's last man. A lot of the time, he doesn't play in midfield.

"In my second or third home game (of my career), I went into the back four like all midfield players do today. It's old man's football. It's cheating. An old man's way of playing midfield. You get the ball under no pressure and you play it out to the full-back.

"He (Rice) plays too deep to affect the game. I don't think he's got enough football. Let me tell you what he can do. He's the best defensive midfielder in the country right now, he smells danger. But then again, he's back there all the time."

Souness added: “But modern players are a bit precious. Criticism doesn't fall easily on these (players') shoulders. He isn't the complete midfield player."

Rice joined Arsenal for about £105m and has become a key player for the club. However, Souness believes the 26-year-old must take up more advanced positions if he is to exert greater influence on matches.

The former West Ham United midfielder has been used by Arteta in different roles since arriving at Emirates Stadium, but Souness’ criticism centres on the amount of time Rice spends close to Arsenal’s defenders during build-up play.

Souness acknowledged Rice’s qualities without the ball, identifying him as “the best defensive midfielder in the country right now” because of his ability to recognise and deal with danger. His argument, however, is that Rice’s consistently deep position limits his contribution in possession and prevents him from becoming a complete midfield player.

Arsenal’s early results remain perfect, but the debate over Rice’s positioning has added another talking point around Arteta’s side. The weekend victory over Chelsea also provided a tense moment between two England players, although the confrontation did not result in Rice being booked.

Lassine Sinayoko scored a hat-trick as Paris FC claimed a historic 3-2 victory over Marseille, while Assane Diao and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also made decisive contributions during a prolific weekend for African players in Europe’s top five leagues.

Sinayoko needed only 25 seconds to give Paris FC the lead at the Stade Velodrome, sliding Luca Koleosho’s inviting cross into the net. It was the fastest Ligue 1 goal in more than two years.

The Mali international struck again in the 19th minute, rising to meet Pablo Pagis’ dangerous delivery. His header took a deflection on its way into the goal, restoring Paris FC’s advantage after Marseille had twice responded through Amine Gouiri.

Sinayoko completed his treble late in the game from the penalty spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way after a VAR review awarded a handball. The result secured a landmark win for Paris FC.

Assane Diao scored twice as Como maintained their unbeaten start to the Serie A season with an impressive 4-1 victory over Genoa at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Genoa had taken a surprise lead shortly before the 20-minute mark when Milutin Osmajic converted Lorenzo Colombo’s cutback. Como levelled quickly through Martin Baturina, whose low shot found the far corner.

Diao then put the visitors in front after goalkeeper Justin Bijlow made an error. The Senegal forward’s controlled volley squeezed underneath the goalkeeper, prompting an animated celebration from Como head coach Cesc Fabregas on the touchline.

Nico Paz added a third before the interval, giving Como a commanding advantage. The visitors controlled the second half while continuing to threaten, and Diao completed his brace in the 78th minute by calmly finding the far corner after substitute Moise Kean supplied the assist.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was also influential as Deportivo A Coruna came from behind twice to defeat Villarreal 3-2 in a thrilling LaLiga match.

Ivory Coast forward Nicolas Pepe opened the scoring after 19 minutes. He took advantage of hesitant goalkeeping from Leo Roman before lifting a composed left-footed finish into the far corner for his second goal of the season.

Aubameyang then turned provider, setting up Lusimi Cruz to equalise with a clinical half-volley shortly before half-time. Villarreal, known as the Yellow Submarine, regained the lead when Adama Traore turned the ball into his own net.

Deportivo responded almost immediately. Aubameyang created the equaliser for substitute Zakaria Eddahchouri before scoring the winner himself in the 89th minute. He intercepted a loose pass, raced clear and fired a powerful right-footed shot beyond Luiz Junior.

The goal extended the Gabon striker’s scoring run to four consecutive LaLiga matches and lifted Deportivo into the top four.

Bryan Mbeumo produced a moment of individual brilliance for Manchester United, but Everton snatched a dramatic 2-2 draw at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Cameroon international had been a constant threat and opened the scoring only 61 seconds after half-time. Receiving the ball on the right, he cut inside, resisted two challenges and curled an inch-perfect effort from 18 yards into the bottom corner.

Mbeumo had earlier been involved in one of United’s best first-half attacks. Luke Shaw’s cross reached him at the far post and his cushioned header set up Bruno Fernandes, whose volley struck the crossbar.

Everton equalised through Tyrique George seven minutes from full-time, but Benjamin Sesko headed Manchester United back in front in the 88th minute. Ainsley Maitland-Niles then completed a remarkable debut by curling in a 96th-minute equaliser, extending Everton’s unbeaten start to four matches.

In Germany, Algeria international Ibrahim Maza scored a superb goal as Bayer Leverkusen beat Union Berlin 4-0 at the BayArena.

Leverkusen made a flying start, taking the lead after just 41 seconds through Equi Fernandez. Facundo Medina headed in a second before Patrik Schick added another shortly after the restart.

Maza completed the rout in the 60th minute. He combined brilliantly with Schick before driving a powerful right-footed strike high into the net from the edge of the penalty area.

Serhou Guirassy helped Borussia Dortmund recover from two goals down to beat Hoffenheim 3-2.

The hosts appeared on course for victory after Leon Avdullahu and Tim Lemperle had given them a commanding lead. Guirassy, however, revived Dortmund’s hopes on the hour, showing composure to dink the ball over the goalkeeper after Waldemar Anton won possession and found him in the box.

The Guinea international soon became provider, threading a precise pass through to substitute Fabio Silva, who finished superbly from an angle to make it 2-2.

Dortmund completed the comeback three minutes from time when Albian Hajdari inadvertently turned Ethan Nwaneri’s cross into his own net.

Kamory Doumbia scored both goals as Brest secured their first Ligue 1 win of the season, beating 10-man Le Havre 2-1 at Stade Oceane.

The Mali midfielder opened the scoring after 10 minutes by converting a penalty awarded when goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau brought down Ludovic Ajorque.

Le Havre’s task became more difficult before half-time as Junior Mwanga was sent off for pulling down Mama Balde while last man. Doumbia doubled Brest’s advantage six minutes after the interval, arriving inside the box to meet Balde’s pass and finish from close range.

Rayan Fofana reduced the deficit from the penalty spot, but Doumbia’s brace secured all three points for the visitors.

Nice and Le Mans remain without a Ligue 1 win after drawing 1-1 at the Allianz Riviera, with Adil Bourabaa and Elye Wahi both finding the net.

Bourabaa stunned Nice in the 13th minute with a spectacular 25-yard strike into the far corner. Nice increased the pressure and equalised shortly before the break when Sofiane Diop sent Wahi through on goal.

Wahi showed excellent composure to round Ewan Hatfout and finish from a tight angle, scoring his first goal of the season.

Paris Saint-Germain are aiming to become only the second club in the modern Champions League era to win the trophy three times in succession after establishing themselves among Europe’s elite under Luis Enrique.

“Doing the treble is the objective, but we know it's going to be very difficult and that there will be obstacles in our way,” said PSG captain Marquinhos on the eve of the new campaign.

The Qatar-owned club endured years of disappointment in the competition before former Barcelona and Spain coach Luis Enrique took charge in 2023. PSG reached the semi-finals in his first season, then made further progress after Kylian Mbappe left in 2024.

Freed from dependence on one or two superstar players, they swept aside Inter Milan with a 5-0 victory in the 2025 final to claim their first Champions League title.

They then retained the trophy last season by beating Premier League champions Arsenal on penalties in the final in Budapest. That made PSG only the second team to defend the Champions League since the competition adopted its modern format in 1992.

A third consecutive triumph would place them in a far more exclusive group.

Real Madrid achieved the feat under Zinedine Zidane between 2016 and 2018. Johan Cruyff’s Ajax and Franz Beckenbauer’s Bayern Munich both won three successive European Cups during the 1970s, while Alfredo Di Stefano’s Real Madrid claimed five in a row from 1956 to 1960.

Those are the teams PSG hope to join, although the challenge is arguably greater now than it was in previous eras. The expanded Champions League schedule meant the French side had to play 17 matches to win the trophy in each of the past two seasons.

At their best, PSG are one of the most exciting sides in Europe. Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia provide speed and danger in attack, while full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes offer an additional attacking threat.

In midfield, the technically gifted Vitinha leads a trio capable of controlling matches against opponents with greater physical strength.

That combination helped PSG win two Champions League titles and two UEFA Super Cups, despite facing Premier League opposition 18 times over the past two years.

The workload could prove to be their greatest threat. PSG played 121 competitive matches during the last two seasons, with only a three-week break between them because of the Club World Cup.

Most of the squad had also featured in major tournaments in 2024, while another shortened summer holiday followed because of the World Cup.

That demanding schedule may account for PSG’s sluggish start to the current campaign. Even so, their advantage over the rest of France’s top flight remains so significant that they are still favourites to win Ligue 1, even if they regularly rest important players to keep them fresh for Europe.

Their Champions League campaign begins with one of the more favourable fixtures available, as Slovan Bratislava are first up. The difficulty will rise quickly, with PSG travelling to face Manchester City and then hosting Barcelona in October.

The squad has changed, with PSG selling one of their leading players in Bradley Barcola, who joined Liverpool for a substantial fee. Goncalo Ramos, Lee Kang-in and Ibrahim Mbaye, all useful squad members last season, have also departed.

Maghnes Akliouche, who represented France at the World Cup, and Ferran Torres, Spain’s final match-winner in North America, headline the incoming players. Torres previously worked with Luis Enrique while playing for his country.

“He was like a footballing father for me when I played for him in the national team,” Torres said after moving from Barcelona.

Luis Enrique’s influence has become greater than that of any individual player, and the manager has signed a new contract that will keep him in Paris until 2030.

“It is the first time I have stayed four years at the same club, and I am more motivated than I was in my first year,” he said, making clear that his desire for success has not diminished.

For PSG’s rivals, that continued hunger could be the most worrying development of all.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard have made such a strong return to form that they feel like “new signings” for the club this season.

The Gunners maintained their perfect start to the Premier League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The result sent Arsenal charging towards the top of the table, where they are level with Manchester City.

Rather than summer arrivals, it was established members of Arteta’s squad who made the difference. Ødegaard and Havertz scored the goals, despite both players having been with Arsenal for several seasons.

Havertz has almost displaced Viktor Gyokeres as the team’s leading attacking option, while Ødegaard is competing to retain his place in midfield before the return of new signing Bruno Guimaraes. Their form has added further strength to an Arsenal side that is already showing impressive early-season momentum.

Arteta was speaking after the Chelsea victory, with Arsenal preparing for this week’s Champions League meeting with Italian giants Napoli. The manager praised the renewed confidence of Havertz, who has also benefited from feeling settled away from the pitch.

"Yeah, he looks, again, he looks happy, he looks settled, he looks happy, his personal life, some great things have happened as well, he feels fit, he's training every day, he has this routine right now, and he's scoring goals, and not only that, but it's been an amazing work for the team.”

The Arsenal boss also highlighted Ødegaard’s fitness and self-belief after the Norway international missed a significant amount of football.

"Well first of all that he's fit, he feels confident, I think one of the highest that I've seen him, and he has a point to prove from last season as well, and after missing so much football.

"When that happens, Kai the same,Bukayo(Saka) the same, we miss so many attacking players last season for long, long periods, and I don't know how many times they've played together those two in the last year or so, but probably not much, and when you start to feel the chemistry they have between them and what they can produce, it's great.

"For me, he gets to that point because he's enjoying his football, and when you are that, you have to enjoy what you do, you have to play with real intent, and that's what I love to see him today, he was running forward, he took shots, he created so many situations for his teammates, so it was great."

Arsenal had been unable to persuade Julian Alvarez to return to the Premier League from Atletico de Madrid during the summer. However, Havertz’s improvement has provided Arteta with an increasingly effective alternative in attack.

At the same time, Ødegaard’s performances have intensified competition in midfield ahead of Bruno Guimaraes’ return. With both players contributing goals and linking effectively with their team-mates, Arsenal appear even more formidable as they seek to defend their title.

Alvaro Valles was the standout goalkeeper as Real Madrid suffered a first defeat of the LaLiga season, while Barcelona forwards Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal led the latest Flashscore Team of the Weekend.

Valles saved a late Kylian Mbappe penalty to preserve Real Betis’ 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in Seville on Friday, completing a six-save performance that earned him a rating of 9.5.

Barcelona’s attacking pair were rated even higher after their outstanding displays in a 5-0 win at Valencia. Fermin recorded the highest score of the weekend, with a 9.7 rating, while Yamal followed closely on 9.6.

The Team of the Weekend is selected using Flashscore’s in-house player rating system, which combines key statistics with advanced performance metrics from matches across Europe’s leading leagues.

Fermin Lopez (Barcelona) – 9.7

Barcelona’s emphatic win at Mestalla provided the weekend’s highest-rated individual performance, with Fermin Lopez playing a decisive role in a dominant display.

The midfielder opened the scoring by producing a deftly weighted pass for Lamine Yamal, before doubling Barcelona’s advantage with a superb finish into the bottom corner after just 22 minutes.

Fermin came close to adding another before half-time and then created Barcelona’s third goal soon after the restart, presenting Raphinha with a chance he converted.

His influence was particularly evident in the inside-right channel. He completed four dribbles and recorded 10 touches in Valencia’s penalty area as Barcelona continued their excellent start to the LaLiga season.

The Catalan side have won all four of their opening matches, scoring five goals in three of those victories and conceding only twice.

Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) – 9.6

Yamal matched Fermin’s impact in Valencia by scoring twice and finishing with the game’s highest totals for touches, with 105, and touches in the opposition penalty area, with 19.

The Spain international had made a subdued start to the campaign, producing an underwhelming display in the opening match at Elche and failing to score in Barcelona’s first home game.

That form has since changed dramatically. Yamal scored twice in Barcelona’s win against Rayo Vallecano on Monday, earning a match-leading rating of 9.7, before finding the net twice more against Valencia.

His four goals in the space of one week marked a significant return to form.

Alvaro Valles (Betis) – 9.5

Betis goalkeeper Valles was the major reason Real Madrid left Seville without anything to show for their efforts.

Troy Parrott scored the only goal after 80 minutes with a poacher’s finish, but it was Valles who dominated the match ratings. His six saves kept out efforts worth 2.98 expected goals on target (xGOT), allowing Manuel Pellegrini’s side to claim all three points.

The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time, when the 29-year-old denied Mbappe from the penalty spot. That save completed a remarkable display and secured Betis’ first victory over Real Madrid in a match in which the visitors dropped their first points of the season.

The rest of the XI also included strong performances from Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Turkish Super Lig and the Eredivisie.

Inter defender Manuel Akanji and Roma centre-back Mario Hermoso formed part of the back three after both registered goal involvements on Saturday. Inter defeated Napoli, while Roma edged past Atalanta, with both clubs maintaining unbeaten starts to the season.

Mainz supplied both the left-sided defender and centre-forward. Austrian wing-back Phillipp Mwene scored and assisted in Mainz’s 5-0 away win at Hamburger SV, while Suriname striker Sheraldo Becker contributed a goal and two assists in one of the weekend’s most impressive results.

Lassine Sinayoko was the outstanding performer in Ligue 1 after scoring all three goals in Paris FC’s remarkable 3-2 victory at Marseille on Sunday evening.

Feyenoord’s Gjivai Zechiel also made the XI after scoring once and providing two assists. Alexandros Kyziridis impressed in the Turkish Super Lig, while Brazilian William Gomes produced the joint-highest rating in Porto’s Friday victory.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso says he does not want to repeat the mistake of bringing Moises Caicedo back too soon after the midfielder missed Sunday's 2-1 Premier League defeat by Arsenal.

The 24-year-old was left out of Chelsea's squad for their visit to Emirates Stadium after suffering a setback in the side's previous match against Brighton. Romeo Lavia and Reece James were used in central midfield in Caicedo's absence.

Caicedo had returned to action in Chelsea's win over Brighton after recovering from a slight knock. However, his comeback lasted only 14 minutes before he was forced to leave the pitch, appearing to aggravate the problem.

Alonso acknowledged after the loss to Arsenal that Chelsea may have taken a risk by selecting Caicedo against Brighton. The manager was asked when the Ecuador midfielder might be available again and suggested the club would take a cautious approach while assessing his condition.

“Not longer term but it is about assessing the risk. Probably last week we took him too early and I don't want to take the same mistake again.”

The comments indicate that Caicedo is unlikely to return for Chelsea's next fixture, with Leeds due to visit in the League Cup on Wednesday, September 9.

Chelsea's defeat at Arsenal came with Caicedo unavailable for selection, leaving Alonso to reorganise the midfield. Lavia and James were deployed in the central positions for the Premier League meeting at Emirates Stadium, while the club continues to monitor Caicedo's fitness.

The midfielder's latest issue follows his brief appearance against Brighton, where he was unable to complete the match after returning from the initial knock. Alonso's admission suggests the priority is now to avoid another premature comeback rather than set an immediate return date.

Chelsea therefore face uncertainty over Caicedo's involvement in the League Cup, although the available information points towards him missing the match against Leeds. No specific timeframe for his return has been provided.

The loss to Arsenal leaves Chelsea preparing for their next match without one of their important midfield options. Alonso's update focused on the need to assess the risk surrounding Caicedo's recovery, rather than committing to a date for his return.

Everton preserved their unbeaten start to the 2026/27 Premier League season with a dramatic 2-2 draw against Manchester United at Goodison Park, but manager David Moyes admitted his side did not show enough threat in the final third to secure victory.

The Toffees had to fight back twice before earning a point in a game that remained in the balance until the final moments. Tyrique George scored a late equaliser to make it 1-1, before Everton required another goal deep into added time to avoid defeat.

That second leveller came from debutant Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who rescued a point for Moyes' team and maintained their unbeaten record at the start of the campaign.

Everton have now needed a late goal to prevent defeat in each of the past two weekends. The previous week, James Tarkowski scored late on to earn them a draw away at Bournemouth.

The result against Manchester United means Everton remain unbeaten, but Moyes made clear that avoiding defeat had not been his objective before kick-off. The manager believed his side had an opportunity to claim all three points, only for their inability to create and convert enough chances to undermine their performance.

"I'm probably disappointed that we didn't win today. I set out hoping we would win the game and I felt we had a big chance to do that.

"I was desperate to win, but it didn't go that way. In the final third we just didn't have enough and our crosses into the box weren't good enough.

"Deliveries from set plays were not good enough to get us goals in those situations either. We got there in the end, but for me, the lack of good chances to score was the part of our performance which I didn't like.

Moyes' comments highlighted a familiar concern for Everton despite the positive result: their attacking play did not produce enough clear opportunities. He also criticised the quality of the deliveries into the penalty area, both from open play and from set pieces.

The late goals have allowed Everton to continue their unbeaten run, but the manager will want his side to become more efficient in attack if they are to turn draws into wins. Against Manchester United, their resilience was enough to secure a point, although the performance left Moyes dissatisfied with the chances his team created.

Everton's next fixture is another Premier League away game, with Moyes' side travelling to face winless Tottenham on 12 September. The match will give Everton the chance to extend their unbeaten start to the 2026/27 season, while addressing the attacking shortcomings that frustrated their manager in the draw with Manchester United.

Everton preserved their unbeaten start to the 2026/27 Premier League season with a dramatic 2-2 draw against Manchester United at Goodison Park, but manager David Moyes admitted his side did not show enough threat in the final third to secure victory.

The Toffees had to fight back twice before earning a point in a game that remained in the balance until the final moments. Tyrique George scored a late equaliser to make it 1-1, before Everton required another goal deep into added time to avoid defeat.

That second leveller came from debutant Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who rescued a point for Moyes' team and maintained their unbeaten record at the start of the campaign.

Everton have now needed a late goal to prevent defeat in each of the past two weekends. The previous week, James Tarkowski scored late on to earn them a draw away at Bournemouth.

The result against Manchester United means Everton remain unbeaten, but Moyes made clear that avoiding defeat had not been his objective before kick-off. The manager believed his side had an opportunity to claim all three points, only for their inability to create and convert enough chances to undermine their performance.

"I'm probably disappointed that we didn't win today. I set out hoping we would win the game and I felt we had a big chance to do that.

"I was desperate to win, but it didn't go that way. In the final third we just didn't have enough and our crosses into the box weren't good enough.

"Deliveries from set plays were not good enough to get us goals in those situations either. We got there in the end, but for me, the lack of good chances to score was the part of our performance which I didn't like.

Moyes' comments highlighted a familiar concern for Everton despite the positive result: their attacking play did not produce enough clear opportunities. He also criticised the quality of the deliveries into the penalty area, both from open play and from set pieces.

The late goals have allowed Everton to continue their unbeaten run, but the manager will want his side to become more efficient in attack if they are to turn draws into wins. Against Manchester United, their resilience was enough to secure a point, although the performance left Moyes dissatisfied with the chances his team created.

Everton's next fixture is another Premier League away game, with Moyes' side travelling to face winless Tottenham on 12 September. The match will give Everton the chance to extend their unbeaten start to the 2026/27 season, while addressing the attacking shortcomings that frustrated their manager in the draw with Manchester United.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has made a spectacular start to life at Deportivo La Coruna, while Barcelona have continued their perfect LaLiga campaign. At the other end of the scale, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid suffered damaging setbacks, and Fiorentina’s costly summer rebuild has produced three defeats from three matches.

The weekend’s winners and losers also included Bundesliga newcomers SV Elversberg, who staged a remarkable comeback at Borussia Monchengladbach, and Telstar goalkeeper Ronald Koeman, whose late penalty secured a dramatic draw in the Eredivisie.

Aubameyang thriving at Deportivo

At the age of 37, Aubameyang was expected by some to have joined newly promoted Deportivo La Coruna simply to enjoy a quiet conclusion to his career.

The Gabon international has quickly proved that assumption wrong. He has scored in each of his four appearances this season, and his latest performance was even more influential.

Aubameyang scored once and supplied two assists as Deportivo came from behind to defeat Villarreal away from home. The former Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal and Barcelona forward was involved in all three of his side’s goals.

His contribution has gone beyond the numbers. Aubameyang has brought energy through his movement, intelligent runs and awareness of space, making him one of the outstanding signings in Galicia.

Fiorentina’s expensive rebuild goes wrong

Fiorentina invested €150m on new players during the summer. Even after taking sales into account, their net spending remains above €120m.

The return after three Serie A matches has been bleak. The Viola have lost all three games, including their past two at home, scoring only once and conceding nine goals.

Franco Mastantuono, Mateo Pellegrino, Beto and Christ Inao Oulai are among the new arrivals brought in during the rebuilding process, but Fiorentina are bottom of the table.

Their difficult start became even more turbulent on Sunday when head coach Fabio Grosso was sacked.

Elversberg stun Borussia Monchengladbach

After Deportivo’s impressive form in Spain, SV Elversberg have provided another source of surprise in Germany.

The Bundesliga newcomers opened their campaign by beating Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 after building a 3-0 lead. That result might have been dismissed as the excitement of a first appearance at the top level, but their latest comeback suggested otherwise.

Elversberg trailed Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 with 25 minutes remaining. Substitute Maurice Krattenmacher reduced the deficit shortly after entering the match, before Felix Keidel levelled the score with 10 minutes left.

Krattenmacher then completed the turnaround in stoppage time. His second goal, scored less than half an hour after coming on, sent the visiting supporters into celebration and lifted the promoted club into a share of top spot in the Bundesliga.

PSG’s poor Ligue 1 start

The two-time European champions and dominant force in French football are facing an unusually difficult beginning to their domestic season.

Paris Saint-Germain extended Luis Enrique’s contract until 2030 and announced the renewals of five players at the same time, but their results have not matched that show of confidence. They have drawn twice and lost once in their opening three Ligue 1 matches, their worst start in 19 years.

The latest disappointment came on Friday against Monaco. PSG surrendered a lead against one of their direct rivals, while Monaco have won every match since the arrival of new head coach Filipe Luis.

PSG have often begun slowly in the Champions League before finding another level in the knockout stages and going on to win the trophy. A poor domestic start is less familiar, however.

They are expected to improve, but for now PSG are among this weekend’s ‘losers’.

Barcelona maintain perfect record

Barcelona continue to look almost unstoppable in LaLiga. They have won every match so far, often by emphatic margins, with the latest victory a 5-0 demolition of Valencia at Mestalla.

Hansi Flick’s team are producing relentless attacking football despite operating without a recognised centre-forward. Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez have provided enough creativity and goals to make that absence appear far less significant.

Barcelona are already looking like the team everyone else must find a way to stop this season.

Real Madrid beaten by Betis

Real Madrid suffered their first LaLiga defeat of the season in their first major test of the campaign, losing away to Real Betis on Friday.

The match was played against a Betis side coached by Manuel Pellegrini, a long-standing rival of Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho. Madrid’s problems were compounded by a poor display from Vinicius Junior, an ineffective showing from Kylian Mbappe and a missed penalty for the France captain.

Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles also produced an outstanding performance, evoking memories of Iker Casillas as he repeatedly denied the visitors.

The defeat will not become a major concern if Madrid respond by beating Inter in their Champions League opener on Tuesday. Failure to win that match, though, could test Mourinho’s calmer and more approachable demeanour, particularly if frustration inside the Bernabeu turns into whistles.

With Barcelona continuing to win, Madrid cannot afford too many more setbacks.

Koeman the unlikely hero for Telstar

Ronald Koeman is the son of the former Netherlands and Barcelona defender who scored at Wembley to win Barcelona’s first European Cup. The younger Koeman plays in goal rather than in defence, but he is also becoming known for scoring.

The Barcelona-born goalkeeper is Telstar’s penalty taker and already rescued the club from relegation last season with an 89th-minute spot-kick.

He produced another decisive contribution against Cambuur at the weekend. Telstar were reduced to 10 men when Nokkvi Þorisson was sent off in the 22nd minute, and Cambuur moved 2-0 ahead early in the second half.

Koeman pulled one goal back from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute before scoring again in the 90th minute plus 11 to secure a dramatic draw.

Sparta Prague in trouble

Sparta Prague are another historic club struggling to find momentum. Sunday’s 2-1 defeat by Hradec Kralove was their second successive loss and their fourth defeat in seven league rounds.

The Czech giants have collected only nine points and are already eight points behind leaders Slavia Prague. They are level with Ostrava, who sit just above the relegation zone.

For the historically most successful club in the Czech Republic, the early evidence points towards a long and difficult season.

Kylian Mbappe believes he can still win the Ballon d’Or after a remarkable individual campaign with Real Madrid and France, despite ending the season without a major team trophy.

The 26-year-old scored 59 goals for Real Madrid during the 2025 calendar year, matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record set in 2013. Mbappe reached that total in 58 appearances.

He was also prolific for France. Mbappe overtook Olivier Giroud to become his country’s all-time leading goalscorer and scored 10 times at the World Cup, earning the Golden Boot. That achievement made him the first player to win the award twice.

His personal statistics have made him one of the leading candidates for football’s most prestigious individual prize. However, the lack of silverware at club level has been viewed as a significant obstacle to his chances.

Players who win the Ballon d’Or have generally lifted a major league title or another important trophy during the relevant season. Mbappe’s trophyless campaign has therefore led to suggestions that he has little prospect of claiming the award this year.

But speaking before Tuesday night’s match against Inter Milan, Mbappe said he remained hopeful.

“I made history this summer in the most prestigious competition, but there’s still a long way to go”.

“This might be a good year for the Ballon d’Or, but the journalists vote, and they will decide. I only focus on doing my best”.

The France captain’s comments came after Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique said earlier this month that the Ballon d’Or should go to one of his players.

Paris Saint-Germain won Ligue 1 and the Champions League, giving several members of Enrique’s squad a strong claim for the award. The manager highlighted the club’s success when discussing the individual prize.

"I don’t care who wins the Ballon d’Or. But, in my opinion, it has to be a PSG player," Enrique said in a press conference.

"We have players who have won the Champions League. We have Fabian Ruiz, who won the World Cup... Ousmane Dembele, who won the Ballon d’Or last season.

"That’s my opinion. But I’m not interested in individual awards, the most important thing is the collective."

Enrique’s comments put the focus on Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League-winning squad, including Fabian Ruiz and Ousmane Dembele. Dembele won the Ballon d’Or last season, while Ruiz was part of the World Cup-winning side.

Mbappe, meanwhile, will have to rely on the strength of his individual achievements after Real Madrid failed to secure a trophy during the campaign in question. His 59 goals, record-equalling calendar year and historic performances for France have kept him firmly in contention, even though the final decision will be made by journalists voting for the award.

Real Madrid begin their 2026-27 UEFA Champions League campaign against Inter Milan on Tuesday, with Yan Diomande in contention for his first start since joining the club in a record £120m (€140m) transfer from RB Leipzig.

The match at the Estadio Bernabeu comes after Real’s perfect start to the La Liga season was ended at the weekend. Troy Parrott, previously a striker at Jose Mourinho’s former club Tottenham, scored the only goal as Real Betis secured a 1-0 victory and brought Real Madrid’s winning run in August to an end.

Mourinho returned to Real Madrid during the summer partly because of the prospect of major Champions League occasions in the Spanish capital. Facing Inter Milan, another of his former clubs, adds a further layer to the Portuguese manager’s first European match back at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid will be without Bernardo Silva, Arda Guler and Eduardo Camavinga because of UEFA suspension rules. The trio were all sent off in the club’s final European match of last season and must therefore sit out the opening fixture of this campaign.

Guler and Camavinga both started the defeat by Real Betis, meaning Mourinho will need to make at least two changes to the side that began that match.

Marc Cucurella was forced to leave the Betis game after suffering from cramp. Alvaro Carreras could replace him in the starting XI, while Aurelien Tchouameni is a potential midfield replacement for Camavinga after returning to fitness.

Diomande has yet to start a match for Real Madrid since completing his move from RB Leipzig. With Guler unavailable, the Champions League opener could provide Mourinho with an opportunity to introduce the 20-year-old into the side from the outset.

The possible Real Madrid XI is: Thibaut Courtois; Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras; Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni; Yan Diomande, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior; Kylian Mbappe.

Kick-off is scheduled for 21:00 local time, or 20:00 BST, at the Estadio Bernabeu.

The fixture brings together two clubs with a significant recent European history. Real Madrid have won all four of their Champions League meetings with Inter Milan, with those matches taking place across the 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns.

Real Madrid ultimately went on to win the latter competition, defeating Liverpool in the final. Their record against Inter gives Mourinho’s side a strong historical advantage before the latest meeting, although the Spanish champions will enter the game after their domestic setback and with three players unavailable through suspension.

Real Madrid begin their 2026-27 UEFA Champions League campaign against Inter Milan on Tuesday, with Yan Diomande in contention for his first start since joining the club in a record £120m (€140m) transfer from RB Leipzig.

The match at the Estadio Bernabeu comes after Real’s perfect start to the La Liga season was ended at the weekend. Troy Parrott, previously a striker at Jose Mourinho’s former club Tottenham, scored the only goal as Real Betis secured a 1-0 victory and brought Real Madrid’s winning run in August to an end.

Mourinho returned to Real Madrid during the summer partly because of the prospect of major Champions League occasions in the Spanish capital. Facing Inter Milan, another of his former clubs, adds a further layer to the Portuguese manager’s first European match back at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid will be without Bernardo Silva, Arda Guler and Eduardo Camavinga because of UEFA suspension rules. The trio were all sent off in the club’s final European match of last season and must therefore sit out the opening fixture of this campaign.

Guler and Camavinga both started the defeat by Real Betis, meaning Mourinho will need to make at least two changes to the side that began that match.

Marc Cucurella was forced to leave the Betis game after suffering from cramp. Alvaro Carreras could replace him in the starting XI, while Aurelien Tchouameni is a potential midfield replacement for Camavinga after returning to fitness.

Diomande has yet to start a match for Real Madrid since completing his move from RB Leipzig. With Guler unavailable, the Champions League opener could provide Mourinho with an opportunity to introduce the 20-year-old into the side from the outset.

The possible Real Madrid XI is: Thibaut Courtois; Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras; Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni; Yan Diomande, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior; Kylian Mbappe.

Kick-off is scheduled for 21:00 local time, or 20:00 BST, at the Estadio Bernabeu.

The fixture brings together two clubs with a significant recent European history. Real Madrid have won all four of their Champions League meetings with Inter Milan, with those matches taking place across the 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns.

Real Madrid ultimately went on to win the latter competition, defeating Liverpool in the final. Their record against Inter gives Mourinho’s side a strong historical advantage before the latest meeting, although the Spanish champions will enter the game after their domestic setback and with three players unavailable through suspension.

Real Madrid begin their 2026-27 UEFA Champions League campaign against Inter Milan on Tuesday, with Yan Diomande in contention for his first start since joining the club in a record £120m (€140m) transfer from RB Leipzig.

The match at the Estadio Bernabeu comes after Real’s perfect start to the La Liga season was ended at the weekend. Troy Parrott, previously a striker at Jose Mourinho’s former club Tottenham, scored the only goal as Real Betis secured a 1-0 victory and brought Real Madrid’s winning run in August to an end.

Mourinho returned to Real Madrid during the summer partly because of the prospect of major Champions League occasions in the Spanish capital. Facing Inter Milan, another of his former clubs, adds a further layer to the Portuguese manager’s first European match back at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid will be without Bernardo Silva, Arda Guler and Eduardo Camavinga because of UEFA suspension rules. The trio were all sent off in the club’s final European match of last season and must therefore sit out the opening fixture of this campaign.

Guler and Camavinga both started the defeat by Real Betis, meaning Mourinho will need to make at least two changes to the side that began that match.

Marc Cucurella was forced to leave the Betis game after suffering from cramp. Alvaro Carreras could replace him in the starting XI, while Aurelien Tchouameni is a potential midfield replacement for Camavinga after returning to fitness.

Diomande has yet to start a match for Real Madrid since completing his move from RB Leipzig. With Guler unavailable, the Champions League opener could provide Mourinho with an opportunity to introduce the 20-year-old into the side from the outset.

The possible Real Madrid XI is: Thibaut Courtois; Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras; Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni; Yan Diomande, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior; Kylian Mbappe.

Kick-off is scheduled for 21:00 local time, or 20:00 BST, at the Estadio Bernabeu.

The fixture brings together two clubs with a significant recent European history. Real Madrid have won all four of their Champions League meetings with Inter Milan, with those matches taking place across the 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns.

Real Madrid ultimately went on to win the latter competition, defeating Liverpool in the final. Their record against Inter gives Mourinho’s side a strong historical advantage before the latest meeting, although the Spanish champions will enter the game after their domestic setback and with three players unavailable through suspension.

Lassine Sinayoko scored a dramatic late penalty to complete his first professional hat-trick and secure Paris FC’s first-ever victory at Stade Velodrome, as they defeated Marseille 3-2 in a thrilling Ligue 1 contest.

Paris FC needed only 25 seconds to take the lead. Luca Koleosho delivered an inviting cross into the area and Sinayoko slid in to finish, silencing the home supporters and registering Ligue 1’s fastest goal in more than two years.

Marseille’s response was immediate. Six minutes later, Amine Gouiri levelled with his third goal of the campaign after Adama Camara lost possession. Gouiri reacted quickest to the mistake and guided the ball into the bottom corner from close range.

The visitors restored their advantage in the 19th minute. Pablo Pagis sent a fierce cross into the area, where Sinayoko rose to meet it. His powerful header took a deflection before finding its way beyond the goalkeeper.

Marseille almost equalised again when Angel Gomes tested Kevin Trapp from distance, but the goalkeeper pushed the effort away. Igor Paixao then came close with a dipping free-kick that struck the crossbar.

Sinayoko remained a constant threat before the interval. He raced clear late in the first half and forced Jeffrey de Lange into another save as Paris FC went into the break ahead after an entertaining opening 45 minutes.

The visitors continued to create opportunities after half-time. Ilan Kebbal was denied by de Lange, while Koleosho sent a backheel narrowly wide. Those missed chances proved costly when Marseille found their second equaliser.

Gouiri collected the ball after it bounced loose just inside the six-yard box and struck an angled volley into the far corner. The Algeria international was now pursuing the fourth hat-trick of his career, although Marseille’s best chance to take the lead fell to Gomes.

The midfielder was played through on goal but stumbled over the ball, allowing Paris FC to escape.

Gouiri continued to threaten and forced Trapp into a strong, sprawling save after being found by Keyliane Abdallah. At the other end, Pierre Lees-Melou fired a low effort narrowly wide from 25 yards.

A draw would have reflected an evening packed with attacking opportunities, but Paris FC claimed all three points in the closing stages. Moses Simon’s shot struck the arm of CJ Egan-Riley, prompting a VAR review and the award of a penalty.

Sinayoko took responsibility and calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to complete his treble and settle the match.

The result is Marseille’s second defeat of the campaign. Liam Rosenior’s Paris FC side, meanwhile, remain unbeaten after three matches.

Flashscore named Lassine Sinayoko of Paris FC as the Man of the Match.

Match statistics are available via Flashscore.

Wolves rejected a late opportunity to sell teenage winger Mateus Mane before the summer transfer window closed on 1 September, despite firm interest from Liverpool and Manchester United.

The 18-year-old remained on the radar of both clubs throughout the summer, with Liverpool understood to hold a slight advantage over their Premier League rivals in the pursuit of the Portuguese-born player.

However, Wolves were unwilling to part with Mane and maintained their determination to keep him at Molineux. The Championship club’s stance prevented either Liverpool or Manchester United from completing a deal before the deadline.

Liverpool explored the possibility of signing Mane on a permanent basis and then loaning him back to Wolves for the 2026/27 season. That proposal would have allowed the Reds to secure the winger while enabling him to continue his development with the West Midlands club.

Wolves’ firm position ultimately meant the move did not materialise, with the club choosing to retain a player who remains a significant part of their plans.

Mane is not expected to force a departure in 2027, even if Wolves fail to achieve their target of returning immediately to the Premier League. He will, however, consider offers that arrive and assess his options if clubs make approaches.

Liverpool are expected to continue monitoring the situation rather than ending their interest. Wolves are prepared to demand at least £25m for the winger, a valuation that could shape any future negotiations.

The late interest from Liverpool and Manchester United underlines the attention Mane attracted during the summer, but Wolves’ refusal to sell ensured he remained at Molineux beyond the transfer deadline. Their decision also leaves the Championship club in control of his future as the two Premier League sides continue to retain an interest in the teenager.

For now, Mane will remain with Wolves for the 2026/27 season. If offers emerge in 2027, the player will consider them, but he is not expected to seek a move away from the club himself, regardless of whether Wolves secure immediate promotion back to the Premier League.

RC Strasbourg came from behind to beat newly promoted ES Troyes AC 6-2 at the Stade de l’Aube, extending their record to four consecutive Ligue 1 away victories against sides promoted to the top flight.

Troyes had made an encouraging start to the season, with one win and one draw from their opening two matches, and they took an early lead through Antoine Mille. He met Anis Ouzenadji’s cross with a volley which took a deflection off Oso on its way into the net.

The opening half was an entertaining contest, with both goalkeepers called upon to make important saves. Patrick Beach denied Jacobo Ortega from a narrow angle, while Filip Jorgensen reacted sharply to keep out Adrien Monfray’s close-range attempt after a free-kick.

Strasbourg winger Gessime Yassine was a constant threat and forced another intervention from Beach when his deflected effort appeared to be heading towards the goal.

Yassine had provided an assist against Troyes last season while playing for Dunkerque, and he again created a goal against the same opponents by finding Ortega in space. Ortega had the simplest of finishes, tapping in the equaliser.

The visitors then turned the game around before half-time. Diogo Sousa twisted away from his marker and struck towards goal, with Beach making the initial save. Sousa reacted first to the rebound and converted to give Strasbourg a 2-1 lead at the interval.

Strasbourg continued to press after the restart and added a third before the hour mark. They won possession high up the pitch, moved the ball quickly and created the opening for Giovanni Reyna, whose shot took a deflection and left Beach wrong-footed.

With a two-goal advantage, Strasbourg began to play with greater freedom. Yassine produced a skilful nutmeg and then curled an effort narrowly wide.

Troyes still had opportunities to reduce the deficit. Dermane Karim found room inside the area and forced Jorgensen to tip his shot over the crossbar, but the hosts lacked the quality required to turn their chances into goals.

Strasbourg instead made the most of the space on the counter-attack. Substitute Sam Amo-Ameyaw produced a fine finish, curling the ball against the post and into the bottom corner.

He soon completed a quickfire double. After cutting inside, Amo-Ameyaw held his shot for the right moment before sending a powerful effort into the top corner.

There was still time for Strasbourg to score a sixth. Sousa released Conrad Harder one-on-one, and the forward calmly rounded off his debut by slotting the ball past Beach.

Troyes managed a late consolation when Jeremy Le Douaron scored from inside the box, but the defeat ended their six-match unbeaten home league run, during which they had won five and drawn one. It was also their first loss of the season.

Strasbourg have responded to their 4-0 defeat by Olympique de Marseille on the opening weekend with successive victories. The result was their first away win in this head-to-head fixture since March 2009, following two draws and two defeats in the intervening matches.

Lyon have been unable to complete a proposed move for Karim Benzema after an agreement linking the former France international to the Saudi Pro League until 2030 prevented him from returning to his boyhood club.

The Ligue 1 side had reportedly explored an unusual arrangement that would have allowed the 38-year-old striker to go back to France on a nominal contract. Benzema was said to be enthusiastic about the possibility before his contract with Al-Hilal was terminated.

However, although Benzema is now a free agent, he is not free to join another club in the usual sense because of his continuing responsibilities to the Saudi Pro League.

Sources close to Benzema’s camp say Lyon’s management contacted him before his Al-Hilal deal was ended. The proposed return was understood to have appealed to the player, who began his career at Lyon and had been considered for a possible emotional reunion with the club.

That plan has been obstructed by an agreement with the Saudi League which runs until 2030. According to L’Equipe, the arrangement means Benzema cannot sign for a club outside the Saudi Pro League while he remains bound by its terms.

Benzema’s exit from Al-Hilal was settled in Riyadh after Italian coach Simone Inzaghi signed Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa for nearly €60m. The French striker’s departure left him without a club, but the terms of his wider agreement with Saudi football continue to restrict his options.

The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF), which oversees the country’s major sporting investments, requires high-profile players covered by image-rights contracts to remain within the Saudi Pro League. Those agreements include obligations such as attending sporting events organised by the Kingdom.

As a result, Benzema’s status as an ambassador for the Saudi Pro League means he cannot simply accept a conventional free transfer elsewhere, despite no longer being contracted to Al-Hilal.

The situation could bring an early end to Benzema’s professional playing career. He would be 43 when the agreement expires in 2030, making retirement increasingly likely if he is unable to continue playing outside Saudi Arabia.

Benzema, who became one of the leading forwards of his generation after leaving Lyon, had been linked with a return to the club where he developed as a player. Lyon’s reported proposal would have offered him the chance to finish his career in France, but the Saudi agreement has effectively blocked that route for now.

With the ambassadorial arrangement still in place, the former French international faces a choice between remaining connected to Saudi football until 2030 or ending his playing career. For Lyon, the restrictions have brought an end to hopes of seeing Benzema back at the club this summer.

Chelsea have been told to attack Arsenal’s full-backs and force them away from their preferred central positions when the two sides meet in Sunday’s Premier League derby at Emirates Stadium.

Both teams have made perfect starts to the 2026/27 season, with Chelsea and defending champions Arsenal each winning their opening two matches. However, former Chelsea captain John Terry believes Arsenal’s defensive strength could be tested if Xabi Alonso’s side can exploit the space in wide areas.

Arsenal have kept clean sheets in victories over Coventry City and Aston Villa, while Mikel Arteta has selected the same back four for both matches. William Saliba remains injured, and Arteta is expected to retain that defensive line against Alonso, who is an old friend of the Arsenal manager.

Chelsea have not been as convincing defensively in their opening fixtures. Alonso’s side conceded twice against Fulham before securing victory and then allowed Brighton & Hove Albion to score three times at Stamford Bridge. Despite those concerns, Chelsea also came through both matches with maximum points.

Terry believes Chelsea should avoid becoming frustrated by Arsenal’s organisation and instead use their pace and attacking movement to draw Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori into unfamiliar areas.

"How do you expose these centre halves? Down the channels and down the outside, where I think we’re really strong in terms of Neto, Estevao and Morgan Rogers. I think is going to be real key.

"If you get to 60, 70 minutes, you want to drag the centre backs out of those central positions where they’re really comfortable and protected.

"As soon as you get pulled into those wide areas, it feels very alien and you feel a little bit more exposed.

"The more we do that on the counter attack, I think we give ourselves a chance because Ben White and Calafiori both attack and end up in those kinds of inverted pockets.

"I think the space where they can expose them is going to be going forward high and wide."

The former England defender’s assessment centres on Chelsea’s potential threat on the flanks, with Neto, Estevao and Morgan Rogers identified as players capable of attacking the spaces outside Arsenal’s central defenders.

Terry also suggested Chelsea could become more dangerous as the match develops. If Arsenal’s defenders are repeatedly pulled away from their central positions, particularly during counter-attacks, their usual protection and compactness could be weakened.

White and Calafiori are also expected to contribute aggressively when Arsenal have possession, moving forward and occupying inverted positions. Terry believes that attacking instinct may leave room for Chelsea to exploit behind or around them.

The match brings together two sides who have both begun the campaign with a 100% winning record, but with contrasting defensive narratives. Arsenal’s early form has been built on clean sheets, while Chelsea have collected victories despite conceding goals.

For Alonso’s team, the challenge will be to turn Terry’s tactical suggestion into an effective game plan against an Arsenal side that has so far remained unbeaten and defensively disciplined.

Mamadou Kone scored his first Ligue 1 goal as Lorient secured a surprise 1-0 victory at Lens, giving manager Alexandre Dujeux his first competitive win in charge of Les Merlus.

The result was Lorient’s first win of the new season and their first head-to-head away victory against Lens in seven years. It also lifted them above their opponents in the Ligue 1 table.

The visitors made a cautious start at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, although both sides created promising openings shortly before the half-hour mark.

Kone was given room inside the penalty area to shoot, but he failed to generate enough power to seriously test Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser.

Risser dealt comfortably with the attempt and immediately launched an attack by releasing the ball quickly. Lens worked their way forward patiently before Florian Thauvin headed wide from Abdallah Sima’s inviting cross.

Lorient found the breakthrough less than 10 minutes into the second half after Lens carelessly surrendered possession in their own half.

Noah Mbamba took advantage of the mistake and supplied Panos Katseris, who advanced down the right before sending a low cross across the face of goal. Kone arrived in the right position and guided the ball home from close range.

The goal gave Lorient control of the match and they came close to extending their advantage on the hour.

Jean-Victor Makengo was left unmarked as he met Arsene Kouassi’s pullback, but he lifted his effort over the crossbar when a second goal appeared to be there for the taking.

With the prospect of suffering consecutive defeats, Dino Toppmoller’s Lens side responded by increasing the pressure. They pushed Lorient deeper and began to spend longer periods around the visitors’ penalty area.

Lens almost found an equaliser when Michael Cuisance struck a technically excellent volley from the edge of the box. Lorient goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo reacted superbly, stretching to keep the effort out.

Mvogo was called into action again soon afterwards. He had to deal with an awkward attempt from Thauvin, whose mishit effort threatened to creep beneath the crossbar.

Despite their late pressure, Lens were unable to find a way through a determined Lorient defence. Their frustration was underlined in stoppage time when Souleymane Sagnan was sent off.

Sagnan received a second yellow card for a cynical challenge, leaving Lens to finish the match with 10 players.

Lorient held on to claim a notable away win and celebrate the first competitive success of Dujeux’s tenure. For Lens, the defeat marked a disappointing result after they had failed to turn their second-half dominance into an equaliser.

Flashscore named Lorient’s Nathaniel Adjei as the Man of the Match. Full match statistics are available via Flashscore.