Inter Miami CF defeated New England Revolution 4-1 at home tonight in the MLS regular season. Two goals from former Barcelona defender Jordi Alba and striker Tadeo Allende led the victory in a match that also highlighted Barça legend Busquets, who was honoured ahead of his retirement at the end of the season. After the match, Inter Miami paid tribute to Sergio Busquets, who will retire from football at the end of this season after winning everything with Barcelona and the Spanish national team. Busquets attended the event with his wife and three children and received a special Inter Miami shirt with the message “Thank you Sergio” from club owner Jorge Más. Busquets signed for Inter Miami in 2023, in a transfer window that also brought Messi and Jordi Alba to Florida. With Inter Miami, Busquets won the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield. Source: besoccer

Victor Osimhen sparked a heated brawl in Galatasaray’s 1-1 Super Lig draw against rivals Besiktas on October 4, grabbing defender Emirhan Topcu by the throat after a disputed challenge, drawing widespread criticism for his aggressive outburst. The incident erupted in the 40th minute at Rams Park when Osimhen went down under Topcu’s tackle on the flank, expecting a foul that referee ignored for a throw-in. Visibly furious, Osimhen confronted Topcu aggressively, escalating into a melee involving multiple players, including Besiktas goalkeeper Mert Gunok, before teammates like Orkun Kokcu and Wilfred Ndidi intervened. Shockingly, Osimhen escaped with only a yellow card for dissent, despite the throat-grab, leaving Besiktas fans incensed over perceived leniency. The match had already been tense: Besiktas led 1-0 via Tammy Abraham early, but Ilkay Gundogan equalized after Galatasaray’s Davinson Sanchez was red-carded in the 34th minute. The draw keeps Galatasaray atop the table on 22 points, but Osimhen’s temper echoing prior teammate frustrations raises questions about discipline amid their title push.

Just months after staring down administrative relegation to Ligue 2 due to crippling financial woes, Olympique Lyonnais has staged a remarkable resurgence, positioning itself among the Ligue 1 title favorites early in the 2025-26 season. Under Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca, who steadied the ship to a sixth place finish last term amid chaos, Lyon has transformed from a debt-ridden outfit on the verge of collapse into a defensively impenetrable force, boasting the league’s stingiest backline and sharing the top spot after key victories over rivals like Marseille and Lille. The crisis peaked in June 2025 when the DNCG, French football’s financial watchdog, demoted Lyon to the second tier over €175 million in debts and mismanagement under former owner John Textor, who resigned amid the turmoil. Provisional sanctions had loomed since November 2024, including a transfer ban, forcing sales of stars like Rayan Cherki to Manchester City and others to shore up finances. But new president Michele Kang, appointed in late June, spearheaded a dramatic appeal backed by shareholder equity injections and the sale of a stake in Crystal Palace, overturning the relegation on July 9 and securing Lyon’s Ligue 1 survival while earning a Europa League spot. This lifeline allowed Lyon to enter the season with renewed stability, focusing on a pragmatic rebuild rather than lavish spending. Fonseca, hired in January 2025 after Pierre Sage’s sacking, has instilled a disciplined, counter-attacking ethos that prioritizes defensive solidity over flair a stark evolution from the club’s chaotic recent years. Lyon’s backline, anchored by new signing Clinton Mata in central defense, has conceded the fewest goals in Ligue 1, with goalkeeper Dominik Greif delivering historic clean sheets unseen at the club in 17 years. Midfield maestro Tyler Morton netted the winner in a gritty 1-0 triumph at Lille on September 28, propelling Lyon level with PSG on 15 points and showcasing their resilience despite second-half dominance from opponents. A late own-goal secured a 1-0 derby win over Marseille in August, further cementing their contender status. Key to the turnaround are strategic signings like Czech forward Pavel Šulc, who brings versatility and threat in the final third to replace departed talents such as Alexandre Lacazette and Thiago Almada, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, whose assists have unlocked tight defenses. Youngster Malick Fofana, despite Fonseca’s calls for greater consistency, adds dynamism, while loanee Adam Karabec bolsters the attack. The squad’s average age and market value reflect a youth-focused, cost-conscious approach, with Lyon averaging 13.2 shots per game and a 40% over-2.5 goals rate signaling growing potency. Europa League campaigns add to the momentum, with upcoming clashes like the October 2 home tie against Red Bull Salzburg testing their depth. Yet challenges persist: financial oversight remains tight, with DNCG-imposed wage and transfer limits, and Fonseca demands more from talents like Fofana to sustain the surge. As Lyon prepares for Toulouse on October 5, the Gones’ faithful dream of ending a 18-year title drought. From near-extinction to elite contention, this OL revival fueled by Kang’s stewardship and Fonseca’s tactics proves football’s capacity for reinvention.

Xabi Alonso’s tenure at Real Madrid, now in its fourth month since his June appointment, has ushered in a bold emphasis on youth development, drawing from his successful nurturing of prospects like Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen. The former Madrid legend, who began his coaching journey in the club’s academy, has prioritized compact organization, quick counter-pressing, and rehearsed patterns of play tactics homed in Germany to integrate a wave of young talents into the first team, signaling a shift from Carlo Ancelotti’s more veteran-reliant approach. With Real Madrid’s squad one of the youngest in over a decade, Alonso’s philosophy of building a “team that plays as a unit” is testing the balance between promise and performance, especially after a humiliating 5-2 derby loss to Atletico Madrid exposed growing pains. Alonso’s integration strategy shines through in his trust of summer arrivals and academy products. Dean Huijsen, the 20-year-old Dutch defender signed from Bournemouth, has been a revelation, showing leadership at the FIFA Club World Cup and starting in key La Liga matches with his tactical flexibility. Similarly, 22-year-old left-back Alvaro Carreras, acquired from Benfica for over $60 million, has started every game this season, thriving in Alonso’s high-pressing system that demands quick transitions and defensive solidity. Arda Güler, the 20-year-old Turkish playmaker, has been handed a greater role as a No. 10, contributing goals and assists early on, with Alonso who once eyed him for Leverkusen praising his delight in the new setup. Homegrown striker Gonzalo Garcia, 21, emerged as the Club World Cup’s top scorer with four goals, earning a contract extension to 2030 and a first-team spot after impressing in preseason. Alonso’s methods extend to Castilla call-ups, blending youth seamlessly into training. Prospects like Joan Martinez, hailed as a “generational” academy talent, and midfielder Jorge Cestero have been promoted, with the former eyed for first-team integration post-Club World Cup. ranco Mastantuono, the €63 million Argentine signing, featured off the bench despite a red card in the derby, while Endrick the 19-year-old Brazilian forward has shown flashes but faces stiff competition up top. High-energy drills, including drone-monitored sessions and tactical fitness exercises, keep youngsters mentally sharp, contrasting Ancelotti’s style and fostering Alonso’s vision of an “unstoppable force.” Yet, not all young guns are seeing the pitch, highlighting the challenges of squad rotation in a grueling schedule. Endrick, despite his No. 9 shirt and potential, has garnered interest from Newcastle for a loan due to limited minutes behind Kylian Mbappé, with just sporadic appearances amid injury recoveries for others. Castilla talents like Manuel Ángel, Diego Aguado, and Daniel Yáñez have trained with the seniors but remain on the fringes, their wing and midfield roles crowded by established stars and new signings. Even first-team peripherals like Brahim Díaz are pushing for more opportunities, as Alonso regulates minutes to avoid burnout for core players like Mbappé and Güler. The Atletico thrashing underscored vulnerabilities, with youth errors like Güler’s penalty concession exposing a need for greater intensity before tactical finesse. Alonso, defiant amid reports of dressing-room tensions with stars like Vinícius Júnior and Federico Valverde, insists on equitable minutes and adaptability. As Real Madrid face Villarreal and Barcelona next, the Spaniard’s youth gamble could forge a dynasty or falter under pressure. With his Leverkusen blueprint emphasizing control over chaos, Alonso’s rebuild promises excitement, but patience will be key for those yet to break through.

For the first time since Arne Slot took the reins at Anfield, Liverpool FC has endured three consecutive defeats, a stark contrast to the solidity that defined their Premier League title-winning campaign last season. The Reds fell 2-1 to Crystal Palace in the league, followed by a 1-0 Champions League loss to Galatasaray, and capped the miserable run with a late 2-1 heartbreak at Chelsea, where Estevao Willian’s stoppage-time strike sealed their fate. This skid has raised alarm bells, with fans and pundits pointing to Slot’s tactical evolution from Jürgen Klopp’s high-octane blueprint as a key culprit behind the defending champions’ woes. Under Klopp, Liverpool thrived on relentless, “heavy metal” football, a frenetic 4-3-3 system built on aggressive, man-to-man high pressing to regain possession quickly and launch rapid counter-attacks. This approach, often chaotic yet exhilarating, allowed the likes of Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold to exploit spaces with speed and directness, leading to high-scoring thrillers even if it occasionally left the defense exposed. Slot, inheriting a squad molded in that image, promised continuity with subtle refinements but has since shifted toward a more measured, possession-oriented style inspired by coaches like Pep Guardiola. His preferred 4-2-3-1 emphasizes zonal pressing over Klopp’s intense triggers, greater patience in build-up play, and positional discipline to maintain control changes that delivered a title last term but now appear to falter against evolving opposition tactics. The Dutchman’s adjustments worked wonders initially, lowering Liverpool’s expected goals against (xGA) by over 16% through a compact central midfield featuring Ryan Gravenberch in a deeper role and reduced positional rotations from full-backs. However, as defending champions, Liverpool now face teams employing deeper, low-block defenses designed to frustrate Slot’s patient possession game, a problem exacerbated by summer signings like Florian Wirtz and new full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. Wirtz, the £100m German playmaker slotted into a No. 10 role, has struggled to adapt to the Premier League’s intensity, losing possession frequently and disrupting midfield balance, issues highlighted in the Galatasaray defeat where he lost the ball 14 times. Defensive frailties have compounded the tactical unease. Slot’s less frantic pressing has led to lapses at set pieces and simple ball losses, contrasting Klopp’s era where high energy often masked vulnerabilities. The departure of Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson has forced reliance on Frimpong and Kerkez, who, despite Slot’s defense of them, haven’t matched their predecessors’ levels, leaving flanks exposed, as seen when Dominik Szoboszlai conceded a penalty against Galatasaray. Injuries, including Alexis Mac Allister’s prolonged recovery from summer surgery, have further hampered rhythm, with the Argentine yet to complete a full 90 minutes. Slot himself admits opponents now set up differently, exploiting what they perceive as a more predictable Reds side. Slot remains defiant, insisting the “margins are small” and rotation, like benching Salah for the Galatasaray clash, was necessary amid a grueling schedule. With Manchester United looming after the international break, Slot must urgently recalibrate; perhaps reverting to more Klopp-like intensity or accelerating Wirtz’s integration to restore the control that won titles. The Arne Slot era, once hailed for its seamless transition, now tests whether his refinements can evolve further or if nostalgia for Klopp’s chaos holds the key to redemption.