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tactical analysis

Liverpool come from behind to beat Atlético Madrid and open their Champions League campaign with a win

Liverpool beat Atlético Madrid 2-1 at Anfield to start their Champions League campaign with three points. Llorente opened the scoring for the visitors, but Szoboszlai and Mac Allister led the Reds' comeback before and early in the second half. Atlético had more possession, but Liverpool were more clinical and created the better chances in a win that marked Andoni Iraola's Champions League debut with the club.

Arsenal break through Allegri’s defensive wall to beat Napoli and open their Champions League campaign with three points

Arsenal beat Napoli 1-0 at the Diego Armando Maradona to open their Champions League campaign with three points away from home. After struggling for much of the game to break down Allegri’s low block, the Gunners finally found a breakthrough in the 74th minute through Ødegaard and still had chances to extend their lead. Napoli pushed for an equaliser late on, but could not avoid defeat at home.

Real Madrid survive Inter's pressure to open their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win

Real Madrid beat Inter Milan 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu in a Champions League opener defined by the Spanish side's efficiency. Inter had more possession and more shots, but two defensive errors in the first half allowed Mbappé and Valverde to put Madrid ahead. Carlos Augusto pulled one back in the second half, but Courtois held firm under pressure to secure all three points for Real Madrid.

Nottingham Forest and Tottenham settle for a goalless draw in a game of few ideas and plenty of wastefulness

Tottenham drew 0-0 with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground to claim their first Premier League point, but remain without a goal after three matches. The Spurs had 59% possession and 12 shots, but failed to put a single attempt on target. Forest also had 12 attempts and even found the net in the second half, only for Neco Williams' goal to be ruled out by VAR for a handball.

Arsenal beat Aston Villa 1-0, maintain 100% record and show strength without shining

Arsenal beat Aston Villa 1-0 at Villa Park to make it two wins from two in the Premier League and keep their clean sheet intact. In a game of few chances, Bukayo Saka scored the only goal after half-time, while Villa failed to register a single shot on target.

Manchester United fight back at Old Trafford: Bruno Fernandes scores a hat-trick as Ipswich are thrashed 5-2

Manchester United came from behind, scored four times in the second half and thrashed Ipswich 5-2 at Old Trafford. Bruno Fernandes led the comeback with a hat-trick, while Mbeumo also found the net as the Red Devils secured their first Premier League win of the 2026/27 season.

Chelsea beat Brighton 4-3 in a thrilling seven-goal game to maintain their 100% record in the Premier League

Chelsea maintained their perfect start to the Premier League, but had to survive an impressive Brighton fightback. The Blues raced into a 3-0 lead, conceded twice, then saw Cole Palmer restore their two-goal cushion to make it 4-2 before holding on for a 4-3 win in stoppage time. Emiliano Martínez made his debut in goal, while Roméo Lavia, Pedro Neto, João Pedro and Palmer were on the scoresheet in Xabi Alonso's victory.

Tottenham dominate but Newcastle punish them: Spurs lose at home and remain without a point in the Premier League

Tottenham had more possession and registered 17 shots but failed to score. Newcastle weathered the pressure, were clinical in the second half and won 2-0 through goals from Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa. With two defeats from two games and no goals scored, the pressure on Roberto De Zerbi is mounting.

Manchester City thrash Crystal Palace 4-1 and show their strength in the Premier League

Manchester City produced a dominant away performance to beat Crystal Palace 4-1, with control of possession, attacking volume and clinical finishing defining the victory. Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki scored twice each as the Citizens controlled the game even after Palace pulled one back early in the second half.

The Premier League is back: Arsenal win, giants stumble and the opening round delivers surprises

The Premier League is back — and the opening round wasted no time delivering drama. Arsenal began their title defence with a convincing win, while Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool all dropped points in very different ways. Manchester City survived a late scare against Bournemouth, and Chelsea secured a hard-fought away win over Fulham. The first weekend of the new season already offered plenty of clues about what could lie ahead.

Europe’s Most Interesting Transfer Windows: Seven Clubs Looking to Change Their Level in 2026/27

Tottenham, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Fiorentina, Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa have been among the most active clubs in the transfer market so far. From major investments and key departures to significant changes in squad profiles, The Offside analyses seven European clubs whose summer business could reshape their seasons.

Arsenal crush Manchester City, win the Community Shield and send an early Premier League warning

Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield final, with goals from Calafiori, Havertz and Ødegaard. Despite having less possession, the Gunners were more efficient, controlled the key areas of the pitch and showed they are ready to defend their Premier League title, while Enzo Maresca's new-look Manchester City are still searching for their identity.

PSG Beat Aston Villa to Win Back-to-Back UEFA Super Cup

PSG defeated Aston Villa 2-1 in an entertaining final to retain the UEFA Super Cup. Kvaratskhelia and Désiré Doué scored for the French side, while 17-year-old Brian Madjo made history as the youngest player ever to score in a final of the competition.

The Offside Best XI of the 2026 World Cup: The 11 Players Who Ruled the Tournament

From Spain’s collective dominance to the individual brilliance of stars like Rodri, Bellingham and Dembélé, The Offside picks the 11 players who stood out most at the 2026 World Cup. A team selected based on performance, impact in key matches and consistency throughout the tournament.

Six Young Players Who Raised Their Stock at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Not every breakout star becomes the face of a World Cup. While the biggest names grabbed the headlines, several young players quietly announced themselves on football's biggest stage. From Australia to Morocco, these six emerging talents left the tournament with their reputations stronger than ever—and could soon be ready for the next step in their careers.

The Biggest Surprises and Disappointments of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

From early exits by traditional powerhouses to historic runs by unexpected contenders, we look back at the biggest surprises and disappointments of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, examining what fueled the success of Spain, Morocco, Japan and Paraguay, and what went wrong for Türkiye, Uruguay, Germany and Brazil.

Spain Conquers the World: La Roja Defeats Argentina in an Epic Final to Lift the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, capping one of the most successful long-term projects in international football. Ferran Torres scored the winning goal, while Rodri controlled the midfield, Pau Cubarsí delivered another outstanding defensive display, and Emiliano Martínez produced a historic performance despite ending up on the losing side.

Two Semi-finals, Two Classics: Who Was the Best Player Before the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final?

Spain and Argentina booked their places in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final after two captivating semi-finals filled with tactical battles, outstanding team performances and individual brilliance. The Offside breaks down both matches and opens the vote for the Best Player of the Semi-finals.

One generation, two titles: PSG beat Arsenal on penalties to secure a second Champions League crown.

After a 1–1 draw in a final defined by Parisian dominance and Arsenal resilience, PSG prevailed in the penalty shootout to lift their second UEFA Champions League title.

Sweden Qualify for the World Cup; Italy Fall on Penalties in a Dramatic Night

Sweden and Bosnia & Herzegovina booked their spots at the 2026 World Cup after two playoff clashes filled with tension, drama, and emotion. Sweden left it late to beat Poland, while Bosnia produced a historic upset by eliminating Italy on penalties.

The Quiet Revolution: How the Inverted Full-Back Rewrote Football's Tactical DNA

A sharp look at how the inverted full-back changed modern football — from tactical curiosity to one of the game’s most important innovations — and why it reveals where football is headed next.