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Division Reports

• AL East
• AL Central
• AL West
• NL East
• NL Central
• NL West

Award Picks

AL MVP: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals SS
Last year Witt was worth 9.4 WAR and won the AL batting title—in his age 24 season. He also won a Gold Glove. In other words: He’s valuable.

AL Cy Young: Logan Gilbert, Mariners SP
Breakout alert: Seattle’s workhorse led the AL in innings and WHIP while striking out nearly six times as many hitters as he walked.

AL Rookie of the Year: Kristian Campbell, Red Sox 2B
He played at three levels in the minors last sason and his worst OPS was .898. Meanwhile, Boston’s second basemen were worth -2.3 WAR in 2024.

AL Manager of the Year: Alex Cora, Red Sox
Cora has the Sox poised to break their three-year playoff drought (their last four-year dry spell was in the early 1990s).

NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers SP/DH
Now that he’s back on the bump, Ohtani is a strong bet to become the first player (non-Bonds division) to threepeat as MVP.

NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes, Pirates SP
For those concerned about his durability: As a rookie last year, his best month was September (0.75 ERA, 12.8 strikeouts/9 IP).

NL Rookie of the Year: Roki Sasaki, Dodgers SP
The Dodgers own this award. They’ve had 18 winners; no other team has more than 10. Sasaki, who can touch 102 mph, should make it 19.

NL Manager of the Year: Carlos Mendoza, Mets
Expectations are high in Queens after a 67–40 finish last year—and a new addition you might have read about.

Marseille’s injury crisis has deepened ahead of their must-win Champions League clash with Newcastle, as defender Nayef Aguerd has been ruled out with a persistent pubalgia issue and Facundo Medina has suffered a fresh ankle relapse. With Amine Gouiri and Hamed Traore also long-term absentees, Roberto De Zerbi faces a mounting selection puzzle at the worst possible moment.

• De Zerbi faces defensive setback before Newcastle

  Marseille enter midweek's Champions League showdown with Newcastle already under pressure, and their challenges have only grown. The club confirmed that Aguerd will miss the match due to ongoing pubalgia discomfort, ending hopes of a late return. The Moroccan defender, who also sat out the 5-1 win over Nice, has been battling groin pain for several weeks and the medical staff has insisted on rest, especially with the Africa Cup of Nations less than a month away.  

  Aguerd’s absence stretches the defensive resources at a critical moment, as Marseille chase their first meaningful momentum in Europe. Despite travelling to join the Moroccan national team earlier this month, he was quickly withdrawn from consideration for their friendly fixtures and told he needs at least two weeks of recovery. The defender privately admitted he could no longer play through the pain, prompting caution from both club and country.

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  Medina’s relapse adds to Marseille injury woes

  Compounding Marseille’s concerns is another setback for Medina. The Argentine centre-back, already sidelined for nearly two months with a right ankle sprain, has suffered a relapse in his recovery and will not return before January.

  De Zerbi explained the situation bluntly: “Medina has had a relapse. He should be out for another month. He is difficult to replace, both because of his character and his physical attributes.”

  Medina’s injury troubles have haunted him since the start of the season, having hurt his other ankle in August and delaying his debut for the club until mid-September. His leadership, aggression, and ability to carry the ball out of defence have been crucial traits—traits Marseille must now replace as they enter their busiest period of the campaign.

  With both Aguerd and Medina sidelined, De Zerbi may be forced to rely heavily on Benjamin Pavard, CJ Egan-Riley, and Leonardo Balerdi, a rotation far from ideal given the stakes of the upcoming match.

• Greenwood and Weah switching role amid injuries

  Beyond the immediate defensive concerns, Marseille continue to miss two important attacking profiles, Amine Gouiri and Hamed Junior Traore.

  Gouiri, out since early October, is recovering from surgery on a dislocated right shoulder—an injury worsened during international duty with Algeria. His rehabilitation at Aspetar is progressing, but he is not expected back until January 2026. His absence has deprived Marseille of a versatile forward capable of linking play and unlocking defences, a role that has been difficult to replace consistently.

  Traore’s situation is equally troubling. The Ivorian has been out since September with a persistent thigh injury, and despite attempts to resume light training, the pain has not subsided. De Zerbi recently admitted that “things are not progressing well”, and the club has already reassigned a physiotherapist involved in his initial rehabilitation due to mishandling the recovery process.

  Given the injury problems affecting key forwards like Gouiri and Traore, De Zerbi is navigating this challenging period by relying more on players like Timothy Weah and Mason Greenwood, rotating roles and adjusting formations accordingly. De Zerbi values Weah’s versatility, which helps mitigate the impact of injuries by plugging gaps on the right side either as a winger or wing-back. This adaptability has been critical for Marseille maintaining attacking threat and squad balance amidst absences.

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  Stade Velodrome awaits Newcastle

  Despite the adversity, Marseille showed against Nice that they possess the firepower and collective strength to deliver big performances. But the Champions League brings a different level of intensity and without key figures, De Zerbi must once again turn to tactical adaptability and squad depth. Despite the adversity, Marseille showed against Nice that they possess the firepower and collective strength to deliver big performances. But the Champions League brings a different level of intensity—and without key figures, De Zerbi must once again turn to tactical adaptability and squad depth. 

Paris Saint-Germain edged past Lyon 3-2 in a fiery Ligue 1 showdown marked by late drama as a controversial red card was shown to Nicolas Tagliafico. Tempers further flared high in heated post-match accusations of referee bias and calls of 'siding with PSG' by the Lyon camp as the Ligue 1 champions reclaimed top spot in the table.

• PSG seal controversial win against Lyon

  Lyon and PSG went toe-to-toe on Sunday night in one of the most gripping fixtures of the weekend. PSG, desperate to reclaim top spot, struck first through Warren Zaire-Emery after just 10 minutes. Lyon hit back through Afonso Moreira’s sharp finish before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s curling effort restored the visitors’ lead.

  Ainsley Maitland-Niles then unleashed a thunderous long-range equaliser to make it 2-2, setting up a breathtaking finale. PSG pressed relentlessly and reaped the rewards in stoppage time when Joao Neves rose highest from a corner to head home the winner, silencing the Groupama Stadium. Seconds before that, Lyon left-back Tagliafico was shown a straight red card for a late tackle on Vitinha, leaving his side down to 10 men just before PSG’s decisive corner. VAR upheld the call and that decision sent the Lyon camp into fury.

  After the final whistle, assistant coach Jorge Maciel exploded in anger. “Conducting refereeing analyses every weekend and in every stadium in the country is going to be difficult. It’s up to us to do the work with our team, and we’re very proud of the work we’ve done. I think there are 59,000 people in the stadium, and only four of them didn’t watch the fouls we analysed. We don’t even need to watch the replays. When it happens one way, we don’t understand it. When it happens with the arrogance of not even having the opportunity to discuss it, we don’t understand it,” he said in a post-match interview.

  "We see Nico, he was clearly sent off. But how many fouls did Afonso [Moreira] suffer? They didn’t get any cards. I think they were the best team in Europe. I don't think they needed to play with 16 men, because I'm also counting VAR, against a team that played on Thursday, that prepared very well for the match and played a great game."

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  Lyon’s fury boils over

  Lyon’s technical director Matthieu Louis-Jean also voiced his frustrations at length, delivering a scathing assessment of the refereeing.

  "I’d like to start by really congratulating the team. We saw a very good side of Olympique Lyonnais tonight. We’re very proud of our team’s performance," he said. "The coach had a great game too. The team caused PSG problems. Tonight, there’s extreme disappointment because we believe there were some significant refereeing errors. And once again, we’re completely baffled… Look, Illia Zabarnyi had a penalty. There’s a clear handball, in my opinion, we saw the replays. There’s a foul on Tanner Tessmann, he touches his knee. It’s blatant. At some point, I don’t know what to do. We tried everything. We talked. We discussed it with them. We even went to see them. But it continues. We don’t understand. There’s a real problem with consistency in the refereeing."

  Louis-Jean further pointed out other controversial inconsistencies in Ligue 1 refereeing: "There was a red card for Monaco that is incomprehensible. At some point, we have to ask ourselves some questions. At some point, we're going to have to sit down and think about our refereeing. Because every weekend, it's not just us. I think all the Ligue 1 teams feel there are problems. Once again, I'm baffled. What needs to be done? What needs to be done to have fair refereeing every weekend in Ligue 1? We've seen these kinds of incidents in the past. I'll go back to the Rennes match, for example. We probably got some extra points. And this evening, once again, Mr. Bastien's refereeing was a disaster. No, I didn't see the referees after the match. Anyway, they never say anything. And on Monday, the week will start without any problems."

  Lyon player Corentin Tolisso echoed the frustration, calling for more accountability: “We need better refereeing in general because there are mistakes every weekend. There’s no consistency or dialogue.”

  Despite the controversy, PSG’s late win pushed them back to first place with 27 points, narrowly ahead of Marseille and Lens with 25 points each. Strasbourg and Lille complete the top five with 20 points apiece, followed by Lyon in sixth who are left fuming but still very much in the race.

• PSG’s injury woes and Vitinha’s leadership rise

  While the headlines focused on refereeing, PSG’s own challenges are mounting. Achraf Hakimi, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Nuno Mendes are all sidelined, dealing a heavy blow to Luis Enrique’s squad depth. Hakimi's severe ankle sprain against Bayern Munich could keep him out for up to eight weeks, while Mendes continues to recover from a left knee sprain.

  In their absence, Enrique has turned to his younger talents, Senny Mayulu and Kang-In Lee, both of whom impressed with composure beyond their years. Mayulu’s directness and Lee’s intelligent movement have injected new dynamism, ensuring PSG maintain their attacking rhythm despite missing key stars.

  But the standout has been Vitinha, who has quietly become the heartbeat of Enrique’s system. The Portuguese midfielder, recently voted PSG vice-captain, now leads the Ligue 1 charts for assists among midfielders with six in 11 games, alongside one goal. Enrique praised his midfielder earlier this week, calling him “a silent leader who does everything with precision and purpose.”

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  Much needed break for PSG amid injury crisis

  For Enrique, the upcoming international break couldn’t come at a better time. PSG are managing a lengthy injury list, and this two-week pause offers crucial recovery space for key players. The focus at Camp des Loges will be on rehabilitation and tactical refinement, particularly testing new combinations to compensate for missing full-backs and wingers.

  It’s also a chance for Enrique to recalibrate his system. With rotations expected and youth players stepping up, the Spaniard will aim to preserve momentum without overloading his core squad. The break allows him to reintroduce balance to a team that’s been grinding through a demanding Ligue 1 and Champions League schedule.

  PSG will resume domestic action on November 22 against Le Havre, before hosting Tottenham in the Champions League on November 26.

Rasmus Hojlund is thriving out on loan at Napoli currently and a new update claims that a permanent switch there from Manchester United is already close.

The £87,000-a-week Dane found it tough to shine in a Red Devils shirt after joining in a big-money move from Atalanta, proving to be one of many disappointing young signings at Old Trafford in recent years.

Last season, Hojlund only managed four goals in 32 appearances in the Premier League, not offering enough consistency leading the line, and it felt right for him to enjoy a new challenge.

The 22-year-old was shipped out on loan to Napoli during the summer transfer window, and he is enjoying a far more fruitful time of things in Germany, already netting twice in five Serie A outings, and also bagging a couple of goals in the Champions League.

It remains to be seen if Ruben Amorim sees a long-term future for Hojlund at United, but a new update suggests that a permanent exit is far more likley than him returning to Old Trafford.

Napoli close to permanent Hojlund move and now want Mainoo

According to a key claim from Caught Offside‘s Mark Brus, Napoli now want to trigger the buy clause in Hojlund’s Manchester United contract once this season comes to an end. Talks have been held and a deal looks set to be finalised ready for the summer.

“Napoli are confident. They’re in a strong position with the buy clause and they’re ready to activate it. Talks have been taking place and it should be finalised soon, ready to formally go through at the end of the season.”

It is also stated that Napoli want to sign Man Utd midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in the January transfer window, with the England international “likely to push for a move away” from the club.

There is a certain risk in United allowing Hojlund to leave, considering he is still young, but they now have Benjamin Sesko in their ranks, suggesting that they have moved on from the Denmark international.

With all due respect to Serie A, it is a weaker division than the Premier League, so he is naturally standing out more – Scott McTominay was arguably the best player in the whole league last season, which speaks volumes – and he has struggled with the pace of English football.

Hojlund may simply be one of many transfers that just hasn’t worked out for United, but that’s not to say he can’t still enjoy a strong career for club and country. He possesses plenty of attributes, from speed to power, but his finishing is inconsistent and the Red Devils need a far more prolific figure to lead the line.

Carragher said Man Utd star was "terrible", now he's Amorim's key player

Manchester United now have a talent who has managed to transform his career at Old Trafford.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 30, 2025

Granted, Sesko is still finding his feet and hasn’t exactly been perfect yet, but the likes of Amorim and Jason Wilcox seem to be confident in him being an upgrade on Hojlund, and they need to be trusted after this recent improved run of form.

As for Mainoo, on just £25,000-a-week, it would be a shame to see such a talented homegrown player leave, but if United’s manager doesn’t see him as an important part of his plans, a move away may be best for all concerned.

Man Utd flop Rasmus Hojlund has seen value fall £20m since Amorim was hired

The Premier League has been blessed to have witnessed some incredible young talents across its history, but that has naturally sparked a debate as to just who sits top of the list between Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney.

The best young players in Premier League history

In recent times we’ve seen Rio Ngumoha and Oliver Dowman star for Liverpool and Arsenal at just 17 years old and 15 years old. Before then, it was the likes of Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold who thrived. And before them, the likes of James Milner, who – believe it or not – was once the new kid on the block, who stole the headlines.

With every season comes a new beginning for the next generation from successful academies at Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and more as the Premier League continues its reputation for producing some of the world’s best.

Out of all the impressive young players that have come through the ranks in Premier League history, the biggest debate lies between Rooney and Owen.

At 18, both were at an absurd level and one that even saw the latter reach the peak of his powers before injuries combined with unwise transfer decisions changed the trajectory of his career.

Rio Ngumoha joins the 10 youngest goalscorers in Premier League history

The Liverpool teenager is the latest to join the list.

By
Lewis Thompson

Aug 26, 2025

Rooney thumped home a stunning strike against Arsenal to score his first Premier League goal at 16, whilst Owen quickly became the main man at Liverpool and even won the Ballon d’Or at just 22 years old.

It’s when both players meet in the middle at 18 that the debate gets interesting, however, and Rooney has now finally settled things with a swift 12-word response.

Rooney finally settles Owen debate

Speaking on Match of the Day, Rooney settled the Owen debate with a simple 12-word answer after taking a look at the numbers all these years later.

Owen also responded to the debate back in September, saying on X: “At 17 I scored 18 PL goals (winning the Golden Boot), Wazza scored 6. At 18 I again scored 18 goals (again winning the Golden Boot and coming 4th in The Ballon d’Or), Wazza scored 9. In our opening 7 seasons, Wazza didn’t outscore me once (117 goals v 80).”

It seems as though Rooney agrees with his former rival, who certainly built his own convincing case last month, but there’s no denying that it is the former United star who enjoyed the better career in the end.

As Owen struggled with injuries, Rooney broke records, won Premier League titles and has his rightful place amongst the best players that English football has ever seen.

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has slammed his team-mates and demanded the entire squad raises their levels after a woeful performance against Chelsea. Spurs were second-best throughout their defeat by the Blues and were flattered by the 1-0 scoreline. Speaking after the game, the Italian bemoaned the display which suggested there is little harmony in the squad.

• Blues take the spoils in London derby

  Spurs were dominated by Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and deserved to lose by more than just the one goal. The Blues took the lead in the first-half through Joao Pedro and never looked like surrendering their advantage over their London rivals. It marked yet another defeat for Spurs, and another in front of their faithful home support, as they notched up their 42nd loss in the Premier League at their new ground since its opening in 2019 – only six fewer than north London rivals Arsenal have lost at the Emirates, a stadium opened in 2006.

  With just four home victories in the Premier League in all of 2025, Thomas Frank has a lot of work to do to turn around Spurs’ misfortunes. While the Lilywhites tasted their first piece of silverware in decades in the summer when they lifted the Europa League, the club have remained disappointing domestically. After a club record-low 17th-place finish in the Premier League last season, the club have become used to disappointment and it may more than just a new managerial appointment to heal the rot at its heart.

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  Vicario vents frustration

  After a series of consistently poor displays, Vicario is growing frustrated. The Italian has been one of the club’s better players in the last two disappointing seasons and issued a passionate assessment of how the side have been performing.

  Speaking after the defeat to Chelsea, via , Vicario said: "It's tough to accept but this is the reality of today's game. We need to look inside us and we need to do more because when you play for this club, we have to do things at 100 per cent. I know it's tough but we have to do that every single day.

  "When you go inside it's tough to accept because you expect yourself to perform at your best, with a lot of energy but something today didn't go in the right direction.

  "Everyone knows that personally, we have to do a little bit more if we want to achieve good results, make everyone happy and make ourselves happy. Today is a bad day for us, we didn't perform at our best level."

• Frank plays down defenders' snub

  Frank’s task in north London is looking increasingly difficult as the weeks go by. The former Brentford coach had made a decent start to life at Spurs, but a number of flat performances and defeats has turned up the heat under the Dane. The fractious atmosphere at Spurs was made clear after the defeat to the Blues, with a video of Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence snubbing Frank’s approach on their way to the dressing room circulating on social media soon after the full-time whistle.

  The defenders appeared unhappy with their boss and did not hide their feelings towards Frank when they stormed off the pitch. Shocked by their response, Frank was left rooted to the spot as he watched in disbelief as the duo shunned him. The incident played out under a cacophony of boos raining down from the terraces.

  Speaking after the game, Frank was keen to play down the incident. He said: “All the players are, of course, frustrated. They would like to do well, they would like to win, they would like to perform. I understand that.

  “I think it’s difficult to be consistent in good times and bad times, that’s why I went around to the fans as I did, it’s more fun when we win, I can tell you that.”

  When pressed for his opinion on Van de Ven and Spence, the Dane remained diplomatic and defended his players. “We have Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence doing everything they can,” he said. “They’ve performed very well so far this season. Everyone is frustrated. We do things in a different way, I don’t think it’s a big problem.”

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  Danish opposition arrive in London

  Spurs are in action again on Wednesday as they host FC Copenhagen in the Champions League. Frank will know the opposition well from his time as coach at Brondby in his native Denmark.

Ricardo Pepi made his mark off the bench once again, scoring a stoppage-time equalizer for PSV against Olympiacos on Tuesday to earn them a crucial Champions League point. The goal was Pepi's third in four games in all competitions, despite playing a grand total of 75 minutes across those matches. PSV now have five points through UCL four games.

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  Pepi's late goal

  Pepi's goal came in the 93rd minute with his side trailing, 1-0, and seemingly destined for a Champions League defeat. PSV, though, were given a late lifeline via a free kick, but the initial ball in resulted in a shot that was blocked away.

  The ball fell to Pepi, and he made no mistake, firing a first-time finish into the back of the net to earn PSV a crucial point via a 1-1 draw. With the draw, PSV are 17th midway through Matchday Four in Europe's premier competition.

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• Watch the goal

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  Matching icons

  Pepi has proven clutch for PSV throughout his time with the Dutch club, but the American striker's latest big moment was enough to see him match a mark previously put up by some of the game's most recognizable legends.

  Per Opta, Pepi's goal was his third result-changing goal in stoppage time of a Champions League match. Only two other players in history have scored as many: Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Aguero.

  Pepi has three goals so far this season to go with two in the Champions League, with the previous finish coming against Napoli in a six-minute cameo that produced a goal and an assist.

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  What comes next?

  The U.S. men's national team is set to gather next week for November camp, and will play Paraguay and Uruguay in their final matches of 2025. The squad for that camp is set to be released and, given his run of form, Pepi seems likely to be selected, fitness pending.

  He still faces a fight to get back into PSV's starting XI, though, and that could continue on Sunday when the Dutch giants, second in the Eredivisie, visit third-place AZ Alkmaar.

After a stop-start opening to the season, Newcastle United finally appear to be finding rhythm.

Going into their recent home fixture, Eddie Howe’s side had one of the lowest expected goals tallies in the Premier League – a concerning figure for a team competing in the Champions League and aiming for another top-four push.

But after back-to-back victories, 4-0 against Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise and 2-0 at home to Nottingham Forest, the Magpies look revitalised.

The improvement has been clear. Six goals in two games without conceding is a sign that Newcastle are balancing both ends of the pitch.

The performances weren’t so emphatic as to raise expectations sky-high, but they were precisely the kind of controlled, confident displays Howe would have wanted.

And perhaps most impressively, they’ve come despite a growing injury list.

Both starting full-backs, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, face extended spells on the sidelines.

Fabian Schär, meanwhile, has only just returned from concussion, but his place in the starting XI is suddenly far from guaranteed.

That’s because his replacement, a £30m summer signing from AC Milan, has made a seamless transition into the side.

While the spotlight currently belongs to the man spearheading Newcastle’s attack, it may be their new defender who turns out to be “one of the signings of the summer.”

Why Woltemade is the man of the moment

Nick Woltemade’s arrival at St James’ Park was met with curiosity.

The 23-year-old German forward joined from Werder Bremen after scoring 12 goals in 28 Bundesliga appearances.

He caught the eye of Bayern Munich, who saw three bids rejected.

Instead, it was Howe who convinced the towering 1.98m striker that Newcastle was the right place to continue his development.

Since then, the attacker has been nothing short of transformative.

He opened his account on his home debut against Wolves, before adding further goals against Arsenal, Union Saint-Gilloise, and Nottingham Forest – where he rifled a superb penalty into the top corner to round off the win.

His blend of physical presence, link-up play, and calm finishing has quickly made him a fan favourite on Tyneside.

In Sunday’s match against Forest, he was unlucky not to score more than once, denied by the post and an inspired Matz Sels performance.

When he left the field, the Gallowgate End rose to its feet, chanting his name in unison.

Unfortunately, illness has ruled him out of the current international break – though Howe will secretly be pleased to keep his new talisman fresh and close to home.

With Yoane Wissa yet to feature for Newcastle, Woltemade’s form and fitness are paramount.

His early-season output has quelled doubts about Newcastle’s attacking fluency and offered a glimpse into Howe’s evolving system – one that relies less on chaos and more on control.

Yet while the German striker’s goals are making headlines, another of the club’s summer signings is quietly redefining their defensive stability.

Newcastle's real signing of the summer

Woltemade’s impact on this Newcastle side has been eye-catching. On the contrary, Malick Thiaw’s introduction to English football has been understated but immaculate.

The 24-year-old centre-back arrived from AC Milan for £30m after two standout seasons in Serie A, where he made 85 appearances.

His profile – composed, progressive, and powerful – fits seamlessly into Howe’s tactical blueprint.

Statistically, Thiaw’s impact has been immense. Compared to positional peers in the Premier League, he ranks in the 95th percentile among his positional peers for pass completion (93.2%) and in the 85th percentile for progressive passes per 90 (4.86).

That ability to initiate play from deep has added an extra layer of composure to Newcastle’s build-up.

What stands out most is his calmness under pressure – his close control, his knack for turning out of tight spaces, and his confidence stepping into midfield to progress the ball.

For a defender still adjusting to the physicality of the Premier League, his transition has been remarkably smooth.

Thiaw’s partnership with Sven Botman has all the makings of a long-term defensive axis for Newcastle.

Both are young, technically gifted, and dominant in the air. Together, they could form one of the most balanced and forward-thinking centre-back pairings in the division.

For Howe, who knows the importance of rotation with European fixtures piling up, Thiaw’s arrival is more than just depth.

The German brings a level of assurance that allows Newcastle to play higher, press smarter, and retain control in matches that once felt frantic.

While Woltemade’s early-season exploits deserve every bit of praise they’ve received, the real signing of the summer might just be standing behind him.

90-touch Newcastle ace is now as undroppable as Bruno Guimaraes & Woltemade

Newcastle United secured a vital 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest this afternoon.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 5, 2025

Newcastle United took out their Premier League frustrations on Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Fresh off surrendering a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 to Arsenal in the top-flight to remain 15th in the top-flight standings, Eddie Howe’s Magpies went in for the kill against their shaken hosts, who might have expected a closer battle, considering they sit top of their own domestic league standings.

The travelling Toon contingent were treated to a goal-fest at the Joseph Marien Stadium, with Newcastle running out convincing 4-0 victors due to a whole host of standout performers, as Anthony Gordon continued his fine form in Europe’s elite competition versus Sébastien Pocognoli’s men.

Gordon's impressive performance in Belgium

Scoring last time out in the Champions League as a Marcus Rashford-led Barcelona narrowly beat Newcastle, Gordon picked up from where he left off at St James’ Park when making the trip to Belgium.

The England international hasn’t had the most vibrant of campaigns so far but was outstanding this week, with the tricky number ten a major thorn in the side of hosts all night long.

He notably completed five dribbles across the course of the one-sided contest. Still, despite his slick nature, it was his partner on the opposing right channel in Anthony Elanga who won the Toon the first of two penalties Gordon confidently put away.

Nick Woltemade had opened the scoring by this point. Still, just on the stroke of half-time, Gordon would essentially end the contest with his coolly dispatched penalty, which beat a helpless Kjell Scherpen, who had to fish another spot-kick out of the back of his net from the electric 24-year-old in the second half.

Winning nine ground duels for the cause as well, Gordon will hope he can put in an equally lively performance when Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest travel to Tyneside next in the Premier League, having yet to pick up a goal or assist this season in league action.

Amazingly, while Gordon did help himself to a brace, there was another Newcastle star who caught the eye even more.

Newcastle star proving he is now one of the best in the world

The Toon do have a lot of exciting players on their books at this moment in time who could easily slot into a lot of elite sides if given the chance to do so. Alexander Isak has now gone but Howe already has another talisman.

Sandro Tonali’s name instantly springs to mind in this regard, with one Toon-focused content creator after the final whistle had been sounded on the big win away at Union, going as far as to declare the energetic Italian as “world-class”.

Fortuitously collecting this assist when his effort was cleverly diverted home by Woltemade only tells a mere fraction of his tale in Belgium, with the relentless drive he has displayed in the Premier League in spades this season – with 3.7 ball recoveries averaged per league clash – on full display in Europe’s premier competition, too, winning four duels in total helping him to completely dominate proceedings centrally.

Tonali dictated the game throughout with 90 touches overall, which led to journalist Henry Winter declaring the 25-year-old as “incredible” for both his quality on the ball and also his unwavering stamina levels.

Off the back of another near faultless showing, it’s not completely absurd to say Tonali is one of the best in the world in his central midfield position, right now, with the constantly active number 8 clearly a vital cog capable of helping Newcastle through some treacherous clashes on stages such as the Champions League.

After all, if Ryan Gravenberch is in that conversation for Arne Slot’s Liverpool, Tonali should follow closely behind for Howe and Co.

Further hailed as being the “heist of the century” by Magpies-based journalist Thomas Hammond, with Tonali costing around the £55m mark to sign back in the summer of 2023 from AC Milan, Newcastle will hope they can continue to get the best out of their exceptional gem for many years to come, cautiously hoping they don’t fall victim to another Isak situation.

Newcastle's "nightmare" star now in danger of becoming their next Almiron

Newcastle need this man to rediscover his finest form, and fast.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 1, 2025

Marcus Rashford has vowed to “keep fighting” after Barcelona’s 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in his first-ever El Clasico appearance. Despite registering an assist in the heated Santiago Bernabeu showdown, the Manchester United loanee ended up on the losing side as Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham struck to extend Madrid’s lead at the top of La Liga to five points.

• Rashford issues resilient statement after Clasico loss

  Rashford experienced his first taste of El Clasico drama as Barcelona fell 2-1 to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. Goals from Mbappe and Bellingham proved decisive, with the Englishman’s team-mate Fermin Lopez briefly restoring parity after Rashford’s clever assist. Despite flashes of creativity, Rashford’s performance drew mixed reviews, as Barcelona’s depleted side struggled to match Madrid’s attacking precision.

  Reflecting on the defeat, Rashford took to Instagram with a message of resilience, writing: “Clearly, not the result that we wanted yesterday. It's a marathon, not a sprint, and we will keep fighting!” The post underlined the 26-year-old’s determination to stay positive after a tough introduction to Spain’s fiercest rivalry.

  The defeat means Barca have now lost two of their last three La Liga matches, a run that has raised questions about their consistency under Hansi Flick. Rashford’s first Clasico ended in frustration, but his intent to keep fighting suggests a player motivated to turn things around in the coming weeks.

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  Real Madrid lay down statement as title favourites

  Real Madrid’s victory not only snapped a four-game losing streak against Barcelona but also extended their advantage in La Liga title's race. Xabi Alonso’s side now sit five points clear at the summit with 27 points from 10 matches, reaffirming their title credentials after a humbling 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid earlier in the season. The Santiago Bernabeu was electric once again as Mbappe and Bellingham delivered decisive moments that defined the evening.

  For Barcelona, the result was a blow in more ways than one. Pedri’s late red card compounded an already difficult night, while injuries to Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Dani Olmo left Hansi Flick’s team severely weakened.

  Yet amid the disappointment, there were glimpses of hope, none more so than Rashford’s involvement in the equaliser and his continued work rate despite limited service. The English forward showed flashes of his pace and movement, offering signs that he could evolve into a key attacking presence for the Catalan giants.

• Rashford’s performance receives mixed reviews

  The defeat to Real Madrid followed a hectic week for Rashford, who had been instrumental in Barcelona’s midweek Champions League victory over Olympiacos, scoring twice to seal a crucial win. His recent form suggests he is beginning to find rhythm and confidence after an inconsistent start to life in La Liga. Rashford’s willingness to shoulder responsibility in big games has not gone unnoticed, even as scrutiny around his performances intensifies.

  Spanish media offered contrasting assessments of his Clasico debut. Mundo Deportivo praised his assist but called his overall display “baffling,” suggesting he failed to fully utilise his physical strength or decision-making when space opened up. The publication noted that he looked “more comfortable as a winger than as a No. 9,” highlighting the positional dilemma Flick will have to resolve going forward.

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  What comes next?

  Barcelona will aim to regroup quickly as they return to domestic action next weekend against Elche, with a home fixture offering a chance to bounce back. The club’s medical staff are working to accelerate the returns of key players like Lewandowski and Raphinha, while Flick will be back on the sidelines following his suspension.

  For Rashford, the next few weeks represent an opportunity to build momentum and further integrate into Barcelona’s system. His assist against Madrid and goals in Europe point to a player growing in influence and confidence, and the club will hope he can become a reliable attacking outlet for now and the future, if the Catalan side decide to sign him permanently next summer.