There was continuity, certainly. But there were also absences, suspensions, returning faces and, most intriguingly, a collection of young players knocking loudly on the door.

Liverpool piled on the misery for troubled Tottenham with a 3-1 win in the League Cup third round, while teenage star Max Dowman dazzled for Arsenal in their 4-2 rout of Ipswich on Wednesday.

Carlos Espi snatched Real Madrid a last-gasp 3-2 win at Elche on Tuesday to pull them level with Barcelona at the top of LaLiga.

Saudi Pro League champions Al-Nassr suffered a 4-0 thumping at the hands of Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday as Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates made the worst possible start to their Asian Champions League Elite challenge.

Lionel Messi was named on Tuesday in Argentina's squad for a friendly against Benin on October 6, a match that will serve as his farewell appearance after announcing his international retirement last month.

Rodriguez powered himself and his country to stardom at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The new deal ensures that de la Fuente will remain in charge when Spain attempt to defend their global title on home soil. Spain will co-host the 2030 World Cup with Morocco and Portugal.

Farhan is currently playing for Boreham Wood FC, having joined the club on loan from Fulham FC U21, and is expected to join the national team in Indonesia before the tournament begins on September 24.

The 2028 Champions League final will be held at the Allianz Arena in Munich and the 2029 final will take place at the rebuilt Camp Nou in Barcelona, UEFA announced on Tuesday.

Defending champions India will take on Pakistan in the opening match of the SAFF Championship, which will kick off in Dhaka on November 5.

Argentina’s tradition of producing exceptional footballers remains undiminished, but La Albiceleste are once again facing a recognisable challenge: adapting to life without a No10 who was once thought to be irreplaceable.

Bangladesh national team head coach Thomas Dooley believes defender Bishwanath Ghosh could have been an option as a centre-forward in the absence of a recognised number nine.

“Ney deserved to go to the World Cup: he cannot be replaced, he is a unique player for his qualities,” Ancelotti said.

Roma made it four wins from four league matches with a 2-0 victory at Torino

Since the Women's Asian Cup qualifiers, Bangladesh have been in decline, while Butler's handling of setbacks has increasingly raised questions.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho hailed playmaker Arda Guler on Monday ahead of the team's visit to face Elche in La Liga.

Matt Donohue, the video assistant referee (VAR) who allowed Erling Haaland's winner in Manchester City's 1-0 victory over Manchester United, has not been selected to officiate at any of next weekend's Premier League fixtures.

Saudi Arabian football authorities promised to take action and Cristiano Ronaldo called for life bans after rival fans taunted Al-Hilal's Ruben Neves about the death of Diogo Jota, his friend and former Portugal team-mate.

The biggest stars of European football once again took centre stage over the weekend, with Erling Haaland, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane among those making headlines.

The requests came a day after the BFF released the schedules for the professional league and Federation Cup.