Real Madrid Hosts Real Sociedad. Everton Faces Arsenal in Premier League

Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham (C-L) participates in his team's training session at sports city of Valdebebas, Madrid, central Spain, 16 September 2023. (EPA)
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham (C-L) participates in his team's training session at sports city of Valdebebas, Madrid, central Spain, 16 September 2023. (EPA)
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Real Madrid Hosts Real Sociedad. Everton Faces Arsenal in Premier League

Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham (C-L) participates in his team's training session at sports city of Valdebebas, Madrid, central Spain, 16 September 2023. (EPA)
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham (C-L) participates in his team's training session at sports city of Valdebebas, Madrid, central Spain, 16 September 2023. (EPA)

A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Sunday:

SPAIN

Real Madrid hosts Real Sociedad with Jude Bellingham leading the Spanish league with five goals since the 20-year-old England midfielder joined the club. Madrid will still be without the injured Vinícius Júnior. Madrid opens its Champions League group stage against Union Berlin on Wednesday at home. Madrid has won all four games it has played and entered the round as the league leader.

Sociedad's Japan forward Takefusa Kubo has scored three goals this campaign. Villarreal’s new coach Jose “Pacheta” Martín debuts at home against Almeria after he replaced the fired Quique Setién. Sevilla hosts Las Palmas whose team had to make the trip from the Canary Islands in two separate flights after the club said 15 players missed the first flight. Osasuna is at Getafe.

ENGLAND

Everton, which is set to come under new ownership, has a chance to get out of the relegation zone of the Premier League when it faces undefeated Arsenal at Goodison Park. It's not an easy task. The Gunners rallied to beat Manchester United 3-1 in their last game. Bournemouth hosts Chelsea in the early game with both clubs struggling so far this season.

ITALY

Roma is still searching for its first win of the season and it hosts newly promoted Empoli, which has lost its opening three matches back in Serie A. Roma has just one point. Roma coach Jose Mourinho confirmed that Romelu Lukaku and Paulo Dybala will both start, with the two strikers playing together for the first time.

Promoted Cagliari also has just one point and Claudio Ranieri’s side hosts Udinese. Lecce, which is surprisingly fourth, can move level with second-place Juventus with a win at Monza. Atalanta is a point behind Lecce and visits Fiorentina. Frosinone hosts Sassuolo.

GERMANY

Three of the four teams in Bundesliga action haven't yet won a game this season. Borussia Monchengladbach plays at last-place Darmstadt with both teams winless. Heidenheim, which also has yet to win a league game, hosts midtable Werder Bremen in the day's other match.

FRANCE

Unbeaten Monaco looks to strengthen its lead with victory at midtable Lorient. Monaco has been scoring freely so far this season under coach Adi Hütter, with 13 goals in the first four matches. Marseille is also unbeaten and can jump to at least second place with a home win against Toulouse at Stade Velodrome, which has been hosting Rugby World Cup matches. Also, struggling Lyon desperately needs a home win against promoted Le Havre.



Sandro Mazzola, Italy and Inter Milan Soccer Star, Dies at Age 83

FILE - Inter Milan's former players Sandro Mazzola, second left, with Jair of Brazil, left, Mario Corso and Luis Suarez, right, prior to the start of the Champions League first knockout round, second leg soccer match between Inter and Ajax at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, March 14, 2006. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
FILE - Inter Milan's former players Sandro Mazzola, second left, with Jair of Brazil, left, Mario Corso and Luis Suarez, right, prior to the start of the Champions League first knockout round, second leg soccer match between Inter and Ajax at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, March 14, 2006. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
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Sandro Mazzola, Italy and Inter Milan Soccer Star, Dies at Age 83

FILE - Inter Milan's former players Sandro Mazzola, second left, with Jair of Brazil, left, Mario Corso and Luis Suarez, right, prior to the start of the Champions League first knockout round, second leg soccer match between Inter and Ajax at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, March 14, 2006. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
FILE - Inter Milan's former players Sandro Mazzola, second left, with Jair of Brazil, left, Mario Corso and Luis Suarez, right, prior to the start of the Champions League first knockout round, second leg soccer match between Inter and Ajax at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, March 14, 2006. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

Sandro Mazzola, the former Inter Milan captain who was one of Italy’s most acclaimed players, has died. He was 83.

His death was announced on Saturday by Inter, the soccer club where he spent his entire 17-year playing career. No cause of death was given, The Associated Press said.

“FC Internazionale Milano, its President Giuseppe Marotta, Vice President Javier Zanetti, head coach Cristian Chivu and his staff, the players, and everyone at Inter mourn with profound sorrow the passing of Sandro Mazzola, a Nerazzurri and world football legend,” Inter said in an emotional statement.

“Sandro Mazzola was one of the greatest footballers in history. Not only in the history of the Nerazzurri.”

Mazzola, an attacking midfielder or second striker, scored 158 goals in 565 matches for Inter, helping the Nerazzurri to four Serie A titles and two European Cups.

He also won the European Championship with Italy in 1968.


Arabian Gulf Cup Marks Historic Milestone in Jeddah's Long-Standing Football Heritage

Arabian Gulf Cup marks historic milestone in Jeddah's long-standing football heritage. (SPA)
Arabian Gulf Cup marks historic milestone in Jeddah's long-standing football heritage. (SPA)
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Arabian Gulf Cup Marks Historic Milestone in Jeddah's Long-Standing Football Heritage

Arabian Gulf Cup marks historic milestone in Jeddah's long-standing football heritage. (SPA)
Arabian Gulf Cup marks historic milestone in Jeddah's long-standing football heritage. (SPA)

For decades, football has formed an integral part of Jeddah's social fabric, with neighborhood pitches serving as foundational training grounds that have nurtured generations of talent for local clubs and national squads, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

The city's institutional sporting history began in 1950 with the opening of Al-Sabban Stadium in Al-Qurayyat district. As the Kingdom's first official sports venue, the 12,000-capacity facility hosted the inaugural King's Cup final and successive title matches. In 1973, it drew massive crowds when it hosted Brazilian club Santos, led by global football icon Pelé, for an exhibition training session.

Jeddah's sports infrastructure expanded in 1970 with the opening of the Jeddah Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Waziriyah, accommodating roughly 22,000 spectators. Renamed Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in 2001, the venue underwent extensive modernization beginning in 2012, reopening in 2021 as a 27,000-seat stadium within the integrated Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City.

In 2014, the opening of King Abdullah Sports City, featuring a stadium exceeding 62,000 seats, further reinforced Jeddah's capability to stage elite global and continental tournaments.

For the first time in the tournament's history, Jeddah will host the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup from September 23 to October 6, 2026. Featuring eight Gulf national teams, matches will be staged across both King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City, continuing the coastal city's tradition of drawing record crowds and hosting premier regional competitions.


Carrick Confident Man Utd Can 'Work Through' Tough Time

FILED - 16 September 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts during the English Carabao Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpa
FILED - 16 September 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts during the English Carabao Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpa
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Carrick Confident Man Utd Can 'Work Through' Tough Time

FILED - 16 September 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts during the English Carabao Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpa
FILED - 16 September 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts during the English Carabao Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpa

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick said he expected to have to ride out a storm at some point this season after a dreadful start to the current campaign.

Carrick was appointed on a permanent basis after his successful temporary spell at the end of last season secured third place in the Premier League and a return to the Champions League.

But United have taken just four points from their opening four league games this season and were dumped out the League Cup in a 3-2 defeat by Brighton in midweek after blowing a two-goal lead at Old Trafford for the first time in 50 years.

"History tells you that any team that's successful goes through periods when you have to work through it, come through it and improve," Carrick said ahead of Sunday's trip to Fulham, according to AFP.

"We've had a small period, in recent time, when it hasn't been exactly what we want it to be.
"I was expecting a point when we would go through it, it was going to come. We had such a good spell last season, going into this season."

Former United and England midfielder Carrick also has reason to bemoan his side's luck in recent weeks.

United received a swift apology from referees' chiefs after Erling Haaland's winning goal for Manchester City last weekend was wrongly awarded because the VAR officials did not spot an offside against Enzo Fernandez in the build-up.

Carrick's men were also heading for three points at Everton last Sunday before until Toffees defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles produced a stunning strike into the top corner from long range.

"It is a week or two, the games haven't gone our way," added Carrick. "It's tiny margins in some of those games. We will work through it. Winning games is always the answer, it can cover up a lot of things at times as well.

"Sometimes it's the small disappointments that lead to something a bit bigger. It's part of coping and being at this great football club."

United could be boosted by the return of Luke Shaw from injury for the visit to Craven Cottage.

Carlos Baleba is also in contention to make his first appearance since a £70 million ($95 million) move from Brighton.