Lazio remain unbeaten and top of Serie A after a 1-1 draw at Napoli, although they were denied a seventh consecutive league victory and failed to win an away match for the first time this campaign.

The result also ended Napoli’s run of four successive head-to-head defeats against Lazio at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Napoli remain eight points outside the top four, having won only two of their past eight matches in all competitions.

Lazio, seeking their first Scudetto since 2000, arrived in Naples after six straight Serie A victories. Napoli have won the title twice in the past five years, but their prospects of challenging this season already looked remote after they began the match 14 points behind the league leaders.

The visitors made the brighter start. Gustav Isaksen curled an effort narrowly wide inside the opening minute before Tijjani Noslin’s looping attempt drifted just past the post, with Vanja Milinkovic-Savic unable to reach it.

Napoli responded when Noa Lang tested Christos Mandas, but Lazio continued to pose the greater threat. Milinkovic-Savic was then forced to react quickly to keep out a corner from Josip Sutalo.

Lazio’s pressure was rewarded before the half-hour mark. They broke quickly, and Noslin released Davide Frattesi with a through ball. Frattesi finished first time to put the visitors ahead.

Napoli began to find more space in the final third as the interval approached. Matias Oliveira’s shot was parried into the path of Rasmus Hojlund, but the striker could not make a clean enough connection to turn the chance into an equaliser.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side continued in the same fashion after the restart and levelled within three minutes. Scott McTominay won possession in midfield before Napoli worked the ball into the area, where Alfonso Pedraza converted under pressure from both McTominay and Hojlund.

The equaliser shifted the momentum towards Napoli. Mandas made an important save to deny McTominay, while Oliveira sent a curling effort over the bar from a promising position.

Kevin De Bruyne then came close to putting Napoli in front. He was unable to beat Mandas after breaking through one-on-one, and his follow-up ricocheted off him without warning before Lazio cleared the ball from the goal-line.

Napoli’s spell of pressure eventually subsided and the contest became more balanced. Both sides created opportunities, but neither goalkeeper was seriously troubled again, and the closing stages produced no clear opening.

Lazio will therefore spend the international break at the summit of Serie A, still unbeaten this season. Napoli remain eight points from the top four.

Christos Mandas was named Flashscore Man of the Match for Lazio.

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer could be sidelined until January after suffering a partial tendon tear in his right foot, in a major setback for Vincent Kompany’s side.

Neuer was substituted shortly before half-time during Bayern’s 3-0 victory over Mainz on Saturday, with Jonas Urbig coming on in his place.

The Bundesliga champions confirmed the injury on Sunday, saying the 40-year-old had “sustained a partial tendon tear in his right foot”. Reports indicate that Neuer could be unavailable for around two months.

A tendon connects muscle to bone. A partial tear means that some of the fibres have been damaged, although the tendon has not been completely ruptured.

The extent of Neuer’s injury will determine how long his recovery takes. A small partial tear can heal without surgery, while more serious damage could require a longer rehabilitation programme.

Bayern have not given an official return date, but Urbig is expected to take on an important role until Neuer is able to return after the Christmas break.

The injury comes at a difficult stage of the season for Bayern, who are defending their title under Kompany. They go into the international break joint on points with Borussia Dortmund, separated by goal difference, as Bayern lead by 11.

Neuer is expected to miss several significant matches during his absence. Bayern face Arsenal and Sporting in the Champions League, while Union Berlin await them in the DFB-Pokal.

The club also have five Bundesliga matches scheduled between those fixtures, meaning they will be competing for 15 points without Neuer in goal.

Neuer has been Bayern’s long-standing first-choice goalkeeper and captain, but the club must now rely on Urbig while the experienced Germany international completes his rehabilitation.

There has been no indication from Bayern that surgery will be required, and the club has yet to commit to a precise timetable for Neuer’s recovery. For now, Urbig is set to deputise through a demanding period that includes domestic league matches, a cup tie and two Champions League games.

The timing of the injury means Bayern’s immediate challenge extends beyond replacing their goalkeeper for one match. They must manage a sustained run of fixtures while Neuer remains unavailable, with his possible return after the Christmas break offering the earliest indication of when he might resume playing.

Pablo Maffeo criticised DAZN’s decision to interview him at half-time during Valencia’s 3-0 defeat by Real Madrid, saying the exercise was “completely pointless” while the match was still being played.

Valencia were already 2-0 down at the break after goals from Federico Valverde and Arda Guler in a fractious encounter at Estadio de Mestalla.

The result leaves struggling Los Che second from bottom of LaLiga and in the relegation zone.

As the teams left the pitch at half-time, broadcaster DAZN spoke to right-back Maffeo, who made clear that he did not want to take part.

“I really don't feel like doing this interview,” Maffeo said.

“I think this interview is a load of s – it's completely pointless. We're in the middle of a game.

“They're calling fouls that aren't even fouls, but whatever – that's it. We have to do the interview, so we'll do it.

“Ask me whatever you want, and that's it.”

Valencia’s difficult evening continued after the interval when Kylian Mbappe added Real Madrid’s third goal in the 75th minute.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men when captain Jose Gaya was sent off for bringing down Mbappe.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s difficult start to life at Real Madrid has come under renewed scrutiny in Spain, with the England defender reportedly struggling to establish himself in the team.

The former Liverpool academy player left his boyhood club on a free transfer two summers ago to join their European rivals. However, his dream move to Real Madrid is becoming increasingly difficult to justify as he fails to secure a regular place under Jose Mourinho.

Federico Valverde and Denzel Dumfries are currently ahead of Alexander-Arnold in the competition for the right-back position, according to Spanish media reports.

After Real Madrid’s victory over Valencia on Saturday night, the England international was mocked by sections of the Spanish press, amid suggestions that he could be missing Merseyside.

Marca gave Valverde a rating of 9/10 for his performance and described him as potentially “the best right-back in the world”. The assessment has attracted significant attention this week.

Mundo Deportivo had already suggested that Alexander-Arnold could be Real Madrid’s third-choice right-back, behind Valverde and Dumfries.

Alexander-Arnold joined Real Madrid with the expectation that he would become the club’s long-term solution in the position. Instead, his lack of playing time has led to claims that he has become a substitute as Los Blancos continue their title challenge against Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.

Despite remaining on the bench, Alexander-Arnold’s prospects of representing England have not been affected. Thomas Tuchel included him in the squad for next week’s international break, when England will face Spain and Croatia.

Real Madrid great Iker Casillas has taken both of his sons out of the club’s academy after becoming frustrated with their progress, according to reports in Spain.

Casillas’ eldest son, 12-year-old Martin Casillas, is a goalkeeper with Real Madrid’s Infantil B team. His younger son, 10-year-old Lucas, also plays in goal and is part of the club’s Alevin A side.

The two boys have followed their father’s path by joining Real Madrid’s youth set-up, but reports say Casillas has now decided they should leave and continue their development elsewhere.

Martin is understood to have lost prominence within his age group as competition for places increased. Neither he nor Lucas was selected for the Futures tournament in Orlando, a decision reportedly viewed as a significant moment by Casillas.

The former Spain goalkeeper is said to have acted quickly after the tournament selection and removed both sons from the academy.

The family will now consider alternative destinations for the boys’ training. Marca has suggested that Leganes could provide a more suitable environment for their development.

Casillas’ relationship with Real Madrid has also come under scrutiny following his public support for Enrique Riquelme’s campaign against Florentino Perez in the club’s summer presidential election.

Reports have suggested that Casillas’ stance may have influenced the prospects of his son within the academy, although the reported decision to leave is primarily linked to concerns over Martin’s development and his reduced role.

Casillas made 725 appearances for Real Madrid during his career, winning five La Liga titles and three Champions League titles.

The 43-year-old goalkeeper came through the club’s academy before establishing himself as one of Real Madrid’s most successful players. His decision to remove his sons brings fresh focus to his current relationship with the club as the family prepares to find new opportunities for their footballing education.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has urged national team coaches to take greater care of players during the November international break, saying clubs are owed professionalism when footballers are recovering from matches.

Real Madrid moved level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona after beating Valencia 3-0 on Saturday night. The result leaves Mourinho’s side in a strong position as domestic football pauses for international fixtures.

The November 2026 international break runs from Monday, November 9th to Tuesday, November 17th. With club competitions temporarily suspended, attention will turn to the demands placed on players representing their countries – and the risk of injuries before the busy festive period.

Mourinho said he would be particularly demanding of clubs if he ever became a national team manager, because his priority would be protecting his own squad.

“I won’t talk because I don’t know if one day I’ll be a national team coach, but I have the feeling that if I ever do it, I’ll be very demanding with the clubs,” he said.

“I’ll think about myself and my team. That’s the feeling. They owe it to the players to be professional when it comes to helping them recover. Let’s hope we’re lucky.”

The Real Madrid manager also referred to his friendship with Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti, explaining why he did not want to contact national team coaches during the break.

“That’s why I don’t feel like calling anyone, even my friend Carlo,” Mourinho said.

“But, in Carlo’s case, just look at who’s going with Carlo: Vinicius, who must play; Endrick, and if Carlo plays him, I’ll be grateful.

“It’s not Carlo's side that worries me, but I don’t think they enjoy it either if a player gets injured from overexertion.”

Clubs will be hoping their key players return from international duty without injury, particularly with domestic leagues, European competitions and international fixtures leaving players with fewer chances to recover.

Real Madrid will receive a boost when Vinicius Junior returns from a four-game domestic ban against Celta Vigo on November 21st. His availability will give Mourinho another important option as club football resumes and the schedule builds towards Christmas.

Paris Saint-Germain made it 11 consecutive victories in all competitions as Ilya Zabarnyi’s header secured a 1-0 win against Troyes at the Parc des Princes.

The result strengthened PSG’s position at the top of the table and extended their longest winning streak of the Luis Enrique era, although the Ligue 1 leaders were far from their most convincing.

PSG were without several important players, including 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees Marquinhos, Ousmane Dembele, Nuno Mendes and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Their lack of fluency was evident during a first half in which Troyes created a number of opportunities.

The hosts began positively, with Hillel Konate deflecting Senny Mayulu’s effort on to the crossbar inside the opening five minutes. Mayulu then sent another attempt into the side netting, but PSG struggled to turn their early pressure into clear chances.

Troyes offered a threat on the break and Renaud Ripart twice went close, first shooting wide before testing Matvey Safonov with a glancing header.

PSG gradually imposed themselves and Konate had to deny Ferran Torres from a tight angle. The home side finally took the lead when Zabarnyi rose to head in.

They could have gone into half-time with a two-goal advantage. Konate again kept out Torres, who then attempted to lift the ball over the goalkeeper but placed his delicate chip just beyond the post.

Troyes started the second half with purpose and missed a clear chance to equalise when Ripart shot wide while one-on-one with Safonov.

PSG remain one of Europe’s most dangerous sides in transition and almost doubled their advantage when Warren Zaire-Emery headed narrowly past the post.

Torres had already been denied three times by Konate in the opening 45 minutes and was given another opportunity midway through the second half. The FIFA World Cup winner was unable to beat the Troyes goalkeeper again, although he will believe he should have done better with the chance.

Troyes appeared to have levelled with just under 10 minutes remaining when Lucas Maronnier converted from close range. However, he was offside when he followed up after Safonov had saved Dermane Karim’s free-kick.

The visitors continued to push but could not find an equaliser. Their lack of goals remains a major problem, with no Ligue 1 side having scored fewer than their seven goals this term.

Zabarnyi was named Flashscore Man of the Match.

Real Madrid moved level with Barcelona at the top of LaLiga after extending their winning run to eight matches in all competitions with a 3-0 victory at Valencia.

The result made it five consecutive league wins for Real Madrid, while Valencia missed the chance to record back-to-back victories for the first time this season.

Real Madrid controlled possession and territory from the outset, although Valencia initially resisted despite the creativity of Yan Diomande and Arda Guler. The hosts had barely ventured beyond the halfway line for almost 20 minutes before producing the first attempt on target.

Aaron Mayol intercepted a pass and struck from just outside the penalty area, but Thibaut Courtois reached the shot with his fingertips. Valencia then appeared to take the lead from the resulting corner, only for Cesar Tarrega’s effort to be ruled out for offside.

The hosts’ spell of pressure was brief, however, as Real Madrid began to impose themselves with the half-hour mark approaching.

A defensive wall blocked Kylian Mbappe’s free-kick, but the ball fell to Federico Valverde, who drove a low shot into the bottom corner. It was the midfielder’s first league goal of the season.

Real Madrid doubled their advantage 10 minutes before half-time. Mbappe found Jude Bellingham on the left, and the England international’s cutback took a deflection that presented Guler with the opportunity to volley into the net.

Guler almost scored again moments later, but Stole Dimitrievski kept Valencia in the match with a save. Yan Diomande then sent the follow-up over the crossbar.

Real Madrid had not trailed at half-time in LaLiga this season and their lead was never seriously threatened after the interval.

Dimitrievski continued to frustrate Guler, smothering the ball when the Turkey international was sent through one-on-one. The goalkeeper also produced a strong-handed save to keep out a powerful effort from Mbappe.

Bellingham then burst through a series of challenges and looked set to add a third, but Dimitrievski denied him with an outstretched leg.

Valencia tried to find a way back into the game during the final quarter, with Arnaut Danjuma testing Courtois from a tight angle. The Real Madrid goalkeeper was equal to the attempt and soon helped create the visitors’ third goal.

Courtois’ long clearance was pursued by Guler, whose intelligent pass into the centre released Mbappe. The forward calmly rolled the ball into the net for his 13th league goal of the campaign.

Valencia’s evening deteriorated further when Jose Gaya was shown a straight red card for a poor challenge on Mbappe.

With an extra player, Jose Mourinho’s side closed out a fifth successive away victory. Valencia, also known as Los Murcielagos, have now lost three home matches in a row against the Madrid side for the first time since Mourinho was last in charge.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Arda Guler (Real Madrid).

AS Roma responded decisively to their midweek UEFA Champions League defeat by Manchester United, beating Sassuolo 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico to maintain their unbeaten start to the Serie A season.

The result moved Gian Piero Gasperini’s side to within one point of leaders and arch-rivals Lazio. Roma have now avoided defeat in their opening 11 league matches for only the third time in their history.

Roma controlled the early stages and almost opened the scoring after 12 minutes. Leonardo Balerdi’s close-range header looked destined for the net, but Duje Caleta-Car produced an excellent clearance off the line.

The home side did not have to wait much longer for a breakthrough. Mario Hermoso struck from 15 yards before the half-hour mark, registering his eighth goal for Roma. Every one of those goals has been scored at the Olimpico.

Roma continued to commit players forward after taking the lead and doubled their advantage three minutes later. Sebastian Walukiewicz inadvertently turned the ball into his own net as Sassuolo struggled to contain the hosts’ pressure.

Sassuolo goalkeeper Arijanet Muric then kept the deficit at two before half-time. He tipped an effort around the post to deny Balerdi a second goal and was called into action again shortly afterwards to palm away a powerful shot from Matias Soule.

The visitors created a promising opportunity on the counter-attack before the interval, but Jay Idzes was unable to take advantage.

Roma missed an opportunity to put the game beyond doubt three minutes into the second half. Soule rounded Muric and squared the ball for Donyell Malen, but the forward failed to convert with the goal at his mercy.

Malen came close to making amends 10 minutes later, only for Muric to deny him with another impressive save.

The third goal eventually arrived when Rodrigo Mora finished neatly after being set up by Malen. That ended any realistic prospect of a Sassuolo comeback, with Roma able to control the closing stages and collect another three points.

The victory was Roma’s fifth consecutive Serie A win against Sassuolo. For the Neroverdi, however, the start to the campaign is becoming increasingly worrying: a fifth successive league defeat has left them 17th in the table ahead of the international break.

Mario Hermoso was named Flashscore Man of the Match.

Napoli have cancelled Max Allegri’s pre-match press conference just 10 minutes before it was due to begin, adding to the pressure surrounding the club ahead of Sunday’s Serie A meeting with Lazio on 8 November.

The decision was reportedly made on the instruction of Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, according to Sky Sport Italia.

Allegri took charge of Napoli in the summer after replacing Antonio Conte, who led the club to the Scudetto. However, the veteran Italian manager has struggled to produce similar results during his early months in the role.

Napoli are currently 10th in Serie A, with 14 points from their opening 10 matches. Reports in Italy have suggested Allegri’s position at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona is under serious threat.

The cancellation of his media appearance came shortly after Napoli suffered a heavy defeat in Europe. They were beaten 4-1 by Porto in the Champions League, with the club now preparing to face league leaders Lazio just days later.

The decision not to hold the press conference further highlights the uncertainty surrounding Napoli as they attempt to respond to their poor domestic form and their Champions League setback.

Lassine Sinayoko scored against his former club Auxerre to give Paris FC a 1-0 victory and move them level on points with Paris Saint-Germain.

The result ended a run of two successive draws between the sides in Ligue 1, making this the first of their three meetings in the competition not to finish level.

Paris FC had more possession during the opening stages, but the early talking point was a collision between Hamari Traore and Danny Namaso. The match quickly developed into a physical contest, with Rudy Matondo and Sinayoko both returning to Stade Abbe-Deschamps.

Three yellow cards were shown within a minute. A dispute between Pierre Lees-Melou and Cameron Archer was followed by Sinaly Diomande catching Sinayoko from behind.

Auxerre created the first opportunity in the 21st minute after winning a free-kick, but Marvin Senaya headed wide. Sinayoko continued to battle with Diomande, while neither side managed to produce a clear attacking threat.

Axel Tuanzebe intervened to divert Otavio’s weak effort behind, before Lees-Melou sent a badly struck volley harmlessly wide.

Auxerre appeared to have taken the lead in the 39th minute when Romain Faivre moved past Otavio and delivered a low cross towards the far post for Archer to convert. However, a VAR review ruled out the goal because Fredrik Oppegard had handled the ball.

Another review followed when Diego Coppola’s header from the resulting free-kick was blocked, but no handball was awarded on that occasion.

The game became more open after half-time. Pablo Pagis and Pierre Ekwah both tested Kevin Trapp from distance within the first five minutes of the restart, although the Paris FC goalkeeper saved both attempts.

Pagis, who had earned a call-up to Zinedine Zidane’s France squad, then produced a dangerous free-kick. Tuanzebe touched the delivery onto his own post and behind.

Paris FC finally broke the deadlock through an unlikely sequence. Pagis sent a shot wide, but Sinayoko instinctively redirected the ball into the bottom corner, silencing the home supporters and extending his lead as Ligue 1’s top scorer.

Auxerre responded positively and created a chance to equalise after a well-worked move released Archer inside the penalty area. Trapp denied the striker, however, preserving Paris FC’s second consecutive victory.

It is the second time this season Paris FC have won successive matches. They now sit level on points with Paris Saint-Germain, at least until PSG’s later fixture against Troyes.

Troyes occupy the relegation play-off place and are only two points behind Auxerre, who have now suffered back-to-back defeats.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Pierre Lees-Melou (Paris FC)

VfB Stuttgart secured a much-needed 1-0 Bundesliga victory over Werder Bremen at the MHPArena, avoiding what would have been a third consecutive home defeat.

The hosts made a fast start after their 4-2 win against Bayer Leverkusen last weekend and went ahead after only seven minutes. Grischa Promel delivered a cross into a dangerous area, where Maximilian Mittelstadt met it perfectly and guided a side-footed finish into the top corner.

Stuttgart had opportunities to strengthen their position before the interval. Bilal El Khannouss failed to convert several chances, although he forced Karl Hein into a save from distance before the half-hour mark. Jeff Chabot then headed narrowly wide from a corner.

Werder’s clearest opening of the first half fell to Youri Regeer, whose flicked header went inches past the post.

The visitors had scored 14 of their 17 league goals this season after half-time, so Stuttgart knew a second-half response could quickly change the match. Eren Dinkci tested Dennis Seimen with a shot from the edge of the penalty area following a free-kick, but the young goalkeeper held it comfortably.

Seimen then produced an outstanding save to deny Regeer from close range and preserve Stuttgart’s advantage.

At the other end, Hein remained alert in the opening stages of the second half. He got down well to keep out Mittelstadt’s attempt to score a second after Stuttgart worked a corner routine effectively.

Stuttgart had further reason to be concerned as the match entered its closing stages. Both teams had scored in seven of the club’s previous eight home matches, but the hosts were determined to protect their lead and record a clean sheet.

Seimen again came to their rescue when Ludovit Reis turned and struck towards goal. The goalkeeper stood firm and refused to be beaten.

The result was a welcome return to winning form for the Swabian side, who had lost 2-0 to Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League during the week. The three points move VfB Stuttgart into the top half of the Bundesliga table.

Werder Bremen’s seven-match unbeaten league run came to an end. Their sequence had included four wins and three draws, but they remain in fifth place and are still exceeding expectations.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Maximilian Mittelstadt (VfB Stuttgart)

RB Leipzig recovered from an early setback to defeat Augsburg 5-2 and move up to third in the Bundesliga, securing their third consecutive league victory and extending their record-breaking start at home.

The result maintained Leipzig’s perfect home record in the league and made it 10 successive top-flight victories at their own ground. Augsburg, meanwhile, have now gone seven Bundesliga matches without a win.

Leipzig had not conceded in any of their first four home league games this season, but that record lasted only 37 seconds. Willi Orban, making his 400th appearance for Die Roten Bullen, gave the ball away to Arijon Ibrahimovic. Maarten Vandevoordt saved Ibrahimovic’s effort, but Anton Kade followed up to score into an empty net.

The goal offered encouragement to an Augsburg side whose last league win came in early September. They almost doubled their advantage when Rodrigo Ribeiro headed over from a promising position.

That opportunity sparked a response from the hosts. Captain David Raum soon tested Finn Dahmen with a powerful drive, which the Augsburg goalkeeper bravely kept out with his face.

Leipzig levelled shortly after the half-hour mark through Ezechiel Banzuzi. Brajan Gruda supplied the pass and Banzuzi sent a left-footed shot from 25 yards into the bottom corner.

The turnaround was completed within minutes. Gruda delivered another cross, this time for Christopher Nkunku to volley into the roof of the net. It was Nkunku’s first goal since he scored a hat-trick against Eintracht Frankfurt in October.

Leipzig added a third in first-half stoppage time. Raum, who had been left out of the latest Germany squad, responded with a superb free-kick from the edge of the penalty area that curled into the top corner.

Augsburg nearly restored their lead at the start of the second half when Kade was put through on goal, but Vandevoordt denied him.

The save became even more significant on the hour. Romulo completed a flowing attack down the left by converting Nkunku’s cutback from two yards, scoring his fourth goal in three Bundesliga appearances.

Martin Demichelis’ team continued to press forward, and two substitutes combined for the fifth goal. Antonio Nusa and Christoph Baumgartner had been on the pitch for less than a minute when Baumgartner swept Nusa’s low cross from the left into the net.

Augsburg had the final moment of the match as Uchenna Ogundus scored his first Bundesliga goal with the last kick, but Leipzig’s victory was already secure.

The result leaves Leipzig only three points behind early leaders Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund after winning four of their past five matches. The timing of the international break may frustrate Leipzig, who had built strong momentum.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Brajan Gruda (RB Leipzig)

Borussia Dortmund stayed level on points with leaders Bayern Munich after Felix Nmecha struck twice in a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Elversberg at the Westfalenstadion.

Nmecha’s second brace of the season looked to have put Dortmund in control, but Noel Futkeu’s spectacular overhead kick set up a tense finish before the hosts held on. The result means Dortmund will remain alongside Bayern at the top of the standings over the November international break.

Dortmund began the weekend as one of only four teams in Europe’s top-five leagues still unbeaten in the league, and they created the first clear opening after 17 minutes. Fabio Silva attempted to beat Nicolas Kristof from distance, but his effort narrowly missed the post.

The hosts struggled to build sustained momentum, with Daniel Svensson fortunate to avoid more serious punishment after catching Lukas Pinckert on the ankle shortly afterwards.

Silva and Nmecha were both off target as Dortmund tried to mark their reunion with Elversberg with a victory. The teams had not met for 45 years, when their previous and only other encounter took place.

Elversberg remained organised until half-time and nearly produced a surprise lead just before the interval. Francis Onyeka’s shot from the edge of the penalty area missed the target by only a few inches.

The goalless first half had frustrated Dortmund, but their record after the break offered encouragement. They had scored 11 of their previous 14 league goals in the second half.

Onyeka was denied by an excellent save from Gregor Kobel soon after the restart, and Dortmund finally made the breakthrough barely a minute later. A misplaced pass in a dangerous area allowed Silva to find Nmecha, who placed a low finish into the bottom-left corner.

Nmecha continued to pose the greatest threat to Elversberg and doubled the advantage in the 71st minute. Silva again helped create the opportunity, while Maximilian Beier was brought down as he attempted to shoot. The loose ball fell to Nmecha, who unleashed a powerful long-range strike that flew inside the right post.

The Westfalenstadion celebrated, although Dortmund’s defensive record after the hour mark meant the contest was not entirely secure. They had conceded five of their previous six domestic goals after the 60-minute mark.

That concern became reality with nine minutes remaining. Elversberg worked a short corner before Florian Le Joncour sent the ball back across the face of goal, allowing Noel Futkeu to score with an overhead kick beyond Kobel.

Felix Keidel’s free-kick in injury time, followed by a series of corners, tested Dortmund’s composure. They resisted the pressure to maintain their challenge alongside Bayern.

Elversberg, meanwhile, have won only one of their past 10 away league games, drawing four and losing five.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund)

Harry Kane provided two assists as Bayern Munich beat Mainz 2-1 at the Mewa Arena to remain level on points with Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga.

The result extended Bayern’s unbeaten away sequence in the Bundesliga to 31 matches, while Mainz’s wait for a home league victory reached eight games.

Before kick-off, Mainz presented Kane with flowers and a bottle of champagne to mark his Ballon d’Or triumph. The hosts then gave him an unwanted opportunity to influence the match when a misplaced pass fell to the England captain in the 14th minute.

Kane immediately picked out Joshua Kimmich, who struck a powerful long-range effort beyond Robin Zentner to put the visitors ahead.

It was the seventh time in nine Bundesliga matches that Bayern had scored first, and they appeared comfortable for much of the opening period. However, Mainz thought they had levelled when Jae-Sung Lee headed in from a deep free-kick after Manuel Neuer failed to make contact with his attempted punch.

The goal was ruled out for offside, a decision that frustrated the home supporters. Neuer was unable to continue because of an injury, making his departure his final contribution on a day when he became the Bundesliga’s oldest player at 40 years and 225 days old.

Bayern responded positively after the interval and increased their advantage through another Kane contribution.

The forward’s initial attempt was blocked, but with Zentner drawn towards the loose ball, Kane was able to lay it off to Lennart Karl. The youngster finished with a sweeping right-footed shot into the open goal for his second league goal of the campaign.

That goal further damaged the confidence of a Mainz side that had already lost their previous three matches in all competitions.

Bayern came close to adding a third when Alphonso Davies saw an effort cleared off the line. Dayot Upamecano then headed against the crossbar as the visitors continued to control the contest.

Mainz did manage to score in stoppage time, against the run of play. Phillip Tietz met an inswinging cross and sent a glancing header beyond Jonas Urbig.

The late goal came too close to the final whistle to give the hosts a realistic chance of completing a comeback. Bayern held on to take three points and remain level with Borussia Dortmund at the summit.

Urs Fischer’s Mainz side remain 10th in the table.

Flashscore named Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Munich as the Man of the Match.

Elia Caprile produced a man-of-the-match performance as Cagliari ended a run of four successive Serie A defeats with a 1-0 victory over Frosinone.

The result was only Frosinone’s second league defeat since the opening day, after six wins and two draws, and brought their five-match unbeaten run to an end.

Frosinone had made an impressive start to the season, winning six of their first 10 league matches and scoring 24 goals. Only AS Roma and Inter Milan had scored more in Serie A.

They began confidently in Sardinia and, after an even opening, created a series of opportunities. Giacomo Calo twice tested Caprile with powerful strikes, but the Cagliari goalkeeper reacted sharply to keep both efforts out.

Cagliari then found a way through seven minutes before half-time, scoring only their third home league goal of the campaign. It was also the eighth time in 11 Serie A matches this season that they had scored first.

Michel Adopo won possession in the final third before exchanging passes with Paul Mendy. He then carried the ball towards the edge of the penalty area and curled a shot into the top corner for his first goal of the season.

The home side almost extended their advantage shortly after the restart. Paul Mendy’s flicked effort at the near post appeared destined for the net, but Lorenzo Palmisani made an excellent reflex save to deny him.

Frosinone responded by increasing the pressure as they searched for an equaliser, with Calo again posing their greatest threat. Caprile was forced into another quick save to keep out his attempt.

The visitors came even closer later in the half. Matteo Cichella looked to have finally beaten Caprile, but the goalkeeper recovered from a misjudged punch moments earlier to tip the shot onto the underside of the crossbar.

That proved to be Frosinone’s final clear opportunity to rescue a point. Cagliari managed the closing stages effectively to secure three valuable points and move back into the top half of the table.

The victory also meant Cagliari avoided a fifth defeat in their past eight league matches against newly promoted opposition.

Frosinone remain sixth, four points ahead of Cagliari, despite missing the chance to record three consecutive Serie A victories for the first time in the club’s history.

Their strong opening to the season nevertheless leaves them well placed to avoid a relegation battle. Frosinone have stayed up in none of their three previous Serie A campaigns.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Elia Caprile (Cagliari)

Barcelona can become only the third team to win five consecutive La Liga away matches against Atletico Madrid when the sides meet at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Sunday.

The visitors are top of La Liga with 30 points from 11 matches and have made an exceptional start in front of goal, scoring 46 times. Only Athletic Bilbao, who scored 49 in their opening 11 games in 1930-31, have scored more at this stage of a La Liga season.

Barcelona have also scored at least three goals in each of their five away league matches this season. They face an Atletico side who are second in the table and have won seven successive La Liga matches under manager Diego Simeone.

Atletico will look to turn home advantage into another positive result, although their recent record against Barcelona is mixed. They have won two of their past five meetings with Barcelona, with the Catalan club winning the other three.

The match is expected to be a fiery contest between two title rivals. Atletico have scored 22 goals in their 11 domestic matches, while Barcelona’s total of 46 is more than double that figure.

Atletico have scored seven goals from build-up attacks this season, a total bettered only by Barcelona, who have scored eight in that phase of play.

Barcelona will be without Rodri, who has a hamstring injury, Dani Olmo, who has an adductor problem, Roony Bardghji, who is sidelined with a knee injury, and Xavi Espart, who has an ankle injury.

Eric Garcia, who has a thigh issue, Jules Kounde, who has an ankle problem, and Andreas Christensen, who has a thigh injury, will all face late assessments before the game.

Atletico are missing Cristian Romero with a muscle injury and Johnny Cardoso because of a thigh problem as Diego Simeone rotates his side.

Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup: Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Grimaldo; Simeone, Barrios, Hjulmand, Baena; Lee, Alvarez.

Barcelona possible starting lineup: J Garcia; Farinas, Cubarsi, Martin, Cancelo; Bernal, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin, Gordon; Raphinha.

The game at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano is scheduled to kick off at 20:00.

Barcelona’s recent form is recorded as WWLLW, while Atletico’s is LWWDW.

AC Milan defender Koni De Winter has emerged as a potential January target for both Liverpool and Manchester United, with the Premier League clubs assessing their defensive options for the future.

The interest comes amid reports linking Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw with moves away from Old Trafford, while Liverpool are also looking at possible replacements for Virgil van Dijk.

De Winter, 24, is a 1.91m-tall Belgium international defender who can operate either at centre-back or right-back. That versatility is understood to be a key attraction for clubs seeking more flexibility in defence.

The Belgian began his development at Juventus before establishing himself in Serie A with Genoa. He has since become a player of interest to two of England’s biggest clubs as they consider their longer-term squad plans.

Liverpool have enjoyed success with Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo on loan, with the Uruguay international featuring in both central defence and at right-back under Andoni Iraola. De Winter’s ability to cover the same positions would offer a similar level of tactical flexibility.

He has made 10 Serie A appearances this season and started all 10 for former Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim. That connection could complicate any move to United, with Amorim reportedly reluctant to sell to his former club after leaving on bad terms.

De Winter was also reportedly left out of Belgium’s squad for November’s Nations League fixtures against Turkey and Italy after turning down a call-up because of concerns over his lack of game time.

Despite mixed performances in Serie A, Belgium manager Mark van Bommel had placed his faith in the young defender, who is seeking a more prominent role with the national team.

However, AC Milan team-mate Diego Moreira was selected by Belgium ahead of De Winter for the November fixtures. The defender could now face an important decision over his future, with both Liverpool and Manchester United considering whether to pursue a January deal.

Jesus Owono is considering retiring from football at the age of 25 following the death of Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel after the pair collided during a Spanish second division match last week.

The Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper had rushed towards the halfway line to contest a long ball with 30-year-old de Miguel when the incident occurred. De Miguel suffered a serious injury in the collision and later died.

Hundreds of mourners attended the striker’s funeral in Navahermosa, a village in central Spain, on Thursday as tributes were paid across the football community.

Owono has not played for Equatorial Guinea during the past week after asking to be omitted from coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese’s squad. The country’s football federation said the goalkeeper had made the request as he faced intense media attention following the incident.

Reports say Owono has remained inside his home after deactivating his Instagram account, having received abusive messages, including comments calling him a murderer.

Owono has described the period since de Miguel’s death as the most difficult days of his life. The BBC understands that the goalkeeper may now decide to end his playing career because he does not see a route back on to the pitch after what happened.

His potential footballing punishment has yet to be determined. The RFEF Disciplinary Committee is expected to decide how long any suspension should last, with a previous official report indicating the ban could be between four and 12 matches.

The consequences of de Miguel’s death have also affected the Spanish second division schedule. Tenerife’s match against Granada and Andorra’s fixture with Mallorca, both due to take place this weekend, have been postponed as a mark of respect for the striker.

The postponements followed the funeral in Navahermosa, where mourners gathered to remember de Miguel. The forward’s death has left Owono facing both the disciplinary process and the personal impact of the collision, while attention remains focused on whether he will return to football.

Frosinone have emerged as Serie A’s unexpected early-season contenders, sitting sixth in the table with the division’s third-highest scoring total under Massimiliano Alvini.

The Lazio club are three points ahead of Juventus and Napoli, both competing for a Champions League place, after a run of eye-catching results. Their latest success was a 2-0 win over Torino, following a 5-1 victory against Lecce, a thrilling 4-4 draw at Atalanta and a 4-2 triumph over Sassuolo.

Those results have taken Frosinone to 24 goals, level with league leaders Lazio. The performances have transformed a side expected to focus on avoiding relegation into one of the most entertaining teams in Italy.

Frosinone average just 42.6% possession, among the lowest figures in the league, but Alvini’s team dictate matches through their work out of possession. Their approach is based on immediate, vertical pressing, with players attempting to win the ball high up the pitch and move towards the opposition goal at speed.

The system begins with an open, aggressive 4-2-3-1 that creates opportunities for individual duels. In midfield, playmaker Giacomo Calo has scored in each of his past four appearances, while the movement around him gives the team additional flexibility.

When possession is regained, Frosinone look to play forward quickly, either finding the striker or releasing the pace of their wide players, Giorgi Kvernadze and Fares Ghedjemis. Attacking midfielder Romano Schmid provides further support in the final third.

The collective is central to their success, although Antonio Raimondo has been the standout contributor. The 22-year-old is Serie A’s second-highest scorer, with eight goals in 10 matches, accounting for one-third of Frosinone’s total.

Raimondo’s ankle injury, which will rule him out for more than a month, has forced a change to Alvini’s personnel but not to the team’s approach. He will be replaced by 26-year-old Romanian Daniel Birligea, who has scored twice in five appearances.

Frosinone’s next match is against Cagliari on Saturday afternoon, when they will attempt to continue a campaign in which they have already produced one of Europe’s most productive attacking collectives. Among clubs in Europe’s top five leagues, they have the highest number of players to have contributed to at least five goals this season.

Their attacking depth has also been assembled at relatively low cost. The combined gross wages of Ghedjemis, Schmid, Kvernadze and Raimondo are less than €2.4 million.

With little external pressure, Frosinone are enjoying the most successful period in their history while competing with the clubs from Rome that have drawn away so many local supporters in recent years.

Their long-term prospects remain impossible to predict, but the present is compelling. At the Benito Stirpe Stadium, supporters are watching a team built on bold, coordinated football that challenges traditional Italian stereotypes.