The Monaco draw: Arsenal get Real, United walk straight back into Bayern's mouth

In Monaco they drew who plays whom in the new Champions League and the list is brutal for the English clubs. Arsenal, entering as Premier League champions, will host Real Madrid and travel to Bayern Munich - two clubs with 21 European trophies between them. Manchester City open their first season after Guardiola with PSG at home and Barcelona away. And Manchester United, back in the competition after a break, drew Atletico Madrid, Bayern and Roma. Eight matches, the first round from 8 to 10 September, the last on 27 January 2027. The draw is computerised, but somehow the big ones always find the big ones.

Seven Macedonian internationals in the Conference League: Elmas against Herrera and Siskovski

This is the number talked about least here, and it is the most interesting: this season in the Conference League, seven Macedonian internationals will play, and some of them will play against each other. Eljif Elmas with Atalanta faces Borac, where Herrera and Siskovski play. Ezgjan Alioski with Lugano will meet Visar Musliu's Sint-Truiden and Red Star, where Gastarov is. Rastoder with Panathinaikos travels to Brighton and Freiburg. Macedonian football has not produced a national team that frightens anyone for a long time, but the production of individuals breaking through in Europe clearly is not stopping. The question is why that never converts into a result on the pitch once they put on the red shirt.

Shkendija five from five: 15 points from the first five rounds, Sileks beaten 0:2

The domestic league has one team that does not stumble. Shkendija won 0:2 away at Sileks in the fifth round and have a perfect 15 points. The first half finished goalless and with a Besart Ibraimi goal ruled out after a VAR review. In the 53rd minute Ibraimi took a set piece, the Sileks defence blinked, and Melici made it 0:1. In the 88th, Fahd Ndzengue put the full stop on 0:2. The hosts stayed on seven points, and coach Aleksandar Vasoski reacted furiously from the touchline to the misplaced passes. The Tetovo side play calmly and without panic - which in the Macedonian league is an almost unfair advantage.

Alvarez back on the English market: City are thinking about a return, Atletico want 150 million

Julian Alvarez wants Barcelona, Atletico do not want to sell him to Barcelona, and suddenly Manchester City appear as a possible solution. The Argentine left the Etihad two years ago precisely because he was playing in Haaland's shadow, and in Madrid he became a key player. Now City want him back - preferably on loan, which Atletico refuse. The price is 150 million euros (129 million pounds) or a swap involving a top-rank player, with Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres among the names mentioned. Alvarez has reservations about returning to England. Understandably - the man already fled once in order to play.

Chaos in Lyon: Guendouzi set the stadium alight after Fenerbahce reached the elite

Fenerbahce qualified for the Champions League after 2:1 on aggregate against Lyon, but the result was discussed far less than what followed. Mateo Guendouzi, a former Marseille player and a favourite of their fans, provoked the home ground all evening - a middle finger towards the stands during the warm-up, then celebrations directly in front of the frustrated Lyon players. A mass of players and coaching staff on the pitch followed, then a gesture associated with Marseille and shouts of "Allez l'OM" towards the Lyon stands. On the way to the tunnel, objects were thrown at him. Fenerbahce's players pulled him out. UEFA is silent for now - which usually means the punishment arrives once everyone has forgotten the footage.