Macedonia at Stožice: 517 minutes without a goal, and Oblak in the other net

Tonight at 20:45 the national team plays its second Nations League B match against Slovenia in Ljubljana, arriving with a number that hurts more than any scoreline: 517 minutes without a goal. The opener in Skopje ended in a 0-3 defeat to Switzerland, and coach Goce Sedloski has announced changes to the starting XI. Ezgjan Alioski won't play - he stayed in Skopje with a calf injury, hoping to be fit for Scotland on October 3. The head-to-head record is on our side - four wins, two draws and only one defeat - but in Slovenia's goal stands Jan Oblak, one of the best keepers in the world. History is a nice consolation, but goals aren't scored with past statistics.

City: guilty on 114 charges, and the war is only starting

An independent commission has found Manchester City guilty on 114 of the 115 Premier League charges, and the punishment is yet to be decided - on the table are a points deduction, a fine, a transfer ban and even expulsion from the league. Chief executive Ferran Soriano told European club executives in Copenhagen that the club won't accept it: "It took eight years to get here, and it will take much longer still." Appeals and possible new legal battles will follow. In England people are already calculating whether a big enough points deduction would mean relegation - in which case Erling Haaland could leave too. Eight years of investigation, a verdict - and still no end in sight. When the money is big enough, even guilt becomes just another phase of negotiation.

Jorge Jesus leaves Ronaldo on the bench: "It wasn't his moment"

Portugal's new coach Jorge Jesus told Cristiano Ronaldo he would play against Norway - and then didn't give him a single minute. Portugal won 2-1, while the captain and the national team's all-time top scorer watched from the bench. "Football dictates things. He was ready to play, but it wasn't his moment," said Jesus, who has already worked with Ronaldo at Al Nassr. Even more interesting: after the final whistle Ronaldo went straight down the tunnel without acknowledging the fans, and the coach said he'd have a talk with him. He may play against Denmark. In Portugal, it seems, someone finally dares to say that even legends don't play on autopilot - the question is how long that courage will last.

Real and Barcelona race for 17-year-old Gilberto Mora

Both Spanish giants are tracking Gilberto Mora, Tijuana's 17-year-old attacking midfielder, whom many consider one of the biggest talents in the world. He debuted for the club at 15, became the youngest scorer in the Mexican league, and so far has 62 appearances, 15 goals and three assists. At the World Cup he started three of Mexico's five matches before they were knocked out by England in the round of 16, and he recently scored his first goal for the national team, in a 1-1 draw with Colombia. His new contract with Tijuana, running until 2029, was signed before the tournament precisely to ease a big sale to Europe. A new contract at 17, signed so the boy can be sold for more later - that's what the football stock market looks like.

Tanevski starts with a loss and four penalties against Russia

The Under-21 team began its new cycle under coach Aleksandar Tanevski with a 2-3 friendly defeat to Russia at the Macedonian Football Federation's training centre in Skopje. Referee Igor Stojčevski awarded four penalties, two for each side, so four of the five goals came from the spot. Both of Macedonia's goals were scored by Tašovski, and goalkeeper Vrgov prevented a heavier defeat with several saves. The real test comes straight away: on October 1 in Bitola, Macedonia host Montenegro in European Championship qualifying, then play away in Sweden four days later. Friendlies are for learning, but in qualifying the points count.