Xabi Alonso hailed Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Mallorca as a solid foundation for the season. The victory gave the Spaniards a flawless nine points after three games, but the coach admitted the team still needs to tighten its press and sharpen its attacking edge. He praised Arda Güler and Vinicius Jr while flagging a controversial disallowed goal. Looking ahead, Alonso warned that the Champions League will test the squad’s progress after the international break.
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Valencia CF manager Carlos Corberán praised Espanyol boss Manolo González while admitting his own side must step up away from Mestalla. With Espanyol riding a strong run, the Spanish coach stressed mental readiness and tactical tweaks ahead of the September 23 LaLiga showdown.
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Brazilian legend Ronaldinho handed the 2025 Ballon d'Or to PSG winger Ousmane Dembélé in Paris. Dembélé’s win caps a season that saw PSG lift their first Champions League trophy. He beat teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal and a list of world‑class rivals. The ceremony also highlighted women’s football with a special award for Ewa Pajor.
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SASSA has released its October 2025 payment schedule, confirming dates for Old Age, Disability and child grants, while SRD payments fall in the last week of the month. New biometric rules start September 1 to curb fraud. Grant amounts stay the same, and the Johannesburg office remains shut amid investigations. Find out what this means for beneficiaries.
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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca says Alejandro Garnacho must tighten his defensive positioning before facing Manchester United at Old Trafford. He highlighted repeated lapses from the Brentford game and warned United will be hungry at home. Garnacho is expected to start in an emotional reunion against his former club, with focus on how he balances attacking threat and off-ball work.
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England beat Andorra 2-0 at Villa Park to stay perfect in World Cup qualifying, but the performance lacked tempo and imagination. An own goal and a Declan Rice strike did the job, yet the attack looked blunt. Marcus Rashford struggled, Harry Kane was isolated, and debutants had mixed nights. Thomas Tuchel said there were more positives than negatives, while knowing standards must rise.
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Peacock packs September with a new workplace comedy The Paper (Sept 4), daily Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune episodes (Sept 9), the docuseries Epic Ride (Sept 29), and horror exclusive Screamboat (Sept 12). Love Island Games returns Sept 16, while AGT wraps Sept 25 and Law & Order premieres Sept 26. The movie shelf adds 21 Jump Street, Psycho, Shrek, and more.
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Manchester City’s £50m January arrival Nico Gonzalez returned to training just days after a rib scare cut short his debut at Leyton Orient. The quick comeback eases fears of a lengthy absence and boosts Pep Guardiola’s plans amid a packed schedule and a tight title defense. Guardiola was unhappy with the officiating in a VAR-free tie, but City now expect Gonzalez to push for minutes again.
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VfB Stuttgart says there’s been no official approach from Bayern Munich over executive staff, despite talk that marketing director Rouven Kasper wants to join Bayern. The club wouldn’t find such a move surprising given Bayern’s history, but nothing formal has happened yet, Stuttgart insists.
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Liverpool and Crystal Palace square off in the 2025 FA Community Shield at Wembley, marking Palace's first time in the fixture after their historic FA Cup win. Liverpool, aiming for a record-equalling 17th Shield triumph, have a dominant record over Palace but a mixed recent history in this competition.
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Pakistan leads the 3-match T20I series 1-0 after a solid batting effort and disciplined bowling saw them edge West Indies by 14 runs. With the second match in Florida, all eyes are on whether West Indies can bounce back or if Pakistan will seal the series.
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Palmeiras boss Abel Ferreira has refreshed his starting XI for the vital league clash with Fluminense, bringing Micael and Vanderlan into the defense due to suspensions and injuries. Fluminense respond by recalling Ganso and German Cano after their absence. Both teams make strategic changes for this Maracanã Stadium faceoff.
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