Football News - Page 32

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has singled out one of his summer signings for praise ahead of the team's Champions League fixture against La Liga side Villarreal on Tuesday night.

Houston Rockets – Core in Crisis, Rotation Exposed: Disaster struck Houston before tip-off — Fred VanVleet (15.2 PPG, 7.5 APG last season) tore his ACL in practice and will miss the entire year. His absence leaves the Rockets without a true floor general, forcing rookie guards Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard into heavy playmaking roles. The duo combined for 5.5 turnovers per game in preseason, with an assist-to-turnover ratio of only 1.8.

Head coach J.J. Redick confirmed pregame that Luka Dončić (27.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 7.7 APG last season with the Lakers), LeBron James (18 PPG, 6 APG in preseason), and Anthony Davis (19.7 PPG, 8.5 RPG in six games since returning) are all fully healthy and ready to play. The Lakers’ new “Big Three” will take the floor at full strength.

The Houston Rockets enter the new season with a young, dynamic roster headlined by superstar Kevin Durant, supported by a balanced mix of veterans and role players. If the team performs to its potential, the Rockets are expected to become the biggest threat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference. Their goal for the regular season is clear—approach every game with focus, secure wins, and earn home-court advantage in the playoffs to fully showcase their strength.

As the Portland Trail Blazers reach a four-year, $90 million early extension with 2022 No. 7 pick Shaedon Sharpe, Fansided has released a fresh re-ranking of the 2022 NBA Draft lottery selections. Surprisingly, Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr.—the original No. 3 pick—plummets all the way to 14th, while his teammate Tari Eason soars to 11th.

The Serie A newcomers have stunned Italian football with their fearless performances. In the opening round, Cremonese shocked giants AC Milan with a 2–1 away victory, immediately announcing themselves as this season’s dark horse. Despite suffering a heavy defeat to Inter Milan in the last round, that remains their only league loss so far, proving their resilience and quality.

Their away record is particularly poor — three straight losses, conceding at least two goals per match on average. Yet, there’s a bright spot: Brazilian striker Igor Thiago has been outstanding this season. The 1.91m forward has started all seven league matches, scoring four goals, leading the team in scoring and outperforming many top Premier League forwards in efficiency. His aerial ability and sharp instincts in the box have made him the focal point of Brentford’s attack.

However, the attacking output remains somewhat underwhelming. After eight rounds, Alaves have scored only nine goals, revealing a lack of efficiency in front of goal. The team failed to find the net in two matches, and improving conversion rate in the final third will be crucial if they hope to climb the table.

On Saturday, Arsenal again defeated Fulham via a set piece, after which Shearer was asked to analyze Gjokores’ Premier League start. Gjokores scored 97 goals in 102 appearances for Rio Ave.

The last match of the 33rd round of Serie B Brazil pits Ferroviara against Paysandu. Both teams want to avoid relegation at the end of the season.

In the 8th round of the English Premier League, a match between West Ham and Brentford will take place on October 20, 2025. The visitors are confident they can beat their opponent from the relegation zone.

In the 9th round of the Spanish La Liga, a match between Alaves and Valencia will take place on October 20, 2025. The home side made a better start and are aiming for another victory.