Jose Mourinho has built a career on thriving under pressure.

On Tuesday night in Kadıköy, he faces another high-wire act: overturning a narrow first-leg deficit against Feyenoord to keep Fenerbahce’s Champions League hopes alive.

The third-round qualifier sits finely poised after last week’s 2-1 defeat in Rotterdam – a night that swung twice in the closing minutes.

Quinten Timber’s first-half strike was cancelled out in the 86th by Sofyan Amrabat, only for Anis Hadj Moussa to restore Feyenoord’s lead deep into stoppage time.

That gut punch left the Dutch side just 90 minutes away from a playoff showdown with Nice or Benfica.

For Fenerbahce, this is familiar and dangerous territory.

Last season, they lost by the same 2-1 scoreline to Lille in this stage before bowing out 3-2 on aggregate.

Their failure to catch Galatasaray in the Süper Lig title race, finishing 11 points adrift, meant another year without a direct ticket to the group stage.

Home comforts and European pedigree

If there’s a silver lining for Mourinho’s men, it’s the fortress they’ve built in Kadıköy.

The Yellow Canaries are unbeaten in their last five Champions League home matches and have posted 15 wins, four draws, and four losses in their past 23 European home games, finding the net 50 times and conceding just 21.

Their European home history stretches deep: since their first continental match in 1959, a 1-1 draw with Hungary’s Csepel, Fenerbahce have played 142 home games in Europe, winning 73, drawing 31, and losing 38, with 207 goals scored and 136 conceded.

Since a crushing extra-time loss to Dynamo Kyiv in the 2022 qualifiers, Fenerbahce have scalped opponents like Sevilla, Olympiakos, Dinamo Kyiv, Austria Wien, Twente, Maribor, Anderlecht and AEK Larnaca.

Even when falling short in knockout stages, as against Sevilla in 2023 or Rangers last season, Kadıköy has often given them a lifeline.

Club in transition

Mourinho, who has two Champions League titles on his resume, was brought in partly to turn these knife-edge European nights in Fenerbahce’s favor.

His tenure follows Jorge Jesus and İsmail Kartal, both of whom took the club deep in continental competition but fell short of major silverware.

The weekend postponement of their league opener against Alanyaspor has given Mourinho rare breathing room in a packed summer schedule.

Still, he must navigate absences: Rodrigo Becao (ACL) is sidelined, and Diego Carlos, Cengiz Ünder and Emre Mor were not registered for the qualifiers.

Captain Milan Skriniar anchors the back line, while Nelson Semedo and Jhon Duran are in contention to start after substitute roles in Rotterdam.

Feyenoord’s frailties on the road

Across the touchline, Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie brings an iconic name but a patched-up defence. Four centre-backs – Thomas Beelen, Gernot Trauner, Jeremy Mitchell and Antef Tsoungui are out, along with left-back Gijs Smal.

That leaves new signings Anel Ahmedhodzic and Tsuyoshi Watanabe to handle the cauldron of Kadıköy.

The Dutch side finished third in last season’s Eredivisie and have carried strong early-season form into this tie, beating NAC Breda 2-0 over the weekend thanks to Sem Steijn’s free kick and Ayase Ueda’s strike.

Yet their Champions League away record is sobering: no wins in their last four road matches in the competition and no away clean sheet since 2002, against Newcastle United.

Their last trip to Kadıköy, in the 2016 Europa League, ended in a 1-0 loss to Emmanuel Emenike’s goal – a scoreline that this time would only be enough to force penalties.

For Mourinho, this isn’t just about surviving another qualifier; it’s about reasserting his reputation on Europe’s grandest stage. For Fenerbahce’s faithful, it’s about proving that Kadıköy remains a place where visiting dreams are extinguished – and where their own can burn brighter into September.

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Liverpool have invested about 260 million pounds ($348.56 million) in new signings in a bid to turn last season’s Premier League title into the start of a new era of dominance in English football.

The post-Juergen Klopp era began with Dutchman Arne Slot’s side wrestling control from Manchester City and turning the title race into a procession as their rivals imploded.

Winning back-to-back titles for the first time since 1984 is likely to prove a rather more arduous challenge.

Premier League clubs have already splurged in excess of 2 billion pounds, with the likes of Arsenal, City and Chelsea all flexing their muscles with statement signings.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will surely improve drastically on woeful domestic campaigns last season, while the likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle United will again be making themselves heard at the top table.

While Liverpool won’t care, last season’s Premier League campaign was not a vintage edition, with the title sewn up early, the relegation victims all too predictable and the main interest being the jostle for European qualification.

Hopes are high that the new season will offer more intrigue.

It will be a somber occasion as Liverpool and Bournemouth kick off a 380-match Premier League slog on Friday with the Anfield faithful remembering Diogo Jota, the club’s Portugal forward who died alongside his brother in a car crash in July.

While Jota will forever have a place in the hearts of the Kop, new heroes are ready to emerge, none more so than German midfielder Florian Wirtz and French forward Hugo Ekitike.

Liverpool smashed their transfer record when they paid Bayer Leverkusen an initial 100 million pounds to sign the 22-year-old Germany international, who scored 57 goals and provided 65 assists in 197 appearances for the Bundesliga club.

Allied with the pace and power of 23-year-old Ekitike, signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for an initial 69 million pounds, Liverpool will have more cutting edge this season.

They have also upgraded in defence with highly-rated left back Milos Kerkez set to challenge Andy Robertson and Jeremie Frimpong to fill the hole left by the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid.

“I think there’s always room for improvement in every department,” Slot said after Liverpool beat Athletic Bilbao 3-2 in a pre-season friendly. “We’ve added a few extra weapons.”

The Dutchman was also quick to point out that Liverpool’s rivals have not “stood still,” especially Arsenal and City.

Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have been agonisingly close to a first Premier League title since 2004, twice pushing Manchester City hard and last season emerging as Liverpool’s sole rivals before falling away.

Fans have long lamented the lack of a genuine goal poacher, but their prayers may have been answered with the signing of Sweden’s Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting as part of a near 200 million pounds outlay in the close season.

The 27-year-old scored 54 goals in all competitions last season and should he come anywhere near the level of club record scorer Thierry Henry, whose number 14 shirt he will wear, the 63.5 million euros ($73.93 million) fee will seem a bargain.

Defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi arrived from Real Sociedad, while Noni Madueke made the short trip across London from Chelsea to offer attacking support to Bukayo Saka.

While Arsenal, who visit Manchester United in their opener next Sunday, trailed by 10 points behind Liverpool last term, City were 13 points adrift as their stranglehold ended.

Pep Guardiola’s rebuilding job began last season and with talisman Kevin de Bruyne gone, that has accelerated with the signings of Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, Wolverhampton Wanderers left back Rayan Ait-Nouri and winger Rayan Cherki.

City visit Wolves in the late game next Saturday.

Fresh from winning the Club World Cup, Chelsea will also be expected to mount a challenge with striker Joao Pedro their standout signing of another busy transfer window. The Blues start their season at home to Crystal Palace next Sunday.

Former Brentford manager Thomas Frank takes charge of a Spurs team that finished 17th but won the Europa League under Ange Postecoglou and are back in the Champions League without talisman Son Heung-min, who ended his 10-year stint this week.

Quite what the Dane will make of the jigsaw puzzle he has inherited from the sacked Postecoglou is anyone’s guess, but fans will expect to see a vast domestic improvement as they get underway at home to promoted Burnley next Saturday.

Likewise, at Manchester United, where Ruben Amorim begins his first full season in charge with the pain of their worst league campaign since 1974 still painfully fresh.

For Daniel Farke, Scott Parker and Regis Le Bris – managers of promoted trio Leeds United, Burnley and Sunderland – the brief is simple – survival.

The omens are not good with the last six teams to gain promotion to the top flight going straight back down.

Leeds open their campaign at home to Everton two days after Sunderland welcome West Ham United next Saturday.

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South Korea star Son Heung-min made his Major League Soccer debut Saturday, coming off the bench to spark Los Angeles FC in a 2-2 draw against the Chicago Fire.

Son was brought down for a penalty in the 77th minute that Denis Bouanga converted to clinch a draw in the 81st minute – VAR confirming the spot-kick after the referee had allowed play to continue.

“It was a great pass. Obviously it was definitely contact and it was definitely a penalty, I have no doubt about it,” said Son, who was sent sprawling by Carlos Teran after racing on to a through ball with the goal in his sights.

“A bit disappointed not getting three points, but I think everybody put in a lot of effort. (I’m) happy I made my debut and I hope the goals come soon.”

The former Tottenham captain also had a string of shots on goal, including one blocked in second-half injury time.

Son signed with LAFC on Wednesday for a reported MLS record $26, after a decade with Premier League club Spurs, where he became a household name.

The South Korea captain had announced the previous Saturday in his homeland that he would be leaving the north London club and departed as Tottenham’s fifth-highest goalscorer of all time with 173 goals in 454 appearances.

Son will not get a chance to play in front of home fans in Los Angeles until Aug. 31, when Western Conference leaders San Diego will be the visitors.

But around the Fire’s SeatGeek Stadium, there were a lot of fans wearing his jerseys, waving South Korean flags and holding up signs welcoming Son to MLS.

Cheers greeted his entry in place of David Martinez in the 61st minute with the teams level at 1-1.

Jonathan Bamba put Chicago 2-1 ahead in the 70th minute and were pressing again when Brian Gutierrez’s shot bounced off the post and LAFC seized the rebound.

Nathan Ordaz played the ball forward for Son to race away. He had a first MLS goal in his sights when he was brought down.

The penalty allowed LAFC to level for a second time.

Carlos Teran had opened the scoring for the Fire in the 11th minute with a header from a corner.

Eight minutes later, Ryan Hollingshead nodded in to make it 1-1.

Son had said at his introductory press conference – attended by luminaries including Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass – that he felt fighting fit and wanted to get on the pitch “as soon as possible.”

He will have his next chance when LAFC, who moved up a spot to fifth in the Western Conference, visit the New England Revolution next Saturday.

“It was a decent 30 minutes in my legs, so, yeah, getting ready for next week,” Son said.

“So we’ll see how I progress with the training sessions and with the players and we’ll see (if) next week I can start the game and make a big impact.”

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Liverpool’s Egyptian star forward Mohamed Salah on Saturday accused UEFA of omitting key details about the Israeli killing of Suleiman al-Obeid, the “Palestinian Pele,” in its tribute to the late footballer.

The Palestine Football Association (PFA) said that al-Obeid, 41, was killed by an Israeli strike targeting civilians waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday.

In a brief post on the social media platform X, UEFA called the former national team member “a talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.”

Salah responded: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”

UEFA was not immediately available to comment.

One of the Premier League’s biggest stars, the 33-year-old Egyptian Salah, has previously advocated for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza in the nearly two-year war.

The PFA later posted a statement on its Facebook page attributed to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, calling al-Obeid “proof of the joy that can flourish in the hearts of people despite hardship.”

“He gave his talent and dedication to the children of Gaza and gave their dreams a hope to blossom despite the suffering,” the statement read.

“His death is a great loss to the world of football and to everyone who recognises the power of sport to unite people.”

The PFA said on Saturday that 325 players, coaches, administrators, referees and club board members in the Palestinian football community have died in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since October 2023.

The war was triggered by the Hamas incursion of southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, causing around 1,200 deaths and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel’s genocidal war, in comparison, has killed over 61,300 people, the local Health Ministry says. The war also leveled entire neighborhoods in Gaza, displaced most of the population of 2.3 million and pushed the enclave to the brink of famine, according to the United Nations.

The U.N. says more than 1,000 people have been killed near aid distribution sites and aid convoys in Gaza since the launch of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S. and Israel-backed aid distribution system, in late May.

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Spanish club Villarreal signed midfielder Thomas Partey on Thursday, just two days after he was granted bail on rape charges in England.

The 32-year-old Ghana international, a free agent since his Arsenal contract expired in June, agreed to join Villarreal for the 2025-26 season.

In announcing the deal, the club highlighted Partey’s on-field qualities before addressing his legal situation.

“The player firmly maintains his innocence and denies all charges against him,” Villarreal said in a statement. “The club respects the fundamental principle of the presumption of innocence and will await the outcome of the judicial process, which will be responsible for clarifying the facts. Due to the law in England in relation to ongoing proceedings, the club is unable to comment further.”

Partey appeared Tuesday at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London, where he was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The alleged offenses, involving three women, date to 2021 and 2022.

Villarreal added that it “wishes to clearly reiterate its strong commitment to respect and diversity and firmly condemns any act of violence in all its forms, including gender-based violence, discrimination, racism, xenophobia or any behavior that undermines the dignity of individuals.”

The midfielder was expected to join the team at its training ground Friday, Villarreal said, which did not specify if the contract extends beyond one season.

Arsenal hosted Villarreal in a preseason friendly Wednesday at Emirates Stadium. Partey joined Arsenal nearly five years ago from Atlético Madrid.

Partey’s lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, previously said he “denies all the charges against him.”

Police said the investigation was opened in February 2022 when it first received a report of rape. Partey was charged July 4, days after his Arsenal contract expired.

He is due to appear at the Old Bailey on Sept. 2.

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A paperwork dispute over Marc-Andre Ter Stegen’s injury has cracked open a leadership void at Barcelona, with the German goalkeeper temporarily stripped of his captaincy in a rare public clash between player and club.

The defending La Liga champions announced Thursday that 26-year-old Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo will take over the armband “until the matter is definitively resolved,” ending – for now – Ter Stegen’s role as first-team captain, a position he has held since the summer of 2023.

“Following the disciplinary proceedings opened against player Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and until this matter is definitively resolved, the club, by mutual agreement with the sporting direction and the coaching staff, has decided to temporarily withdraw his role as first-team captain,” Barcelona said in a statement.

At the heart of the standoff is Barcelona’s need to submit an official medical report to La Liga confirming Ter Stegen’s expected recovery period following lower back surgery performed last week.

Under the league’s financial fair play rules, a club can temporarily exclude a percentage of a long-term injured player’s wages from the salary cap if they are ruled out for at least four months – space that could be used to register new signings or renew key contracts.

Ter Stegen, 33, reportedly told club doctors before the operation that he expected to return in about three months – a timeframe too short for maximum salary-cap relief.

Barcelona’s official statement on the surgery avoided any mention of a target date, saying only that his return “will depend on rehabilitation progress.”

Club officials sought his signature to finalize the report for submission to La Liga, but Ter Stegen refused, according to sources familiar with the matter, concerned that a longer official timeline could create a misleading impression about his fitness and jeopardize his role later in the season.

Financial stakes

The disagreement comes at a sensitive moment for Barcelona, whose finances remain under the microscope.

Saddled with heavy debt and bound by La Liga’s strict spending controls, the Catalan giants have little room to maneuver.

Ter Stegen is one of the highest earners in the squad, and freeing even part of his salary could prove decisive in the final weeks of the transfer window.

The urgency is underscored by the arrival of 23-year-old Joan Garcia from city rivals Espanyol in June, joining backup keeper Inaki Pena and veteran Wojciech Szczesny.

While Flick has goalkeeping depth, none possess Ter Stegen’s blend of reflexes, passing range and authority – both on the pitch and in the dressing room.

History of setbacks

Injuries have become an unwelcome theme in Ter Stegen’s career.

He missed nearly the entire 2024-25 campaign after rupturing a tendon in his knee and underwent a separate back operation in 2023 that sidelined him for two months.

This latest procedure adds to growing questions over his long-term durability, despite a decade of service since arriving from Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2014.

Leadership shift

The decision to hand the armband to Araujo – reached in agreement with manager Hansi Flick and the club’s sporting department – reflects the seriousness of the rift.

Known for his physical dominance, uncompromising defending and vocal presence, the Uruguayan has been groomed for a leadership role and will now guide Barcelona into their La Liga opener later this month.

Spanish outlets report that Ter Stegen held a brief meeting with senior officials earlier this week in an attempt to find common ground.

The club has confirmed disciplinary proceedings are ongoing, with no sign yet of a breakthrough.

Barcelona returned from a preseason tour of Asia on Tuesday, where Flick fine-tuned his squad for a title defense that begins in weeks.

For now, the captaincy change is a temporary measure – but if the deadlock persists, the fallout could stretch beyond the treatment room and into the club’s long-term planning.

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