Manchester City were made to work for their three points at the Gtech Community Stadium, but once again it was Erling Haaland who provided the decisive moment.

The Norwegian forward continued his remarkable goal-scoring streak to edge a narrow victory over Brentford, sealing a landmark occasion for his manager in the process.

Haaland demonstrated both strength and precision as he outmuscled Sepp van den Berg to reach Josko Gvardiol’s looping cross.

Having wrestled free, he composed himself and slotted past Caoimhin Kelleher with characteristic certainty. It was his third goal of the week and his 18th in 11 appearances for club and country this season.

His output remains unmatched in Europe, and it is his consistency in pressurised situations that continues to separate him. When Manchester City need authority, Haaland provides it.

Guardiola Reaches Historic Premier League Landmark
The strike secured a victory that marked Pep Guardiola’s 250th Premier League win as Manchester City manager. He is only the 16th coach to reach that tally with a single club and has done so in just 349 games. That is 74 matches quicker than any manager before him.

Such efficiency underlines the dominance City have enjoyed during his reign. Yet this win was earned in less glamorous fashion. Brentford forced City into long periods of discipline, testing their resilience more than their creativity.

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Victory moves Manchester City into fifth place ahead of the international window. With Erling Haaland ruthless, Guardiola relentless and standards unchanged, they remain within striking distance of the summit. Brentford battled admirably, but against City, control is seldom enough without conviction in front of goal.

Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the La Liga season, with Sevilla claiming a memorable victory at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.

Ronald Araujo was one of two players substituted following the midweek loss to Paris Saint-Germain, and he was involved in the incident that led to Sevilla’s opening goal. Araujo was deemed to have fouled Isaac Romero inside the penalty area, a decision that was upheld after a VAR review.

As a result, Alexis Sanchez stepped up to take the penalty and successfully scored against his former club.

After that moment, Sevilla had a number of chances to score again, with most of them falling to Isaac Romero. He squandered two big ones, but it was third time lucky as he made it 2-0 to the home side on 37 minutes. Ruben Vargas played him in from the left, and there was no mistake made on this occasion.

Barcelona needed to get back into this one as soon as possible, and crucially, they struck before half time. Pedri delivered a wonderful cross into the path of Marcus Rashford, who volleyed home for his first La Liga goal.

Barcelona had the wind in their sails in the second half, and they had a glorious opportunity to equalise on 76 minutes when Alejandro Balde was fouled inside the penalty area by Adnan Januzaj. However, the effort was sent wide by Robert Lewandowski, much to the joy of the home support.

In the 90th minute, Sevilla sealed the victory as Jose Angel Carmona fired across Wojciech Szczesny and into the far corner, and it would get even better for Los Nervionenses deep into stoppage time as Akor Adams struck to make it 4-1.

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It’s now back-to-back defeats for Barcelona, following their Champions League loss at home to PSG. Hansi Flick will need the upcoming international break to regroup, as his side have fallen away in these last two matches. They stay in second with that result, while Sevilla rise to the lofty heights on 4th.

Motherwell pushed Celtic close but ultimately fell to a slim defeat as Daizen Maeda earned the champions all three points.

Apostolos Stamatelopoulous struck twice to first level Kelechi Iheanacho’s first-half penalty by sweeping in a crisp shot, before putting the Lanarkshire side ahead from the spot, 10 minutes into the second half.

However, that lead lasted only until sub Benjamin Nygren levelled in 69 minutes, and Maeda struck three minutes into stoppage time.

Iheanacho gave Celtic the lead from the spot in 27 minutes for what looked like a harsh handball decision against Regan Charles-Cook.

However that was cancelled out five minutes from the break as Apostolos Stamatelopoulos slid in a Tawanda Maswanhise cross a the right post.

The Australian was off the mark again in 55 minutes, putting Motherwell ahead from the penalty spot.

However, sub Benjamin Nygren levelled for Celtic in 69 minutes, and Maeda bagged the winner late on.

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Celtic predictably dominated the first half, but without creating too much for Motherwell goalkeeper Calum Ward to do, and their fans seemed restless.

Motherwell very much gave it a go against the champions and had a few inroads, before they deservedly drew level.

The second half was much more even, but a mazy run by Maswanhise was illegally halted and Motherwell took a sensational lead from the spot.

But Nygren spared the champions’ blushes with a rifled effort.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers made four changes from the side that lost 2-0 here against Sporting Braga in the Europa League on Thursday. In came Anthony Ralston, Marcelo Saracchi, Reo Hatate and Luke McCowan for Colby Donovan, Kieran Tierney, Benjamin Nygren and Paulo Bernardo.

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou made two changes to the side that beat Aberdeen 2-0 last weekend. Stephen Welsh sits this one out under the terms of his loan from Celtic, and he was replaced by fit-again captain Paul McGinn, while Johnny Koutroumbis came in for Stephen O’Donnell.

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Amanda Anisimova continued her impressive year by defeating Linda Noskova to win the China Open, thereby claiming her second WTA 1,000 title.

Anisimova, who was the runner-up at both Wimbledon and the US Open, triumphed in a fluctuating match, winning 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 against the Czech player. This was the same opponent she defeated on her way to the final at Wimbledon.

Noskova, appearing in her first WTA 1,000 final, struggled in the opening set, managing to win only 12 points in a 23-minute period, ultimately suffering a ‘bagel’ — losing a set without winning a single game.

However, with a more aggressive approach, Noskova broke her American opponent in the first game of the second set.

The world number 27 recovered from back-to-back double faults in the next game to consolidate her break and took the second set to level the match.

Anisimova, who hit 17 unforced errors in the second set after just four in the first, improved in the decider and broke Noskova in the sixth game before going on to claim victory.

“It’s been an incredible few weeks,” said world number four Anisimova, adding that Sunday’s victory “has been really special” and she “was excited for a lot more”.

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Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard has withdrawn from Norway’s squad for the international break after suffering a knee injury against West Ham, as reported by The Mirror.

The midfielder departed the field in the first half and appeared devastated after suffering the issue.

Odegaard was in line to feature in matches against Israel and New Zealand but will now remain with the Gunners during the international break.

The former Real Madrid and Real Sociedad playmaker will undergo treatment at Arsenal’s training ground after being confirmed to have suffered a ‘medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee’.

Arsenal said in a statement: “Martin Odegaard has been withdrawn from the Norway national team for their upcoming matches against Israel and New Zealand after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee during the first half in Saturday’s win over West Ham United.

“Martin will continue to be assessed and treated by our medical team at Sobha Realty Training Centre during the international window, with the aim of a return to action as soon as possible.”

Norway’s national team doctor has also confirmed, Odegaard will be treated by his domestic club. The injury means that he will not be ready to play for this training camp,” he said.

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“We are in close contact with the medical support team at Arsenal, who will be responsible for the treatment going forward.”

Norway manager Ståle Solbakken added: “We are of course sorry for this on our own behalf and on Martin’s behalf. Fortunately, the clarification regarding this comes so early, gives us plenty of time to prepare those who will play the match on Saturday.”

Speaking following Arsenal’s win on Saturday, Mikel Arteta admitted his disappointment over losing his captain again. “We haven’t had him since the start of the season for one reason or the other, the shoulder twice and then this injury,” Arteta said.

“So we have to wait and see the extent of that injury. We will find solutions but obviously our captain is a player who gives us a completely different dimension with the things that he can do, especially in attack. Let’s wait and hopefully it’s not that bad.”

Following the injury, Odegaard became the first player in Premier League history to be substituted before half-time in three consecutive Premier League starts. The 26-year-old was also compelled to leave the field early against Newcastle and Manchester City as he dealt with a shoulder problem.

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The Super Eagles have announced a 23-man squad for this month’s critical FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho.

The squad combines established stars with eager newcomers as Nigeria aims to stay on track for the 2026 World Cup.

Head coach Eric Chelle has chosen to maintain continuity in key positions while also introducing fresh energy into the team.

In goal, Stanley Nwabali retains the gloves after his standout displays at the AFCON and in earlier qualifiers. He is joined once again by Amas Obasogie and Adebayo Adeleye, with the Chippa United shot-stopper widely expected to keep his No.1 shirt.

The backline sees the return of Semi Ajayi, called up following Ola Aina’s injury in the 1-1 draw with South Africa in Bloemfontein.

Ajayi joins William Troost-Ekong, Fulham’s Calvin Bassey, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, promising young talent Benjamin Fredrick, and Felix Agu, offering a blend of experience, versatility, and youth as Nigeria strenghten defensively.

Nigeria’s engine room will again feature Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Brentford’s Frank Onyeka, who bring experience and bite. Also back is Alhassan Yusuf of New England Revolution, whose tireless running and technical quality earned him another chance after missing the last call-up.

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If there is one area Nigeria look most dangerous, it’s the forward line.

Victor Osimhen headlines a fearsome attacking cast alongside Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, and Cyriel Dessers, who keeps his place despite criticism from his last outing.

There’s also a double boost: Nice’s Terem Moffi returns to the fold, while Akor Adams finally appears set for his long-awaited debut after several near misses. New invitee Ola Olusegun completes a frontline brimming with pace, power, and goals.

Full 23-Man Super Eagles Squad
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali, Amas Obasogie, Adebayo Adeleye

Defenders: Felix Agu, Bruno Onyemaechi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Benjamin Fredrick, Calvin Bassey, William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf

Forwards: Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Tolu Arokodare, Victor Osimhen, Terem Moffi, Cyriel Dessers, Samuel Chukwueze, Akor Adams, Ola Olusegun

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