Madueke returned from a two-month knee injury during the north London derby before scoring their second in their 3-1 victory against Bayern Munich. It was his first goal for Arsenal in all competitions, his first-ever Champions League goal and his first for any club since May, when he scored for Chelsea against Djurgarden, ending a run of 17 games without a goal.
In Chelsea's recent 2-0 victory over Burnley, the headline was not the scoreline, but the defender's sudden return to action. For weeks, the message from Stamford Bridge had been clear: Badiashile would be sidelined long-term. Enzo Maresca, speaking ahead of their October fixture against Nottingham Forest, had stated that Cole Palmer would be "six more weeks out" and followed it by confirming that "Benoit will be out until December. He suffers from a muscle problem."
"It's been a long few months and quite a frustrating period with a couple of setbacks along the way, so to finally get back on the pitch and play proper minutes feels like a big step forward. I've been back training with the lads for a little while now and that's been brilliant, but there's nothing quite like playing a match. The medical team and staff have been fantastic with me, managing the recovery carefully and getting me to this point."
According to Kicker's Frank Linkesch (as captured by iMiaSanMia), the Japanese international could return to the matchday squad for Bayern's next game against SC Freiburg. Itō has been training with the team for the past two weeks, and apparently he is finally ready to at least be on the bench for the team. Itō has been out of commission for the past eight months or so ever since he re-injured his metatarsal against St. Pauli last March.
Deandre Ayton received his second-ever alley-oop from LeBron James. The first, Ayton said in press after the Lakers' 140-126 win over the Utah Jazz, occurred when he was in eighth grade, at James's youth camp in Las Vegas. "He was court-hopping, playing with the campers," the 27-year-old big man remembered. "The one play, him in the drill with me, he threw the alley-oop and I finished it. I couldn't believe he threw it. Here I am again: I can't believe he threw the lob."
Adrien Rabiot returned to full training on Tuesday which is great news for AC Milan, but he could have actually been a derby opponent. As Calciomercato.com report, Rabiot's return is huge for Massimiliano Allegri, even if we need to see whether he will be an immediate starter after over a month of inactivity or rather ready to contribute from the bench.
AC Milan were beaten 3-2 by Virtus Entella today. Whilst it was a fitness test/opportunity, the result certainly was not great. Heading into today's game, a lot of the focus was rightly on the ability of some players to get through 90 minutes. So, the fact that a few first-teamers, as well as the returning Christian Pulisic and Ardon Jashari, got through the game, is only a positive.
It's not every day a player hits 1,400 games in the NHL, and it's even rarer that a 40-year-old veteran still finds ways to impact a game night after night. During his remarkable career, Corey Perry has played for a variety of teams at every level, from junior hockey with the Peterborough Bees and London Knights to the American Hockey League (AHL) Cincinnati Mighty Ducks and Portland Pirates.
The 28-year-old enjoyed a stellar campaign in 2024-25, registering 46 goal involvements (33 goals, 13 assists) in all competitions for Luis Enrique's side. His impressive form in front of goal saw him lift the Ballon d'Or last month, becoming only the second PSG player to do so, after eight-time winner Lionel Messi back in 2021. Dembele started the 2025-26 campaign strongly with two goals and one assist in three Ligue 1 appearances before getting injured while on international duty with France.
"I think it's just a mindset of knowing I'm going to be in more battles down low in my own end," Barzal said. "You've got to get lower in your zone instead of being a winger up high. But honestly, not much changes. Whether I'm on the wing or down the middle, I usually find myself in the middle of the ice. So it shouldn't be too much of an adjustment."
Tyrell Malacia will return to first-team training with Manchester United. The 26-year-old had been part of the so-called "bomb squad" of players United had deemed surplus to requirements in the summer, along with Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony. While the other four left the club, Malacia remained at United after a loan move to Spanish side Elche fell through. He has been training with the under-21s but the PA news agency understands he has now been reintegrated with the senior squad.
After more than ten weeks out following the third knee injury of her career, the 26-year-old Germany captain made her return to the pitch. It was a moment that meant far more than simply returning to playing duties. For Gwinn, it once again marked a return from isolation, from rehab, from the enforced role of observer. And once again proof of the sheer willpower she possesses.
Nicklas Backstrom is currently plying his trade in Sweden, but that hasn't stopped his former teammates from cheering him on from afar. After missing close to two seasons with a lingering hip injury, Backstrom re-joined his hometown Brynäs IF in the SHL this summer, playing his first professional game since October 2023 last month. Four thousand miles away in DC, Backstrom's longtime compatriots have been thrilled to see his return to the game, especially after seeing the toll his injury took firsthand.
As the Great Retool now begins for the Bruins, GM Don Sweeney did not duck the fact that with the way this roster is constructed, offense at times will have to be "by committee." But if the B's are are to have any kind of success, there are certain players who will have to produce. David Pastrnak is one of them, of course, as are presumptive linemates Morgan Geekie and Elias Lindholm.
