#match-report

#match-report

They caught us off guard for ten minutes, but we wanted to win. Everyone responded well, we're enjoying the victories and the clean sheets today. This group needed to be understood, we can't forget the journey.

"It feels great, to be honest. There's a lot of goals in this shirt. It feels amazing. To be honest, there weren't many shirt numbers available but when 14 was available, it was a big honour. We want to win trophies, that's our desire and that's the most important thing and of course I want to contribute and score goals."

A contentious penalty gave them the lead after 31 minutes, won by Sjoeke Nüsken and converted by Sandy Baltimore, then Johanna Rytting Kaneryd nodded in a second - a marvellous looping header - before half-time. Alyssa Thompson made it three to get her first Chelsea goal on her home European debut for the club before Sam Kerr's header was turned in from virtually on the goal line by Erin Cuthbert to complete the rout.

Italy kept alive their faint hopes of qualifying automatically for the 2026 World Cup as they beat Israel 3-0 despite an underwhelming display in Udine. In front of a paltry crowd of around 9,000 in Udinese's 25,000-capacity Stadio Friuli, Gennaro Gattuso's team found the victory they needed but not a performance to inspire confidence ahead their meeting with group leaders Norway in November. Mateo Retegui scored a brace, the first a penalty in added time at the end of the first half before finally settling his team's nerves with a lovely curling finish in the 74th minute.

Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson had admitted in advance that he would accept a "s****y" performance and a 1-0 win on a night when victory was the only option, and Ireland eventually delivered - if only just - as they made the most of Tigran Barseghyan's senseless second-half dismissal for a headbutt on Finn Azaz.

Le Tissier tucked home from 12 yards in the 31st minute after a handball by Arna Eiriksdottir, with that moment proving enough to get the Red Devils over the line. It was a game that Marc Skinner's side looked in control of throughout, though they were unable to add to their goal tally to make the scoreline slightly more comfortable.

It was hardly thrilling and it was not the entertaining opening to life in the Women's Champions League that Manchester United might have hoped for but, more important than that, the English side got up and running with three points as they beat Valerenga in a low-key affair in Leigh. Maya Le Tissier's penalty kick was enough to beat the Norwegian side on Marc Skinner's team's debut in the league phase on a night that will enter the club's history books

From the very first whistle, Sevilla played with a scary level of intensity and belief, snapping into tackles and springing forward with purpose. The early warning signs for Barcelona came as early as the third minute, when Alexis Sanchez forced Wojciech Szczesny into a save. Moments later, the hosts' pressure paid off. After a VAR check confirmed a foul by Ronald Araujo on Isaac Romero, Sanchez stepped up and coolly dispatched his penalty into the bottom corner.

Illia Zabarnyi gave the Luis Enrique's side the lead shortly after the half-hour mark when he volleyed home Vitinha's cross. Lucas Beraldo then doubled the hosts' advantage 10 minutes after the break, heading in from Senny Mayulu's cross. It was a game the European champions never really looked like losing, dominating posession despite the absence of Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, starlet Desire Doue and captain Marquinhos.

Tottenham cruised into the fourth round of the EFL Cup as Thomas Frank's side beat Doncaster Rovers 3-0 on a night that also saw holders Newcastle United progress in style and wins for Arsenal and Manchester City. Spurs can look forward to a fourth-round tie with Newcastle at St James' Park, after the draw pitted them against Eddie Howe's side in a mouthwatering tie.

"I thought in the first half we were outstanding. We started the season poorly, but we built on the second half against Coventry and first half against Leicester,"