Croatian Ivan Juric has been sacked as coach of Atalanta after back-to-back Serie A defeats left them in the bottom half of the table, the club announced on Monday.
Atalanta slipped to a 3-0 home loss to Sassuolo on Sunday which dropped them to 13th in the standings.
The Bergamo club had started the season with a nine-match unbeaten streak in the league, albeit with seven of them draws, before losing to Udinese and Sassuolo.
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Atalanta said in a statement that Juric and his coaching staff had all been dismissed.
Juric lasted less than two months last year in a miserable spell at Roma, before taking over at English side Southampton.
He stepped down when the Saints became the earliest team to ever suffer relegation from the Premier League in early April.
Juric replaced hugely successful previous boss Gian Piero Gasperini who left Atalanta for Roma in the summer after nine years in charge.
Atalanta have fared better in Europe this season than domestically and sit 16th in the Champions League table with seven points from four games.
Atletico Madrid will come under new ownership after global sports investment company Apollo Sports Capital (ASC) reached a deal to become the majority shareholder, the Spanish La Liga club announced on Monday.
The deal was announced after ASC reached an agreement with the club and their main shareholders, Miguel Angel Gil Marin, Enrique Cerezo, Quantum Pacific Group, and funds managed by Ares Management.
According to the Spanish press, Atletico have been valued at around 2.5 billion euros ($2.89 billion).
“As part of the agreement, Miguel Angel Gil and Enrique Cerezo will continue to lead Atletico Madrid as CEO and president, respectively, and will remain shareholders, ensuring the continuity and vision of the project and its leadership,” the club said in a statement.
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Gil Marin was Atletico’s majority shareholder with Holdco, a company that controlled the club with a 70.39 per cent stake, while Quantum Pacific, a British company created by Israeli magnate Idan Ofer, held 27.81 per cent.
In Holdco, Gil Marin holds 50.82 percent of the shares, but Ares Management has 33.96 percent, and Cerezo has 15.22 percent.
“ASC’s investment will strengthen our club’s position among the football elite and support our ambition to deliver long-term success for our millions of fans around the world,” the statement said.
“As long-term investors, ASC and the current shareholders will work with Atletico Madrid’s management to strengthen the club’s financial solidity, its sporting competitiveness, and its contribution to the community,” the club continued.
Atletico are currently fourth in La Liga, six points behind city rivals Real Madrid, who top the table.
Argentina and Barcelona legend Lionel Messi said on Monday he had visited the renovated Camp Nou and hoped for a return one day to say his “goodbye”.
Messi, 38, left the Catalan club in 2021 for Paris Saint-Germain due to the outfit’s dire financial problems before moving to Inter Miami two years later.
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“Last night I returned to a place I deeply miss. A place where I was immensely happy, where you made me feel a thousand times like the happiest person in the world,” the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said on Instagram.
“I hope one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I was never able to do…,” the 2022 World Cup champion added.
You’re always welcome at your home, Leo. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/LUgD5D6Wdb
Messi scored twice on Saturday for Inter Miami to help them into the next round of the MLS Cup play-offs.
Nigeria’s camp has opened for the 2026 World Cup play-off against Gabon, with ten players already in camp as of early Monday ahead of the crunch tie.
The players currently in the team’s Rabat, Morocco camp are Fulham defender Calvin Bassey, his teammates, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze; Wolves striker, Tolu Arokodare, and Olakunle Olusegun, who plays for Russian outfit, Pari Nizhny Novgorod.
Others are Besiktas midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi; FC Paris winger, Moses Simon, captain William Troost-Ekong; fast-rising defender, Benjamin Fredericks, and Chidozie Awaziem of FC Nantes.
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Monday morning roll call The boys are clocking in at camp! #SoarSuperEagles #Naija4TheWin pic.twitter.com/TCBsGUU9zp
Coach Eric Chelle invited 24 players for the match, weeks after Nigeria made the play-offs with a 4-0 thumping of neighbours, Benin Republic.
The Super Eagles are up against the Panthers of Gabon on Thursday, November 13, 2025, in the semi-final of the African play-offs.
Both sides will be eyeing victory, which will take them to the final of the play-offs.
Morocco has recorded the biggest victory in U-17 World Cup history, thrashing New Caledonia 16-0 to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages alive.
The result surpassed Spain’s previous record of a 13-0 win over New Zealand.
The match, which took place on Sunday, saw a relentless Moroccan attack, with Abdelali Eddaoudi leading the charge.
Eddaoudi was named Player of the Match after scoring two goals in the first half and contributing to Morocco’s devastating offensive performance.
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New Caledonia struggled throughout the match, particularly after being reduced to nine men in the first half due to two red cards.
Typhan Dreuko and Jean Canehmez were both sent off for foul play, leaving their team severely undermanned.
Despite the numerical advantage, Morocco showed no mercy, as Oualid Ibn Salah, Abdelali Eddaoudi, Ziyad Baha, Nahel Haddani, Ismail El Aoud, and Abdellah Ouazane each scored braces, contributing to the overwhelming scoreline.
La Liga leaders Real Madrid were left frustrated in a 0-0 draw at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, giving champions Barcelona a chance to close in on them.
Xabi Alonso’s side moved five points clear of Villarreal in second and six ahead of the third-placed Catalans, who visit Celta Vigo later on.
Rayo battled strongly in the derby clash and although Real Madrid had the better chances, the hosts also had opportunities to win a scrappy game.
Rayo Vallecano’s Spanish midfielder #17 Unai Lopez fights for the ball with Real Madrid’s English midfielder #05 Jude Bellingham during the Spanish league football match between Rayo Vallecano de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at Vallecas Stadium in Madrid on November 9, 2025. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
They managed to limit La Liga top scorer Kylian Mbappe’s influence, while keeping Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham safely at arm’s length as well.
Madrid were hoping to bounce back from their Champions League defeat by Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday but Alonso’s team dropped points for only the second time this season in the league.
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“I want to keep growing, improving, with positive and constructive self-criticism — this is Real Madrid, we all know where we are and what we want,” Alonso told reporters.
“We’re in November, there’s a long way to go, we need to be demanding of ourselves (but) also be measured.”
Real Madrid’s French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe and Rayo Vallecano’s Senagalese defender #32 Nobel Mendy fall during the Spanish league football match between Rayo Vallecano de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at Vallecas Stadium in Madrid on November 9, 2025. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
Inigo Perez’s Rayo came out fired up and threatened first, when Andrei Ratiu fired straight at Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
After that Madrid began to take control but the hosts, in mid-table, held firm at their Vallecas stadium.
Raul Asencio headed wide when well-placed and Batalla made a fine instinctive save to push away a Vinicius effort.
Rayo starved Madrid superstar Mbappe of the ball, with the Frenchman unable to threaten in his usual manner.
Madrid coach Alonso sent on Eder Militao for the booked Dean Huijsen at half-time, wary of Isi Palazon and Jorge de Frutos’ threat.
Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward #07 Vinicius Junior (C) kicks the ball during the Spanish league football match between Rayo Vallecano de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at Vallecas Stadium in Madrid on November 9, 2025. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
De Frutos came close early in the second half when he nipped in at the near post between two defenders to reach Pacha Espino’s cross and hit the side netting.
Bellingham forced Batalla into a good save at his near post after a lovely touch to bring the ball down as he tried to continue his recent strong goalscoring form.
Mbappe had his first effort on the hour mark as Rayo let him loose for the first time, whipping a shot wide of the far post.
Batalla beat away a Fede Valverde drive from distance, while Alvaro Garcia fired over at the other end as Rayo looked to snatch victory.
Alonso sent on Trent Alexander-Arnold in the final stages as the England international continues finding fitness after injury.
Madrid midfielder Arda Guler came close to breaking the deadlock in stoppage time as his effort was deflected behind, but Rayo survived to claim a point.
“I’m happy with the team’s work, and we had chances too to take all three points,” Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper Augusto Batalla told DAZN.
“To balance the (difference in quality) between us (and Madrid), we have to push harder, but I saw a Madrid trying hard too, with a lot of intensity.”
