Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has stated that Rodri is not yet ready for the demands of Man City's schedule after returning from a serious knee injury, despite travelling with the squad for the upcoming Champions League match against Monaco.

• Rodri missed Saturday's 5-1 victory over Burnley.
• The 29-year-old midfielder suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear in September and a setback at the Club World Cup.
• Guardiola noted the busy schedule of three games in eight days against Manchester United, Napoli, and Arsenal contributed to Rodri's current fitness issues.
• City midfielder Bernardo Silva, who was appointed City captain this season, will face his former club Monaco.

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, 18, is set to face Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in a Champions League clash, an opportunity to build his case for next year's Ballon d'Or after narrowly missing out this year. He returns from injury, having made a significant impact in his recent comeback for Barcelona.

• Yamal almost became the youngest Ballon d'Or winner last week, with PSG's Ousmane Dembele claiming the award.
• The right winger has already made over 100 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 27 goals, and winning two La Liga titles since his debut at 15.
• He is often compared to Lionel Messi and inherited Messi's iconic number 10 shirt this season.

Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge with Benfica, receiving a warm welcome from Chelsea fans despite his team's 1-0 defeat in a UEFA Champions League match on September 30, 2025. Mourinho, who won seven major trophies with Chelsea, dismissed sentimentality, stating he "fed himself with victories" rather than memories.

• An own goal from Richard Rios in the 18th minute secured Chelsea's victory.
• Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho acknowledged the fans' affection but focused on the loss, stating, "I don't feed myself with these memories. I feed myself with victories."
• Chelsea's manager Enzo Maresca saw a more solid performance from his team, despite a late red card for substitute Joao Pedro, bringing their tally to three red cards in four games.