Related items

• Fonseca: Milan need to be defensively perfect against Leverkusen

  Paulo Fonseca warned his Milan side they to be "defensively perfect" to get a result at Bayer Leverkusen in Tuesday's Champions League clash.

  Milan suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Liverpool in their European opener despite Christian Pulisic firing the Rossoneri into a third-minute lead.

  The Serie A giants will be looking to get off the mark at the Bay Arena but head coach Fonseca said they must be flawless at the back.

  "I don't think about changing (much), we need to have continuity. We know it's a different game, (but) I think it will be a similar game to the one against Liverpool," Fonseca told a press conference on Monday.

  "Defensively I think the team has grown, it's a good test to see our defensive capabilities at the moment. I told the players that to beat a strong team like Leverkusen we need to make a defensively perfect team."

  Xabi Alonso's Bundesliga champions began their campaign in Europe with a 4-0 win at Feyenoord but they have conceded 10 goals in their first five league games after letting in just 24 in 34 matches in the 2023-24 domestic season.

  Seven-time European champions Milan, the only Italian side to triumph more than once in the Champions League era, are the top scorers in Serie A with 14 goals in six games this term.

  "It is true that we have done well in the league in the last few games, but I have to say that Serie A is very different from these games we have in the Champions League," Fonseca said.

  "Today I was made to read Xabi Alonso's words. When we talk about Italian teams, we always say the same thing - that (they) are good at defending and playing on the counter-attack. I would like other things to be said when we talk about Milan.

  "We don't want to be like that. Tomorrow we will obviously defend because we will play against a very strong team, but when we have the ball we still want to play.

  "I'm curious to see the team's behaviour in a different game to those we had in Serie A."

  Milan may be without Spanish striker Alvaro Morata, who opened the scoring in their 3-0 home win against Lecce on Friday despite starting with a slight knock.

  "He (Morata) made a big effort to play the last match," Fonseca said. "He is doubtful and we will manage him. Let's see how he is tomorrow. We don't want to take any risks." 

• San Jose Earthquakes v FC Dallas: Visitors must control the controllables

  FC Dallas forward Logan Farrington urged his side to "take care of what we can control" as they bid to qualify for the playoffs.

  Dallas' hopes of clinching a playoff spot took a blow as they lost 3-1 to Orlando City last time out.

  The result left Dallas eight points behind the Portland Timbers, who occupy the final wildcard spot in the Western Conference.

  Next up is a trip to the San Jose Earthquakes, who sit bottom of the West with just 18 points.

  And Farrington, who had a goal disallowed for offside in Saturday's match, is taking confidence from a strong finish to their game against Orlando, despite the defeat.

  As quoted by Big D Soccer, he said: "I think it shows what we can do and we know what we can do, but it needs to be a lot earlier in the game to get results and we know that. We're disappointed with the result.

  "Right now we need to take care of what we can control. Go on the road, get six points, come back, and hopefully get another three points.

  "We need to take care of business and hope the rest falls in place for us."

  Reflecting on the loss to Orlando, Farrington added: "I think we definitely underperformed in the first half, especially after the game we had last week against LAFC. We came out flat, and they came out sharp and killed us on the ball.

  "I think we were lucky to only be down by one. In the second half, we put in a better performance and came out stronger. We almost made the comeback but it was just too late."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  San Jose Earthquakes - Cristian Espinoza

  It has been a dismal season for the 'Quakes, but that has not been for the efforts of Espinoza, who has provided 11 assists in MLS this season.

  He is the star player Dallas must keep under lock and key if they are to get their playoff push back on track.

  FC Dallas - Paul Arriola

  Arriola got the goal for Dallas against Orlando, taking his tally for the season to five in MLS. 

  He is Dallas' second-highest scorer, behind Petar Musa (15).

  MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

  The Earthquakes have lost seven of their last eight home matches (W1) including the last four in a row.

  San Jose's only longer regular-season home losing streak (excluding breakaway shootouts) was a six-match run in July-August 2000.

  Dallas, however, have won just one of their last 15 regular-season away matches in 2024 (D5 L9). The only season in which Dallas did not manage at least two road wins over a full campaign was 2003 (one).

  Seven of the last 10 meetings between these teams have ended in draws, with Dallas winning twice and San Jose winning once.

  San Jose are winless in seven straight meetings with Dallas (D2 L5).

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  San Jose - 33%

  Dallas - 41.4%

  Draw - 25.6%

• :Luis Enrique explains Ousmane Dembele axing ahead of PSG's Arsenal clash

  Luis Enrique explained he axed Ousmane Dembele from Paris Saint-Germain's squad for the Champions League encounter at Arsenal for the good of the whole team.

  French media reported the PSG head coach had a discussion with his star winger following PSG's 3-1 win over Rennes on Friday and has been omitted from the squad to face the Gunners due to disciplinary reasons.

  Luis Enrique said there was no argument between himself and Dembele but explained why he took the decision he did.

  "If someone doesn't comply with the requirements of the team, it means that they are not ready," Luis Enrique told a press conference ahead of Tuesday's clash at Emirates Stadium.

  "It means in such an important week, with such an important game coming up, we need every player to be fully available.

  "My objective is to do the best for the team and that was my decision."

  Luis Enrique was pressed further on making such an important choice, leaving out a player who has scored four league goals in six games, for such a key European game.

  "You think it is easy to create a team. You press a button and the 11 best players play and everything goes well," the manager said.

  "No, making a team takes a certain amount of circumstances that can be difficult. Yesterday I had to make a difficult decision but I think it is the best decision without any doubt.

  "I would make it 100 more times. That doesn't mean the situation is irreversible. But the best situation for the team right now is this, in my opinion."

  The coach would not give further details on what happened with Dembele, but said that his job is to create a team and that is what he will continue to do.

  "I am not going to make a soap opera out of it, there was no argument between the player and me. There was a problem with the player's responsibility to the team. Nothing else," he said.

  "I signed for PSG last season to create a team. That is something I can guarantee. Until the last day that I am in Paris, I am going to make a team.

  "A team that is brave, daring, plays good football or tries to. The first day I cannot do that I will go back home."

  PSG won their opening Champions League game 1-0 against Girona while Arsenal were held to a 0-0 draw away to Atalanta.