Football essentials, 10 October: Ronaldo suspended by Portugal, Arsenal level with City, a goal after six seconds

The day has settled its scores everywhere: Cristiano Ronaldo suspended by his federation, Arsenal level with the leaders, a historic goal after six seconds in the Bundesliga. And it rolls on tonight: Old Trafford is live, and the Parc des Princes reopens Ligue 1 at 8.45pm.

Ronaldo suspended, the door stays open

The Portuguese federation’s disciplinary council has opened proceedings against Cristiano Ronaldo, who left the squad camp on 1 October after being left on the bench and sent to warm up without coming on, and handed him a provisional suspension dealt with “as a matter of urgency”, according to the communiqué carried by Foot Mercato. The final sanction follows the end of the inquiry. Pedro Proença, the federation’s president, is closing no door: “We would all love to have our captain back,” he said. Our piece had told the story of an international break spent at two opposite poles.

City try to settle out of court

Facing relegation and stripped titles after the guilty verdict, Manchester City tried to negotiate a settlement with the Premier League to avoid sporting sanctions; the league refused, reports RMC Sport, which describes a billion-pound fraud. Manchester United, for their part, are preparing a banner to welcome their neighbours. On the pitch the leaders go to Anfield tomorrow: our prediction takes City or the draw on the double chance.

Arsenal come back, Hincapié a worry

A goal down for an hour to Justin (55th), Arsenal turned Leeds around through Calafiori (62nd) and Bruno Guimarães (70th), off the bench: 2-1, a fifth win in six league games and level with the leaders again. The evening’s shadow is Piero Hincapié, helped into the dressing room during the warm-down, three days before hosting Lille in the Champions League, reports the BBC. Our piece has the details.

Chelsea run riot, Brighton hold the podium

Chelsea thrashed Bournemouth 5-1: Jordan Henderson, 36, scored twice, a strike after 65 seconds and a second-half free-kick, around goals from Morgan Rogers and a João Pedro double, Sky Sports reports. That same morning, Cole Palmer had signed until 2034: our piece. Chelsea sit fifth; Brighton, 2-0 winners at Sunderland a man down, stay third; Brentford, 2-2 at Aston Villa after Ajer’s equaliser (79th), keep their unbeaten start in fourth.

Six seconds, one record, one howler

In Augsburg, Robin Fellhauer pounced on Manuel Neuer’s sliced clearance from the kick-off and scored, six seconds into the game, the fastest goal in Bundesliga history, reports RMC Sport. Bayern eventually scrambled a 2-2 draw, their second of the season, and reassured nobody.

Vallecas stops its own match

Rayo Vallecano’s return to Vallecas went wrong: in the 13th minute, the time of the ritual cry against president Raúl Martín Presa, paper planes and then rubber balls covered the pitch; fifteen minutes of interruption solved nothing and the referee abandoned the game at 0-0, the BBC reports. The ground had just reopened after a health and safety audit; Athletic Club will refund their travelling fans. Our piece tells the anger at Presa. Later, Atlético de Madrid consolidated second place against Alavés (2-1, Grimaldo) before hosting Manchester United in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Ligue 1 is back, already a man down

In Lille, Tiago Santos left on a stretcher in the 22nd minute, in tears, his left knee caught in Amir Richardson’s tackle: nothing confirmed on the severity, but the same knee needed cruciate surgery in 2024, and our piece follows the worry through the evening; our prediction on a Lille win is still alive. At 8.45pm the Parc des Princes reopens the season: PSG host Le Mans without Dembélé, Nuno Mendes, Longoni or Mayulu, and with the first call-up of Arthur Bar, 16, sixth in the goalkeeper pecking order, Foot Mercato notes; our preview. Monaco host Toulouse without Biereth, Minamino or Coulibaly; our prediction prefers three goals to a winner. In Ligue 2, Red Star went top while Nantes and Reims shared a 0-0: our piece.