As competition heats up to pay higher wages to female athletes, FFA has admitted many W-League players have been playing for nothing.

There is no doubt that Melbourne City has achieved the biggest domestic coup the A-League has ever had with the capture of Tim Cahill for the upcoming season.

The Socceroos have made the biggest move amongst top 50 nations in the latest FIFA rankings, shooting up 12 spots to No.45 in the world.

On the eve of a high-level visit from the Asian Football Confederation, Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold wants the A-League to introduce a quota for Asian players, while Football Federation Australia has thrown tentative support behind what could be the most significant rule change in the competition's history.

As they try to woo fans across Asia, Manchester City have taken a focused and systematic approach, opening up a commercial office in Shanghai earlier this year, in addition to regional bases in Singapore, Tokyo, Melbourne and Abu Dhabi. But some things are impossible to plan for, like when striker Sergio Aguero posed for a selfie with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Leicester City fairytale clearly has a few more chapters to come, after this stunning Champions League premiere in Bruges. Claudio Ranieri cannot have envisaged a more stress-free evening as last season's miracle men produced an emphatic statement in their first game at this rarefied level.

Highlights from the opening clashes, including Leicester City's maiden Champions League game.

Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar combined to devastating effect as Barcelona swatted Celtic aside 7-0 at the Nou Camp to lay down a marker in Champions League Group C.

Former Chelsea superstar Michael Essien could be set to line up for Melbourne Victory in the A-League next season.

Melbourne Victory made it two wins on the spin in pre-season friendlies against A-League opposition, disposing of an under-strength Adelaide United by a solitary first-half goal to Marco Rojas.

Bobo's halting English is better than Graham Arnold's Portuguese, which means Sydney FC's new marquee player is well-primed to hit the ground running.

• COMMENT

Thursday's foray into Europe's elite is a timely reminder of just how much Ranieri's team achieved, writes Paul Hayward.

Keep up to date with all the action from the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League.

• UPDATED

Paris St Germain's stuttering start to the season continued on Wednesday morning when they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Arsenal in their Champions League Group A opener.

Everton's Romelu Lukaku ended his longest goal drought in English soccer with an 11-minute hat-trick in an emphatic 3-0 win over Sunderland which lifted the Toffees into third place on the Premier League table.

Socceroo Tom Rogic is still basking in the afterglow of Celtic's Old Firm success but is under no illusion as to how big a test they will face against Barcelona on Wednesday morning.

Once he completes a successful comeback from a major knee injury, Newcastle Jets striker Labinot Haliti is hoping to fulfil a heartfelt ambition to play for the world's newest national team, Kosovo – the country of his birth.

Controversial striker Mario Balotelli has described his spell with Liverpool as 'the worst mistake of my life'.

Former Burkina Faso international Idrissa Ben Derme died after a suspected heart attack in a French Cup third-round tie at the weekend, his club said on Monday.

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City are not yet ready to compete with Europe's elite but his side will be confident of opening their Champions League campaign with victory over Borussia Moenchengladbach.

South Melbourne's NPL Victoria championship winning coach Chris Taylor has blasted the A-League for being a timid competition too keen on recycling failed players.

Western Sydney have pulled off a major coup ahead of the W-League season, luring former Matildas midfielder Joey Burgess out of retirement.

Joe Hart's Torino debut was a day to forget for the England goalkeeper.

Diego Costa was centre stage and scored twice but could not prevent Chelsea losing their 100 per cent Premier League record in a controversial 2-2 draw at Swansea.

Marcus Schroen proves the difference as South Melbourne win championship decider against underdogs Oakleigh at Lakeside Stadium.

South boss Chris Taylor revealed that the FFV decision to dock the club three points earlier in the season was a key factor in driving his team forward towards the NPL Championship.

Ahmed Khalil, Ali Mabkhout and Omar Abdulrahman would all be box-office gold if recruited by Melbourne City.

Pep Guardiola got one over his old rival Jose Mourinho as Manchester City edged an absorbing derby clash against Manchester United 2-1 to go three points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Cristiano Ronaldo has suggested Real Madrid should offer him a 10-year contract to ensure he sees out his career at the Spanish club.