Real Madrid suffered an almighty fright before a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick hauled them back from 2-1 down and gave them a 4-2 win over rank outsiders Kashima Antlers.

• David Polkinghorne

The Canberra United forward scored two and set up two more as they emphatically dismiss Brisbane.

• David Polkinghorne

Lisa De Vanna is one of the "top-five" all-time Matildas and she's joining an already potent Canberra United.

• Emma Kemp

Jamie Maclaren's 76th-minute goal secured a 2-1 A-League win for Brisbane Roar over the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford on Sunday afternoon.

Western Sydney's stunning 2-1 comeback win over Melbourne City a W-League upset for the ages.

• Dominic Bossi

Tim Cahill might have landed himself in hot water after revealing a possible breach of Football Federation Australia's strict anti-sports corruption protocols by using his mobile phone during a match. 

• Dominic Bossi

After thrashing Perth Glory 4-1 and moving seven points clear at the top, Sydney FC are growing confident of finishing the season undefeated.

• ANALYSIS
• Michael Lynch

With almost half the A-League season gone the two Melbourne clubs sit in the top four on the ladder and are poised to push on in a challenge to runaway leaders Sydney over the Christmas and New Year break.

• Michael Lynch

Creative destruction is a concept well known in the business world _ the idea that you have to break something up to create the conditions for fresh thinking and a new approach.

• Michael Cockerill

Less than 6,000 people at Mt Smart Stadium last Saturday afternoon for the match between Wellington Phoenix and Western Sydney Wanderers doesn't bode well for Auckland's case to join the A-League. Truth is, of all the 'bidders' who have signalled their interest, this one is at best luke-warm. Pity, that. New Zealand's biggest city is also the biggest market the competition has left to conquer, but it needs much more than simple metrics. It needs imagination.

A lot of factors are behind Sydney FC being unbeaten and seven points clear on top of the A-League but coach Graham Arnold feels none are more important than goalkeeper Danny Vukovic.

Diego Costa grabbed the headlines again as Chelsea won 1-0 at Crystal Palace to claim a club-record 11th straight win, putting them nine points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Sydney FC continue to answer all A-League challenges this season, coming from behind to beat Perth Glory 4-1 at nib Stadium to be further clear in top spot.

• Michael Lynch

On the biggest of occasions it is the big name players who invariably take centre stage. They revel in the spotlight, and so often lift their game to make the decisive contributions.

• Roy Ward

Join Roy Ward for live coverage of the traditional pre-Christmas A-League derby between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory.

Wellington Phoenix have clawed their way back from a two-goal second-half deficit to secure a 2-2 draw with the Western Sydney Wanderers in Auckland.

• Eamonn Tiernan

It's all hands on deck at Canberra United over the next fortnight amid a packed schedule.

• Dominic Bossi

Australian international Aaron Mooy continues his stellar start to life in England after putting in another man-of-the-match performances for Huddersfield in their 2-1 win over Norwich.

• Dominic Bossi

Australian international Aaron Mooy continues his stellar start to life in England after putting in another man of the match performances for Huddersfield in their 2-1 win over Norwich.

• Dominic Bossi

The quality of the A-League could soar next season with clubs allowed to spend up to 30 per-cent more on player wages with bumper new TV deal.

• Michael Lynch

 As Morten Nordstrand bore down on goal - from what looked suspiciously like an offside position - late in Newcastle's game against Adelaide on Friday night, the Fox Sports and SBS commentators prepared to say something that we hadn't heard, at least at the business end of the season, for years.

• Matt Law

Antonio Conte has urged Chelsea players not to allow their heads to be turned by the huge sums on offer in China after Oscar's $A102 million move to Shanghai SIPG.

• Emma Kemp

Coach Mark Jones has slammed Newcastle's critics, declaring he's "dumbfounded" by attacks on his side's performances given their recent injury crisis.

• Michael Lynch

He believes in the high-tempo, hard-running, physical approach his team has brought to the league this season.

Danish attacker Morten Nordstrand has spared Jack Duncan's blushes after his disastrous own goal, scoring in the dying seconds to defeat Adelaide 2-1 and thrust Newcastle into the A-League's top six.

• Dominic Bossi

The ongoing absence of striker Kerem Bulut is likely to continue with the fan favourite set to miss their clash against Wellington Phoenix on Saturday.

• Michael Lynch

Besart Berisha is poised to overtake Archie Thompson as the A-League's leading scorer. But is he the better player?

• Dominic Bossi

From utility to unsung hero: How Sydney FC's Rhyan Grant is becoming the player fans love and rivals love to hate.

• Michael Cockerill

When is someone who counts going to ask the only question which really counts when it comes to building stadiums in Australia. Why do they cost so much?