World Soccer Roundup: Champions League Drama, Carabao Cup Upsets and Real Betis’ La Liga Victory

LASK completed an extraordinary comeback against Celtic, Sabah advanced after extra time, English clubs battled for Carabao Cup survival and Real Betis continued its perfect start in Spain.

The global soccer calendar delivered another dramatic day Tuesday, August 25, 2026, with UEFA Champions League qualification taking center stage in Europe.

Celtic endured a historic collapse against LASK, while Sabah produced its own extra-time comeback and Bodø/Glimt completed a commanding European victory. Elsewhere, Real Betis remained perfect in La Liga, several Premier League clubs advanced in the Carabao Cup and Brann earned an important UEFA Women’s Champions League win.

Here is a roundup of the day’s major soccer scores, results and news from around the world.

LASK Stuns Celtic With Historic Champions League Comeback

Celtic suffered one of the most painful European defeats in club history as LASK overturned a four-goal aggregate deficit to win 5-1 after extra time and advance 5-4 on aggregate.

Callum McGregor scored early for Celtic, extending the Scottish club’s commanding advantage after its first-leg victory. The tie appeared finished, but LASK responded with five unanswered goals during a remarkable night in Linz.

Moses Usor, Florian Flecker and Samuel Adeniran helped power the Austrian club’s comeback. Adeniran delivered the decisive goal from long range in extra time, sending LASK into the Champions League league phase.

Celtic will instead drop into the UEFA Europa League after failing to survive the playoff round for the second consecutive season. Captain McGregor acknowledged that the team’s performance did not meet the required standard and apologized to supporters following the collapse. UEFA

Final score: LASK 5, Celtic 1 after extra time
Aggregate: LASK advanced 5-4

Sabah Completes Extra-Time Comeback Against Hapoel Beer-Sheva

Sabah also overturned a first-leg deficit, defeating Hapoel Beer-Sheva 5-2 after extra time to advance 6-4 on aggregate.

The Azerbaijani club entered the second leg trailing but forced extra time before pulling away. Sabah’s attacking pressure eventually overwhelmed the visitors and secured the club a place in the Champions League league phase.

The result capped a successful qualifying campaign in which Sabah repeatedly recovered from difficult positions.

Final score: Sabah 5, Hapoel Beer-Sheva 2 after extra time
Aggregate: Sabah advanced 6-4

Bodø/Glimt Cruises Past NEC Nijmegen

Bodø/Glimt encountered considerably less resistance in Norway, defeating NEC Nijmegen 3-0 to complete a 6-1 aggregate victory.

The Norwegian champions controlled the second leg at Aspmyra Stadion and never allowed NEC to generate the comeback it needed. Their ability to attack quickly and exploit the artificial surface again proved decisive.

Bodø/Glimt’s qualification adds another major achievement to the club’s recent rise in European competition.

Final score: Bodø/Glimt 3, NEC Nijmegen 0
Aggregate: Bodø/Glimt advanced 6-1

Wednesday’s remaining Champions League playoff matches include AEK Athens against Levski Sofia, Viking against Dinamo Zagreb, Celje against Slovan Bratislava and Lyon against Fenerbahçe.

Carabao Cup Roundup: Brentford Scores Six as Premier League Clubs Advance

The English Carabao Cup produced goals and several convincing victories during Tuesday’s second-round schedule.

Brentford delivered the night’s biggest attacking performance with a 6-1 victory over Birmingham City. Nathan Collins scored twice, while Callum Wilson, Aaron Hickey, Mikkel Damsgaard and Igor Thiago also found the net.

West Ham United advanced with a 4-1 road victory over Southampton, while Leeds United eliminated Nottingham Forest with a 2-0 win at the City Ground.

Norwich City defeated Cardiff City 2-1 behind goals from Mathias Kvistgaarden and Ante Crnac. Yousef Salech scored for Cardiff in second-half stoppage time, but the late goal could not prevent Norwich from advancing.

Middlesbrough beat Doncaster Rovers 3-1, Coventry City recorded a 4-2 victory at Plymouth Argyle and Reading defeated Stevenage 3-0. Wolverhampton Wanderers also moved forward with a 2-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday.

Peterborough United earned one of the competition’s most eye-catching results, defeating Watford 5-1. Two additional ties required penalty shootouts: Leyton Orient beat Walsall 6-5 on penalties following a scoreless draw, while Hull City edged Stoke City 5-4 after the teams finished 1-1. Sky Sports

Tuesday’s Major Carabao Cup Results

• Cardiff City 1, Norwich City 2
• Doncaster Rovers 1, Middlesbrough 3
• Birmingham City 1, Brentford 6
• Watford 1, Peterborough United 5
• Nottingham Forest 0, Leeds United 2
• Southampton 1, West Ham United 4
• Sheffield Wednesday 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2
• Stevenage 0, Reading 3
• Plymouth Argyle 2, Coventry City 4
• Walsall 0, Leyton Orient 0 — Leyton Orient won on penalties
• Stoke City 1, Hull City 1 — Hull City won on penalties

Real Betis Beats Valencia to Remain Perfect in La Liga

Real Betis continued its strong opening to the La Liga season with a 1-0 victory over Valencia at Mestalla.

Substitute Pablo García scored the decisive goal in the 83rd minute, breaking Valencia’s resistance and giving Betis its second victory in two league matches.

Betis joined Sevilla on six points near the top of the early standings. Valencia remained winless through its first two games, collecting only one point.

Barcelona made one of the strongest statements of the opening round by defeating Elche 5-0 on Sunday, while Atlético Madrid and Villarreal played to a 2-2 draw.

Final score: Valencia 0, Real Betis 1

Brann Takes Women’s Champions League Advantage

Brann defeated Austria Wien 2-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League third-round qualifying tie.

The Norwegian club will carry a narrow advantage into the return match in Vienna on September 1. Austria Wien remains within one goal of reversing the tie, leaving the contest finely balanced after the opening leg. UEFA

Final score: Brann 2, Austria Wien 1

Copa Libertadores Quarterfinal Field Nearly Complete

South America’s Copa Libertadores moved closer to confirming its complete quarterfinal lineup.

Fluminense, Estudiantes, Corinthians, Flamengo, Palmeiras, Platense and LDU Quito have already advanced. Fluminense, Platense and LDU required penalty shootouts to survive closely contested round-of-16 ties.

Independiente del Valle carried a 1-0 advantage into its delayed second leg against Deportes Tolima, with the winner set to claim the final quarterfinal position.

The confirmed quarterfinal matchups include Estudiantes against Corinthians, Palmeiras against LDU Quito and Fluminense against Platense. Flamengo will face either Independiente del Valle or Deportes Tolima. FIFA

Brazilian Rivals Prepare for Copa do Brasil Quarterfinals

Brazil’s Copa do Brasil quarterfinals open with several rivalry matches capable of reshaping the domestic season.

Cruzeiro hosts Atlético Mineiro in the first leg of the Clássico Mineiro, while Palmeiras faces Santos and Internacional meets Grêmio in another heated derby. Vasco da Gama and Vitória complete the quarterfinal schedule.

The financial stakes are also substantial. Each semifinalist will earn R$9 million, giving clubs another incentive beyond local bragging rights and a place in the competition’s final four.

Tottenham Signs Savinho in Major Transfer Deal

Tottenham Hotspur completed the signing of Brazilian winger Savinho from Manchester City as the club continued an aggressive summer rebuild.

The transfer is reportedly worth £75 million, with another £10 million available through performance-related additions. The move pushed Tottenham’s summer spending beyond £300 million.

Savinho made 84 appearances for Manchester City after first attracting international attention during his breakout campaign with Girona. Tottenham will hope the 22-year-old can add speed and creativity after the club opened its Premier League season with a 3-0 defeat against Brentford. Reuters

What’s Next on the World Soccer Schedule?

Wednesday’s schedule features the final Champions League playoff matches, additional Carabao Cup action, the completion of the Copa Libertadores round of 16 and the continuation of the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals.

The Champions League results will determine the final clubs entering the league phase, while eliminated teams will move into lower-tier UEFA competitions. With domestic leagues also beginning to gather momentum, late August represents one of the busiest periods of the international club calendar.

Results and schedules are current as of the evening of August 25, 2026. Late matches may finish after publication.

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