For the Norwegian striker it was his first goal in three Premier League matches, which given his standards is something of a mini-drought.

During the match, Haaland had a little confrontation with Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke, and this was mentioned by Norway’s TV2 after the game.

That angered the Manchester City player, who took to Instagram to say TV2 should have concentrated on him ending his mini goal drought, and he called them “Clowns”.

That’s obviously made a wider noise in the Norwegian media, with VG contacting TV2 for comment, who didn’t feel the need to speak about the matter.

They also contacted Egil Østenstad, who is said to have a leading role role in ‘Team Haaland’, and he didn’t respond. The same goes for the player’s father Alfie.

During the international break, Norway lost 1-0 to Spain with both Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard being questioned for lacklustre displays. There’s every chance this is all motivated by that.

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Juventus’ Nicolo Fagioli has agreed agreed a seven month ban from the game after a plea bargain, with five months of rehabilitation activities.

Sandro Tonali, who moved from AC Milan to Newcastle United in the last summer window, could get a longer ban. The Italian media have repeatedly explained that the Newcastle midfielder is likely looking at a harsher punishment because it’s stated he’s bet on Milan.

Those in charge at the Magpies have come out in support of Tonali, with fans also showing him their affection at the weekend.

When the story was initially released, the player’s camp quickly revealed he’d been suffering from a gambling addiction and would get treatment for that.

The reaction in Italy has been sympathetic, but Paolo Di Canio has quite clearly had enough of that. Now working as a pundit for Sky Italia, he made his thoughts clear at the weekend whilst staring straight down the camera.

Calciomercato quote him as saying: “Give me a fixed camera. You are idiots! If you bet on football you’re empty, you’re stupid. There’s no need to justify those who bet!”

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There had been a few clubs interested in offering the striker a chance after his experience at Anfield, hoping they could make more use of him than what Jurgen Klopp had done at Anfield.

AC Milan won the race and the hype around the signing was almost certainly too much. Things didn’t work out with the Rossoneri and after a season they looked to part ways… sending him to Nottingham Forest.

As far as the Series A club were concerned, that was that. Nottingham Forest agreed a clause worth €4.5m and the assumption was Steve Cooper’s side would be using that, especially given it’s relatively low fee.

However, the 28-year-old hasn’t been getting prominence since his return to the Premier League. So far he’s played just 58 minutes across four matches and the assumption is Nottingham Forest will walk away from a deal.

Calciomercato report that creates ‘a big problem’ for Milan, who gave Origi a four year contract worth €4m per season after tax.

The poor showing so far with Nottingham Forest won’t help attract other suitors.

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All three have been caught in a huge betting scandal, which goes beyond the punishments the three players may receive. The Italian media have repeatedly said that whilst it’s the Newcastle, Juventus and Aston Villa players taking the headlines, the authorities are more interested in potential criminal gangs behind the betting sites.

Tonali and Fagioli have opted to throw their hands up and admit everything, in the hope of shorter bans. Meanwhile, Zaniolo has insisted he never bet on sports, only card games, and therefore the Aston Villa player is standing his ground.

Wednesday’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport talked of a potential one year ban for the Newcastle United player, given it’s stated he bet on AC Milan matches.

That would typically bring a three year ban as a base rule, but Tonali will get less because he’s cooperating. There’s been hints at more serious sanctions but they feel like dramatic rumours for now.

Radio Rossonera have spoken to lawyer Emiliano Cardenà from La Scala associates. He’s described as an expert in sport law and answered several questions.

One was whether Newcastle United could somehow renege on the Tonali transfer. Whether there’s any legal basis for the agreements, and obviously the money, to be at risk from a Milan perspective.

To that, he replied: “In my opinion, the only risk that could arise is if Newcastle were to demonstrate that Milan was aware of such a fact and had omitted, in the sale, to inform the other party. The relationship with Milan is resolved today, and that of the Rossoneri with Newcastle is an indirect relationship, but I repeat that for me the only way is to demonstrate knowledge of the event and that they did not prevent it.”

Therefore, he believes if AC Milan knew what was going on and didn’t try to prevent it, and didn’t inform Newcastle United, then there may be the basis for a legal challenge.

That would surely only become a consideration if a lengthy ban is confirmed for Tonali.

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He and his representatives had reached a type of plea bargain with the Italian authorities after charges relating to gambling on illegal websites.

The ban was a total of 12 months, but with five passed over to alternative punishment.

Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali wasn’t thought to be set to get as harsh a punishment unless he bet on his own clubs, AC Milan or Newcastle United.

Wednesday’s edition of Gazzetta della Sport unfortunately brings bad news in that regard, saying the Newcastle player bet on Milan matches. However, it’s stated those bets didn’t have an influence on the outcome of matches so it’s unlikely a sporting fraud case will be brought.

The bets were for Milan to win or on matches in which Tonali didn’t play.

According to the Italian newspaper, Tonali has confessed everything, wanting to get it all out there, and it’s thought he’s facing a 12 month ban.

That’s only because he’s cooperating, otherwise it’s stated the Newcastle man could have received three to fours years.

To be clear, it’s thought Tonali’s ban could be longer than the seven months (12, of which 5 suspended/alternative) given to Fagioli, with Gazzetta stating: ‘The starting sanction will be higher than the three years (minimum sentence for those who bet on football) requested for Fagioli and therefore the 7 months of disqualification plus 5 of alternative punishment cannot be achieved.’

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Interest had been reported previously but it was felt that Juventus were backing away because they were concerned about Tottenham’s demands for the midfielder.

Then, at the end of last week, the second testing sample for Paul Pogba’s doping charge came back positive. Juventus are now expected to terminate the Frenchman’s contract, and therefore the need for another body in midfield has become increasingly apparent.

That’s seen the media around Juventus continually bring up the Tottenham player. Monday’s edition of Corriere Torino says contacts with Højbjerg’s entourage have ‘already started’.

The problem, obviously, is Tottenham’s demands. The newspaper states Spurs want €30m for a January move, with some other reports putting that figure as high as €40m.

Juventus would prefer a loan and whilst there may be an ‘opening’ to a winter move, it’s said Spurs would want an obligation to buy in any loan.

Other targets are being looked at, but it’s Højbjerg who is being mentioned the most by far.

Tottenham would likely look to add a midfielder to their squad should the Dane leave, and that will obviously influence their demands.

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He’s had Massimo Cellino go public over an unpaid debt relating to Radrizzani’s Leeds United takeover, and also faced criticism from the former owner of Sampdoria.

On the pitch, things aren’t going great either. A possible promotion charge will have been hoped for, but instead the Genoa club find themselves in the relegation zone.

SampNews24 say the final say on whether Pirlo will be sacked or not will come down to Radrizzani… and there’s the shock link of a former Leeds United manager.

Il Secolo XIX, local to Sampdoria, report – via the same source – that Garry Monk is among the potential candidates to take over from Pirlo should he be sacked.

He’s not the only candidate, but the only one named by SampNews24.

Monk left Leeds United in 2017, and his last role was with Sheffield Wednesday in 2020. Radrizzani appointing him at Sampdoria would obviously be a surprise, but it’s also an odd one for the club’s local media to pluck from thin air.

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Brendan Rodgers’ side and Lazio hold the bottom two positions in Group E and both need a result to retain a decent chance of qualifying for the next round.

Domestically, their fortunes are very different, with Celtic top of the Scottish Premiership and Lazio currently 15th in Serie A.

All is not well at the Rome club, and the match against Celtic this week is seen as key. There’s even been suggestions manager Maurizio Sarri could be heading for the exit soon.

Lazio lost 2-0 to AC Milan at the weekend, and after the match Sarri suggested he hasn’t got the squad he wants and wasn’t entirely happy with the summer transfer window.

That hasn’t gone down very well with the club’s president Claudio Lotito, who went public to say Lazio had a great window and much more is expected.

Sarri believes last season’s second place finish was achieving against the odds, whereas Lotito thinks it showed the actual level of the squad.

Corriere dello Sport say there’s a ‘Cold War’ breaking out ahead of the Celtic match. Whether that will help Brendan Rodgers or not is unknown, with the possibility of the drama going either way.

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The Gunners will be the first of the trio to travel to France in Group B, with them facing Lens on Tuesday evening.

Ahead of the match, local authorities and police have put together a plan to make sure there’s no trouble.

La Voix du Nord report the prefecture of Pas-de-Calais have been working on plans for weeks. They expect 1800 Arsenal fans with tickets to travel, and a further 200 or so without tickets.

The latter group are expected to want to watch the match in bars in Lens.

According to La Voix du Nord, ‘Gunners supporters are not the most ferocious’. Therefore, whilst there’s said to be some worry ahead of Tuesday, it’s not a great concern.

From a policing perspective, the match against Arsenal will be handled like games against Lille, Marseille and PSG: ‘Particular attention will be paid to the gathering point for English supporters located in the city centre, as well as to their travel in the city and to the stadium.’

Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like the policing is going to be too heavy handed for Arsenal fans, with it stated officers in Lens centre will try to be ‘discreet’.

La Voix du Nord say that even if officials aren’t yet admitting it, the real worry is ahead of PSV Eindhoven and their supporters visiting.

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The Gunners are currently top of their Champions League group, the only side in Group B to get three points in the first match. They beat PSV Eindhoven, as Sevilla drew with Lens.

For Mikel Arteta’s side, picking up a win in France would see them well on the way to qualifying for the next stage of Europe’s premier competition.

Ahead of the big match, Lens faced Strasbourg on Friday evening, with Elye Wahi scoring the only goal of the game.

That was a big moment for the 20-year-old, because it was the first time he’d found the back of the net since signing in the summer.

And it wasn’t any old signing, the youngster cost €35m plus bonuses and became Montpellier’s biggest sale, Lens’ record signing and one of the biggest ever deals between two Ligue 1 clubs.

Therefore, the pressure was on. Having scored 19 Ligue 1 goals last season, that’s what he was bought for and there’s now widespread relief he’s got off the mark.

Teammate Florian Sotoca is quoted by La Voix du Nord as saying: “We are delighted for him. We knew it was going to happen, good for him. He needed it.

“We knew it was going to happen quickly. We are very happy for him because obviously for an attacker, it is always good to score. He is someone who works a lot, who has confidence in himself. Hopefully this will get him going for the season. This goal does us good and on top of that, it’s a nice goal.”

Lens manager Franck Haise added: “Quality players, you have to be demanding with them. Elye knows that he did a very important thing for RC Lens, and for himself too, by scoring this goal which gave us the victory, but he also knows that there are other things on which he must be more efficient. He knows he didn’t do everything right.”

Ahead of the match against Arsenal, it’s a big boost for the young forward and his club. Lens aren’t thought to have picked up any injury concerns from their final match before they face the Gunners.

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