Want Backheel Breakfast in your inbox? Sign up for the email version here.
The arrival of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City has been a boost for the careers of a lot of players. Raheem Sterling is grabbing most of the headlines because of how disappointing he was over the last season, but City's best player so far this season has probably been Kevin De Bruyne. The Citizens will now have to sort out how to continue dominating the Premier League without him, as he looks set to miss four weeks with a hamstring injury.
De Bruyne leads the Premier League with four assists, is averaging 3.3 passes leading to shots per game, and has two goals as well. He also leads the league in accurate through balls, regularly making the pass that leads to the assist, rather than the assist itself.
City has a deep bench, but De Bruyne will still prove very difficult to replace. They take on Celtic in Champions League this week, then second-placed Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League this weekend.
Goal of the day
Jordan Morris' first for Seattle against LA Galaxy featured a blazing run and gorgeous finish.
In the news
You can stop worrying about racism at the 2018 World Cup in Russia because FIFA fixed it!
Cristiano Ronaldo was super mad about getting substituted. (Sport)
PSG's Serge Aurier has been sentenced to two months in jail for assaulting a police officer. However, he will appeal and it's likely he does his time in community service, not a cell. (Eurosport)
Francis Coquelin could be out for a while after he suffered a knee injury. (Guardian)
HSV has replaced Bruno Labbadia with Markus Gisdol at head coach. (Bundesliga)
Lazio's Lucas Biglia could miss three months with a calf injury. (Football Italia)
You should be reading
Stephanie Yang on loving a loser, specifically the Boston Breakers. (Unusual Efforts)
Archie Rhind-Tutt on Darmstadt's rise and family feel. (The Set Pieces)
Daniel Butler on Schalke losing their fifth straight Bundesliga game. (These Football Times)
What happened this weekend
The Portland Thorns won to capture the NWSL Shield. (Stumptown Footy)
You can find highlights of all this weekend's MLS games here. (MLS)
Real Madrid disappointed in a draw against Las Palmas. (Managing Madrid)
Barcelona had no problem smashing Sporting Gijón without Lionel Messi. (Barca Blaugranes)
Here's a recap of all this weekend's Premier League action.
Bayern Munich just squeaked by Hamburg. (Bavarian Football Works)
Dortmund continues to look like the Bundesliga's best side. (Fear The Wall)
Juventus held on to beat Palermo. (Black and White and Read All Over)
And Napoli kept pace by defeating Chievo. (The Siren's Song)
What to watch on Monday (click for listings, all times ET)
EPL: Burnley vs. Watford (3 p.m. ET) -- Watford is very fun.