Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire couldn’t hide their excitement after watching former Manchester United FC team-mate Juan Mata score a stunning free-kick in Australia.

Mata, now 37, currently plays for Melbourne Victory FC in the A-League. Having shared the dressing room with the popular Spaniard for years at Old Trafford, Fernandes and Maguire tuned in to watch Victory’s clash with Sydney FC.

The pair watched the game on a big screen at United’s training ground, Carrington Training Complex.

When Mata stepped up to take a free-kick in the 34th minute, Fernandes immediately began filming. Maguire asked: “Over the wall?” — to which Fernandes replied confidently: “Yeah, for sure. He has to.”

Moments later, Mata curled a superb effort into the top corner, sparking wild celebrations from his former teammates.

As Fernandes shouted with joy, Maguire exclaimed: “Oh my days!” The Portuguese midfielder then added: “The trust I have in this guy, filming live.”

Fernandes later posted the clip on Instagram, writing: “We just knew it that from there he doesn’t miss right @harrymaguire93?”

After the match, Mata was delighted to learn his old United teammates had been watching.

Smiling, the veteran said: “I love them and I’m happy they follow our games. I hope in the next game Bruno can score a similar goal!”

Mata left Manchester United in 2022 after making 285 appearances, scoring 51 goals and providing 44 assists across eight-and-a-half seasons. Since then, he has played for Galatasaray SK, Vissel Kobe and Western Sydney Wanderers FC.

His popularity extends far beyond England. Former Galatasaray teammate Dries Mertens even travelled to Australia recently to visit Mata and watch him play as Melbourne Victory faced Brisbane Roar FC.

Despite Mata’s brilliant opener giving Victory the lead against Sydney FC, they were unable to secure the win. Charles Nduka doubled the advantage in the 69th minute, but quick goals from Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Ahmet Arslan earned Sydney FC a 2–2 draw.

Even at 37, Mata continues to shine. This season he has made 20 appearances, contributing four goals and 10 assists while rolling back the years with moments of trademark brilliance.

Football often revolves around high-stakes moments, but occasionally the game pauses for humanity. That was the case during the clash between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club when an early injury to Unai Gómez briefly halted proceedings.

As Gómez limped off the pitch with assistance from Athletic’s medical staff, he passed by Barcelona’s technical area. There, Hansi Flick caught his attention.

The Barcelona coach offered a quick pat and a few encouraging words, acknowledging the player’s discomfort and the seriousness that injuries can bring.

Though brief, the gesture did not go unnoticed. Many fans praised Flick for showing empathy in the heat of competition, a reminder that beyond tactics and results, football still carries moments of respect and sportsmanship between professionals.

Tempers flared on the touchline as Pep Guardiola was shown a yellow card during the FA Cup fifth-round clash after reacting angrily to a challenge on Jérémy Doku.

The Manchester City FC boss erupted moments after Doku was brought down, jumping out of his technical area and protesting furiously toward the officials.

His animated reaction quickly caught the referee’s attention, and the official marched over to caution Guardiola for dissent.

Despite the booking, Guardiola continued to show his frustration on the sidelines as tensions rose in the contest against Newcastle United FC in the FA Cup.

With the match already highly charged, the incident added another layer of drama to what was an intense cup battle.