Gillingham vs Cambridge United - EFL Trophy

Season-defining implications hang over this EFL Trophy clash at the home ground, where Gillingham host Cambridge United on September 22, 2026 knowing the result could shape the run-in for both clubs. The spectacle was once again on show ahead of Nice’s Europa League clash with AS Roma on Thursday, but what was supposed to be a display of power and pride quickly turned into a far more comical scene.

The two sides arrive with plenty to prove, and the EFL Trophy contest at the home ground offers a chance to lay down a marker. The hosts will be looking to find their rhythm and put a run of results together. Cambridge United's away form is hard to read, but they will arrive with the belief that they can trouble their hosts. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Elsewhere, there was a useful win for Atletico Madrid to end Sevilla's unlikely winning run.

The touchline duel between the two managers adds another layer of intrigue, with both likely to tweak their setups in search of a decisive edge. Schalke had only 17 per cent of the possession but, having visited the club to interview their charismatic coach Miron Muslic, that is hardly a surprise.

In fixtures as finely poised as this one, it often comes down to who holds their nerve in the big moments — and both camps have players who relish that responsibility. Whoever wins the individual duel between the two sides' chief playmakers is likely to dictate the rhythm and, ultimately, the destination of the points. Meanwhile, Ajax's new striker Tolu Arokodare continued his strong start by lashing in a fourth goal in three games in their 4-0 victory away to Telstar.

The fixture has the feel of a coin-flip, and picking a winner with any conviction would require a braver pundit than most. Neither side holds a clear edge, and a 1-1 draw would be a fitting reflection of the balance between them. With positions in the EFL Trophy table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. In terms of outgoings, Perri seems closest to an exit, but that will likely have to wait until Trafford's mandated holiday after the World Cup is over or a No 2 arrives.