When two score sources disagree, my first question is whether they describe the same event. The same clubs can meet in different competitions or on different dates. A familiar pair of names is therefore a starting point, not sufficient identification. I compare the competition, scheduled kickoff and team identity before treating the rows as contradictory evidence.
Next I check the period each score covers. A regular-time result, an extra-time result and a penalty-shootout outcome need not be interchangeable. A qualification headline may describe who progressed without stating the score relevant to a particular market. I look for an explicit period label and the applicable market terms rather than inferring them from the winner's name.
Only then do I compare the update times and seek an authoritative final result. If the records still conflict, I preserve both sources and leave the conclusion unresolved. Choosing whichever score makes a selection look successful would corrupt the record. This guide makes no claim about a result or team in the attached fixture; it sets out a practical order for checking evidence before interpreting settlement.
