Raphael Varane said Chelsea s pressing game proved problematic for Real Madrid, though he remains optimistic about his club s Champions League chances.
Karim Benzema rescued Madrid on Tuesday as Los Blancos rallied from behind to draw 1-1 at home to Chelsea in the opening leg of the semi-final tie in the Spanish capital.
Madrid made a sluggish start at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, where Thomas Tuchel s Chelsea led after 14 minutes thanks to Christian Pulisic, though Benzema restored parity 15 minutes later.
Zinedine Zidane s Madrid were unable to find a winner in a cagier second half and the Spanish powerhouse have now faced Chelsea more often than any other side in all competitions without winning in their entire history, failing to do so in four matches (D2 L2)…
Peter Vermes says his Sporting Kansas City players must ultimately take accountability for the side’s poor start to the season.
SKC sit 13th in the Western Conference after 13 matches in 2024, having won just two games.
Heading into a trip to Austin FC – who sit in sixth in the West – on Saturday, Kansas City are without a win in six games, and have lost four of their last five outings in MLS.
Speaking ahead of the game, Vermes said: “[Austin have] been strong defensively, they’re very clear on the way they want to play and they’re finding ways to get results. They’ve been defending well, as well.”
Asked what he could do to change the trend, Vermes replied: “There’s a lot of different things you can do. You can set expectations, maybe …
Cristiano Ronaldo has tested positive for coronavirus, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has confirmed.
The Juventus star is asymptomatic and doing well , the federation said in a statement on Tuesday.
Ronaldo, 35, has left the national team camp to begin self-isolating.
All other members of Fernando Santos squad have returned negative tests and are therefore clear to be involved in Wednesday s Nations League match against Sweden.
Captain Ronaldo played in the goalless draws with Spain and France last week and was expected to be involved against Sweden.
He is likely to miss at least Juve s next three matches while he remains in quarantine.
Andrea Pirlo s side meet Crotone in Serie A on Saturday before beginning their Champ…
Jobe Bellingham s stunning goal helped Sunderland go top of the Championship table as they beat Derby County 2-0, capitalising on West Brom s slip-up against Middlesbrough.
Bellingham got off the mark for 2024-25 with a crashing finish from 25 yards out to put Sunderland ahead shortly before half-time at the Stadium of Light.
Wilson Isidor then tapped home following great work from Romaine Mundle after the break as the Black Cats earned their sixth win from eight league games this term.
While Derby – who missed several chances to get back into the game – sit 13th on nine points, Regis Le Bris side overtook West Brom to go top of the table on 18.
The Baggies relinquished their position due to a 1-0 home defeat against Middlesbrough, with Hayden Hackney…
Barcelona s Pau Cubarsi has been named in Spain s squad for the football tournament at the Paris Olympic Games, with Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Pedri among the eligible players not selected.
The 17-year-old centre-back was named in Luis de la Fuente s provisional squad for Euro 2024 but was cut ahead of La Roja s final party being announced.
He is joined by Eric Garcia, who spent last season on loan at Girona, while Fermin Lopez and Alex Baena are included despite being at Euro 2024 with the senior team.
Head coach Santi Denia was able to select players under the age of 23, with Manchester City s Sergio Gomez, Sporting CP s Abel Ruiz and Real Betis left-back Juan Miranda taking the three overage spots.
The likes of Yamal, Williams and Pedri were elig…
The Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday is the match that many observers had wished to see and that Jurgen Klopp had perhaps hoped to avoid.
Senegal, runners-up to Algeria two years ago, have the chance to get their hands on the trophy for the first time at Olembe Stadium. Standing in their way are Egypt, seeking a record-extending eighth African title and their first since 2010.
It will also be the much-anticipated meeting of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool stars looking to cement their status as the finest players from the continent.
Reds manager Klopp could be forgiven for wishing both teams had been knocked out sooner so he could have Mane and Salah back on Merseyside, but he described it as a great achievement to see both players competing for…
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho says there can be no doubt about Harry Kane s level of ambition and has backed the striker to play well into his 30s.
Kane scored both goals on Thursday as Spurs won 2-0 in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie with Dinamo Zagreb.
The England international has managed 26 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions this season, more than any other Premier League player. Impressively, he has also registered 16 assists, the most of anyone from England s top flight alongside team-mate Son Heung-min and Manchester City s Kevin De Bruyne.
Having already surpassed the 24 goals he scored in each of the past two seasons, Kane, who turns 28 in July, is on track for his most prolific campaign despite a mixed period overall for Spurs.…
Cristiano Ronaldo is prepared to give everything in what could be his final major tournament as Portugal prepare for their Euro 2024 opener against Czechia, says Roberto Martinez.
The 39-year-old continues to prove that age is just a number, scoring 35 goals in 31 appearances for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League in 2023-24, and he will be a key cog for the Selecao in their quest to replicate their 2016 success.
Portugal cruised through qualifying and were the only team to win all of their group fixtures, and arrive in Germany among the frontrunners to lift the trophy on July 14, despite falling short at their last three major tournaments.
Ronaldo s influence on the side remains despite his decision to leave Europe, and Martinez believes his presence is an advan…
Gary Neville is keen for Manchester United to have a new home, telling prospective bidders to modernise the club.
The Glazer family s tenure in charge at Old Trafford could be nearing a conclusion, having announced in November that they were exploring options for a sale.
Last week saw visits to the club from Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani s delegation and Jim Ratcliffe, both of whom are the running for a potential takeover – though there could be as many as eight bidders.
Former United captain Neville is keen for whoever takes charge to invest significantly in the club s infrastructure, including the construction of a new stadium.
I think we ve got to make sure that whoever the new owners are in the next few months, that they harness what the club s …
Pascal Gross has signed an extension to his deal at Brighton and Hove Albion, meaning Seagulls fans can expect their team to keep creating plenty of chances.
The 31-year-old has been at Brighton since arriving from Ingolstadt in 2017, contributing 23 goals and 33 assists in 184 Premier League games for the club.
Since Gross came to England s top-flight in Brighton s first season after promotion from the Championship, only Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne (535) has created more chances than his 388, ahead of Liverpool s Trent Alexander-Arnold (381) and Mohamed Salah (361).
Brighton announced on Wednesday that the German midfielder has extended his stay at the Amex Stadium until 2025.
388 Since joined the Premier League in 2017, only Kevin De Bruyne (5…