Champions League winners Real Madrid will have little to no sympathy over the uproar their Julen Lopetegui announcement has caused just days before Spain are to kick off their World Cup campaign.
Just as they should.
Los Blancos named Spain boss Julen Lopetegui as a new head coach on a three-year deal on Tuesday. Lopetegui is set to take over from Zinedine Zidane who led the club to three successive Champions league titles.
The regal club opted to approach Julen Lopetegui regardless of his ongoing commitments with Spain and without any regard to the fact he has only recently signed a contract extension with the Spanish FA. With Florentino Perez insisting on a swift solution to their managerial vacancy, Real Madrid have displayed an apparent lack of respect to…
Ched Evans hopes he can earn a Wales recall upon resuming his career after being found not guilty of rape in a retrial.
Evans, sentenced to five years in prison in 2012 after being found guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman, was cleared of any wrongdoing this week after his original verdict was quashed in April this year and a retrial was ordered.
Since his release from prison in October 2014, Sheffield United, Hartlepool United and Oldham Athletic all pulled out of deals to sign the striker over fan backlashes before Chesterfield handed Evans a one-year deal this season.
The 27-year-old, who made 13 international appearances between 2008 and 2011, scored four goals in seven League One games before he was stood down from first-team action as the trial was in prog…
Best Odds: 4/11
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Looking to extend on their Champions League qualifying adventure on Tuesday evening, Fenerbahce will welcome Lugano to Istanbul.
Fenerbahce
Starting with the hosts, eventually claiming what was a thrilling first-leg advantage over in Switzerland last week as they secured a 4-3 victory, Fenerbahce will simply be looking to finish off the job with a statement on home soil. Officially getting Jose Mourinho’s tenure underway following the ex-Manchester United bosses arrival last month, the Turkish giants should find the mood in their camp at a real high. Making real history last season as they got their hands on a third consecutive domestic crown, the Yellow Canaries are rightfully pencilled in as a standout contender on Tuesday evening…
Gavi has added the Golden Boy award to the Kopa Trophy he won earlier this week, following in the footsteps of Barcelona team-mate Pedri by winning both prizes in the same year.
The 18-year-old saw off competition from the likes of Eduardo Camavinga, Jamal Musiala and Jude Bellingham to land the Kopa Trophy – given to the best player in the world under the age of 21 – at Monday s Ballon d Or ceremony.
At a press conference in Palermo on Friday, it was revealed that Gavi had beaten another 19 nominees – including that aforementioned trio – to land the Golden Boy prize, which follows similar rules to the Kopa Trophy,
Gavi has become the third player to win the Golden Boy award while representing Barcelona, after Lionel Messi in 2005 and Pedri in 2021.
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Ollie Watkins fired Aston Villa into the Premier League’s top four with the winner at Tottenham to inflict a third consecutive defeat on the hosts.
Unai Emery’s side came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory and leapfrog Spurs after a thrilling end-to-end contest, with Pau Torres scoring a first-half header and Watkins scoring a second after 61 minutes.
Giovani Lo Celso had drilled Tottenham in front after 22 minutes with Ange Postecoglou’s selection gamble paying dividends at this point, but the hosts’ profligacy in front of goal cost them and Villa secured an eighth win from their last 10 matches.
Three Point Lane.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial)
Hours before the match it was revealed former Spurs player and manager Terry Venables had di…
Luke Shaw has thanked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for managing me right after earning an England recall.
Shaw has been one of United s standout performers this term and is back in the international fold for the first time in two years, as Gareth Southgate s squad prepare for World Cup qualifiers against San Marino, Albania and Poland.
Those matches will be the Three Lions last before Southgate names his squad for the rescheduled Euro 2020, with former Southampton youngster Shaw looking set to contest a starting berth with Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell.
It is a far cry from the 25-year-old s time under Jose Mourinho at OId Trafford, where public criticism from his manager appeared to do more harm than good as he struggled for form, fitness and confidence.
[Sol…
For a long time, Neymar had been tipped to re-join Barcelona after leaving Camp Nou in a world-record transfer in 2017.
But Neymar s future is close to being finalised.
Paris Saint-Germain are set to retain the Brazil international.
TOP STORY – NEYMAR AND PSG POISED FOR RENEWAL
Neymar is close to signing a new contract with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, according to Canal+.
PSG star Neymar has been in contract negotiations and publicly pledged his long-term future to the club following their progress to the Champions League semi-finals.
Previously linked with a return to Barcelona, Neymar could sign his renewal before the Champions League tie against Manchester City.
ROUND-UP
Erling Ha…
Verdict: Both teams to score
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Jurgen Klopp must restore Liverpool s confidence following a Champions League setback as they host Everton at Anfield in Sunday s Merseyside derby.
Liverpool
Starting with Jurgen Klopp s Liverpool side, if the Reds are serious about mounting a charge to dethrone Manchester City then the German boss will know he must put their midweek Champions League woes behind them. Slumping to a 2-1 loss away at PSG, Sunday s hosts have now lost their four European away matches on the bounce and the odds of them making the knockout stage are looking increasingly uncertain. As for their Premier League form, however, the Reds sit two points adrift of the defending champions at the top of the table and are unbeaten…
Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic could make a surprise move to Atletico Madrid ahead of next season.
The Croatia international is reportedly unhappy at Camp Nou and has been linked with a move away since the off-season.
Now, a stay in LaLiga could eventuate, but away from Barcelona.
TOP STORY – ATLETICO BEGIN TALKS WITH BARCELONA S RAKITIC
Atletico Madrid are already negotiating with Rakitic about a possible move at the end of the season, according to Cadena SER.
The 31-year-old is contracted at Barcelona, where he arrived from Sevilla in 2014, until 2021.
Rakitic admitted on Sunday he considered leaving the club in January, and it seems a move is likely come season s end.
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El Atlét…
Following Barcelona s slip-up against Celta Vigo, fans and pundits alike were well aware of the fact that Real Madrid had a huge opportunity in front of them tonight against Espanyol. When push came to shove it was a bit harder than expected, but in the end, Real did manage to come away with the win in this David vs Goliath clash to move two points ahead of Barca in the La Liga table.
While Real did appear to dominate for large portions of the game, Espanyol have the kind of stubborn outlook that is always going to be tough to break down. Still, Real gave it everything they had, pouring the pressure on the relegation strugglers from the moment the first whistle blew.
Staying calm
Casemiro went close with a long range effort that was well saved by Diego Lopez, whereas E…