Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Premier League leaders Liverpool rejected an approach to buy out the versatile fullback’s contract, currently expiring this coming summer, with Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti refusing to engage questions about potential January signings as another potentially messy transfer saga brews behind-the-scenes. Continue reading “Carlo Ancelotti doesn’t bite as Real’s public Alexander-Arnold pursuit continues”
Was there ever any doubt? Kylian Mbappe marked his first Real Madrid appearance with a goal and some silverware to boot before the domestic campaign kicks off later this week, as Carlo Ancelotti’s side steadied themselves after an irritating first-half to hit Atalanta with two goals in nine second-half minutes as they clinched this season’s Super Cup trophy – a record sixth. Continue reading “Real Madrid 2-0 Atalanta: Valverde and Mbappe strikes sink La Dea in Super Cup”
Barely a week after his official pre-season preparations began with Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe is poised to start and could win some silverware to kickstart the 2024-25 campaign as the Champions League holders face an Italian job as free-flowing Atalanta aspire to spring a surprise when the European champions duel one another for bragging rights in Poland midweek. Continue reading “Super Cup: Ancelotti admits defensive balance is a must, hints at Mbappe starting”
Rodri off injured at half-time while captain Álvaro Morata didn’t have his shooting boots on. Neither potential storyline mattered though in the end, as two Real Sociedad substitutes – Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Oyarzabal – played an instrumental role during Spain’s stunning 2-1 win over England to emerge victorious in the Euro 2024 final, securing a record fourth tournament triumph. Continue reading “Spain 2-1 England: Oyarzabal’s late winner clinches record fourth Euro title in Berlin”
Wembley hosts the Champions League final for the first time since 2013 tonight and while Borussia Dortmund fell short 11 years ago against arch-rivals Bayern, the competition’s most successful team wouldn’t be in London this week if it wasn’t for Joselu blocking a storybook rematch last month. Dortmund relish their underdog tag, but can they produce another surprise one final time?
Continue reading “UCL final – Real vs. Dortmund preview: A por la 15, or redemption a decade later?”
They did it again. On the verge of a first home defeat in 13 months, Real Madrid conjured up two goals in three minutes from an unlikely source – inspired substitute Joselu with a pair of poacher’s finishes – confining Bayern to a trophyless campaign for the first time in over a decade while punching their ticket into the Wembley final, where they’ll play Borussia Dortmund on June 1. Continue reading “Real 2-1 Bayern: Joselu’s late double seals frantic comeback, sets up Dortmund final”
Vinicius Junior drew first blood, then had the final say from twelve yards as Real Madrid were predictably resilient in Munich to keep their Champions League semi-final clash with Bayern finely poised at two goals apiece before next week’s return leg at the Bernabeu. That was despite being second best for large periods during an action-packed clash between two giants on Tuesday. Continue reading “Bayern 2-2 Real: Vinicius gives visitors vigour in pulsating UCL semi-final first leg”
Gareth Southgate shuffled the pack and watched as his England side recovered from an early goal down to seal their place at next summer’s European Championships in Germany with a 3-1 win over Euro 2020 winners Italy. Harry Kane’s brace – sandwiched between Marcus Rashford’s mazy second-half finish – secured their passage early, as two Group C games still await next month.
Continue reading “England 3-1 Italy: Kane’s brace seals Euro 2024 qualification with comeback win”
First-half goals from Emre Can and a Marco Reus penalty saw an in-form Borussia Dortmund side extend their winning run to ten games across all competitions, returning top of the Bundesliga after a hard-fought 2-1 home victory against rivals RB Leipzig. Emil Forsberg pulled one back for Marco Rose’s side, before they almost snatched a point at the death in stoppage-time. Continue reading “Borussia Dortmund 2-1 RB Leipzig: Goals from Reus, Can see BVB back top of the Bundesliga”
For all the talk of focusing on defending against the brilliance of Kylian Mbappe, it was France’s all-time top goalscorer Olivier Giroud – who spent nine years playing in England’s top-tier – delivering the final blow as Gareth Southgate’s men showed spirit but ultimately crashed out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage with a jarring 2-1 defeat by the defending champions. Continue reading “France 2-1 England: Giroud the matchwinner as Kane’s penalty miss sends Southgate’s men out”
On a rough night where Borussia Dortmund’s wonderkid striker Erling Haaland missed a handful of big chances and hit the woodwork, Ajax’s ambitious young core exposed their visitors with ruthless abandon en route to a 4-0 win. Antony, an Olympic gold medallist with Brazil in Tokyo two months ago, showed why many of Europe’s elite are tracking his progress. Continue reading “Brazilian winger Antony comes of age, as Ajax annihilate dishevelled Dortmund”
Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund have beaten Manchester United in the race to sign Birmingham City’s midfield wonderkid Jude Bellingham, having earlier agreed a £23m transfer fee. The England under-17 international signs a long-term contract and will be part of the first-team picture under Lucien Favre for 2020-21.
Continue reading “Dortmund complete £23m signing of Birmingham City wonderkid Jude Bellingham”
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