They can tear you apart with a thousand incisive cuts or systematically grind you down to a fine powder. They have a bottomless well of talent with multiple world class options in every position. Winning is not only expected but demanded, both from within the camp and throughout their legions of loyal supporters that have … Read more
When Ange Postecoglou does not like a question, usually from a broadcast journalist, he lets them know in pretty short order, latent hostility to the fore. The one he fielded on Wednesday was always coming. Tottenham’s season will be on the line on Thursday night when they face AZ Alkmaar at home in the second … Read more
It’s the 94th minute at Estádio da Luz in October. Benfica are winning 4-0 and Atlético Madrid are in utter disarray. Zeki Amdouni runs the ball into an entirely unpatrolled Atlético area, gets a free shot from 14 yards and misses a glorious chance to make it 5-0. Nobody cares. Least of all Liverpool, even … Read more
Pick the bones out of that. Four openside flankers in the squad, three fly‑halves, just two second-rows and one centre. It does not stop there with a first start on the wing and a debut in waiting on the bench, in Cardiff – a place that has a habit of swallowing up and spitting out … Read more
At the moment of his greatest racing triumph, after a lifetime in the sport as a spectator, an amateur jockey, owner and now a trainer, Barry Connell’s thoughts after Marine Nationale’s victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday turned, immediately and inevitably, to Michael O’Sullivan, who rode the same horse to victory in … Read more
Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Aston Villa 0-0 Club Brugge (agg 3-1): Rashford is now playing down the middle. Will he embrace the role? He rarely did in recent years at United. Share Aston Villa 0-0 Club Brugge (agg 3-1): Asensio and Bailey are on for … Read more
Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature 41 min: Simeone flips a cute pass down the inside-right channel to release Alvarez into the Real box. From a tight angle, Alvarez hammers hard. Courtois parries around the post. Nothing comes for the corner, but Real are hanging on a … Read more
Omar Berrada has admitted it is a “risk” for Manchester United to try to build a world-class team and venue at the same time. The club announced on Tuesday they planned to construct a 100,000-seat ground on land adjacent to Old Trafford. Berrada hopes United can move into the £2bn stadium by the start of … Read more
Crystal Palace have opened talks with Oliver Glasner over extending his contract in an attempt to ward off potential interest from RB Leipzig. The Austrian celebrated his first anniversary as manager last month and Palace are 11th in the Premier League after Saturday’s win over Ipswich, having recovered from a poor start. They have also … Read more
Normal service has been resumed in Germany. Perhaps it has in the Champions League, too, given Bayern Munich are in the quarter-finals for a sixth successive year. If Inter are treated with the same brutality they inflicted upon Bayer Leverkusen, whose brief spell as domestic kryptonite appears comprehensively over, they may move closer to lifting … Read more