Sports

Real Madrid and Barcelona are, of course, always seen as the favourites for the crown in Spanish football. Ahead of each season, the supporters of the two giants discuss which lot would own the bragging rights in the end, and even neutral football enthusiasts rarely give anyone else a look in that aspect.

But having disrupted this setup in 2014, Atletico Madrid came in and stole the show once more, leaving their city rivals empty-handed and forcing the Catalans to settle for the Copa del Rey trophy.

Giant struggles

There is always a narrative around Real and Barcelona, occasionally supported by stars themselves, that every player dreams of playing for either for one or the other at some point in their career. However, it cannot be disputed that these clubs, for all the…

Competition: Euro 2016
Market: Bale to score anytime
Odds:

Wales forward Gareth Bale is expected to be deployed in a central attacking midfield role against Portugal in tonight’s Euro 2016 semi-final clash at the Stade des Lumières, and could well be the difference in what’s expected to be a tight affair.

Bale has enjoyed a fine tournament with Wales this summer, scoring three goals in five games so far. The Real Madrid man has been a standout performer in the national team, having scored more goals, taken more shots and made more dribbles that the rest of the side.

With Wales missing their chief playmaker for the Portugal clash, Bale will be under even more pressure to create chances and ensure the Dragons pose a threat going forward. The 26-ye…

England will face Robert Lewandowski and Poland in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Gareth Southgate s side have been drawn in Group I, also alongside Hungary, Albania, Andorra and San Marino.

World champions France are in Group D with Ukraine, Finland, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kazakhstan.

The Netherlands headline a tricky Group G, which also includes Turkey, Norway, Montenegro, Latvia and Gibraltar.

100% – England have won 100% of their matches against Albania (4), Andorra (4) and San Marino (6) in all competitions. Mismatch.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)

Croatia, the beaten finalists two years ago, are in an intriguing Group H with Slovakia, Russia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta.

Spain will face Sweden, Greece, Georgia and Kos…

Every time I turn on the television or read a newspaper there seems to be more bad news about England’s Euro 2012 campaign.

The likes of Gareth Barry, Frank Lampard and Gary Cahill have had to pull out of the tournament with injuries and England’s squad is looking very short on bodies and quality.

Replacements

I have to say that I was really surprised to see Liverpool duo Martin Kelly and Jordan Henderson called into the Three Lions squad.

Kelly is a bright young player but his first team experience is very limited and he struggled for games last season.

However, England boss Roy Hodgson decided to draft him into the squad to replace injured centre-back Gary Cahill. Maybe the former-West Brom boss is hoping that the young full-back gains a lo…

Pat Noonan is expecting Los Angeles FC to pose a tough test to FC Cincinnati, especially as they are coming off the back of their US Open Cup success.

Cincinnati sit second in the Eastern Conference and are currently unbeaten in four matches, alternating between a win and a draw in that run.

They let a lead slip twice in a 2-2 draw with Nashville SC last time out though, and Noonan knows his side cannot let their guard down at TQL Stadium on Saturday.

[LAFC] are coming in on a high, Noonan said. They re a very strong team. They just won a trophy, and rightfully so, they should be coming in with good energy and excitement.

They ve won some [finals], they ve lost some, but they have experience in getting there and knowing what those games look like.

…

Ronald Koeman saluted the Netherlands outstanding performance against Romania, as they cruised into the Euro 2024 quarter-finals with a dominant 3-0 victory.

Cody Gakpo was on target with his third goal of the tournament making him the tournament s joint-leading marksman while Donyell Malen struck twice from the bench to set up a last-eight clash with Turkiye, who beat Austria 2-1 later in the day.

The Netherlands stumbled through to the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams, following a disappointing 3-2 defeat against the Austrians in their final Group D outing.

However, the Oranje were much improved as they ousted Group E winners Romania, and Koeman insisted his players must maintain these performance levels heading into the business end of the…

Premier League football is back on Friday, when Arsenal take on Leicester City to open the 2017-18 season.

Chelsea won the title with relative comfort last season in a dream first campaign at the helm for manager Antonio Conte.

Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United are all looking to bridge the gap this year in what looks like an open title race.

Here, with the help of Opta statistics, we look at an area in which each of the big six Premier League clubs need to improve on from last season.

PEP MUST SOLVE BIG-MATCH WOES KEEPER STRUGGLES 

Manchester City s struggles in big games and between the sticks hurt Pep Guardiola in his first season as a manager in England.

Guardiola had difficulty against o…

Many will see Group H as being one of the weakest in the competition, but that does not mean we will not witness some very interesting games. One of Europe s most exciting sides, Belgium are expected to go far at the tournament in Brazil and no doubts they are the favourites for the first position in the group.

Fabio Capello s Russia may not boast a star-studded squad, but they have a number of quality players in the side and certainly have the potential to surprise. Korea Republic, one of Asia s best sides, also have high hopes at their fourth successive World Cup, whereas Algeria are seen as the weakest side in the group, but that certainly does not mean they do not have the quality to play at this level.

Winners of Group H

Even if this seems like a pretty evenly mat…

It was more European Championship heartbreak for England on Sunday as Mikal Oyarzabal stepped off the bench to fire Spain to a 2-1 victory in the final.

The Three Lions were eyeing another rescue act when substitute Cole Palmer cancelled out Nico Williams opener, but La Roja came on strong in the dying moments and Oyarzabal turned home Marc Cucurella s pinpoint cross with four minutes left.

While Spain lifted the trophy for a record-breaking fourth time, moving clear of Germany for the most titles won, it s back to the drawing board for England.

Here, we run through the best Opta stats to emerge from the showpiece game in Berlin.

2024 CHAMPIONS: Spain

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024)

Spain 2-1 England: No redemption for Three Lions as Yam…

Santi Cazorla announced he was leaving Arsenal on this day in 2018 after six years with the club.

The Spain midfielder, then aged 33, had made 180 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners, scoring 29 goals, following his arrival from Malaga in 2012.

Out of action since October 2016 due to an Achilles injury, he was set to depart with his contract coming to an end.

Cazorla’s time with Arsenal included two FA Cup triumphs, with him scoring a free-kick in the 2014 final, which Arsene Wenger’s side won 3-2, to begin a comeback after they had fallen 2-0 behind to Hull at Wembley.

In a video addressing fans, Cazorla said: “I am very sad to be leaving after so many great times.

“I have loved my time with the club and I will always remember…