Month: November 2024

Erling Haaland continued his remarkable scoring run as Manchester City climbed above Arsenal at the Premier League summit after a commanding 4-0 victory over Southampton.

City soon eased into the ascendancy at Etihad Stadium as Joao Cancelo and Manchester derby hat-trick hero Phil Foden struck in a first half where a tepid Southampton offered little.

Riyad Mahrez stretched the advantage after the break before Haaland collected his 15th league goal, as many as Kevin De Bruyne managed when finishing as City s top scorer in the competition last term.

Pep Guardiola s team moved two points clear of Arsenal, who play Liverpool on Sunday, after their ninth straight home win in the league, scoring at least three goals in each of those games.

Former City goalkeepe…

Carlo Ancelotti offered no excuses for Real Madrid s lacklustre start to the 2024-25 campaign.

LaLiga champions Madrid fought back to rescue a point in a 1-1 draw against Las Palmas on Thursday.

Vinicius Junior scored midway through the second half, ensuring Los Blancos remained unbeaten, though they have taken just five points out of a possible nine so far.

Ancelotti said he expected his team to play better together and blamed himself, insisting it his responsibility to make matters click.

It is clear that we are struggling to find the soundness of last season, he said.

But we must not look for excuses. The schedule is tight and we have to recover quickly, because on Sunday we have another game.

I need to have a clearer strategy, to gi…

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes remains hopeful her side can turn the tide against Barcelona after a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

Caroline Graham Hansen s fourth-minute strike settled the encounter at Stamford Bridge, leaving the Blues needing a victory in the return leg on Thursday.

After a shaky start, Chelsea responded by keeping their opponents at bay, a far cry from the last meeting between the two sides in the 2021 final, where Barcelona were four ahead after 36 minutes.

As such, Hayes was encouraged by her side s defensive display and remains hopeful for the return fixture.

Barcelona are an amazing team. We had a disappointing start. But we grew into the first half, scored a goal that was offside, and we need to be per…

Tottenham are expected to complete the permanent signing of Dejan Kulusevski this summer, the PA news agency understands.

The Sweden forward moved to Spurs from Juventus on an initial 18-month loan in January of last year and enjoyed a strong finish to the 2021-22 season.

Kulusevski has struggled for form this season and reports in Italy this week suggested there were doubts over his long-term future at Tottenham.

When Kulusevski joined from Juve, an obligation for Spurs to make the transfer permanent for 35million euros at the end of this campaign was inserted should Tottenham qualify for the Champions League this term.

Tottenham’s difficult season means a top-four finish is no longer attainable, but the option to sign Kulusevski for 35million euros (�…

Manuel Pellegrini would not deem Jose Mourinho his enemy or his friend as the long-time rivals prepare for a Premier League reunion on Saturday.

Pellegrini s struggling West Ham welcome Tottenham and their freshly installed head coach Mourinho to London Stadium this weekend, reprising a rivalry that has simmered for a decade.

Mourinho was publicly courted by Real Madrid before being appointed at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2010, replacing Pellegrini despite the sacked Chilean having led Los Blancos to a then club-record haul of 96 points as they finished runners up to Barcelona in LaLiga.

Pellegrini resumed his career at Malaga, with Mourinho pointedly observing, If [Madrid] get rid of me, I will go to a big club in the Premier League or Serie A.

Indeed, bo…

Happy with the result of tonight, Messi wrote via Instagram post-match. But we still have to go to Anfield, a very difficult stadium, where Liverpool – who are a great team – will push hard.

The most important moment of the season is coming and we have to be closer and united than ever.

Finally I want to take this opportunity to send a hug to Casillas and wish him to recover very soon.

Casillas won five LaLiga titles and three Champions Leagues during 16 decorated seasons with Real Madrid, while he was Spain s last line of defence during their golden period – winning Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 either side of the 2010 World Cup. 

He joined Porto in 2015 and helped them win the Primeira Liga in the 2017-18 campaign.

This season, Casilla…

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Hoping to extend on their eye-catching flurry on Friday night, a high-flying Villarreal will make the trip to Balaídos when they meet Celta Vigo.

Celta Vigo

Starting with the hosts, managing to open the New Year with what was a much-needed return to winning ways, Celta Vigo will be desperate to prove that was more than just a minor boost. Eventually claiming a gritty 1-0 victory away at Elche, Carlos Carvalhal will be calling on his side to find some stability in 2023. However, crashing out of the Copa del Rey last week following a 3-1 loss away at Espanyol, the one-time Sheffield Wednesday boss will know that his side should face another tough test here. At the heart of a relegation scrap and holding just a one-point buffer from slip…

Lionel Messi surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo as the most prolific Champions League goalscorer for a single club with his sublime opener in Barcelona s 2-1 win at Ajax.

The Argentina superstar s 61st-minute strike in Eindhoven was his 106th goal in Europe s top competition, one more than long-time LaLiga rival Ronaldo managed for Real Madrid before his switch to Juventus. 

Messi s milestone goal was typically brilliant, the 31-year-old exhibiting close control in a crowded box before rifling past Jeroen Zoet.

He has scored five times in the Champions League this term and looks set for more following Barca s progression to the knockout rounds as Group B winners.

Madrid great Raul is third on the list with 66 goals, while Karim Benzema sits fourth than…

Robby McCrorie got his first Rangers start of the season against Dumbarton on Saturday and admits he wants more action.

The 25-year-old goalkeeper has played second fiddle to Jack Butland this season but was given his chance by Philippe Clement in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup fourth-round tie at a wet and wild Dumbarton stadium.

McCrorie, whose last start before this weekend was away to St Mirren in May 2023, made a good save in the first half from Michael Ruth but in the end the cinch Premiership side ran out easy 4-1 winners.

Goals from John Lundstram, Cyriel Dessers, skipper James Tavernier – from the spot – and substitute Scott Wright rendered Matthew Shiels’ goal a consolation for Stevie Farrell’s League Two side.

McCrorie, who has had loan …

Gareth Southgate vowed not to let a “popularity contest” sway his selections as the England boss threw his full support behind Jordan Henderson days after the stand-in skipper was jeered off at Wembley.

The Euro 2020 runners-up are within touching distance of qualifying for next summer’s finals and will seal their spot in Germany should they avoid defeat to Italy on Tuesday evening.

Wembley will welcome a second sell-out crowd in five days after Friday’s friendly against Australia brought an impressive turnout for what proved to be a largely forgettable 1-0 friendly win.

Getting set for Italy.

— England (@England)

The main talking point after the match was the reaction for Henderson as the former Liverpool skipper played his first matc…