3 d. ago Antony’s Real Betis transformation has Isco threatening a United heist | Sid Lowe

From flop in Manchester to prince of Seville, flying winger is rivalling his new best friend for title of La Liga’s finest payerAntony Matheus dos Santos has played football with some bad men. Raised in Inferninho (Little Hell), a favela outside São Paulo, the way the Real Betis winger tells it, he grew up without shoes to play in or a bed of his own to sleep in, surrounded by drugs and guns. Some days he wouldn’t eat and one day, when he was six or seven, he had to jump over a dead body to get to school. Life was just the way it was, even on the rough concrete courts where his bleeding feet moved faster than the rest. “I played against traffickers and all sorts,” he said. “If you ask if I was scared, of course I was. But I always had a strong personality and the harder it was, the more I wanted to be there.”So when someone threatened to kidnap him a week ago, Antony just laughed – and so did everyone else. This wasn’t São Paulo, this was Seville. And, like a lot of what is said the...

Events

7 d. ago A belter in Barcelona turns up the power: Football Weekly Extra

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Lars Sivertsen, Mark Langdon and Sid Lowe to discuss all the big European actionRate, review, share on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud, Acast and Stitcher, and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and email.On the podcast today: a brilliant semi-final in Barcelona as they draw 3-3 with Inter. Lots of brilliant goals and another world-class performance from the frighteningly young Lamine Yamal. Inter will take the draw, especially with the second leg at San Siro, but they were a small toe’s length away from a Henrikh Mkhitaryan winner. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Antonio Rudiger banned for six games after throwing object at referee in feisty Copa del Rey final

The defender allegedly threw an ice cube at the referee as Real Madrid lost 3-2 in the dying moments of extra time

Sport

8 d. ago Real Madrid: Antonio Rudiger breaks silence on knee surgery as six

The central defender landed himself in hot water with the Spanish FA

Politics

1 week ago Antonio Rudiger sent message from German FA as Real Madrid star faces enormous ban

Antonio Rudiger was sent off in Saturday's Copa del Rey final as Real Madrid saw their players struggle to contain their emotions with the defender throwing ice at the referee

Politics

1 week ago Antonio Rudiger apologises after throwing ice at referee in fiery Copa del Rey final

The German defender was sent off late on alongside teammates Jude Bellingham and Lucas Vasquez

Politics

1 week ago Antonio Rudiger could face lengthy Real Madrid ban after chaotic Barcelona scenes including referee drama

He was sent off for Real Madrid after throwing an object at the referee in the dying stages of their Copa del Rey final defeat

Events

1 week ago Antonio Rudiger faces huge ban after throwing OBJECT at referee in chaotic scenes

Tensions flared towards the end of Barcelona's Copa del Rey final win over Real Madrid, with Antonio Rudiger sent off after throwing an object at the referee to spark chaotic scenes

Politics

1 week ago Three red cards, Jude Bellingham 'restrained' and an ICE PACK thrown at the referee: Real Madrid implode in Copa del Rey defeat by Barcelona

Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger is facing a lengthy ban for his actions during Los Blancos ' dramatic Copa Del Rey final defeat by Barcelona .

Politics

3 w. ago Stricken Sevilla turn once again to Caparrós as owners keep up circus act | Sid Lowe

Fourth spell begins for club’s eighth head coach in less than three seasons, in wake of fourth defeat in a rowJust before two o’clock on Palm Sunday, as Holy Week began and religious brotherhoods started their slow, swaying progress through the streets of Seville, first La Paz, then La Hiniesta, then the rest, a man entered the city at Santa Justa. Aged 69, diagnosed with leukaemia five years ago, wearing a grey cardigan, blue jacket and a slightly manic smile, he’s thinner than before but couldn’t be more familiar. Joaquín Caparrós has coached Sevilla more times than anyone, across three spells, the first a quarter of a century ago; now he was returning for a fourth. “My face is a reflection; it says it all,” he said, leaving the station and stopping on the corner, searching for the car coming for him.Caparrós arrived on a train, alone and as their saviour. As somebody’s saviour, anyway: someone to get behind, someone to hide behind too, for a little while. Two days earlier Sevilla...

Politics