5 h. ago European football: Barcelona hammer Valencia, Barcola extends PSG’s perfect start

López, Raphinha and Lewandowski each score twiceEthan Mbappé, Kylian’s brother, scores Lille’s winnerBarcelona turned on the style in their first home game of the season on Sunday, with Fermín López, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski each netting twice in a 6-0 thrashing of Valencia. The emphatic victory propelled Barcelona to second place in La Liga on 10 points, two points behind leaders Real Madrid. Valencia slumped to 15th position.López opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a strike from inside the box assisted by Ferran Torres but it was after the break that Barça ran amok. Raphinha made an immediate impact off the bench in the 58th minute, converting a cross from Marcus Rashford with a right-footed volley while López doubled his tally three minutes later with a shot from long-range, before Raphinha completed his double in the 66th minute. Lewandowski, introduced in the 68th minute, wrapped up the rout with two close-range strikes to complete a perfect afternoon for the Cat...

Politics

6 h. ago NFL roundup: Cowboys beat Giants in OT thriller; Bengals win again but lose Joe Burrow

Brandon Aubrey kicks winner in 40-37 victoryBengals QB limps off with toe injury Brandon Aubrey kicked a 46-yard field goal on the final play of overtime after a tying 64-yarder to end regulation, and the Dallas Cowboys beat the New York Giants in a thrilling duel between Dak Prescott and Russell Wilson. The Cowboys extended their winning streak against the NFC East rivals to nine games. It’s the longest active streak in the NFL among division opponents. Prescott beat the Giants for the 14th consecutive time since losing both starts against them as a rookie in 2016. Overtime was on the verge of going scoreless after the teams combined for five go-ahead TDs in the final 12 minutes of the fourth quarter. Wilson, who threw for 450 yards and three touchdowns, connected with Malik Nabors on a 48-yard TD for a 37-34 New York lead with 25 seconds remaining after Prescott threw a six-yarder to George Pickens with 52 seconds to go. The Giants just needed a field goal to win when Wilson threw...

Politics

34 h. ago European football: Juventus’s Vasilije Adzic snatches thrilling win over Inter

Harry Kane scores two as Bayern thrash HamburgKylian Mbappé helps 10-man Madrid win at SociedadJuventus snatched a dramatic 4-3 win at home to Inter, with Vasilije Adzic netting a stunning added-time winner in a game in which a Thuram brother scored for each side.Juventus took the lead in the 14th minute through Lloyd Kelly. Inter equalised on the half-hour mark with Hakan Calhanoglu’s strike but Juventus were back in front thanks to Kenan Yildiz eight minutes later. Continue reading...

Politics

64 h. ago Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen handed European lifeline as UEFA confirm major rule change

Scottish clubs could benefit from governing body announcement

Politics

67 h. ago Man Utd 'consider midweek friendlies' in drastic bid after missing out on £100m payday

Manchester United failed to qualify for any European competition for the first time in 10 years last season, meaning that they'll have significantly fewer games to play this term

Economics

3 d. ago Lamine Yamal breaks silence on birthday party drama: Barcelona star, 18, responds to dwarf exploitation accusations and claims about scantily

The teenager is one of the most talented footballers in the European game but over the summer, Yamal made headlines for his exploits away from the pitch.

Events

3 d. ago Newcastle cancel Scots school's Barcelona tickets after Champions League controversy

Eddie Howe's men take on the European heavyweight in the league phase of football's premier competition

Sport

7 d. ago NFL roundup: Rodgers’s four TDs help Steelers to thrilling win in return to Jets

QB secures 34-32 win against former teamDaniel Jones stars in Colts debut as Dolphins crushedAaron Rodgers threw four touchdown passes in his Steelers debut, leading Pittsburgh to an enthralling victory over the New York Jets. Chris Boswell kicked a go-ahead 60-yard field goal with just over a minute remaining. The Jets, who lost in coach Aaron Glenn’s debut, had a chance to drive for a potential winning field goal when they got the ball back with 56 seconds remaining. On fourth-and-three, Justin Fields connected with Garrett Wilson for what could have been a first down – but Jalen Ramsey smacked into the Jets receiver, who couldn’t hold on to the ball. Fields, also playing against his former team, ran for two touchdowns and threw for another. Rodgers was 22 of 30 for 244 yards with four TD passes. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Rory McIlroy savours home win after thrilling Irish Open playoff victory

World No 2 edges out Lagergren at third extra hole‘I’m so lucky I get to do this in front of these people’Rory McIlroy savoured “a pretty cool year” after adding a second Irish Open title to his Masters win. The world No 2 completed the career grand slam with his triumph at Augusta in April, and on Sunday he added to that by winning his home open for the second time with a thrilling playoff victory against Joakim Lagergren.McIlroy had to eagle the 72nd hole just to take it to a playoff after Lagergren’s own stunning eagle at the 16th. After the first two extra holes were tied in birdie fours, Lagergren found the water hazard third time around to allow McIlroy to win it with two putts. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Antony a rare piece of spending for Spanish clubs unable to match Premier League’s wealth

Real Betis fans were overjoyed at the arrival of the Manchester United outcast but like many La Liga teams, the club were only able to buy by selling some of their starsA goat crossed the Guadalquivir, which was when they knew. They had been made to wait until the last day of summer and on the footage it was a CGI creature scuttling over the Isabel II bridge (no animals were harmed in the making of this announcement) but Real Betis had actually done it. There were four hours left on deadline day and they had signed Antony Matheus dos Santos, or Antonio of Triana as they call him. When they’re not calling him the Goat.Triana is the Betis neighbourhood, Seville’s artistic heart on the west bank of the river, and Antony could not be more popular there. Last season he arrived on a six-month loan and changed everything, leading them to a European place, a derby win that was celebrated like it was the World Cup, and a European final. He had been changed too, happy again, the footballer he...

Politics

8 d. ago Uefa has last chance to keep genie of domestic matches abroad in its bottle

Domestic game risks being ripped from its fabric as La Liga and Serie A seek approval from Uefa to play fixtures abroadIt has been called the biggest existential threat to European football since the ill-fated Super League. Now it is on the verge of becoming reality and the implications will be far reaching if, as widely expected, La Liga and Serie A are given permission in the coming weeks to host domestic games abroad. The sport risks being ripped from its fabric should Barcelona and Villarreal be allowed to break the mould and stage a top-flight fixture in Miami this December.The topic has dominated discussion in football’s corridors of power recently and, at the heart of a complex and deeply emotive problem, the immediate equation is simple. If Uefa’s executive committee agrees to the plans when it convenes in Tirana on Thursday the final say will be down to Fifa, probably at a meeting of its council on 2 October. The global governing body would be unlikely to put up opposition ...

Politics

1 week ago Motherwell hit man sets his sights on European football at Fir Park

Regan Charles-Cook says the Lanarkshire club matches his ambitions

Events

1 week ago The four transfer window themes that sparked a frenzied end to a chaotic summer

The conclusion of the Alexander Isak saga, Marc Guehi’s move falling through and late deals all around the Premier League provided a fittingly frenetic end to a summer that showed where the power lies within European football

Politics

1 week ago Fifa urged to block ‘disarray’ of major European fixtures being played on different continents

Supporters’ groups warn against ‘dangerous precedent’Governing body to rule on La Liga call for Miami gameFifa has been urged by leading supporters’ groups to block domestic league matches from being played abroad and avoid “a Pandora’s box of disarray for football”, as the prospect of major European fixtures taking place on different continents looms large.World football’s governing body is likely to be tasked with deciding whether Villarreal face Barcelona in Miami in December after La Liga’s request to make the switch was approved and submitted by the Spanish football federation. Milan and Como are also looking to play a Serie A fixture in Perth, Western Australia, in February. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago European football: Keinan Davis on target as Udinese shock Inter

Juventus win 1-0 against Genoa after Vlahovic headerVAR drama mars Barcelona’s draw with Rayo VallecanoInter were handed a shock 2-1 loss at home to Udinese in Serie A despite taking the lead through Denzel Dumfries as the visitors responded with two goals before the break on Sunday.Cristian Chivu’s side won their opening game 5-0 at home to Torino but looked well off that form despite opening the scoring in the 17th minute when Dumfries tapped in from a Marcus Thuram pass in the box. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago European football: Dortmund grab first win, Vlahovic is Juventus’s supersub

Guirassy scores double in 3-0 victory over Union BerlinJuventus scrape 1-0 against Genoa after Vlahovic headerThe Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy scored once in each half to help steer the hosts to a 3-0 victory over Union Berlin on Sunday and notch their first Bundesliga win of the season. The 29-year-old has now netted in his seventh consecutive Bundesliga match, with only two players in Dortmund history having achieved a longer streak. The Guinea international missed two golden chances early in the first half, including a one-on-one with the goalkeeper Frederik Rønnow. But it was third time lucky just before half-time when Yan Couto found the striker with a superb pass. Guirassy then scored his third goal in two league matches in the 58th minute after a one-two with Maximilian Beier and a smooth chip over Rønnow, before the substitute Felix Nmecha sealed the win.Juventus scraped a 1-0 win away to Genoa in their Serie A clash, with Dusan Vlahovic coming off the bench to ...

Politics

2 w. ago Scott McKenna lifts lid on surprisingly Scottish welcome to Zagreb and the European football icon behind move

Scotland defender enjoying positive start to life in Croatia

Politics

2 w. ago Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis targets Europa League success

Marinakis reflected on a promise he would deliver both Premier League and European football when he bought the club in 2017.

Events

2 w. ago Uefa to decide in September on Real Madrid request to play in Miami

La Liga game would be against VillarrealPlan also needs approval from Fifa and othersUefa will decide in September whether to approve a request by the Spanish football federation for Villarreal and Real Madrid to contest a La Liga game in Miami in December.European football’s governing body is expected to discuss the matter at its next executive committee meeting in Tirana on 11 September and, should no move be made to block the request, a landmark move will edge closer to reality. No major league has held a domestic game on foreign territory, despite prolonged attempts from the Spanish top flight to do so. Uefa’s signoff would clear a huge section of path, although the plan also requires approval from Fifa, US Soccer and Concacaf. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Uefa to decide in September on Barcelona request to play in Miami

La Liga game would be against VillarrealPlan also needs approval from Fifa and othersUefa will decide in September whether to approve a request by the Spanish football federation for Villarreal and Barcelona to contest a La Liga game in Miami in December.European football’s governing body is expected to discuss the matter at its next executive committee meeting in Tirana on 11 September and, should no move be made to block the request, a landmark move will edge closer to reality. No major league has held a domestic game on foreign territory, despite prolonged attempts from the Spanish top flight to do so. Uefa’s signoff would clear a huge section of path, although the plan also requires approval from Fifa, US Soccer and Concacaf. Continue reading...

Politics