52 m. ago Arsenal ‘here to win’ Women’s Champions League after rollercoaster road to final

Visit from 2007 winners comes ahead of facing Barcelona in the club’s first Champions League final in 18 years

Sport

95 m. ago ‘I treasured that kit’: Leah Williamson’s Arsenal journey from mascot to mainstay

The Arsenal defender knows she must manage her emotions in the Champions League final – 18 years after she was a mascot for the equivalent fixture There is no bigger test of how Arsenal’s Leah Williamson balances the emotion of the occasion as a fan with her life as a player than a first Champions League final after years of working on her feelings when she is wearing red and white. “Do your job, Leah, and then the fan in you gets to enjoy it afterwards,” her internal monologue will run as she prepares to step on to the pitch when the Gunners take on Barcelona in Lisbon.“It’s funny, Less [Alessia Russo] was asking me about this today,” the 28-year-old says, sitting in the sunshine by the small lake at Arsenal’s London Colney training centre. “Maybe it’s age, maybe it’s having the experience of doing it in other moments. The Euros final was fairly level to this in terms of testing my ability to manage the emotions of the day and occasion. I’m just going to enjoy it. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Arsenal’s comeback queens face ultimate Barcelona test in Champions League final

New chapter in Arsenal’s storied history awaits as they aim to end continental drought in a sold-out Lisbon finalAfter 18 years, Arsenal are back in the biggest game in women’s European football with a dream to end their long wait for continental glory. They face the holders, the favourites and the much-revered Barcelona, who are aiming to win the Champions League for a third consecutive season on a picture-perfect weekend in Lisbon.Strolling along tree-lined paths through the Portuguese capital’s sun-kissed Parque Eduardo VII, as a group of Barcelona fans cross paths with two Arsenal supporters wearing full red-and-white kit and exchange a few friendly quips about Saturday’s final, it is hard not to feel a pang of sympathy for the 3,467 attendees who saw Arsenal lift the Uefa Women’s Cup – as it was known in 2007 – in the somewhat less glamorous surroundings of Boreham Wood FC’s Meadow Park. In those days, the competition concluded with a two-legged home-and-away final. Arsenal fol...

Sport

3 h. ago Arsenal XI vs Barcelona: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for Women's Champions League final

Daphne van Domselaar appears to be winning her battle to feature on Saturday evening

Sport

5 h. ago I won the Champions League five times but snubbed Man United for Spurs – this is why

Gareth Bale could have been lining up for Manchester United as a younger player, but he decided to go to Tottenham, where he established himself as one of the most explosive forwards around

Sport

5 h. ago Carlo Ancelotti bows out at Real Madrid: ‘I don’t regret a thing. I’ve had a good time’

Winner of four Champions Leagues over two spells, club’s most successful manager will for ever be adored by fansSometimes things don’t go the way they were planned, they go better. The call that ended with Carlo Ancelotti back at Real Madrid started as something completely different. It was August 2021, he was manager at Everton and he had phoned to ask Madrid’s chief executive José Ángel Sánchez about borrowing players but talk turned to their search for a coach. Zinedine Zidane had walked out again, dropping a letter bomb on the way, and Ancelotti wondered whether they had found anyone yet. Madrid were struggling and Sánchez said no, we’re still looking. Which is when the Italian replied that they needed the best and luckily they were already talking to him. “Or have you forgotten about 2014?” he said.It was classic Carlo. Gently done, an idea cleverly slipped in as if it were not an idea at all, just a throwaway line, another true word said in jest. And like so much of what he do...

Politics

5 h. ago Eddie Howe gives Alexander Isak update with hint on Newcastle's summer transfer plans

Newcastle's season has gone down to the final day as they need a result at home to Everton to seal Champions League football - and may have to do so without talisman Alexander Isak

Events

6 h. ago Premier League icon who won Champions League five times turned down Man Utd for Spurs

Gareth Bale once had the option to move to a dominant Manchester United side during the early stages of his career, but the Welsh talisman ended up turning down the great Sir Alex Ferguson

Politics

6 h. ago Premier League permutations: What Chelsea, Man City and Newcastle need to qualify for Champions League

Three more spots in Europe’s premier club competition are up for grabs

Sport

6 h. ago Pep Guardiola promises to take care of ‘baby boy’ Phil Foden

Foden spoke this week of the difficulties he has experienced this season with ‘a lot of things going on off the pitch mentally’.

Politics

7 h. ago Heineken moved a whole Arsenal pub from London to Lisbon for the women’s Champions League final

Heineken moved a whole Arsenal pub from London to Lisbon for the women’s Champions League final  Ad Age

Sport

7 h. ago 'You jaded p***ks' – Rob McElhenney blows his top as Wrexham co

Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have faced their fair share of criticism from rival fans since taking over Wrexham and guiding them from the National League to the Championship

Politics

7 h. ago Manchester United and the £726m issue that Europa League loss could impact

Manchester United face a challenging financial time of it without Champions League football next season

Economics

9 h. ago Champions League qualification permutations: What each team needs on the final day

The race for the top-five will go down to the wire in the Premier League

Sport

9 h. ago Mikel Arteta says Arsenal motivated to help David Raya win Golden Glove

Arsenal will travel to Southampton on Sunday with their Champions League qualification already secured.

Politics

9 h. ago Olympic champion Noah Lyles to race 100m at London Diamond League

Olympic champion Noah Lyles to race 100m at London Diamond League  The New York Times

Sport

9 h. ago Mo Salah sets sights on ambitious new target after winning Premier League with Liverpool

Liverpool cruised to the Premier League title this season with Mohamed Salah instrumental in their success - but now the Egyptian forward wants to go further by lifting the Champions League

Politics

9 h. ago Why a unique Premier League final day will be more interesting than it might appear

Given that the title and relegation are already decided, this won’t be an all-time epic but there is enough on the line to make the Premier League finale an intriguing proposition

Politics

9 h. ago Newcastle boss Eddie Howe hopes ‘electric’ Alexander Isak is fit to face Everton

The Magpies head into Sunday’s final-day Premier League clash knowing victory at St James’ Park would book them a Champions League spot

Events

10 h. ago Luke Littler taunts Gerwyn Price 'mistake' as Premier League finals mind games begin

Luke Littler has taunted Gerwyn Price ahead of their Premier League Darts semi-final showdown next Thursday, with the reigning champion starting the mind games

Sport