25 h. ago Real Sociedad release pressure with surreal victory in Basque derby like no other | Sid Lowe

Jon Gorrotxategi’s stoppage-time winner against Athletic Club summed up an epic back-and-forth contestThe goal that won the Basque derby was exactly the way the goal that wins the Basque derby is supposed to be but never had been before. Wet, wild and absolutely wellied. In the rain, the chaos and added time, the fifth of an epic fight perfectly imperfect: a first attempt scuffed, a second smashed in from six yards, sending teammates diving out the way and supporters into each other’s arms. And scored by the footballer from the frontier, born on the border with Bizkaia, another Gipuzkoan and another academy product playing his first derby. Jon Gorrotxategi hit it with his shin; he also hit it with his “soul”, he said, the day ending with Real Sociedad’s players standing before their fans, singing together.It had started there too, their big blue bus edging its way towards the Reale Arena, circling round past the velodrome and the mini stadium, thousands of fans lining the route, fir...

Events

4 d. ago Arsenal ace Martin Zubimendi at centre of massive argument as 'relationship is very bad'

Martin Zubimendi left Real Sociedad to join Arsenal in a £60million move during the summer transfer window and his former club are now embroiled in a legal battle

Politics

4 d. ago Arsenal's Martin Zubimendi at the heart of tense row – 'Relationship is very bad'

Martin Zubimendi has formed a formidable partnership in midfield for Arsenal with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard as the Gunners look to win a first Premier League title since 2004

Politics

7 d. ago 'Calamity Lammy' comes under fire in the Commons: Deputy PM scrambles to set up independent probe into mistaken release of Epping sex offender as he faces pressure from MPs over Hadush Kebatu case

David Lammy, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, came under fire from MPs after he revealed that 'human error' appeared to be to blame for the blunder.

Events

7 d. ago Rage against the Lamine: Real Madrid revel in clásico win after cheap talk | Sid Lowe

It was just like old times as Dani Carvajal sparked a full-time ruckus with Barça’s teenage star after his pre-match barbs“As long as I win they can’t say anything,” Lamine Yamal said once, but this time he didn’t win and they were coming for him. They said he spoke too much; they replied that, yeah, they would see him outside; they told him talk is cheap. And that was just the players: there was more from the preachers in their pulpits, men who never lose.On the eve of the clásico, the teenager who claims he left fear behind in Mataró suggested that Real Madrid rob and moan, or so it goes. He also offered a reminder that the last time he had been at the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana braces, a glint in his eye and a right foot they didn’t know he had – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and this was now. And, an adult now, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. He knew, they told him so. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Clásico buildup, Hearts v Celtic, Arsenal host Crystal Palace and more – matchday live

⚽ News, previews and discussion before the day’s action⚽ Sid Lowe on Sunday’s clásico | Email matchday liveAlso in the Premier League yesterday, Sunderland clinched a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge thanks to a late strike from Chemsdine Talbi. The Blues had taken a 1-0 lead in the early stages thanks to Alejandro Garnacho before Wilson Isidor levelled things up in the 22nd minute.Talbi then scored the winner for the visitors in added time. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Fury over SNP’s early release prison scheme with cons ‘back in cells within 24 hours’

A CHARITY boss helping cons given early release warns they’ll be back “within 24 hours”. Another 800 prisoners are about to be set free. But Natalie Logan, chief executive of prison rehabilitation group Sisco, said the plan to ease pressure on Scottish jails failed to give prisoners enough support once released. And it is increasing...

Events

1 week ago If Tebas had only listened he might have got his La Liga game abroad | Sid Lowe

In an embarrassing climbdown, the game in Miami is off with the league having alienated the players and even Villarreal, the club that was on its sideIf there is a moment that defined La Liga’s fourth failed attempt to play in Miami, an image to explain why everything went wrong, it may have been the moment it was all over. On Tuesday night, Spanish television broadcast reaction to the news from the Estadio de la Ceràmica, live and unfiltered.Cameras caught someone else who felt dismissed and disrespected, treated as if they didn’t count. This time it was someone who was supposed to be on the league’s side, but now appeared as a portrait of poor planning and poorer communication, a lack of consideration that pushed the project to collapse. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago ‘I don’t like you either’: diplomats hold their breath as Trump chides Rudd over previous comments

President’s comments were greeted with laughter as diplomatic pressure valve finally releasedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast“I don’t like you either. And I probably never will,” US President Donald Trump told Australian ambassador Kevin Rudd at the White House cabinet room table.It was the testiest and most uncomfortable remark at a typically freewheeling and chaotic presidential press conference. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Ronald Araújo ignites Barcelona’s comeback spirit before El Clásico | Sid Lowe

Injury-hit and under pressure, Hansi Flick turned to defender turned makeshift striker to take them top of La Liga“I told my teammates: ‘If I go on, I’ll score,’ and everybody laughed,” Ronald Araújo said but they weren’t laughing now. Actually, wait, no: they were laughing now. Laughing and shouting and swearing and scrambling to escape the bench, like someone had set fire to it. Someone like him: 6ft 3in and 15 stone of Uruguayan beef, tearing off his top and leaping over the boards advertising Kicking My Feet, fists thudding at his bare chest while Barcelona’s players chased him, Frenkie de Jong leapt on for a ride, and over on the far side of Montjuic the manager who wasn’t supposed to be there let rip. “It’s football, it’s emotion,” Hansi Flick said.When it’s like this especially. On a weekend when the first 15 seconds of every game weren’t played at all and weren’t always broadcast either – La Liga distracting everyone from the 22-man standstill protests over their unilateral ...

Politics

2 w. ago Nottingham Forest latest and buildup to Liverpool v Manchester United – matchday live

⚽ Buildup, news and discussion before Sunday’s action⚽ Postecoglou could be least effective PL manager ever ⚽ Slot gambling on more Wirtz and less Salah | Mail us hereFair points made here from the comments section below.Getafe v Real Madrid is Sunday’s late game in La Liga, a local derby. Sid Lowe spoke to Abu Kamara, once of Hull. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Tories put pressure on Starmer following release of China spy case statements

Kemi Badenoch questioned why the final witness statement submitted in the case set out Sir Keir Starmer’s approach to relations with Beijing.

Events

2 w. ago Keir Starmer finally bows to pressure and says ministers WILL release Government document at the heart of China spying case collapse

The Prime Minister finally confirmed that Downing Street will publish a key witness statement by the deputy national security adviser after a major overnight row with prosecutors.

Politics

2 w. ago How Martin Zubimendi has already justified £60m Arsenal transfer decision

Spain midfielder has hit the ground running since move from Real Sociedad and has been the standout summer signing at Emirates Stadium

Economics

2 w. ago Merino double sparks Spain’s run of goals in domination of Bulgaria

It started in Scotland and it still has not finished yet. That night at Hampden was only Luis de le Fuente’s second as Spain coach; it also felt like it might be his last. Two Scott McTominay goals defeated the Seleccion but while just about everyone else thought his spell would be brief, he was talking about a pathway opening and here’s the thing: the man accused of living in Disneyland back then was right. Three years and four days later, Spain moved to within touching distance of the World Cup by racking up their 29th consecutive competitive game unbeaten*, equalling their record.On a night when Pedri played and Mikel Merino made the difference, Spain beat Bulgaria 4-0 to take them to 12 points from 12 in qualifying, close now. The Arsenal midfielder and sometime striker scored the first two and might even have got his second hat-trick in three Spain games but when he was fouled in the last minute he handed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead. And so it was the Real Sociedad s...

Politics

3 w. ago Ofcom issues update on suicide forum as charity calls for it to be taken down

Ofcom has released an update about an active pro-suicide forum following pressure from a Mirror campaign investigating the stories of suicide victims who ingested a lethal poison

Events

4 w. ago Trump hints at Ghislaine Maxwell pardon in bizarre Oval Office admission

President Donald Trump said he would 'take a look' at pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, speaking in the Oval Office - as he faces mounting pressure to 'release the Epstein files'

Politics

4 w. ago Sevilla’s astonishing defeat of Barcelona ends a decade of wait | Sid Lowe

Sevilla turned back the clock to thrash Barcelona as La Liga’s last two unbeaten records vanished in a single Sunday afternoonMatias Almeyda gathered his players in the shade at the side of the pitch and told them to “liquidate this” so they did. It was 33 degrees out there, they had been playing 33 minutes and they had scored one against Barcelona, which wasn’t enough. The champions were there to be finished, Sevilla’s manager said. He had shown them how, now it was up to them. There was applause, towels taken from shoulders, bottles handed back, and 179 seconds later it was two. It could have been four already; by the time the clock headed beyond a hundred it actually was, the men standing before his bench now swirling their shirts above their heads, eager to be released for one last run, over the turf and towards their teammates.Towards another time too. “They told me it’s been 10 years,” Sevilla’s new striker Alexis Sánchez said. This weekend, the season’s eighth, the most impre...

Politics