28 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...

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4 d. ago Crystal Palace keep party going as Eze’s glorious goal wraps up win over Wolves

Afterparty at the Palace, a gala night at Selhurst Park. If the 2024-25 Premier League season has faced accusations of featuring far too little jeopardy, the result here mattered little but will be remembered for ever as the night Crystal Palace brought the FA Cup home to south London.For the record, Palace celebrated a win via two goals from Eddie Nketiah, a deflected free-kick and a late, glorious Eberechi Eze strike. In truth, the main event did not arrive until after full time with the end of Selhurst Park’s 101-year wait to show off a major trophy to fans. Eagles supporters can now dream of next season’s European tour, with the hope and expectation the precise but emotionally charged leadership of Oliver Glasner will lead them into that promised land. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago The Breakdown | Rare English double in Europe would be a dream result for Premiership

Northampton and Bath have a chance to restore English rugby to its pedestal, but French foes will have other ideasIt has not happened very often. Just once in the past 20 years, to be precise. Winning a single trophy is hard enough but English clubs hoisting aloft both the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup in the same season would be a proper rarity. Other than the Covid-afflicted year of 2020 when Exeter Chiefs and Bristol Bears prevailed in mostly empty stadiums, the last time there was a Premiership double was in May 2004.Back then Wasps and Harlequins were the happy couple, beating Toulouse and Montferrand respectively. This week also features two Anglo-French finals with Northampton facing Bordeaux-Bègles in the main event and Bath tackling Lyon in Friday night’s amuse bouche. A measure of the challenge facing the English duo is that French clubs have hoovered up seven of the past eight available trophies, with South Africa collecting the other.This is an extract taken from our w...

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6 d. ago Danny Care’s final appearance at The Stoop ends with Harlequins victory

Harlequins ensured the club’s record-appearance holder signed off from The Stoop with a win

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2 w. ago Bristol Bears revel in ‘wonderful occasion’ after beating Bath in Wales

Bristol's bonus-point win in Cardiff took them third

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3 w. ago Arsenal vs Bournemouth Premier League prediction, betting preview, odds and tips

Arsenal will be keen to get some momentum behind them before their trip to Paris while Bournemouth do not want to see the European dream die just yet

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3 w. ago Athletic Bilbao v Man United LIVE: Visitors out to spoil Europa League dream as line

Manchester United face their toughest test yet in the Europa League as they meet an Athletic side in the semi-finals who are determined to reach the final at their home stadium

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3 w. ago Athletic Bilbao v Man United LIVE: Visitors out to spoil Europa League dream and save season

Athletic Bilbao are looking to reach the Europa League final at home and host the semi-final first leg

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3 w. ago Athletic Bilbao vs Man United LIVE: Visitors out to spoil Europa League dream and save season

Athletic Bilbao are looking to reach the Europa League final at home and host the semi-final first leg

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3 w. ago The unique problem Athletic Bilbao must overcome to fulfil Europa League dream

There is romance and emotion at play as a unique club hosts Manchester United at San Mames, looking to reach their home final

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3 w. ago Arsenal gunning to overhaul mighty Lyon and reach Champions League final

Renée Slegers’ side have hope in key players returning but have to win on the road against the eight-times championsAt first glance, the outlook does not look too promising for Arsenal, trailing 2-1 against Lyon from the first leg of their Women’s Champions League semi-final and needing to win at a club who have reached 11 previous finals. Nonetheless, there are reasons for Renée Slegers’ team to be cheerful as well as fearful before the biggest game of their season as they try to keep their European dream alive.Losing in London was certainly not in the 2007 European champions’ script but Arsenal won more of the duels, controlled more of the possession and had more efforts at goal than Lyon, who lead thanks to the hugely talented young Haiti midfielder Melchie Dumornay’s cool late finish. The Arsenal left-back Katie McCabe was adamant regarding her side’s capability to fight back, saying on Friday: “I believe we can go and be positive and score goals. We have the quality. We have th...

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