36 h. ago Champions League review: PSG’s young guns, Valverde’s discontent and Qarabag shine

There was a compelling clash of heavyweights in Catalonia, some unhappy rumblings at Real and a legend of Azerbaijani football roared• The viewers. Barcelona v Paris Saint-Germain was the final many wanted last season. Wednesday’s group-stage meeting showed why. The fixture did not disappoint, even if, with red tape delaying the opening of the renovated Camp Nou, it was played in the less atmospheric Lluís Companys Stadium. Luis Enrique’s young Parisians staged a comeback in Catalonia, thanks to their coach’s expert use of his squad. Senny Mayulu, 19, upstaged Lamine Yamal by scoring the equaliser – Wednesday was the first match this season Yamal had failed to either score or contribute to a goal. Instead, the resurgent Marcus Rashford set up Ferran Torres’s opener for Barça. PSG were shorn of Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the forward line that claimed last season’s crown. No matter: 23-year-old Bradley Barcola stepped up as the senior forward and ravaged H...

Sport

36 h. ago Kilmarnock boss backs Bruce Anderson to go from 'strength to strength' amid striker injury blow

The forward bagged his first league goal of the season last week - but a fellow striker faces a spell on the sidelines

Events

60 h. ago Why LeBron James missed LA Lakers’ first practice of its training camp

The Lakers want to keep James close to full health throughout the season, with the goal of being prepared for the playoffs.

Politics

4 d. ago Modric smiles and De Bruyne simmers as remoulded Milan hold out against Napoli | Nicky Bandini

Despite going down to 10 men, Massimiliano Allegri’s side held on and went top of Serie AThe league billed Milan v Napoli as a showdown between two “Masters of Midfield”, Luka Modric and Kevin De Bruyne, defining talents of a world football generation who each chose Serie A this summer. Players who have won a combined 58 trophies in their careers, including Champions League, La Liga and Premier League triumphs.Past their prime? Certainly. But over the hill? Hardly. Modric, at 40 years old, had started Milan’s first four league games, taking more touches (329) and creating more shooting opportunities (19, per fbref.com) than any teammate. De Bruyne, at 34, was the only Napoli player with more than one goal so far this season, having struck in wins over Sassuolo and Fiorentina. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago John McGinn hopes Ollie Watkins 'shuts a few people up' after Aston Villa win

Aston Villa came from behind to beat Fulham 3-1 in the Premier League, with Ollie Watkins scoring his first goal of the season in the victory

Politics

5 d. ago Ollie Watkins ends drought to spark Aston Villa comeback win over Fulham

How Aston Villa needed this, a first league victory of the season easing the increased weight of expectation in these parts. A nervy Europa League win over Bologna on Thursday offered a slim platform on which to build and this week Unai Emery reiterated the Premier League remains Villa’s priority.Fulham punished Villa for another flat start with Raúl Jiménez heading in from a corner inside three minutes but Ollie Watkins’s first goal of the season and two strikes across two second-half minutes, courtesy of John McGinn and Emiliano Buendía, earned a comeback victory. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago I can't believe Man United didn't sign Chelsea star who wanted to quit in summer

Manchester United targeted new attacking quality in the summer after last season's difficulties in front of goal as they signed Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko

Politics

7 d. ago Jimmy Thelin reveals only way Aberdeen can stop the rot as he takes fans inside Dave Cormack meetings

The Dons head to Motherwell looking for their first goal and league win of the season after hitting 'rock bottom' in midweek

Politics

1 week ago Neymar hits out at Ballon d’Or results after Raphinha decision: ‘Too much of a joke’

Raphinha had the most goal involvements in last season’s Champions League, finishing the competition with 13 goals and eight assists

Events

1 week ago Monchi poised to leave winless Aston Villa in fresh blow for Unai Emery

President of football operations wants Spain returnLong-term Emery ally joined Aston Villa in July 2023Monchi, Aston Villa’s president of football operations, is poised to leave the club. He joined Villa a little more than two years ago, reuniting with the manager, Unai Emery, after a spell at Roma.Monchi is thought to have wanted to return to Spain for some time but he is a long-term ally of Emery, with whom he worked at Sevilla. Villa have made a winless start to the season, scoring one league goal across three draws and two defeats. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Tottenham defender claims he 'broke bone' before netting first goal of season

Tottenham centre-back Luka Vuskovic scored his first goal of the season on loan at Hamburger SV on Saturday but the Croatian teenager claims he suffered a suspected broken finger just before finding the net

Politics

1 week ago Emery wants Aston Villa’s ‘identity back’ after Isidor earns point for 10

Aston Villa finally scored their first Premier League goal of the season but, on this quietly concerning evidence, Unai Emery’s quest for last season’s mislaid form is far from over.In marked contrast, Sunderland were a study in resilience, belief and impressive organisation. Régis Le Bris’s side could easily have folded after the 33rd-minute dismissal of their left-back Reinildo Mandava for violent conduct and the rare second-half mistake from Robin Roefs that allowed Matty Cash to shoot Emery’s team ahead from 25 yards. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Emery lashes out at ‘lazy’ Aston Villa after Isidor earns point for 10

Aston Villa finally scored their first Premier League goal of the season but, on this quietly concerning evidence, Unai Emery’s quest for last season’s mislaid form is far from over.In marked contrast, Sunderland were a study in resilience, belief and impressive organisation. Régis Le Bris’s side could easily have folded after the 33rd-minute dismissal of their left-back Reinildo Mandava for violent conduct and the rare second-half mistake from Robin Roefs that allowed Matty Cash to shoot Emery’s team ahead from 25 yards. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Liverpool’s late shows are a lot of fun but Slot will know it is not sustainable | Will Unwin

While they do keep finding a way to win, blowing leads and a lack of ruthlessness are not signs of a successful seasonThe feeling of euphoria that comes with a late winner is addictive, as Liverpool have found out, but it is not a sustainable plan. Virgil van Dijk was the fifth player to settle a match in dramatic fashion in as many games for the Premier League champions this season but his 92nd-minute goal against Atlético Madrid was only the fourth-latest in the team’s series of extraordinary climaxes.Jan Oblak was left helpless in the Atlético goal after his teammates had staged a glorious fightback from 2-0 down and shown a dogged determination to hold on. It had a familiar ring: Rio Ngumoha downed Newcastle in the 100th minute and Mohamed Salah slammed home a penalty in the 97th to break Burnley hearts, having scored in the 94th minute against Bournemouth to seal that 4-2 victory. The more crushing blow for Bournemouth had been delivered by Federico Chiesa in the 88th minute. A...

Politics

2 w. ago Scotsman serenaded by fans after netting Champions League goal on first start of season

Defender celebrates return to team with a goal

Sport

2 w. ago Emma Raducanu’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals decision places spotlight on season goal

Raducanu has opted to play in this week’s Korea Open rather than representing Great Britain at the team finals

Politics

2 w. ago Dean Smith makes blunt Aston Villa claim after Premier League struggles

Aston Villa are the only team in the top four divisions yet to score a goal this season and Dean Smith believes the club are still playing catch-up from their relegation to the Championship in 2016

Politics

2 w. ago Jimmy Thelin tells misfiring Aberdeen stars what needs to come now as quality not the issue

The Dons have been anything but dandy this season, failing to score a league goal, sitting bottom and putting just one point on board

Politics

2 w. ago Oh brother: Thurams trade goals as Juve and Inter deliver a derby that had it all | Nicky Bandini

A sensational game had siblings as frenemies, an English defender’s first Serie A goal and a teenage match-winnerIgor Tudor sat down, straightened his tie and acknowledged we had all just witnessed a “particular game”. Seven goals (including some absolute screamers), back-and-forth lead changes, brothers as frenemies, a star turn from one of Serie A’s emerging talents and a deciding goal from a teenager. “Particular” was one word for this season’s first Derby d’Italia. “Completely bonkers”, might be two more.Let us go back to the beginning. Juventus were hosting Inter on Saturday evening in a game that felt like it might have arrived a little too soon for everyone involved. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Man City fans' chant should worry Ruben Amorim after Manchester United lose derby

Man United lost the first Manchester derby of the season to leave them with four points and a -3 goal difference after four games.

Sport