Arsenal host Real Madrid at the Emirates on Tuesday for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie and the visitors have received a major boost on the injury front Thibaut Courtois has been injured since the international break (Image: Maria Jimenez/Real Madrid via Getty Images) Real Madrid have named Thibaut Courtois in their travelling squad ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal. Courtois, 32, has missed Madrid’s last three games due to injury. His deputy, Andriy Lunin, has also picked up an injury which forced Carlo Ancelotti to hand 19-year-old Fran Gonzalez his debut against Valencia on Saturday. Real were beaten 2-1 at the Bernabeu, denting their LaLiga title hopes. But Courtois could be back when the Champions League holders face Arsenal, having taken part in training
Tag Archives: Football
Mar
Barcelona ‘close in on Taylor Swift deal for El Clasico’ – as iconic popstar follows in footsteps of Drake, The Rolling Stones and Coldplay Barcelona signed a sponsorship deal with streaming giant Spotify back in 2022 For El Clasico fixtures, Spotify’s logo is replaced by that of a popular artist LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off!, available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday Read more: The truth about Taylor Swift’s new drama By WILL PICKWORTH Published: 06:05 EDT, 27 March 2025 | Updated: 13:42 EDT, 27 March 2025 Barcelona are set to unveil a unique partnership with Taylor Swift ahead of the next El Clasico. Hansi Flick’s side currently sit top of LaLiga following an impressive first season for the German coach, although they are
Mar
READ MORE: Stefon Diggs agrees $69million move to the New England Patriots By ISABEL BALDWIN Published: 08:48 EDT, 26 March 2025 | Updated: 08:48 EDT, 26 March 2025 Russell Wilson’s wife Ciara had the perfect response to the quarterback inking a deal with the New York Giants Tuesday night. Wilson’s search for a new NFL team finally came to a close Tuesday as he landed in the Big Apple following his release from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 36-year-old has reportedly agreed a $21million deal with the Giants and is projected to be the starting quarterback in New York next season. The signal caller’s ever-supportive wife, Ciara, immediately took to social media to celebrate her NFL husband’s new deal. The R&B singer, who has been married to Wilson since 2016, shared a
Mar
… running for veep once again with his focus on genuine football development By Benedict Tembo For Justin Mumba, his humble personality and strategic football leadership is exemplified and set to inspire the next generation of administrators. Mumba, the incumbent Football Association of Zambia vice-president is a football administrator of note, with a proven track record that has driven results based on one word – excellence. Because of success and his unmatched passion, Dr Mumba has yet again offered his service to the leadership of FAZ and will be recontesting his position as vice president of FAZ. “As a qualified and dedicated football administrator, I have spent over two decades involved and shaping Zambian football through creativity, innovation, and a deep passion for the game. My journey began in 1995
Mar
The New England Patriots are hosting WR Stefon Diggs for a visit on Wednesday, according to Chad Graff. The Patriots will want to have their medical staff assess Diggs’ knee after suffering a season-ending ACL tear last year. Diggs is one of the best available free agents at this point in the offseason and the Patriots have said that they’re interested in bringing in more talent at receiver this offseason. Diggs, 31, is a former fifth-round pick of the Vikings back in 2015. He was in the final year of his rookie contract when he agreed to a five-year extension worth $72 million with the Vikings in 2018. The Vikings traded Diggs to the Bills in 2020 for a package of draft picks including a first-round selection. Diggs was set
Mar
Last week, Scott McTominay posted a picture on Instagram. In it, he and Billy Gilmour stand arm in arm, sunglasses on, waves rolling in to meet the Campanian coastline behind them as Mount Vesuvius peaks through the clouds. ‘A beautiful lunch with Maestro,’ McTominay wrote. We can only imagine he got a good recommendation in one of the world’s culinary hotspots. ‘Fratello,’ Gilmour responded. It means ‘brother’. La Dolce Vita seems to suit Scotland’s brothers-in-arms. Dine in the sunshine during the week, take Napoli tantalisingly close to the Serie A title at the weekend. It’s not a bad life. But the tranquillity of this pastel-coloured scene belies the pressure of the season run-in that awaits once the international break ends. Napoli’s season is at a crossroads. For much of 2024/25
Mar
Daily Mirror Icon Sport Football Julian Alvarez Atletico Madrid have dismissed claims that Liverpool have already made an approach to sign former Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez in the upcoming transfer window Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez has been linked with Liverpool (Image: Maciej Rogowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Atletico Madrid have shut down rumours linking Julian Alvarez with a move to Liverpool, insisting the Argentine striker is not for sale. Despite his agent’s hints at a possible departure, Atletico’s sporting director Carlos Busero has made it clear that no official offer from Liverpool has been received and dismissed the speculation as mere rumours. Alvarez, who has netted 23 goals in 44 games this season, is seen as an integral part of Diego Simeone’s plans to chase La Liga glory
Mar
Ruben Dias suggests what could be the reason behind Man City’s dismal season – but insists new signings are ‘starving’ to win back the title Man CIty sit fifth in Premier League and were dumped out of Champions League Defender Ruben Dias insists there’s ‘no need to panic’ despite dismal season LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Why the League Cup final is Newcastle’s to lose By ABDI RASHID Published: 08:32 EDT, 15 March 2025 | Updated: 10:46 EDT, 15 March 2025 Manchester City defender Ruben Dias has opened up on the club’s struggles this season. Pep Guardiola’s side have endured a difficult campaign and are battling to return to the Champions League next season, a marked drop off having won an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title last season.
Mar
Leon Balogun has revealed he asked God to help Jack Butland secure a penalty shoot-out win over Fenerbahce – and admitted he believes Rangers can now go all the way in the Europa League. The Ibrox outfit ran out 3-2 winners on penalty-kicks after Jose Mourinho’s side had cancelled out their 3-1 first-leg victory with a two-goal win earned through a brace from Polish ace Sebastian Szymanski. James Tavernier, Vaclav Cerny, and Tom Lawrence all scored for Barry Ferguson’s side in the shoot-out with Ianis Hagi seeing his effort saved. However, Butland was the hero in setting up a last-eight showdown with Spaniards Athletic Bilbao. He kicked things off by getting his body in the way of Dusan Tadic’s effort, but, with the scores balanced at 2-2 after Hagi’s miss
Mar
Manchester United’s Portuguese midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes (L) celebrates scoring the team’s second goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Europa League Last 16 Second Leg football match between Manchester United and Real Sociedad at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, north west England, on March 13, 2025. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP) Bruno Fernandes led Manchester United into the Europa League quarter-finals with a hat-trick to beat Real Sociedad 4-1 at Old Trafford on Thursday and 5-2 on aggregate. The first three goals on the night came via the penalty spot as Mikel Oyarzabal had slotted Sociedad into an early lead. However, Fernandes quickly restored parity and coolly scored again from the spot on 50 minutes. The Portuguese international then ensured United will face Lyon in the last
Mar
It was a quieter day on the news front, with the rush of initial signings slowing down as teams take stock from a busy Monday. We still had plenty of signings and a few trades, and more movement is still to come. Now that we have a moment to breathe, we can take a step back and evaluate teams more holistically. After the first day, it can be tough to label quiet teams as “losers” when they could have easily made a slew of additions today. After the second day, however, we get a better picture of what teams are doing successfully and where they’ve fallen short. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some winners and losers from the second day of free agency: Winner: Vikings QB
Mar
Paris Saint-Germain’s Italian goalkeeper #01 Gianluigi Donnarumma stops the penalty shot by Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker #09 Darwin Nunez (L) during the last 16 second leg UEFA Champions League football match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on March 11, 2025. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP) Paris Saint-Germain progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday after beating Liverpool 4-1 in a penalty shoot-out to win an epic last-16 tie between the clubs. Trailing 1-0 from last week’s first leg in Paris, PSG levelled the tie on aggregate thanks to Ousmane Dembele’s early strike at Anfield. There were plenty of chances but no further goals at the end of 90 minutes or extra time, taking the tie to a shoot-out. READ
Mar
Frank Lampard is sitting behind a small table in a small room and is poking a bit of fun at himself. Superstitions? Yeah, he’s had a few. ‘Yeah I used to,’ Lampard laughs. ‘I used to eat the same meal in the same proportions and then walk the dog the same walk, the same laps of the park. I had a certain order of putting my boots on and putting my kit on. ‘But it became really consuming because then you lose or play badly and you reboot a few of them and then it becomes a continuing nonsense. ‘Having said that, I still retain a few of them in my own way here but I am trying to get them out of my head because it can make life
Mar
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91), left, and Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (94) celebrate a sack in the second quarter during a Week 16 NFL game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson received permission to seek a trade one year after the Cincinnati front office shot down the same request. Hendrickson, 30, led the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2024 and has one year remaining on a contract extension he signed in 2023 with a base salaary of $15.8 million for 2025. As part of a trade, Hendrickson is expected to sign a new contract given the lack of negotiations helped spark his latest demand. Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby signed a record three-year
Mar
Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario riles fans with full-time gesture for more support after dismal defeat at AZ Alkmaar as struggling stars are told to ‘concentrate on their own performances’ Vicario was seen remonstrating with Spurs fans after their loss to AZ Alkmaar Tottenham fell to a 1-0 defeat in the first leg after Lucas Begvall’s own goal LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Is Alisson the best goalkeeper in the Premier League? By MICHAEL PAVITT Published: 16:21 EST, 6 March 2025 | Updated: 20:11 EST, 6 March 2025 Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario clashed with supporters after the club slipped to a lacklustre 1-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar in their Europa League last-16 tie. A freak Lucas Bergvall own goal proved the difference between the sides in The Netherlands. Vicario prevented Tottenham