Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City (agg 6-5): Benzema completes Rodrygo-inspired revival in Champions L
Real Madrid will play Liverpool in the Champions League final after Karim Benzema s extra-time penalty completed a remarkable 3-1 comeback win over Manchester City.
Leading 4-3 from a pulsating first leg, Pep Guardiola s side appeared set for a second successive final appearance when Riyad Mahrez put them ahead in the 73rd minute at Santiago Bernabeu, but comeback kings Madrid sealed their place in Paris with a 6-5 aggregate triumph.
Substitute Rodrygo was their inspiration, as he became the first player to score twice in the 90th minute of a Champions League knockout match to force extra-time.
And Benzema wrapped up a magnificent turnaround for Carlo Ancelotti s LaLiga champions when, five minutes into extra-time.
10 Karim Benzema has scored 10 goals …
Declan Rice was never going to celebrate after scoring against the Republic of Ireland in England s 2-0 Nations League victory.
The midfielder was met by a hostile crowd in Dublin having previously represented Ireland before changing allegiance to England.
But Rice had the last laugh, lashing home in the 11th minute before teeing up Jack Grealish, who previously represented Ireland at youth level, to seal a comfortable win for Lee Carsley s side.
It marked his fourth goal for the Three Lions but Rice did not feel the need for celebrations.
Obviously, it was an amazing feeling to score, but I was never going to celebrate. I have Irish family, my nan and grandad, who are not here anymore and I think it would have been disrespectful to them if I celebrated,…
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In what is a heavyweight EURO 24 quarter-final showdown on Friday night, Portugal and France will meet in Hamburg.
Portugal
Starting with Portugal, avoiding what would have been an infamous EURO 24 exit at the hands of Slovenia earlier in the week, Roberto Martinez’s men will be desperately seeking a more polished performance here. However, signing off their Group F campaign with a shock 2-0 defeat against major tournament debutants Georgia, the Navigators have shown some attacking issues over the past week. In fact, the 2016 European champions have drawn back-to-back blanks for the first time since October 2020. However, opening this summer’s tournament tipped as a potential dark horse contender, Portugal did make a major qualifyi…
Wales are heading to the Euro 2024 play-offs after drawing 1-1 with Turkey on a dramatic night in Cardiff.
Neco Williams’ seventh-minute goal – his third for Wales – offered hope they could bridge the two-point gap between them and Croatia for the second automatic qualifying spot.
But Yusuf Yazici’s controversial penalty 20 minutes from time – awarded after Wales had three stronger spot-kick appeals rejected – handed Turkey a share of the spoils and the point required to top Group D.
In the end, Yazici’s leveller did not matter in denying Wales qualification as Croatia kept their side of the bargain by beating Armenia 1-0 at home.
Wales go into the March play-offs where a home semi-final against Finland, Iceland and Ukraine awaits.
T…
Jess Park admits it has been an “incredible” last few weeks having seized the opportunity she was waiting for.
With Jill Roord sidelined after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in January, Park, on loan at Everton last term, came into the Manchester City midfield for her first Women’s Super League start this season when champions Chelsea visited the Joie Stadium in February.
The 22-year-old promptly set up the early Khadija Shaw finish that proved the only goal in that contest and has since scored three times and provided three assists across four further WSL victories for title-chasing City last month, including a 3-1 Etihad Stadium triumph over Manchester United in which she notched a brace and teed up Shaw once again.
Park, the Barclays Pla…
Luciano Spalletti has vowed to improve on Italy s disappointing Euro 2024 showing ahead of the start of their Nations League campaign this week.
The Azzurri needed Mattia Zaccagni s late strike against Croatia to advance to the knockout stages of the competition, but their journey ended the following game.
Hopes of retaining their crown were dashed at the hands of Switzerland, who struck either side of half-time to set up a meeting with England in the quarter-finals.
The defeat marked their first knockout loss at the European Championship finals since the 2012 final against Spain (4-0), ending a run of six such games without defeat.
Switzerland s triumph compounded Italy to their second defeat at the tournament, more than they had managed in any other …
Livingston have rejected an approach from St Johnstone to speak to David Martindale about their managerial vacancy.
The Lions boss emerged as the early front-runner to replace Steven MacLean, who was sacked by the Perth club on Sunday with the team bottom of the cinch Premiership after no wins from their opening nine games.
Martindale refused to be drawn on speculation linking him with the McDiarmid Park job when he was asked about it at his media briefing on Monday to preview Wednesday’s match away to Hearts.
However, Saints made their move for the Livi manager later that day, only to be rebuffed by the West Lothian club.
Lions chief executive Dave Black moved to clarify the situation on Tuesday evening.
“Following recent speculation over the…
Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola said on Thursday he had become an ambassador for Qatar s bid to become the first country in the Middle East to host the World Cup in 2022.
I am here to inform you that I have reached an agreement to be an ambassador for Qatar s candidacy to host the 2022 World Cup. My support stems basically from the fact that I lived there, he told a news conference.
They really insisted and since they treated me and my family well, I decided to accept the proposal.
The 39-year-old, who played for Qatar s Al Ahli between 2003 and 2005, also said he hoped Spain and Portugal s joint bid to host the 2018 World Cup would succeed.
As an ambassador, Guardiola will attend events to voice his support for Qatar s World Cup ambitions, as well as…
With Bayer Leverkusen enjoying what has been a stunning Bundesliga charge so far this season, it appears that Germany’s elite could be set for another hectic title race in 2024.
However, while England international Jadon Sancho might be inching towards a shock return to Borussia Dortmund, it has been suggested that a host of Bundesliga superstars could be heading in the opposite direction.
In what looks set to be a hectic January transfer window from across Germany, we have taken a look at three Bundesliga stars who could be heading to England this month.
Timo Werner RB Leipzig
While Timo Werner might have only made an emotional return to RB Leipzig last year, it appears that the German international is set for a shock immediate Premier League switch over the…
The performances of Sergio Aguero in 2018 have been the best since Pep Guardiola arrived at Manchester City, according to the Spaniard.
Aguero has scored 15 goals since the turn of the year but the wait for his 200th in City colours continued as he failed to find the net in the commanding 1-0 victory over Chelsea on Sunday.
It was the second match in succession the Argentinian, who opened the scoring in the 3-0 EFL Cup final victory over Arsenal last week, has failed to score, but Guardiola was pleased with his performance.
Since we were together here with Sergio I think the last month, two months is the best Sergio I have seen, he told a post-match news conference.
Not just scoring goals, but he doesn t lose one ball. He makes a movement for runs in be…