Last season saw one of the most gripping title races in LaLiga for some years although it took an almighty stumble from Barcelona to make it happen.
Luis Enrique s side surrendered a nine-point gap at the top after four games without a win across March and April, and only a flawless record across the final five matches kept them a point clear of Real Madrid and three above Atletico Madrid.
The 2016-17 campaign looks unlikely to break the mould of the recent three-horse races, though Madrid are in some trouble before a ball has even been kicked. Injuries to star players and a stark lack of transfer activity has left them in real danger of falling behind any early pace set by the champions or their city rivals.
Is it folly to write off the Champions League and�…
Robert Vilahamn has committed his future to Tottenham by signing a three-year contract to keep him at the club until 2027.
Vilahamn initially joined Spurs last year from Swedish side BK Hacken and enjoyed an impressive first campaign in charge.
He led Spurs to a top-six finish for just the second time in the Women s Super League and a first-ever FA Cup final, which they lost 4-0 to Manchester United at Wembley Stadium.
To sign a new contract with the club feels amazing, Vilahamn told SPURSPLAY.
We are delighted to announce that Head Coach Robert Vilahamn has signed a new contract with the Club that will run until 2027
— Tottenham Hotspur Women (@SpursWomen)
My first contract here and moving to London was a big thing, but now I have be…
While the international fixtures might be taking center stage this weekend, we have another stacked schedule from across the footballing globe. So, for those of you looking to stick on a Saturday acca, we have found a handful of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.
Saturday March 26th
BST 15:00 Shrewsbury vs Lincoln
While Shrewsbury might have faced a huge task when they made the trip to a high-flying Rotherham last weekend, there is no doubt that Steve Cotterill s men shocked almost everyone across League One. Eventually storming their way to a stunning 3-0 win away at the runaway leaders, fans around New Meadow find their side enjoying a recent purple patch. Finding a way to build off of their eye-catching 5-0 romp against Morecambe on March 1…
Declan Rice went to the World Cup surrounded by England team-mates who had won the biggest prizes in the game – now he is a £105million player who insists he is not fazed by the price tag having lifted European silverware and instantly taken to Champions League football.
The 24-year-old admitted a year ago in Qatar that he wanted to play at the highest level and left West Ham in the summer after captaining them to Europa Conference League glory.
Rice moved across London to Arsenal, joining the Gunners for a club-record fee and has hit the ground running with a run of fine performances for Mikel Arteta’s side.
While previous big-money signings have seemingly been weighed down by hefty price tags, Rice has flourished in spite of it.
“When the transfe…
Barcelona s financial situation is due to the coronavirus pandemic and not Lionel Messi, insisted LaLiga president Javier Tebas.
Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported on Sunday that the deal superstar captain Messi signed in 2017 – due to expire at season s end – is worth more than €555million over four years.
It comes after Messi attempted to leave Camp Nou prior to the 2020-21 campaign and amid Barca s financial woes caused by the fallout of the COVID-19 crisis.
But Tebas wrote via Twitter: Barcelona s delicate financial situation [like other big clubs] is not Messi s fault but the devastating effect of COVID.
Without the pandemic, the income generated by the best player in history would prop up that expenditure.
The sensationalism that su…
A fine strike from Marcel Halstenberg ended Northern Ireland s spirited resistance and helped Germany to a much-needed 2-0 win in Euro 2020 qualifying on Monday.
Having been beaten 4-2 at home by Netherlands last Friday, another defeat at Windsor Park would have left Joachim Low s side six points behind Northern Ireland at the top of Group C after five matches.
The 2014 World Cup winners were frustrated in the first half as Michael O Neill s side caused real problems with some high pressing and strong defending, while Manuel Neuer had to make an important save from Conor Washington.
However, Halstenberg s first international goal three minutes into the second half and Serge Gnabry s late strike made the difference, as Germany breathed new life into their qualific…
Lionel Messi, Neymar and Paul Pogba have been confirmed to appear in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 as part of a future update.
The trio of footballers were teased by developers Activision to be suiting up for appearances for Modern Warfare II, Warzone 2.0 and Call of Duty Mobile – displaying some teaser art in a social media post.
Characters for Pogba and Neymar have already been leaked on social media by dataminers, though Messi s look is yet to be shown. It is expected their introduction will coincide with the World Cup in Qatar.
Neymar and Messi are no strangers to the world of video games, with the Paris Saint-Germain duo introduced to PUBG earlier this year, while Neymar was featured in Fortnite back in 2021.
Modern Warfare II was officially relea…
Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman has warned against complacency as his side look to cut the gap to Atletico Madrid with victory over rock-bottom Huesca on Monday.
The Catalan giants have not lost in LaLiga since they slipped to a 2-1 defeat away at Cadiz on December 5.
Indeed, their run of 16 top-flight games without defeat – which has included 13 wins – is the best current unbeaten streak of any team in the five major European leagues.
Atleti were held to a 0-0 draw by Getafe on Saturday, giving Barca the opportunity to get within four points of the league leaders if they overcome Huesca at Camp Nou.
Koeman, though, is taking nothing for granted and wants his side to be fully focused, despite facing …
Joe Gomez will start England s Nations League encounter against Spain in place of the suspended John Stones, Gareth Southgate announced on Sunday.
Stones and Jordan Henderson were shown their second yellow cards of the competition in Friday s 0-0 draw at Croatia and will consequently sit out the trip to Seville.
While the England boss was not willing to disclose who would fill in for Henderson, he revealed Gomez, who has started all but two of Liverpool s fixtures this season, will be handed a fifth cap at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.
It s probably pretty clear Joe Gomez will be coming in for John, said Southgate.
He s been in good form for his club and his matches for us against Brazil and Spain have been really polished performances.
He s a…
Fernando Ricksen has died aged 43 following a battle with motor neurone disease, his former club Rangers have announced.
The 12-cap Netherlands international s condition came to light in October 2013, shortly after his retirement from football.
Rangers announced the news of Ricksen s death on Wednesday as they paid tribute to their Hall of Fame member.
A club statement read: Rangers is deeply saddened to announce that former player Fernando Ricksen passed away this morning following his battle with motor neurone disease.
In October 2013 he revealed he was suffering from motor neurone disease and since then has fought a terrific battle against the condition, raising awareness and funds for the Fernando Ricksen Foundation, which aims to help others suf…