football

OL Lyonnes ended Arsenal’s Champions League hopes while Rebecca Knaak puts Man City on the brink of WSL title glory Who is the best player in the world right now? Melchie Dumornay continues to make a strong claim for that accolade after her starring role in OL Lyonnes’ comeback to beat Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finals. The fearless Haiti international won a first-half penalty and provi…

Jean-Jacques Ngambo Ndala given final first leg by Caf He was in charge when Senegal left pitch in Morocco The referee who oversaw of January’s chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final during which Senegal walked off has been listed to take charge of this month’s African Champions League final. Jean-Jacques Ngambo Ndala, who is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is due to referee the first leg…

Former Lionesses forward will depart this summer England, 31, has seven WSL goals this season Bethany England, the Tottenham captain, is to leave at the end of this season, the striker has confirmed in a tearful video message published by the club. It is understood it was the club’s decision not to renew the 31-year-old’s contract as they seek to evolve their squad with younger players and multip…

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! When Scott Parker led Burnley out of the Championship and into the Premier League last season, he did so with a side showcasing the kind of defensive resilience more readily associated with a medieval fortress, although with more expensive haircuts and less reliance on cauldrons of boiling oil. His team lost just two of their 46 matches, were un…

Champions League semi-final first leg was described as ‘pure madness’ and ‘football in its finest essence’ French media were in thrall to a victory hailed as a milestone performance, calling Paris Saint-Germain’s 100th win in the Champions League as “one of the finest” in the club’s history. Bayern Munich will be hoping for a repeat of their goal bonanza when they host the holders in the semi-fin…

England forward has recovered from achilles injury Calafiori also fit as Arteta targets ‘two big competitions’ Mikel Arteta is hoping the return of Bukayo Saka after a month out can provide Arsenal with “a different energy” as they attempt to beat Manchester City to the Premier League title. The England forward has not played since the defeat by City in the Carabao Cup final owing to an achilles …

Spanish manager has led Edinburgh side to top of Scottish Premier League and a showdown with Rangers looms Hearts have an opportunity to move one step closer to making history when they face Rangers on Friday. Hearts have never won the Scottish Women’s Premier League but they sit top of the table, one point above their opponents and two ahead of the country’s most successful women’s team, Glasgow…

Champions to leave Kingsmeadow at end of campaign ‘It’s for every player to have worn shirt,’ says open letter Chelsea Women have announced that Stamford Bridge will host all their Women’s Super League games from next season. They will become the fourth top-flight club to move their women’s team to their main stadium as they look to increase visibility and the supporter base. The decision came af…

‘That was unacceptable in every aspect of the game’ Brighton overtake Chelsea in sixth with 3-0 victory Liam Rosenior bemoaned the “most difficult night” in offering no defence of his Chelsea players after they slumped to a 3-0 defeat by Brighton . “By far,” Rosenior replied when asked if this was the toughest day of his short Chelsea tenure. Questions of whether he survives in his position as he…

Erling Haaland scored a winner and refused to take a dive but could not resist a little dig at the fading Gunners Man of the weekend in the Premier League? It is not in doubt. Erling Haaland deserves the acclaim and not only because he scored the winner for Manchester City in the top-of-the-table showdown against Arsenal – his 23rd goal of the season in the competition and 34th for City overall. …

He has to convince a team that has not won in 14 matches that they have what it takes to stay in the Premier League By WhoScored Spurs won a European trophy 10 months ago, are the ninth richest club in the world and play in a billion-pound stadium. They are also in relegation scrap with six games to play in the Premier League season. Tottenham are 18th in the league, having picked up just 30 poin…

England have a long way to go yet before booking flights to Brazil, but Esme Morgan, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Lucia Kendall impressed against Spain Everybody keep calm. England sit top of their qualifying group with a 100% record after beating Spain , but there remains a very long way to go before anyone can start booking flights to South America for 2027 … Let us cast aside that sensible advice, tho…

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! While Barcelona’s night at the Metropolitano was pretty well summed up by the accompanying image of poor Fermín López shipping six studs in the mush, Lamine Yamal’s cross in the buildup should be framed and hung in the Louvre. Using a minimum of backlift, the preposterously precocious 18-year-old had arced the ball directly into the path of the …

World Cup qualifier: England 1-0 Spain (Hemp 3’) Lionesses win sides’ first meeting since Euros final England gave their chances of ­automatic qualification for 2027’s Women’s World Cup a ­tremendous boost as they beat the world ­champions Spain at Wembley to continue their perfect record in qualifying so far. In a closely fought game in which both teams missed some ­gilt-edged opportunities, the…

Rice faces late fitness test for clash with Sporting Arteta has ‘zero fear’ could end season without silverware Mikel Arteta has insisted that he has “zero fear” that Arsenal could end the season without silverware but admitted that there are major doubts over when Bukayo Saka will return from an achilles injury. Arsenal head into the second leg of their Champions League tie against Sporting on W…