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Two deadly strikers, two creative forces and an all-but unbeatable goalkeeper make up our picks for the season The adulation offers a fine indication of how good the Manchester United captain has been this season. At the start, he was dragging Ruben Amorim’s interpretation of a team through matches and spent the past five months leading Michael Carrick’s unified side. Awards and records keep comi…

Five times the bridesmaid, finally the bride, the Barcelona forward Ewa Pajor shrugged off the pain of all her Champions League final losses, scoring twice, as they punished a profligate Lyonnes to earn a fourth European title. Pajor stole the show, before Salma Paralluelo’s sublime double at the death doubled their tally. The Polish forward moved two goals clear of Alessia Russo’s nine to secure…

Leinster could not contain a team backed by tens of thousands of Frenchmen chanting with exuberance They are in danger of running away with rugby, these French. The Springboks may have something to say about that, but South Africa do not have the Top 14. And they definitely do not have Union Bordeaux-Bègles. Leinster tried to contain them. Leinster, packed with experienced internationals, drippin…

Home rider drops Leknessund before surging to win Bettiol: ‘I knew every single corner in the last 50km’ The Italian cyclist Alberto Bettiol attacked at the top of the final climb to ride solo to victory on stage 13 of the Giro d’Italia in Verbania on Friday, five years after his last stage win. Bettiol, who also soloed to win a stage in 2021 , caught Andreas Leknessund as they reached the Ungias…

Pep Guardiola took over from Manuel Pellegrini in 2016. Here we chart the trophy-laden decade that followed … It was confirmed on 1 February that Pep Guardiola would be heading to east Manchester to try his hand at English football. Behind the scenes, plenty went on to create a squad suited to him but, in truth, it was a season of transition as the new head coach investigated who could fit into h…

From the No 1 goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to the shock call-up Ivan Toney, a player-by-player guide to the 26 bound for the US Spence and Toney in, Alexander-Arnold out Continue reading...

⚽️ 8.15pm BST kick-off; Spurs win sends West Ham down ⚽️ Chelsea among suitors for Jarrod Bowen | Mail Simon A huge game, this, for at least three clubs, and probably biggest of all for the one that isn’t playing. If Tottenham win tonight, West Ham will be relegated. If Tottenham draw tonight, West Ham will also be relegated – but not until Sunday (because it wouldn’t be mathematically certain th…

John McGinn will lead out team in final against Freiburg seven years after helping them win promotion with club chasing a first major European trophy since 1982 As Aston Villa arrived at Besiktas Park on the banks of the Bosphorus, for one last training session before the real thing, it was impossible not to consider the journey to the Europa League final. John McGinn, who will lead Villa out as …

From the best matches and great goals to scheduling gripes and the biggest disappointments, how was the WSL season for you? There is little question that Khadija “Bunny” Shaw is the best striker in the world right now. The Jamaica international capped off her league campaign in style with a double against West Ham, bringing her tally to 21. In doing so, she became the first player in WSL history …

National League side secured FA Trophy in a shootout – and as their manager told his squad beforehand in the hotel ‘it’s been a hell of a journey’ The noise gave it away. The sweet sound of 22,000 ecstatic Southend supporters swimming in a sea of Wembley ecstasy left their head coach, Kevin Maher, in no doubt: soon he would raise the FA Trophy. Maher, unable to tolerate the tension, had turned aw…

From removal of tunnel cover to turning off concourse TVs, title-chasing Arsenal manager has left no stone unturned It’s being billed as the biggest Premier League game ever hosted at the Emirates Stadium. Tickets for Monday’s meeting with Burnley, who were relegated almost a month ago and returned 1,500 tickets for their trip to north London, were being sold for upwards of £650 last week as Arse…

Relegated three times this century, AGF are the latest surprise champions in a notable trend for Scandinavia When the buses pulled up at Brøndby Stadion on the penultimate weekend of the season, the travelling fans were already celebrating. The final whistle had just blown at Nordsjælland, where Aarhus’s title rivals, Midtjylland, had been held to a goalless draw. That meant Aarhus Gymnastikforen…

France 28-43 England Kildunne and Breach score twice as Red Roses triumph Dominant, impenetrable, invincible. There are so many words to describe this England team. No matter what is thrown at them, they win matches and lift trophies. The Red Roses have an almost untouchable air around them as, despite experiencing the worst injury and unavailability crisis this team has seen for a decade, they s…

World No 1 is first Italian to win title in 50 years 6-4, 6-4 victory completes set of ATP Masters 1000 titles Jannik Sinner continued his reign of terror over men’s tennis on the clay courts of Europe as he effortlessly recovered from a slow start to overpower Casper Ruud, the 23rd seed, 6-4, 6-4 and become the first Italian man in 50 years to win the Italian Open. It is difficult to overstate t…

Naegohyang FC due to play Suwon FC in semi-final of Asian Women’s Champions League on Wednesday A North Korean women’s football club has arrived in South Korea for an AFC Women’s Champions League semi-final, marking the first visit by athletes from the isolated state to the South in eight years. The delegation of 27 players and 12 staff entered the country on Sunday before Wednesday’s match betwe…

Club demand action over scenes at end of title-decider Hearts say authorities must protect ‘integrity of the game’ Hearts have issued a ferocious statement, castigating the “shameful” and “disgraceful” scenes which marred the conclusion to the Scottish Premiership’s title race at Celtic Park. The Edinburgh club has emphasised “deeply disturbing” treatment of players and staff. Celtic’s last-day v…

The bout between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano will be streamed on Netflix and is the first non-UFC MMA event promoted by Most Valuable Promotions.

Jack Gorbert travelling from Australia for Wembley game EFL has raised doubts over fixture with Southampton A Hull City supporter who has spent around £2,000 to attend the Championship playoff final from his home in Australia says the English Football League has “no regard for fans” after ‘Spygate’ plunged the game into uncertainty. Jack Gorbert is a former Hull season-ticket holder who relocated…

Transfer window could include merry-go-round of forwards as division’s top three clubs bid farewell to icons Saturday’s finale to the Women’s Super League season marks the end of an era, and not only because it is the final time the division will operate with 12 teams before the expansion to 14. A multitude of players synonymous with their clubs in recent years are all making end-of-contract depa…

Deal covers England men’s T20 and ODI tour this autumn Move may lead to new cricket rights holder in UK market Cricket Australia has opened negotiations with a number of broadcasters, including streaming platforms Amazon and Dazn, over a four-year UK rights deal that includes the next men’s and women’s Ashes tours and the 150th anniversary Test between England and Australia’s men in Melbourne nex…