Sports

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, who nearly became the youngest ever Ballon d’Or winner last week at just 18, has a prime opportunity to strengthen his claim for next year’s award in Wednesday’s Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain. PSG’s star Ousmane Dembele, the current Ballon d’Or winner, is sidelined through injury and will miss the game at the Olympic Stadium, ...

Halifax Panthers completed rugby league’s Wheelchair treble by beating London Roosters in the Super League Grand Final to finish the season undefeated. The Panthers, who had already won the Challenge Cup by beating Roosters, and pipped them into second place on points difference to take the League Leaders’ Shield, had pacy pair Rob Hawkins and Jack Brown in top form ...

Pakistan captain Salman Agha said India had “disrespected cricket” while Indian counterpart Suryakumar Yadav complained his side “were denied the trophy” after winning a fraught Asia Cup. The two teams did not shake hands for the third Asia Cup match running as India won the final by five wickets in Dubai on Sunday. Suryakumar’s side did not attend the victory ...

India enter tonight’s Asia Cup final with confidence sharpened by two dominant wins over Pakistan. But it’s Pakistan who might just carry something more elusive into the showdown: momentum, rebuilt from near-collapse and riding the surge of a resurgent pace attack. Strip away the noise — from off-field drama to historical baggage — and the final promises to be a ...

Atletico Madrid delivered a resounding statement in the Madrid derby, dismantling Real Madrid 5-2 at the Riyad Air Metropolitano to hand their city rivals their first defeat of the season. The win not only extended Atletico’s unbeaten streak in league derbies to six matches but also sent shockwaves through the La Liga title race. The intensity of the rivalry was ...

Bangladesh head coach Javier Cabrera has named a 28-member preliminary squad for crucial Asian Cup qualifiers against Hong Kong, with the training camp set to begin on September 29. The squad includes new faces and returning diaspora players like Hamza Choudhury and Shamit Shome, but notably excludes Cuba Mitchell, sparking speculation among football circles. The squad includes 11 players from ...

Barcelona overcame a first-half mistake by goalkeeper Joan Garcia to secure a 3-1 comeback win over newly promoted Real Oviedo in La Liga on Thursday. The visitors were stunned in the 33rd minute when Garcia, venturing outside his box, misjudged a clearance that landed at the feet of Alberto Reina. The Oviedo midfielder made no mistake, launching a stunning long-range ...

Lionel Messi scored two goals and assisted on another as Inter Miami thumped New York City FC 4-0 on Wednesday to clinch an MLS Cup playoff berth. Another classic performance from Messi propelled the Argentine superstar to the solo lead on Major League Soccer’s scoring list, taking him to 24 goals in 23 matches played — two more than LAFC’s ...

Pakistan revived their Asia Cup campaign with a tense five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in a Super Four clash in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Both sides had lost their opening fixtures of the round, making this a must-win encounter. Pakistan’s bowlers set the tone early, restricting Sri Lanka to 133-8 on a batting-friendly pitch. Shaheen Shah Afridi struck twice in ...

Unai Emery will be hoping a return to the Europa League can help kickstart Aston Villa’s stuttering season, while Nottingham Forest prepare for their first European campaign in three decades under new boss Ange Postecoglou. Emery, the most successful manager in Europa League history with four titles — three with Sevilla and one with Villarreal — has seen his Villa ...