Carlo Ancelotti is as impressed by Karim Benzema s leadership and personality as his outstanding goalscoring exploits after another dominant Champions League display.
Benzema became the fourth player in Champions League history to score a hat-trick in consecutive performances on Wednesday.
The France forward netted all three Real Madrid goals in their 3-1 win at Chelsea in the first leg of their quarter-final, having also hit a treble against Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16 second leg.
This was the first hat-trick against Chelsea in any European competition and moved Benzema to 11 goals for the campaign – the most by any Frenchman in the European Cup or Champions League in a single season.
Benzema has 37 goals across all competitions in 2021-22, but …
England began their World Cup year with a 2-1 friendly victory over Switzerland at Wembley on Saturday thanks to Harry Kane s late winner.
The Three Lions were by no means spectacular, but Gareth Southgate will in all likelihood be content as they got the job done despite fielding a somewhat unfamiliar starting XI.
Nevertheless, Southgate may have expected more from a first half that Switzerland had by far the better of, with Breel Embolo s headed opener one of nine shots to England s two.
But a fierce Luke Shaw hit right before the break had the hosts level at the interval.
The hosts enjoyed greater control in the second half and eventually dealt the decisive blow via Kane s penalty, his 49th international strike, leaving him behind only Wayne Rooney …
Erik ten Hag admitted his Manchester United side should have scored more goals after they eased into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win over League One Wigan.
United had 33 attempts at goal, 14 of them on target, but in the end only managed to beat Latics’ impressive young goalkeeper Sam Tickle twice, first with Diogo Dalot’s 22nd-minute curling shot and then with a 74th-minute penalty from Bruno Fernandes.
Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho both hit the crossbar while Marcus Rashford brought some fine saves out of Tickle, but this was the 18th out of 23 domestic games in which United’s forwards failed to find the net.
Fourth round bound! battled past a tough task in the form of to secure their place in the fourth round!
— Emirat…
Lyon coach Sonia Bompastor says Saturday s Women s Champions League final against Barcelona will be a 50-50 affair, despite the Blaugrana s favourites tag.
The French outfit are seeking an eighth title against Jonatan Giraldez s side, who have suffered just one loss this term across all competitions.
Bompastor is seeking to become the first woman to win the Champions League as both a player and a manager after 2011 and 2012 triumphs with Lyon.
The chance for looming history means she is determined her side will not be discounted in Turin.
Let s not forget Lyon have a lot of experience, she said at Friday s pre-match news conference. This allows us to know how to approach it, but a final is 50-50. A magician never reveals their tricks.
But o…
Mauricio Pochettino insisted there is nothing personal between him and Jurgen Klopp ahead of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup final meeting with Liverpool on Sunday.
The pair faced off in the 2019 Champions League final when the Argentinian was in charge of Tottenham, losing 2-0 in Madrid to hand his opposite number a first trophy at Anfield.
The game is remembered for controversy after Spurs’ Moussa Sissoko was penalised for a contentious handball inside the opening minute, resulting in Mohamed Salah giving Liverpool the lead from the spot.
A third meeting in a League Cup Final The most played domestic cup final Encounter number four at Wembley
Check out all the standout stats ahead of Sunday s !
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— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup)
Southampton are interested in signing Fabio Carvalho from Premier League rivals Liverpool in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Leicester City, who won promotion from the Championship at the end of last season, are also keen on Carvalho, who can operate as a winger or as an attacking midfielder.
Carvalho has been on the books of Liverpool since 2022 when he joined the Reds after leaving Fulham. The 21-year-old Portuguese youngster found it hard to establish himself in the Liverpool first team under manager Jurgen Klopp. He had loan spells at RB Leipzig and Hull City in recent years.
Liverpool finished third in the Premier League table last season and will be aiming to beat Arsenal and Manchester City to the title this campaign. As for…
Raphael Varane will depart Manchester United when his contract expires at the end of this season.
The France defender, who is currently sidelined through injury, is set to leave the Red Devils after three years at Old Trafford.
Varane has made 93 appearances for the club since arriving from Real Madrid in August 2021, scoring two goals, and was part of the side that won the EFL Cup in 2023.
United occupy eighth place in the Premier League table with two games remaining in what has been a torrid 2023-24 campaign, and are in danger of missing out on European qualification.
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old is confident brighter times lie ahead for the club.
Thank you for everything,
— Raphaël Varane (@raphaelvarane)
It s been an am…
Paul Heckingbottom revelled in an unbelievable achievement after second-tier Sheffield United twice came from behind to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.
The Blades prevailed 3-2 in a thrilling all-championship tie against Blackburn Rovers, becoming the first side from outside the Premier League to advance to the last four of the competition since Reading in 2014-15.
Blackburn twice led through Ben Brereton Diaz and Sammie Szmodics but were pegged back by a Sam Gallagher own goal and an Oli McBurnie effort, before Tommy Doyle s stunning 25-yard strike snatched victory for the hosts in stoppage time.
Heckingbottom saluted the character demonstrated by promotion-chasing United – who are second in the Championship – and wants his players to kick on.
Writing …
Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay has revealed the club will talk to Arsenal over a potential transfer for Mikel Merino, admitting the midfielder has a price.
Merino was left out of La Real s squad for their opening match of the season in LaLiga on Sunday, a 2-1 defeat at home to Rayo Vallecano.
The 28-year-old, who was part of the Spain team that won Euro 2024 last month, has made 242 appearances for La Real since joining from Newcastle United in 2018.
Reports have suggested Arsenal are working to bring him back to the Premier League in the closing days of the transfer window, with a fee of around £29.8million mooted after Merino entered the final 12 months of his contract in San Sebastian.
Aperribay has now revealed La Real are open to a sale for…
Francisco Conceicao proved the hero on his first competitive appearance for Portugal after his stoppage-time winner snatched a 2-1 victory over Czechia in their Euro 2024 opener.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player in the European Championship s 64-year history to appear in six editions, but his landmark moment was overshadowed by a glimpse into Portugal s future.
Conceicao was introduced after 90 minutes and scored just two minutes later, capitalising on a loose ball to send Portugal level on points with leaders Turkiye, who beat Georgia 3-1 earlier on Tuesday in Group F.
Robin Hranac s unavoidable own-goal had earlier cancelled out Lukas Provod s rocketed second-half opener before Conceicao announced himself on the international stage at the Leipzig Stadi…