Cristiano Ronaldo draws another blank as Juventus beats Lazio 2-0/////

Cristiano Ronaldo, making his home debut for Juventus, missed an open goal but inadvertently provided an assist for Mario Mandzukic to score as the Serie A titleholders beat Lazio 2-0 in Serie A on Saturday. Piotr Zielinski scored twice as Napoli came from two goals behind to beat AC Milan 3-2 and give new coach Carlo Ancelotti an unforgettable home debut, especially as it came against the side where he spent eight seasons of his coaching career. The win left Napoli, last season’s runners-up under Maurizio Sarri, with six points from their first two games There was another big cheer shortly afterwards when Higuain shot high and wide from his only real opening of the match. The Pole drove home the equaliser in the 67th minute after...

Read more »

Posted in: Barca,Cristiano Ronaldo,Davis Cup,Fantasy football,La Liga

Eden Hazard can be best player in Europe, says Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri

Eden Hazard can become the greatest player in Europe, according to Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri. The Belgian is embarking on his seventh season at Stamford Bridge, despite suggesting after this summer's World Cup that he was ready to move on. The Premier League transfer window closed with Hazard still at Chelsea, although reported suitors Real Madrid can still pursue him until the end of the month. But Sarri is looking forward to using Hazard - who could make his first start of the season against Arsenal on Saturday - in his new-look Chelsea side, and is excited to see what the 27-year-old can offer. "We are talking about one of the most important players in Europe," said Sarri. "But, in my opinion, he can improve more. "He can...

Read more »

Posted in: Atletico Madrid,Davis Cup,La Liga,Tim Hardaway Manila for NBA PH 3×3,Wyndham Championship:

Davis Cup: Changes mean death of event - Tomas Berdych

Controversial plans to end the Davis Cup's 37-year-old format will signal the death of the competition, says two-time winner Tomas Berdych. The 25-year £2.15bn plan approved at the International Tennis Federation AGM on Thursday would turn the Davis Cup into a season-ending 18-team event. But Czech Berdych, tweeting with the hashtag #ripdaviscup, said the history of the competition "will all be gone". Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt called the decision a "disgrace". "I am very proud to be a winner of the competition that was here for over 100 years," wrote 32-year-old Berdych, who was part of the Czech Republic team that won the Davis Cup in 2012 and 2013. The Davis Cup, which was founded in 1900, has been played...

Read more »

Posted in: Barca,Davis Cup,Luka Modric,Real Madrid,Tim Hardaway Manila for NBA PH 3×3,Wyndham Championship:

Wyndham Championship: Brandt Snedeker cards 10th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history

Brandt Snedeker shot the 10th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history with an 11-under-par 59 in the opening round of the Wyndham Championship. The American, 37, converted a 20ft birdie putt on the final hole for the PGA Tour's first 59 in 2018. The putt sealed his 10th birdie of the day on a card also featuring one bogey and an eagle, secured when his 176-yard approach on the par-four sixth went in. The score is a new course record at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro. The world number 88 played his closing nine holes in eight under par. His eagle on the sixth forced organisers to cut a new hole on the green after his ball damaged the cup when it pitched straight in. Snedeker, an eight-time PGA Tour winner, has not won since the 2016...

Read more »

Posted in: Cristiano Ronaldo,Kevin de Bruyne,Luka Modric,Tim Hardaway Manila for NBA PH 3×3,Wyndham Championship:

Fantasy football: Tips for picking your Premier League team

It is the big question facing millions of football fans every weekend: who should be included in the fantasy team for the next round of matches? We've delved into the stats and the history books to give you some tips on who is likely to perform well - and who might be worth leaving out. A rare weekend to swerve Man City's attackers? Manchester City v Huddersfield - a chance for the home side to run riot, right? Well, perhaps not. Huddersfield might have conceded more goals than two of the relegated teams last season, but they had a strangely stunting effect on the eventual champions. City scored in 17 of their 18 Premier League home games last term - a total of 47 goals - but they could not do so against the Terriers in May (although...

Read more »

Posted in: Atletico Madrid,Barca,Cristiano Ronaldo,Fantasy football,Kevin de Bruyne,Real Madrid,Tim Hardaway Manila for NBA PH 3×3

La Liga: Why Real Madrid and Barca changes could pave way for Atletico Madrid

The new La Liga season gets under way this weekend amid plenty of intrigue, especially for Real Madrid - as the three-in-a-row European champions begin life without iconic duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane. Real are by no means the only team going through a period of change, however, with similar - although less dramatic - transitions being experienced by their biggest rivals, Atletico Madrid and domestic champions Barcelona. The level of uncertainty surrounding the big three has raised excitement levels about the new campaign, and the least heralded club of the trio are now most strongly positioned as the season dawns. And Atletico struck an early-season blow against one of their major rivals with a 4-2 win over Real in...

Read more »

Posted in: Atletico Madrid,Barca,La Liga,Real Madrid

Luka Modric: Real Madrid report Inter Milan to Fifa over an alleged illegal approach

Real Madrid have reported Inter Milan to Fifa over an alleged illegal approach for midfielder Luka Modric. The 32-year-old Croat, who captained his country to the World Cup final and was named player of the tournament, has been linked with a move to Serie A. Real president Florentino Perez said earlier this month the only way Modric would leave was if his 750 million euro (£671m) release clause was met. The Spanish giants sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus for £99.2m. The transfer window in Italy closes on Friday at 19:00 BST. Modric joined Real from Tottenham in 2012 and has won La Liga once and the Champions League four times. Inter are back in the Champions League for the first time since 2011-1...

Read more »

Posted in: Luka Modric

Kevin de Bruyne: Manchester City midfielder out for three months

Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne will be out for three months because of a knee injury. The Belgium international, a second-half substitute in Sunday's 2-0 victory over Arsenal, suffered the injury in training on Wednesday. City say De Bruyne, 27, has a lateral collateral ligament lesion in his right knee, but does not need surgery. He missed 12 games in 2016 after injuring the same knee during an EFL Cup semi-final victory over Everton. Read more: What we've learned from Man City documentary De Bruyne was City's player of the season last term, scoring 12 goals and providing 21 assists as his side won the Premier League and EFL Cup. He helped Belgium finish third at the World Cup in July, the country's best ever finish...

Read more »

Posted in: Kevin de Bruyne