For Real Madrid, it started so very well and ended so very badly. A goal after just 23 seconds gave them the lead against Barcelona and seemed to open the way for a shift in the balance of power. At 10.01, Madrid effectively had a six-point lead at the top of La Liga with [...]

  Barcelona star Lionel Messi has dismissed the notion that the Club World Cup in Japan is an unwanted distraction, at a time when the Spanish giants trail Real Madrid at home. The reigning Spanish and European champions jet to the annual showpiece in the unfamiliar position of not topping La Liga, but it would [...]

An Alexis Sanchez brace helped Barcelona to a 4-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday which reduced Real Madrid’s lead to three points and showed they will not give up their title without a fight. Barca were given a quick chance to respond to their 1-0 away defeat to Getafe at the weekend as this [...]

American forward Heather O’Reilly is the only woman nominated for the Puskas Award for FIFA goal of the year, among 10 finalists along with Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi. O’Reilly was nominated for her 25-yard goal against Colombia in the first round of the Women’s World Cup on July 2. Rooney was picked for his [...]

Lionel Messi and Alexis Sanchez, club-mates at Barcelona, sparkled as Argentina and Chile put behind them a weekend to forget with victories in the South American 2014 World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday. Messi led the fightback for a 2-1 away win over Colombia as Argentina fielded a world class trident in attack by bringing on [...]