Sports

As always, the stakes are high heading into Saturday s derby showdown between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

The capital clubs are locked together on 23 points in LaLiga, with the prospect of losing further ground on Barcelona – eight points better off at the top of the table – a grim one to contemplate.

With another story of high-stakes glory and despair waiting to be written, we cast an eye back over six classic clashes in El Derbi.

November 19, 2016 – Atletico Madrid 0 Real Madrid 3

Not only was this a key result in Madrid s first title win since 2012, but it also saw Cristiano Ronaldo make history once again in Spanish football.

The Portugal star s 39th career hat-trick at the Vicente Calderon saw him overtake Alfredo Di S…

It all started so brightly for Inter.

Luciano Spalletti had been acquired from Roma with much fanfare, and had quickly settled in at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. After finishing in seventh spot, the Nerazzurri were free of European responsibilities and could focus all their efforts on trying to finish in at least a top four berth. Of course, they were certainly aiming for higher than just Champions League football. They definitely were hoping to get their hands on their first Scudetto title since 2010 and finally unseat Juventus as Italy s perennial reigning champions.

Inter also successfully held onto all of their key players, namely Mauro Icardi and Ivan Perisic. And unlike AC Milan, they didn t spend frivolously in the transfer market. They had a pretty solid pre-seas…

Valencia are interested in signing Bryan Gil from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth. The well-known and well-respected reported has that La Liga club Valencia are in talks with Premier League outfit Tottenham over re-signing Gil.

Valencia in talks with Tottenham over the signing of forward Bryan Gil. Gil spent time on loan there last season Tottenham open to offers. Tottenham likely to wait until later in window before deciding on another loan for Pape Matar Sarr.

Dharmesh Sheth (@skysports_sheth)

Gil joined Tottenham from Sevilla in the summer of 2021. However, the Spain international winger failed to make an impact at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the first half of last season and w…

Real Madrid defender Marcelo said he wanted team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Ballon d Or, but believes it is just a matter of time before Neymar takes out the coveted award.

Barcelona s Lionel Messi was awarded a record fifth Ballon d Or on Monday, finishing ahead of Ronaldo and Neymar as the best player in the world for 2015.

Ronaldo was the holder of the award after going back-to-back in 2013 and 2014 with Messi having won four in a row between 2009 and 2012. 

Marcelo, who plays with Neymar in the Brazil national team, said it is just a case of when the 23-year-old wins the award.

I think Messi and Cristiano are in a level above the other players and now Neymar proved he s in their level, it s a matter of time for him to win his own Ballon d…

Chelsea have launched an internal disciplinary procedure following Enzo Fernandez s social media video which the French Football Federation (FFF) said included an alleged racist chant.

Fernandez, who posted the video in an Instagram live, was chanting a derogatory song about France following Argentina s Copa America victory on Sunday along with some of his team-mates.

The FFF said they will file a legal complaint against Argentina for the video, while Fernandez s Chelsea team-mate Wesley Fofana, who has one cap for France, reposted it on his social media account with the caption: Football in 2024: uninhibited racism .

Fernandez later apologised for the video, saying he was truly sorry .

I want to apologise sincerely for a video posted on my Instagram cha…

Fernando Hierro says there is no time for Spain to lament their pre-World Cup plans being left in disarray by the shock dismissal of Julen Lopetegui.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation announced on Wednesday, the eve of the finals, that Lopetegui had been sacked, just 24 hours after it was confirmed he would take over at Real Madrid following the tournament.

Hierro, a former captain of La Roja whose international career spanned from 1989 to 2002, has assumed the reins for the World Cup, where Spain must first tackle a Group B consisting of Portugal, Iran and Morocco.

And the retired defender insists that rather than rue their chaotic preparations, the 2010 winners must move on swiftly, with Cristiano Ronaldo and the reigning European champions looming as their…

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has nothing but praise for Pep Guardiola ahead of Wednesday s Champions League encounter and believes the current Manchester City boss will go down in history as one of the greatest ever.

Guardiola enjoyed a hugely successful spell in charge of Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, before guiding Bayer Munich to three consecutive Bundesliga titles between 2013 and 2016.

He left Bayern for City during the off-season and Luis Enrique already sees his compatriot s impact at the Etihad.

I take it as a habit to value my friends more than enemies. Pep is a good friend. It is easy to value him. I think he is the best coach, Luis Enrique said at a news conference.

When you coach at this level if you win everything it is easy. When you lo…

Vanessa Gilles scored a 112th-minute winner as Canada put their off-field issues aside to beat hosts France 2-1 at the Paris Olympics on Sunday.

After being found guilty of using a drone to film opponents training at this and past tournaments, the Tokyo champions had six points deducted, while head coach Bev Priestman has been banned from all football-related activity for one year.

The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) are considering an appeal against the decision, but those controversies were put to one side when the team took to the field.

Starting the day bottom on -3 points, Canada, led by Andy Spence, had to come from behind to beat France after Marie-Antoinette Katoto put Les Bleues ahead just before half-time.

Jessie Fleming equalised from close r…

Graham Potter was full of praise for his really impressive Chelsea players after they cruised to a 3-0 victory over Wolves at Stamford Bridge.

A brilliant Kai Havertz header in first-half injury time set the Blues on their way, before Christian Pulisic and substitute Armando Broja added second-half goals to cap a brilliant display.

The three points took Chelsea into the top four and gave Potter an important first home league victory after arriving from Brighton and Hove Albion in September.

Potter was delighted with his team after the game, telling reporters: Winning games helps so we look forward to the games.

It s about hard work, it s being together, that stuff is important but the guys have been really impressive.

Credit to Wolves, they came…

Ange Postecoglou remained defiant and insisted Tottenham were on the path to being “a very good football team” despite a 2-1 home loss to Aston Villa consigning them to a third consecutive defeat.

Spurs were without 11 first-teamers but Postecoglou doubled down on his philosophy with a back four containing no centre-backs, several attacking players handed first league starts of the season and no recognised defensive midfielder in the starting line-up.

It initially paid off with Giovani Lo Celso firing Tottenham ahead in the 22nd-minute and while the hosts had 18 shots, three goals disallowed and hit the woodwork twice, Aston Villa punished their profligacy to move above them into the Premier League’s top four.

Defeat at

— Tottenham Hotspur (@Spu…