SPORTS

Rafael Nadal reached his first Italian Open semi-final since 2014 with a hard-fought victory against home player Fabio Fognini in Rome. The Spanish world number two won 4-6 6-1 6-2 to set up a last-four clash with Novak Djokovic, who beat Kei Nishikori. Former world number one Djokovic, now ranked 18 and playing his first ATP quarter-final of 2018, triumphed ...

Darren Moore has been named as West Bromwich Albion’s new boss on a permanent basis. The former West Brom defender was unable to save the Baggies from Premier League relegation but lost just once during his six games in charge, having taken over on a caretaker basis following Alan Pardew’s departure in April. Moore was named Premier League manager of ...

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says their season will not be judged on the outcome of Saturday’s FA Cup final. United finished second in the Premier League – their highest placing since the 2012-13 season – but will be without silverware this season if they fail to defeat final opponents Chelsea. “I’m not going to change my analysis of the ...

Real Madrid can transform their own season by beating Liverpool in this month’s Champions League final, and on Sunday they can dent Barcelona’s by becoming the first team to defeat the Catalans in La Liga. This ‘clasico’ at Camp Nou will have minimal impact on the league, with Barca already crowned champions and Real’s passing interest in pipping Atletico to ...

The 2018 CAF Champions League group phase kicks off this weekend with mega matches in Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa among the eight fixtures. North African giants Al Ahly of Egypt and Esperance of Tunisia clash this Friday followed by TP Mazembe of DR Congo against Entente Setif of Algeria the following day. Another Saturday showdown, ...

AS Roma president James Pallotta has criticised the officiating after being knocked out by Liverpool in the Champions League semifinal and said it will be an “absolute joke” if video assistant referees (VAR) are not introduced in the competition. Roma won the second leg 4-2 at Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday but it was Liverpool who advanced 7-6 on aggregate, and ...

Liverpool reached the Champions League final after riding their luck to contain a fired-up AS Roma in a 4-2 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday that sent them through 7-6 on aggregate. The five-times European champions, who will face holders Real Madrid in the May 26 final, suffered a nerve-shredding second half as the Italians pinned them back and ...

Franck Ribery has issued a battle cry before Tuesday’s Champions League semifinal second leg at Real Madrid where Bayern Munich know they must be ruthless in front of goal to stage an unlikely comeback. Bayern have it all to do at the Santiago Bernabeu after wasting several chances in last week’s 2-1 first-leg loss in Munich. “The battle is lost, ...

Barcelona claimed their 25th La Liga title on Sunday as a Lionel Messi hat-trick secured a thrilling 4-2 victory at Deportivo La Coruna that wrapped up the league with four matches to spare.Ernesto Valverde’s men completed a league and cup double after thrashing Sevilla 5-0 in last week’s Copa del Rey final, regaining the Spanish crown from Real Madrid and ...

The Football Association have received an offer to buy iconic Wembley stadium in a shock move that increases the chances of an NFL team taking up permanent residence in London. Shahid Khan, who owns Championship club Fulham and the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, is behind the £500 million ($698 million) bid to buy the national stadium and he hopes to complete ...