Barcelona wasted a golden opportunity to extend their lead at the top of LaLiga as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday thanks to goals in each half from Alvaro Garcia and Fran Garcia. With seven games to play, Barca are top of the league on 76 points, 11 ahead second-placed Real Madrid, who were also stunned 4-2 at lowly Girona on Tuesday. Rayo Vallecano are…
In February, MLS commissioner Don Garber stated that Las Vegas and San Diego were the two leading expansion candidates to become the league’s 30th team. Multiple sources tell ESPN that it’s San Diego’s bid that has considerably more momentum, though. One source with knowledge of the league’s thinking went so far as to say that San Diego “is clearly the leader in the clubhouse,” and that if the deal goes…
Alvaro Garcia and Fran Garcia scored in each half as Rayo Vallecano recorded a memorable 2-1 win over runaway LaLiga leaders Barcelona on Wednesday. Robert Lewandowski pulled a goal back late on, but it proved too little, too late for Barca, who tasted defeat in the league for just the third time this season. Rayo climbed to ninth with the three points, while Barca remain 11 points clear of Real…
British football executive Matt Crocker was hired Tuesday as sporting director of the U.S. Soccer Federation and will lead the search for the United States men’s national team coach, a job that has been uncertain since Gregg Berhalter was pushed aside during an investigation that developed from a feud with the Reyna family. Crocker will start the job on Aug. 2 but will begin the coach search process immediately, the…
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin on Tuesday criticised current handball rules, telling Roger Bennett’s “Men in Blazers” podcast that “nobody in the world understands when there’s handball or not.” Ceferin’s comments were echoed by the UEFA Football Board, which on Tuesday urged more clarity on the handball law and recommended changes for next season after holding its inaugural meeting in Nyon at the headquarters of European football’s governing body. – Stream…
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin once again said he is open to a discussion about playing significant Champions League games in the United States. In an exclusive interview with “Men in Blazers,” Ceferin told Roger Bennett that he would not rule out holding a part of the most-watched annual football event in the world outside of Europe. – Stream on ESPN+: FA Cup, LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) “It is possible [Champions…
As the summer transfer window approaches and players and coaches jockey for position to find a space in someone’s plans for next season, an intriguing question hangs over Buenos Aires and the world — where will Marcelo Gallardo end up? An epic spell in charge of River Plate has made Gallardo a hot name as he is regularly linked to all kinds of coaching vacancies. As a player during a…
Another weekend of European football is in the books with plenty of action to sink our teeth into. The Bundesliga title race is set up for a thrilling finish, while in the English Premier League, the season is going from bad to worse for Tottenham Hotspur. In LaLiga, Barcelona are comfortably ahead of Real Madrid as the season winds down, and a hat-trick from Riyad Mahrez inspired Manchester City into…
Ben Foster has said he is considering whether to continue his playing career at Wrexham next season — one month after coming out of retirement to help the Hollywood-owned team end a 15-year wait for promotion back to the English Football League (EFL). The former Manchester United and England goalkeeper, who retired at the end of last season following relegation from the Premier League with Watford, signed a short-term contract…
Romelu Lukaku scored his first goals from open play in Serie A since August as Inter Milan beat Empoli 3-0 in Serie A on Sunday, and the striker celebrated in trademark style by saluting and putting his finger to his mouth. Lukaku had been sent off for that celebration in Inter’s 1-1 Coppa Italia semifinal draw against Juventus, with the referee interpreting it to be inciting fans who had racially…