The Guardian

Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Bernabéu on Wednesday ⁠in their first home match since the return of José Mourinho as head coach. Mbappé put Madrid ahead in the 40th minute before Luka Sucic levelled four minutes later, but the ⁠France forward restored the ⁠hosts’ lead on ​the hour. Vinícius Júnior added a third in the 68th minute before Mbappé comple…

A new season at the snazziest modern stadium in England and something extremely welcome for Tottenham. A home win over domestic opposition. There were only four of them last season; three in the Premier League with the final one – over Everton on the last day – helping them to avoid relegation. Had they lost that, this Carabao Cup fixture against Charlton would also have been played in the Champi…

Third qualifying round, first leg: Chelsea 5-2 Real Sociedad Girma 29, Buurman 54, Malard 67 88, James 74; Marín 7, Marcos 59 Chelsea’s sluggish start in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier against Real Sociedad will have made far from satisfying viewing for their suspended manager, Sonia Bompastor, but two goals from the new signing Melvine Malard contributed to a five-goal haul as…

Playoff second leg: Rapid 2-2 Hearts (aet, 3-4 on pens) Kara 34, Cvetkovic 119; Kabore 79, Miller 100 Beau Reus made two penalty saves as heroic Hearts overcame Tomas Magnusson’s red card to pull off a stunning shootout victory away to Rapid Vienna, and book themselves a return to the Conference League’s main phase. Following a 2-2 draw in the first leg at Tynecastle, the Jambos’ European journey…

Durham bowler dropped from England squad Unclear whether Carse involved in alleged assault Derbyshire police are investigating an alleged assault in connection with the arrest of Brydon Carse last weekend, which led to the Durham fast bowler being dropped from the England squad for the second Test against Pakistan. Carse was filmed by a member of the public in handcuffs outside Molly Malone’s Iri…

Saudi Arabia’s PIF have ended financial support Chief executive working on deal but needs players’ buy-in LIV Golf informed the majority of its workforce on Wednesday that they will be laid off in the first week of September. The news ⁠comes three days after the 2026 season concluded in Indianapolis and four months after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced it was ending its financial …

Forest likely to end summer spending with right-back Brentford agree deal to sign El Hadji Malick Diouf Nottingham Forest are in talks over the €15m (£12.8m) signing of the Celta Vigo right-back Javi Rueda, which would probably be their final incoming of the window after Liam Delap from Chelsea. Oliver Glasner has been seeking someone who can play right wing-back and the 24-year-old former Real M…

Today’s fluff is splashing out regardless Liam Delap may not have broken any records during his time with Chelsea but he is setting one on his way out the door. The England youth international is thought to be breaking Nottingham Forest’s transfer fee record with Oliver Glasner bringing him in for an expected £50m . The fee comes despite a disappointing 2025-26 season with the 23-year-old striker…

Tributes are paid to the much-loved and respected Fleet Street veteran who also tipped as ‘Larry Lynx’ Ken Oliver, who has died at the age of 86, was the Guardian’s racing editor for many years until his retirement in 2004, at the end of a lifetime in racing journalism at publications including the London Evening News, the Sporting Life, the Sun, the London Daily News, the Sunday People – where h…

Visma-Lease a Bike dominate final stages to set up Briton Mads Pedersen dropped on category-three climb The British rider and Grand Tour debutant Matthew Brennan of Visma-Lease a Bike sprinted to a second stage victory of the Vuelta a España in Roquetes. Wout van Aert and Christophe Laporte expertly led out their 21-year-old teammate at the end of stage five, and the youngster again demonstrated …

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! When Celtic opened the scoring against Lask courtesy of a low Callum McGregor shot after 21 minutes on Tuesday night, the Scottish champions looked to have exorcised their Bigger Cup demons from 12 months ago. Four goals ahead of their Austrian hosts on aggregate, it seemed utterly inconceivable that Martin O’Neill’s side could emulate, let alon…

Promoter says negotiations are subject to a time limit ‘They won’t let it go past the end of next week’ Frank Warren believes that the tortuous negotiations surrounding the proposed fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are subject to a time limit which will run out by the end of next week. Conceding that he is unsure if the much-delayed bout will happen, Warren also said the decision now d…

Experienced World Cup winner wants to leave Aston Villa Sánchez errors at Fulham led to Chelsea conceding Chelsea have been offered Emiliano Martínez and are considering making an offer for the goalkeeper. Martínez has told Aston Villa he wants to leave but a move to Juventus collapsed last week after Villa had signed his replacement, Zion Suzuki , from Parma for £30m. Goalkeeper has been a probl…

The £85m midfielder passed his exams a year early, is studying for a degree and is ready to tackle Premier League learning curve “He’s like a computer,” the former Lille head of academy recruitment Mathieu Frison says of the £85m Manchester City recruit Ayyoub Bouaddi. “You teach him something, he learns it and can do it immediately.” Bouaddi has the mountainous challenge at his new club of repla…

World No 10 is one of the best players yet to win a major and heads to Flushing Meadows in fine form after learning to embrace being uncomfortable Amanda Anisimova can see the signs now. It is just over three years since the American announced she would be taking an indefinite break for mental health reasons. A brilliant junior, she was a semi-finalist at the French Open in 2019 and seemingly des…