Sergio Ramos has vehemently denied allegations he committed anti-doping violations – the Real Madrid captain labelling Der Spiegel s reporting as an attempt to stain my image and my professional reputation .
The German publication made a series of claims, as part of the Football Leaks investigation, which suggested Ramos had broken anti-doping protocol on two occasions.
The first related to an alleged post-match mix-up following the Champions League final against Juventus in 2017, in which Der Spiegel claim traces of a forbidden substance were found in Ramos sample, while the second claim alleged the Spain defender knowingly broke anti-doping rules by showering prior to providing a sample after the LaLiga game against Malaga in April 2018.
Madrid issued a stat…
Manchester United battled back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Southampton on Saturday in a match that will do little to ease the pressure on either Jose Mourinho or Mark Hughes.
The visitors were forced to line up with Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic in defence due to injuries and found themselves two goals down after only 20 minutes at St Mary s Stadium.
Romelu Lukaku got a goal back, his first in the Premier League since September, and Ander Herrera secured a point, but a top-four finish is beginning to look a tall order for Mourinho s men.
Hughes, who has been facing calls for the sack himself, has now failed to steer Saints to a win in eight consecutive games in all competitions.
United failed to capitalise on a missed kick from Alex McCarthy three …
Lois Openda scored twice in the space of five minutes as RB Leipzig turned on the style in the second half to thrash Cologne 5-1 and move up to fourth in the Bundesliga.
Leipzig opened the scoring through Xavi Simons 15 minutes in but Sargis Adamyan equalised almost immediately and the scores were level at the break.
But Openda then struck in the 63rd and 67th minutes before Amadou Haidara and Yussuf Poulsen padded the score for the visitors.
Finished with five on a Friday
— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN)
Leipzig move two points above Borussia Dortmund, who take on Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
In LaLiga, goals in either half from Mikel Merino and Arsen Zakharyan saw sixth-placed Real Sociedad ease to a 2-0 win over relegation-th…
A frustrated Isaac Price said Kazakhstan had been “there for the taking” in Northern Ireland’s 1-0 Euro 2024 qualifying defeat at Windsor Park on Monday night.
Northern Ireland could not convert any of the 13 efforts they had at goal – with only one on target – and were punished at the death as Abat Aimbetov broke away to snatch an 88th minute winner.
It was a third consecutive 1-0 defeat for Michael O’Neill’s side, but where Friday’s loss away to Denmark had brought optimism, given a battling display against the group’s top seeds, a home defeat to a side ranked 50 places below Northern Ireland left a flat feeling.
“It’s very tough to take, frustrating really,” said Price. “We know we weren’t good enough. We knew they were there for th…
Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano has denied Manchester United hold the upper hand ahead of Saturday s Champions League final.
Barca will travel to Wembley to face the English Premier League champions in the finale of Europe s most prestigious club tournament, with Sir Alex Ferguson s side holding something akin to home advantage.
The location of the final has prompted some including Barca boss Pep Guardiola to conclude that United will start as favourites, but Mascherano believes it will make little difference come kickoff.
In a final, there are no favourites, Mascherano told Football Focus. It is one game so it depends how the teams are on the day.
We will try to do everything we can to win, in the 90 minutes, or 120 minutes. We don t know how …
The agent of Fiorentina striker Alberto Gilardino, Beppe Bozzo has revealed that he has yet to receive any offers for the Italy international.
The Serie A side are looking to cash in on the experienced striker, but his agent admits there have been no offers for the 28-year-old.
“We are relaxed about everything, even if we haven’t spoken to Fiorentina yet,” Bozzo told Corriere Fiorentino.
“Nevertheless, Alberto is a Viola player and he’ll stay in Florence if no significant offers are made for him.”
Fiorentina paid Milan €14 million for Gilardino in 2008, with the player signing a five-year deal and Viola are now hoping to get at least a portion of the money invested in him.
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