The Irish Times

Enigma that is Karim Benzema a unique fooballing maverick

Real Madrid’s hopes rest on striker’s shoulders in Champions League final against Liverpool

Fri May 27 2022 - 13:00

Courage of having faith in his players is Carlo Ancelotti’s greatest gift

Real Madrid manager has always valued his players’ opinions when the going gets tough

Tue May 24 2022 - 22:45

Mohamed Salah: Liverpool have ‘score to settle’ against Real Madrid

Salah left the field in tears in the final four years ago after challenge by Sergio Ramos

Thu May 05 2022 - 10:19

Mo Salah says he wants to play Real Madrid in Champions League final

Liverpool manager Klopp hails mental toughness players showed against Villarreal

Wed May 04 2022 - 11:07

Remarkable Real Madrid always find a way to survive in the Champions League

Like Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction, the Spanish side somehow cannot be finished off

Wed Apr 27 2022 - 11:23

Philipp Lahm: PSG is Paris’ new landmark and luxury brand

The French capital has a new landmark: an exorbitantly expensive football team

Mon Sept 27 2021 - 13:04

Karim Benzema extends Real Madrid contract to 2023

Spanish club inserts release clause of €1bn into deal for 33-year-old striker

Fri Aug 20 2021 - 21:47

Messi’s arrival will make Champions League a necessity for Pochettino

This deal could be pivotal for both PSG’s ambitions and French football’s future

Mon Aug 09 2021 - 18:14

Manchester United preparing to make a bid for Raphaël Varane

Varane is currently on holiday and will make a decision once he’s spoken to Real Madrid

Mon Jul 19 2021 - 13:10

Sergio Ramos to undergo PSG medical as part of triple signing

Achraf Hakimi and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma are also due to join

Tue Jul 06 2021 - 10:57

Ken Early: Tiki taka a nightmare from which Spain vainly struggle to awake

If chances start to go in, they will take some stopping in Euro 2020 knockout stages

Fri Jun 25 2021 - 12:30

Covid cools threat from Spain but Sweden will still feel the heat

Euro 2020: Spaniards hope to get off to flying start despite Sergio Busquets missing out

Mon Jun 14 2021 - 06:00

Euro 2020 Group E: This is arguably the weakest Spain side in a generation

Team guide: Can Robert Lewandowski replicate his Bayern Munich form for Poland?

Tue Jun 08 2021 - 07:00

Euro 2020 Group A: Italian renaissance will need goals

Team guide: Wales will need some Gareth Bale magic while Turkey are a threat

Sun Jun 06 2021 - 07:00

‘Neither Ramos nor Madrid’ - How Luis Enrique dropped a bomb with Spain’s Euro selection

Coach failed to pick a single Real Madrid player in his 24-man squad for Euros

Wed May 26 2021 - 06:00

Ken Early: Chips are down for sorry Sergio Aguero

That City’s great striker felt obliged to apologise for a missed penalty was sad and absurd

Mon May 10 2021 - 06:00

Chelsea set up all-English Champions League decider against Manchester City

Tuchel’s side see off Real Madrid despite missing a host of chances

Wed May 05 2021 - 22:21

Relentless Real Madrid seem to survive no matter what

‘It is not easy to do what we have done. Lots of things have happened’

Wed May 05 2021 - 06:00

Michael Walker: Where are the plaudits for Zinedine Zidane’s coaching career?

Frenchman’s managerial reputation remains uncertain despite considerable success

Sat Apr 17 2021 - 06:00

Liverpool rue string of missed chances as Real Madrid set up Chelsea semi-final

Wasteful night in front of goal sees Jürgen Klopp’s side exit at quarter-final stage

Wed Apr 14 2021 - 22:16

Florentino Perez re-elected as Real Madrid president

Perez has served as president for 12 consecutive years since taking over in June 2009

Tue Apr 13 2021 - 12:40

Lionel Messi is smiling again as Barça head into key El Clásico

Summer storm has calmed but star’s future remains uncertain as club battles big debts

Sat Apr 10 2021 - 10:00

Toni Kroos masterclass has subdued Liverpool in a spin

German midfielder uses space and time to hand Real Madrid the initiative

Wed Apr 07 2021 - 09:19

Vinícius Júnior double punishes careless Liverpool as Real Madrid take control

Toni Kroos orchestrates victory as Jürgen Klopp’s side picked apart in Spain

Tue Apr 06 2021 - 22:29

Spain scrape win over Georgia with late Dani Olmo strike

Luis Enrique’s side leave it late to pick up first win of World Cup qualifying campaign

Sun Mar 28 2021 - 20:13

Real Madrid make light work of Atalanta to reach quarter-finals

13-times champions into last eight for the first time since 2018

Tue Mar 16 2021 - 22:27

David Alaba agrees to join Real Madrid on free transfer

Veteran striker Mario Mandzukic is set to return to Europe with Serie A leaders Milan

Tue Jan 19 2021 - 07:33

Messi’s red-card outburst the act of a desperate, hopeless man

Actions were pure human malice, a volcano of rage that was accumulating for years

Mon Jan 18 2021 - 22:30

Robert Lewandowski claims Fifa Player of the Year award

Spurs’ Son wins Puskas Award for goal of the year

Thu Dec 17 2020 - 21:54

Finland end France’s 12-match unbeaten streak

Round-up: Donny van de Beek scored for Netherlands in 1-1 draw with Spain

Thu Nov 12 2020 - 09:32

Piqué lays into Barça over handling of Messi contract situation

Club preparing for first Clásico against Real Madrid as board faces vote of no confidence

Sat Oct 24 2020 - 06:00

All in the Game: Coleman following in footsteps of Maldini, Terry and Ramos

The numerical mind of Nicklas Bendtner, Arsenal’s tactics in terms of lions and steaks

Mon Oct 05 2020 - 06:30

Ken Early: Questions for Messi – Why leave? And why City?

If anyone can maximise Messi’s strengths while covering his weaknesses, it’s Pep Guardiola

Mon Aug 31 2020 - 06:54

Real Madrid crash out to relentless Manchester City performance

Zidane’s team were not allowed to breathe in City’s finest Champions League result

Fri Aug 07 2020 - 22:26