Fran Escribá was a consistent presence after Elche’s sale last year but after his sacking the owners – one of whom is a striker at the club – will have to show what their intentions arePissing off the boss is rarely a good plan and losing lots of footb…
Depay on spot as Xavi’s Barcelona era starts with win over Espanyol
This would have to do for now but cannot do for much longer. Twice as many people were at the Camp Nou than the last time Barcelona played here in La Liga, 74,000 fans hoping to witness a brave new world. Instead, they watched as their side needed a Me…
Xavi heading home to Barcelona in chronicle of a coaching job foretold | Sid Lowe
Club legend twice rejected offers but finally he is coming back as a defender of the faith and symbol of hope for the futureOn Xavi Hernández’s last night as a Barcelona player, he walked out of the Olimpiastadion in Berlin carrying the European Cup in…
Real Sociedad lead the way in Spain and get to enjoy moment of liberation | Sid Lowe
Was a last-gasp winner to beat Mallorca the mark of champions? Either way, la Real are unbeaten since opening dayJulen Lobete was on his knees crying again when his teammates sprinted towards him, hauled him to his feet and held him tight. One after an…
Iñaki Williams: ‘My parents crossed the desert barefoot to get to Spain’ | Sid Lowe
The striker tells of his parents’ remarkable journey, rejecting Ghana and playing a record 203 league games in a row“We were at home one day in Bilbao watching the television when something came on – I can’t remember exactly what – and I asked her agai…
European roundup: Rennes hand toothless PSG first defeat of season
Neymar hauled off as PSG fail to register shot on targetAaron Hickey helps Bologna to victory over Sarri’s LazioParis Saint-Germain suffered their first defeat of the season when they were beaten 2-0 at Rennes on Sunday to drop their first Ligue 1 poin…
Luis Suárez strikes as Atlético Madrid push Koeman closer to Barcelona exit
It had to be him. The man who was forced out of Barcelona and immediately brought the league title to Atlético Madrid may also have brought Ronald Koeman’s brief and ultimately bitter time at the Camp Nou to a close that has long been coming. On the ni…
Rebels without a cause: has title win taken away Atlético Madrid’s hunger?
Their old gunslinger Suárez got the champions out of jail again but something is missing in Simeone’s teamDiego Simeone had pretty much seen it all but he had never seen this and he didn’t much like it either. It was 8.15 on a Tuesday night down by the…
‘We ask for patience’: Koeman takes no questions as heat rises at Barcelona
Under-pressure head coach calls for team to be supported‘The club is with me in this period of reconstruction,’ he saysBarcelona’s head coach, Ronald Koeman, took no questions in a brief news conference on Wednesday and instead read a statement saying …
European roundup: Icardi scores late PSG winner after Messi substituted
Paris Saint-Germain recover to beat Lyon 2-1Juventus 1-1 Milan; Real Madrid defeat ValenciaA late Mauro Icardi strike earned Paris Saint-Germain a last-gasp 2-1 home victory against Lyon, with Lionel Messi making limited impact on his Parc des Princes …