Real Madrid’s clash with Manchester City was always going to be the Champions League tie of the round, but events since the draw have turned this week into a moment of truth for both clubs.

REALITY is very quickly catching up with Quique Setien, whose first month in his dream job as Barcelona coach has not gone as he would have hoped.

If Catholics visit Lourdes and Muslims make pilgrimage to Mecca, then football fans must go see Messi, writes Tommy Martin.

The clash between Real Madrid’s new midfield hope, and Barcelona’s returning central figure, could go a long way to deciding tonight’s La Liga Clasico.

Liverpool, Tottenham, and Manchester City will fancy their chances of making the Champions League last eight but Bayern Munich can end Lampard’s dream

Inter crashed out of the Champions League as they suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Barcelona last night.

The mood is not positive around the Camp Nou ahead of tonight’s vital Champions League Group F game against Borussia Dortmund.

Not mixing sport and politics is difficult at the best of times, and impossible when it comes to La Liga’s Clasico, probably the most politicised game in world of football.

The Spanish top flight want the 'El Clasico' match switched to Madrid, with Barcelona then playing at home in March next year.

At least the phoney war is over, the fable of Mick McCarthy clothed in Merlin the Magician garb belatedly binned.

As well as bidding farewell to some beloved characters, the end of Game of Thrones means we can also say goodbye to the drawing of tenuous links between sport and the goings-on in Westeros.

This has been a decent season for Lionel Andres Messi.

If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s new-look Manchester United needed a calibration to measure how far they have come since Jose Mourinho

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s ability to inspire Manchester United to a memorable Champions League victory over PSG underlined the Norwegian’s credentials.

If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s new-look Manchester United needed a calibration to measure how far they have come since Jose Mourinho departed then this match, despite the result, should leave them standing tall.

Manchester and Barcelona have an unusual amount in common this week.

Gareth Bale was once again feeling the heat

Gareth Bale has been reported by LaLiga to the Spanish Football Federation over his celebration in Real Madrid's 3-1 derby win at Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

The English Championship is to the Premier League what Puma is to adidas. Well regarded in its own right — at last count the third most-watched league in Europe — it will always exist in the shadow of its bigger brother, writes Brendan O'Brien.

It’s the ultimate battle of philosophies in Manchester tomorrow. A classic clash of styles as the family pulling every stroke to pump as much money as possible into their club faces the family working every trick in the book to take it out.

He smiled, charmed, and quipped his way through a relatively stern interrogation from the media yesterday but, after the dust had settled on Jose Mourinho’s press

It’s unfair to call it the Gary Neville era, but Valencia’s ‘chaotic’ period appears to have ended.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is plotting Barcelona’s downfall safe in the knowledge he will never manage the Spanish giants, he has told Spanish daily Marca.

The past week or so has been so tricky for some of Europe’s elite clubs that they might be looking forward to the Champions League as a welcome diversion, writes David Shonfield

Daniel Storey selects 10 young players who can propel their careers to the next level during the World Cup.

This Champions League final is all about two great attacks: two sides with the ability to blitz opponents in a matter of minutes.

Cullen called the Spanish stadium "an amazing place".

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen took another look around the San Mames Stadium ahead of today’s Champions Cup final showdown with Racing 92 and experienced the uncomfortable feeling of a stadium decked out in red.

The lead up to tomorrow’s late in the season La Liga Clasico has been quite unique with minds on both sides not quite as focused as usual in the days before the world’s biggest domestic club game.

TG4 retain some rights, although eir will have exclusive rights to the Leinster-Munster derby matches.

Atletico Madrid’s creaking Estadio Vicente Calderon Stadium was not a ground any opponent fancied visiting, especially on big Champions League nights when the old concrete bowl literally shook with emotion and noise.

Liverpool players have been told to filter out the noise of history at the Stadio Olympico tonight and focus only on fighting for their dream of reaching the Champions League final on what could be a landmark night in the Jurgen Klopp era.

Celebrating 25 years in existence in 2018, An Rinn-based Nemeton is one of the great success stories in Irish TV sports production. CEO and founder Irial Mac Murchú chronicles their rise from outsiders to market leaders, particularly in delivering GAA coverage.

 

“A failure without excuses,” shouted the cover of Catalan daily Sport on Wednesday morning, with the words “debacle”, “lamentable” and “elimination” also featuring in bold print.

It has been billed as the Battle of Britain – or at least England. But tonight’s showdown in Manchester is more than simply a contest to decide the best English side in Europe, or even which of two rival cities has this season’s bragging rights, writes David Shonfield.

Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa has said he would ‘love’ for team mate Antoine Griezmann to stay at the La Liga club beyond the next transfer window.

When Catalonia went to the polls eight weeks ago there was a sense among Barcelona fans that this was a defining moment for their club as well as the country.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has revealed he has suffered sleepless nights plotting the downfall of Barcelona and Lionel Messi.

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has called on the club’s supporters to get behind Karim Benzema after the France international was whistled.

Philippe Coutinho can bring something different to Barcelona, according to head coach Ernesto Valverde.