Person: Raphael Varane

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

soccer

Normalising brilliance: Daniel Storey selects his football team of the decade

It's been a decade of thrilling drama, fantastic games, and great players but who makes our our team of the last 10 years? This lot would take some beating

soccer

European wrap: Messi blasts hat-trick for brilliant Barca

With the Chrismas clasico just a few weeks away, Barcelona and Real Madrid put on impressive weekend displays at the top of La Liga.

soccer

Euro 2020 wrap: England, France, Turkey and the Czech Republic secure qualification

England and the Czech Republic both qualified for the Euro 2020 finals with wins over Montenegro and Kosovo respectively to take the top two spots in Group A.

soccer

Key moments as France beat Belgium to reach World Cup final

soccer

Is this the beginning of the end for Real Madrid’s golden galacticos?

soccer

Real Madrid have saint and sinner combo of virtuous Varane and rash Ramos

Advantage Real as Bayern blunder

Real Madrid’s bid for a third straight Champions League title remained on course after a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Bayern Munich.

Thu, 26 Apr, 2018

Ronaldo scores late penalty as Real Madrid knock out Juventus

Cristiano Ronaldo scored an injury-time penalty to book Real Madrid's place in the Champions League semi-finals after losing the second leg 3-1, but winning the tie 4-3 on aggregate.

Wed, 11 Apr, 2018

Pochettino ‘confident’ Kane will be available

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has declared himself very confident Harry Kane will be fit enough to face Real Madrid in the Champions League tonight.

Wed, 01 Nov, 2017

Lloris keeps Spurs fans cheering against Real Madrid

Real Madrid 1 - Tottenham 1: Harry Kane was the headline act but Hugo Lloris stole the show as the Frenchman’s stunning save helped earn Tottenham a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid.

Wed, 18 Oct, 2017

10-man France edge out England in Stade thriller

France 3 - England 2: Not even the controversial use of video assistant referees could prevent Gareth Southgate’s England from succumbing to defeat in their season-ending friendly against France.

Wed, 14 Jun, 2017

How Florentino Perez rebuilt Real Madrid

Less than two years ago, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez shifted uncomfortably in his seat at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu as most of the 80,000 Blancos supporters around him chanted ‘Florentino Dimision’ (‘Florentino Resign’).

Thu, 01 Jun, 2017

Karim Benzema’s brilliance sees Real Madrid through

Atletico Madrid 2 Real Madrid 1 (Real Madrid win 4-2 on agg): Karim Benzema’s brilliance booked Real Madrid a place back in the Uefa Champions League final as the holders lost 2-1 to city rivals Atletico 2-1 at the Vicente Calderon, but comfortably progressed on aggregate.

Thu, 11 May, 2017

Ronaldo hat-trick piles on the pain as Real sweep Atletico aside

Real Madrid 3 - Atletico Madrid 0: Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid swept aside city rivals Atletico 3-0 at the Bernabeu in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final last night.

Wed, 03 May, 2017

Ronaldo hat-trick all but knocks Atletico out

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid swept aside city rivals Atletico 3-0 at the Bernabeu in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

Tue, 02 May, 2017

Sergio Ramos could be man to haunt Atletico again

The most intimate of enemies is how the Spanish commentator described Real Madrid and Atletico when they first met in the semi-final of the European Cup – and that was nearly 60 years ago.

Tue, 02 May, 2017

Ronaldo leads Real Madrid rally past 10-man Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich 1 - Real Madrid 2: Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid came from behind to beat 10-man Bayern Munich 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Allianz Arena.

Thu, 13 Apr, 2017

Robert Lewandowski faces Real fitness fight

Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti has admitted star striker Robert Lewandowski remains a major doubt for tonight’s Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash with Real Madrid.

Wed, 12 Apr, 2017

France wary of wily Wes Hoolahan’s ‘brilliant left foot’

France have pinpointed Wes Hoolahan as the Ireland player they need to thwart if they’re to prevail in today's Euro 2016 last-16 tie.

Sun, 26 Jun, 2016

The world will be watching the referee as Ireland bid for glory against France

No-one should write Ireland off as no-hopers in Lyon. The bookies might think that but the game is going to be a lot closer than they imagine.

Sat, 25 Jun, 2016

Zinedine Zidane: Defeat in final would not be failure

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has dismissed suggestions losing the Champions League final to Atletico Madrid would be a failure.

Sat, 28 May, 2016

Ben Arfa and Sakho miss out on France squad for Euros

France coach Didier Deschamps has picked seasoned striker Olivier Giroud for his 23-man squad for Euro 2016, which France will host, naming in-form forward Hatem Ben Arfa only as a reserve.

Fri, 13 May, 2016

Real Madrid needed two goals from Gareth Bale to inspire them to a win at Rayo Vallecano

Gareth Bale inspired Real Madrid to come from two goals down to win 3-2 at Rayo Vallecano in a testing workout ahead of the Champions League clash with Manchester City.

Sat, 23 Apr, 2016

Dani Carvajal pledges to attack in wolf’s lair

Real Madrid full-back Dani Carvajal has promised to attack Wolfsburg when the two sides meet in tonight’s Champions League quarter-final at the Wolfsburg Arena.

Wed, 06 Apr, 2016

Real Madrid must continue revival to convince fans, admits under-fire Rafa Benitez

PSV Eindhoven boss Phillip Cocu has vowed that his side will do everything in their power to ensure tonight’s crunch Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow is an “unforgettable” and triumphant occasion for the Dutch club.

Tue, 08 Dec, 2015

Treble for Cristiano Ronaldo as Real Madrid rout 10-man Shakhtar

Cristiano Ronaldo hit a second-half hat-trick as Real Madrid opened their Champions League campaign with a 4-0 victory over 10-man Shakhtar Donetsk in last night’s Group A showdown at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

Wed, 16 Sep, 2015

Falcao plays cool as Chelsea move nears

Colombia forward Radamel Falcao expects his future to be resolved soon after indicating a potential loan move to Chelsea can soon be done.

Fri, 19 Jun, 2015

100 million reasons the pressure is on at Real Madrid for Gareth Bale

Not for the first time in his almost two seasons at Real Madrid, Gareth Bale goes into tonight’s Champions League semi-final second leg with debate raging over his talents.

Wed, 13 May, 2015

Madrid rivals fail to fire in tense derby

Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid drew 0-0 in a tight and tense Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Estadio Vicente Calderon on Tuesday night.

Wed, 15 Apr, 2015

Vincent Kompany’s big dream is over - and he can’t even drown his sorrows

A bad year for the Manchester City skipper got worse with the closure of his two pubs in Belgium.

Thu, 12 Mar, 2015

Real suffer 4-0 defeat at Atletico

Atletico Madrid were in dreamland as they destroyed rivals Real Madrid with a thumping 4-0 win which blew the Primera Division title race wide open.

Sat, 07 Feb, 2015

Watch: Ronaldo gets away with punch but gets sent off later as Madrid take ragged win

Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for lashing out but Gareth Bale scored a late penalty to give a ragged Real Madrid side all three points from a 2-1 win at Cordoba.

Sat, 24 Jan, 2015

£25m price tag on City target Draxler

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini wants to sign Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler, although the German side want £25m for the 21-year-old, according to the Daily Star.

Tue, 06 Jan, 2015

Real spoil Suarez debut

Real Madrid overcame Neymar’s early opening goal to see off arch rivals Barcelona 3-1 at the Bernabeu as Luis Suarez made his long-awaited debut for Barca.

Sat, 25 Oct, 2014

Reality bites as Madrid put Reds in their place

Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3

Thu, 23 Oct, 2014

With Barca on Real’s mind, Pool can spring a surprise

Winning in Europe at the same time as winning at home is an art, and even experience does not guarantee success.

Tue, 21 Oct, 2014

Patient Ancelotti must start afresh

In the most literary of the new La Liga season’s previews, AS editor Alfredo Relaño wrote that Carlo Ancelotti reminded him of mythical Greek hero Sisyphus.

Mon, 25 Aug, 2014

Scholes: I am scared for United

Paul Scholes has expressed fear that Manchester United will descend into long-term decline unless rapid action is taken to strengthen their faltering team.

Thu, 21 Aug, 2014

German steel sufficient as French fold

WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINAL:

Sat, 05 Jul, 2014

Hummel heads Germany into final four

France 0 Germany 1

Fri, 04 Jul, 2014

Real win 10th Champions League title

Gareth Bale finally helped Real Madrid fulfil the dream of ’La Decima’, securing a memorable 10th Champions League triumph with an extra-time win against neighbours Atletico Madrid.

Sat, 24 May, 2014

Real’s injury list worrying Ancelotti

Real Madrid’s injury list is a headache for coach Carlo Ancelotti ahead of the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid, and also a longer-term concern for the club.

Mon, 12 May, 2014

Messi nabs a hat-trick in thrilling Clasico

Barcelona reignited their title challenge with a 4-3 victory over Real Madrid in a pulsating Clasico which had a little bit of everything.

Sun, 23 Mar, 2014

Ramos’ Real future in doubt after Perez spat

Sergio Ramos entered last week as Real Madrid’s vice-captain, second longest serving player and fan favourite.

Mon, 02 Dec, 2013

‘FIFA virus’ can’t halt top three pulling away

“Barcelona on a roll...

Mon, 25 Nov, 2013

Atletico a huge threat to Real and Barcelona

This week marks the 40th anniversary of Johan Cruyff’s debut at Barcelona, last week Real Madrid celebrated Francisco Gento’s 80th birthday.

Tue, 29 Oct, 2013

Mourinho congratulates champions Barca

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho congratulated Barcelona after his side’s 1-1 draw with Espanyol ended the La Liga title race last night.

Sun, 12 May, 2013

Lewandowski inflicts more Spain pain

Borussia Dortmund 4 Real Madrid 1

Thu, 25 Apr, 2013

Lewandowski fires four past stunned Spanish

Borussia Dortmund 4 Real Madrid 1

Wed, 24 Apr, 2013

Real run riot to all but secure semi spot

Real Madrid 3 Galatasaray 0

Thu, 04 Apr, 2013

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