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While the Baa-Baas are yet to play this autumn, the All Blacks XV have already enjoyed a run-out defeating Ireland’s ‘A’ side 47-19 at the RDS Arena in Dublin. Eight capped New Zealand players make up their squad, with centre Braydon Ennor scoring a try and fly-half Damian McKenzie kicking 12 points, as well as crossing for a five-pointer of his own last time out. The mid-year tests in July saw the Barbarians win two games from two, beating England 52-21 at Twickenham before heading to the Spanish city of Gijon, where they beat hosts Spain 26-7....

The centre-back has been blighted by persistent knee problems over the past couple of years and is back on the sidelines. Barca did not reveal the extent of the damage Umtiti has sustained on Friday, but he is set to miss the clash with Villarreal in LaLiga on Sunday. A statement from the Catalan giants said: “The first team player Samuel Umtiti has a problem with his left knee and will undergo conservative treatment....

Messi was suspended for insulting the linesman during his national team’s 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Chile last week. The ban was announced just hours before La Albiceleste’s game away to Bolivia on Tuesday. In the absence of their talisman, Edgardo Bauza’s team lost 2-0 in La Paz, leaving them fifth in CONMEBOL qualifying and facing the prospect of needing to win an inter-confederation play-off if they are to reach next year’s finals in Russia....

The Catalan giants have enjoyed a productive pre-season as they prepare to open another new era. Neymar, Coutinho & Mbappe all to leave - 7/4 Valverde has replaced Luis Enrique at the helm, while additions to the playing staff have been made and Brazilian forward Neymar continues to spark talk of a big-money exit to Paris Saint-Germain. He starred in a 3-2 Clasico victory over Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup on Saturday, but so did Messi and Barca are still looking to their mercurial Argentine for inspiration....

Speculation regarding Bale and an exit from the Santiago Bernabeu is never far from the back pages in Spain, despite the forward having won three Champions Leagues, a LaLiga title and a Copa del Rey during four years at Madrid. Bale has often been the subject of whistles from a demanding Bernabeu crowd when Madrid have failed to hit their top standard, and there was talk that Manchester United were ready to bring the 28-year-old back to the Premier League in the last transfer window....

Wales forward Bale has endured a torrid time at the Santiago Bernabeu in recent weeks, finding himself consigned largely to a bit-part role by head coach Santiago Solari and the focus of heavy criticism from the stands. Madrid’s season has unravelled in the space of three games, with back-to-back Clasico defeats to Barcelona ending their Copa del Rey and LaLiga title chances, while a humiliating 4-1 home loss to Ajax on Tuesday saw the three-time defending champions crash out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage....

Though any article on Gareth Bale’s proposed move to Madrid could delve deep into the intricacies of the management at Madrid and if the Welshman does indeed fit into Carlo’s new structure, but this one here will try to turn an unbiased (though slightly red and white) eye towards the man behind Bale’s success last season and easily one of the candidates for managers of the season. Though all the promise that AVB’s stint at Porto had shown to replicate Mourinho’s career, his first job in England was rated as the exact opposite of that of Jose’s....

The Blancos eased past Juventus 4-1 in Cardiff on Saturday to add a continental crown to a domestic one already stolen away from arch-rivals Barcelona. Madrid have now conquered Europe three times in the last four seasons, with Zinedine Zidane’s side considered to be one of the finest of this or any other generation. WATCH: CR7 sings ‘Ronaldo, Ballon d’Or’ Bale certainly believes they are a special squad, with there no reason why they cannot establish a dynasty like that of Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas in the 1950s by landing more major titles....

Ball State and Western Michigan became the latest teams to provide fans with some wildly entertaining late-game #MACtion on Saturday. With Ball State leading 30-27 with five seconds remaining, Western Michigan had one last play from its 49-yard line to try to win the game. The Broncos ran a quick screen to the right, and then proceeded to lateral the ball 12 times before the 13th attempt was fumbled in the vicinity of two Cardinals defenders....

In the past, we saw legends like Oliver Kahn, David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Gerd Muller, Bobby Charlton, George Best, to name a few who have lifted this prestigious trophy and recording their names in the history books. Hence, this trophy adds a lot of value to the career of a football player– an honour which is given to a few players who have performed exceptionally well in their lifetime....

In case you didn’t know Mane has enjoyed a stellar campaign with Liverpool, finishing his domestic campaign with the Premier League Golden Boot after netting 22 goals in the English top flight. The forward has tallied 26 goals in all competitions for the Reds, marking his best-ever goal-scoring season. The Senegal international has played a crucial role in Liverpool’s scintillating campaign, terrorising defences across Europe alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino....

In case you didn’t know… Eto’o, who started his youth career with Real Madrid, initially worked under Mourinho at Inter Milan, where they completed a treble by lifting the Serie A title, the Italian Cup and the Champions League in the 2009-2010 season. The pair reunited at Chelsea three years later for a brief stint before the Cameroonian was released by the club. Overall, the 38-year-old had played for 13 clubs which took him to Spain, Italy, England, Turkey, Russia, and Qatar before calling time on his glittering 22-year playing career earlier this month....

Starting line: the entire area between 77th and 86th Streets where the balloons are inflated. Falloon: a balloon attached to a float. L.O.M.: Line of March: the order of the parade, as in, “Where’s Snoopy?” “I don’t know, cheek the L.O.M.” The Star: the staging area in front of the NBC booth. Red line: where acts enter The Star; once over the red line, you’re on. Jack: the communications center, after famous volunteer Jack Damlos, now deceased....

Manchester City coach Roberto Mancini confirmed on Tuesday that Mario Balotelli is set to return to Italy to join AC Milan, who had announced his transfer earlier in the day. “Mario Balotelli to Milan, the player will come tomorrow for his medical and sign his contract,” the in-house Milan Channel announced. City paid Inter Milan £22 million (25.7m euros, $34.5 million) for the Italy striker in August 2010, but his time at the club has been peppered with controversy both on and off the pitch....

In a series of tweets late last month, Trump called Democratic lawmaker Elijah Cummings “a brutal bully, shouting and screaming at the great men & women of Border Patrol,” before attacking his hometown district of Baltimore. The president’s harsh remarks came after the congressman, who’s also the chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, called the treatment of undocumented migrant children being detained near the southern U.S.-Mexico border “government-sponsored child abuse....

The 44-year-old Domingo, who will take charge on August 21 has been appointed for a period of two years. He was previously the head coach for South Africa for a period of four years from 2013-2017. Domingo said his focus would be on developing the next generation of players from the country. “I have followed Bangladesh’s progress with keen interest and I am extremely excited to assist the team in reaching the goals that they are capable of....

The Challengers, led by Shuvagata Hom, have been highly inconsistent thus far in the ongoing edition of the Bangladesh Premier League. They are yet to win back-to-back games and are placed fifth in the table with four points and a net run rate of -0.892. Chattogram will come into this game after losing to the Comilla Victorians by six wickets. Batting first, the Challengers put up a score of 135 for eight thanks to skipper Shuvagata’s 23-ball 37....

The Challengers could only manage 89 for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs after being asked in to bat first. Afif Hossain scored 25 runs off 23 balls with three fours and was the only batter who showed some sort of intent. But Mohammad Amir removed him to cut short his knock. The Challengers also registered the lowest score in BPL history. Fast bowler Rejaur Rahman Raja was the standout Strikers’ bowler, returning with figures of 4/14....