The Leader of the Free World apparently put on a show during an Easter Sunday pickup game with a few NBA athletes following the White House Easter Egg Roll. MORE: Hawks sign leukemia patient | Noah wants the Cavs in the playoffs | Ray Allen’s Jordan collection We already kind of knew Barack’s jumper was a bit wonky, but trash talk? That’s what’s up. I guess it’s good that he’s clutch....
Madrid showed their superiority in Wednesday’s 2-0 second-leg victory at the Santiago Bernabeu, which completed a 5-1 aggregate win for the La Liga and Champions League titleholders. Barcelona 11/2 to win the Champions League It did not get much better after a 3-1 first-leg loss for Barca, who were outplayed in first half as Madrid put the result beyond doubt via Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema. The midweek defeat completed a tumultuous pre-season for Barca following the world-record departure of star forward Neymar, and Valverde — a replacement for Luis Enrique — said the Catalan giants must recover and find their balance in the absence of the Brazilian star, now playing for Paris Saint-Germain....
J ames & Morata hit doubles as Madrid thrash Granada Barcelona’s starting side may just be the best in Spain, particularly with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in such sparkling form as they were in the 4-1 win over Villarreal on Saturday. Even without the Brazilian, Luis Enrique’s men recently went to the Santiago Bernabeu and claimed a 3-2 victory. After Messi hit the winning goal, Gerard Pique was captured on television mouthing “we are infinitely better [than Madrid]” and while that is clearly an exaggeration, Barca do seem stronger in terms of their first XI....
Blaugrana officials Raul Sanllehi, Oscar Grau and Javier Bordas left Spain today to begin talks with Borussia Dortmund regarding a move for France international Dembele, as reported by Kicker and Mundo Deportivo. Coutinho to join Barca by September 1 at 6/4 The Camp Nou outfit are hopeful a deal can be done for Dembele, though the sale of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain has left them in a difficult situation....
In the Premier League, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool dominate the headlines with Chelsea and Manchester City hot on their heels. Italian giants Juventus, Inter and AC Milan remain hugely popular while over in the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund dominate, and that’s not forgetting Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid. Now you get your chance to decide - vote in our poll below and tell us your favourite top club....
The loan will end on June 30, 2018, however, Inter will have the option to purchase the midfielder for €35 million with another €3m in incentives. Inter will need to confirm their intent to buy before the end of the loan and have taken on all of Rafinha’s salary for the remainder of the season. “I’m really happy, it’s a great feeling to be here,” Rafinha told Inter TV....
Neymar was handed the punishment for sarcastically applauding the fourth official after being shown a second yellow card in the 2-0 defeat at Malaga earlier this month. Arsenal win race to sign Kolasinac The Brazilian forward’s show of dissent earned him an additional two-match suspension on top of the one-game ban that came as a result of the red card at La Rosaleda, ruling him out of the clash with Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu this weekend and the meeting with Osasuna next week....
Barca must get priorities right after latest PR disaster Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi’s existing deal is set to expire at the end of next season, with Barca chief executive Oscar Grau admitting on Wednesday a Liga spending cap could prove troublesome in agreeing a renewal. The Catalan giants sacked director Pere Gratacos after he stated Messi would not be as good without team-mates like Neymar, Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta – an opinion deemed not to “coincide with those of the club”....
Luis Enrique’s side scored three times in seven minutes to secure a 6-1 win over the Ligue 1 champions at Camp Nou on Wednesday, ensuring they overturned a 4-0 first-leg deficit. Zidane committed to BBC front three Madrid’s faltering form – corrected to an extent by a 4-1 win at Eibar last weekend – has allowed Barca to replace them at the summit of Spain’s top flight, although Zidane’s men have a game in hand....
Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez? Click here to see the countdown of the 50 best players in the world in the 2016 Goal 50 The 20-year-old forward enjoyed a breakthrough season at the Emirates Stadium in 2015/16, having made his debut early in the campaign and gone on to make 21 appearances in all competitions. He has remained part of Arsene Wenger’s plans this term, taking in regular outings in both the Premier League and Champions League....
The Blaugrana could only muster a 3-3 draw against the Italian side last time out, and while that didn’t quite do it mathematically, Inter made it official by beating Viktoria Plzen 4-0 before Barcelona could even take the field against Bayern hoping to save their European season. Instead, for the second straight campaign, Barcelona are destined for the Europa League, a competition which two years ago was squarely beneath the giant Catalan club, having never before stepped foot in the event....
The seventh season of the critically acclaimed television show begins in July, with the series set to conclude in 2018 or 2019 with the eighth and final season. Fans of the TV programme and George RR Martin’s novels have speculated who they think will be ruler of Westeros when the show ends, and now the Barca star has gotten in on the act. ‘Priceless’ Mbappe drops Twitter hint Roberto is currently on his off-season break from Barcelona, having helped Luis Enrique’s side lift the Copa del Rey in 2016-17, and used some of his free time to ask questions from fans....
The mercurial Argentine netted his 15th league goal in meetings between Spain’s big two at Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. Penalty for Ronaldo or a dive? Another memorable individual effort helped Barca to draw level on the night, following Casemiro’s opener for the hosts, but also carried Messi clear at the top of another notable chart. Edging ahead of Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano only serves to further underline Messi’s claims to a standing as the greatest footballer of all time....
The Spanish champions will face Manuel Pellegrini's free-scoring side after being drawn first out of the pot in the proceedings. Jose Mourinho faces another reunion with former striker Didier Drogba after his Chelsea side was drawn against Galatasaray, which edged out Juventus on match-day six of the group phase. "I think Barcelona will be very concerned that they have drawn us," Pellegrini, who spent the past nine seasons in the Spanish league, said after Monday's draw....
The centre-back has claimed a number of clubs are interested in him, with Manchester United reported to be among the frontrunners to sign the France international. Umtiti’s relatively low release clause of €60 million has encouraged speculation he could leave, although Barca are thought to be keen to increase it by offering him fresh terms. Valverde believes the 24-year-old is happy at Camp Nou and is confident he will commit his future to the club....
The game is intended as a tribute to the victims of the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of 71 people, including the majority of the Chapecoense team, last November and will take place at the Camp Nou. Chape ready for emotional Barca clash It will be a sombre occasion as Barca honour the people who lost their lives in the accident, as well as the families of those involved, in their traditional season curtain-raiser....
The Wales international forward has been overlooked for key fixtures in recent weeks, with Zinedine Zidane favouring other options. Bale has, however, returned to the fold in Catalunya, as Real seek to put a dent in Barca’s title triumph. Ernesto Valverde’s side have already wrapped up a domestic double and are hoping to see out the Spanish top-flight campaign unbeaten. Records have tumbled to this point, but there are still four games to come....
On Friday, Frank Lampard tasted defeat for the first time since he was appointed as the Blues new coach, with his team suffering an unexpected 1-0 defeat against J-League side Kawasaki Frontale. The defending Europa League champions have won just one of their three preseason friendlies so far, but new signing Christian Pulisic isn’t particularly concerned. “I’m really happy to be here with the team and to get in an actual match for the first time feels really good,” the American, who made his first appearance in a Chelsea shirt when he came on as a substitute against Kawasaki, told ChelseaTV after the game....
The video, which has been viewed more than 800,000 times, was posted on Tony Vara’s TikTok account, @varatony. “Me when I see Starbucks baristas complaining about making Starbucks drinks while they’re clocked in at Starbucks,” read the text over the video as the sound of a gloomy violin song played in the background. TikTok is home to videos in which fast food employees have aired their frustrations about customers and feeling burnt out....
