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10 wins from 11 – the Premier League ‘domination’ of La Liga

By in News, Sports News
Images courtesy of Getty
Matthew Hobbs

journalist for BBC Sport

The most recent Champions League game on Tuesday night reflected the recent trend of Premier League clubs outperforming their La Liga rivals.

In Europe’s elite competition, Chelsea defeated Barcelona to become the English teams’ 10 wins out of their 11 previous meetings.

The legends of La Liga

Barcelona players celebrate after winning the 2009 Champions League final Images courtesy of Getty
One of the best Barcelona teams, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, and the Manchester United side’s centre-back pairing, Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo, won the team’s final match 3-0 in Rome in the 2008-09 Champions League campaign.

Two years later, a potent rematch between Barcelona and Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and David Villa was held at Wembley Stadium.

Real Madrid resurrected their Champions League winning streak with a 3-1 victory over Liverpool in the 2018 Kiev showpiece three years later, beginning a five-game winning streak for the Spanish champions.

The record-holders of the European Cup added two more titles in 2022 and 2024, both of which came after Liverpool won the title of champions of La Liga.

Premier League teams on the rise

Newcastle United defender Sven Botman defends from Athletic Bilbao's Unai Gomez during the Champion's League match on 5 NovemberImages courtesy of Getty

When the Spanish side won five Champions League titles between 2014 and 2018, including two exclusive matches between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, they also managed 16 victories overall against English clubs, compared to just seven for the Premier League (D10).

English teams have won 13 of the 16 Champions League games over the past two years, though Real won the last match in 2024.

To kick off the current tally of 10 Premier League victories from the previous 11 meetings, Arsenal defeated Madrid in both legs of the quarter-finals of last year.

The eighth-best win over Barcelona by Chelsea came on Tuesday with a comprehensive 3-0 victory, which is highlighted by the Brazilian superstar’s second-half goal, Estevao.

In another sign of the Premier League’s growing dominance over La Liga’s biggest teams, the teenager chose to switch Palmeiras for Stamford Bridge last summer.

Should an English victory be anticipated?

Their improved fortunes in the Champions League reflect the Premier League’s recent dominance over La Liga rivals.

English teams have won the competition three times since Real won the 2018 title, which is the most victories of any team and one more than Spain, while Paris St-Germain is the only team still in contention.

Five Premier League teams have won two straight victories this term, a feat that was unmatched in the Champions League before this season when five teams from different nations did so.

Guillem Balague, a journalist for Spanish football, stated to BBC Sport, “I don’t see it any other way until we look at this period of the next five years as the domination of England.”

Bayern Munich can change that, according to Gareth.

England is considered to be Europe’s “super league.”

The Premier League’s purchasing power contributes to the trend’s change.

Television rights have generated enormous broadcast revenues for English sides, with revenues that are far below those of other nations.

Premier League clubs spent more than £3 billion last summer, which is a record for a single transfer window and more than the combined total spend of the Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, and Serie A.

Arsenal currently lead the English top flight and sit joint-top of the Champions League table with Bayern Munich, with the two teams meeting in a massive game on Wednesday night, spending £250 million, which is the most of any Premier League club.

Real, however, won the trophy 20 times overall, five more than English teams, while Borussia Dortmund won the 15th title in the final 18 months.

And winning league games does not guarantee success, just ask the Liverpool team, who won the league championship in 2024 and lost to PSG in the final 16 before finishing top of the standings.

In a knockout competition, “Even in terms of money, talent, coaching, facilities, and even the talent in the offices, England is the super league of Europe,” added Balague.

related subjects

  • Spanish La Liga
  • Premier League
  • UEFA Champions League
  • Football

Fishlock can inspire ‘decisions’ for Wales players

By in News, Sports News
Images courtesy of Getty
Gareth Vincent

Wales’ BBC Sport
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Rhian Wilkinson thinks Jess Fishlock can continue to influence Wales’ future despite the country’s greatest female footballer leaving the sport.

For the first time since Fishlock’s 19-year international career came to an end last month, Wilkinson’s players gathered this week.

Wilkinson says the 38-year-old can still inspire the squad, who are in Spain on Friday for friendlies against South Korea on Friday (18:00 GMT) and Switzerland on Tuesday, December (11:00 GMT).

As she works to expand the country’s participation in Euro 2025, the 2027 World Cup, and other goals, Wales’ head coach is hopeful that more of her players will participate in more club football.

Fishlock left his native country for the Netherlands and became the first player to play abroad in the Eredivisie while playing for the team.

Before joining Bristol Academy, Fishlock helped AZ win two league titles during the challenging times in the Netherlands.

Jess Fishlock is thrown in the air by her team-mates after Wales' friendly with Australia in October Images courtesy of Getty

Fishlock, of course, has had some time with Reign because of her remarkable career, which included stints in Scotland, Australia, Germany, France, and England.

Wilkinson wants to see some members of her squad be willing to make changes from Fishlock.

She continued, “Jess became Jess because of the choices she made, the places she traveled to, and the uncomfortable position she placed herself in in order to raise her own standards.”

“Troubling some cages is a part of my job,” I say.

Carrie Jones in training in Spain FAW

The challenge for Wales’ women is to become regulars after winning their first major championship this year.

The team hasn’t won in 11 games since beating the Republic of Ireland to reach Euro 2025, which has not been a smooth year.

Wilkinson believes that if her players get more game time with their clubs, Wales’ chances of moving up to the top table will significantly improve as the focus shifts to World Cup qualifying, which kicks off in March.

After the European Championship, a review conducted by the Football Association of Wales revealed the issue of their players not receiving enough football. Wilkinson’s side were well beaten in their three games.

Before the tournament, Wilkinson claimed that “65% of my team at the Euros did not play regular minutes for their club.”

She continued, “I have been vocal about it and that we have to keep pushing and driving.”

“It’s a part of my job right now, and it’s very clear, to make sure I rattle some cages in terms of]players who are] currently sitting on the bench. You must make difficult decisions, especially when you are in your prime.

Most of Wales’ players currently play club football in England, but Wilkinson warns that some players may need to consider playing even further afield.

We tend to fall into England’s path because it’s not easy to leave, but sometimes you have to be an Angharad James or a Carrie Jones who lives in the US, she said.

What kind of problem is Wales?

Safia Middleton-Patel during the Women's Super League match between Manchester City and Manchester United this month Images courtesy of Getty

Low a percentage of Wales players receive regular football, at least in top-level leagues.

Due to Phallon Tullis-Joyce’s injury, goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel has made some welcome appearances for Manchester United in recent weeks.

However, when USA international Tullis-Joyce recovers from injury, she is likely to be back on the bench.

Olivia Clark, Middleton-Patel’s main rival for the Wales goalkeeping shirt, has been a backup option since joining Leicester City from FC Twente in January.

Gemma Evans and Lily Woodham are both playing defensively for a Liverpool side that is bottom of the table, but both of them play regularly in the Women’s Super League (WSL).

Hayley Ladd, however, only occasionally appears for Everton, while young players like Mayzee Davies, Teagan Scarlett, and Scarlett Hill (Manchester United), Teagan Scarlett (Arsenal), who are all recovering from a long-term knee injury, are all making efforts to establish themselves at club level.

Esther Morgan and Ella Powell have both played regular football for Bristol City, even though it is in the second-tier WSL2, but Rhiannon Roberts (Sunderland), Annie Wilding (Portsmouth), and Annie Wilding (Portsmouth).

Wales midfielder Ceri Holland is a regular at Liverpool, and West Ham’s Ffion Morgan is getting WSL football while Jones has impressed at Swedish top-flight side IFK Norrkoping.

Mia Ross warms up in Wales colours FAW
Although they are playing in England’s second tier, Sophie Ingle, Mia Ross, and Rachel Rowe have had much more game time, while Laura Hughes, a newcomer, has a vengeance at Melbourne City’s A-League Women side.

Despite being “fully a senior team member” for her country, according to Wilkinson, the situation for Wales is similar in terms of attack. Hannah Cain is a regular WSL player at Leicester, but Mared Griffiths, 18, is on the fringes at Manchester United.

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Wilkinson acknowledges that the issue of Wales’ players not receiving enough exposure to elite club football is “not going to be a quick fix.”

She contends that her players’ insufficient playing time cannot “be a decider of minutes with Wales.”

“We are not a country yet where you can say well: You are not playing for Wales,” Wilkinson said.

“But I have a responsibility to make sure it is mentioned, challenged, and that the players are always pushing themselves to get on the pitch.”

related subjects

  • Welsh Football
  • Women’s Football Team from Wales
  • Football
  • Women’s Football

Senate Dissolves Air Force, National Security Committees, Orders Briefings Within One Week

By in News, Nigeria News

The Senate has dissolved its standing committees on Air Force, national security and intelligence with immediate effect.

It also said that new committees would be reconstituted within one week.

The decision came after the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, expressed dissatisfaction with the committees ‘ oversight performance so far.

It further directed chairmen of its standing committees on army, navy, defence, interior and police affairs to brief the senate within one week, during a closed-door session, on their ongoing efforts to reduce insecurity across the country and to justify their continued existence.

READ ALSO: Senate In Heated Debate Over Nigeria’s Growing Security Crisis

The upper chamber also began a probe into the withdrawal of security troops from the Kebbi school prior to the bandits ‘ attack and directed that findings be submitted within two weeks.

It mandated its committees on army, defence, police affairs, interior and special duties to jointly conduct the probe and report back to the chamber.

The Senate also probed the circumstances surrounding the killing of Brigadier General Uba, with the report expected within the same timeframe.

Additionally, the chamber resolved that its leadership should meet immediately with President Bola Tinubu to brief him on the resolutions reached during the security debate.

Jeff Brazier’s crumbling marriage as he splits from Kate: 5 things you need to know

By in Entertainment News, News

Jeff Brazier’s crumbling marriage as he splits from Kate: 5 things you need to know – The Mirror

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TV presenter Jeff Brazier and his wife of seven years Kate Dwyer have split, separating in the summer after a rollercoaster on and off relationship and a “year of hell”

What you need to know about Jeff Brazier’s split from Kate Dwyer after seven years of marriage

  • On 24 November, reports broke claiming Jeff Brazier and Kate Dwyer had broken up. The split was reported to have come after a “year of hell” and amid growing tensions between Jeff and his younger son Freddy. A source told The Sun that Kate “had enough” and had moved back to her flat in Hackney.
  • A day later, fans started to notice signs of the split, as Jeff appeared on Good Morning Britain without his wedding ring. The missing symbol of eternal love wasn’t the only hint – Kate’s cryptic posts about the “hardest season” of her life and her trip to Vegas without Jeff all pointed towards a split.
  • Tension between the couple was thought to have arisen as Jeff faced issues with his son Freddy. Earlier this year, Jeff launched legal action to stop the 21-year-old from seeing his maternal grandmother, Jackiey Budden, to “keep him safe”. The suit was dropped but it was still said to cause friction in the family.
  • Jeff confirmed the split on Instagram on 25 November. He wrote: “I’m so full of love and gratitude for Kate. For all we achieved, for how much we grew, for everything we endured. We separated in the Summer and kept it private for as long as we could to give us some time to adjust.”
  • This isn’t the first time the couple have broken up. Their last split was in 2022, and like this time, Jeff confirmed it on his Instagram as Kate moved out of their home. But in 2023, they rekindled their romance.
  • READ THE FULL STORY: Jeff Brazier reveals he split from wife months ago but will always ‘love’ her
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India’s Ahmedabad To Host 2030 Commonwealth Games

By in News, sport-news

The 2030 multi-sport Commonwealth Games will be held in Ahmedabad, according to a Wednesday agreement.

Following a recommendation from the executive board, the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow approved the choice of Ahmedabad, also known as Amdavad.

The Commonwealth Games Association of India’s president, Dr. PT Usha, praised the trust shown by Commonwealth Sport.

The 2030 Games “will not only reaffirm the Commonwealth movement’s 100th anniversary but also lay the foundation for the coming century. In a spirit of friendship and advancement, it will bring together Commonwealth athletes, communities, and cultures from different countries.

The state of Gujarat, which has a 130, 000-seater arena, which is the largest cricket stadium in the world, is known as Ahmedabad. The venue’s name comes from the Indian premier.

Read more about India’s bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and defeats Nigeria’s bid.

India, which signed a formal letter of intent to host the 2036 Summer Olympics last year, has a bigger prize in its sights.

After the Australian state of Victoria withdrew for financial reasons, the movement struggled to find a replacement host for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Glasgow, a Scottish city, joined the multi-sports scene and will present a pared-down version, ensuring that Britain will have hosted two editions in a row after Birmingham in 2022.

There have long been questions about the relevance of the Commonwealth Games, an international organization where the majority of the competing nations were once British Empire-held territories, in an era of increasing continental and world championships across a number of sports.

However, Dr. Donald Rukare, president of Commonwealth Sport, stated on Wednesday: “India brings scale, youth, ambition, rich culture, enormous sporting passion and relevance, and I’m delighted to report strong interest from a range of nations to host the 2034 Games and beyond.

We kick off the Commonwealth Games in good health and good health.

The 1930 inaugural event in Hamilton, Canada, will be commemorated at the 2030 Games.