Category Sports News

Elche’s 4-0 victory at Deportivo in June sealed their automatic relegation from La Liga after two years away from Spain’s top flight.

Elche could hardly be categorized as one of those clubs pundits like to call “punching above their weight” because it is the 20th largest city in the Comunidad Valenciana and the third-largest city in the entire of Spain.

Most pundits continued to give them the questionable distinction of being – along with Real Oviedo – favorites to drop right back into the second tier, despite that.

So far, that is completely incorrect. With more than a quarter of the regular season up, Eder Sarabia’s side are eighth in La Liga heading into Sunday’s game against Barcelona, with three victories, five draws, and just two losses.

The Bilbao-born coach will make a moving debut with the Catalan club after a turbulent seven-and-a-half month stint as Quique Setien’s assistant in 2020.

According to legend, the apple never falls far from a tree, despite the fact that Eder Sarabia’s skills were different from those of his father Manu.

Manu is a legend at his hometown Athletic Club, having won two league and two cups in 1983 and 1984 between 1982 and 1984.

Eder never even attempted to match his father’s footballing prowess as a player and never played in the third division, despite his best efforts.

He claims that “I didn’t realize I was going to play football,” but the plan didn’t work out. I started coaching and felt content from the beginning because I ended up being an amateur. I’ve continued to do so, and I’m delighted.

My parents were concerned that failing to fulfill that dream would traumatize me, but they were relieved to see that coaching was right for me.

When it became clear that he was not going to reach the playing heights his father had previously achieved, things started to get worse.

He credits his mother for convincing him to pursue engineering studies when it might have seemed more logical to pursue a course in physical education.

We had nothing to offer, but he says, “We lacked when I wanted to buy a car, but I had to work hard before I could buy it.”

My parents told me to get a job after I finished engineering, so I decided to pursue a master’s degree.

He eventually took over the fruit counter in a Bilbao supermarket after taking over as a shelf stacker.

At the age of 24, Sarabia knew from beginning to end his professional career that he would never be able to reach the heights he had hoped.

Instead, he began to instruct young people at Cruces before moving on to Danok Bat, one of the Basque country’s main feeder clubs that promotes player development for the region’s senior teams.

Sarabia relocated to Villarreal in 2011, and in October 2013 he was appointed manager of their C team.

His subsequent meeting with Setien, who had played alongside Sarabia senior at Logrones and with whom he would spend the next five years working, was crucial to his development.

Setien had a significant impact on younger Sarabia.

He tells me, “My father and Quique were my two footballing fathers.”

We were close for a long time because I met Quique when I was eight years old and he was probably my father’s best friend when he played football.

He contacted Setien, who was the coach at Lugo, to discuss how he could make things better while he was at Villarreal.

Setien, in turn, promised him a job whenever he left the Galician club and watched Sarabia’s Villarreal youth team play.

True to his word, Setien immediately contacted Sarabia, a 34-year-old resident of Las Palmas, to offer him the position of assistant when he first called in October 2015.

Sarabia immediately became aware of what it would feel like to be outside of his comfort zone while Lionel Messi was in charge of a Barcelona.

Messi was later identified by the media as the main cause of a rift between the club’s dressing room and coaching staff, which was highlighted during a game against Celta Vigo when he was shown in public ignore him and admit to an argument with the squad and staff after the game.

However, he only has positive things to say about his time with Messi and the Blaugrana these days.

Leo is probably the one who comprehends [football] the best of all time, according to him, referring to the Argentine genius. He was incredibly well-versed in the situation.

He is a fantastic winner, he claims. We had our ups and downs, and he would become angry if you made a whistle-out against his team during a training session or if they lost.

He wished for better things for the team, for the good of the team, and because he hoped to keep winning. He aspired to win another Champions League title.

Eder left Gerard Pique’s FC Andorra for a three-year contract with second-tier Elche.

After a two-year hiatus, the team regained control of La Liga, earning him a contract extension through June 2027.

Sarabia’s Elche side have shown that their innovative, adaptable attacking style should be more than enough to stay up despite a recent blip that saw his side lose two and draw one of their previous three.

Some promoted clubs have a propensity to launch defensive campaigns in survival mode rather than pursue them. However, Elche won’t be able to do that.

They will at least go down swinging, playing their own style of football, and remaining true to Sarabia’s ethos, which is to make fans happy, if they are going to go straight back down, which seems unlikely at the moment.

We have a general idea and a model, he says, but we never play the same way.

A non-negotiable requirement that players be honest about their competition is fundamental to his philosophy.

There is a word called “jatorra” in Basque, he says. Although there is no precise translation, it is similar to being decent, sincere, and doing it the right way.

“Not everything continues as long as you win.” Football is for intelligent people, but not for cheaters, which is a trait that my father taught me.

Sarabia believes that the wellbeing of a club should be the main concern in football rather than just outcomes, wins, or transactions in the transfer market.

He says, “I consider the club’s potential both short- and long-term.”

Is it time to combine your fantasy Premier League team with Eagles assets since Oliver Glasner’s FA Cup-winning Crystal Palace are a force to reckon with?

Although Palace is 10th in the Premier League, a favorable schedule of games will be played in November.

Before visiting Wolves and Manchester United, they play Brentford and Brighton.

Is there a chance the Eagles manager will need to switch teams now that Glasner’s side is competing in the Conference League this year and has reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after beating Liverpool on Wednesday?

My top three picks for the Crystal Palace assets are Daniel Munoz, Ismaila Sarr, and Jean-Philippe Mateta, who are all excellent value for money.

No defenseman has contributed more goals to Munoz’s last two seasons, which makes him incredibly attacking. In nine games so far this season, he has one goal and three assists.

He scores those points in three of his nine games this season, which is impressive for an attacking wing-back.

Sarr, a midfielder with a brace at Anfield this week, shows his potential. With three goals and one assist in seven starts, he has also had a solid league start.

I’m backing him to improve on these numbers now that the fixtures are getting better.

Overall, it’s still worthwhile to choose the triple, with their main men unlikely to miss any Premier League games, Munoz, Sarr, and Mateta.

Statman Dave: Because there is no rotation at the moment, my only concern with Crystal Palace is the Conference League and these cup competitions. On Thursday and the weekend, Oliver Glasner will play his first XI, which will be followed by his final XI.

The wing backs and central midfielders, who play twice a week, are very energetic, which is a bit of a problem.

Robbie Savage defends the claim that “people think I’m a pantomime villain and that I should be able to take the abuse.” However, it has an impact on me, particularly if I’m isolated and living alone with my family.

The manager of Rovers of Forest Green, a frequently antagonistic player in football, is talking about mental health and the “vile abuse” some opposition fans have directed at him.

Patients with depression can now order tickets to Forest Green home games thanks to a pilot NHS pilot scheme in Gloucestershire.

Savage, who was released by Manchester United and captained four Premier League clubs, is open about his own mental health.

He has previously addressed his father’s passing and dealing with anxiety and panic attacks.

The former Wales midfielder, 51, has been away from his wife Sarah and youngest son Freddie for most of the week since taking the full-time position at Forest Green in July.

It can be difficult for me to return to my apartment when I’m alone or isolated, Savage says.

“You can go out with your team-mates when you’re a player.” You can’t go out with your players as a manager, which makes it quite lonely, especially when you’re being abused.

Savage claimed earlier this month that he was abused while playing away at Carlisle United, and the Cumbrian club has agreed to provide the Football Association with video, audio, and CCTV footage.

“The humor, the banter, and the camaraderie are what I like most about football,” I said. Savage says it’s with away fans and that’s what we do at this football team.

There is a line, though. That line was crossed [against Carlisle], and that is unacceptable. We’re not talking about the daily abuse that football fans endure.

Then there is a “social media pile-on.” Even the negative energy that other people have around me occasionally strikes me.

What should I do about it? Although it’s challenging, speaking to people and being in front of people at the training facility are what I value most.

Savage supports his club’s efforts to provide free tickets to people with mild to moderate depression. He believes it is crucial to address mental health issues.

He continues, “People do struggle mentally in life.”

The Cotswolds-based club collaborated with Dr. Simon Opher, a Labour MP for Stroud, for the “Fool on Prescription” scheme.

Patients are given match tickets instead of pills in the hope that the sense of belonging that comes with cheering on a team can improve their mental health.

Football, according to Dale Vince, the owner of Rovers of Forest Green, “football brings people together like nothing else.”

Nature and people are the two things that modern life separates us from. Being alone and lonely is a very common trait.

I’ve had times where I’ve felt a little let down and excluded from time to time throughout my life. When you’re not in contact with people, things can easily spiral downward.

The sense of community that it brings about is one of the best aspects of running a football club, according to me. It’s about community, not making money, at this point.

A conversation between Vince and Dr. Opher led to the development of the social prescribing practice, which includes giving patients match tickets.

According to Dr. Opher, “social prescribing is essentially about trying to get people better without using drugs – art classes, exercises, gardening.”

I’m not denying that antidepressants are effective. Some people consider them to be very important, but I believe we overuse them and overuse them because there isn’t anything else available.

Let’s try something different, please. “Being at a football stadium and feeling like a part of a club,” is what this is about.

Critics contend that social prescribing may have short-term advantages, but there is inconsistent evidence of its long-term efficacy in reducing GP visits or improving social support.

Vince, who claims the scheme is the first of its kind in the UK and possibly the entire world, says, “We try to follow up with people who come here and see if they want a repeat prescription.”

Savage enters a hospitality box at Forest Green’s ground, which is set high on a hill and offers breath-taking views of the Gloucestershire countryside, as he enters a hospitality box.

Although he will soon be in charge of a top-of-the-table game against Boreham Wood, he still finds time to meet and photograph Sally, who has been given a match ticket by her neighborhood GP.

Sally, 55, was struck by a car when she was 11 years old and has occasionally struggled with her mental health.

Savage, a veteran of 346 Premier League games for Leicester City, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, and Derby County, says, “Wait here, Sally, I’ll be back in two minutes.”

Sally receives a green and black scarf from the club shop.

Boreham Wood defeated Forest Green 2-1 to the cheers of the 1,825-person crowd, putting them two points clear of Rochdale.

The manager spends the majority of the game standing in his technical area, looking as though he wants to kick every ball, and cheering his players whenever they can, which makes Savage’s antics on the sidelines as entertaining as the game itself.

Niels, who also received a game ticket, says, “He is a breath of fresh air.”

He is Mr Motivator, as he is referred to as in the video.

Would Niels, who has battled addiction issues, suggest “Fool on Prescription”?

“This is my third Forest Green game, and I’m using social prescribing again.” Your spirits are lifted when you visit this place. It almost feels like a reset. A complex subject is mental health. But at least Forest Green are attempting to do something.

Sally will attend another game, or not?

“I’m eager to return,” I said. It’s a chance to meet new people and get outside. Better than any medication I’ve ever taken, in my opinion.

In the first round of the FA Cup, Rovers of Forest Green travel to League One Luton Town on Friday (3:30 GMT kick-off).

Lamar Jackson, a quarterback, made his injury debut by completing four touchdown passes for the Baltimore Ravens, 28-6.

Jackson missed three games with a hamstring injury in the team’s 37-20 defeat at the Kansas City Chiefs on September 28.

The 28-year-old completed 18 of his 23 passes for 204 yards with no interceptions, which is second-placed twice in the NFL MVP poll.

He twice won the MVP award, according to tight end Mark Andrews.

We are a dangerous team with [number] 8 leading the charge.

Baltimore (3-5) have won their first six games, and they are attempting to become the only NFL team to reach the playoffs after losing five of their first six games.

At Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, the Ravens managed just two field goals, putting together a strong defensive display.

Jackson acknowledged after the first play that he initially felt “a little rusty,” but he quickly found a rhythm.

After scoring Charlie Kolar to end an 11-play, 68-yard drive in the third quarter, he found Andrews with two of his touchdown passes in the first half. Rashod Bateman completed his touchdown pass.

Running back Derrick Henry, who became the 17th player in NFL history to surpass the 12, 000-yard career rushing mark, said, “Whenever you’re away from the game, you miss it.”

One of the constant refrains throughout England’s triumphant run at Euro 2025 – and most women’s football matches in recent years – has been how important the success of the national team has been for the growth of the game.

And there has undoubtedly grown. Since England finished third at the 2015 World Cup, the media has grown significantly and discussion of women’s football has increased significantly over the past ten years, especially since their Euro title was won in 2022.

Following England’s victory at Euro 2022 and their bid to reach the 2023 World Cup final, there was a noticeable increase in average attendance over the previous four Women’s Super League (WSL) seasons, but figures for the last campaign only slightly increased.

This season the league has averaged almost 6, 500 fans per game. And while it’s important to remember that the season is still in its early stages, with most teams only having played six games, and that larger men’s stadiums like Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham haven’t yet had the same level of bounce as they did three years ago, it’s obvious that there hasn’t been as much.

This season, there have also been two WSL fixture rounds that have been played on weekends without Premier League games, compared to the previous round’s one, which is typically when the WSL will be aiming for larger crowds.

Comparing the first six games of the season to this stage last year, the Women’s Sport Trust reported a fall of 1% in attendances.

However, some clubs exhibit signs of success.

Since Everton’s men moved to Hill Dickinson Stadium, they now play the majority of their home games at Goodison Park.

Their two WSL matches at their new home have drawn crowds of 6, 473 and 4, 313 – a huge rise from the previous two seasons, when they averaged 2, 000 at Walton Hall Park. 18, 154 people turned out for their first game against Manchester United at Hill Dickinson.

For their 0-0 draw against Arsenal this season, Manchester United had an audience of 8,665 at their Leigh Sports Village home, which is a club record for a WSL game.

There has been a more concerted push in women’s football for a dedicated fan base, to solidify the recent success and exposure into something longer term.

Nicky Kemp, editorial director of marketing consultancy Creativebrief, calls it “a really good strategy.”

The women’s game will always lose if we use the men’s game as a model. It will always be behind the curve if you compare transfer fees or how many people are in the stadiums.

Many clubs need to learn how to get fans to experience games because they have never had a strategy for filling stadiums.

Arsenal is a fascinating case study. Playing all their WSL home games at the 60, 000-seater Emirates for the first time this season, they have the largest permanent home capacity of any English women’s side.

In three games this campaign, none of their attendances have exceeded 40, 000, compared to two out of three at the start of the previous season.

The club is not concerned about lower crowds because they are more pressing for a returning core of supporters than tens of thousands of day-trippers, even though they did not host one of the other big four teams this campaign in those first three games last year.

“We are very happy with the fans we have”, Arsenal manager Renee Slegers told her post-Brighton news conference when asked by BBC Sport about the attendance of 27, 336.

“I’m happy and proud of the fans and attendances we have,” he said.

On November 8th, Arsenal plays Chelsea, and they already had sold 50 000 tickets by last Friday. Last season 45, 860 fans attended the same fixture.

About 17, 000 season tickets for women’s soccer have been sold by Arsenal between 2025 and 2026. Compare this to Meadow Park’s 4,500 capacity, which was where they played the majority of their home games up until 2024.

“Our focus this season is on working together with these supporters to make the Emirates feel like the true home of Arsenal Women now all WSL matches are here”, a club spokesperson said.

Kick-off times are another problem for WSL fans.

New timings this season mean many more games start at noon, rather than the staggered kick-off times WSL fans were used to, while the divisive 18.45 slot on a Sunday has been scrapped.

To avoid conflict with Sky’s Premier League pick, which started at 14:00, three matches started at 11.55 on October 5.

Sports-mad families must choose between participating and attending, and using public transportation on a Sunday morning to travel to games can be challenging.

One plus is that games not picked for broadcast on BBC or Sky are now on YouTube, with the much-maligned FA Player consigned to the scrapheap.

Sponsorship is a key factor in the success of major brands, which continue to be focused on women’s football.

Similar to the Premier League, the WSL, which is an independent company as of August 2024, is currently in the second year of a three-year, £45 million title sponsorship deal with Barclays, while a new agreement allows British Gas customers to obtain free tickets.

WSL players and clubs will appear in the Football Manager series of video games for the first time in the 2026 version which will be released in November.

According to Kemp, “The biggest brands are choosing to invest their money in women’s sports.” And since it’s in the challenger stage, it’s incredibly good value. While WSL is an independent entity, they can do their own activations”.

Other than the buzz surrounding major tournaments, other brands have also made longer commitments to women’s football.

Kerstin Casperij, a City and Netherlands defender, and her partner Ruth have become the faces of Tinder’s dating app, making one of the most eye-catching changes.

On social media England players are garnering a greater following.

Chloe Kelly, Leah Williamson, and Alessia Russo are the three current England players with more than a million Instagram followers. Not far behind are Ella Toone (850, 000), Lucy Bronze (905, 000), and Lauren James (950, 000).

After newly promoted Ipswich and Nottingham Forest both advanced to professional football over the summer, the second tier, WSL2, was renamed WSL2 for the 2025-26 season, and now has 12 full-time teams for the first time.

Professionalism also means treating players like professionals. Women’s use of men’s boots has become a common complaint due to the recent spate of serious knee ligament injuries in the WSL.

Nike, a sportswear giant, announced in September that it would offer free gloves to keepers and boots for WSL and WSL2 players. These are standard practice at the highest level of the men’s game.

Below the professional level, an extra promotion place has been added from the third tier. The women’s national league North and South winners used to compete for a spot in the second division, but now both winners move up.

And at the grassroots, it appears to be in good health.

Before the Euros, Sport England released figures stating that 835, 000 girls regularly play football – an increase of 165, 000 compared to 2017 – and that over the past decade almost 100, 000 women have taken up the sport, 215, 000 regularly played football a decade ago compared to 310, 000 now.