Spain clinch FIFA 2018 World Cup spot with slick win over Albania

  IMAGE: Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been warned not to rush his Manchester United return by surgeon Freddie Fu Ho-keung, who operated on his knee in May. Ibrahimovic has not played since suffering a career-threatening knee ligament injury in United's Europa League quarter-final second leg match against Anderlecht at Old Trafford in April.   "He (Zlatan) is very strong but soccer is still a combative sport. As a doctor, of ...

Antonio Sanabria struck deep into stoppage time to hand Real Betis a shock 1-0 win away to Real Madrid on Wednesday as the European champions failed to score for the first time in 74 matches. Defeat leaves Real already seven points adrift of leaders Barcelona ...

News of all that's transpired on and off the football field IMAGE: Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp (left) cuts a frustrated figure in the dug out during the League Cup match against Leicester City on Tuesday. Photograph: Ed Sykes/Action Images via Reuters Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said he was "sick of conceding goals" after his side's defensive problems returned to haunt them in a 2-0 League Cup defeat by Leicester City on Tuesday. Klopp's side enjoyed 70 percent of the ball ...

IMAGE: Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring Real Madrid's third goal in the La Liga match against Real Sociedad on Sunday. Photograph: Vincent West/Reuters Real Madrid put their title defence back on track with a comfortable 3-1 win over Real Sociedad at Anoeta on Sunday, despite missing several key players. Sociedad defender Kevin Rodrigues scored at both ends and Borja Mayoral and Gareth Bale netted Madrid’s other goals to help them equal the consecutive scoring record of 73 games set ...

IMAGE: Ivan Rakitic,centre, celebrates with Lionel Messi and Gerard Deulofeu. Photograph: FC Barcelona/Twitter An insatiable Lionel Messi hit a hat-trick as Barcelona hammered Espanyol 5-0 in a local derby on Saturday to make it three wins from three and take full advantage after Liga champions Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Levante. The Argentine was handed a slice of luck with his first goal, which should have been ruled out for offside, and then showed no mercy to Espanyol, ...

La Liga champions Real Madrid dropped points at home for the second game running when they drew 1-1 with Levante on Saturday, with Gareth Bale squandering a series of chances and Marcelo getting sent off late on. Ivan 'Ivi' Lopez gave the visitors a shock ...

Real Madrid star striker Cristiano Ronaldo will hope to clinch the Best FIFA Men's Player 2017 award for the second time after being named among the 24-man shortlisted candidates for this year's coveted prize. Ronaldo, who bagged the inaugural gong last year, ...