There was a perception of Tottenham Hotspur under Mauricio Pochettino that they lacked the self-belief to win silverware and there was plenty of evidence to support that view.
Two near misses in the Premier League title race, FA Cup semifinal losses and then, when glory beckoned, a rather timid Champions League final defeat by Liverpool.
Atlético Madrid striker Luis Suárez has talked up his side's LaLiga title chances ahead of next week's showdown against former club Barcelona, saying his side's strong start to the campaign could give them an edge.
Atlético have won five of their first seven games and are the only unbeaten side in the top flight, while champions Real Madrid and Barça have already lost two games each. Real Sociedad are top of the standings with 20 points while Atlético are third on 17 but have two games in hand. Real Madrid are fourth, while Barça are eighth.
Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus said his team cannot be satisfied after securing a point at home against Premier League champions Liverpool and must raise their level in important matches to reclaim the title.
City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne missed a potentially match-winning penalty after Jesus superbly cancelled out a Mohamed Salah spot-kick in the opening half as the 2018-19 champions were held to a 1-1 draw on Sunday.
Gabriel Jesus Goal Vs Liverpool (11/08/2020)
Arsenal finally dispensed with a long-running narrative of despair by defeating Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the game’s only goal from the spot in the 69th minute after Paul Pogba had needlessly fouled Héctor Bellerín in the area.
The Red Devils have twice now displayed a massive European hangover after achieving impressive results in the Champions League. After defeating PSG 2-1 on Oct. 20, United and Chelsea played out a forgettable 0-0 draw last Saturday.
After a week in which Karim Benzema's damning opinion of strike partner Vinícius Júnior was unwittingly revealed, Real Madrid's forwards will be hoping to present a united front when they host Huesca in LaLiga on Saturday.
El Tráfico took center stage on Sunday afternoon as Los Angeles FC hosted the LA Galaxy at an empty Banc of California Stadium but with thousands watching the action unfold on national television.
The standings — LAFC entered fifth in the Western Conference, the Galaxy dead last — and ESPN.com’s promo photo juxtaposing Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sebastian Lletget told you everything you needed to know about how much has changed for these two clubs over the past year.
The first Clásico of the 2020-21 season comes thundering into our living rooms on Saturday as Lionel Messi — perhaps for the final time — welcomes Real Madrid to the Camp Nou at 10 a.m. ET on beIN SPORTS. So how about an El Clásico prediction before then?
Honestly, I’d rather not.
The El Clasico history and corresponding rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid is entirely without equal in the world of sports. To say otherwise is to be completely ignorant of the animosity between these two clubs forged over conflicts of identity, philosophy, civil war and the simple fact that these two great cities frequently house the best football teams on the planet.
When Spain and Portugal meet today in a friendly at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal, it’ll mark the first meeting between the Iberian rivals since that legendary 3-3 draw during the group stage of the 2018 World Cup.
The match will also be a direct contest between Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and Spain captain Sergio Ramos, who spent nine years together at Real Madrid while winning two league titles and four Champions League crowns.
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp hit back at television pundit and former Manchester United captain Roy Keane on Monday after the Irishman described the Premier League champions' defending in a 3-1 win over Arsenal on Monday as "sloppy.”
Liverpool have won all three of their league games so far this season, beating visiting Leeds United 4-3 and winning 2-0 at Chelsea, but while praising Klopp's side Keane said they had shown the ability to win while not being perfect in defending.