Rob Smyth's Blog, page 144

May 27, 2018

Pakistan crush sorry England by nine wickets in first Test – as it happened

Pakistan’s pace bowlers ripped through England on the morning of day four to pave the way for a comprehensive victory at Lord’s

1.10pm BST

Signing off. England have been smashed by nine wickets by Pakistan inside 90 minutes on day four, a truly dreadful way to begin their international summer.

Vic Marks has popped out a quick match report on how it fell apart as soon as it began on Sunday morning, their final four wickets falling for seven runs. Pakistan - who were magnificent throughout - did the rest, collecting the 64 runs they needed in 12.4 overs.

12.59pm BST

Mohammad Abbas is the man of the match for his eight wickets.

Wasim Akram is interpreting for him in response to Mike Atherton’s questions on Sky. Abbas said he was happy with the lengthy preparation and it helped him agree on the length he was going to bowl in the First Test at Lord’s. He adds that Glenn McGrath and Mohammad Asif are two his heroes and the bowlers he tries to emulate.

12.56pm BST

Joe Root, England captain, at the presentation.

“We played some poor shots and gave some wickets away and you can’t afford to do that in Test cricket.” He has no regrets on the toss, though: “If we bat well and get 250 or 300 it is very different on that surface. As a batting group we need to find a way.”

12.55pm BST

Trevor Bayliss, England coach, speaks on BBC.

Believes the decision to bat at the toss was a 50/50 call. “The problem is that we didn’t bat very well at all. Yes, it was going to be difficult in the first couple of hours but but we just didn’t bat well enough. We simply keep making the same mistakes. We have seen these guys score runs in difficult conditions but we have to do it more often.”

12.45pm BST

Still waiting to see the captains. The response online is absolutely brutal. I shared the view of Vish Ehantharajah earlier that yesterday at times felt a bit like Hobart when Australia were smashed there by South Africa in November 2016. Having covered both of those annihilations, I certainly share that view 24 hours on. The same despair.

12.33pm BST

A couple of stats from CricViz that stand out.

12.31pm BST

All over inside 90 minutes on day four. To think England came here with actual hope this morning. Instead, they lost four wickets in seven balls to leave just Pakistan 64 to win, which they knocked off in 76 deliveries. “Absolutely walloped,” says Phil Tufnell on TMS. “I can’t remember them playing so badly.”

12.29pm BST

Haris Sohail finishes it in style, popping a full toss from Bess into the grandstand then two balls later clipping him through midwicket for four to win the game!

Pakistan 66-1 (Imam 18, Haris 39)

12.27pm BST

12th over: Pakistan 56-1 (Imam 18, Haris 29) Joe Root at silly point on his hands and knees as though he’s striving for the final wicket late on day five. A short leg also there, a leg gully too. No surprises where Wood is directing his attack at Imam, then. In saying that, Wood is fuller this over than the two that came before it. Runs from three of the six deliveries around the field. Both teams happy for this to finish asap. Eight to win.

12.25pm BST

11th over: Pakistan 50-1 (Imam 13, Haris 28) Haris Sohail looking fantastic here. It is a shame that his day is nearly done. Admittedly, the first of his two boundaries this over was a case of putting away a Bess full toss. No issues with that. The second required real skill, bisecting the two men in the covers after getting to the pitch. Spot on. 14 to win.

12.22pm BST

10th over: Pakistan 42-1 (Imam 13, Haris 20) Wood sends down a maiden to Imam to slow the Pakistan chase, if briefly. He is really banging it in short of a length as his stock delivery, changing it up with a couple of bouncers. No issues for the opener.

When you ring the 5 minute bell but then have to get to the pitch for the team photo...

‍♂️ @AzharMahmood11

¢LoveLords#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/iTXL6h5l58

12.20pm BST

9th over: Pakistan 42-1 (Imam 13, Haris 20) Haris into the 20s with another lovely drive through cover, off Bess this time. He looked fantastic in the first innings, before getting out. A nice red inker here will give him plenty of confidence going into Headingley. Not far away now, 22 more required for a famous Pakistani victory.

A little factoid here from the BBC: “The last time England lost the first Test of a summer, regardless of what month it began, was in 1995 against West Indies.”

12.16pm BST

8th over: Pakistan 36-1 (Imam 13, Haris 14) Mark Wood getting a chance now in place of Broad. Bowled with excellent pace first time around and immediately into his work here, short to Haris who ducks. When Imam gets down there, he gives him a bumper to begin as well. Fair enough. And then again to finish, trying to leave a bruise by aiming at his body.

12.10pm BST

7th over: Pakistan 35-1 (Imam 13, Haris 13) Dom Bess on for a twist and I think that’s a good shout from Root. If the debutant can get his first wicket in Test cricket before this is finished, that won’t be for nothing ahead of next week. He is very close with his third ball of doing just that, Imam throwing his hands and missing everything. Loose shot from a ball that had plenty of air. I’ve liked that from Bess, giving the ball a chance to turn from the outset. Frustratingly, his misses his line next up and Imam tickles a four fine. Gosh, then some big spin out of the footmarks that beats Imam and Bairstow (and Stokes), adding three more runs to the sundries column. Bowled.

12.05pm BST

6th over: Pakistan 27-1 (Imam 12, Haris 9) Forget about that extra half an hour, they’re ticking over nicely here with a couple of boundaries for Haris in this Broad set. The first is in error off the edge, but not to hand. The second is much better, leaning into a lavish cover drive that skips away to the rope in front of the grandstand.

12.02pm BST

5th over: Pakistan 19-1 (Imam 9, Haris 4) Anderson in from the Pavilion End once more. I don’t expect that he will bowl many overs here with back to back Tests. Runs coming from three deliveries in this over, Haris clipping one, Imam driving three then Haris pushing another. He keeps the strike. But really, nothing to see here. Lunch is an hour away and the umpires have the power to extend the session by half an hour if they believe a result is imminent. In other words, one way or another, this ends before lunch.

Watch that stump cartwheel

More clips: https://t.co/9jYAMDq8J7 #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/GSEPr4MTrZ

11.58am BST

4th over: Pakistan 14-1 (Imam 6, Haris 2) Broad charging in from the Nursery End and keeping Imam honest throughout, beating him with a good’un to finish. He receives generous applause from the modest crowd in today. Modest by Sunday at Lord’s standards that is, and for good reason.

“‘Obsequies’ is a lovely word, isn’t it?” observes John Starbuck. Funeral rites, the definition (full disclosure: I googled). But yes, that’s what this is.

11.53am BST

3rd over: Pakistan 14-1 (Imam 6, Haris 2) Haris has three balls to look at, tucking neatly around the corner towards the rope beneath my spot in the press box. A couple for him.

First time in 14 years that Pakistan pacers have taken 18 or more wickets in a Test. Last was against NZ in Wellington in 2003 when Shoaib Akhtar took 11 wickets. #EngvPak

11.50am BST

Something there for Jimmy, picking up Azhar for the second time in the Test. That’s a beauty too, angling in before nipping past the outside edge, smashing into the off-stump. Can’t ask much more of him this week.

11.48am BST

2nd over: Pakistan 11-0 (Azhar 4, Imam 5) “Does this not remind you of Adelaide?” asks Dan Norcross on TMS. Not wrong. A wicket second ball then all over in about an hour. Anyway, Imam’s turn and he’s going to make it count based on the early evidence, playing a glittering off-drive to get off the mark. That’s delightful. A single gets Azhar on strike and Broad beats him immediately.

A couple of emails asking about the spot fixing documentary that has just gone live on Al Jazeera. With an abundance of caution, I’m leaving that alone for now, but Ali Martin is writing up a yarn. I’ll post here soon as it is live.

11.42am BST

1st over: Pakistan 6-0 (Azhar 4, Imam 0) So, Imam is out there batting despite having copped a bad whack to the groin in the field just before Pakistan’s quicks finished it off. His senior partner Azhar Ali is taking the first ball from Anderson, though. He’s defending to begin before a couple of leg byes get the chase underway to fine leg. Then some runs off the bat to finish off the over, four of them, to third man. Not far from the catcher at third slip, but not to be.

11.37am BST

They are back on. Jimmy with the ball in his hand with 63 to defend. Yep.

11.37am BST

Unsurprisingly, the England twitter account have not been posting videos of those wickets. But the clips, if you feel the need to watch them, are alongside the scorecard here (for those reading in the UK).

“Do you think England after 141 years of test cricket are in with any chance of improving on Ireland’s five wicket loss to Pakistan in their first ever test?” asks Peter Salmon on the email. “Something to aim for.”

11.30am BST

There it is! For all the talk of tricky fourth innings chases, England lost four for seven this morning in 25 balls. It’s emphatic from Amir, uprooting Bess’ off stump. Pakistan need 64 to go one-nil up. Early bath then, lads.

11.28am BST

82nd over: England 242-9 (Bess 57, Anderson 0) Jimmy nearly goes first ball! Big inside edge, very lucky it didn’t bend back his leg stump. Oh, I better hit send on this because... (you can probably tell what has happened first delivery of the next over).

11.26am BST

A second ball blob for Broad, who bags himself a pair. Just a soft prod and Abbas finds the edge on the way through. Test wickets don’t come much easier than that. It came the ball after a lengthy delay when Imam was hit in the groin by a Broad drive that went to point, requiring the young man to leave the field in some distress. But given how small the fourth innings target is going to be, he can put his feet up. England lead by 63, adding only seven to their overnight score, losing three wickets along the way. Oh dear.

11.18am BST

It takes four deliveries with the second new ball for Amir to find Wood’s outside edge with a ball that nipped away beautifully. No footwork to speak of, but that’s excellent bowling to the tail. The left-armer warmed up rolling a couple down with the old ball, which enabled Bess to get off strike, but Wood didn’t have much of an idea there. Broad walks out on a pair. I did say this could happen quick.

81st over: England 241-8 (Bess 56)

11.13am BST

80th over: England 240-7 (Bess 55, Wood 4) Shot. Wood off the mark with a lovely square drive to the rope. He’s happy to leave the rest alone. That’s the final over with the old ball and it is a successful one. It looks like they will take it straight away with Amir immediately on to replace Hasan. We’ll see.

Here is the DRS map on the Buttler dismissal. Abbas has taken five LBWs in the match, Andrew Samson tells us on TMS. Nobody has taken six in a Test at Lord’s. He has a big chance to do so here with three England wickets on the shelf with the new nut.

WICKET! Big blow for England as Abbas traps Buttler (67) in the second over of day four. Eng 236-7, lead Pakistan by 57, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event. https://t.co/LPM9KGnhnU #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/Ff4U4rPDBN

11.08am BST

No issue with that decision from Paul Reiffel, technology confirming that the ball is hitting middle and leg. Buttler was beaten on the inside edge from a delivery that just hinted back at the right-hander off the seam. More superb bowling from Abbas who is having a mighty Test Match. He’s in the book for a third time with his second ball of the morning. The 126-run stand is broken with England’s lead 57.

11.05am BST

BUTTLER GIVEN LBW! He’s reviewed. He has to. But it looks pretty good on the first look. Stand by.

11.04am BST

79th over: England 236-6 (Buttler 67, Bess 55) Cripes, the third ball of the day has just about run along the ground. Can England hang around long enough for it to matter? Buttler digs out a yorker to cover but can’t beat the man there, but does keep the strike with a single squeezed to third man.

11.00am BST

Azhar Mahmood ringing the bell. He scored a ton on debut at number eight in 1997, Dan Norcross advises on the wireless. That’s what Dom Bess is trying to do here. If you were wondering, the highest score for an England number eight on debut is Liam Dawson who made 66. He was the last man to debut in that position, as it happens. Bess resumes on 55.

I made a mistake in the preamble earlier, by the way (which I’ll be editing in a tic). Keaton Jennings was, of course, the most recent hundred first up for England - not Trotty.

10.54am BST

Jos Buttler having a chat on radio. “He (Dom Bess) is a confident boy and he knows his game really well. He’s got a lot of talent with the bat. I’m not sure how many people knew it before this Test, but they do now.”

Said from a tricky situation, they showed some “skill and character” to dig in during the final session. “I had the same mentality really, I played the situaiton. I said before the game whether the ball is red, white or pink, I play with the same (approach).”

10.43am BST

Speaking of TMS. Getting in before I’m asked, this is the link to listen to their radio coverage via youtube if you are following from outside of the UK.

10.35am BST

A look at the track. Doesn’t seem the type to misbehave. “I think it has been a tremendous Test Match wicket,” says Michael Vaughan on TMS.

View of the pitch ahead of Day Four!

What are your predictions for today? #LoveLords #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/HOkt5UlkRS

10.31am BST

Some more on The Hundred from Ali Martin the paper today. Looks like they are going to take it on the road (well, the UAE) to give it a spin later this year.

Ultimately the plan is to have the scorecard showing the number of balls going down in each 100-ball innings – regardless of how that number is reached – as the score goes up. One senior ECB official told the Observer this is intended “to help answer the age-old question of ‘who is winning?’” and thus simplify cricket for the uninitiated.

10.28am BST

Andy Bull on Dom Bess.

This line isn’t about the man on debut, but I’ll pull it out as it made me laugh:

A lot of dubious thinking goes on at Lord’s on the Saturday of a Test match. Something about it seems to lead people to make the most bizarre decisions. How else does one explain all the preposterous clobber people wear? The blazers with candy-cane stripes, the schoolboy caps, the scarlet slacks, all those men ferreting around in their wardrobes asking: “Darling, have you seen my red trousers? I reckon it’s just the day for them.”

10.18am BST

Good start. I most certainly tagged my first post as “welcome to day three” rather than day four. You can get stuck into me about that on email the usual way (note the new address, my old account is no longer), or via twitter if you’d prefer.

10.12am BST

When turning in last night, I thought this was going to be an OBO of the wet weather. How about that storm? Lightning strikes every few seconds for what felt like hours. 50,000 of them, I’m told. Followed by chunks of hail that were more tropical Queensland than London. But fast forward to the morning, and it’s all good at Lord’s.

That might not be what England fans necessarily want to hear with the home side still so far behind in this Test, but the forecast says the rain will come again later today. So that gives us is a chance to revel in the work of a couple of lads from the west country who batted beautifully on Saturday afternoon to keep the contest vaguely alive.

2.08am BST

Adam will be here shortly.

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Published on May 27, 2018 05:10

May 26, 2018

Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 to win Champions League final 2018 – as it happened

Real won their third consecutive Champions League on an emotional night that will be remembered for Mo Salah’s heartbreak, Gareth Bale’s amazing goal and two hideous mistakes by Loris Karius

Read Daniel Taylor’s match report Sid Lowe: Bale soars but hints he might be leaving Real Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool: read Any Hunter’s player ratings Barney Ronay: Salah’s tears and agony a cruel end to season of joy Jürgen Klopp: ‘It was very bad for Mo, for us and for Egypt’

11.19pm BST

10.59pm BST

“The Champions League should be called the CR7 Champions League”

PS Here’s Cristiano Ronaldo’s wonderfully absurd reaction to Real’s victory, as published by Marca.

Who was the top scorer once again? The Champions League should change and be called the CR7 Champions League. I have won five and I am the top goalscorer again, so I cannot be sad.

10.53pm BST

That’s about it for tonight’s blog. It’s been a tough night for Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp wanted them to play brave, big balls football – and they did, dominating the match until Mo Salah’s heartbreaking injury after half an hour. That changed the mood of the match, and then poor Loris Karius made a big, big balls of the second half to give away two goals either side of Gareth Bale’s staggering overhead kick.

Congratulations to Real, commiserations to Liverpool. I’ll leave you with Daniel Taylor’s match report. Thanks for your company; goodnight.

10.49pm BST

Here are Andy Hunter’s player ratings from Kiev. Friends of Loris Karius, look away now.

10.43pm BST

“If anyone has the charisma, principles and work ethic to keep the Liverpool side together in the face of adversity it’s Klopp,” says Alex Yeandle. “Through bad luck he has ended up trophy-less this evening, but he’s got the confidence to inspire the Liverpool team into great things. This is only the beginning.”

Sometimes endings are disguised as beginnings. The start of next season is so important for Liverpool.

10.40pm BST

Here’s Zinedine Zidane “To win three CL trophies with this club is magnificent. It’s an unbelievable feeling, and we don’t quite realise what we have achieved yet. Gareth’s goal was magnificent, congratulations to him. [Was it better than yours, baldy?] It’s not the same thing, but this is just the latest one that we’ve witnessed. [Can you win four in a row?] We’ll enjoy the moment first, we had a complicated season but this makes us really happy.”

10.36pm BST

In case your’ve been watching repeats of Dawson’s Creek all night, here’s the short story of the match:

10.30pm BST

Here’s Jurgen Klopp “How couldn’t I feel for the players? There isn’t a lot to say: we started well and played exactly as we wanted to play. The situation with Ramos and Mo – that looks really bad, and it was a shock for the team. We lost our positive momentum. Half-time, came in, and then what can I say about the goals. We scored one, they scored three, that’s the result.

“Mo’s World Cup place is in doubt. He would have played on if he could. I think he’s in hospital at the moment having an X-ray. It doesn’t look good.

10.25pm BST

Jurgen Klopp is due to Whatsapp me any minute now. As soon as he does, I’ll let you know his thoughts.

10.22pm BST

There’s no more news on Mo Salah. The early diagnosis was a dislocated shoulder, which would make him almost certain to miss the World Cup. For such a joyous thing, sport can be savagely cruel sometimes.

10.18pm BST

Luka Modric speaks! “To win it twice was amazing; this is historic. We watched a movie yesterday about basketball teams who won competitions three or four times in a row, and they called it a dynasty. Now we can call this a dynasty. I don’t think anyone will repeat this achievement.”

10.12pm BST

Rio Ferdinand, on BT Sport, thinks Bale’s goal is the best he‘s ever seen live. Zinedine Zidane’s reaction was marvellous, and reminiscent of Rinus Michels staggering around in disbelief when Marco van Basten scored that volley against USSR in the Euro 88 final.

10.10pm BST

“If anybody has earned a raise at Real Madrid,” writes Asgeir Ingolfsson, “it‘s whoever is making those goalkeeper voodoo-dolls of their opponents: Buffon, Ulreich and now Karius.”

10.09pm BST

“At what point,” writes Alex Netherton, “do we have to admit that Zidane is a palpably better manager than Pep Guardiola?”

10.07pm BST

Jordan Henderson speaks. The poor bloke is miles away “It’s disappointing of course. We did well to get the goal and get back in the game, but we made mistakes and Madrid were really good. They were the better team. I felt we dominated in the first 30 minutes. It’s frustrating.

“When Mo got injured they started to dominate the ball more. I’m not really sure what happened with the first goal or whether it should have been allowed. It’s not about Loris Karius and the mistakes he might have made; it’s about the team. I’m so proud of the players and the fans. I hope we can keep going and get into more finals.”

10.02pm BST

“Really, this is the kind of a performance which finishes careers,” says Shom Biswas. “Goalkeeping yips. I sincerely hope Karius can come back to any level of football after this.”

I don’t think it’ll be that bad but I doubt he’ll play for Liverpool again.

9.58pm BST

9.53pm BST

“Vamos!” shouts Ramos as he kisses his medal. Real are ready for the annual ritual of lifting the Champions League trophy, and Sergio Ramos drags it above his head to enormous cheers. They’ve done it again, again.

9.52pm BST

Here’s Danny Taylor’s live match report from an emotional, slightly bizarre night in Kiev

9.52pm BST

Now it’s Real’s turn. Zinedine Zidane has been playing a game for the last few months: Champions League or P45. He’s usually pretty inscrutable but he’s currently smiling like that old couple in Mulholland Drive. He has been a manager three seasons, and he has won the Champions League three times. What the hell kind of record is that?

9.50pm BST

The Real players give Liverpool a guard of honour as they walk up to receive their medals. The defeat is something they can get over; the manner of it will gnaw at them for a long time.

9.47pm BST

Loris Karius walks up to the Liverpool fans, crying his eyes out as he lifts his hands in apology. The Liverpool fans applaud him empathetically.

9.45pm BST

Here’s our snap match report from Kiev

9.45pm BST

Gareth Bale speaks “Obviously very disappointed not to start the game, so the best I couild do was come on and make an impact – and that’s what I did. It has to be the best goal I’ve ever scored. Just happy to get the win. We know what we’ve achieved and how good we’ve been. We let everyone else speak, we know how hungry and determined we are and we showed it again today.

“[On a possible return to the Premier League] I need to be playing week-in week-out and that hasn’t happened this season for one reason or another. I have to sit down in the summer and discuss my future with my agent and take it from there.”

9.42pm BST

Jurgen Klopp is walking around consoling his players, looking a bit dazed after losing a sixth consecutive final. There is so much for him to take in, not least thoughts of the parallel universe in which Mo Salah did not go off injured. Liverpool were excellent until then.

Karius is covering his face with his shirt. “That’s for life now, for him,” says Frank Lampard on BT Sport. “On a human level you have to feel for him.”

9.40pm BST

Real Madrid become the first team since Bayern Munich in the mid-1970s to win three consecutive European Cups. Karius is broken, face down on the pitch. Dejan Lovren has dissolved in tears and is being consoled by one of the Real players, Kovacic I think. Bale goes over to console Karius, whose Liverpool career is probably over. We thought Gareth Bale’s Madrid career was over, but bloody hell he gave it a kiss of life tonight.

9.38pm BST

Full time: Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool That’s it! Real retain their trophy with an ultimately comfortable victory in a bizarre final that will be remembered for many things: Mo Salah’s heartbreaking injury, Gareth Bale’s outrageous overhead kick, and most of all two unthinkable howlers from Loris Karius.

9.38pm BST

90+3 min Ronaldo breaks through on goal, at which point a fan charges onto the field and is wrestled to the ground in the penalty area by two stewards. That was was astonishing.

9.35pm BST

90 min For much of the season, Real Madrid have been a bit of a shambles. They’re about to win the Champions League for the third consecutive season. And actually, they have been much the better team overall tonight. Liverpool were superb until Salah’s injury shattered their morale.

9.34pm BST

89 min “Where’s Barry Davies to say ‘Oh. Loris Karius’?” asks Adam Roberts.

9.33pm BST

88 min Real make another change, with Marco Asensio replacing Karim Benzema.

9.32pm BST

86 min We usually get lost in the moment, which leads to hyperbole, but this really does feel like one of the most infamous goalkeeping performances of all time. Jurgen Klopp’s faith in Loris Karius has cost him in ways neither of them could ever have imagined.

9.30pm BST

85 min Bale, on a hat-trick as a substitute, surges thrillingly clear from the halfway line and is denied by a wonderful last-man tackle from Lovren.

9.29pm BST

Bale cut inside from the right and hit a dipping shot from 30 yards that was straight down the throat of Karius, who spilled it over his shoulder into the net. It’s an awful mistake. Dear me, this has become the Lorus Karius final.

9.28pm BST

Loris Karius has made another hideous mistake and Real Madrid are European champions!

9.27pm BST

83 min A Liverpool substation: Emre Can replaces James Milner.

9.27pm BST

82 min Mane is booked for a foul on popular entertainer Sergio Ramos. That was harsh; Ramos knew what he was doing.

9.27pm BST

82 min Bale waves a majestic pass to Benzema, whose furious volley from 18 yards is beaten away by the flying Karius. It was a good rather than great save. Liverpool can’t get the ball.

9.26pm BST

81 min “These nuclear takes on Bale’s being best final goal ever have clearly forgotten McManaman’s beautiful shinner vs Valencia and Paul Rideout’s header in 1995,” sniffs Lee Calvert of hit podcast Nessun Dorma.

9.25pm BST

80 min The good news for Liverpool is that they still look dangerous when they have the ball. The bad news is that they are seeing less and less of the ball. Real’s experience is winning at the moment.

9.24pm BST

79 min “Last resort,” says Matt Dony. “Bring Hamann on...”

9.23pm BST

78 min “I’m struggling to think of a better Champions League Final goal than Bale’s,” says Matt Richman. “Zidane’s booklet was from further out, but he had time to watch it drop. Bale had it fizzed at him. I know I’ve seen the worst.”

I think Zidane’s was better - partly because of how far the ball had to drop and also because it felt like genius to order in a way that Bale’s didn’t quite. That said, I wouldn’t have a tantrum and unfriend you for preferring Bale’s.

9.23pm BST

77 min Liverpool have respondly excellently both times to going behind. If it stays 2-1 they will get another chance.

9.21pm BST

75 min What do Liverpool do from the bench? Their only realistic options are Solanke and Emre Can. I never thought I’d type this in a European Cup final MBM, but I wonder if Jurgen Klopp will regret not having Danny Ings among the subs.

9.19pm BST

73 min Firmino appeals for a penalty when his cross hits the elbow of Varane. I don’t think it was. Real break and Robertson makes a glorious last-ditch challenge to deny Ronaldo, who was put through by Casemiro.

9.17pm BST

71 min Thanks for all the emails, even though I haven’t had chance to read most of them. I swear MBMs weren’t always this manic.

9.16pm BST

70 min Sadio Mane has been Liverpool’s best attacker by a mile and he almost made it 2-2 there. He danced across the face of the box and hit a low left-footed drive from 20 yards that skimmed across the turf and clattered off the outside of the post.

9.14pm BST

69 min Great defending from Ramos! Robertson’s long angled pass from inside his own half bounces dangerously behind Ramos, allowing Mane to burst through on goal. Ramos recovers magnificently to stretch and boot the ball away.

9.12pm BST

67 min Madrid are all over Liverpool now, and Klopp has few options on the bench. Lallana is nowhere near match fit; I’d be tempted to take him off and bring on Solanke.

9.11pm BST

65 min That might even have been Bale’s first touch of the game. It’s certainly the defining touch of his career. It was an outrageous goal.

9.10pm BST

Marcelo, on the left wing, came back onto his right foot and lofted a generic cross into the box. It came at chest height to Bale, who was facing away from goal just inside the area. He launched into a crazily athletic, spidery overhead kick that flew over Karius and into the net. What the hell was that! Even Zidane, who scored the greatest ever Champions League final goal in 2002, reacted with disbelief.

Related: The Real Zidane stands up

9.08pm BST

Oh my goodness, this is a stunning overhead kick!

9.08pm BST

63 min “This is weird (but that’s football),” says Hubert O’Hearn. “However, that absolute Comedy Goal was exactly the slap in the face Liverpool needed.”

It really was. If they win, it will be down to Lorus Karius’s incompetence. Football, eh.

9.06pm BST

62 min Real have switched to 4-3-3, which means the BBC attack are back together. Liverpool’s sexy MFS, alas, were split up after half an hour.

9.05pm BST

61 min Gareth Bale is getting ready to come on. Real are having loads of the ball now. Nacho’s sharp clow cross finds Isco, whose shot on the turn is pushed behind by the diving Karius. It was going wide anyway but Karius probably didn’t know that. That’s Isco’s last touch: Bale replaces him.

9.03pm BST

57 min This is more like it. The gloves are off; conceding that goal seemed to wake Liverpool from their slumber. As Glenn Hoddle says, “both teams are playing with emotion”. That suits Liverpool I think.

9.01pm BST

That Varane header led to the corner which led to the goal. It was lofted very slowly towards the far post, where Lovren beasted Ramos to head the ball down into the six-yard box. Mane reacted quicker than anyone to poke it past Navas from close range.

9.00pm BST

Liverpool are level!

9.00pm BST

54 min In a very perverse way, that goal might help Liverpool, because to be honest they looked like a team who were waiting to concede. Now they will have to do what they best – attack. Milner’s brilliant cross from the left skims off the head of Varane and just over the leaping Firmino.

8.59pm BST

54 min Somewhere in the world, Gary Neville is cackling maniacally. Honestly, I cannot believe that mistake.

8.58pm BST

53 min “How many death threats has Ramos received?” asks Jacob Steinberg.

Come on, “Opta”, what have you got?

8.57pm BST

52 min It’s excellent play from Benzema, who read the throw and instinctively stuck his foot out to block it. But we are talking about one of the all-time great goalkeeping errors. Karius wanted a foul but it wasn’t.

8.56pm BST

I cannot believe this. Karius collected a through pass from Kroos and tried to start a counter-attack but underarming a throw to Lovren. It hit the outstretched leg of Benzema and dribbled miserably into the corner of the net. That’s an astonishing mistake.

8.55pm BST

Loris Karius has had the mother of all shockers.

8.53pm BST

48 min Madrid should be ahead. Lallana tries to intercept Marcelo’s square pass and unwittingly diverts the ball straight to Isco, 15 yards from goal. As the ball bounces up he shins a right-footed shot that beats the outrushing Karius and clatters off the bar. That was a great chance.

8.52pm BST

47 min The second half has started as the first finished, with Real dominating possession. Liverpool aren’t exactly hanging on but these are ominous signs.

8.51pm BST

47 min Liverpool need a bit more from the usually brilliant Firmino, who has been quiet for most of the game. At the moment, Mane looks their most likely source of a goal.

8.50pm BST

46 min Real Madrid begin the second half. The first five minutes should tell us whether Liverpool have cleared their heads.

8.49pm BST

Mo Salah has a dislocated shoulder, according to Liverpool’s early diagnosis. That means he will probably miss the World Cup as well. Sometimes, hideous things happen to good people.

8.47pm BST

“Dear Rob,” says Juan Escudero. “I´m a Madrid fan and I am very sorry that Salah is injured and cannot finish the game. I am sure Real want to fight against the best. I also understand the desperate frustration of Liverpool fans. But let´s not make this a witch hunt against Ramos. It might be a foul but he has never been known for wanting to injure opponents. It´s just an unfortunate play.”

8.41pm BST

On BT Sport, Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand think Ramos was blameless. Steven Gerrard has kept his own counsel.

8.40pm BST

Won’t somebody think of Matt Dony?! “Footballing wise, Liverpool are not a one-man team, but it’s got to the point where Salah just represents so damn much about their style and approach. Replacing him with Lallana has meant Liverpool changing tack slightly, and Real relaxing a whole lot. At half time, I will be pouring a large, large whiskey.”

Yes, good point that. I also can’t remember quite such (near) universal sadness at a player going off injured. He seems like the nicest bloke in the world, and he might never play in a Champions League final again.

8.38pm BST

Half-time chit-chat

Niall Mullen “Turns out you need two offsides for Real Madrid to have a goal disallowed.”

8.35pm BST

Phew. As goalless halves go, that was pretty eventful. Mo Salah and Dani Carvajal both left the field injured and in tears, Salah after a dubious wrestling manoeuvre from Sergio Ramos. Liverpool started brilliantly, albeit without creating many clear chances, but lost their way after Salah’s injury and were under a lot of pressure as half-time approached.

See you in 10 minutes for the second half.

8.34pm BST

45+3 min More good play from Benzaema, who dances infield from the left and whips a good shot just wide of the near post. Again, I think Karius had it covered. Incidentally, replays show Benzema was just offside when he scored that disallowed goal. Ronaldo’s header would have counted, even though he should have been given offside.

8.31pm BST

45+2 min Liverpool are almost mourning the loss of Salah. They were superb for the first half hour but now they look distracted and nervous. That said, they are defending pretty well, with Van Dijk organising everyone as usual. He has had such an influence on the other defenders. Alexander-Arnold has also played extremely well.

8.31pm BST

45+1 min There will be three minutes of injury time.

8.30pm BST

45 min Benzema is starting to influence the game. He comes infield from the left and drives a superb crossfield pass to Nacho, who volleys into the side netting from a tightish angle. Karius had it covered.

8.29pm BST

43 min Real should be ahead, sort of. Ronaldo’s close-range header is beaten away by the flying Karius and put into the net by Benzema, who is flagged offside. As it turned out, Ronaldo was offside and Benzema wasn’t (I don’t think). But Ronaldo, who wasn’t given offside, should have scored - and had he done so it would have counted. Though it was a fine save from Karius, Ronaldo should have given him no chance.

8.24pm BST

40 min “I’m livid,” says Oliver Lind, in reference to Ramos’s wrestling move on Salah. “Such a dirty, dirty player. Has been for years. He is almost as bad as Pepe was, only far cleverer.”

8.24pm BST

38 min Real have dominated completely since Salah went off, albeit without much penetration. Liverpool need half-time.

8.22pm BST

37 min Dani Carvajal is replaced by Nacho. Jurgen Klopp took advantage of the break to get his team over for that aforementioned timeout.

8.22pm BST

36 min “Ramos’ quick pin of Salah’s arm before they both fell - did that look dirty or was it a masterful use of the dark arts?” wonders Ted.

He knew what he was doing, though I’m sure all he wanted to do was make Salah visit the canvas. A shoulder injury was an unexpected bonus.

8.20pm BST

35 min Poor Dani Carvajal, who went off injured in last year’s final, is struggling again. He’s face down and looks like he’s in tears as well. He hurt his hamstring when he tried a backheel to Ronaldo.

8.18pm BST

33 min Marcelo’s cross pinballs to Benzema, whose snapshot is blocked by Van Dijk. Liverpool could use a timeout to clear their heads.

8.17pm BST

32 min Liverpool’s heads are scrambled at the moment. Benzema finds Modric, who makes space for a shot that is blocked by Robertson.

8.16pm BST

31 min Lallana replaces Salah. He has gone to the left, with Mane moving to the right.

8.16pm BST

31 min The injury occurred when Ramos nicked the ball away from Salah. As Ramos’s momentum forced him to fall forward, he dragged Salah with him. Salah then landed heavily on his left shoulder.

8.15pm BST

30 min This is horrible. The poor guy is in tears, and Cristiano Ronaldo - who suffered similar heartbreak in the Euro 2016 final - comes over to console him. That’s desperately sad. Adam Lallana is going to replace him.

8.14pm BST

29 min Mo Salah is down again, and I think he’s going to have to go off. He’s almost in tears.

8.14pm BST

28 min An intrepid run from Mane leads to a corner for Liverpool. He’s been very lively so far.Nothing comes of the corner.

8.12pm BST

27 min Salah is up and looks likely to continue, though he is still in a lot of pain.

8.11pm BST

25 min Salah is down after a challenge from Ramos. He fell heavily on his left shoulder, and this looks pretty worrying for Liverpool.

8.09pm BST

23 min: Good save from Navas! Milner’s cutback from the left reached Firmino, whose shot on the turn was blocked by Ramos. The ball came to Alexander-Arnold, who whistled an excellent low shot through the legs of a defender. Navas, who must have seen it late, plunged to his right to beat the ball away. That’s a fine save.

8.08pm BST

22 min Another opening for Liverpool. A long ball is allowed to bounce through to Firmino, who misjudges the weight of a header through to Mane. Ramos comes across to make another vital interception.

8.06pm BST

20 min The game has settled down a touch after that frenetic start but Liverpool are still the better side. Madrid look really stretched in defence.

8.05pm BST

19 min “As a person who’s deeply, passionately ill-disposed towards Real,” begins Devyani, “and who’s slept very little in these final weeks of university, I can say I’m contributing a good deal of desperate, near-hysterical, energy towards hoping that Liverpool make something of this initial brilliance before Real do that thing where they somehow end up winning despite doing little to deserve it.”

This is the kind of game where neither set of supporters would feel safe at 3-0, and would still have slight doubts at 12-0.

8.04pm BST

18 min An abysmal pass across defence by Carvajal gives Liverpool a corner. Salah’s deep inswinger is headed over by Van Dijk, with Navas in no man’s land. Van Dijk just couldn’t get over the ball, which meant it looped gently over the bar.

8.03pm BST

16 min “Why the heckins can’t I just enjoy football?” weeps Matt Dony. “The first ten minutes have been all Liverpool, but unless they score (ideally about 5), I just can’t relax and appreciate it. I agree wholeheartedly with your Firmino comments. He’s quietly redefining what you can expect from a ‘striker’.”

He’s a mix of Ian Rush and Lionel Messi; the first true-or-false? nine. You can keep that one for free.

8.02pm BST

15 min The first chance for Ronaldo. Robertson sells himself on the halfway line and is beaten by Carvajal. He moves forwards and finds Ronaldo, who marches into the area from the right and screams a shot wide of the near post from a tight angle.

7.59pm BST

15 min “Hallo Rob,” says James Walsh. “Writing from Beijing where it’s a 2:45am kick off. I need to be up at 7 for the flight back. China’s firewall means I can only access Yahoo, Bing Ask Jeeves and... the Guardian. We’re just back from farewell karaoke, ending on We Didn’t Start The Fire, which I’m pretty sure is about the European Cup. I suppose we’re staying up then.”

7.59pm BST

14 min Milner, Salah and Mane all have shots blocked in quick succession, with the last of those deflecting to Firmino in the box. He tries to wriggle past Carvajal, who makes a vital tackle.

7.58pm BST

13 min Ronaldo has pulled on Alexander-Arnold quite a lot, though he hasn’t seen much of the ball. Kroos, meanwhile, is maybe a bit lucky not to be booked for a foul on the breaking Mane.

7.58pm BST

12 min Real keep the ball for a minute or so. Liverpool are waiting for their moment to strike, and as soon as they win the ball they break at, well, breakneck speed.

7.56pm BST

11 min Marcelo turns smartly away from Milner before dragging a tame shot well wide from 25 yards. Benzema looks like he might be struggling with an injury.

7.55pm BST

10 min We thought Madrid might struggle with Liverpool’s tempo but they are also struggling to keep the ball. Liverpool could barely have started better.

7.54pm BST

8 min It’s all Liverpool. Robertson’s cross is headed over by the stooping Firmino in front of the near post. Salah has rightly had all the attention this season but I can’t remember a No9 with Firmino’s range of ability. He is a glorious footballer.

7.53pm BST

7 min Madrid tried to slow the game down with some possession football. When they lose it, Liverpool slice then open again. Firmino plays a marvellous angled through pass towards Mane. Navas charges out of his area to meet him but Varane gets there first to clear. Moments later, Firmino’s deflected header bounces towards Alexander-Arnold, who is just beaten to the ball by Navas.

7.51pm BST

6 min ... Salah runs over the free-kick and leaves it to Milner. He clips it square to Salah, who hits a low shot that is blocked. Not sure they needed anything quite so fancy at this stage.

7.50pm BST

5 min Real are struggling to deal with Liverpool’s tempo. Marcelo fouls Salah 20 yards from goal, in line with the right edge of the box...

7.50pm BST

4 min “Sitting in a hotel in Shigatse, Tibet where almost all internet is blocked, but China TV has the Champions League final kindly queued up at 2:45 am,” says Keith Leslie. “Made offerings at Tashilungmo Monastery today for Liverpool.”

Every little helps.

7.49pm BST

4 min This is terrific from Liverpool. Alexander-Arnold surges forward and hits a dangerous low cross that is booted clear by Varane on the six-yard line.

7.48pm BST

3 min It’s been a fast, confident start by Liverpool. Salah finds Wijnaldum, whose stinging low shot from 25 yards is blocked by Varane.

7.48pm BST

2 min Madrid’s first attack. Carvajal lofts a cross towards Isco, and Karius flies from his line to punch clear. Isco was offside but Karius didn’t know that.

7.47pm BST

2 min That’s a great stat from Darren Fletcher on BT Sport - Trent Alexander-Arnold is the first teenager to start in defence in a European Cup final since 1971.

7.47pm BST

2 min “Evening Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Cheering on Klopp, Andy Robertson and Matt Dony tonight, really hope Liverpool do it. I’m not one to name drop (Mick Jagger told me not to) but I’ve actually met Andy Robertson. Thoroughly nice bloke. As, I’m sure, are Klopp and Dony. I’m nervous for them all. Come on Liverpool!!!”

7.46pm BST

23 sec A fast start from Liverpool, with Salah pushing a short through ball towrds Mane in the area. Varane comes round to make a vital tackle.

7.45pm BST

1 min Peep peep! James Milner, for it is he, gets the Champions League final under way.

7.44pm BST

Real Madrid v Liverpool, Champions League final 2018. Let’s do this thing!

7.41pm BST

The players are in the tunnel. There’s a storming atmosphere in Kiev. Jurgen Klopp is smiling broadly, as are Sadio Mane and Mo Salah. Some of the other Liverpool players look a little more taut, notably Jordan Henderson and Andy Robertson.

7.36pm BST

Matt Dony breakdown latest

“Not to be hyperbolic, but this is the longest 45 minutes in history!”

7.30pm BST

Jürgen Klopp speaks!

“We came here with a specific kind of football [big balls] and it would make no sense to play differently tonight. It is very tense; everybody can feel the size of the game. The challenge is to see it as a normal football game. W don’t need to be 1-0 up after two minutes; we cannot unsettle them with that. We need to be stable at the start.

7.29pm BST

A bit of pre-match viewing

7.23pm BST

26 – Liverpool’s starting XI is the youngest (26 y 170 d) in an UCL final since Borussia Dortmund 2013 (25 y 255 d). Klopp. #RMALFC #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/CZkJSaSWAy

7.21pm BST

It’s always 3.45am somewhere

“Hi Rob,” says Samuel Duncan. “Don’t know what Pep & co would think of this but there is definitely a red moon over Niigata where I am watching the game, 03:45 kick off here!! Packed in the Twilight Cafe (it’s a sports bar really).”

7.18pm BST

“I’ve spent today lamenting the fact Scotland have finally produced some top-class players for the first time in decades and they both happen to be left backs,” says Gerry Scott. “God clearly has a sense of humour.”

7.12pm BST

Since you asked, here’s my prediction for tonight

7.11pm BST

No big match involving Liverpool or Wales would be complete without Matt Dony’s pre-match breakdown

“Argh, I haven’t been this nervous about a football match since Wales won Euro 2016! (Pretty sure I’m remembering that right...) As a Welshman, I’ll admit to some relief at seeing Bale on the bench; I do hate to cheer against him. I’m confident Liverpool will score, but, y’know, Ronaldo will do his thing. He is a ridiculous footballer. He is a ridiculous person. I don’t know what to think. I don’t know what to expect. This is horrible.”

7.03pm BST

“Streets of Mexico City full of pink, white and black Real Madrid jerseys, like an awful cake,” says Tim MacGabhann. “Last time I came to this cantina with the only other Liverpool fans I know here, the waiters laughed as 7-2 thinned to 7-6. They have brought me a bucket in case it’s the same this evening. May God have mercy on us all.”

6.56pm BST

“Hello Rob,” says Kevin Thomson. “In the unlikely event of Andrew Robertson picking up a CL medal tonight, he will be the first Scotsman to do so since ... I think it was Paul Lambert playing for Borussia Dortmund in 1997 (somebody may find this interesting).”

Didn’t Darren Fletcher get one in 2008? He was on the bench but didn’t come on. But Lambert is the last Scot to play in a final, never mind win one.

6.54pm BST

Liverpool will play Fulham in the Premier League next season. Fulham have beaten Aston Villa 1-0 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley. John Brewin has all the reaction.

6.48pm BST

A pre-match plug

6.41pm BST

Both starting XIs are as expected, which means Gareth Bale is on the Madrid bench.

Real Madrid (4-D-2) Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro; Modric, Kroos; Isco; Benzema, Ronaldo.
Substitutes: Casilla, Nacho, Bale, Theo Hernandez, Lucas Vazquez, Asensio, Kovacic.

6.40pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Hubert O’Hearn. “Glad you drew the lucky straw to do tonight’s MBM. Well, from my point of view it’s a lucky straw, other opinions (your own for instance) are available. At least your fingers will be doing worthy tasks while my own will be alternating among nail chewing, crisp grabbing, liquid clutching signs of nerves of the sort that make younger generations think, ‘Maybe it’s time Dad shouldn’t be driving any more.’ Good thing the kids are an ocean away in Canada. Here’s to a brilliant match. Cheers!”

6.20pm BST

“Hey Rob,” says Alex. “I was trying to study for my calculus final but the stress is getting control of me even more than one hour before the game. Numbers all look like a scoresheet to me right now.”

I hope no Liverpool fans are working in air traffic control right now, or they’ll have flight L0VR3N getting uncomfortably close to flight CR7.

6.15pm BST

“While a debate about the quality of back-to-back Champions League winners is in some sense ridiculous, I can sort of understand why there are people who are underwhelmed by Zidane’s Real Madrid,” says Kári Tulinius. “Guardiola and most other modern supercoaches create sides defined by control and balance. In contrast this Real team seems messy and chaotic. But maybe that’s the idea. If they can disrupt the flow and rhythm of the game, it will lead to more errors for both teams, but especially the one used to more orderliness. A squad this absurdly talented should be able to punish more errors than their opponents can. It’s like the old saying goes, if you wrestle with a pig, you both get dirty, but the pig likes it. Enjoy the game!”

They played with much more authority last year, didn’t they? Or did I dream that? I agree they have been weirdly chaotic this year, but you can’t argue with three Champions League wins in a row. Well, you can, but you’d be a bit of a dolt to do so.

6.07pm BST

Some more pre-match reading Here’s Richard Williams on the duel that could define the match: Benzema v Lovre- wait, hang on.

6.05pm BST

BT Sport’s coverage begins with a rousing soliloquy from the great Liverpool-supporting actor Stephen Graham. I’m surprised he’s been allowed back on the football coverage after he was caught making those racist comments in This Is England.

6.01pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Gokul Kannan. “Nervous Liverpool fan here. I see the game to be won or lost in Liverpool being able to take all the chance they create. Because create they will. Take them and we will be 5-0 to the good in 20 mins.”

I’d love to read your prediction if you weren’t nervous.

6.00pm BST

In modern times, Real have been as likely to be champions of Europe as champions of Spain. Since the 1997-98 season, they have won the Champions League and La Liga six times apiece. It’s a bonkers ratio, especially when you contrast with other big teams in the same period:

5.52pm BST

A bit more pre-match reading

It’s round, it has a circumference of 69cm, it weighs between 420 and 445 grammes - and that’s just the left one. Here’s Andy Hunter on Jurgen Klopp’s plea for Liverpool to play “brave, big balls football”.

5.50pm BST

“Hello Rob,” says Michael Cosgrove. “Do you have any thoughts on how Liverpool may try to neutralise the threat posed by Ronaldo, and how Real may try to contain Salah?”

I doubt either team will do anything specific, apart from maybe a bit of prayer. It would be tempting to play a right-footed left-back against Salah but Marcelo is so important going forward that I’d be pretty surprised if Zinedine Zidane changed anything. That said, I’m no Tactics Man.

5.23pm BST

The team news should be confirmed at around 6.45pm BST. These are the predicted XIs, though Madrid have a few options in midfield and attack.

Real Madrid (4-D-2) Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro; Modric, Kroos; Isco; Benzema, Ronaldo.

5.19pm BST

A bit more pre-match reading Here’s Sid Lowe on pantomime villain and wildly underrated defender Sergio Ramos.

5.14pm BST

Real Madrid have a terrifying record in European Cup finals: 12 wins, three defeats. But their last defeat, back in 1981, was against Liverpool.

5.11pm BST

If you need an early hit of live football, John Brewin is following the Championship play-off final between Aston Villa and Fulham. You won’t believe the score!

5.07pm BST

We’ll have a leisurely build-up to the 7.45pm BST kick-off. Let’s start with the great Daniel Taylor’s preview from Kiev.

11.55am BST

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the biggest custody battle in Europe. Real Madrid and Liverpool both claim moral ownership of the Champions League. Madrid because they have won it a record 12 times; Liverpool because they have won it five times and experienced a unique range of emotions in the process.

These two are European royalty but that, pretty much, is where the similarities end tonight. This Champions League final offers a mouthwatering contrast: the winning experience of Real against the infectious naivety and devastating speed of Liverpool. Every decent forward line needs an acronym these days, and Liverpool’s sexy MFS could run Madrid’s geriatricos ragged. They are the main reason why Jurgen Klopp’s side are the most exhilarating team in Europe, maybe the world.

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Published on May 26, 2018 14:53

May 18, 2018

Football transfer rumours: Gianluigi Buffon to Liverpool?

Today’s whispers can get you a toe by three o’clock

You don’t care about the Mill. You don’t want us to make ourselves happy by starting this bulletin of tittle-tattle with a playful, circumlocutory and almost entirely narcissistic introduction. No, you just want transfer gossip. We’ll never be anything other than a rumour buddy to you, will we.

Fine, have it your way. The coy bromance between Gianluigi Buffon and Michael Oliver could go up a notch next season if – and this one might just merit an exclamation mark – Buffon accepts an offer to move to Liverpool! He has also, according to tomorrow’s super soaraway chip paper, been approached by Manchester City.

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Published on May 18, 2018 00:42

May 15, 2018

World Cup stunning moments: Josimar charms the world at Mexico 86 | Rob Smyth

The right-back was unknown, uncapped and unemployed before scoring two monstrous goals – but his fairytale became a cautionary tale

In the summer of 1964, England took part in the Little World Cup in Brazil. It was a simple four-team league involving Portugal, Argentina and the hosts. England finished joint-bottom with Portugal. In their first match they were plugged 5-1 by Brazil in Rio. They commiserated with a night on the town, and were staggering around Copacabana beach the following morning when they were challenged to a game by some local kids.

It was an embarrassing mismatch: the England team, two years away from winning the Big World Cup, got absolutely slaughtered for the third time in 18 hours. Admittedly it was 12 v seven, and the seven had quaffed a few performance-diminishing substances the night before. But the story, told in Jimmy Greaves’s Don’t Shoot the Manager, reflects an eternal truth about Brazilian football: that there are brilliant, natural talents on every beach corner.

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Published on May 15, 2018 04:00

May 13, 2018

Liverpool 4-0 Brighton: Premier League – as it happened

Mo Salah scored his 32nd Premier League goal of the season, breaking the record for a 38-game season, as Liverpool secured a top-four finish with an easy win at Anfield

5.22pm BST

That’s it for today’s live blog, and for the Premier League season. Thanks for your company throughout. Goodnight!

5.20pm BST

Jurgen Klopp speaks! “What the boys did is unbelievable. I can’t believe we could achieve this with Adam Lallana injured all season. The players have 9,000 games in their legs. I’m really proud of the boys. A nearly perfect season: we had no chance to challenge Manchester City so the only thing you can go for is a Champions League place.

“I’m really happy for Mo. He had a little dip the last two or three weeks but today he was back at his best. It’s difficult to stay on track [when people tell you how good you are] but he’s done that. Congratulations to Manchester City. To challenge that we need more consistency and have a little more luck with injuries.

5.15pm BST

Here’s Andy Hunter’s report from Anfield

5.12pm BST

The Liverpool players are back on the field to enjoy a lap of honour. They went unbeaten at home all season in the league and were involved in some immense matches: the 4-3 win over Manchester City, the 2-2 draw with Spurs and that tactically compelling 0-0 draw with Manchester United.

5.06pm BST

Mo Salah’s daughter is having the time of her life, kicking the ball around Anfield to huge cheers. Her dad has long since gone down the tunnel but she’s still going strong.

5.04pm BST

Mo Salah speaks “The Golden Boot is very special. It’s always in my mind to help the team win games, and we will be in the Champions League next season so I’m very proud. It was always in my mind that I wanted to have success in England. I’m always trying to improve every year. It was very special to break the record in front of the Kop. I’ll do my best to win it next season, don’t worry.”

5.02pm BST

Mo Salah is back on the field, receiving about 48 different awards from Kenny Dalglish: Player of the Year, Golden Boot, and the rest. He has his little daughter with him, and is looking left and right to take it all in. He started the season as a Chelsea flop and ended it being routinely compared to Lionel Messi. And he seems a thoroughly nice bloke.

5.00pm BST

This, then, is the final Premier League table for 2017-18. You won’t believe who’s top!

4.55pm BST

A ridiculous match at Wembley has ended Tottenham 5-4 Leicester. That means Liverpool will have to settle for a second consecutive fourth-placed finish. They’ll get over it.

4.52pm BST

“Despite their best efforts to reschedule the show, Liverpool fans Echo & the Bunnymen will play a gig in Birmingham on the night of the Champions League final,” says Peter Oh. “That could be the edgiest performance ever by Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant.”

4.50pm BST

It’s not quite an Agueroooooooooooooooo moment, but Gabriel Jesus’s late winner at Southampton has taken Manchester City to a staggering 100 points. Simon Burnton has more.

4.49pm BST

Peep peep! Liverpool will go to Kiev in good heart after one of their easiest wins of the season. Mo Salah scored a record-breaking 32nd league goal, while Dominic Solanke and Andy Robertson added to the feelgood mood by scoring their first goals for Liverpool. Dejan Lovren was the other scorer with a towering header. Brighton were stuffed but who cares; their work for the season was done when they beat Manchester United.

4.47pm BST

90 min You wouldn’t think Jurgen Klopp will have any selection dilemmas for Kiev. Adam Lallana isn’t ready to start, and if everyone is fit the team picks itself. It’ll be today’s starting XI, with James Milner in place of Dominic Solanke.

4.45pm BST

89 min The Liverpool fans are ending the domestic season in good voice. Today couldn’t really have gone any better.

4.42pm BST

Andy Robertson gets his first goal for Liverpool! Lallana gave a reminder of his class with a neat pass down the left to Ings. He battered a cross that was only partially cleared by Dunk, and Robertson backed up the play to ram the ball into the net.

4.39pm BST

84 min Liverpool make a double change: Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino are replaced by Danny Ings and Ben Woodburn.

4.38pm BST

83 min See 81 min.

4.37pm BST

81 min Nothing is happening in this match.

4.36pm BST

80 min Harry Kane, Spurs 5-4 Leicester. He needs two more to share the Golden Boot with Mo Salah.

4.35pm BST

79 min Here’s Simon McMahon, with more on yesterday’s fun and games at Cowdenbeath. “Even the songs were wonderful. Especially the one that references the era of the Cowshed behind the goal at one end. ‘There was a coo, on yonder hill, it’s no’ there noo, it must’ve shifted.’ By the way, there was a West Brom Man United moment up here on the last day of the Scottish Premiership, as it finished Hibs 5 Rangers 5.”

4.33pm BST

77 min Liverpool are back in third place, as things stand, because James Richard Vardy has made it Tottenham 4-4 Leicester at Wembley.

4.31pm BST

75 min The match is petering out. It’s been a pretty perfect day for Liverpool: an easy win, no injuries, and Mo Salah close to his electric best after a few muted performances.

4.29pm BST

73 min A Liverpool change: the popular Adam Lallana replaces Sadio Mane.

4.28pm BST

71 min Another Brighton change: Connor Goldson replaces the injured Shane Duffy.

4.27pm BST

70 min “I’ve been a Liverpool supporter since my dad bought me a shirt with ‘Hitachi’ as the sponsors (so close to 40 years), and I don’t recall enjoying a season as much as this one before,” says David Horn. “We’ll finish fourth (or third) and haven’t won anything (yet), but the joy! It’s been off the charts. From the dugout to the pitch to the stands, it’s been lovely. And to put the whole thing in perspective, it’s less than eight years since Gillett and Hicks appointed Roy Hodgson as manager. That still makes me cringe, but how far we’ve come. It shows that progress can be measured without reference to league tables. Enjoy whatever sort of off-season you’re afforded.”

4.24pm BST

68 min No sign yet of Jurgen Klopp protecting any of his stars ahead of Kiev. Liverpool’s intensity has dropped since they went 3-0 up, though they are still almost embarrassingly dominant.

4.23pm BST

67 min Newcastle now lead Oh, Chelsea 3-0. You can follow that and all the other games with Simon Burnton.

4.20pm BST

65 min “If Big Nev’s inner monologue is anything like his Twitter feed, then it would have been riveting stuff, all political musings and social commentary,” says Matt Loten. “Thoroughly worth a follow.”

4.20pm BST

64 min There’s a proper end-of-term feel now, with Liverpool knowing their domestic work is done. Salah almost makes it 4-0, scooting past Bong before slipping over when through on goal. Kevin Friend turns down yet another penalty appeal, but I think he was right to do so that time. Meanwhile, Spurs now lead Leicester 4-3 so Liverpool are back down to fourth.

4.17pm BST

61 min It’s now Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea and Spurs 3-3 Leicester. As things stand, Liverpool are third.

4.16pm BST

60 min “In pre-season, Solanke looked like a young Alan Shearer* in that he hit the ball early and with extreme prejudice,” says Niall Mullen. “He’s looked nervous in front of goal in competitive games. Glad for him today.

“*I may be guilty of a little hyperbole.”

4.15pm BST

58 min The hapless Schelotto allows Salah’s pass to run through to Firmino, whose first-time shot is tipped over by Ryan. Firmino should have scored.

4.13pm BST

57 min A double change for Brighton: Glenn Murray and Pascal Gross replace Jurgen Locadia and Beram Kayal.

4.12pm BST

56 min You have to feel for Mat Ryan, who has probably been Brighton’s best player today. It reminds me of the time Neville Southall had a blinder for Wales against the Netherlands - and they still lost 7-1. Just imagine Big Nev’s internal monologue during that fiasco.

4.10pm BST

A lovely moment for Dominic Solanke, who gets his first goal for Liverpool. It was made by Salah, who skilfully ignored a challenge from Dunk and then slid a perfectly weighted pass to Solanke in the area. He took the shot first time, battering a rising drive past Ryan at the near post.

4.06pm BST

51 min “Afternoon Rob,” says Matt Loten. “Following up on Hubert’s email, I’d just like to say that, as a Premier League neutral (until Portsmouth’s triumphant return) this season has been a thoroughly enjoyable one which I will be sorry to see go. There may not have been much drama with regards the table, but Klopp, Guardiola and co have ensured that the league has shifted towards full-throttle entertainment and as self-contained 90-minute episodes the big matches have rarely disappointed. The City-Liverpool games in particular were superb, and the only real let-down I can recall off the top of my head was Liverpool-United at Anfield.

“Compare this to a decade or so ago, when Mourinho was in his first spell at Chelsea and Rafa was at Liverpool, and 2-1 was considered a veritable goalfest in a big game. I’m sure the current situation won’t last forever, but I’m going to make sure I enjoy it while I can.”

4.06pm BST

50 min A half-cleared corner leads to a bit of pinball in the Brighton area. Eventually the ball comes to Van Dijk, whose shot on the turn is straight at Ryan.

4.05pm BST

49 min Firmino’s unexpected low shot from 25 yards is palmed behind by the diving Ryan. I think it would have hit the post but Ryan made sure.

4.04pm BST

48 min It hasn’t been the liveliest start to the second half.

4.02pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Brighton begin the second half.

4.02pm BST

Half-time chit chat

“Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “At the end of another fantastic season for the self-styled richest / best league in the world, how about a half time mention for the other end of the football scale? Was at Cowdenbeath yesterday to see the Blue Brazil extend their 113-year stretch as a Scottish league club (for another year at least) with a crazy 3-2 play off win against Highland League winners Cove Rangers. Let’s just say the Highlanders weren’t best pleased with some of the decisions and ended the game with 8 men after three red cards following a superb, old-fashioned Donnybrook in stoppage time. 1750 fans there too, more than 10 times the Fifers average home gate. To see them celebrating being confirmed as officially the worst team in Scotland for the second year running was a sight to behold. As important to them as top four places, Europe, 17th place and Champions League finals to Premiership clubs.”

3.47pm BST

Half-time reading

3.46pm BST

Peep peep! Liverpool lead by two, have missed a number of good chances and had three excellent penalty appeals turned down. That aside, it’s been neck and neck.

3.44pm BST

44 min Liverpool have already had 16 attempts at goal.

3.43pm BST

43 min This could be a tennis score. Mane’s shot is superbly blocked by the stretching Dunk, and then Liverpool appeal for a penalty when Propper challenges Solanke. He got the ball but his foot was extremely high. In the modern game, that’s a penalty, which makes it a hat-trick of penalties that Liverpool probably should have had.

3.41pm BST

42 min “Well, there have certainly been more ups than downs, but I’m looking forward to Liverpool’s league campaign being over,” says Matt Dony, stopping just short of asking fans of every other club if they’re up to anything a week Saturday. “The last few weeks have not been too enjoyable, and let’s face it, we’re all pretty much fixated on Kiev. Glad to see Salah break the record, top four should be comfortably secured (other scorelines looking particularly tasty), so should be ending on a high. I’d like to see a goal for Big Dom, Maybe one for Ings off the bench, and a second half cameo full of flicks and spins from Lallana. And then on to two weeks of nerves/crippling fear...”

3.40pm BST

Breaking news: Liverpool will play Champions League football next season. A corner is half cleared to Robertson, who stands up a nice cross towards the far post. Lovren has the run on everyone and soars to thump an emphatic header past Ryan. That’s an excellent goal.

3.38pm BST

38 min “Hey Rob,” says Hubert O’Hearn. “Well, another season done. Have to say that even if my first club (Liverpool) and second club (Newcastle) don’t win a thing, it’s been a marvellously enjoyable season for entirely different reasons: Liverpool with its guts n’ glory attacking style, and our old mucker Rafa keeping the Magpies up with a MasterClass in Management. And thanks to you old friend (and shout out to Scott Murray et al) for keeping us informed, entertained and laughing through a season of MBM reports. Cheers and a round of Dodgy Fizz to all the good folks at Guardian Towers.”

Yes, I’d also like to thank

myself
all the readers for making the MBMs so enjoyable. Most of the time. Some of the time. Look I’m grateful okay!

3.36pm BST

37 min March shoots straight at Karius from 20 yards.

3.36pm BST

36 min And another chance. Solanke’s backheel is miscontrolled by Mane and runs to Firmino, who blasts over from 10 yards. Liverpool have had five or six opportunities in the last 10 minutes alone.

3.35pm BST

35 min Yet another chance for Liverpool. Mane slides a through pass to Wijnaldum, whose low first-time shot is well saved to his right by Ryan.

3.34pm BST

33 min Mane muscles his way into the area and hits a shot that is blocked by the stretching Dunk. Liverpool are so good at having spells within games when they create a succession of chances; it’s exhilarating to watch.

3.30pm BST

30 min Liverpool miss another great chance. Mane runs clear on goal and tries to give the goal to Salah. His pass is a bit soft and Salah’s shot is blocked desperately by Ryan. The rebound comes to Salah, whose shot is cleared off the line by Duffy!

3.29pm BST

29 min Firmino misses an excellent chance to make it 2-0, smashing over from 15 yards after taking Mane’s square pass in his stride.

3.28pm BST

28 min Newcastle lead Chelsea through a goal from Liverpool’s old friend Dwight Gayle. As things stand Liverpool will finish five points ahead of Chelsea - and one ahead of Spurs, who are losing at home to Leicester.

3.28pm BST

27 min Salah has got the taste now. He comes onto his left and hits a curling shot that is headed away by Bong.

3.27pm BST

That’ll do. Solanke flicks a nice little pass into the area, where Salah reacts quicker than Duffy and drills a low shot on the turn past Ryan. That’s his 32nd league goal of the season.

3.24pm BST

24 min It’s still 0-0 between Newcastle and Chelsea, so Liverpool have nothing to worry about yet.

3.22pm BST

22 min Alexander-Arnold comes inside on his left foot and arrows a shot towards Row X.

3.20pm BST

19 min Brighton are all over the place. Solanke plays the ball through to Mane, whose low close-range shot is well blocked by Ryan. Mane was being tracked by Schelotto, who then decided to stop on the edge of his area for no particular reason.

3.19pm BST

18 min Kevin Friend turns down another big penalty appeal! Salah played a one-two with Firmino and seemed to be cleaned out by Duffy just inside the area. Friend had a great view and waved play on. Duffy did get something on the ball - but it was an accidental touch in his follow through after he had already tripped Salah.

3.17pm BST

17 min As with a lot of Have vs Have Not fixtures, thisresembles a training exercise: attack and defence, invasion and repulsion. Liverpool have had 72 per cent possession; Brighton will point out that Mat Ryan hasn’t had much to do.

3.13pm BST

13 min Liverpool are very dominant, though Brighton are as organised as usual in defence. The needle doesn’t have much of an eye.

3.11pm BST

11 min Liverpool have another handball appeal turned down when the ball hits the upper arm of Knockaert. It was just outside the area, so it would only have been a free-kick.

3.10pm BST

9 min “Hello from south Texas!” says Sam MB. “So I think I’ll give watching the match about 30 minutes before I feel like I’m jinxing the Reds... I tend to think I jinx my hometown San Antonio Spurs when I watch them live, so... And yeah, this formation.. 4 2 3....and whatever?”

3.09pm BST

8 min Alexander-Arnold’s dangerous cross hits the arm of the hapless Duffy, who stooped to head the ball and completely missed it, but Liverpool’s penalty appeals are turned down by Kevin Friend. That should have been a penalty.

3.08pm BST

8 min Duffy miskicks an attempted backpass in the comedy style, allowing Solanke to run through on goal. His first touch isn’t the best and Ryan smothers the danger.

3.07pm BST

7 min Henderson splatters a half-volley well wide from 25 yards. It was beautifully struck but well off target.

3.03pm BST

3 min Actually, I have no idea what formation Liverpool are playing. What I do know is they have dominated the first few minutes, with Brighton on the defensive.

3.01pm BST

1 min Mane wins a corner after 12 seconds, though nothing comes of it. It looks like Liverpool are playing a 4-2-4 formation.

3.00pm BST

1 min Liverpool kick off on a lovely afternoon in, well, Liverpool.

2.59pm BST

The familiar sound of You’ll Never Walk Alone tells us it’s almost soccer o’clock. As last days of the season go, this is fairly low key, so let’s get on with business.

2.56pm BST

“This must be peak Klopp,” says Thomas Johanessen. “Desperately needs avoid losing - starts with four strikers.”

For really peak Klopp, we need a 4-4 draw and a Brexit gag in the post-match interview.

2.34pm BST

“Liverpool’s formation might be 4-2-3-1 with Solanke up top, the Fab Three behind him then Hendo and Gini behind them,” says Patrick. “Any word of why Milner not on the bench?”

He’s injured. It sounds like he’ll be fine for Madrid though.

2.22pm BST

It’s a strong, attacking Liverpool side, with the Fab Three and Dominic Solanke starting. Sadio Mane looks likely to play in the centre of midfield.

2.11pm BST

There are nine other games in the Premier League today, and Simon Burnton is literally all over them.

2.05pm BST

Liverpool (4-3-3) Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Lovren, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Mane; Solanke, Salah, Firmino.
Substitutes: Mignolet, Clyne, Klavan, Moreno, Lallana, Woodburn, Ings.

Brighton (4-3-3) Ryan; Schelotto, Dunk, Duffy, Bong; Propper, Stephens, Kayal; Knockaert, Locadia, March.
Substitutes: Krul, Bruno, Goldson, Suttner, Gross, Ulloa, Murray.

10.05am BST

Hello. For the second year in a row, Liverpool need a result at Anfield in the last match of the season to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

They’ve clearly stagnated under Jurgen Klopp, he’s taken them as far as he can
. But the mood will be a wee bit different than it was during the 3-0 win over Middlesbrough a year ago. Liverpool were hopeful outsiders, who just wanted to experience the Champions League again; this year they are about to play in yet another final, with a chance to lift the big old beast for the sixth time.

Liverpool have let themselves go a bit in the league since a Champions League victory became a serious possibility. They have won only one of their last five games, which means there is still an outside chance they could be overtaken by Chelsea. Liverpool’s superior goal difference means they only need a point to finish fourth.

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Published on May 13, 2018 09:22

May 11, 2018

Premier League: 10 things to look out for on the final day

A wake is in store in Swansea, Klopp faced with a juggling act and a swansong for Conte and Benítez?

This feature, you will note, is called ‘10 Things to Look Out For’ rather than ‘10 Things to Look Forward To’. Thank goodness for that, because there might not be much to look forward to at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday. The match between Swansea and Stoke is likely to be a wake, with both clubs wondering how the hell they got into this mess. A number of players will be making their last appearance for both sides, seeing no contradiction in the belief that they are far too good to play in the Championship. Swansea could still stay up, but they need snookers, a miracle and, most unlikely of all, at least one goal. RS

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Published on May 11, 2018 00:30

May 10, 2018

The Fiver | Huddersfield and a night of diligent rehydration

In years to come, somebody will write a cracking book about David Wagner’s Huddersfield. It won’t be The Fiver, because by then we’ll be in the retirement community, rocking back and forth and boasting about how we once had a face-to-face interview with Les Reed. But somebody will do it, because in the last two years they have produced one of the more charming stories in English football history.

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Published on May 10, 2018 07:58

Nessun Dorma podcast: from Eric Cantona to Glenn Hoddle and Kenny G

The pod discuss the greatest player of all time, musical failures, televised football and Manchester United’s first title for 26 years

Modern life is a great advert for nostalgia. That’s why we started Nessun Dorma, a semi-regular podcast about football in the 1980s and 1990s. We’ve almost finished our first season, with just a few World Cup specials to come before we swan off to Ayia Napa together for an end-of-season beano. Since we were last on these pages we have released four new episodes, starting with a tribute to the greatest footballer ever.

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Published on May 10, 2018 05:20

Football transfer rumours: Neymar to join Real Madrid?

Today’s guff can’t spake

Thing is, what nobody knows is that a young Neymar had a dream. “One day,” he told his imaginary friend, Cecil, “I’ll play for every single one of the G-14 superclubs.” If today’s rags are to be believed, he will move one step closer by acting in a sufficiently brattish manner to make Paris Saint-Germain wearily decide that life’s too short and sell him to Real Madrid.

If Neymar goes, PSG will endeavour to replace him with absolutely everybody, including Fulham sensation Ryan Sessegnon. He is also wanted by most of Her Majesty’s finest, including Spurs, Man Utd, Man City and Arsenal.

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Published on May 10, 2018 00:15

May 6, 2018

Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid: La Liga – as it happened

Ten-man Barcelona fought hard to maintain their unbeaten run in a feisty and richly entertaining clasico

Report: Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid

10.04pm BST

Read Sid Lowe’s match report from the game.

9.44pm BST

Barcelona’s last three fixtures are:

9.42pm BST

Zidane gives Valverde a friendly slap on the cheek. Both are smiling and seem happy with life. That was crtacking entertainment, and the upshot is that Barcelona should - should - go through the league season unbeaten.

9.41pm BST

Peep peep! Barcelona’s long unbeaten run goes on after a lively draw against Real Madrid.

9.39pm BST

90+3 min Paulinho wins a corner for Barcelona, which might be enough for them to see this game out.

9.38pm BST

90+2 min Barcelona waste a bit of time with their last substitution. Luis Suarez is replaced by Paco Alcacer.

9.37pm BST

90+1 min There will be four minutes of added time.

9.36pm BST

90 min It’s all Real. Umtiti makes a vital interception from Modric’s cross.

9.35pm BST

89 min Suarez is down again after a strong but fair tackle.

9.33pm BST

86 min Suarez is down after a challenge with Ramos, but Real play on. Eventually the ball goes out of play, at which point there is a predictable row between players on both sides.

9.30pm BST

84 min Marcelo’s dangerous cross towards Bale is headed behind by Jordi Alba. That leads to another corner, before which Real make their final substitution: Toni Kroos is replaced by Mateo Kovacic.

9.29pm BST

82 min Moments later, Messi flips the ball around Casemiro and tries to blast it past Navas from a ridiculous angle. Navas was well positioned and beat it behind for a corner.

9.28pm BST

82 min Ramos gives the ball to Messi, who manipulates the ball onto his left foot and curls just wide of the far post.

9.27pm BST

81 min Vazquez cushions a cutback to Modric, who smacks the bouncing ball over the bar from 20 yards.

9.26pm BST

80 min ... which is played short and worked infield for Vazquez, who mis-hit shot is kicked away by Pique.

9.26pm BST

80 min Barcelona looked in control at 2-1 but now they are hanging on a little. Vazquez wins a corner down the right...

9.25pm BST

79 min “Bale is just what United need,” says David Flynn. “A left-sided attacker who isn’t as good as he used to be. Perfect.”

But he plays on the right.

9.25pm BST

78 min “There are very few things more entertaining, and better for the soul, than a full-blooded Clasico,” says Matt Dony. “Good to see Bale being a bit nawty; matches like this can bring it out of anyone. You never wish ill on people, but the thought of Ronaldo possibly missing the final does excite me. I mean, it’d be a shame for a big showpiece event, but, but...”

9.24pm BST

77 min Bale finally gets a yellow card for a foul on Semedo. Marcelo is also booked for dissent. You can see why he wanted a penalty - replays show it was a clear foul by Jordi Alba, not Pique as I first thought.

9.23pm BST

76 min The popular Marcelo goes over in the area after a risky tackle from Pique. The referee says no penalty. It might have been both a foul and a dive, though it’s hard to be sure as we haven’t seen a replay yet.

9.22pm BST

73 min “Aside from Spurs, I don’t see anyone in the Premier League who would Bale,” says Paul Moody. “What do you think?”

If I was United’s manager I’d take him in a heartbeat. Chelsea too, depending on what happens there.

9.19pm BST

Oh my goodness, that is a cracking equaliser from Gareth Bale! It came out of nothing. Benzema’s excellent off-the-ball run allowed Asensio to ease an angled pass towards the D, where Bale ran onto the ball and smacked a superb first-time curler into the corner.

9.17pm BST

70 min Real played well before half-time but their second-half performance has been muck.

9.17pm BST

69 min Barcelona are sitting on the edge of the area, waiting to win possession and hit Real on the counter attack. That approach almost leads to a third goal when Suarez flips a brilliant first-time pass on the turn that puts Messi through on goal from the halfway line. He scoots into the area and tries to cut a shot across Navas into the far corner. Navas gets down smartly to his left to push it behind for a corner.

9.14pm BST

67 min Real bring on Lucas Vazquez for Nacho.

9.14pm BST

66 min Benzema’s cross finds Asensio, who mishits a very difficult volley. Barcelona are in control of this game.

9.11pm BST

65 min Real are starting to have more of the ball now, though there’s a lack of authority and belief in their attacking. Bale whacks a long-range shot against Umtiti and then appeals for a penalty after being eased off the ball by the same player. There was nothing in it.

9.07pm BST

61 min Real are really missing Ronaldo. They haven’t got going at all since half-time.

9.05pm BST

58 min Barcelona have been brilliant since half-time and almost make it 3-1 when Semedo’s low cross flashes right across the face of goal. Paulinho stretched to reach it and ended up clattering Navas.

9.04pm BST

57 min A Barcelona substitution: Paulinho replaces the immortal Andres Iniesta, who hugs Lionel Messi and leaves the field to a kind of Mexican wave from the Barcelona fans. We’re not worthy.

9.03pm BST

55 min Suarez has a goal disallowed for offside against Rakitic. It was a very tight decision but probably the correct one.

8.59pm BST

Moments after Asensio shoots straight at ter Stegen, Messi gives Barcelona the lead with a brilliant goal on the counter-attack! He took a square pass from Suarez just inside the area, shimmied away from Ramos and Casemiro and curled a precise shot past Navas at the near post. I’m pretty sure there was a foul by Suarez on Varane in the build up, but I’m not sure either team have much business on the moral high ground tonight.

8.57pm BST

50 min Ronaldo has a slight ankle sprain, according to the chaps on Sky Sports, so I’m sure he’ll be fine to play for Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

8.54pm BST

47 min The popular Marcelo robs Iniesta, loafs towards the area and slices a shot over the bar from 20 yards. Barcelona are playing a tight 4-3-2 now, with Semedo at right-back.

8.53pm BST

46 min The second half is underway.

8.52pm BST

Both teams make a half-time substitution: Barcelona bring on Nelson Semedo for Philippe Coutinho, and Marco Asensio is on for the presumably injured Cristiano Ronaldo.

8.50pm BST

Nacho and Pique have just had a row in the tunnel. I suspect this is going to be a very funny second half.

8.47pm BST

“I don’t know about you, but having thoroughly enjoyed the Champions League semis, I’ve realised I need something other than pure goal-fests,” says Brad McMillan. “I’m happy to admit that the pettiness, childishness and lameness of some of the fouls, followed by exaggerated reactions that wouldn’t look out of place in an Eastenders argument from 1994, is hugely entertaining. The speed and brazenness with which Marcelo got up so quickly, after seeing the red card had been shown, was genuinely impressive. Maybe it’s the bank holiday feeling, but I’d rather be nowhere else than watching this at the moment.”

There’s nothing like it for guilty pleasure. Two of the happiest hours of my so-called career were MBMing the Portugal/Netherlands match at the 2006 World Cup.

8.45pm BST

Half-time chit-chat

Gene Salorio “I miss Pepe.”

8.35pm BST

Half-time reading

8.35pm BST

That was highly enjoyable, with two good goals and loads of aggro. Barcelona players surround the referee at half-time, before Iniesta tells them all to bugger off and show some respect. The second half should be extremely lively.

8.34pm BST

It’s all going off now. Marcelo goes down off the ball and Sergi Roberto gets a straight red card. Pique applauds sarcastically. Replays show that Marcelo ran into Sergi Roberto, who slapped him about the person in response. It was definitely a slap rather than a punch, and to the body rather than the face, but the referee decided it was enough for a red card.

8.32pm BST

45+1 min Bale, who should have been booked earlier, is even luckier to avoid a yellow card for studding Umtiti in the back of the leg. That was a weird tackle.

8.30pm BST

45 min Messi is booked for administering a bit of vigilante justice to Ramos.

8.29pm BST

43 min Here we are. Suarez and Sergio Ramos are head to head over something or other. Suarez is foaming in all directions, suggesting Ramos elbowed him. The referee gives them both a yellow card.

8.28pm BST

42 min A chance for Barcelona. Coutinho angles a nice through pass for Messi, who tries to dance around the outrushing Navas. He can’t quite get the ball out of his feet and Navas is able to palm it away on the stretch.

8.26pm BST

40 min Kroos plays the ball out to the left for Benzema. He shuffles into the area, moves the ball away from Sergi Roberto and whips a cross shot a few yards wide of the far post.

8.24pm BST

38 min More Real pressure. Marcelo dinks a deep cross beyond the far post, where Ronaldo monsters everyone out the way and loops a header onto the roof of the net. That was a really good effort.

8.22pm BST

36 min Umtiti sprays Messi’s free-kick wide from six yards, though he was offside so it wouldn’t have counted.

8.21pm BST

36 min Bale is lucky not to be booked for a hack at Iniesta, who lured him towards the ball and then whisked it away.

8.20pm BST

34 min After a lethargic start, Real are playing excellently and should probably be ahead. Barcelona are having to play on the counter-attack.

8.17pm BST

32 min Jordi Alba and Modric have a full and frank exchange of views about something or other. Alba shoved Modric in the throat but I don’t think the referee saw it.

8.16pm BST

31 min Varane is booked for a foul on Luis Suarez.

8.15pm BST

30 min Coutinho’s cross goes straight out of play. He’s been pretty disappointing so far.

8.14pm BST

29 min Ronaldo could have scored four already.

8.13pm BST

28 min This is a terrific spell for Real. Kroos plays a through pass down the inside-left channel to Ronaldo, who cracks a low left-footed shot this far wide of the far post.

8.12pm BST

27 min Ter Stegen makes a terrific save! Modric eased a superb through pass to Ronaldo, who surged into the area and slammed a low first-time shot towards goal. Ter Stegen was out so quickly and slid towards Ronaldo to make a vital block.

8.12pm BST

26 min Real break through Marcelo and then Benzema. He plays the ball back to Kroos, who wafts over from 20 yards.

8.11pm BST

24 min Another chance for Ronaldo, who heads over the bar from Nacho’s near-post cross. That was a decent opportunity, though the height of the cross made it difficult for him to get over the ball. It might have been different if he’d had a running jump.

8.09pm BST

22 min Gareth Bale has hardly touched the ball. It’d be fairly surprising if he didn’t return to the Premier League this summer.

8.06pm BST

20 min Barcelona’s full backs, Jordi Alba and particularly Sergi Roberto, have been a major threat in the first 20 minutes.

8.05pm BST

19 min Messi, near the halfway line, plays an absurd pass over the defence to find Jordi Alba, who volleys over on the stretch. That wasn’t far away from being one of the greatest passes of all time.

8.02pm BST

17 min Ronaldo is back on. Man’s a beast.

8.02pm BST

16 min Ronaldo is limping. He was challenged strongly by Pique when he scored. With the Champions League final a few weeks away, it’s probably not worth taking a risk with his fitness.

8.01pm BST

An equaliser out of nothing! Ronaldo backheeled the ball down the left to the overlapping Kroos, who chipped a superb cross towards the unmarked Benzema at the far post. He planted a header back across the six-yard box, where Ronaldo arrived to stab the ball into the net from three yards.

7.59pm BST

13 min Sergi Roberto’s cutback finds Suarez, who goes around Navas and falls over. It looked like a dive, and the referee wasn’t interested in giving a penalty.

7.58pm BST

12 min Nacho is booked for planting his studs into the back of Suarez’s leg.

7.56pm BST

Brilliant goal. Suarez, in his own half, flicks a lovely pass behind the defence for Sergi Roberto. He hares into the space down the right and lifts a precise cross towards the far post, where Suarez arrives late to slam a volley past Navas.

7.54pm BST

9 min It’s all a bit low key, which is slightly surprising: I thought Real would be desperate to stop Barcelona going the whole season unbeaten.

7.53pm BST

7 min Ronaldo shoots straight at Ter Stegen from a ridiculous angle on the left wing.

7.51pm BST

6 min Real have gone back to the old 4-3-3 formation, with Ronaldo on the left. It’s 2014 all over again! Ronaldo, played through on goal by Marcelo, is flagged offside and wags his finger at the linesman. That was extremely close; I think he was just onside.

7.50pm BST

5 min On reflection, I think Suarez’s shot was blocked by the covering Varane rather than Navas.

7.49pm BST

4 min An early chance for Barcelona. Messi slips a pass down the side of the defence for Suarez, whose first-time shot is excellently blocked by the outrushing Navas.

7.47pm BST

2 min “When you mentioned ‘Iniesta’s last Clásico’, I initially thought you might be referring to a pre-match glass of the old grape juice,” says Bill Hargreaves. “But then I realised that the great man is, of course, playing his last Real game in front of his old home crowd. On the subject of last games in front of home crowds, what are your thoughts on M. Wenger’s best successor?”

I’d give it to Eddie Howe. If nothing else – and there is plenty else - it would be great if Arsenal followed the revolutionary appointment of a foreign manager in 1996 with the revolutionary appointment of an English manager in 2018.

7.46pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Real Madrid kick off to hearty boos from the home crowd.

7.44pm BST

The teams exchange pre-match handshakes, and it’s time for some action.

7.42pm BST

Letters page “Iniesta is lovable indeed,” says Charles Antaki. “I can’t think of an English equivalent of Iniesta’s valediction; Bobby Charlton’s perhaps? But we didn’t really know much about him; I imagine he was just presented with a gold watch and dispatched with a firm handshake, to generally warm applause and not a great deal more. Our closer-seeming intimacy with players nowadays amplifies the emotions. But there does have to be something authentically there to amplify, and Iniesta’s extraordinary skill, humility and decency seem real enough. And too rare to pass without celebration.”

7.07pm BST

This is Andres Iniesta’s last clásico. If you don’t adore the man, I prescribe an urgent soul transplant.

@andresiniesta8 ❤️ #ElClásico
Força Barça! pic.twitter.com/0XhiksQYfk

7.07pm BST

In other news, Juventus are going to win Serie A for the seventh consecutive season. Napoli could only draw 2-2 at home to Torino today, which leaves Juve needing a point from the last two games.

6.42pm BST

Gareth Bale starts for Real, and Raphael Varane is fit. The teams are otherwise as expected, with Barcelona in their usual 4-4-2 formation. Dave Bassett knew all along.

Barcelona (4-4-2) Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Coutinho, Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez.
Substitutes: Alcacer, Denis, Paulinho, Semedo, Vermaelen, Dembele, Cillessen.

2.06am BST

Hello. This is a neat twist on an old clásico: a match that means nothing and everything at the same time. La Liga has already been won emphatically by Barcelona, so tonight’s contest has no titular significance, yet Real Madrid could barely be more desperate to win at the Nou Camp.

Their incentive is to stop Barcelona from becoming the first team to go through a La Liga season unbeaten since - yep - Real Madrid in 1931-32. It was an 18-game season in those days, so Barcelona avoiding defeat through a 38-game campaign would be unprecedented in Spanish football.

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Published on May 06, 2018 13:42

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