Manchester United get Champions League campaign back on track
Manchester United got their Champions League campaign back on track last night with a 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford which moves them to the top of Group B.
It was captain Wayne Rooney who scored the decisive late goal - United’s first in more than six hours of football - and calmed a mood which had bordered on mutinous when Louis van Gaal’s second half substitution of Anthony Martial for Marouane Fellaini was met by a chorus of boos in M16.
Meanwhile Manchester City have booked their place in the last 16 with two games to spare after goals from Raheem Sterling, Fernandinho and Wilfried Bony gave them a 3-1 win away at Sevilla, while Real Madrid have also progressed to the knockouts following a 1-0 win over Paris St Germain at the Bernabeu.
Gordon D’Arcy column
In his column today Gordon D'Arcy assesses where the Rugby World Cup was won, and he believes while Australia tried to make it about turnovers with their devastating backrow trio of Pocock, Hooper and Fardy, it was line breaks and off loads that became the tournament's signature - something which made it all about New Zealand.
The majestic All Blacks were head and shoulders above rest with the ball in hand, “This was back to basics rugby; the simple skills of catch and pass in perpetual pacy motion with straight runners and nobody breaking stride. That was how the World Cup was won,” D’Arcy writes.
D’Arcy also gives his verdict on Ireland’s disappointing tournament: “Now the dust has settled the overriding emotion I feel about Ireland’s World Cup campaign is regret at not seeing them perform in the quarter-final with something close to their best squad.
“If Johnny and Paulie stayed fit I have no doubt we would have reached the semi-final. Even in the face of that brilliant Argentina performance.”
Ulster need tweaks says Kiss
New Ulster director of rugby Les Kiss believes his new province only require tweaking in order to translate their solid form at Ravenhill into success on the road.
GAA burnout proposals
In his column today Sean Moran looks at the proposals on player-overtraining and burnout and the GAA fixtures calendar which were launched by Paraic Duffy at Croke Park yesterday, including the abolition of under-21 football - something he believes will be a very hard sell.
Froome not questioned about doping
Tour de France winner Chris Froome was a speaker at the Web Summit in Dublin yesterday and he discussed the marginal gains needed to win the famous race - but wasn't grilled on the topic of doping - writes Ian O'Riordan.
The one that got away for Frankie
Willie Mullins’ Max Dynamite came second in yesterday’s Melbourne Cup behind history-making Michelle Payne and 100-1 shot Prince of Penzance.
The runners-up spot will rankle with jockey Frankie Dettori who was handed a 'careless riding' ban after he tried to negotiate a route from behind a wall of horses as he looked tosecure the race which continues to elude him.
What to watch out for:
Football
There’s more Champions League action tonight as Arsenal travel to play Bayern Munich (RTE 2, BT Europe 7.45pm ko) and Chelsea face Dynamo Kiev at Stamford Bridge (Setanta, BT Sport 2 7.45pm ko).
