The Irish Times

Enigma that is Karim Benzema a unique fooballing maverick

Real Madrid’s hopes rest on striker’s shoulders in Champions League final against Liverpool

Fri May 27 2022 - 13:00

Courage of having faith in his players is Carlo Ancelotti’s greatest gift

Real Madrid manager has always valued his players’ opinions when the going gets tough

Tue May 24 2022 - 22:45

Real Madrid see victory as almost a divine right - and they do have Benzema

The striker is on a run of 17 goals in 12 games. He has 46 goals in 48 games for the season, 13 assists and another league title in the barrel

Wed Apr 27 2022 - 22:35

Does the rest of Europe really get Kevin De Bruyne?

Modric-Kroos remains the standard, the defining central midfielders of the last decade

Mon Apr 25 2022 - 22:30

Tuchel must choose chaos if Chelsea are to attempt a Real Madrid comeback

Manager stresses importance of imposing physicality at the Bernabéu

Mon Apr 11 2022 - 22:33

Karim Benzema’s hat-trick puts Real Madrid in box seat against Chelsea

Defending European champions all at sea during quarter-final first leg

Wed Apr 06 2022 - 22:16

Xavi getting to grips with massive challenge at Barcelona

Legendary former star’s young tyros will have nothing to lose when they face great rivals Real

Sat Mar 19 2022 - 06:00

Real Madrid rediscover their belief as Neymar and PSG set sights on history

Spanish side lost 1-0 in Paris but a 4-1 win over Sociedad has instilled confidence

Wed Mar 09 2022 - 06:00

Real Madrid deploy counterattacking masterclass to secure clásico win in Barcelona

Sergio Agüero scores late consolation goal for home side with their first shot on goal

Sun Oct 24 2021 - 17:58

Ken Early: Ireland supporters must be patient with Stephen Kenny's team

It felt like this team was ready to shine. Then it just didn’t happen against Azerbaijan

Mon Sept 06 2021 - 01:00

Ken Early: Brave Southgate has the courage of his convictions

Stood in front of bench packed with pouting, brooding genius, for once it didn’t go wrong

Wed Jun 30 2021 - 09:39

Goretzka’s late equaliser keeps Germany’s Euro 2020 hopes alive

A protester waving a rainbow flag invaded the pitch ahead of clash against Hungary

Wed Jun 23 2021 - 22:28

Ken Early: Blindsided by a glorious day of Euros football

Return of fans to stadiums has inspired players to produce the best football of year

Mon Jun 21 2021 - 06:04

Cristiano Ronaldo retains grip on the spotlight as age remains merely a number

Goalscoring superstar remains as obsessive and driven to win as he has ever been

Sat Jun 19 2021 - 06:00

France send out a message as they hold firm to deny Germany

World champions see two goals ruled out but Hummels’ own goal proves the difference

Tue Jun 15 2021 - 22:14

Relentless Real Madrid seem to survive no matter what

‘It is not easy to do what we have done. Lots of things have happened’

Wed May 05 2021 - 06:00

Advantage Chelsea thanks to 20 minutes of Tuchel supremacy

Kanté was brilliantly assertive in same spaces Liverpool lost their quarter-final

Wed Apr 28 2021 - 10:33

Chelsea fail to kill off tie as Real Madrid show their battling qualities

Thomas Tuchel’s side could have been more than half way to Istanbul after first leg

Tue Apr 27 2021 - 22:21

Liverpool rue string of missed chances as Real Madrid set up Chelsea semi-final

Wasteful night in front of goal sees Jürgen Klopp’s side exit at quarter-final stage

Wed Apr 14 2021 - 22:16

Real Madrid go top of La Liga after Clasico win over Barcelona

Zinedine Zidane’s side complete sensational week of results

Sat Apr 10 2021 - 22:07

Lionel Messi is smiling again as Barça head into key El Clásico

Summer storm has calmed but star’s future remains uncertain as club battles big debts

Sat Apr 10 2021 - 10:00

Toni Kroos masterclass has subdued Liverpool in a spin

German midfielder uses space and time to hand Real Madrid the initiative

Wed Apr 07 2021 - 09:19

Vinícius Júnior double punishes careless Liverpool as Real Madrid take control

Toni Kroos orchestrates victory as Jürgen Klopp’s side picked apart in Spain

Tue Apr 06 2021 - 22:29

Real Madrid make light work of Atalanta to reach quarter-finals

13-times champions into last eight for the first time since 2018

Tue Mar 16 2021 - 22:27

Ferland Mendy’s late stunner gives Real Madrid edge over 10-man Atalanta

Defender’s free-kick finally breaks Italian side’s brave resistance

Wed Feb 24 2021 - 22:29

Carlo Ancelotti confident that James Rodríguez’s best years lie ahead at Everton

Colombian star says he had no hesitation when asked to join club by his former boss

Thu Sept 10 2020 - 22:30

Real Madrid make winning return as Marcelo takes a knee

Diego Costa pays tribute to Atletico Madrid women’s star Virginia Torrecilla

Sun Jun 14 2020 - 21:02

Real Madrid go top as Zidane finally gets Bernabéu win over Barca

Zinedine Zidane wins his first match as manager against Catalans at Bernabéu

Sun Mar 01 2020 - 22:13

City stun Real Madrid with late goals to take advantage back to Manchester

Gabriel Jesus strike and a Kevin De Bruyne penalty seal comeback win at the Bernabeu

Wed Feb 26 2020 - 22:19

Germany put six past Northern Ireland

Michael O’Neill suffered the second heaviest defeat of his eight-year reign

Tue Nov 19 2019 - 22:14

Euro 2020 qualifying round-up: Toni Kroos double seals a spot for Germany

Croatia and Austria also book a spot at next year’s championship

Sat Nov 16 2019 - 22:36

Real Madrid’s progress hangs in balance after draw with Club Brugge at Bernabeu

Spanish giants were 2-0 down before staging second-half comeback

Tue Oct 01 2019 - 21:08

Toni Kroos piledriver helps real Madrid win at Celta as Modric sees red

Gareth Bale starts opening La Liga game after Eden Hazard ruled out

Sat Aug 17 2019 - 18:10

Zidane accepts share of blame as Real Madrid lose 12th La Liga game

Manager insists club will ‘compete from the off’ next season following disastrous campaign

Sun May 19 2019 - 16:25