Madrid’s captain moved to make peace with his defensive partner after aiming the ball at him when a training exercise got out of hand

Sergio Ramos has offered an apology to Sergio Reguilon after lashing out at his Real Madrid team-mate during a heated training session. 

Tensions are high around the Spanish capital as Madrid’s woeful form shows no sign of improvement. 

Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Levante was the club’s third loss in the last four Liga games, a run which has seen the Merengue fall away in the title challenge. 

And while all eyes are on under-fire coach Julen Lopetegui, widely tipped to lose his job, the players too are showing the strain. 

Ramos was filmed angrily kicking a ball at Reguilon after the 21-year-old defender flew at his captain during a training exercise. 

Reguilon received the full brunt of Ramos’ icy stare as fellow Madrid players attempted to calm the pair. 

But the Spain defender has played down the incident, while accepting he over-reacted. 

“Even if it doesn’t seem that way to you guys, these are pretty common situations, but that’s no excuse, I shouldn’t have reacted in that manner,” Ramos wrote on Twitter, alongside a photo of the team posing together in apparent harmony. 

“We always give everything, right, Regui? In the end the team wins together! Let’s put an end to this story, it’s all about tomorrow’s game.” 

Madrid take on Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday in the Champions League, as they hope to revert their winless run and put their defence of the title back on track. 

The Blancos currently lie third in their group after going down to CSKA Moscow in their last game, and will also be looking for a positive result ahead of Sunday’s Clasico at Camp Nou.

The Spaniard has praised his colleague while lifting the lid on the secrets to his success in the early part of the season

AC Milan star Suso has heaped praise on team-mate Gonzalo Higuain ahead of Sunday’s Milan derby against Inter.

Higuain has claimed that he was “kicked out” of Juventus this summer to make way for Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined the Turin giants from Real Madrid, but he has received a warm welcome from his new team-mate at San Siro, who has described him as “a champion”.

The Argentine striker has scored six times in seven outings for the Rossoneri since, including four in his last three Serie A outings.

Suso believes that he is simply hitting the standards he has long set for himself.

“He’s a champion,” Suso said per ESPN. “You’ve seen him play before, but until you’re on the pitch and on the same team together and get to see how he moves, what he does, what he likes, what he doesn’t like…”

And given that the pair share a care to complete the drive to training every day, he gets to hear a great deal from his club-mate, though perhaps a little more than he would like.

“He talks and talks and talks. At times I want to pull over on the motorway and let him out!” he joked.

The Spaniard, meanwhile, has five assists already this season and feels like he is hitting a level he has never before achieved in his career.

“Physically and mentally, I think it’s the best moment of my career,” he said before explaining the secret to his success.

“It’s about timing. Choosing the right moment. Watching the body position of your opponent. Lionel Messi always does the same move and you know it’s coming but no one can stop him. To be clear, I’m not comparing myself to him. I think it’s just something that comes naturally to you.” 

Meanwhile, he joined a queue of critics to praise Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, a player that he says he “loves”.

“He’s one of the best players to watch,” he explained. “The way he runs with the ball and goes into one-v-ones. He’s one of the players I like most.”

The Reds will be eager to claim victory over Red Star when they host the Serbian side at Anfield on Wednesday to gain momentum in the Champions League

Jurgen Klopp’s side will be looking to return to winning ways in the Champions League when they host Red Star Belgrade at Anfield on Wednesday evening.

Liverpool opened their Champions League account with a victorious 3-2 win against Paris Saint-Germain, but slipped to a 1-0 defeat away to Napoli on their most recent European outing.

They sit second in the ‘Group of Death’ in Group C and could jump to first place should they win against Red Star and see Napoli drop points against PSG.

In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial).

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.

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In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on BT Sport 2 and streamed via BT Sport Live.

Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson have both been ruled out of the fixture against Red Star with hamstring troubles, but though there were injury scares for Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk sustained during the international break, the duo both line up from the start.

Sadio Mane is available for selection after picking up a hand injury while on duty with Senegal, while Roberto Firmino and Fabinho also start.

Confirmed Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Shaqiri; Salah, Firmino, Sturridge.

Confirmed Red Star Belgrade XI: Borjan; Stojkovic, Degenek, Babic, Gobeljic; Krsticic, Jovicic; Srnic, Ebecilio, Ben; Boakye.

Liverpool are priced at odds of winning 1/18 according to  bet 365, while a draw is available at 16/1. A win for Red Star is priced at 50/1.

Click here to see all of bet 365’s offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more.

It’s already become a tight race within Group C as just one point separates the top three sides after only two matches, but the Merseyside club will be looking to register maximum points when they face Red Star on back-to-back occasions for their next two fixtures.

The Serbian side were thrashed 6-1 by PSG in their previous tie, which drew accusations of match-fixing by the French giants – who have denied the allegations.

Red Star supporters have been banned from attending the clash at Anfield due to a punishment received from UEFA for a pitch invasion in August’s Champions League qualifiers vs RB Salzburg, though the Merseyside Police are still planning for additional protective measures since 1,000 Red Star fans had travelled to the club’s last game against PSG.

Liverpool registered their first win in five matches in all competitions with Saturday’s sluggish 1-0 win to Huddersfield, and will be eager to return to winning and goal-scoring ways in Europe when they host the Serbian side at Anfield.

The Reds looked far from their best in their most recent European loss to Napoli despite kicking off their Champions League campaign with a thrilling 3-2 win over the French giants, but a congested October schedule that consisted of facing Chelsea twice and Manchester City at home has seemed to put a strain of fatigue on the home side.

Salah ended his goal drought with his strike against Huddersfield to mark half a century of goals scored in the Premier League for both Chelsea and Liverpool, and will be eager to get off the mark against Red Star.

Fresh from earning his first senior international cap with England, the talented teenager is looking to help his club side fulfil their potential

Jadon Sancho admits he has “big ambitions” at Borussia Dortmund after seeing his fairytale run continue with a goal against Stuttgart.

The 18-year-old is living the dream at present, with everything he touches turning to gold.

An impressive opening to the 2018-19 Bundesliga campaign saw him deliver six assists across a seven-game run which included only one start.

Those efforts earned him senior international recognition, with a first England cap secured during a Nations League clash with World Cup finalists Croatia.

While riding that crest of a wave, Sancho returned to domestic action on Saturday with the third strike of his spell at Dortmund – as they crushed Stuttgart 4-0 on the road.

He told the club’s official website afterwards: “We made a bright start. Everyone was working for each other, we got it spot on.

“I’m happy that I scored the first goal and helped to make the start to the game easier for my team.

“Many of us were away on international duty, so it was important for us to start quickly.

“I’m happy to be part of this team. I feel very happy, we have big ambitions.”

A convincing win on their travels has helped Sancho and Dortmund to remain at the Bundesliga summit.

They are yet to suffer a defeat in the German top-flight this season and sit four points clear of reigning champions Bayern Munich following an uncharacteristic wobble from the Bavarian giants.

Dortmund stalwart Marco Reus is delighted with how things are going and sees no reason why the feel-good factor cannot sweep Lucien Favre’s side much deeper into a campaign which is promising so much.

He said: “We played some quick football and moved the ball about in the first half. We had slightly less control in the second period, but it was still a very successful afternoon.

“However, you can see that despite the good results, we still have some tactical work to do.

“Now it’s important to enjoy the afternoon. I’m happy that we won and by this margin of victory too.

“We’re ready for Atletico Madrid on Wednesday [in the Champions League]. They’re very strong defensively and line up in a compact 4-4-2 formation. So we’ll need to be patient.

“That’ll be a test of our maturity and where we’re at, but I believe in us.”

The Inter boss was less than impressed with the opposition’s approach in Sunday’s derby at San Siro

Luciano Spalletti said three Inter players asked to be substituted at half-time as he criticised AC Milan’s physical approach after star midfielder Radja Nainggolan was injured.

Inter claimed a last-gasp 1-0 Serie A victory over Milan thanks to Mauro Icardi’s 92nd-minute header at San Siro but Sunday’s derby success appears to have come at a cost.

Spalletti fears Nainggolan could be sidelined for “a while” after the Belgian limped off following a heavy tackle from Milan’s Lucas Biglia.

Biglia went on to defend the challenge, saying VAR would have vindicated him as he received a yellow card for the incident.

Speaking post-match, Spalletti told reporters: “Milan are a technical team but they are also as physical a team as we are because they committed many fouls.

“They had a very tough approach, and we were penalised by these fouls.

“At the end of the first half I had three players that were asking me to be replaced.”

Inter were the better side for most of the match, completely dominating the first half, but the derby showdown appeared to be heading for a draw.

That was until Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma misjudged Matias Vecino’s cross and Inter captain Icardi pounced, heading into an empty net.

“The team have played the match they were supposed to play,” Spalletti said. “They showed courage, they put their talent into the game, because Vecino’s cross is something that was born out of talent, Icardi’s goal was born out of talent, and naturally if this is the attitude, you help luck coming your way.

“Luck or the possibility to change the score of the game even in the last minutes, because all this always depends on the attitude you have. Everything becomes easier and the crowd is more involved and everything becomes much nicer.”

The Gunners came back from a goal behind to win their seventh straight game, but their manager is not thinking about a title challenge

Unai Emery would not entertain talk of Arsenal being title contenders after a seventh successive Premier League win lifted his team into the top four.

Although Hector Bellerin’s own goal gave Leicester City the lead at Emirates Stadium on Monday, Arsenal hit back to win 3-1 with Mesut Ozil in fine form .

Ozil swapped passes with Bellerin to equalise before the break and was then instrumental in creating a quickfire brace for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a five-minute spell after the forward’s introduction from the bench.

A 10th consecutive win in all competitions has led to suggestions Arsenal could challenge for the title, with the Gunners moving to within two points of leaders Manchester City and Liverpool.

Emery, though, refused to get carried away when asked whether Arsenal can consider themselves contenders having beaten Leicester to record their longest winning run since 2007.

“We need to be calm,” Emery told a news conference. “For us it’s very important to beat Leicester because they are behind us but near [in the table].

“We are also looking at the teams in front us like Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea. 

“We were controlling the match and finding the chances to score. The first 30 minutes was a difficult moment.”

Ozil earned a standing ovation for his match-winning performance having justified Emery’s faith in making him one of five Arsenal captains.

“Very important,” Emery said of Ozil’s leadership qualities. “I think we have a lot of players in the team with this capacity. 

“We have captains. He can play every match with his commitment with or without the armband.”

Nacho Monreal, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Sead Kolasinac all missed the Leicester win, meaning Stephan Lichtsteiner filled in at left-back and rookie Zech Medley was on the bench for the first time.

Midfielder Granit Xhaka then switched to left-back after Emery’s double-change saw Aubameyang and Matteo Guendouzi introduced for Lichtsteiner and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Arsenal move on to Europa League action on Thursday, facing Sporting CP in the Europa League, with Emery upbeat Arsenal’s defensive injuries could clear up in time.

“Sunday was a bad day for injuries,” Emery added. “Two in the same position like Sead and Nacho had a small problem. This morning they were not good to play. 

“I hope they can play against Sporting. For Sokratis, he can stay for Thursday, with a lot of matches in a few days it’s important they rest.”

The Chelsea midfielder has been heralded by the defender, with whom he won the Premier League title at Leicester in 2015-16

Former Leicester City defender Robert Huth believes Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante is the most influential player in world football.

The German defender is currently without a club after leaving the Foxes at the end of the 2017-18 season.

However, he played a key role in the club’s unlikely Premier League title win in 2015-16, playing a total of 35 games as the club won the league by 10 points.

It could be argued, though, that no player was more important to the club’s victory than Kante, playing 37 times in central midfield.

Kante joined the club at the same time as Huth, and he has since moved on to Chelsea, where he was won the Premier League again, and also become integral for France, winning the World Cup in Russia over the summer.

it is perhaps unsurprising, then, that Huth readily waxes lyrical about the star.

“He’s the best player I played with. Of course in skill Hazard is better, gets people off their feet. Ronaldo, Messi… I get all that, I really do. But in terms of impact on a game it’s Kante,” he told The Sunday Times .

“I get annoyed. ‘Oh he just wins the ball back’. Which he does. But watch him. He reads three passes ahead. He’ll run 15 yards, then have a burst of acceleration to take the ball off somebody’s feet in a position where he has 30 yards of pitch to drive into.

“His brain works completely different to other footballers.”

Despite his incredible rise, Kante is widely regarded as a quiet man off the pitch, and even watched Match of the Day at a fan’s house this season, per a widely-shared Twitter post.

And Huth testifies to the same effect, with the 27-year-old one of football’s most humble players.

“Our longest conversation was, ‘Good morning’. When I first met him I thought he was rude,” he added.

“In the canteen at Leicester I say hello and he just goes ‘Mmm.’ But you learn he’s not being rude, he’s being quiet, embarrassed how good he is. You can see it now when he scores a goal — he’s embarrassed.

“It’s no coincidence we won the league, then Chelsea won it, then France won the World Cup. He’ll change any team, he is that good and that smart a footballer.”

Jill Ellis’ side will head to Europe in November as preparations for next summer’s World Cup continue

The U.S. women’s national team has announced friendly matches at Portugal and Scotland in November. 

Jill Ellis’ side will take on Portugal on Nov. 8 in Lisbon and will then face Scotland on Nov. 13 in Glasgow as it continues preparations for the 2019 World Cup.

The U.S. qualified for the World Cup last week, seeing off Jamaica in the Concacaf Women’s Championship semifinal before defeating Canada in the competition final. 

Now the team will travel to Europe for the first time in 2018, taking on Portugal in a suburb of Lisbon and then Scotland. 

“For planning purposes, it was important to have this last FIFA window of the year be in Europe,” Ellis said in a federation release.

“We’ve played a competitive domestic schedule but adapting to being on the road is an important part of preparations for next year. Playing a World Cup-qualified team and a country that is on the rise will be two good matches to end our 2018 schedule.”

Portugal fell short of the World Cup by finishing third in their UEFA qualifying group, while Scotland reached their first World Cup by topping UEFA Group 2.