Why the referee's thinking was conditioned as soon as Jude Bellingham muttered the F-word‚ writes PETE JENSON as Englishman's red card plays into Real Madrid's agenda

Jude Bellingham got off to a stunning start at Real Madrid but the goals have dried up since Kylian Mbappe's arrival‚ writes PETE JENSON

The new Paolo Maldini and Italy's Euros sensation Riccardo Calafiori poised to fortify Arsenal's defence and boost Arteta's title bid if he joins the Gunners from Bologna‚ writes PETE JENSON

Spain are celebrating what could be the start of another golden age with their Euro 2024 win over England... the future is bright with Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal‚ writes PETE JENSON

Son of a stone-lifter‚ but is he worth the weight? Julen Lopetegui has a point to prove at West Ham after calamities with Real Madrid and Spain‚ writes PETE JENSON

PETE JENSON: Why Xavi's long Barcelona goodbye could be cut short if Real Madrid humble them after Champions League exit to PSG‚ which exposed cracks in tense dressing room

PETE JENSON: Real Madrid have not made a mistake in the transfer market since Eden Hazard‚ with Jude Bellingham the sole 'Galatico style' signing... here's how they've become the smartest club in Europe

How did the richest club in the world end up with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal? Asks PETE JENSON as PSG keeper makes errors for all three Barcelona goals in thrilling 3-2 win in Paris

PETE JENSON: Barcelona are on an 11-game unbeaten run since Xavi announced he is leaving at the end of the season - a statement win over PSG tonight could force a major U-turn over his future

PETE JENSON: Real Madrid hope to avoid a repeat of when their Galacticos flopped when Kylian Mbappe joins this summer... but Carlo Ancelotti will have a plan to juggle the French superstar with Vinicius Jr

PETE JENSON: Kirian Rodriguez will captain Las Palmas against Barcelona on Saturday just one year after cancer diagnosis - and only Jude Bellingham has more LaLiga goals from midfield this season following his incredible journey

Napoli 1-1 Barcelona: Victor Osimhen cancels out Robert Lewandowski's well-taken opener as the struggling Italian champions come from behind to claim a draw... with all to play for ahead of second leg at the Nou Camp

PETE JENSON: Tonight's meeting of the champions of Italy and Spain is the clash of football's biggest basket cases - defeat for Napoli or Barcelona will make their downward spiral even steeper

PETE JENSON: Real Madrid wanted to sign Kylian Mbappe SEVEN years ago... after multiple bids and a dramatic U-turn from the French superstar‚ they are finally set to get their man this summer

PETE JENSON: Real Madrid already have the best young talents in the world in Jude Bellingham‚ Rodrygo and Vinicius... if they sign Kylian Mbappe‚ they will DOMINATE football for a decade

PETE JENSON: Real Madrid could hand Kylian Mbappe a monster £85m signing bonus and 60/40 image rights split as French star 'opts to leave PSG'‚ with his Galactico dream closer than ever

PETE JENSON: Xavi leaving won't solve Barcelona's problems... his successor will inherit a crisis club torn between short-termism and trusting in youth and hit with crippling spending restrictions

PETE JENSON: Xavi was never going to be the second coming of Pep Guardiola for Barcelona... the club legend has been underappreciated‚ undermined and never stood at chance with the Catalan giants

After Xavi dropped his Barcelona departure bombshell‚ PETE JENSON assesses the runners and riders in the race to replace him: Joan Laporta admires Jurgen Klopp‚ while Thiago Motta is the early favourite... but Mikel Arteta is NOT in the picture

PETE JENSON: Barcelona can't sign or register players so how have they even made Deloitte's latest Football Money League? PLUS‚ why Real Madrid being top of the list hides the fact all is NOT perfect at the club

PETE JENSON: Kylian Mbappe's move to Real Madrid is far from guaranteed despite recent reports... with Spanish giants refusing to smash wage structure to sign French star

Barbastro 2-3 Barcelona: Xavi's side make hard work of reaching last-16 of the Copa del Rey with Robert Lewandowski scoring penalty against fourth-tier opponents

PETE JENSON: Barcelona and Real Madrid remain isolated in trumpeting the Super League in Spain as Atletico call for protection of leagues and European competition... while LaLiga chief Javier Tebas makes dinner bet the project will fail

PETE JENSON: Pressure piles on Xavi as Barcelona fall to a shambolic 3-2 defeat at Royal Antwerp just days after Girona humbling... rivals will not fear them in Monday's Champions League last-16 draw

Jude Bellingham is set to break records at Real Madrid‚ Ronald Araujo could soon leave Barcelona - and Villarreal need to fill the void left by Pau Torres and Nicolas Jackson... TEN THINGS WE LEARNED from LaLiga

PETE JENSON: Barcelona's humbling defeat was a bad look for Xavi as the Catalan giants were blown away by Girona's tiki-taka football... Barca fans are starting to wonder why Michel is not in their dugout

PETE JENSON: Joao Felix is Diego Simeone's NIGHTMARE after the on-loan Barcelona forward damned Atletico Madrid to defeat and the bad feeling between the pair is now off the scale

PETE JENSON: The reinvention of Diego Simeone: Atletico Madrid boss shrugs off defensive tactics for attacking flair

PETE JENSON: Real Sociedad are punching above their weight in the Champions League having been built on homegrown Basque talent and astute recruitment

PETE JENSON: Barcelona are unlikely to sign a permanent replacement for the injured Gavi - despite receiving up to £6m from FIFA in compensation - with a Spurs outcast emerging as an option for the FURIOUS Spanish giants

PETE JENSON: Durable Girona's rise to the top of LaLiga is STAGGERING... the unfancied Spanish outfit - backed by Man City - are a feeder team no more after outscoring their rivals‚ staying calm and playing great football

PETE JENSON: Ilkay Gundogan's Clasico outburst has been a wake-up call for Barcelona... and the Catalan giants need to embrace his spirit and drive if they are push on from last season's title success

PETE JENSON: 'Generation Jude' has begun at Real Madrid with the England star flying‚ Vinicius Jr signing a new deal and more expected to follow... now Kylian Mbappe must decide whether he wants to join the party

EURO FILES: Jude Bellingham takes a leaf out of Cristiano Ronaldo's book ahead of his first El Clasico... PLUS Kylian Mbappe helps PSG lay ghost of St James' Park to rest

Golden boy Jude Bellingham is ready to live out childhood dream of playing in his first El Clasico as Real Madrid recieve positive injury news over their star midfielder

PETE JENSON: Real Madrid and Barcelona come into the first Clasico of the season separated by just a point - so how could the teams line-up and what are the crucial head-to-heads that will decide the mouth-watering fixture?

PETE JENSON: Barcelona's new 17-year-old wonderkid Marc Guiu has been on some journey‚ from signing at seven to scoring the winner in 33 seconds of his senior debut

'Complete' Jude Bellingham is destined to one day win a Ballon d'Or as his goalscoring at Real Madrid is NOT a 'purple patch'‚ insists ex-Barcelona star Javier Saviola

PETE JENSON: Sevilla lack consistency but under new manager Diego Alonso and with their ability to step up in big games‚ the Europa League holders could cause trouble for Arsenal

Former Liverpool midfielder SUSO on training with a teenage Martin Odegaard‚ his scouse 'family' and winning two Europa Leagues with Sevilla ahead of Champions League clash with Arsenal

Barcelona aren't affected by their absence from the Camp Nou‚ Antoine Griezmann can lead Atletico Madrid's title challenge and Rafa Benitez is having a tough time at Celta Vigo...10 THINGS WE LEARNED from LaLiga

PETE JENSON: Jude Bellingham has had a bigger impact on Real Madrid than Cristiano Ronaldo did... midfield star is outperforming both Mbappe and Haaland and can become the best in the world

PETE JENSON: Italy arrive at Wembley for the first time since their EURO 2020 triumph under new coach Luciano Spalletti and mounting off-field troubles

PETE JENSON: Eden Hazard's £130m arrival saw the Bernabeu dubbed the 'Garden of Eden'... but THAT Meunier tackle‚ bad luck with injuries and a lack of drive saw his Real Madrid stint become 'Paradise Lost' in a sad end to his brilliant career

Jude Bellingham matches Cristiano Ronaldo‚ Atletico Madrid have made their home a fortress‚ and Granada might have a hard time hanging on to Bryan Zaragoza - 10 THINGS WE LEARNED from LaLiga

PETE JENSON: Luis Rubiales knew there was no way back for him at the Spanish FA after he realised he stood alone over kiss-gate... now there are fears that nothing will change until election system is revamped

PETE JENSON: Mason Greenwood has signed for the most unloved club in LaLiga.. Getafe lack the history of the older teams and the charm of the more colourful ones

Real Madrid 2-1 Getafe: Jude Bellingham scores last gasp 95th minute winner and fifth goal in four games to rescue three points for Carlo Ancelotti's side at the newly refurbished Santiago Bernabeu

PETE JENSON: Brighton have signed a gem in Ansu Fati...but the Barcelona starlet must start believing in himself again after an injury nightmare forced him to have FOUR operations on his knee

PETE JENSON: Spanish FA's reluctance to take any action against Luis Rubiales for his kiss on Jenni Hermoso is rooted in the significant number of his allies resisting out of loyalty... the more things stay that way‚ the more credibility is lost

PETE JENSON: Jude Bellingham's grace‚ goals and good manners have thrilled Real Madrid fans... He's only 20‚ but already filling legend Zinedine Zidane's No 5 shirt with swagger and style

PETE JENSON: Joao Felix is stuck in limbo and it's Barcelona or bust for the unwanted Atletico Madrid man. His Chelsea spell has put off English clubs and Saudi Arabia could be his only option once Europe's window shuts

PETE JENSON: Real who? Spain go crazy for the women's team‚ with the World Cup finalists knocking Real Madrid and Barcelona off the front pages of the sports papers

PETE JENSON: Sevilla turned relegation fear into European glory last season... but after a disruptive summer and a dismal first match in LaLiga‚ they'll need something special to beat Super Cup favourites Man City

PETE JENSON: Barnstorming Jude Bellingham earns Zinedine Zidane comparisons after netting for Real Madrid in LaLiga opener

PETE JENSON: Ousmane Dembele cost Barcelona £97m and proved a RUINOUS signing who never reached his potential... yet Xavi adored the winger and was desperate to prevent his £43m PSG move

PETE JENSON: Known as 'Merlin' for his magic feet‚ it is telling that David Silva has never got the credit he deserves back home in Spain... as he retires‚ he should be rememebered as one of the country's best ever midfielders

PETE JENSON: Eden Hazard is in no rush to solve the question of his future‚ but it is hard to see which clubs will be interested in the former Chelsea man after his difficult spell at Real Madrid

PETE JENSON: Cesc Fabregas played like a man when he was still a boy and made crucial contributions for Spain... he never lost appetite despite frustrations and he could become a top coach

PETE JENSON: Aston Villa have pulled off a major coup by signing Pau Torres... but Unai Emery has his work cut out to get the defender back to his best after a below-par season for Villarreal

PETE JENSON: Nicolas Jackson was playing in Spain's third tier a year ago but a blistering end to the season has convinced to Chelsea splash £32m on him... he is raw but Mauricio Pochettino will improve him

PETE JENSON: Xavi wants Ilkay Gundogan to be the leader of his Barcelona midfield and sees him in a deeper role with Frenkie de Jong... the German's intelligence makes him the star signing at the Nou Camp

PETE JENSON: Flopping at Newcastle and falling flat at Stoke‚ Joselu's career had been written off... now‚ on the cusp of a move to Real Madrid‚ he is proof that in football sometimes everything comes to those who wait

PETE JENSON: Bellingham‚ Camavinga and Tchouameni are worthy successors to 'Bermuda Triangle' of Modric‚ Kroos and Casemiro... building the best midfield in the world (again!) is a masterstroke from Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham declares it 'the proudest day of my life' at his Real Madrid unveiling - as Florentino Perez welcomes 'one of the best players in the world' after sealing £113m deal

Jude Bellingham declares his Real Madrid unveiling as 'the proudest day of my life' after £113m switch from Dortmund - as club president Florentino Perez welcomes 'one of the best players in the world'

PETE JENSON: Aston Villa fans have reason to be excited with the arrival of Monchi as new sporting director... as Spanish chief and Unai Emery prepare to reunite after dominance at Sevilla

Jordi Alba admits 'special' Premier League is tempting‚ while reunion as Lionel Messi's wing man could be on the cards at Inter Miami... with veteran feeling 'more valued' since leaving Barcelona

PETE JENSON: Real Madrid have been stung before by Kylian Mbappe and will wait for PSG's next move... but a £171m fee could tempt them to act NOW instead of waiting to get him on a free

PETE JENSON: An extortionate wage bill‚ their refereeing scandal and a possible ban from the Champions League... what next for Barcelona after Lionel Messi snubbed a return to Spain in favour of Inter Miami

PETE JENSON: Harry Kane to Real Madrid just makes sense... he may want Shearer's record‚ but challenging for honours alongside Vinicius and Co could see him become England's greatest export

PETE JENSON: £100m Eden Hazard will go down as one of Real Madrid's WORST ever signings... £400‚000-a-week Belgian failed to live up to the hype as weight issues‚ injuries and woeful form saw club rip up his contract after four forgettable seasons

PETE JENSON: Xavi's desperation to bring Lionel Messi back to Barcelona shows he's STILL one of the best players in the world... the Argentine remains motivated to create more history and will light up the MLS with Inter Miami

PETE JENSON: Karim Benzema's remarkable success at Real Madrid was due to brilliance and resilience in equal measure... the shy and accident-prone striker dubbed a 'pussycat' by Jose Mourinho evolved into a big game beast

Karim Benzema insists he's STAYING at Real Madrid for one more season despite £345m offer to play in Saudi Arabia... with Spanish giants ready to make fresh move for PSG star Kylian Mbappe next summer

PETE JENSON: Sevilla's special relationship with the Europa League is marked by an obsession with the competition... Jose Luis Mendilibar deserves huge credit for taking them from a relegation battle to the Champions League in just two months

Lionel Messi wants to RETURN to Barcelona and remain in elite level football after leaving PSG... but the Catalan giants face a battle with LaLiga over financial regulations to see if a move is viable

PETE JENSON: If Carlo Ancelotti leaves Real Madrid to take charge of Brazil‚ it could cause a domino effect... Karim Benzema may be tempted by Saudi Arabia and there will be a generational revolution at the club

The Emperor of Rome! Jose Mourinho is the saviour of the Italian capital ahead of their Europa League final... but with no cash to splash‚ fans fear history will repeat itself and he'll walk away after leading a team to European success

Real Madrid 2-1 Rayo Vallecano: Rodrygo scores 89th minute winner as Vinicius Jnr‚ not in Carlo Ancelotti's squad‚ walks onto the pitch before the game to applaud Bernabeu fans for their support

PETE JENSON: Spanish football cannot slide back into tribalism after the book was thrown at Valencia for racial abuse of Vinicius Jnr... if five-match part-stadium ban is seen as the norm‚ then things will change for the better

PETE JENSON: After suffering racial abuse on TEN separate occasions in Spain‚ it's little wonder Real Madrid star Vinicius Jnr is ready to leave the country

PETE JENSON: Real Madrid want a new No 9 to compete with Benzema‚ who turns 36 next year... signing Mbappe or Haaland is out of the question while their gamble on hoping Hazard would step up has backfired spectacularly

Fallen giants Malaga have slumped from the Champions League last eight to potential relegation from Spain's second tier... now in ownership limbo and riddled with out-of-form stars‚ they need a MIRACLE

Vinicius Jnr will be rewarded with a new mega-money contract - worth over £300‚000 a week - at Real Madrid after shooting to superstar status... and he wants to match Erling Haaland's £20m-a-year boot deal

Sevilla 2-1 Juventus (3-2 on agg): Erik Lamela's extra-time header completes stunning comeback to fire the Europa League specialists into their SEVENTH tournament final after an enthralling second leg in Spain

PETE JENSON: Carlo Ancelotti is safe at Real Madrid... for now. With a lack of a serious alternative‚ Florentino Perez is prepared to wait a year for his new favourite Xabi Alonso

PETE JENSON: Barcelona may be champions again but Xavi's problems are only just beginning... failure to entice Lionel Messi back 'home' amid austerity plan will upset the fans but his return would mean tearing up a winning team

Jose Mourinho spotted Xabi Alonso's potential to be a great coach a mile off and has been proven correct... Now they go head-to-head as Roma and Bayer Leverkusen vie for a place in the Europa League final

PETE JENSON: Real Madrid are quietly confident of toppling Man City again with no title race to sweat over this weekend - after proving that Erling Haaland IS human - as the Spanish press gear up for a 'STORM' at the Etihad next week

PETE JENSON: From signing Galaticos to Golden Boy nominees‚ Jude Bellingham is the latest example of a clear shift in Real Madrid's transfer strategy under master talent-spotter Juni Calafat

PETE JENSON: How Real Madrid convinced Jude Bellingham he is the heir to Luka Modric's throne with the midfielder closing in on a move to the 14-time champions of Europe

PETE JENSON: Lamine Yamal‚ 15‚ may be the best talent to come out of Barcelona since Lionel Messi and he is destined to become their youngest-EVER player... but Catalan giants must agree a new deal or risk losing him for free this summer

Barcelona have the finish line in sight after seeing off last big hurdle‚ Camavinga is controlling games from left back and Crystal Palace flop Sorloth is firing Real Sociedad to the Champions League... 10 THINGS WE LEARNED from LaLiga

PETE JENSON: From Super League co-conspirators to a Spanish CIVIL WAR! Real Madrid and Barcelona's bitter feud over their ties to Francisco Franco's regime is toxic... their brief love-in is OVER

PETE JENSON: Eder Militao seamlessly stepped into Sergio Ramos' boots at Real Madrid and has been rock solid in the Champions League so far... Chelsea must now find a way past Europe's most in-form defender

Robert Lewandowski is untouchable despite his struggles in front of goal‚ Real Madrid are ruthless even without Vinicius Jnr while Antoine Griezmann stakes his claim as player of the season... 10 THINGS WE LEARNED from LaLiga

PETE JENSON: Lopetegui and Sampaoli were disasters and now they have a boss facing his first European game in 29 YEARS of management - Sevilla may well be Europa League kings but Man United are facing a team still trying to get back on its feet

PETE JENSON: Sevilla keeper Marko Dmitrovic fought off a pitch invader against PSV... now the former Charlton shot-stopper looks to shut out Manchester United in their Europa League quarter-final clash

PETE JENSON: Don't give them space to counter‚ squeeze Kroos in midfield and make the most of their home second leg... why underdogs Chelsea can cause a shock and knockout Real Madrid