Chelsea in talks with Martínez’s camp as Aston Villa close on striker Jackson

Visma-Lease a Bike dominate final stages to set up Briton Mads Pedersen dropped on category-three climb The British rider and Grand Tour debutant Matthew Brennan of Visma-Lease a Bike sprinted to a second stage victory of the Vuelta a España in Roquetes. Wout van Aert and Christophe Laporte expertly led out their 21-year-old teammate at the end of stage five, and the youngster confidently demonstrated his devastating speed again to conclude the 173.4km route from Falset...

Third qualifying round, first leg: Chelsea 5-2 Real Sociedad Girma 29, Buurman 54, Malard 67 88, James 74; Marín 7, Marcos 59 Chelsea’s sluggish start in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier against Real Sociedad will have made far from satisfying viewing for their suspended head coach, Sonia Bompastor, but two goals from the new signing Melvine Malard contributed to a five-goal haul as the Blues came from behind to give themselves a three-goal cushion going into next week’s return fixture. “It was a tough game, a tough first half because Real Sociedad is a really great team but I think we had a good reaction,” said Camille Abily, the assistant coach to Bompastor, who was serving a one match ban following her red card in Chelsea’s quarter-final second leg against Arsenal last season. “We were so much better in the second half, there was more space also. It’s a good win – a tough win but a good win.”..

Sisters to appear in New York for first time since 2022 Serena played mixed doubles with Alcaraz on Tuesday Serena and Venus Williams are teaming up again at the US Open. The sisters will play doubles at the tournament after receiving a wild card on Wednesday into the event they have won twice...