Vuelta a España: Matthew Brennan scores second sprint victory on stage five

Joe Root’s side have golden chance to claim first series win since 2024 but are dealing with familiar off-field issues Here we go again, then. It feels like every Test involving England these days is one of critical importance in some way or other. On one level, this is good for business, showing the depth of interest compared with other, ahem, products. But it is not necessarily a good thing for the team in this instance. Since Ben Stokes retired and the last of Bazball’s many funerals in June, the players left behind have been trying to wriggle free from their recent past. Problem is, they are finding certain aspects trickier to shake off than others. For the second time this summer, a thumping win to go 1-0 up has been doused instantly by a late night on the drink and the headlines inevitably generated...

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...