Sports Burst – Sergio Ramos to the Rescue
Rousing words from Ramos, Champions League clinching and Astros can go into orbit
By Tim Stannard
1) Sergio Ramos in Real Madrid rallying cry
When Real Madrid frowns need turning upside down, there really is only one man for the job. Happy-go-lucky Karim Benzema!
Not really.
It’s laugh-a-minute Raphael Varane!
Not really.
It’s Sergio Ramos, the tattooed, chaotic cavalier of the team’s backline!
What the defender sometimes lacks in concentration and being able to control his temper – and actually defend - Ramos more than makes up in cheery, yet thoughtful messages for down-in-the-mouth Real Madrid fans. The footballer was on Spanish radio on Monday night, a day after the 2-1 defeat to Girona, to rabble rouse that the team could more than make up the eight-points difference in La Liga on Barcelona by the end of the season. “It’s been done before,” noted Ramos not incorrectly.
The footballer was also quizzed on the delicate political situation in Spain these days with Catalonia making a declaration of independence which is seen as very illegal indeed by the central government. “The situation in Spain hurts me because I think we are stronger together,” admitted Ramos who said that he hopes that Barcelona always remain in La Liga.
Madrid are facing a very testing trip to take on Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Wednesday, with the English team set to be without Harry Kane. But Keylor Navas, Gareth Bale and Raphael Varane will be out of the Real Madrid squad due to injury.
Tune into the XTRA from 7PM ET / 4PM PT for a full preview of a corker of a clash from Real Madrid and hear the words of Coach Zizou.
2) Big cheeses looking for Tuesday clinch session in Champions League
Champions League time!
Matchday 4 is on the horizon and if it were a Friends episode it would be ‘The one where some teams clinch’. And clench a little as it happens. Looking at you Atletico Madrid.
Groups A through to D are playing on Tuesday, from Switzerland to Spain. In Group A, Manchester United can move through to the next round with a win at home to Benfica. B sees PSG facing the same situation in hosting Anderlecht at home in a game that could see Kylian Mbappe benched according to Unai Emery.
Over in C, the waters are a little more muddied.
Atletico Madrid must beat Qarabag in the Wanda to stand any chance of progressing. An awful lot will depend on the result of the matchup between Roma and Chelsea, above the La Liga side in the table. Barcelona will move through to the next round with a win at Olympiakos in a week that sees Ernesto Valverde going back to two clubs he managed, having played Athletic Bilbao on Saturday. "The fans come and really have a party,” enthused the Barca boss who is without the suspended Gerard Pique.
The fine folk of Canada can see Roma’s huge clash with Chelsea live from 3:30PM ET / 12:30PM PT with Olympiakos hosting Barcelona on beIN CONNECT 3. And tune into the XTRA for all the best highlights and analysis of the day’s action from 7PM ET / 4PM PT. Your home for the beautiful game.
3) Morata blames communication issue for London lament
Beep Beep!
Time for an Alvaro Morata backtrack. Just hours after the publication of the Chelsea striker’s interview where he suggested that going to Real Madrid last season was a poor idea (and not his own) and that London was not exactly his favorite haunt, the Spaniard was poked before the Champions League-gathered press on Monday to reverse his position a little. A communication problem, it seems, according to Morata.
"If Chelsea proposed me 10 years I'd probably sign that too,” was the clarification that despite London being “stressful” he was more than happy with the UK capital.
And Barcelona are having another PSG freak-out apparently. The club are all set to launch another bid for the Liverpool forward, Philippe Coutinho, in the winter transfer window but another team are set to be making a counter-offer for the Brazilian reportedly valued at $185 million. Yep, it’s PSG, who after bringing in most have the most creative accountants since…(you should probably stop there, Ed)
4) Wondrous World Series could by ended by the Astros
The Old World isn’t seeing the best of the sporting fun on Tuesday. Arguably the greatest World Series ever seen – possibly down to slicker balls apparently - continues its run back in Los Angeles where a victory for the Astros could see it all coming to an end for the Dodgers with the home side currently 3-2 down in the 7-game match-up.
MLS has its final first leg play-off clash with Columbus Crew hosting NYCFC. Monday night’s fixtures saw Toronto FC grab a handy win at NY Red Bulls and a goalless draw between Houston Texans and the Portland Timbers.
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The life philosophy of Sports Burst is that if you are not upsetting someone, then you are not trying hard enough. SB is a daily trawl and troll through the morning's sports news to bring you fact-nuggets to make you both smile and swear. Hopefully at the same time.
