Sport

Aston Villa have brightened up a darkening political picture

After a tense week, two lovely Villa goals brought such a cleansing of the senses

A ‘launch game for differentiated fans’ is so last year

Can Uefa spare us the marketing speak for a new ‘offering’ on the Champions League that is actually passé?

Will the low block trip Liverpool again?

Arne Slot spotted his side’s frailty to deep defences last season – a summer of radical changes is yet to fix that

Whistle blows on barren Forest’s Ange Postecoglou

Australian’s short and disastrous reign at East Midlands club comes to an end after 39 days at the helm

Yet to fully fire, England’s chances dampen in World Cup

Saved by the rain, women’s team struggle to find their game and win crowd

No-hopers snatch historic wins at Ascot

200-1 shot Powerful Glory was the longest-priced winner of a European Group 1 race

Rolling the dice on young talent, Burnley intend to stick around

Club’s win and high spend safeguards future in the closed-shop Premier League

Max Verstappen wins sprint after crash delays race

The Dutchman enjoyed a renaissance as his rivals at McLaren clashed during the sprint

Jack Wilshere learns from deep end as life at Luton starts with loss

The former Arsenal star’s appointment comes at a fallow time for English managerial talent

Far-right football supporters in pitch protest over Gary Neville

Former Manchester United and England player accused of being a ‘traitor’ over St George flag comments

Australia could turn England's hopes to dust

Whether Shaun Wane or Shane Warne, the Aussies are on English minds now

Martin Semmens: ‘London City will be in Europe’s elite within five years’

Lionesses CEO lays out scale of their ambition after promising start to first WSL season

New ‘cooling cap’ that could be concussion game changer

Two-year trial to study technology that has cut symptoms and return-to-play times in ice hockey

Jaguars London charm offensive shows no sign of abating

Owner Khan is determined to reap the benefits of growing NFL fandom in the capital

An explosion of joy: how Cape Verde reached the World Cup

The African nation became the second smallest country to qualify for the World Cup

The week sumo wrestling took over London

Excitement crackled in the glorious surrounds of the Royal Albert Hall, as Japan’s national sport went abroad for only the second time in its 1,500-year history

Australian sledging: the Ashes aperitif that won’t win any awards

The war of words has begun a month out from cricket’s most compelling contest

Me vs Tadej Pogačar: how I fared against the world’s greatest cyclist

Racing against the Tour de France champion on his home mountain was never going to be easy