Sport

Updated: 21:16 EDT

Wembley woe puts Tottenham on the brink: Kevin Kampl condemns Mauricio Pochettino to

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0-1 BAYER LEVERKUSEN - MATT BARLOW AT WEMBLEY: After the grid-iron, the gridlock and another example of Wembley’s imposing presence stifling the flow of the round-ball game. It often seems to happen. England can be turgid when underneath the arch and 85,000 pairs of eyes, and Tottenham again found it heavy going on a pitch still bearing evidence of the logos from Sunday’s NFL extravaganza. In fairness to the national stadium, Spurs have not been much more fluent at White Hart Lane recently. Or anywhere else, for that matter. They are not at the level they were last season and Bayer Leverkusen deserved their win.

Jamie Vardy doesn't strike me as a natural finisher... the Leicester star's goalscoring

Former England striker Michael Owen has doubted Jamie Vardy's goalscoring ability after claiming Leicester's struggling forward doesn't strike him 'as a natural finisher'. Vardy was a shining light in the Foxes' Premier League title triumph last term, netting an incredible 24 goals as they clinched an historic crown. But the goals have dried up for the 29-year-old this season and he has now gone 11 games without scoring after firing a blank in their goalless draw at Copenhagen.

MARTIN SAMUEL AT THE PARKEN STADIUM: Leicester did not, after all, qualify for the Champions League knockout stage in the manner traditionally belonging to the likes of Real Madrid and Co.

SIMON JONES - EXCLUSIVE: West Ham United striker Andy Carroll was threatened at gunpoint on his way home from training on Wednesday. Carroll fled, fearing for his life.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was mysteriously dropped from Borussia Dortmund's matchday squad against Sporting Lisbon in a temporary ban for 'internal reasons' until Thursday

CHARLES SALE: Sadiq Khan's inquiry into the rocketing costs of converting the London Stadium for West Ham will expose the full retractable-seating fiasco at the centre of the financial crisis.

Glenn Hoddle has suggested that the raft of Tottenham Hotspur players who have signed new contracts in recent times have subsequently started to relax.

Real Madrid throw away two-goal lead: Champions League holders held to 3-3 thriller away

LEGIA WARSAW 3-3 REAL MADRID - PETE JENSON AT THE POLISH ARMY STADIUM: Real Madrid threw away a two-goal lead against Legia Warsaw but needed a late Mateo Kovacic equaliser to avoid defeat. Gareth Bale scored the 11-time champions' fastest ever goal in the competition with a first-time piledriver into the top corner after only 57 seconds, before Karim Benzema doubled their advantage after 35 minutes.

Monaco 3-0 CSKA: Radamel Falcao fires first-half double as French side stay top of Group E

MONACO 3-0 CSKA MOSCOW: Radamel Falcao scored twice to take his tally to 42 goals from 46 games in Europe as Monaco boosted their hopes of reaching the last-16 in the Champions League. Valere Germain put Monaco ahead in the 13th minute when a defensive mix up allowed the forward to bundle the ball past the goalkeeper. Former Manchester United and Chelsea striker Falcao doubled his side's advantage in the 29th minute when he was left unmarked at the far post to fire home after a cross from Mendy. Germain then combined with Falcao for the third goal in the 41st minute

NIK SIMON: The black 4x4 Andy Powell is driving through the Brecon Beacons has substantially more horsepower than the golf buggy he infamously drove down the M4 near Cardiff in 2010.

Raheem Sterling has opened up on his Liverpool exit by revealing for the first time that it was always his plan to assess his options if the club struggled to win trophies.

IAN LADYMAN: The last time Gordon Strachan saw Gareth Southgate was at a game between Fulham and Bristol City in mid-September. The Scotland manager was watching striker Chris Martin.

CHARLES SALE: The FA will risk a potential points deduction in their World Cup qualifying group by defying FIFA’s order to not wear poppies on armbands in their Armistice Day match.

It is the right decision that the England and Scotland teams will wear black armbands bearing poppies when they meet on Armistice Day. I cheered when I heard Theresa May’s comments.

Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Sporting Lisbon: Adrian Ramos' goal proves crucial at Signal Iduna

BORUSSIA DORTMUND 1-0 SPORTING LISBON: Thomas Tuchel's side managed to get the better of Jorge Jesus' as Borussia Dortmund beat Sporting Lisbon 1-0 in a Champions League Group F tie on Wednesday night. Adrian Ramos scored in the 12th minute to give the home side the lead at Signal Iduna Park and Dortmund never looked back.

Juventus 1-1 Lyon: Corentin Tolisso pounces late to cancel out Gonzalo Higuain's

JUVENTUS 1-1 LYON: Juventus failed to secure qualification for the Champions League last-16 after Corentin Tolisso took advantage of a rare lapse of concentration at the back in the closing minutes in Turin. The home side had taken the lead after Adama Diakhaby brought down Stefano Sturaro inside the box to give away a penalty in the 13th minute. Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain fired the resultant spot-kick into the bottom-left corner, sending Anthony Lopes the wrong way. The Old Lady had looked impregnable until the 84th minute when Rachid Ghezzal's free-kick made its way to Tolisso who converted from close range.

SAMI MOKBEL: In front of an English club record attendance of 85,512, Spurs flopped as they lost to a largely dominant Bayer Leverkusen thanks to a solitary Kevin Kampl goal.

Tottenham's hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout stages were dealt a blow as they fell to a 1-0 defeat by Bayer Leverkusen at Wembley on Wednesday.

Leicester's perfect record in Europe this season came to end on Wednesday night as Claudio Ranieri's side were held to a 0-0 draw away at Copenhagen.

MIKE DICKSON: Murray was pushed to the brink by Fernando Verdasco in his opening match at the Paris Masters, but stayed in touch with Novak Djokovic by scraping through with a sudden late burst.

Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed a deal is in place between his client and Klitschko and said he will work with the Ukrainian's manager Bernd Boente on finalising a date and venue.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan put through his paces as Manchester United train in Turkey ahead of

Henrikh Mkhitaryan's bid to play for Manchester United for the first time in over a month took a step closer on Wednesday evening. The 27-year-old was present as United trained at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Turkey ahead of their Europa League clash there against Fenerbahce 24 hours later. The Armenian playmaker looked in a relaxed mood as he was put through his paces alongside team-mates Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Co.

Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho admits Bastian Schweinsteiger is making up the numbers

CHRIS WHEELER IN ISTANBUL: Jose Mourinho has not ruled out Bastian Schweinsteiger playing for Manchester United again after restoring the German to first-team training. Schweinsteiger had been frozen out by Mourinho since the Portuguese took over at Old Trafford in the summer but was handed back his peg in the first-team dressing room at the club's Carrington training ground recently.

CHRIS WHEELER IN ISTANBUL: Jose Mourinho landed on Wednesday to discover that he had been hit with a one-match touchline ban and fines totalling £58,000 over two FA misconduct charges.

Memphis Depay's former PSV Eindhoven boss Dick Advocaat believes the Holland winger may have to leave Manchester United to resurrect his flagging career elsewhere.

Despite a mediocre start to his reign as Manchester United boss, Jose Mourinho has signalled his intent to remain with the Red Devils, at the very least until the end of his current contract.

Arsenal get into festive cheer as Arsene Wenger's squad parade Christmas jumpers

Arsenal might not shift too many replicas of this particular strip in the club superstore, but at least the squad are helping a good cause while losing their dignity! The Gunners — including manager Arsene Wenger — pulled on the festive sweaters to publicise Save the Children’s annual Christmas Jumper Day, which takes place on December 16.

Inter Milan won the Champions League under Jose Mourinho just six years ago... but now

SAM CUNNINGHAM: If winning the treble six years ago under Jose Mourinho was reaching the summit for Inter Milan, right now they are buried beneath an avalanche close to the base.

SAM CUNNINGHAM: According to Bloomberg news agency, Lander Sports Development Co have been in talks for several weeks with the club’s Swiss owner Katharina Liebherr.

James Ward-Prowse believes Southampton have earned their glamour Europa League home tie against Italian giants Inter Milan and challenged everyone to rise to the occasion.

Inter Milan's interim coach Stefano Vecchi has admitted the pressure is on as he faces a Europa League clash with Southampton barely 48 hours after stepping in for the sacked Frank de Boer.

Anthony Joshua reveals what motivates him most as he prepares to face Eric Molina

Anthony Joshua has almost single-handedly resurrected the heavyweight division from its ten-year slumber - and he has now set his sights on cementing his position at the top level of world boxing. Since claiming Olympic gold at London 2012, Joshua has seen his career accelerate forward at a rate more commonly associated with the latest young football prospect, rather than a boxer working his way up the professional ranks.

Easy tiger! Hamilton celebrates Mexico GP victory by playing with a very big cat

Formula One drivers live life on the edge by racing around tracks at over 200mph but Lewis Hamilton has gone one further by celebrating his recent triumph in an unfamiliar way.

SAMI MOKBEL: John Terry will be offered a mega-deal to play in the Chinese Super League next season. Guangzhou Evergrande are not giving up on their long-running mission to signing him.

Warren Joyce has been appointed as the new manager of Wigan Athletic. Joyce joins the club after managing the Manchester United Under 21 and U23 squads for the past eight years.

Stats found that Henderson has completed more passes than any other player in this season's Premier League, racking up a total of 830 - almost 100 more than closest challenger.

Lionel Messi 'rowed with Manchester City player and called him an imbecile'

Lionel Messi shouted 'stupid, stupid, come here!' outside the City dressing room as someone inside mocked him, prior to Aguero's intervention. Aguero, however, suggested it was a heat-of-the-moment incident after Barcelona's defeat in the Champions League and played down its significance. 'Whenever you lose you're not very happy,' the City forward said. 

Manny Pacquiao reveals how Kell Brook vs Gennady Golovkin fight inspired his return

JEFF POWELL IN LAS VEGAS: This will be of scant consolation to Kell Brook but boxing owes the return of the great Manny Pacquiao to the beating inflicted on Sheffield’s Special K by Gennady Golovkin. The Pacman’s decision to come out of retirement was clinched as he watched the fearsome Golovkin batter Brook into fifth round submission.

MARTIN SAMUEL: They call the World Series the Fall Classic in America. And this one truly is. The Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs go the distance at Progressive Field tied at 3-3.

SAM PETERS: England's rugby stars are set to land a huge financial windfall after negotiating a four-year appearance deal understood to be worth close to £22million. 

Markus Munch is the breeder, owner and trainer of Spectre, last time out runner-up to Vadamos in the Prix du Moulin at Chantilly where Munch now trains his 20-strong string.

Now that's a clubhouse! Golfers including 'Beef' Johnston tee off from the ROOF of a home... because course is too short

The 16th hole Regnum Carya Golf Course in Antalya, Turkey has an unusual twist. The back tee at the 16th hole this week has been positioned on the roof of one of the villas at the resort. The likes of Andrew 'Beef Johnston', Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington have been enjoying the unusual addition to the course during their practice rounds. The hole sees them scale a flight of stairs up to the roof and drive over a swimming pool on to the fairway.

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Chelsea stars dine out as they enjoy midweek time off with their rivals in European action

Usually at this time of the season the Blues would be knee deep in their Champions League campaign but their 10th place finish last season means they missed out on European football this time around. The Blues form in recent weeks suggests the extra time on the training pitch is paying off but it also seems to have its benefits away from Cobham too.

Sevilla 4-0 Dinamo Zagreb: Luciano Vietto helps guide hosts to the last-16

Sevilla cruised through to the last-16 of the Champions League with an emphatic 4-0 victory over ten-man Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday night.

Kasper Schmeichel is fantastic and a big champion in goal... he's had two perfect seasons,

LAURIE WHITWELL AT THE PARKEN STADIUM: Claudio Ranieri lauded Kasper Schmeichel for making a 'very important save' that earned Leicester a Champions League point on a 'horrible' pitch in Copenhagen. Danish No 1 Schmeichel, who has a house two minutes from the Parken Stadium, sprung to stop a close-range header from Andreas Cornelius in the 90th minute and maintain Leicester's unbeaten record in the competition.

Claudio Ranieri's latest reward for leading Leicester to an unlikely Premier League title is a nomination for FIFA's coach of the year award. Ten contenders have been announced.

The striker, who missed the vast majority of his first campaign at Anfield after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, has gone to London to be assessed by knee specialist Andy Williams.

Alexis Sanchez, who started in Arsenal's 3-2 Champions League win against Ludogorets on Tuesday night, is alleged to have defrauded the Spanish Treasury in 2012 and 2013.

The former Sunderland boss will try to add to Mourinho's problems when United face Fenerbahce in Istanbul on Thursday night. The Red Devils are eighth in the Premier League.

Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov says he would relish a return to English football. The 35-year-old has been without a club since leaving Greek side PAOK in June.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: This year has been a breakthrough one for Christian Pulisic. After making his Borussia Dortmund debut in January, the 18-year-old has been setting records.

Yeovil 'sign' inspirational leukaemia survivor Daryl Allinson as teenager recovers from

Diagnosed with Leukaemia Atypical CML Monomonasomie 7 and GATA 2 in April 2015, the youngster underwent a bone marrow transplant from his brother Brad, but later suffered a relapse. After funding for a second procedure on the NHS was turned down, Allinson's family sought to raise up to £100,000 for a private operation and on-going treatment.

Ilkay Gundogan is becoming the key man in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City…and at less

CRAIG HOPE: He arrived on crutches but is now the crutch around which Pep Guardiola is building his Manchester City side. Ilkay Gundogan was the difference as City beat Barcelona at the sixth time of asking on Tuesday night. Yaya who?

England cricket star Alex Hales sets up his games room adorned with shirts of Arsenal

The England star showed off his plush new games room and love for Arsenal by posting a picture of the luxurious set-up on Instagram. The sportsman chose not to adorn the wall of his games room with memorabilia from his own sport, opting instead for shirts of Arsenal legends Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Wright.

Gareth Southgate went away particularly impressed with Adam Forshaw when the interim England manager travelled to watch Middlesbrough last weekend.

Watford chairman Raffaele Riva has stepped down following allegations the club provided false financial information to the Football League.

The midfielder was suspended after a bust-up with team-mate Andy Halliday, a spell that was extended to three weeks after an unauthorised interview with a radio station.

GB Deaf Football do not receive public funding and made an appeal for financial assistance as they tried to put together enough money for the deposit which would guarantee their spot.

Aaron Ramsey has warned Tottenham to prepare for an Arsenal team determined to resist any local power shifts in the north London derby. The Gunners face their local rivals on Sunday.

LAURIE WHITWELL: Rangers have emerged as a potential destination for Rushian Hepburn-Murphy should his contract stand-off with Aston Villa go unresolved.

Sam Billings ready to answer England's call if he is needed against India's spin doctors

INTERVIEW BY KIERAN GILL: Sam Billings has told England he is prepared to board a plane if they want him to help deal with India's spin doctors in their daunting five-Test series. There have been calls for the uncapped right-hander to be brought in and for Gary Ballance to be dropped after his display in the disappointing 1-1 draw with Bangladesh last month. Ballance scored only 24 runs in four innings in Chittagong and Dhaka and former England captain Michael Vaughan warned a 5-0 whitewash could occur in India if changes are not made.

Willett admits his game has been 'average for a couple of months' as he targets top spot in Race to Dubai ahead of Turkish Open

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI: There is a certain irony to Danny Willett arriving at a tournament sponsored by an airline in the kind of tailspin that threatens to round off a ground-breaking season with a dreadful anti-climax.

Kyle Sinckler sports rainbow Budgy Smugglers as England players take a dip in the Atlantic

With temperatures topping 23C in Vilamoura on Wednesday, and Eddie Jones known to be a ruthless task-master on the training pitch, it was little surprise that the England squad opted to cool off in the sea at the first opportunity during a recovery session. As you would expect from a top international sports team, the players were decked out in matching, branded swim shorts. With one exception.

'Liberty have not got far enough down the road to make any commitments yet,' the 61-year-old Briton, who left the sport at the end of 2013 after decades of involvement, told the BBC.

LAWRENCE BOOTH IN MUMBAI: Trevor Bayliss and captain Alastair Cook will be urged by influential voices in the dressing-room to go in with an extra seamer at the expense of a spinner.

Rohit Sharma is one of three batsmen ruled out of India's Test squad to face England because of injury. Rohit is a doubt for the whole five-match series after suffering a thigh injury.

Novak Djokovic comfortably cleared the first hurdle to retaining his world No 1 ranking with victory over Gilles Muller in Paris. The Serbian is looking to hold off the challenge of Andy Murray.

British No 1 Johanna Konta overcame Sam Stosur in straight sets to make a winning start to her WTA Elite Trophy campaign in Zhuhai, China.

Eben Etzebeth refused to rule out a move to the Aviva Premiership last night, as the South Africa second row prepared to face England.

Sportsmail's racing expert Robin Goodfellow gives his best tips ahead of Thursday's meetings at Market Rasen, Musselburgh, Newbury and Chelmsford City.

Champion jockey will take a break from riding to recover from the battering he took in the horror fall at Kempton which left colleague Tylicki in intensive care with suspected spinal injuries.

How Miroslav Klose became the World Cup's record scorer and a legend in Germany   

KIT HOLDEN: There are plenty of footballers who have made the somersault their trademark celebration. Miroslav Klose must be the only one who managed to somersault with humility. The 38-year-old German striker has announced the end of his active playing career. He did so to thunderous applause. His countrymen love him. They love him for his goals, for his contributions to a fine era for German football. But perhaps most of all, they love him for his humility.

What is the obsession this United team has with selfies and social media? Can’t they see the league table? Don’t they know they are eighth?

The battle for world No 1 hots up in Paris as Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray get their campaigns under way. Sportsmail answers the key questions regarding Murray's bid for the top spot.

Since Sheikh Mansour's takeover Manchester City have been rewriting their own history. Even more than the titles and everything else, Tuesday's win seemed like one of the most significant moments.