Bianca Dyke appeared in series six of ITV’s Benidorm – but who is the actress’ real-life soap star father?
Benidorm Bianca Dyke star has famous actor dad in real life and fans will be floored
Benidorm fans will be stunned to find out that Bianca Dyke star Bel Powley is not the only famous member in her family.
Bel joined the cast of the ITV sitcom back in 2014, with the rest of the Dyke family: dad Clive (Perry Benson), mum Tonya (Hannah Waddingham) and brother Tiger (Danny Walters).
During their stint on the show, the family became firm favourites and famously had a rivalry with the Garveys who were also stopping at the Solana resort.
As for Bianca, she turned her attention to fellow holiday-goer Martin Weedon (Nicholas Burns), thinking he was a wealthy businessman, only to end things after realising he wasn’t.
Benidorm was not actress Bel’s first time on the screen. She shot to fame playing Daisy Millar in CBBC’s M.I. High from 2007 to 2008. Her other acting credits include the TV series Everything I Know about Love and the 2015 coming-of-age film The Diary of a Teenage Girl.
She also played Claire Conway in The Morning Show from 2019 to 2025 and is currently portraying Petunia Dursley in the upcoming new Harry Potter television series.
In real life though, Bel is the daughter of actor Mark Powley, who is best known for playing P.C Melvin in police drama The Bill from 1987 to 1990. He’s also appeared in several soaps including Coronation Street in 2001 as Rob Lucas and Emmerdale in 1999 playing Liam Hammond.
Talking about her childhood, Bel told Hollywood Authentic: “I never even really wanted to be an actor. I was really academic. But my dad’s an actor [Mark Powley], and my mum’s a casting director [Janis Jaffa]. So it was always kind of in the family.
“I went to a Saturday drama group called Youngblood Theatre Company, which was all improvisation-based, where I met a lot of my mates. A casting director came in once to cast a CBBC show called M.I. High about child spies, and I got the job.”
She added: “So I basically ended up being a child actor, to my parents’ dismay, because they thought I was going to be the first academic of the family. I ended up following in my dad’s footsteps.”
Bel is also married to fellow actor Douglas Booth. Douglas has starred in the likes of Great Expectations, Romeo and Juliet and ITV’s recent cop drama The Blame, alongside Michelle Keegan.
Douglas and Bel first met at a chemistry read audition over 10 years ago. Three years later in 2016, they worked together on the film Mary Shelley and a romance quickly blossomed.
Going from strength to strength Douglas proposed to Bel in July 2021 on Primrose Hill in London. Then in October 2023, Douglas and Bel made things official by getting married at Petersham Nurseries in Richmond.
“I woke up in the morning, and I was like, ‘I just want to do it all over again, right now’,” Bel told Hollywood Authentic before sharing: “I think in 10 years’ time, we’ll get married again.”
The Real Rooneys gives fans a real insight into the lives of Wayne and Coleen Rooney and also some surprising details of what goes on
Wayne and Coleen have opened their home to the Disney+ cameras
The Real Rooneys throws up some interesting and surprising scenes and a lot of nuggets of information and Wayne and Coleen which will be new for fans. Coleen says of the series: “We live in this in this extraordinary world, but we are normal at the end of the day.”
Wayne adds: “When you know you’re on TV or you’re doing something, you maybe tone things down a little bit, but at home with four young boys, that’s impossible. It’s real what you see.” Here are some of the more shocking and surprising things I spotted previewing the first four episodes…
WAYNE’S WINDOWLESS REQUEST
The Rooneys live in an incredible mansion with dozens of rooms and grounds which are big enough for them to race around in go karts, as we see on the show. But despite paying for the property, Wayne had just two slightly odd requests when it was built. He says: “I only wanted two things in here, a small little room with no windows, not because I am a psycho for playing PlayStation or watching a movie. And a snooker table. I didn’t really care what else.” Thanks to Coleen there is also other great rooms which have fun things in them like a swimming pool and a boxing ring.
COLEEN LUCKY TO BE ALIVE
Coleen’s mum reveals that her beloved daughter may never have met Wayne or survived beyond a brief childhood having been very ill as a small child.
Colette McLoughlin tells the cameras: “When Coleen was three, she got really sick. It turned out it was encephalitis, and her brain was swelling. She couldn’t walk. She couldn’t speak. She was stumbling her words. When we got to Alder High Hospital, she ended up in a coma. For 24 hours it was touch and go. She had to learn to walk again. All the coordination had gone, but I’m so grateful because she was alive.” This help she got at hospital is one of the reasons Coleen’s parents became foster carers.
WAYNE WATERWORKS AT TV SOAPS
Wayne admits now he is older he gets emotional about lots of things. The subject comes up when Kai’s football career is being discussed and he is asked if he will cry if his eldest son gets a scholarship at Manchester United. Wayne replies: “Probably. I cry at everything anyway. I’ve cried over some mad things, Coronation Street, X Factor, when Barry got pushed off the hill by Janine in EastEnders, I’m pretty sure I was crying.”
COLEEN CONSIDERED SPLIT FROM WAYNE
His bad behaviour down the years is well documented and Wayne is not perfect husband material in the series either. Like most married couples there are some rows and at one stage Coleen says: “There’s times where I think ‘Is the answer to see what it’s like if we were separated?’.”
She then adds: “But the we still care for each other, we still have good times. You know, we still love each other.”
At another point she tells Wayne: “It’s been a bit of a lads holiday for you, staying up all night. You can’t just keep doing what you do. It is not fair of everyone else. It is only you that can fix it because no one else is doing it. I’m just hoping that things change.”
KAI MOCKS HIS DAD
It seems Wayne struggles with early starts as he is shown sleeping through alarms and missing doing the school run on at least one occasion.
But one morning – seemingly the first time the Disney+ cameras are at the home – Wayne is seen up early, although he seems in need of coffee. His eldest son Kai is clearly not used to seeing his dad before school. With a grin he says: “Bro’s up for the cameras”.
Kai also states he is the best footballer in the family, and that he wants people to “know the name Kai Rooney” so he is a star footballer in his own right in the future.
WAYNE SOMETIMES HATES FAME
Wayne and Coleen take their two youngest children Kit, 10; and Cass, eight to Poland for an educational trip.
Initially it goes well and Wayne goes unrecognised but a trip on a horse drawn cart in Krakow blows his cover and he is soon swamped for autographs and selfies, and then family need to beat a sharp exit.
Afterwards Wayne reflects on what happened and says his level of fame has changed him as a person and he would love to be able to live unrecognised more often. He says: “I’m not a celebrity. People who know me know, know that I want to be as normal as possible.
“Back to when I was a kid, and you wanted to be a football player. That’s all I ever wanted to do, and didn’t care about fame or money or whatever. I just wanted to be a football player. I think I’d be such a better husband, dad, person, friend without it(fame). It affects places I go, things I do.
“I bought a mask I saw on TikTok[to use as a disguise], it looked incredible but it was terrible.”
WAYNE’S JEWISH ROOTS
As part of the break with Kit, 10; and Cass, the family visit Auschwitz because Kit asked to visit while learning about the Second World War at school.
Wayne tells the cameras: “I recently found out my mum’s mum, so me nan, her family were Polish Jews.”
He is told by producers that would make him technically jewish. Wayne replies: “I’m Catholic, but then I’ve always asked questions like, why aren’t we Jewish?”
Told it could make a whole spin off show he says with a grin: “Roo the jew!”
* Stream The Real Rooneys on Disney+ from September 24.
Mourinho brought printouts of screenshots to the post-match news conference, claiming Atletico should have been given two red cards in the first half.
Writing in response to an article in the Spanish media which claimed there is a “conspiracy” against Real, Tebes dismissed the allegations.
“Claiming that referees are directed against Real Madrid is living in another galaxy,” Tebas said on social media.
“That narrative serves as an excuse to cover up other shortcomings that are plain to see in these first matches of the season.
“It’s more comfortable to point to a conspiracy than to explain what’s happening on the pitch.”
Real are fourth in La Liga, six points behind Barcelona who top the table on 21 points after winning all seven of their league games this season.
After defeat by Atletico, where Real went down to 10 men in a feisty encounter after defender Dean Huijsen was sent off, Mourinho blamed the officiating.
“We can skip the press conference because the story of the match is right here,” Mourinho said as he showed media the printed images.
“Those were two clear red cards. Given the difficulties we faced afterwards playing 11 against 10, we can only imagine what 50 minutes of 11 against nine would have been like.”
Madrid boss Jose Mourinho accuses officials of bias after his side’s 2-1 derby defeat by Atletico Madrid.
Published On 22 Sep 202622 Sep 2026
La Liga President Javier Tebas has hit out at what he calls accusations of a refereeing “conspiracy” by Real Madrid after their derby loss to Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho brought two printed screenshots of what he thought were red-card tackles committed by Atletico players to his post-match news conference after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat.
Tebas responded to a pro-Real article on social media with a lengthy riposte on Tuesday to allegations of a “conspiracy” against the 15-time European champions.
“Here they go again, the mouthpieces and the regime’s television, building the same old narrative – the permanent conspiracy,” said Tebas, who has often been at odds with Real Madrid and the club’s outspoken president, Florentino Perez.
“This article goes further. It claims that referees harm ‘the business that feeds them’.
“What exactly is it asking for? Refereeing based on revenue, viewership or the badge? What a way to understand equality in the competition.
“Real Madrid are crucial to La Liga. But claiming that ‘La Liga is worth nothing’ without them reveals the disdain for the other clubs, their fans and their history. The competition belongs to no one.”
Madrid have made a stuttering start to the season and already sit six points behind reigning champions and early leaders Barcelona in the La Liga table.
“Claiming that referees are directed against Real Madrid is living in another galaxy,” Tebas added.
“That narrative serves as an excuse to cover up other shortcomings that are plain to see in these first matches of the season.
“It’s more comfortable to point to a conspiracy than to explain what’s happening on the pitch.”
Mourinho returned for a second spell in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu in the close season, tasked with ending a two-year spell without a major trophy.
After the heated capital derby on Sunday, Mourinho was furious that Atletico defender Cristian Romero was not sent off for a stamp on Jude Bellingham and also complained about a challenge by Lee Kang-in on Federico Valverde before the visitors were themselves reduced to 10 men five minutes after half-time.
Valverde finished the match but was later diagnosed with “severe trauma to his left ankle”, the club said in a statement. The midfielder will undergo further tests, it added.
“We could skip the press conference because the story of the match is right here,” Mourinho said, holding up the images in what was the start of a near five-minute rant.
“Those were two clear red cards. The difficulties we’ve faced since the sending-off: 11 against 10. Well, we can imagine what 50 minutes of 11 against nine would have been like if justice had been done.”
Two housemates were then forced to say their goodbyes on Friday night (September 18), with fake contestant Tays leaving alongside bartender Millie. But viewers have also been watching romances bloom between Chelsey and Lynx, as well as Omar and Rhianna.
However, this won’t be Rhianna’s first love story to play out on screen. She previously dated Made in Chelsea star Freddy Knatchbull and appeared in several episodes of the show alongside him.
In her first scene on the Channel 4 series, the 21-year-old revealed that she doesn’t use the name she was given at birth. The Russian star actually chose her current name at just six years old, after her mother became a British citizen.
“I’m Russian but I’ve lived everywhere,” she explained to Freddy’s friends. When asked what her real name is, Rhianna shared: “I changed my name too, when I was like six. Because my mum became a British citizen.”
She went on to reveal her potential choices: “As a six-year-old, she’s asking me ‘Oh, change your name if you want.’ And I was like ‘Okay.’ Gave her three options: Zendaya, Rihanna like the singer, or Kylie Jenner.”
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The Big Brother star didn’t reveal her birth name on the show. But she touched on her unusual upbringing, during which her mother hired a full-time bodyguard to stop her being a “wild child”.
Reflecting on her teenage years, Rhianna said: “I would meet people for the first time and they’d be like ‘Rhianna, by the way, there’s someone following you.’ Can you imagine trying to meet guys and then a bodyguard is with you?”
The so-called stay-at-home daughter is now hoping to win over the nation and take home the Big Brother crown. Living with strangers will also be a new experience for her. “I’ve never done that before,” she admitted before starting the show.
“I’ve never stayed in a hostel, gone to summer camp or boarding. I’ve never been in a situation where I have to stay the night with complete strangers and that is really exciting for me. I get to meet people that I most likely wouldn’t have met in my day-to-day life.”
Big Brother continues on ITV2 and ITVX tonight at 9pm
If El Camino Real’s boys’ soccer team wins its third consecutive City Section championship this season, then Cal State Northridge soccer fans should be feeling good because three of the team’s players are taking their talents to CSUN.
Jayden De La Cruz, Diego Apolinar and Roman Holiday are teammates at El Camino Real, play on the same club team and also will be college teammates next year.
Holiday is the goal scorer, with De La Cruz and Apolinar serving as the playmakers to get him in position to score.
The Royals will be this year’s City title favorite, but rival Birmingham is lurking, and the two teams are scheduled to open West Valley League play on Jan. 6 at El Camino Real.
When asked if the team was ready to face Birmingham, Holiday suddenly got excited.
“Oh my God, yes,” he said.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
At just 19, Luke Littler has won every major trophy in darts.
He is a multi-millionaire with lucrative sponsorship deals and his own TV show.
But has his rapid rise turned some against him?
This past weekend the teenager was once again subjected to boos and whistles from sections of the crowd as he took to the stage at the World Series of Darts in Amsterdam.
What is surprising though is that it came as ‘The Nuke’ was on a quest to complete a darts clean sweep by becoming the first player to win all 10 major televised tournaments in a calendar year.
But Samuel Gill, editor of Dartnews.com, suggests Littler’s future in the sport could be at stake.
“There’s a real fear that within a few years he’ll just turn around and walk away from the sport,” Gill told BBC Sport.
“So, I think for fans, ‘Don’t bite the hand that feeds you’. If people keep taunting him and don’t want him to win, he might end up just walking away and not bothering anymore.”
Amsterdam was the latest tournament where Littler has faced what some might describe as an overly hostile reaction from fans.
A vibrant pantomime-style atmosphere is part and parcel of the darts experience and Dutch and German crowds are amongs the most raucous – but it is clear Littler believes he has been unfairly targeted.
The referee stopped the match during his narrow win against Nathan Aspinall in the last-16 on Saturday to warn the hostile crowd about its behaviour, before play resumed.
It followed Littler also being booed during his win against home favourite Danny Noppert on Friday.
The teenager’s quarter-final defeat to Jonny Clayton ended Littler’s quest for the clean sweep, but the Warrington native clearly felt fans had been unduly harsh towards him.
Littler has now withdrawn from a series of upcoming events.
“Just no point in me travelling, wasting my time while I’m getting booed,” said Littler.
The game hinged on Huijsen’s red card early in the second half for pulling down Giuliano Simeone in the box.
Published On 20 Sep 202620 Sep 2026
Atletico Madrid edged 10-man Real Madrid 2-1 in a La Liga derby clash to leave Jose Mourinho’s side trailing leaders Barcelona by six points.
Dean Huijsen was sent off early in the second half for Los Blancos on Sunday before Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David’s goals earned Diego Simeone’s Atletico victory, with Antonio Rudiger pulling one back late on.
Atletico rose to second, five points behind Barca and one ahead of Real Madrid, who chalked up a second defeat of the campaign.
The game hinged on Huijsen’s red card early in the second half, for pulling down Giuliano Simeone in the box which led to a penalty, tucked away by Grimaldo to set Atletico on their way.
Mourinho started with Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield over Bernardo Silva, opting for defensive clout over creativity.
There was more tension than footballing quality in the first half, with neither side capable of creating any clear chances.
The main talking point was an incident between Jude Bellingham and Atletico defender Cristian Romero.
The England international threw himself into a tackle and Romero trod on his leg, with Bellingham booked initially, but after a VAR review the referee removed the card and issued it to the Atletico man.
Madrid were also unhappy with a heavy tackle by Lee Kang-in on Federico Valverde which went unpunished just before half-time.
It was a scrappy battle, intense but lacking excitement comparative to the star power on the pitch, especially in Madrid’s front line, with Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Bellingham kept quiet.
The game burst into life early in the second half when Huijsen pulled back Giuliano Simeone’s arm as the forward ran through on goal and Atletico were awarded a penalty.
Huijsen was dismissed after a VAR review and Grimaldo beat Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from the penalty spot.
Mourinho reacted immediately by replacing the underwhelming Vinicius and Arda Guler and sending on club record signing Yan Diomande and Rudiger.
It was Atletico who struck next, though, with Canada international David tucking away Giuliano Simeone’s raking low cross on 59 minutes for his third goal in three matches.
The hosts came close to getting a third but Courtois made an excellent save to deny Julian Alvarez and Ibrahima Konate reacted brilliantly to head Grimaldo’s effort from the rebound off the line.
Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved from Diomande and Bellingham rowed with Giuliano Simeone as Madrid’s frustrations showed, impotent to change the course of the game.
Madrid pulled a goal back in the final stages with Rudiger heading Bernardo Silva’s cross past Oblak. However, it was too little too late for Mourinho’s side.
The derby carries particular significance because of Real’s recent difficulties at the Metropolitano, where they have won only two of their past 11 away matches, with the last in La Liga four years ago.
Atleti also won the corresponding derby last season 5-2 – a result that represented an early setback for Real’s previous project under Xabi Alonso.
This time, though, there is a different manager on the touchline.
Mourinho’s return this summer has brought a familiar emphasis on organisation and adaptability, but he insisted his tactical approach is dictated by the players available to him rather than a fixed philosophy.
“I’ve evolved alongside my players,” he said. “You have what you like and don’t like as a manager but then you have to work with the group of players you have.”
Simeone’s assessment of Real’s biggest weapon was clear.
“They’re better in transition than us,” said the Argentine, who has managed Atleti in over 800 games since taking charge in 2011.
He believes Real’s ability to turn winning the ball into instant attacking opportunities will be one of the key tactical elements in the game.
“When there’s a loss of possession, they look for [Kylian] Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, they play to that strength,” added Simeone.
“We have to read the game well and not allow any turnovers, so we don’t allow them to use those transitions.”
It is a warning that carries weight given the attacking options and speed available to Mourinho.
France striker Mbappe remains the focal point, while Vinicius Jr provides another route into space.
Real also have the quality to change the game from the bench, something the 21-year-old Espi has already demonstrated since his summer arrival from Levante.
Who: Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid What: La Liga Where: Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid, Spain When: Sunday, September 20, at 4:15pm (14:15 GMT) How to follow:Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the build-up from 11:15 GMT before our live text commentary stream
Atletico host bitter city rivals Real for the Madrid derby as both sides look to keep up with early La Liga pacesetters Barcelona.
Madrid trail unbeaten champions Barcelona at the top of the table by three points, with Atletico third.
Atletico have bounced back from back-to-back defeats to Bilbao and Liverpool earlier in September, beating Real Sociedad 3-0 and Osasuna 4-0 in their last two games.
Real come into the game in decent form under boss Jose Mourinho but have had wobbles this month, with a defeat to Betis and scoring late to beat bottom club Elche after squandering a two-goal lead.
Improving Atletico cruise to win over Osasuna
Atletico Madrid thrashed Osasuna 4-0 on Wednesday to build some form in the run-up to Sunday’s derby clash against rivals Real Madrid.
Jonathan David, Lee Kang-in, Robin Le Normand and Alex Baena’s goals helped Diego Simeone’s side cruise to a comfortable home victory.
They were without injured striker Julian Alvarez, but it did not matter after they secured a second straight win to cut the gap on top two Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The comfortable victory was important for an Atletico side with lots of new faces still bedding in, after two defeats in their three matches prior.
“We controlled it in the first half even though we weren’t clinical,” said coach Diego Simeone. “We were clinical in the second half and controlled the game.”
Atletico Madrid’s Alex Baena runs with the ball during the win over Osasuna at the Metropolitano Stadium [Oscar del Pozo/AFP]
Mourinho rues lack of game control
Real Madrid squandered a two-goal lead before substitute Carlos Espi struck in stoppage time to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory at Elche in La Liga on Tuesday.
Real went 2-0 up inside 33 minutes through a Matias Dituro own goal and Kylian Mbappe, but second-half strikes from Abiel Osorio and Fer Nino hauled Elche level before Espi restored the visitors’ lead in the 91st minute.
It was the second time in six league matches that the 21-year-old Espi had come off the bench to score a late winner, although Mourinho remained concerned by Real’s failure to control the second half in advance of Sunday’s derby against Atletico Madrid.
“The problem seems obvious to me. It’s harder to know why, but it’s easy to understand that there are matches that seem over and, in the end, aren’t,” said Mourinho.
“[There are] matches where we have three, four, five chances to finish them and don’t,” he said at the pre-match news conference.
“After failing to do so, it feels like we go from ease, because it seemed easy, to losing control.”
Mourinho said his team’s defensive issues were of concern.
“Not just for Sunday’s match, but for every match. I like my team to score goals … but I also like controlling matches,” explained Mourinho.
“I don’t like gifting control. It’s not about the goals, it’s about giving away control of the match.”
Mourinho’s side gave him a fright during their win over Elche [Alberto Saiz/AP Photo]
Prediction
The Opta supercomputer has made Real Madrid the favourites, with a win probability of 46.6 percent. Atletico were given a 28.3 percent chance of winning, while a draw was estimated at a 25.1 percent likelihood.
Head-to-head
The rivals have faced each other on 243 occasions; Real Madrid won 125 games, Atletico won 60, while 58 matches ended as draws.
Last five encounters:
March 22, 2026: Real Madrid 3-2 Atletico (La Liga)
January 8, 2026: Atletico 1-2 Real Madrid (Spanish Super Cup semifinal)
September 27, 2025: Atletico 5-2 Real Madrid (La Liga)
March 12, 2025: Atletico 1-0 Real Madrid (Champions League last 16, second leg)
March 4, 2025: Real Madrid 2-1 Atletico (Champions League last 16, first leg)
What happened the last time the two clubs played each other?
Vinicius Jr scored twice as Real Madrid fought back to beat Atletico Madrid 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu in a breathless Spanish capital derby in March.
Atletico’s Ademola Lookman opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, finishing a slick counterattack involving Matteo Ruggeri and a delightful back-heel from Giuliano Simeone.
Vinicius equalised from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute, after David Hancko clumsily tripped Brahim Diaz, and Federico Valverde capitalised on a Jose Maria Gimenez error three minutes later to make it 2-1 to Real.
Nahuel Molina silenced Real’s Bernabeu stadium with a thunderous 30-metre strike in the 66th minute, but Vinicius restored Real’s lead with a cracking solo effort six minutes later.
Vinicius Jr celebrates scoring his team’s winner [Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images]
What happened in the corresponding fixture last season?
Julian Alvarez scored twice as Atletico Madrid came from behind to thrash city rivals Real Madrid 5-2 in a pulsating derby in September 2025.
Atletico’s aggressive start paid off when Robin Le Normand opened the scoring with a header in the 14th minute.
However, Kylian Mbappe burst through to level with an unstoppable strike from close range in a quick counter in the 25th minute, with Arda Guler netting a volley from a Vinicius Jr cross 11 minutes later to put the visitors in front.
Alexander Sorloth’s header in added time before the break gave Atletico a boost, and they regained the lead five minutes into the second half when Alvarez converted a penalty after Guler’s high boot clipped Nico Gonzalez on the face inside the box.
After Alvarez extended their lead in the 64th minute with a sublime free kick into the top corner, substitute Antoine Griezmann sealed the win in a quick counter in added time.
Alvarez scores Atletico’s third from the spot [Angel Martinez/Getty Images]
Atletico Madrid’s team news
Alvarez, Pablo Barrios, and Sorloth are doubts, as all three are struggling with muscle issues.
Jonathan David is likely to continue up front if Alvarez is absent or starts on the bench.
Real Madrid stars including Kylian Mbappe rolled up T-shirts showing support for Ceuta, but President trip ‘unrelated’.
Published On 18 Sep 202618 Sep 2026
Real Madrid President Florentino Perez attended an event at Ceuta city hall on Friday in a visit to show solidarity with the Spanish territory, saying that it was not related to any recent developments.
On Tuesday, before Real’s La Liga match with Elche, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Ibrahima Konate obscured the message “We are all mackerels”, which appeared on T-shirts worn by the rest of the players. “Mackerels” is a nickname for people from Ceuta, and the shirts were designed to show support for them.
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Mbappe said on Wednesday that he did not want to prioritise the suffering of one group over another. Real told the news agency Reuters that they respected their players’ freedom to make their own decisions, but noted that they had shown support for Ceuta a week earlier with a tifo during their Champions League match with Inter Milan.
Perez was accompanied by honorary Real Madrid President Jose Martinez Pirri, a native of Ceuta. They were welcomed by Regional President Juan Jesus Vivas.
“I want to emphasise, to avoid any doubts, that today’s event has been prepared over several weeks with the president of Ceuta, not due to any recent news,” Perez said at the city hall.
“And I also take this opportunity to convey all our support, all our affection, and our solidarity during these very difficult times to all Ceutans. It is our wish that normality resumes as soon as possible in Ceuta.”
In July, more than 70,000 irregular crossings into Ceuta from Morocco took place, causing disruption in the territory. Real Madrid’s show of solidarity is one of many gestures that have taken place across Spain since the mass crossings.
MADRID: Carlos Espí scored in stoppage time after a nifty move by Jude Bellingham and an assist by Kylian Mbappé to help Real Madrid salvage a 3-2 win at Elche in the Spanish league after it relinquished a two-goal lead on Tuesday.
Bellingham used a neat long touch to get past an opponent near midfield and fed Mbappé in a breakaway into the area, and the France star quickly set up Espí’s close-range score to give Madrid the victory and move the Spanish powerhouse even on points with Barcelona. The defending champion can regain the lead when it hosts promoted Racing Santander on Wednesday.
“We went from having it easy to losing control,” Real Madrid coach José Mourinho said. “But in the difficulty of the moment, facing the pressure of losing points, the team reacted and won the match, which in the end is the most important thing. The good thing is that nobody gets bored when Real Madrid plays. The games are always fun.”
Madrid had taken the lead against Elche with an own-goal by goalkeeper Matías Dituro in the 25th after the ball ricocheted off him following a well-struck free kick taken by Arda Guler. Mbappé added to the lead by scoring from close range after an assist by Yan Diomande in the 33rd.
Abiel Osorio pulled the hosts closer with a header in the 71st and Fer Niño netted the equalizer in the 83rd.
There was a bit of a scare immediately after Mbappé scored as he stayed on the ground in visible pain, but he eventually returned to the field after being attended by Madrid doctors.
The goal moved him to seven goals in six league matches, one goal more than Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Sergio Camello and Roberto Fernández.
Mbappé had scored a brace in Madrid’s 4-1 win against Rayo Vallecano in the previous round.
He had a goal disallowed for offside just before halftime on Tuesday.
Bellingham came into the match by replacing Guler in the 68th.
Madrid’s only league setback this season was at Real Betis two rounds ago.
Mbappé and Vinícius avoid T-shirt
Players from both clubs wore t-shirts showing words of support for Ceuta as they came onto the field before the match. But Madrid players Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Ibrahima Konaté wore the shirt only halfway down their chest, without pulling them down, and obscuring some of the words on it. Mbappé and Vinícius removed their shirts before they saluted the other players and the referees.
They had not immediately explained why they did that.
In July, tens of thousands of migrants breached the frontier between Spain’s North African territory of Ceuta and neighboring Morocco.
Valencia wins after shake-up
Valencia won 1-0 at Alaves to end a four-game losing streak and a winless start to the season.
The string of poor results had led to the firing of coach Carlos Corberán and soccer CEO Ron Gourlay this weekend. It then appointed Braulio Vázquez as its new sporting director and named B-team coach Óscar Sánchez as an interim manager.
Luis Rioja scored a 78th-minute winner for Valencia, which had been outscored 10-1 so far.
Valencia fans had been protesting and called players “mercenaries” after the 5-0 home loss to Barcelona. They have long called for the exit of owner Peter Lim.
Rayo Vallecano triumphs in Butarque again
Rayo Vallecano beat Espanyol 2-1 with first-half goals by Álvaro García and Adria Pedrosa in what may have been its last match before returning home to Vallecas Stadium.
It was Rayo’s third home game played at Butarque Stadium — which belongs to second-tier club Leganes — because of unsafe conditions at Vallecas. It also beat Racing Santander 3-2 and drew Alaves 1-1 at Butarque.
Roberto Fernández scored for Espanyol in the second half for his sixth goal in six matches.
If you’re looking to add more magic to your life after watching Practical Magic 2, one woman has praised a village which feels like the real deal – and it’s in the UK
The charming village has a magical history, as the most famous witch used to live there (stock image)(Image: Thomas Faull via Getty Images)
The highly anticipated sequel to the cult classic film Practical Magic recently premiered in cinemas. But while it’s always magical to return to the universe of your favourite film, what if you could visit a real life Practical Magic village?
In the book and the film, the Massachusetts small town where the Owens family lives appears to be the idyllic small town. And with the added element of having witches living there, many fans dream of visiting. But one village in the UK also has a unique connection to witches, making it the perfect alternative.
One holidaymaker named Emma decided to share snippets of her visit to the Hampshire village, naming it a ‘real life Practical Magic village’.
“POV: You found a real life Practical Magic village in England,” she wrote in the overlay text of the TikTok video, showing the various witchcraft and magic-inspired shops, as well as the wild horses that are known to explore the village of Burley.
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Burley is a small village in Hampshire, located in the heart of the New Forest. It’s famous for its associations with witchcraft, as it had a self-proclaimed witch living there in the 1950s. However, there is plenty of other things to do there with an opportunity for walking, cycling, and horse-riding trails, plus horse-drawn carriage rides through the forest.
Emma added in the caption of the post: “Today, the village is filled with cosy cafes, witchy boutiques, and wild horses roaming down the streets.”
The village still maintains the ancient New Forest tradition of “commoning,” meaning ponies, cattle, and donkeys wander freely through the streets.
“It genuinely feels like stepping straight into the Owens family hometown,” she said. “Gather your coven and save this for your next UK day trip.”
Why is Burley considered a ‘witchy’ village?
Burley is associated with witches primarily because it was home to a woman named Sybil Leek. The famous self-proclaimed “white witch” lived in the Hampshire village during the 1950s.
She became a media sensation by openly practicing witchcraft shortly after the UK repealed the final Witchcraft Act in 1951. She regularly walked through the village wearing a long black cloak with her pet jackdaw, Mr. Hotfoot Jackson, perched on her shoulder.
But as locals were upset by her presence, Sybil decided to move to America where she continued to study and write about the occult and astrology.
Burley has since embraced its witchy history, as there are several shops specialising in magic, including A Coven of Witches, which was not only named by Sybil but you can also find a portrait of her hanging above the fireplace.
ONCE dubbed “the most boring man in football” Michael Owen’s choice to sign up for a fly-on-the-wall Amazon documentary about his family was unexpected to say the least.
The former England striker turned pundit, 46, allowed cameras to follow him, his wife Louise and their children Gemma, James, Emily and Jessica as they balance family life with running a horse racing business in Cheshire.
Michael Owen’s decision to star in a fly-on-the-wall documentary came as a shockCredit: Prime VideoMeet The Owens follows Michael, wife Louise and their four children (pictured above)Credit: Instagram @themichaelowen
And it was a distinctly left-field move from Michael, who – unlike celebrity documentary subjects David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and the larger-than-life Tyson Fury – has largely stayed out of the spotlight.
He is seen joking in six part series Meet The Owens that he is now best known as a “boring p***k” or “Gemma Owen’s dad” after she appeared in Love Island, raising questions about why he would agree to film the at-home-with style show.
And we can reveal that the ex-footballer – often referred to as ‘the most boring man in football’ – signed up for his TV payday after ploughing £13 million into his racing business pushed him to his financial limit.
While he may have other streams of income, accounts for Michael’s company Owen Promotions show it holds just £7,219 in cash and owes £2.3m to creditors.
Owen signed up for the show after putting £13 million into his horse racing businessCredit: GettyThe ex-footballer (pictured with David Beckham) has stayed out of the spotlight since leaving the sportCredit: AFP – Getty
It also has three outstanding loans, two of which were taken out in March 2022 and February 2024 with Leeds-based MR Denton Properties.
A further loan was taken out in February 2024 with Andrew Black, who co-founded Betfair.
Two other loans with Grosvenor Funding, which claims to offer “fast and flexible” bridging loans were paid off in 2023.
And all five loans were secured using parts of the Owens home estate – a 42-acre estate he bought in 2001 for £4million.
Despite spending millions on Manor House Stables, Owen says the business still needs investorsCredit: Manor House StablesSources say the business has had a big impact on the footballer turned pundit’s financesCredit: Getty
Speaking in Meet the Owens, which is now number 3 on the Amazon Prime UK chart, Michael revealed he has had to put “£12 or £13 million” into Manor House Stables to build it to its current level.
But he admits the business – which makes cash by persuading investors to back the horses they buy at auction – still desperately needs investors.
And he describes their current status as: “Premier League. Brighton, but not seventh, but kind of bottom half.”
Footage from the first episode shows the racing enthusiast giving pal Jamie Carragher a tour of the impressive grounds and stables, showing off a horse owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and another he owns along with Paul Scholes, Steve McManaman and Owen Hargreaves.
Drone shots show the impressive site from the air, while graphics also flash up on screen showing how the structure works – a handy guide for any would-be investors.
One source told us: “Michael is passionate about Manor House and racing, and he has done an incredible job on Manor House.
“The problem is that it is a big money pit and you can pour millions into it without any guarantee of winning horses.
“He loves it, and would never walk away, but it would be naive to say it hasn’t had a massive impact on his finances.
Owen (pictured with wife Louise) is the sole shareholder of Manor House Stables LLPCredit: GettySources say Owen is hoping the show will help Manor House Stables attract more investorsCredit: Prime Video
“And the pressure is never ending because as a business, you have to buy horses each year – for £90,000 or more – and try to find investors for them.
“Then the million-dollar question is whether or not those horses win, as the stables need winners to succeed.
“But the reality is that you only win a very small percentage of the races in which you have horses.”
Michael is now the sole shareholder for Manor House Stables LLP, which owns the stables, after director and co-owner Andrew Black resigned in March 2022 after six years.
Accounts show the company has healthy assets of approximately £13.6million.
Yet the source said the business still has a way to go before it becomes a money-spinner, rather than a money pit.
They added: “The Amazon payday has come at a good time for Michael, but he is also hoping the airtime for Manor House will attract more investors.
“The more money that comes in, the better the horses and the more winners we will see here.
“That will help the business move higher up the rankings among the top British stables.
“Michael loves racing and he is driven by passion for the sport, but he is also very competitive and wants to win.”
Previously, a source told us: “Michael is extremely determined to succeed in racing. He has poured millions of his own money into Manor House, and he will not stop until he’s at the very top.
“Signing up to broadcast this to the world was a huge risk for him, and he’s desperate for it to work.
“Michael is keen to show off how much Manor House is a reputable and successful stable, and he hopes putting the business on screen ends up being a help rather than a hindrance.”
MADRID: Kylian Mbappe struck twice to help Real Madrid smash Rayo Vallecano 4-1 on Saturday to pull level with Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
Jose Mourinho’s side got back to winning ways after a defeat by Real Betis in their previous top-flight outing, with a convincing victory against neighbours Rayo.
Jude Bellingham and Alvaro Carreras were also on target for Real Madrid, while Sergio Camello pulled one back for the visitors early in the second half.
Champions Barcelona visit Levante on Sunday looking to extend their 100 percent start to the campaign and restore their lead on Madrid.
Mourinho’s side took a commanding three-goal lead against Rayo by half-time.
“(It was) fundamental to win, above all after losing the last game in La Liga,” Mourinho told Real Madrid TV.
“We killed the game in the first half — that’s not easy, working like we did after the Champions League game, not just physically, but mentally.”
Los Blancos took the lead from the penalty spot in the 14th minute after Florian Lejeune clumsily felled Carreras. Mbappe sent Rayo goalkeeper Emil Audero the wrong way.
The French forward helped create the second, after Lejeune gave the ball away under pressure from Vinicius Junior. Carreras exchanged passes with Mbappe and drilled home.
Handed a first start for Madrid, the club’s record signing Yan Diomande cut inside from the right flank with a rapid dribble that left Rayo’s defence scrambling but lashed his shot high and wide.
Bellingham notched Madrid’s third goal and his third of the season after Vinicius charged down the left and cut the ball back for the England international, who has started the season in top form.
Mourinho defended Vinicius in midweek after some Madrid supporters whistled him in the Champions League win over Inter Milan.
Mbappe powered a strike from distance against the post as Madrid sought a fourth, while Pedro Diaz forced a rare save from Thibaut Courtois at the other end, the Belgian with a strong hand to push away his effort.
Diaz hit the post early in the second half as Rayo tried to find a foothold at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Golden ambitions
Mbappe, who stated his case for why he should win the Ballon d’Or this week, almost added a second with a low drive.
Rayo pulled one back in the 51st minute when Vinicius gave the ball away to Camello under pressure and the forward poked past Courtois.
It was the Spanish forward’s sixth goal of the campaign, making him joint-top scorer with Barcelona’s Raphinha and Mbappe.
Benat San Jose’s side, 15th, had further chances to score but Courtois pushed out Giorgi Tsitaishvili’s drive and an effort from Lejeune.
Mourinho brought on Turkish midfielder Arda Guler to help regain some control.
“Arda is very good, he’s got a lot of quality, he influences the team’s play in a good way and today he made a difference in terms of the stability of the game,” said Mourinho.
Guler helped create Madrid’s fourth for Mbappe in stoppage time, lethally finished low and across goal.
It was Mbappe’s seventh goal of the season across all competitions.
“Conceding the (early) penalty was a blow, then we had another mistake when bringing the ball out,” said Rayo coach San Jose.
“I think we could have scored in the first half too, but it’s true that they were better…
“We have to congratulate Madrid, but I’m proud of the players because the second half was much better.”
On Tuesday Real Madrid travel to face Elche, while Rayo Vallecano host Espanyol.
Earlier on Saturday, Racing Santander defeated third-place Alaves 2-1, while Espanyol won 2-0 at Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao drew 1-1 at home against Elche.
FINDING a brilliant UK hotel that is stylish, comfortable and in a top location for under £100 can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Luckily, we’ve scoured Tripadvisor‘s UK hotel data to find incredible Brit hotels that are top-rated and budget-friendly.
Rooms at Mollie’s Motel in Bristol are sleek and scandi-themed – and you can stay from £68Credit: Mollie’s Motel
All of these UK hotels are winners of the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice award, which puts them in the top 10 per cent of listings on the site based on real guests’ rankings and reviews.
Plus they all have a 4.5/5 rating or over, as well as an average nightly rate of below £100.
We found everything from forest hotels with roaming wild ponies to secret Scottish ‘gaming rooms’ with video-game cheat codes etched into the furniture.
From retro American-style motels to seaside escapes with cabaret entertainment, here are ten of Tripadvisor’s top-rated and affordable UK hotels.
Mollie’s Motel, Bristol
Mollie’s Bristol is an American-style ‘motel’ with a diner serving up burgers and shakesCredit: TripAdvisor
If you’re into all-American style diners and neon-lit motels, you’ll love a stay at Mollie’s.
Just off the M5 at Cribbs Causeway, this retro hotel is hard to miss, with its glowing red sign and zig-zag shaped exterior.
Inside you’ll find a classic diner, with shiny tiled floors, booth seating and a swanky bar, with plenty of stools to sit and sink back a bottled beer.
After chowing down on your burger, hot dog or steak (best washed down with a milkshake, of course) head upstairs to a modern room with scandi-style wooden decor, warm lights and crisp, white linen.
Each room comes with fancy rainfall showers, high-end Cowshed toiletries, fluffy towels, and Dyson hairdryers. You can even borrow some GHD straighteners from reception.
The hotel is rated 4.6/5 on Tripadvisor, with many praising how comfortable it is to stay in.
One reviewer even remarked: “If I could take the bed home with me, I’d be tempted!”
Hotel Indigo Dundee by IHG has themed rooms such as the Dundee Cake room and Comic RoomCredit: TripAdvisor
This swanky Scottish hotel is set inside a former 19th-century mill, but has been decorated with a modern twist.
Industrial touches like brick walls and iron columns still remain, but inside you’ll find modern, quirky themed rooms.
The Dundee Cake room is decorated with marmalade in mind, while the Comic Room has decorations inspired by “Black Bob” – a comic about a Scottish Border Collie.
Perhaps the coolest part is the Gaming Room, where there are books about Dundee’s rich video game history.
There are even secret GTA codes are hidden within its walls, a nod to the fact that popular game Grand Theft Auto was invented in the city.
This easyHotel is only 10 minutes from the centre of Oxford and its famous collegesCredit: Alamy
If you want to explore Oxford without entirely draining your bank account, easyHotel Oxford is a wallet-friendly budget, no-frills pick.
You won’t find fancy hotel bars or luxurious extras here. Instead, it offers exactly what it says on the tin: a clean, practical, and easy place to crash after a day of sightseeing.
The hotel offers clean and comfortable double and twin rooms, but if you want the absolute cheapest rate possible, you can opt for a windowless room.
That way you can secure a room from as little as £26 a night during off-peak times.
When you’re ready to explore Oxford, there’s a bus stop right outside the hotel that will whisk you straight into the city centre and the university colleges in around 10 minutes.
You can currently book a room from £31.50 per night on the easyHotel website.
The Telegraph Hotel, Coventry
The historic Telegraph Hotel is the top-ranked hotel in Coventry on TripadvisorCredit: TripAdvisor
The Telegraph Hotel is the #1 ranked hotel in Coventry on Tripadvisor, with a score of 4.5/5 stars.
Once the home of the Coventry Evening Telegraph paper, this building now serves as a stylish hotel, with plenty of nods to its journalistic past.
Inside you’ll find a glamorous, marble-floored lobby with emerald green plush sofas and warm golden chandeliers.
You may spot typewriters, old newspapers, pigeonholes, photos of the original 1960’s newsroom dotted around inside.
Rooms are spacious and on-theme with black and white artwork and those same emerald-coloured chairs.
The Melbreak Hotel looks out over Melbreal fell in the Lake DistrictCredit: TripAdvisor
Named after the Lake District’s Melbreak fell which you can see from the property, this family-run hotel offers a friendly base right on the border of the rugged Western Lake District and Cumbrian coast.
Rooms come with big comfy beds, traditional wooden furnishings, and plenty of space to unpack after a long day of hiking.
They come with all the essentials like free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and en-suite bathrooms. Many of the executive rooms offer gorgeous, sweeping views over the surrounding countryside.
After spending the day exploring the nearby peaks, head to the hotel‘s conservatory restaurant for generous portions of hearty pub classics.
For a relaxed drink, the cosy lounge bar is the perfect spot to sink into a leather chair with a pint of local Cumbrian ale.
Plus stunning spots like Ennerdale Water, Bassenthwaite Lake, and the market town of Cockermouth are all less than a 20-minute drive away.
The Templestowe Hotel has spectacular evening entertainment each night such as cabaretCredit: TripAdvisor
The Templestowe Hotel in Torquay delivers big on old school seaside town charm – plus it has a whopping 4.7/5 stars on Tripadvisor.
The excellent evening entertainment includes a massive ballroom and dance floor, plus a stage where you’ll find nightly acts such as cabaret, singers, dancers and comedians.
When it comes to food and drink, forget tiny tasting menus – this hotel is all about generous portions of classic British meals.
You can expect hearty multi-course dinners featuring roast meats, pies, and comforting puddings – plus a traditional cooked breakfast each morning to set you up for the day.
One Tripadvisor reviewer commented: “The entertainment was very good every night”, and that there is “a free bar from 19.00 – 23.00” where “there was never a long queue & you just had to return your empty glasses to get another drink & show your room card”.
Another said: “Great atmosphere. Entertainment was at a very high standard. Great content. A great hotel for the more mature people.”
You can book a stay from £93 per night on Booking.com.
Woodlands Lodge Hotel
The Woodlands Lodge Hotel is a peaceful pick with gardens leading out into the New ForestCredit: TripAdvisor
This country house hotel is tucked into Hampshire’s New Forest, where you’ll find endless pretty woodland walks and might even bump into a few of the forest’s 5,000 free-roaming wild ponies.
Originally built as a royal hunting lodge in the 1750s, this woodland retreat makes for the ideal countryside escape to return to to take off your muddy boots and laze back by the log fire.
There are 17 bedrooms here, including options with grand four-poster beds and dog-friendly options.
For food and drink you can tuck into some tender lamb or a juicy steak, or sit down to a delicious, homemade afternoon tea with a view of the hotel gardens.
With an impressive 4.5/5 star rating on Tripadvisor, one guest commented “it was a pleasant surprise to find such an idyllic little country house tucked away within the cattle grids and Forest”.
Another said “Our room was lovely. A walk across the back lawn through a gate takes you into the forest where we experienced several horses galloping together, into the shade of the trees.”
You can book a room from £80 per night on Booking.com.
The Crown Hotel Boroughbridge
The Crown Hotel in Boroughbridge is close to Lightwater Valley theme park and has an underground leisure clubCredit: Alamy
Once a historic 16th-century coaching inn, The Crown Hotel in Boroughbridge is full of historic charm.
This cosy Yorkshire hotel has low oak beams, roaring fires and comfy rooms with tartan furnishings.
But the best thing about this hotel is the on-site leisure club, where you’ll find a heated indoor pool, hot tub, steam room, sauna and gym to unwind in.
Once you’re suitably relaxed, head to the hotel’s traditional bar and restaurant where you can tuck into pub classics like fish and chips, washed down with a pint of local Black Sheep ale.
The hotel sits on the doorstep of the spectacular North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales. Plus you’re also just a 20-minute drive from Harrogate, the cathedral city of Ripon, and the family-friendly rides at Lightwater Valley.
Super 8 by Wyndham Chester East is a popular American brand of motel that has hit the UKCredit: TripAdvisor
If you’re looking for a cheap and convenient pitstop that feels significantly cooler than your average roadside hotel, the Super 8 by Wyndham is a top pick.
This is an American budget brand’s first foray into the UK, which arrived at the Chester motorway services in 2023.
But forget the dingy US motel stereotype – this place feels slick, modern and boasts fancy rooms that punch high above their price tag.
Rooms have sleek wooden finishes, mustard yellow details and cityscape artwork that reflects the brand’s American roots.
You also get brilliant tech upgrades that you wouldn’t typically expect from a motorway stay, including large smart TVs, ultra-fast free Wi-Fi, and plenty of USB ports.
The en-suite bathrooms are spotless and feature large walk-in power showers to wake you up before you hit the road again.
But this hotel isn’t just a pit-stop for road-trippers. It’s a 10-minute drive from shopping at Cheshire Oaks, plus Chester Zoo and Chester city are easily accessible from here for a day out.
Rooms are available from £38 per night on Expedia.
Cedar Court Huddersfield Hotel
Cedar Court Huddersfield Hotel is the ideal base for exploring the Peak DistrictCredit: TripAdvisor
This hotel in the village of Ainley Top in Huddersfield is in the prime position for exploring the Peaks (only 20 minutes’ drive), plus you can easily nip into Halifax to visit the Piece Hall or the interactive Eureka! children’s museum.
The hotel has a bright, modern and airy feel, thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows which let the sunlight pour through and look out to well-manicured gardens.
There are 113 rooms here, which have recently been refurbished with sapphire blue, brick and wood decor.
When you’ve spent the day stomping across the Peak District, you won’t want fussy fine dining. Thankfully, here you’ll find familiar favourites like pizzas, chicken and chips plus that all-important buffet breakfast.
And for when you need to unwind, there’s an underground health club complete with a fully equipped gym, sauna, and steam room.
Who: Real Madrid vs Inter Milan What: Champions League league phase Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain When: Tuesday, September 8, at 9pm (19:00 GMT) How to follow:Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the build-up from 16:00 GMT ahead of our live text commentary stream
When Jose Mourinho left Inter Milan for Real Madrid in the summer of 2010, after leading the Italian outfit to Champions League glory, he was at the peak of his powers.
The Portuguese coach claimed an historic treble with Inter, clinching Serie A in the last week of the season and lifting the Coppa Italia.
Inter beat Bayern 2-0 in the Champions League final at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium, winning the trophy for the first time since 1965 and becoming the first Italian team to win the treble.
The day after the final Mourinho said it was likely his last match in charge and about a week later his appointment at Real Madrid was finalised.
Now 16 years on, and beginning his second stint at Madrid, Mourinho kicks off the record 15-time Champions League winners’ European campaign against Serie A champions Inter on Tuesday at the Bernabeu.
Mourinho denies feeling pressure to lift Champions League
The Champions League is the only trophy that evaded Mourinho during his first stint at Real Madrid.
“No, it is two different spells,” he said when asked at a pre-match news conference if he was in debt to the club. “When I left in 2013, we won what we won and lost what we lost and we gave it our all. And that was that. What I need to do now has nothing to do with the past.”
“Back in 2010, we weren’t even reaching the quarterfinals of the Champions League and it had been ages since we’d played in a semifinal. Now we’ve won six Champions Leagues in a little over a decade.”
All eyes will be on how Real respond to their first setback of Mourinho’s second spell – a 1-0 defeat by Real Betis in La Liga on Friday.
“We want to win every match, every competition,” he said. But you have to work to accomplish stability. Stability. Stability … Structure …
“So Real Madrid need to reach that stability that is so important to achieve something great. But Real Madrid are Real Madrid, you need to win here no matter what.”
‘We all need to improve’
Sitting alongside Mourinho, star striker Kylian Mbappe was asked several times about his relationship with Vinicius Jr and the atmosphere in the Real dressing room.
“What does an improvement in the dressing room mean?” Mbappe said when asked if there had been a change from last year.
“Do you have the feeling that something wasn’t right last year? No, it’s the same as last year. It’s true we have a different coach, but it’s the same.”
Mbappe acknowledged his side have to improve in front of goal.
“I could say that I score more goals than some PSG players so they need to score more, but I have to be smart and acknowledge that I need to improve too, even if I do certain things that others don’t,” he said.
“It’s an endless debate. We all need to improve [in front of goal], and also with the ball.”
Mbappe after his penalty is saved by Betis keeper Alvaro Valles on Friday [Marcelo Del Pozo/Reuters]
What happened in Madrid’s last match?
Mbappe missed a late penalty as Troy Parrott scored his first goal for Real Betis in their 1-0 win on Friday, ending Mourinho’s perfect start to the La Liga season.
Madrid had won each of their first three matches under Mourinho in his second spell in charge, but Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles denied Mbappe from the spot deep into stoppage time to seal a memorable victory at La Cartuja.
Vinicius Junior hit the post in the first half from Arda Guler’s pass across the face of goal, with Mbappe foiled twice by heroic blocks from Natan Bernardo de Souza and Marc Bartra.
As Madrid struggled to break Betis down, the hosts took a surprise lead nine minutes from time when Parrott fired home the rebound after Thibaut Courtois had produced a fine save to deny Nelson Deossa’s header.
What happened in Inter’s last match?
A last-gasp winner from Lautaro Martinez sealed a breathless win for Inter as the Serie A champions fought back from two goals down to edge visiting Napoli 3-2 on Saturday.
The game exploded in the second half when Matteo Politano guided home a shot in the 50th minute before Rasmus Hojlund’s curler doubled the Napoli lead three minutes later.
Inter responded almost immediately when Martinez hammered in his first goal of the season from a Dimarco cross. Substitute Marcus Thuram came agonisingly close to a leveller when he headed off the post.
The France international would not be denied twice, though, and smashed a towering header past Alex Meret in the 82nd minute to level the scores.
Chances fell at both ends before Martinez’s penalty box instincts proved decisive in the 91st minute as Napoli failed to clear in a goalmouth scramble and the Argentina striker pounced to settle an extraordinary match.
Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez scoring his team’s winner against Napoli on Saturday [Isabella Bonotto/AFP]
Prediction
The Opta supercomputer makes Real Madrid the favourites, with a win probability of 56 percent. Inter given a 22.3 percent chance of winning.
Head-to-head
They have faced each other on 19 occasions; Madrid won 10 games, Inter won seven, and two ended as draws.
Somewhat surprisingly, Inter have not beaten Real Madrid since 1998, a game in which the great Roberto Baggio scored a brace for the Italians.
Last five encounters:
December 07, 2021: Real Madrid 2-0 Inter Milan (Champions League)
September 15, 2021: Inter Milan 0-1 Real Madrid (Champions League)
November 25, 2020: Inter Milan 0-2 Real Madrid (Champions League)
November 03, 2020: Real Madrid 3-2 Inter Milan (Champions League)
November 25, 1998: Inter Milan 3-1 Real Madrid (Champions League)
Real Madrid’s team news
Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva will all miss the game due to suspensions carried over from last season.
Madrid also have a host of injuries to contend with as Eder Militao, Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy and Raul Asencio are all ruled out.
Aurelien Tchouameni, Thiago Pitarch, Endrick and Marc Cucurella face late fitness tests as they struggle to recover from injuries, but all are reportedly back in training.
Left-back Federico Dimarco is unavailable due to a knee injury, while new signing Djed Spence is still working his way back to full fitness after an undisclosed injury and is unlikely to feature.
Pick which country is bigger, then watch it morph from Mercator to Equal Earth projection to see how close you were.
The map of Africa is much larger than most people think. However, most classroom maps and atlases still understate it – a distortion embedded in the Mercator projection that has shaped world maps for more than four centuries.
The distortion in question is not subtle. On a Mercator map, which was designed for European colonial exploration and maritime trade in the 16th century, Greenland appears roughly the size of Africa, which is actually about 14 times larger.
The exaggeration increases the farther you travel from the equator, so it falls almost entirely on one half of the world, inflating Europe, including Russia, and North America while shrinking Africa, Latin America and South Asia.
To address this, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted 164 to 1 on Friday to adopt a resolution promoting the Equal Earth projection, which shows continents in their true proportions, as an alternative to Mercator.
Led by Togo on behalf of the African Group and backed by the African Union, it encourages schools, institutions and tech companies to switch, correcting the shrinking of Africa and other equatorial regions. The African Group is the largest regional voting and dialogue bloc at the UN, consisting of 54 African Union member states.
Map quiz: Pick the bigger country
See it for yourself: pick which country is bigger, then watch it morph from Mercator to Equal Earth to see how close you were.
How did countries vote?
The United States was the only country to vote against the resolution calling the measure a “radical ideological project”. Serbia, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine abstained.
US representative Yaryna Ferencevych said before the vote that the resolution is “the reason this institution is losing its credibility”. “Instead of focusing on genuine problems … this body is debating map projects from the 16th century,” she said.
Friday’s resolution is nonbinding, intended only to encourage the world’s default maps to change. The UN said it does not ban Mercator or impose a replacement, but simply encourages wider use of the Equal Earth projection.
Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey told the UNGA that maps shape education, imagination and collective perception, and that the resolution affirms African reality.
The African Union adopted Equal Earth in March. Togo is planning a meeting in Lome early next year, with UNESCO, the African Union and technology companies including Google, to work out what implementation looks like in practice.
Why flat maps lie
Every flat map lies because the Earth is a sphere and no projection can flatten it without distorting something: shape, area, distance or direction.
Gerardus Mercator, a cartographer and geographer who published the world map in 1569, chose to preserve angles and straight bearings, a trade-off that made sense for 16th-century ships but has kept shaping perceptions of the world for nearly 500 years since. Equal Earth makes the opposite trade-off, preserving true area so continents can be compared honestly, at the cost of slightly bending their outlines.
Alexander Isak was the £125m striker who finally arrived at Liverpool by tormenting Ipswich Town – while Cody Gakpo’s virtuoso performance had them giving thanks he never left.
The nuts and bolts of a comfortable Friday in Suffolk were that Liverpool won 2-0 – thanks to two Isak goals in the first nine minutes, giving them their first Premier League victory of the season and new manager Andoni Iraola’s first since succeeding the sacked Arne Slot.
Liverpool‘s win must be placed in the context of being against a newly promoted Ipswich Town who were game, but who shipped five goals at Manchester United last week and look ripe for the picking against attacking quality.
The wider significance, however, was that Isak finally looked like the player Liverpool broke, at that time, the British transfer record to seal an acrimonious transfer from Newcastle United last summer.
Throw in the added bonus that Bradley Barcola showed flashes of devastating pace in a 26-minute debut display after his £123m arrival from Paris St-Germain, and this was a night that ticked every box for Iraola and Liverpool.
Even Barcola’s bow, however, was overshadowed by Isak.
The Sweden striker looked a lost soul in his first season at Liverpool, arriving out of condition after downing tools to secure his move from Tyneside, then troubled by injuries as he gave the impression of being the most expensive vanity purchase in British football history.
He was outshone by fellow striker Hugo Ekitike, his statistics stark as he suffered along with many others in an astonishing decline amid Liverpool‘s dismal title defence that led to Slot’s sacking only a year after he lifted the Premier League trophy.
Isak played 22 games encompassing 1,033 minutes, scoring four goals at a rate of one every 258 minutes. He played 14 games in the Premier League totalling 703 minutes, scoring only three goals at a rate of one every 234 minutes.
He has already equalled that league tally this season, but it was his demeanour as well as his lethal finishing that will have given Liverpool and Iraola confidence that the Isak code has finally been cracked.
And it was done by utilising Isak at his best – running in behind defenders and pressing with pace. It was what made him such a hot property at Newcastle United, and made everything about his every miserable moment on the pitch with Liverpool last term such a mystery.
The court also gave minimum sentences to the three defendants who were convicted after the victims, who were two women aged 16 and 18, forgave the accused.
The case was “linked to the recording and dissemination of a sexually explicit video related to an intimate encounter at a beach club in Gran Canaria in June 2023”.
Three of Asencio’s former team-mates from the Real Madrid academy were given a one-year suspended prison sentence for “child pornography” and must attend a sexual “re-education” course.
They were also handed a two-year restraining order against the victims, and three years of disqualification from working in any profession related to minors.
In a statement, Asencio said: “Today, after a long period of silence and after respecting a judicial process in which I always had faith, I can say that I have been acquitted.
“Over these past months I have been through a difficult situation and, at times, I have had to see how information and opinions about me were published before justice had its say.
“I understand and respect the work of the media and the right to report and express opinions, but I also believe it’s important to remember that behind every piece of news there is a person and a family who live with the consequences of it.
“I have always trusted that justice would eventually set things right. Today there is a judicial ruling that speaks for itself, and I accept it with peace of mind and with the satisfaction of being able to close a very important chapter in my life.”
In another separate case, Real Madrid have opened disciplinary proceedings against Asencio over a drink-driving conviction which also happened in Gran Canaria.
He was more than three times over the limit in the 16 August incident, which resulted in him being fined and having his driving licence suspended for eight months.
When asked about the incident, Real boss Jose Mourinho said: “Raul Asencio, given the situation he found himself in, I talked to him when he arrived and I talked to him about things that happened in the past.
“I haven’t talked with him since but I don’t discuss situations outside Valdebebas.
“His attitude is perfect here. He picked up an injury a few weeks ago and since then, he is first to arrive and last to leave working on his recovery.
“But obviously a Real Madrid player is a Real Madrid player for 24 hours, seven days a week, 12 months a year, so when you do something outside your professional area, it’s still Real Madrid and it hurts the club’s prestige that is untouchable.
“So I am not happy. We all make errors but no, I’m not happy.”
Asencio referred to his drink-driving conviction in his statement as he added: “I am deeply sorry for what happened and I fully accept my responsibility.
“It has been an experience from which I have learned and I am very clear that it will not happen again.
“I don’t want to get involved in controversies or look back. I want to close this chapter with respect, with my head held high and with a great desire to move forward. And I [am] absolutely in agreement with my coach: not only on the pitch, but also off it.”
Love Is Blind UK star Ryan has faced viewer criticism since the Netflix show aired, and he has now addressed speculation about his reasons for joining and whether he wanted to ‘boost his profile’
Ryan has addressed why he went on the show(Image: Netflix)
Everyone’s currently talking about about the latest series of Love Is Blind following its Netflix debut on August 19. Presented by celebrity duo Matt and Emma Willis, the social experiment sees British singletons dating in “pods” before getting engaged without ever laying eyes on one another.
While series 3 has now concluded its main instalments, fans can still look forward to the reunion episode, which drops on the streaming service today (August 30). From the 30 singletons who stepped into the pods, we followed six couples who emerged engaged. However, two of these pairs called it quits during the cohabitation stage.
These were Jordan and Yasmin, along with Ryan and Cuba.
The latter duo encountered difficulties after settling into a London flat together, as Ryan’s regular absences owing to work commitments and a family bereavement led to the relationship breaking down.
Cuba sensed his heart wasn’t entirely committed, and Ryan confessed his body was “resisting” the commitment. They formally ended things during episode 9, roughly a week ahead of their scheduled nuptials.
Ryan, 33, has encountered substantial online criticism since the episodes went live. Audiences have strongly condemned how the public speaker behaved towards Cuba after exiting the pods, particularly when he promptly flew off for work and subsequently claimed he required “independent alone time” to unwind away from her.
The criticism reached its height following their split scene in episode 9. After informing Cuba his “body was resisting” the commitment, Ryan bizarrely asked Cuba if she fancied any mango (she declined) before the cameras switched to Ryan aggressively and wordlessly devouring the mango.
Viewers deemed the moment peculiar and detached, sparking viral memes. Ryan has subsequently shared a TikTok (while consuming another mango) justifying his behaviour, clarifying that an entire day’s worth of intense discussions was compressed by producers into “a short, sharp focus on fruit.”
In a separate video, Ryan has now revealed why he genuinely participated in the programme, following questions about how genuine his motivations were.
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Posting a reel on his Instagram account, he informed his 15,000 followers that people continuously questioned him ‘why he bothered to apply’ for the programme.
He clarified that he didn’t apply, and was instead contacted by producers, which he maintained ‘was the same for most of the guys’.
Ryan stated: “When I initially had the call, I didn’t know what Love Is Blind was, I’d never heard of it before.”
Following a producer’s explanation of the concept to him, he considered it sounded “crazy” and acknowledges he still believes it is, though he notes it ‘clearly has a track record of working’ in certain instances.
He mentioned that as he progressed through the experience, he was “very vocal about his apprehensions”, yet his “curiosity was peaking”. Ryan also revealed that when weighing up whether to appear on the show, he found himself reflecting on the role of appearance in today’s world.
“Yes, they’re important,” well to me they are anyway and I think to most people,” he said in the clip.
“We live in a very image-focused world, where most people put most of their pride and joy in how they physically appear, instead of what’s inside.”
With that in mind, he said he ‘genuinely thinks the experiment is a really interesting concept to see if you can connect and communicate with someone deeply without ever seeing him. ‘.
“That’s what really got me in,” he admitted.
Ryan described himself as “open” to getting married, because he was single. “I was so scared, but open to it,” he said.
The public speaker also hit back at suggestions he had simply signed up to the show to “boost his profile”. He retorted: “I think that most people know that when you go on a reality show, you are seen and there’s massive drawbacks and some benefits to that.
“I don’t need or want some plastic clothing contract off the back off this, that’s not what I’m about.”
Which Love Island Blind UK series 3 couples got married?
In the finale of Love Is Blind UK season 3, a record-breaking four couples successfully walked down the aisle and got married. These were Sophie and Taylor, Ciara and Ajay, Faye and Jack and Francesca and Joseph.
Nearly everyone in the pods got engaged during Season 3 of Love Is Blind: UK. Out of the 30 singles who entered the experiment, a staggering 14 couples got engaged.
This shattered a global record for the entire Netflix franchise. Because there were far too many engagements for the production team to physically follow, they had to make difficult editorial choices. As a result, viewers only saw six couples on screen.
The Love Is Blind UK Season 3 Reunion will air on Sunday, August 30 2026 on Netflix
