Gareth Bale claims LaLiga is more technical than the Premier League and the emphasis on one-touch passing has improved his game.

The Wales star left English football behind when he departed Tottenham for Real Madrid in 2013 in what was at the time a world-record transfer.

He has won two Champions League titles at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Spain s top-flight crown has eluded him.

That could change this year, with Zinedine Zidane s side three points clear at the top with a game in hand, and Bale outlined the increased technical demands in LaLiga.

I d say that La Liga is slightly more technical than the Premier League, the 27-year-old told The Telegraph. There s a lot of one-touch, close-range passing and I think that has definitely improved my play in sma…

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has no interest in studying the history books as Arsenal prepare to face familiar foes in the shape of Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

The Gunners have failed to go beyond the last 16 in the past six seasons, falling to Bayern at that stage in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 European campaigns, and were handed the unkind draw despite topping their group.

Arsenal also faced Bayern in the group stages last season, where they suffered a 5-1 battering at the Allianz Arena, and have won just two of the past six meetings between the teams.

Manager Arsene Wenger has faced growing scrutiny during another faltering bid for the Premier League title, albeit they beat Hull City 2-0 on Saturday.

But England winger Oxlade-Chamberlain believes Ars…

The future of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is once again in the headlines.

Lazio star Milinkovic-Savic has been linked with Manchester United, Juventus, Real Madrid, Inter and Paris Saint-Germain.

Now another club are reportedly in the mix for the Serbia international midfielder.

TOP STORY – CHELSEA EYE MILINKOVIC-SAVIC

Chelsea sent scouts to watch Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in the Europa League, reports TuttoMercato.

One of the most in-demand midfielders in Europe, Milinkovic-Savic has attracted interest from Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter.

Milinkovic-Savic – who was reportedly set to join United if Paul Pogba left Old Trafford – was watched as Lazio lost 2-1 to Celtic in Glasg…

There is no doubt Claudio Bravo has the full backing of his manager ahead of Manchester City s clash with Liverpool.

Why should I doubt any player in my team? Why do you ask these questions? a spiky Pep Guardiola said on Friday.

It s a team game and sometimes you make a mistake; sometimes you make a good save and sometimes not. But why should I not have any confidence with one player in my team? He wouldn t be here otherwise.

It was a staunch defence of a player whose errors in his first season in England were highly scrutinised, before he then lost his place to £35million man Ederson.

Bravo came on against Atalanta after Ederson sustained an injury, but his outing only lasted 36 minutes until a rash run from goal ended in a red card.

Still, w…

Watching complete what was a blockbuster £105million move to Arsenal this summer, it is fair to say that England’s elite have stollen most of the headlines this summer.

With Three Lions skipper and now-former Tottenham record-breaker eventually completing his stunning switch to German heavyweights Bayern Munich earlier in the month, Gareth Southgate’s international stars have certainly been in high demand.

Likewise, along with making an immediate impact after arriving at Tottenham for a fee of £40million, Jude Bellingham has also enjoyed a remarkable start to life at Real Madrid after completing his historic move from Borussia Dortmund.

With only a week remaining until the summer transfer window slams shut, we have taken a look at a trio of England inte…

Unai Emery praised the versatility of Matty Cash after the Poland international’s first Aston Villa goals in over a year helped them to a 3-1 win at Burnley.

There was speculation Cash could be on his way out of Villa Park this summer, but the 26-year-old showed what an asset he can be with two goals in the opening 20 minutes of his 100th Villa appearance, twice threatening to make it a hat-trick.

Cash replaced Leon Bailey on the right wing in the only unenforced change to the Villa side that beat Hibernian 5-0 in the Europa Conference League play-off in midweek – Robin Olsen replaced the injured Emi Martinez in goal – and caught the eye with an energetic display.

“Onto the next one!”

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial)

“He’s versatil…

that Schalke will soon terminate Kevin-Prince Boateng s contract at Veltins Arena.

The Miners have been desperate to get rid of one of their highest earners for quite some time now, and they even allowed the Ghanaian to train with AC Milan, hoping the Rossoneri would purchase his contract.

But, with the Serie A side waiting for Boateng s contract to expire before offering him a deal, Schalke have decided to let the player leave on a free.

The club officials are currently negotiating the terms of the release with the midfielder s agents, but everything suggests he will become a free agent before the end of the month.

When the agreement is finalised, Boateng will almost certainly sign a contract with AC Milan, who could really use an attacking midfielder …

Stoke City midfielder Dean Whitehead remains philosophical about his future despite contract talks having yet to have begun.

The 31-year-old has only made 10 starts this season having found himself behind Steven N Zonzi, Glenn Whelan and Charlie Adam in the picking order but he is keen to extend his stay.

After signing for the club in 2009 his four-year contract is up for renewal at the end of the campaign but he admitted although there had been no discussions yet he was comfortable to wait and see what happens.

That s football, he said. I m not getting
any younger and I haven t played as many games as I d have liked.

The lads have been doing well. Glenn, Steve and
Charlie Adam have all done well and I ve had to take it on the chin.

In recen…

Pablo Zabaleta believes Manchester City can call upon past experience to once again come from behind and claim the Premier League title.

City collected the first silverware of the English season on Sunday as they overcame Liverpool on penalties to lift the League Cup after a 1-1 draw at Wembley.

The teams meet again at Anfield on Wednesday, with City nine points off the pace having lost to top two Leicester City and Tottenham in their past two Premier League outings.

But Zabaleta believes morale has been restored by Wednesday s impressive 3-1 Champions League win at Dynamo Kiev and Wembley glory.

The Argentina international also fondly recalls City winning their maiden Premier League crown in 2011-12 despite lying eight points behind Manchester United w…

Cristiano Ronaldo will be in prime position to match Lionel Messi s record of five Ballon d Or awards if Real Madrid can win the Champions League on Saturday, according to Fernando Morientes.

Madrid will be seeking to defend their European crown against Juventus in Cardiff, with Ronaldo a key weapon in their formidable armoury. 

No team have ever claimed back-to-back Champions League crowns, but Ronaldo has helped the 11-time winners to the cusp of history.

The Portugal star has scored 10 goals en route to the showpiece at the Principality Stadium, while his 25 in LaLiga saw Madrid dethrone bitter rivals Barcelona for their first top-flight title since 2012.

Now, 32-year-old Ronaldo is potentially on course to add to his four Ballons d Or and …