Sports
Hugo Lloris the hero as Spurs earn a valuable point against Real Madrid
Forget Harry Kane for just one moment. After this, the player Tottenham may have to keep out of Real Madrid’s clutches is Hugo Lloris.
Indeed, Real may look to take a job lot having seen the immense potential in this Spurs team. Harry Winks was excellent given the giant responsibility of marshalling midfield and Eric Dier was unexpectedly at home against a terrifying forward line in a back three deployed by Mauricio Pochettino.
The whole defence was superb, in fact, in withstanding the onslaught of the first team to retain the Champions League in the modern era. And even if Kane missed his best chance, one on one, he caused enough panic in Madrid’s back line to get partial credit for the Tottenham goal. Real will be worried about him at Wembley, have no doubt of that.
Yet it would all have come to nought were it not for a man-of-the-match performance by Lloris. Not that Tottenham were pinned back or overwhelmed. He wasn’t Jan Tomaszewski, saving with every part of his body. It wouldn’t have been 10-0 without him.
Yet two or three saves were outstanding — and one stop was exceptional, arguably the save of the season so far. They will remember him here after this — and sometimes, with Real, that can be dangerous. Madrid’s interest in David de Gea is long-standing, so we know they are in the market for a keeper.
And had it been an audition, it really couldn’t have gone better for Lloris, particularly in the second half when Madrid came out with their dander up having equalised just before half time. In a sustained spell, between the 55th and 65th minutes, Lloris made three saves, starting with the best of them all from Karim Benzema.
It wasn’t the happiest night for Madrid’s striker — he had three decent chances and should have scored from all of them, but at the start of the second half he must have felt his luck had changed.
Casemiro provided the cross and Benzema met it with a header that looked for all the world like the go-ahead goal. Somehow Lloris kept it out. Somehow he was quick and agile enough to block and snatch the roars from the throats of the Madridistas.
He did it again soon after when Winks had lost possession and Madrid fed Cristiano Ronaldo on the break. Lloris was magnificent in keeping his shot out — and again two minutes later when Ronaldo had sped past three.
At times of such intense pressure it is not like Madrid have found a new gear, more like they have been tossed the keys to a whole new car. A Lamborghini, perhaps — or Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes.
Yet Lloris stood tall through it all. He made several other fine stops from Isco and Ronaldo and held his nerve despite the frustrated whistles of the locals, taking time out of the game and allowing Pochettino’s team to maintain their composure while earning an incredibly gutsy point.
Late in the day, as Madrid sent in a corner, Lloris came from his line, rose imperiously and plucked the ball out of the air. He looked at home here, it has to be said.
As did Tottenham. Remarkably, considering their struggles in this competition last season, they lead Group H having played Madrid away. They also enjoy a six-point cushion over Borussia Dortmund, the club it was felt they would wrestle for second place.
A world of possibilities is opening up — including one in which they achieve the much-needed landmark result at Wembley, the one that changes the narrative at their temporary home.
Imagine if they defeated Real Madrid there. After this, it is not unthinkable. This was not Kane’s best performance, but he frightens Madrid. Maybe their attempts at flattery — interpreted as the seeds of an attempted courtship — have built up Kane’s prowess in the minds of Madrid’s defenders.
Tottenham went ahead because Madrid were frit by him. The goal came after 28 minutes, Tottenham growing into the game following an early scare when Ronaldo hit a post and Benzema squandered the rebound with the goal begging. Gradually, though, Tottenham gained composure and began to threaten.
Kane had a header well saved by Keylor Navas and Fernando Llorente had a shout for a penalty rejected, after his standing leg was taken by Casemiro. In front of the most vocal sector of the Bernabeu, it would have been a bold call by Polish referee Szymon Marciniak, and he wasn’t about to do anything silly like that.
So, Tottenham had to make their own luck and from their next foray into the box, they did. Serge Aurier made excellent ground on the right and whipped in a lovely ball which Kane tried to flick into Navas’s goal with his heel. He missed, but sufficiently worried Raphael Varane that the defender stabbed at a clearance and, in doing so, put the ball into his own net.
Sadly, as wonderful as Aurier is going forward, he can be a liability in defence. In the 42nd minute, his clumsy challenge gave referee Marciniak the chance to award the type of penalty that never spells controversy at the Bernabeu — a penalty to Real Madrid.
As the professionals say, Aurier went to ground too early and in a place that invited trouble. In doing so, he took Toni Kroos with him and Marciniak did not pass up the opportunity to be popular. He pointed to the spot and Ronaldo finished emphatically.
Having survived another onslaught, Tottenham could have nicked it. On 71 minutes, Llorente put Kane in with only Navas to beat, but the keeper diverted his shot round a post. Kane will have been disappointed not to score, but knowing what a goal would have done to his stock here, maybe for Spurs fans it was for the best.
It was still very good. When Madrid come to Wembley, they will know they are not just facing a Harry Kane team, but a group who continue to grow in stature.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Team, the Super Eagles.
This development was announced by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in the early hours of Tuesday, following the approval of the NFF Executive Committee based on a recommendation from its Technical and Development Sub-Committee. Labbadia’s appointment takes immediate effect.
Born on 8th February 1966 in Darmstadt, Germany, Labbadia enjoyed a distinguished playing career, earning two caps for the German national team. His club career included stints at prominent clubs such as Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC. Notably, he won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994.
Labbadia’s coaching career has seen him manage top-tier clubs such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen, among others. He holds a UEFA Pro License and is well-regarded for his tactical acumen.
With his appointment, Labbadia becomes the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Höner notably guided the Super Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate task is to prepare the Super Eagles for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches.
Nigeria will face Benin Republic on Saturday, 7th September in Uyo, and Rwanda on Tuesday, 10th September in Kigali. The team will also play four additional qualifying matches in October and November as they aim to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON, scheduled to be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Super Eagles, placed in Group D, will face familiar foes Benin Republic, who recently defeated Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The draw for the AFCON qualifiers, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, last month, also sees Nigeria taking on Libya and Rwanda, both of whom are also part of the Super Eagles’ group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Labbadia’s appointment comes at a crucial time as the Super Eagles look to regain their dominance on the African continent and secure qualification for both the AFCON and the World Cup.
Finidi George has stepped into a new role as the technical manager for NPFL side, Rivers United, following his resignation as coach of the Super Eagles.
During his brief tenure with the Eagles, George’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo and a 2-1 loss to Benin Republic in Abidjan cast doubts on Nigeria’s World Cup qualification, prompting calls from fans for his dismissal.
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Nevertheless, Rivers United, the 2021-22 champions, expressed optimism in a statement on Wednesday via their official handle about having the former Eagles international manage their team.
“Finidi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, having had a distinguished playing career spanning over fifteen years,” the statement read.
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Dr. Okey Kpalukwu, General Manager of Rivers United FC, welcomed George, stating, “We are delighted to have Finidi George join our team. His appointment marks a new chapter in our club’s history, and we are committed to working together to achieve success.”
Expressing his gratitude to the club, an elated George remarked, “I am honored to have this opportunity, and I thank the Sports Commissioner, the General Manager, and the supporters for their confidence in me. I am committed to working hard and making the team win.”
Inter Milan were taken over by US fund Oaktree on Wednesday after the Serie A champions’ outgoing owners Suning missed a deadline to repay a debt worth hundred of millions of euros.
In a statement, Oaktree announced they had “assumed control” of Inter after the non-repayment of a “three-year loan to Inter Milan’s holding companies that matured on 21 May 2024 with a total balance due of approximately 395 million euros ($428 million)”.
Chinese conglomerate Suning have relinquished control of Inter to Oaktree three days after the team were officially crowned Italian champions for the 20th time.
Suning borrowed 275 million euros at over 12 percent interest three years ago to pay staff and players as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the finances of clubs across Europe, putting up their controlling stake in the club as collateral.
“Oaktree is dedicated to achieving the best outcome for the long-term prosperity of Inter Milan, with an initial focus on operational and financial stability for the Club and its stakeholders,” Oaktree continued.
Inter became a powerful force at home and abroad after Suning acquired the club in 2016, with seven trophies including two Serie A titles and two European finals.
Simone Inzaghi’s team cruised to this year’s championship, winning the Scudetto with five matches remaining by beating AC Milan in a thrilling local derby.
Oaktree, which manages $192 billion in assets, said they are “committed to working closely with Inter Milan’s current management team, partners, the league and governing bodies to ensure the Club is positioned for success on and off the pitch”.
Inter ended up in the hands of Oaktree in a manner similar to the way another US fund, Elliott Management, took control of their local rivals Milan in 2018.
Elliott became Milan’s owners when Chinese businessman Li Yonghong was unable to repay a loan he had taken out when he bought the club from the late Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest the previous year.
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