In his domestic career, James had moved to Spain from the French side AS Monaco directly after claiming the World Cup Golden Boot with his six goals at the 2014 competition in Brazil.
Real Madrid dug deep in a 3-0 home win against lowly Alaves in the La Liga, but Ligue 1 leaders Paris St Germain their second Ligue 1 loss of the season.
Bayern edge closer to Bundesliga title after win at Arminia
Juventus climb to top of Serie A with win over Lecce
Factbox on Carlos Alcaraz, who beat Alexander Zverev
Spain's Rafael Nadal said on Wednesday that he is not sure if he will be able to play at next month's French Open.
Lamine Yamal has been breaking records since making his professional debut for Barcelona less than 15 months ago, the last one becoming the youngest goal-scorer in Euros history with a stunning curled long-range shot against France that helped his side reach the final.
P V Sindhu failed in her quest to win her first BWF World Tour title since the Singapore Open in July 2022, beaten by China's Wang Zhi Yi 21-16, 5-21, 21-16 in the final of the Malaysia Masters Super 500 on Sunday.
The following is the draw for the Champions League last 16 which was held in Nyon on Monday:
Barcelona have appointed former German national team and Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick as head coach on a two-year contract, the LaLiga club said on Wednesday.
Southgate's rigidity around substitutions was the most glaring question, particularly the introduction of Ivan Toney in the 94th minute.
Ramos's contract runs out at the end of June and there are only four La Liga games remaining this season.
Images from soccer matches held across Europe on Saturday, March 16.
Holders Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 with a late Bernardo Silva goal on Saturday to reach the FA Cup final after an absorbing end-to-end Wembley semi-final left the exhausted winners still chasing a domestic double.
Spain is one of the worst affected countries in Europe by the coronavirus, with over 27,000 deaths, including 8,000 in Madrid.
Images from Day 4 of the Wimbledon Championships, at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, on Thursday.
Tsitsidosa era ends as Badosa announces split with Tsitsipas
Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez struck a last-gasp goal to snatch a dramatic 1-0 win over 10-man Napoli as they claimed their third successive Italian Super Cup title on Monday.
Striker Mariano's header was glanced onto the crossbar by Sociedad's Andoni Gorosabel while the loose ball fell to Marco Asensio, whose shot was deflected wide for a corner from which Raphael Varane header hit the top of the bar.
Sunday's final promises a fitting climax to a soggy Championships, especially if it scales anywhere near the dizzy heights of last year's classic won by Alcaraz in five sets.
Photos from soccer matches played across top European Leagues on Saturday.
Ukraine will face Belgium, Romania and Slovakia in Group E. Although the Belgians are the group favourites, Ukraine are well-equipped to reach the knockout stage by finishing second.
Swiatek downs Gauff to meet Sabalenka in Italian Open final
Ramos recently turned 35 and had a season littered with injuries which led to him being left out of Spain's Euro 2020 squad
IMAGES from football matches played across Europe on Wednesday.
Alcaraz has been seen as fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal's successor on the Paris clay.
Swiatek's dominance on clay that the top seed from Poland has won her last 20 matches at Roland Garros, as she bids for a third successive trophy to add to her maiden Grand Slam triumph in Paris four years ago
World number one Novak Djokovic is considering going without a coach after 20 years in professional tennis, the Serb said after receiving the top men's honour at the Laureus awards.
Girona reclaimed top spot in LaLiga after beating champions Barcelona 4-2
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric came off the bench to net a stunning strike from the edge of the box late in the second half to secure a 1-0 home win over Sevilla on Sunday and stretch their lead at the top of La Liga to eight points.
Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema kept up his impressive run of form by scoring and providing two assists in a 3-1 win away to Eibar on Sunday, taking the champions level on points with La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid.
The player, who has a penchant for making jibes at Real Madrid, also cited remarks made by former referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez, who said last year that 90% of referees were Real fans, the remaining 10% supporting Barca.
Nadal was given a stiff test by the 24-year-old in a match which lasted almost three hours on centre court, and now faces Polish seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz.
Novak Djokovic said he is building up to hit top form for his French Open title defence.
The two teams have met eight times in the European Cup, with Real winning four times and Liverpool three.
Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 in the first Clasico of the season in front of 86,422 fans at the Camp Nou on Sunday after a sensational strike from defender David Alaba and a late goal from Lucas Vazquez gave Carlo Ancelotti's side three points.
A round-up of Saturday's action in Serie A, La Liga and Bundesliga.
An off-key Liverpool were frustrated for a second successive game by struggling opponents as they were held to a 0-0 Premier League draw at Newcastle United on Wednesday.
Bayer Leverkusen beat Freiburg 3-2 to edge closer to a first ever Bundesliga title.
'I expect a brave Napoli that plays from the back and presses high, that doesn't speculate, has a lot of individual talent, it's a big game and it's a great team, current champions of Italy.'
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