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Rayo Vallecano are finally in a position to dream of La Liga survival. Photograph: Javier Etxezarreta/EPA In the middle of Rayo Vallecano's dark days, when they'd been beaten 15 times in 20 games and the goals were flying in; when they'd let in five from Atlético Madrid, five from Málaga, five from Villarreal, four from Espanyol, four from Sevilla, four from Barcelona, three from Madrid, three from Osasuna, and three from Valladolid; when they plummeted to 19th and stayed there for 11 long weeks; when the only reason they didn't fall further was that Betis were even worse; when even a glimmer of hope, a 4-1 win over Málaga, immediately gave way to a six-goal hammering; and when relegation wasn't an "if" but a "when"; there was a phrase that got repeated over and over: Paco Jémez will die with his ideas. Paco Jémez, though, had other ideas. Not because Rayo's coach was going to back down on his principles - "any club that signs me knows what it's getting," he insisted - but because he didn't have any intention of dying at all. Even when Rayo were a disaster, Jémez had his defenders. Off the pitch, that is. Last season, only two teams in Europe had the ball more than Rayo did: Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Early this season, when Rayo played Barcelona, they had more possession than them, the first team to manage it in 316 games. They threw men into attack, they were fun to watch, and parading the touchline in a dizzying array of multicoloured elbow patches and waistcoats, pink shirts and purple ties, Jémez urged them forward, always. In a country that values the aesthetic, or in which some do, he was eulogised for the way his teams played de tú a tú: as equals. Rayo didn't simply defend - sometimes they didn't defend at all - but instead they went for it. And, mostly, they lost. Rayo took the ball off Barcelona and Jémez declared himself "very proud". But they were beaten 4-0. They went to the Camp Nou where they were praised by Barcelona's

AFC Leopards have been fined Sh500,000 after the club fans caused the abandonment of their Kenyan Premier League game against Thika United a fortnight ago. The KPL Leagues and Competitions Committee also awarded two goals and three points to Thika United for the match that was abandoned in the 83rd minute. Thika were leading by a solitary goal by the time of abandonment. (READ: Fans disrupt AFC, Thika United league match) According to KPL Chief Executive Officer Jack Oguda, the committee found Leopards guilty of causing the abandonment of the game after their fans invaded the pitch before the end of the match. Referee Nassur Doka tried to restore normalcy but when it became clear it was becoming a security risk, he decided to call off the game. The chaotic Leopards fans engaged the police in running battles in and out of the Nyayo Stadium causing damage to private and public property. "The verdict is out and Leopards will have to pay Sh500,000 and forfeit the match. Thika United have been awarded the three points and a 2-0 win margin," said Oguda. The decision means Leopards remain 12th on the 16-team KPL log with 14 points from 13 matches after the league body opted not to dock the 13-time Kenyan champions points. Last week, Leopards Secretary General George Aladwa demanded that KPL awards the club three points claiming that Thika United, being the home team, failed to ensure there was enough security during the game. "Thika United were the home team, they should have provided enough security. Their players also refused to return to the field of play even after calm had been restored," said Aladwa. "We therefore demand that AFC Leopards be awarded the three points," he added.

Making its way to the top three teams of the 'La Liga', Real Madrid is named as the third finalist to jump into the thrilling action on the football field sharing the place with Barca and Atletico. However, Cristiano Ronaldo was the missing beat in the Real Madrid team to tune for the exciting win after thrashing Getafe by 3-0 since he was suspended.

Are you ready to go through thrill and excitement of IPL 7? The dates and venues to catch the action live have been fixed. To quench the thirst of every cricket fan or lover, the duration from April 16 to June 1 will be the moments to enjoy the cricket fever as IPL 7. The grand carnival of IPL 7 will be held in three phases across three nations.

I was astounded by the great Kenenisa Bekele's statement after losing out to a Kenyan clean sweep today in the Edinburgh International cross country athletics race. "I am not in good shape," he said, in an interview with BBC Sport. "I arrived three days before the race and I could not train because of the snow. I missed two or three training sessions."

The Manchester United striker is banned from the clash with rivals Man City after his foul-mouthed outburst at a TV camera. But Rooney, 25, and the three boys and three girls will watch the match from a private box at Wembley.

Indian will be up against England, today, in the second T20I of the three-match series. Kohli-led India come from three successive T20I series wins this year, and also lead this series 1-0 after their victory in Manchester. Fans playing Dream XI must be wondering how to get the combination right for this fixture. Here we help you with the same.

In a standout amongst the most foreseen installations of this IPL, CSK will lock horns with MI at their home ground in Mumbai. The two groups have been headed toward differentiating begins this season - with Chennai winning each of the three of their matches while Mumbai has won just one out of three matches.

India and Pakistan gear up for the biggest game of the ICC World Cup 2019 on Sunday at Old Trafford in Manchester. India are on five points from three matches, whereas, Pakistan have collected just three so far. Team India will be looking to enhance their 100% success rate against Pakistan in World Cups. Here is the statistical preview.

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) decision to name three North Stand blocks at the historic Wankhede Stadium of Mumbai after the former captain of India Dilip Vengsarkar. For More Details Visit Stumpsandbails.com

When it comes to DIY pools, we are often asked similar questions from pool buyers just like you. Fair enough too. Here are three questions that we hear lots of times about fibreglass pool shells and DIY pools.

The Indian cricket team is ahead by 346 runs in the ongoing third Test match against Australia being held at the MCG. The visitors bowled out Australia for a paltry 151 after scoring 443/7. The Test match then took a huge turn after Indian skipper Virat Kohli decided not to enforce the follow-on.

Manchester United have endured a troubled start to the season in the Premier League. However, they are unbeaten in their last three games and would look to carry the same momentum against Chelsea during the EFL Cup, at Stamford Bridge, on Wednesday. Meanwhile, here we present the match preview.

Manchester United have endured a troubled start to the season in the Premier League. However, they are unbeaten in their last three games and would look to carry the same momentum against Chelsea during the EFL Cup, at Stamford Bridge, on Wednesday. Meanwhile, here we present the match preview.

Lebanese skier Jacky Chamoun has said sorry after the heated discussion about her nude pictures and a video that were taken three years ago and now they had been surfaced on the internet, which caused a disturbance in her Arab nation.

The nerves are filled with thrills since Pakistan U19 cricket squad had slammed a magnificent 145-run win over Papua New Guinea (PNG). On the other side, Asian country Afghanistan also spread stun and surprise by the registering joyous victory defeating the three time defending world champ Australia by 36-run in ICC U19 Cricket World Cup on Monday held in UAE.