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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

Alastair Cook is all set to wave goodbye to international cricket post the Oval Test match against India. The 33-year-old southpaw ends his 12-year association with Test cricket. As Cook bids adieu, we look at some of the other legendary cricketers, who played their final Test against India.

England Loss Against West Indies in 1st Test Match, Find out 5 major mistakes of England in the 1st Test match against West Indies. For More Details Visit Stumpsandbails.com

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah hobbled off after getting injured in his side's 2-1 win over Leicester City in a Premier League clash at Anfield. Salah was downed by Leicester's Hamza Choudhury after a strong challenge. However, a report states that he could be in line to feature against Man United.

Sania Mirza's Autobiography Ace Against Odds

Pakistan is one team which has all the ability to defeat the strongest team on any turf at ICC World Cup but over the years Pakistan has always faltered with its consistency. Pakistan is the Group B of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and the first schedule match that they play in the World Cup is against India on Sun Feb 14 2015 . Pakistan has never won a match against India in the ICC World Cup of any format.

Yes you hear it right , Sachin Tendulkar is returning to Test Cricket and will be playing it's come back match against Bangladesh in Dhaka. It would be historic when he would step into the cricket shoes and play for India once again. Sachin Tendulkar on 1st Aril at 1 p.m. IST calls off its retirement from test cricket and is getting geared to play against Bangladesh in May-June test.

Dale Steyn will lead South Africa's World T20 assault, subject to his recapturing full wellness. Steyn sat out six of South Africa's eight Tests this late spring and separated in the two that he played, first with a crotch harm and after that a shoulder niggle from which he is as yet recuperating. He has not had influence in the progressing ODI arrangement against England and won't play the T20 arrangement either, yet ought to return for the T20 arrangement against Australia in the development to the competition.

Pakistan's Yasir Shah has been in supreme form with the ball since he came back to the side in October. After a positive show in the Test series victory against Australia, Shah has continued his rich form against New Zealand. And his flurry of wickets has helped him eclipse a 82-year-old record.

Virat Kohli has been in extraordinary form in 2018 and is in the best of touches with the bat. The skipper, who hit a brilliant 140 in the first ODI against West Indies in Guwahati, was lucky to get a life while on 44. He scored a sublime half-century against WI to notch a special milestone.

BCCI has announced the Indian squad for the T20I series against West Indies and later against Australia in November, and surprisingly Dhoni's name is missing from the list. It might have seemed that the board is slowly trying to phase out the veteran, but MSK Prasad has revealed the real reason.

The Delhi Capitals (DC) have been promising yet endured an enormous breakdown in their past experience against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) where Sam Curran tore the heart out of them with a cap trap. The group, driven by Shreyas Iyer, is amidst the focuses table in this present release's Indian Premier League (IPL) with two successes and the same number of misfortunes. Their next experience is against the Sunrsiers Hyderabad (SRH).

The ICC World Cup 2019 will start from May 30, in England and Wales. Before the tournament, Sri Lanka will be looking to get their act right in the five ODIs against South Africa next month. They also have two ODI matches against Scotland in May. Sri Lanka are lagging behind at the moment.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has given his inputs regarding the Aussie playing XI for the first Test against India starting December 6. Australia have decisions to make in terms of choice. Ponting has outlined the side that should take on India, besides suggesting Aaron Finch as opener.

After playing a blinder in the previous game against the KXIP, MS Dhoni will look to replicate his batting form, although, he'd like to see his team through this time. If it were not for a sore back, Dhoni would have easily finished the game for CSK. The men in yellow move to their new home, Pune, courtesy a few political reasons. However, Dhoni is familiar with the conditions at Pune and against a pale looking Rajasthan, he'll certainly fancy his chances. Match number 17 of the IPL, CSK vs RR will be played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune.

The Sunrisers Hyderabad have slipped to the number 4 spot on the league table after getting beat by the KXIP. The 2016 champions won their first 3 games but were found wanting against Gayle's lethal onslaught. Bowling has been their major strength and against Punjab, the likes of Rashid Khan who seldom concedes runs was humbled by Chris Gayle's mighty hitting.

The BCCI has announced the Indian squad for the upcoming three-match Test series against South Africa. The selectors have included Shubman Gill and left out the struggling KL Rahul. Virat Kohli will lead the Test team in India's second assignment in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship.

Men's world number one tennis star Novak Djokovic said he played like a machine against Lucas Pouille after reaching the semis of the Japan Open. Djokovic, who is featuring in his first tourney after quitting because of injury against Stan Wawrinka at the US Open 2019, raced past his opponent.

England Cricket Board Announced 14-Man Squad For Test Against Pakistan in August. For more Details Visit Stumpsandbails.com

Dwyane Wade runs the floor and destroys the rim against Anderson Varejao - awesome dunk