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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

Rafael Nadal is struggling with his fitness, as he continues to participate in the ATP Finals, in London. However, he suffered a shocker, as he was defeated by Alexander Zverev. Meanwhile, as he prepares to take on Daniil Medvedev, he has given an update on his current fitness, which has been shaky.

Joe Calzaghe achieved one of his dreams by comprehensively beating Roy Jones Jr last night at Madison Square Gardens, his 46th straight win as a professional boxer. In the past he suggested that he woudl retire if he did. So should he?

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.

Indian fast bowler Umesh Yadav turned 31 today. He has been in tHe mix since many years now in tHe top level. THe Vidarbha pacer may not feature consistently as He would have liked, but He has always put in a shift. THe hard working pacer is an example for budding cricketers. Here's more.

Indian opener Rohit Shama is the latest Indian cricketer to be associated with football, as he has been named India's brand ambassador for La Liga. While he becomes the first-ever non-footballer brand ambassador, he revealed which Indian cricketer from the current team is the best footballer.

Indian opener KL Rahul's hard work in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 paid off, as he sealed a spot in the squad for the ICC World Cup 2019. However, he is not expected to get game time, as India have a settled top-order. As he prepares for his maiden World Cup stint, Rahul talked about his World Cup dream. here's more.