It was Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor’s first game in charge of the club in the Women’s Champions League so she was pleased to get off to a winning start.

The Frenchwoman has won the competition three times, twice as a player and once as a manager with former club Lyon.

But she said on Monday that the postponement of Chelsea’s Women’s Super League match against Manchester United – due to be played on Sunday – impacted their preparation.

They had not played a competitive fixture in 10 days when they lined up at Stamford Bridge to face Real and were hit by illness in the squad this week.

“We have to play with a lot of intensity. I don’t want to find excuses but maybe because we didn’t play for 10 days, it’s something that can help you understand why tonight we were a little bit down,” said Bompastor.

“We scored the two goals but the players were not working as hard as I wanted them to work on the pitch.

“When we had the ball we were just walking to get the ball which is not enough. If you want to possess the ball, you have to run a lot.”

Bompastor also said she wanted her side to “manage the game more” after sloppiness let Real back into the game.

“When I say manage the game, it’s not about slowing it down, but being smarter,” added Bompastor.

“When you begin the game with two goals, it’s good to keep that result. We conceded two goals where we maybe could have done better.

“We were a bit nervous about Madrid getting stronger. I would like us to manage the game better.”

Sarah Funderburk, the leading woman as darkness falls at Battersea, is partial to salted potatoes. Brian Robb, the overnight race leader, slurps his way through 57 yoghurt tubes, the sort more commonly seen in a child’s lunchbox.

Samantha Hudson dos Santos Figueira (formerly Amend), a GB 24hr runner and the British women’s 100-mile record holder, has taken it a step further in the past. “I’ve had baby food in a race – because it’s easy to get down.”

In a 24hr race, eating on the go takes on a very literal meaning. But getting food – or “fuel”, as many call it – into your body is not easy, especially after it has taken a pounding for several hours.

“I had such a hard time chewing,” Funderburk, an American now living in London, says after the race. “I made loads of jam tortillas but I just didn’t want to eat them.”

Stocks remembers “gagging even when I looked at food”, while Hudson dos Santos Figueira eats raw ginger to combat nausea. “I just munch on it – it’s disgusting.”

Britton, who coaches some of the world’s best ultra-runners, says: “I eat mostly gels. It’s painful but you’re just getting in as much as you can. They taste OK, but does that matter? I’m not eating to enjoy it.”

Every long training run is eating practice, according to 37-year-old Field. “I did one where I ate a Pot Noodle and a tin of rice pudding.”

He stopped for only 26 minutes of his record-breaking run. Britton was on the go for all but 23 of his.

Although there are portaloos by the side of the track, even those few extra footsteps can seem like an unnecessary diversion. In a 2018 race infamous for its atrocious weather, Stocks remembers shunning social etiquette. “It was late, it was pouring with rain, so why would I bother stopping? I would pee in my pants.”

Lined up along the edge of the track are the support crews – normally a partner or friend who has sacrificed their weekend to pull an all-nighter.

Some runners arrive with little more than a plastic bag of snacks and a camping chair. Others operate out of the boot of their car. The best prepared bring a gazebo, fridge and spreadsheet containing a scientific nutrition and hydration strategy.

Kayla Harrison entered the UFC cage for the second time this past Saturday to defeat Ketlen Vieira in Salt Lake City and move one step closer to the bantamweight title, and Larissa Pacheco disapproved the PFL social media game that day.

Harrison started her MMA career under the PFL banner in 2018 and won 15 of her 16 bouts. The lone defeat came against Pacheco, whom she beat twice before, and PFL used Harrison’s big UFC 307 clash to promote Pacheco’s upcoming fight with MMA legend Cris Cyborg on Oct. 19. PFL also posted a clip promoting Harrison later that day.

“I thought that was uncalled for, honestly,” Pacheco said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “I think [PFL] have the champion they deserve, they have a respectful champion, who has defeated Kayla, so why do that? Promote me right. Let’s promote the champion. ‘Oh, but Larissa beat Kayla.’ You don’t need that. I’ve shown [my work] with other results, I’ve proven myself, so you don’t need that.

“But anyway, that’s not on me. I have nothing to do with that. I respect Kayla. Our rivalry is over right now because she’s in another organization. Had she stayed here it would be the two of us and Cris clashing heads here, but there’s no reason to talk [about her now]. I wish her good luck. The more she wins, the bigger my win over her gets, so I’ll always cheer for her.”

UFC CEO Dana White also bashed PFL for the tweet, joking that “when you’re losing as much money as they are, f*cking go for it.”

Cyborg is a legend of the sport with titles won in the UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce and Invicta FC. Pacheco looks to make history by adding the Brazilian to her list of victims after winning belts in two weight classes in the PFL.

Pacheco is riding a 10-fight winning streak and has only lost to Harrison, Germaine de Randamie and Jessica Andrade in 27 professional fights, but feels “it’s clear to everybody” that PFL has promoted Harrison differently.

“I don’t know if it’s because I’m Brazilian, if it’s because I don’t speak English and don’t sell that much, but I feel the difference,” Pacheco said. “She’s not even here anymore and they still [post] a lot about her, you know? She’s gone, she’s already in another organization. I think they can look at people that are in the organization.”

Pacheco hopes the public perception — and actual PFL marketing machine — changes with a win over Cyborg in Saudi Arabia.

“I think it takes me to another level, makes me one of the greats in women’s MMA,” Pacheco said. “To beat two great athletes — one two-time Olympic champion with all the hype now in the UFC, and a legend [in Cyborg]… What else do I need to say? It will take me to another level and give me the credibility promotions still don’t give me. I miss that, I won’t deny. Even from the PFL, to treat me and give credit as their actual champion.”

“People give too much weight to the fact that I’ve lost to Kayla, but I’ve l lost in 2019, when I was broken, and people don’t take that in consideration. And I won when we were both in our primes, the peak of our performances. I’m not saying one win deserves more credit than two, but there’s a huge difference. And beating Cris now would give me the hype and credibility that I need at this stage of my career.”

FEW players have amassed such staggering stats in the Prem so quickly as Cole Palmer.

And now it can be said few have won such a prestigious honour at international level from such little action.

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Chelsea‘s attacking midfielder has been named England player of the year – after just two starts since his Three Lions debut in November 2023.

Many fans found the award jaw-dropping – reckoning runner-up Jude Bellingham or third-placed Bukayo Saka should have won it.

Yet the honour, for 2023-24, was decided BY SUPPORTERS.

Palmer has won nine caps – including five off the bench at the Euros when playing just 145 minutes in Germany as England reached the final.

His peak moment so far was a spectacular strike off the bench in that showpiece clash, an equaliser that offered brief hope before Mikel Oyarzabal fired a deserved late winner for Spain.

In all, for the Three Lions, Palmer has scored twice in nine matches, albeit seven of those appearances coming as sub.

In contrast, Arsenal winger Saka has been a consistent menace for England, while Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham often reached lofty heights in the past year, despite a mediocre Euro 2024. 

However, at Prem level, Palmer has notched 28 goals and 17 assists in 58 matches.

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That includes a blistering start to this term, netting six times and teeing up five goals in seven games.

It means Palmer’s England nomination has divided fans – many believing the 22-year-old should have been used more by now-departed England boss Gareth Southgate, but also wondering how their fellow supporters rewarded him above big-name regulars.

One said: “Bukayo Saka was robbed. What did Cole Palmer do that Saka didn’t?”

Another wrote: “How is this possible when he didn’t even start in any single match in Euros??? England led by politics and PR games again.”

A third posted: “Weird as he barely played at the Euros. I’m not saying Palmer isn’t a good player but for a year we’ve had the Euros he can’t be the POTY when Southgate rarely played him.”

And a fourth insisted: “Saka did a better job than Cole Palmer, he should be getting the men’s Player of the Year Award for 2023-24. If for any reason Saka wasn’t the right person, the next persons that come to mind are Bellingham & Harry Kane. This is ridiculous.”

But a few fans looked to the Palmer who could be set for a wonderful winter at club and international level – rather than the one who had to rely on England cameos over the last 12 months.

Such supporters argued he was “the best player in the world!!!!” and a “Generational talent”.

Ali Abdelaziz is confident Magomed Ankalaev will be the one to take out UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) retained his light heavyweight title with a brutal fourth-round TKO of Khalil Rountree in Saturday’s UFC 307 main event at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Pereira plans on staying put at 205 pounds, and Abdelaziz expects Ankalaev (19-1-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC) to cement himself as No. 1 contender if he can get past Aleksandar Rakic Oct. 26 at UFC 308. No one has had an answer for Pereira on the feet at 205 pounds, but Abdelaziz says Ankalaev has the tools to beat him at his own game.

“I truly believe I think he will knock out Alex Pereira,” Abdelaziz told Submission Radio. “I believe he has every skill set to do it, and I believe he will do it. I didn’t know too much about Khalil before. I thought he was a 50-50 type of fighter. Yesterday, I’m a fan for life of Khalil Rountree. Khalil Rountree dropped him two times.

“I believe Ankalaev has way more precision, way smarter than both of them. I believe Alex Pereira’s chin is a little bit better at light heavyweight, but the man has been in so many wars, and I believe his chin is not there, and it’s normal. It’s not knocking on him. I don’t think his chin is there 100 percent.”

Abdelaziz dismissed the notion that the UFC is trying to protect Pereira by giving him favorable stylistic matchups, but sees Ankalaev as the more well-rounded fighter.

“I think Alex is a great champion, but I think Ankalaev is superior everywhere,” Abdelaziz said. “I believe Ankalaev will beat him in wrestling and grappling. I believe Ankalaev doesn’t get hit.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Jarlath O’Rourke’s double helped Crusaders to a 3-2 victory over Linfield in the Co Antrim Shield quarter-finals.

Harry Franklin headed in the opener for the Seaview hosts while Chris Shields and Liam Burns netted for Linfield.

Paul O’Neill hit all four second-half goals for Larne as the holders continued their bid for a fifth straight Shield success with a 4-0 win over Newington at Inver Park.

Jay Donnelly and Jordan Jenkins were on target in Glentoran’s 2-0 home victory against Carrick Rangers.

Aaron Jarvis scored the only goal as Premiership pacesetters Ballymena United beat Cliftonville 1-0 at Solitude.

Crusaders got off to the perfect start when Franklin headed home from Ross Clarke’s cross after just two minutes.

O’Rourke doubled the lead after 38 minutes by firing into the Blues net from the edge of the box.

Linfield pulled one back 14 minutes from time when Shields made no mistake from a penalty after Jimmy Callacher’s foul on Matthew Fitzpatrick.