Joao Pedro hat-trick seals chaotic 6-4 Chelsea win in Xabi Alonso's debut
Chelsea began the Xabi Alonso era with an entertaining victory after beating Western Sydney Wanderers 6-4 in a remarkable pre-season friendly in Sydney on Tuesday, July 2.
Joao Pedro was the star of the show, coming off the bench to score a nine-minute hat-trick as the Blues recovered after falling behind three separate times.
Formula 1 2026 mid-season review: The biggest winners, losers and surprises so far
The 2026 Formula 1 season has reached its halfway point, and the first campaign under the sport's new regulations has already delivered plenty of storylines.
Mercedes have emerged as the class of the field after getting the new rules right from the start, while 19-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli has established himself as the championship favourite in just his second season in Formula 1.
Ferrari have also taken a significant step forward, Red Bull have struggled to keep pace with their rivals and Aston Martin have endured a disappointing first half of the year despite high expectations.
With 11 races complete and 12 still to come, here's a look at the biggest talking points from the 2026 season so far.
Roberto Mancini's return feels right - but can he restore Italy to its former glory?
The Italian Football Federation has had a week of drama worthy of EastEnders, with Andrea Pirlo blocked from becoming head coach, Pep Guardiola declining the opportunity, Paolo Maldini’s resignation, and finally Roberto Mancini's reappointment as the next head coach of the Azzurri.
Former Manchester City manager Mancini has brought success to Italy before at Euro 2020, but is he truly the right person to get Italy’s national team back on track and give the country something to be truly proud of?
Sports News Blitz writer Luca Salmasi delves into this particular move and whether the FIGC have made the right move to revive Italian football.
Sports betting 2026 – Betting provider deposit and withdrawal
PayPal has been a popular payment method for many years, not only for online shopping but also for placing sports bets.
You can deposit with PayPal not only at many sports betting providers, but also at online casinos.
Since PayPal is considered a secure and widely used online payment method, many players choose this option to process transactions conveniently and reliably.
Team captains and ticket details confirmed for padel’s first Clash of the Coaches
Clash of the Coaches – the first worldwide tournament for padel coaches – has announced ticket details and team captains for the inaugural event in London on Friday 7 August.
The tournament is an opportunity to witness more than 40 of the best UK and international coaches do battle in a mixed team format.
Early bird spectator tickets for the tournament, being held at London’s impressive Racketeer club, start at just £7 (plus booking fee) and include a drink from the venue’s Recover-Me station.
Rounders news: Horsforth Hawks Reds have Division 3 in their sights after historic win
Sports News Blitz-sponsored rounders team Horsforth Hawks Reds stormed to a historic 30.5-16 win over Sharks Thunder in a commanding performance on Monday night.
The Hawks Reds secured promotion to Division 4 last season - and are now on the brink of making it back-to-back promotions after racking up a seventh win in eight games to consolidate second place in the table behind long-time leaders Idle Red Kites.
We have invited co captains Liz and Liv to provide us with a match report for each game - and here are the full details from Monday night’s epic win.
Three planning approvals put Padel People on course for nine venues by year-end
Independent UK padel operator Padel People is on course to increase its network by 50% this year after securing planning permission for three new venues this month.
The approvals cover sites in Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Dorset and will take the business from six venues to nine by the end of 2026.
Beyond those locations, Padel People has a wider pipeline spanning 19 venues and 70 courts across England.
The announcement comes at a time when Britain is preparing to host its first-ever Premier Padel tournament at London's Olympia next week.
Decathlon Becomes Official Retail Partner of the UK’s First Premier Padel Tournament
Decathlon UK & Ireland has today announced its partnership with Sela and the London Premier Padel P1, becoming the event's exclusive Official Retail Partner as the world's leading professional padel tour arrives in the UK for the very first time.
Taking place from 4–9 August 2026 at Olympia London, London Premier Padel P1 brings together the world's top male and female two-player elite teams for six days of elite competition.
The landmark event marks a major milestone for padel in the region - a sport that has seen participation rapidly accelerate, passing one million UK players in 2026 with adult awareness surging to 57%.
Formula 1 confirms Malaysia return as Sepang added to 2026 calendar for Bahrain Grand Prix
Formula 1 has confirmed that the Sepang International Circuit will return to the calendar later this year after Malaysia was announced as the host venue for the postponed Bahrain Grand Prix.
The race, officially titled the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, will take place from October 2-4, filling the gap left after the original Bahrain event was postponed earlier this season due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The revised schedule remains subject to final agreements and approval from the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
Horse racing news: Which ‘Glorious’ Goodwood races are ITV showing this week?
The Goodwood Festival, or Glorious Goodwood to those in the know, is one of the highlights of the UK’s Flat-racing calendar. It begins on Tuesday, July 28 and ends on Saturday, August 1.
The ITV Racing team are at Goodwood in force during the week and on air between 13:30 and 16:30. Here, Sports News Blitz looks at the races ITV are showing.
The Hundred 2026 – Men’s competition betting tips: Best bets and value picks for week two
The Hundred 2026 men’s competition heads into week two with plenty to look forward to, starting with Southern Brave’s Monday clash against MI London. Sunrisers Leeds then meet Manchester Super Giants at Headingley on Tuesday.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s cricket betting expert Himanshu Sharma breaks down the best bets, value plays and key angles.
Premier League news: Five fixtures for Man Utd fans to get excited about in 2026/27 season
The 2026/27 Premier League campaign is set to kick off on August 21, and the fans of every club have plenty to look forward to.
However, Manchester United fans have the most reasons to feel excited about the upcoming season. And although every game is important, these five fixtures could make or break the Red Devils’ season, writes Sports News Blitz’s Anurag Tyagi.
UFC analysis: How South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis built an unstoppable legacy
Dricus du Plessis has spent his entire career proving people wrong. Few fighters have changed the landscape of a sport in their home country quite like ‘DDP’.
As South Africa’s first UFC champion, he has become more than just an elite mixed martial artist, inspiring a new generation of fighters while establishing himself as one of the most dominant competitors in the middleweight division.
From critics questioning his unconventional fighting style to doubters dismissing his championship credentials, the South African has answered almost every challenge in the octagon.
Now, as one of the UFC’s biggest stars, ‘DDP’ is doing more than fiercely representing his country - he is reshaping the legacy of African mixed martial arts, writes Sports News Blitz’s Juliette White.
Padel heading to Cinderford as Bell Sports & Rugby Park serves up facility
Two-court indoor padel facility set to open in August, making padel accessible and affordable for the Forest of Dean community.
The world’s fastest growing sport, endorsed by multiple celebrities from David Beckham to Stormzy is heading to Cinderford in the heart of the Forest of Dean.
Construction work has begun this month with the facility due to complete and open in August. This padel club will be an inclusive club for all members of the local community.
The new club will offer two brand new padel courts built end to end, to the side of the rugby pitch including a canopy structure with retractable sliding walls to ensure the courts can beused throughout the year.
UFC analysis: Five things Dricus du Plessis proved in his dominant win over Kamaru Usman
Dricus du Plessis returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion with a unanimous decision victory over former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC Oklahoma City.
The South African controlled much of the five-round contest, earning scorecards of 50-45 and 49-46 twice after producing one of the most complete performances of his career.
It was a display that drew praise even from former rival Israel Adesanya, who described it as the best he has seen from Du Plessis.
Sports News Blitz’s MMA expert Aidan Leo unpacks five major takeaways from a performance that could reshape the UFC middleweight division.
How tennis data is rewriting the script of modern matches
Tennis once lived almost entirely in the moment. A rally unfolded, the crowd reacted, the umpire called the score, and then it was gone, preserved only in memory and a few grainy statistics on a scoreboard.
Today, every serve, spin and split step leaves a digital footprint. From Grand Slam show courts to lower-tier tournaments, the sport is being quietly reshaped by a new protagonist: data.
Newcastle Utd lead tributes as club legend Kevin Keegan dies aged 75 after cancer battle
Newcastle United have led tributes following the death of club legend Kevin Keegan, who has passed away at the age of 75 after a battle with cancer.
The Magpies described Keegan as "one of the most iconic, influential and deeply-loved figures in our club's history" after the former England forward and manager's family announced he had died surrounded by his wife and daughters.
In a statement, Newcastle United said: "We are devastated to learn of the passing of Kevin Keegan, one of the most iconic, influential and deeply-loved figures in our club's history.”
Lewis Hamilton confident Ferrari can fight for 2026 F1 title ahead of Hungarian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton says he believes Ferrari can challenge for the 2026 Formula 1 world championship after the team's strong progress during the opening half of the season.
The seven-time world champion has enjoyed a much stronger campaign after a difficult debut season with Ferrari in 2025.
Speaking ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton praised the work done by the Scuderia while insisting there is still more to come.
F1 news: Five drivers to miss Hungarian GP FP1 as teams hand rookie opportunities
Formula 1 teams will give five rookie drivers valuable track time during the opening practice session for this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri among the regular drivers sitting out.
Under Formula 1 regulations, every team must run a rookie driver in each car at least twice during the season.
With the championship heading into its final race before the summer break, several teams have chosen Budapest to complete one of those mandatory sessions.
The Law of Goals in Halves: Why the Second Half Always Delivers More Action
It’s practically a ritual at this point. The whistle goes for halftime, the scoreboard reads 0-0, and you can bet your house someone’s going to state the obvious: “Second half will be better, it’ll open right up.”
The thing is, they're usually bang on. Across every competition you can think of, the second half outdoes the first for goals. And it's not guesswork - it's a proper statistical trend, backed by years and years of evidence.
Let’s break down the fascinating "law" of goals in halves and see why the final 45 minutes of a match are almost always more thrilling than the opening.