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• Girona aiming to carry domestic form into flagging Champions League campaign

  Girona are looking to take their league form into the remainder of their Champions League campaign according to head coach Michel, ahead of their game away to Sturm Graz on Wednesday.

  The Spanish side have won three successive matches in LaLiga, following their 4-1 victory over Espanyol on Saturday, which has helped them up to seventh in the table.

  With his side currently outside the qualification places in the Champions League table and on just three points, Michel is keen to see his side replicate their domestic form ahead of more challenging matches against Liverpool, AC Milan and Arsenal.

  "[This match] is not definitive, but it is very important," Michel told a press conference on Tuesday.

  "Obviously, if you look at the fixtures ahead afterwards, getting the three points is key. We've only got three points, the feelings are good and we want to continue in the same way.

  "We are prepared. We'll be at our best on a competitive level because having everyone available will allow us to move up a step. The internal competition is very strong and being able to choose between two players means that the players are 100% motivated."

  Austrian side Sturm Graz are third-bottom of the entire table, having lost all four matches

  But despite their poor run, Michel is not willing to underestimate his opposition and suggested that he did not even consider his team as favourites.

  "We will try to show our idea of the game. I tried that in Paris, against PSV and at home. The word ‘favourite’ means nothing positive or negative to me at the start of matches," he said.

  "I have to prepare for a match and there are tactical tools in defence and attack to be able to overcome the opposition. They haven't won, but you have to look at every game.

  "They are a very competitive opponent and there is a lot of difficulty in one game. I see that we are capable of imposing our game style and if we do that we will be able to achieve a positive result." (Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City Editing by Toby Davis)

• Trinidadian Lewis at the double as STETHS rally to edge Frome in Ben Francis Cup semis

  Six-time champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) are on course to secure another ISSA/Wata Ben Francis Cup crown as they showcased resilience and attacking flair to secure a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Frome Technical in a closely contested semi-final encounter at Glenmuir High School on Tuesday.

  A brace from Trinidadian Kaieem Lewis (64th and 73rd) and a first-half strike from Justin McPherson (17th) saw STETHS into the final after

  Frome took the lead twice through Antwayne Cooper (3rd) and Stevaughn Spence (50th).

  STETHS now await the winner of the Clarendon College versus Denbigh High clash.

  Winning coach Omar Wedderburn lauded his team’s fighting spirit and welcomed the prospect of possibly capping their season with silverware.

  "Well, the boys have to want it more than me. I really want to be in the National Stadium to end the season, and I asked what their plan was. They showed what they want, so from here it’s the road to the National Stadium. PPW…play, perform, win—that is our focus for the next game,” Wedderburn declared.

  The match was a rollercoaster of emotions for both teams, more so for STETHS, who were asked to chase the game from the start.

  This, as Frome Technical wasted no time asserting themselves and briskly broke the deadlock when Uriel Lemphard's pinpoint long pass found Cooper, who headed past a hesitant Johnoi Steadman in goal for STETHS.

  The early strike stunned the STETHS faithful as Frome maintained the pressure in what was a decent passage of play. They forced errors in STETHS' backline, but despite creating opportunities, failed to convert their dominance into a second goal.

  STETHS slowly settled into their rhythm and went close in the 16th minute through Henry Johnson, but his left-footed effort was tipped over the bar by Frome’s custodian, Oral Davis.

  However, STETHS got their breakthrough a minute later when McPherson’s shot from deep inside the box took a wicked deflection, leaving Davis helpless.

  McPherson continued to trouble Frome’s defence, but his 37th-minute shot was comfortably gathered by Davis.

  At the other end, Frome’s Stevaughn Spence unleashed a venomous right-footer from the edge of the 18-yard box in the 40th minute, forcing Steadman into a diving save to keep the scores level at halftime.

  Much like they did at the start, Frome again came out on the front foot and broke the deadlock five minutes in through talismanic captain Spence, who registered his 21st goal of the season with a stunning free-kick from a tight angle, beating Steadman at his near post.

  Frome seemed poised to hold onto their advantage, but STETHS had other ideas.

  Lewis, the Trinidadian standout, began to assert himself in the second half. In the 61st minute, his low shot was brilliantly kept out by Davis’ outstretched leg, and moments later, Davis again denied Lewis with a close-range save.

  But persistence paid off in the 64th minute when Deandre Barnett danced through two defenders and slid a precise pass across the goal for a perfectly positioned Lewis to tuck home and pull STETHS level.

  With momentum firmly on their side, STETHS pushed forward relentlessly and found the winner when Lewis produced a moment of individual brilliance, slipping past three Frome defenders before driving the ball past a hapless Davis at his near post.

  Frome tried desperately to respond, but the STETHS held firm to break their opponents’ hearts.

  Frome’s Head coach, Cleighton Stephens, expressed pride in his team’s performance despite the loss.

  “I can’t say what went wrong in the backline today. It is like they didn’t want to play anymore football because those last two goals were really soft. But there are a lot of positives we can take away because we showed character and we were fighting, but congratulations to STETHS and well-tried Frome,” Stephens said.

• Bellingham hopes to be playing alongside Alexander-Arnold next season

  Jude Bellingham was reserved when questioned on the future of his "good mate" Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.

  Alexander-Arnold’s contract at Liverpool runs out at the end of the season, leaving lingering doubts over the future of the right-back.

  He has been linked with a switch to Real Madrid, where Bellingham has thrived since he joined from Borussia Dortmund in 2023.

  Alexander-Arnold and Bellingham will meet at Anfield on Wednesday as Madrid face Liverpool in a heavyweight Champions League clash.

  While Bellingham would not be drawn on speculation, he does hope to be playing alongside Alexander-Arnold next season, one way or the other.

  "I'll be playing alongside him next season for England anyway, so hopefully, that'll be a guarantee," Bellingham said at a press conference.

  "He's a Liverpool player, and I think it's disrespectful to come to his home today and speak about something that could be misconstrued, so I think it's important to take that pressure off him.

  "He's a really good mate of mine, and I want him to do well normally, obviously not tomorrow night. We'll see what happens, but as I said, he's a Liverpool player."

  Alexander-Arnold has played the second-most key passes in Liverpool's squad (20) in the Premier League this season.

  In the Champions League this term, he has attempted the fourth most crosses for Liverpool (six) in the competition this season and contributed one assist.

  Half of Liverpool's goals in the Champions League this season have been scored following crosses (5/10), with their five such goals being the most of any side.

  Alexander-Arnold missed Liverpool's 3-2 win over Southampton on Sunday, as the Reds went eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.

  The 26-year-old could return to the fold against Madrid but Arne Slot is keen not to rush his return.

  "Trent is in the squad but he will not be available to start," Slot said.

  "He can maybe make a few minutes, in an ideal world he maybe doesn't, but if it's really necessary he can make a few minutes tomorrow," he said.