Berlin (AFP) – Second-placed Borussia Dortmund reduced Bayern Munich's lead at the top of the Bundesliga to a single point Saturday as Marco Reus' late winner sealed their 2-1 home victory against Stuttgart. Dortmund's Dutch striker Donyell Malen scored his first Bundesliga goal since his summer transfer from PSV Eindhoven, but Stuttgart forced a mistake in […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bundesliga side RB Leipzig reacted with fury Saturday after being ordered to again play behind closed doors as part of measures to curb rising numbers of Covid-19 in Saxony. "We understand that everything must be done to stop the further increase of corona infections," the club said in a statement. "What we […]

Doha (AFP) – Exactly one year before it hosts the football World Cup, Doha is criss-crossed with trenches and snarled with traffic as officials race to install a vital feature — adequate drainage. Rainstorms are rare but paralysing in the Qatari capital, often causing flooding that leads to gridlock. With 1.2 million fans expected next […]

Monaco (AFP) – Monaco came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with champions Lille in a tense Ligue 1 match on Friday. Striker and late substitute Wissam Ben Yedder bagged the equaliser for Monaco with an 83rd minute volley after a double from Jonathan Davies inside 10 minutes had the home side on the […]

Augsburg (Germany) (AFP) – Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich crashed to a shock 2-1 defeat at strugglers Augsburg on Friday without Germany midfielder Joshua Kimmich, who is back in quarantine after contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19. Goals by Mads Pedersen and Andre Hahn put Augsburg 2-0 up and although Robert Lewandowski claimed his 14th […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Iconic Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez was sacked on Friday after a record-breaking 15 years in the job, following a poor run of results that leaves the country's World Cup qualification hopes in the balance. Tabarez, 74, enjoys almost legendary status in Uruguay having led the tiny country of 3.4 million people to […]

London (AFP) – Eddie Howe will miss what should have been his first match as Newcastle manager, at home to Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday, after testing positive for Covid-19. "I'm very disappointed that I won't be there with you all at St James' Park tomorrow, but it is incredibly important that I […]

Berlin (AFP) – Unvaccinated Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich returned to house quarantine Friday after having had contact with someone testing positive for Covid-19, ruling him out of at least the next two games. Bundesliga leaders Bayern confirmed the news Friday, the day after Kimmich missed a training session, which head coach Julian Nagelsmann described […]

London (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says the intense pressure he and his struggling stars are under can make Manchester United a better team as they seek to rescue their faltering season. United travel to Watford on Saturday licking their wounds after four defeats in their past six Premier League matches, including chastening home losses […]

London (AFP) – Kevin De Bruyne has been ruled out of Manchester City's clash with Everton and next week's Champions League showdown against Paris Saint-Germain after testing positive for coronavirus, manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday. The City boss said De Bruyne was isolating for 10 days after receiving the positive test during the recent […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has challenged Tanguy Ndombele to prove he can put his own interests aside and become more of a team player as the French midfielder eyes a recall against Leeds on Sunday. Conte will be without Oliver Skipp due to suspension this weekend and Ndombele or Harry Winks are […]

London (AFP) – Eddie Howe said on Friday he must shut out the "noise" as he prepares to take charge of his first match as Newcastle manager, weeks after the Saudi-led takeover of the club. The former Bournemouth boss is seeking to end his struggling club's wait for a first Premier League win of the […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has warned Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang not to rest on his laurels, demanding more goals from the Gabon forward. Arteta's side are on an eight-match unbeaten run in the Premier League as they prepare for the acid test of their revival at Liverpool on Saturday. Arsenal captain Aubameyang has played […]

Doha (AFP) – After upending the football establishment by winning the right to host the World Cup, Qatar's preparations are heading into overdrive with a year to go as they rush to welcome more than a million fans and prove their critics wrong. The tiny Gulf state has a reputation for punching above its weight […]

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan's defence of their Serie A title will be tested again on Sunday as they await league leaders Napoli hoping to close the seven-point gap between themselves and top spot. Simone Inzaghi's side trail both Napoli and city rivals AC Milan, both unbeaten and cheek by jowl at the summit, after […]