Leipzig (Germany) (AFP) – RB Leizpig coach Jesse Marsch has accused the referee of showing Paris Saint-Germain's superstars too much respect — and his players not enough — during their 2-2 draw at home in the Champions League. A last-gasp penalty by Leipzig substitute Dominik Szoboszlai sealed a 2-2 draw with PSG after Georginio Wijnaldum netted […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu said his team have their "backs to the wall" in their bid to qualify for the 2022 World Cup as he named his squad Thursday for two must-win matches. The Asian heavyweights took only three points from their opening three fixtures in Group B, but gave themselves hope […]

Leipzig (Germany) (AFP) – Dominik Szoboszlai converted a penalty in stoppage time as RB Leipzig held Paris Saint-Germain, who were without the injured Lionel Messi, to a 2-2 draw in the Champions League on Wednesday. PSG had been cruising to an away win and were 2-1 up with 90 minutes gone as Georginio Wijnaldum netted twice […]

Berlin (AFP) – Ajax came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1 and qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League Wednesday, but the hosts were left fuming after Mats Hummels was controversially sent off in the first half. In a tense reprise of Ajax's thumping 4-0 win in Amsterdam two weeks previously, Dortmund […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City got back on track as they thrashed Club Brugge 4-1 on Wednesday to move within touching distance of a place in the Champions League last 16. Pep Guardiola's side recovered from the shock of conceding a John Stones own goal after Phil Foden's early opener at the Etihad […]

Doha (AFP) – Xavi Hernandez said on Wednesday he was "looking forward to going home" and hopes Barcelona can reach an agreement with Al Sadd in "a matter of hours, maybe days" to secure his return to the club as coach. Xavi is Barca’s first choice to replace Ronald Koeman but the Spaniard has two […]

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan needed a Chancel Mbemba own goal to draw 1-1 at home to Porto on Wednesday, a result that leaves the seven-time former European champions on the brink of elimination from the Champions League. Milan are level on points with Napoli at the top of Serie A having won 10 and […]

Madrid (AFP) – Karim Benzema scored twice as a below-par Real Madrid did just enough to beat Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday and move within sight of the Champions League last 16. Benzema’s opener made Madrid the first club to score 1000 goals in the European Cup but this was far from a vintage performance from […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United have revealed Raphael Varane will be ruled out for up to a month after suffering a hamstring injury, adding to the French defender's troubled start at Old Trafford. Varane was forced off in the first half of United's 2-2 draw at Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday. The 28-year-old […]

Madrid (AFP) – Unai Emery said on Wednesday he has decided to stay at Villarreal, despite interest from Newcastle to appoint him as their new coach. Emery appeared open to a return to the Premier League on Tuesday night, when he admitted there had been "interest" from Newcastle. He added that if an offer arrived, […]

London (AFP) – Antonio Conte on Wednesday said managing Tottenham was an "honour" and vowed to "repay the trust" of chairman Daniel Levy by reviving the fortunes of the struggling Premier League club. The Italian was appointed on Tuesday, a day after Spurs sacked Nuno Espirito Santo following last weekend's limp 3-0 defeat at home […]

London (AFP) – A football fan who racially abused England's Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after the Euro 2020 final has been sentenced to 10 weeks in jail. Jonathon Best, 52, posted an 18-second video on Facebook in which he made a "grossly offensive" rant about the players following England's penalty shootout loss […]

Kawasaki (Japan) (AFP) – Kawasaki Frontale won their fourth J-League title in five years on Wednesday, drawing 1-1 with Urawa Reds to open up an unassailable 13-point lead with four games remaining. Second-place Yokohama F. Marinos needed to match Frontale's result in their game against Gamba Osaka — which kicked off at the same time […]

Paris (AFP) – Before making his return to the touchline in the Premier League, Antonio Conte's first match in charge of Tottenham Hotspur will come in the Europa Conference League on Thursday when his new side play host to Vitesse Arnhem. Conte was appointed as the new head coach of Spurs on Tuesday on a […]

Villarreal (Spain) (AFP) – Villarreal coach Unai Emery said on Tuesday that Newcastle have shown interest in appointing him as their coach but that there has been no formal offer from the Premier League club. Newcastle, who sit 19th in the table, are seeking a replacement for Steve Bruce, whom they sacked last month. Emery […]