Shanghai (AFP) – Manchester City's owners City Football Group announced the purchase of Chinese third-tier club Sichuan Jiuniu on Wednesday — in partnership with a Chinese investment fund and a company that makes robots. The rare swoop for a Chinese team, after Sheffield United bought Chengdu Five Bulls in 2006, expands CFG's portfolio to seven […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted an underwhelming 0-0 draw against old foes Bayern Munich on Tuesday was not what he "dreamed of", but remained confident of progressing to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Sadio Mane wasted the best chance when the Senegalese forward fired wide during an open first 45 minutes, […]

Lyon (AFP) – Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde shrugged off his team's struggles in front of goal after they were held to a 0-0 draw away at Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday. The Spanish side had most of the chances at the Groupama Stadium, with Luis Suarez firing […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool are still firmly in contention for a place in the Champions League quarter-finals despite their dour 0-0 draw against Bayern Munich on Tuesday. Klopp's side were frustrated by a disciplined Bayern display in the last-16 first leg at Anfield. The usually free-scoring Reds now face a daunting task […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last-16 first leg on Tuesday. Here are three things we learned from a hard-fought Anfield stalemate: Klopp frustrated by Bayern again Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was back in conflict with Bayern after spending seven years jousting […]

Lyon (AFP) – Barcelona will hope to make home advantage count in the return after Lionel Messi and his team-mates drew a blank in Lyon on Tuesday, the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie ending in a goalless stalemate. The Spanish side had most of the chances at the Groupama Stadium, with Luis […]

New York (AFP) – US Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro says the FIFA Confederations Cup will not be played again and the biennial CONCACAF Gold Cup could be scrapped after 2021. Cordeiro made the comments in a report on The Athletic website after earlier remarks at US Soccer's annual general meeting. The eight-nation Confederations Cup has […]

Madrid (AFP) – Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri says that having Cristiano Ronaldo in his side "is an advantage" ahead of the Portuguese star's return to Madrid for Wednesday's Champions League last 16, first-leg clash against Atletico. Ronaldo won four Champions League titles in five years at Real Madrid before joining Juve in a 100-million-euro ($117 […]

London (AFP) – A search for the pilot of a plane carrying footballer Emiliano Sala which crashed in the Channel last month is set to resume next week, his family said on Tuesday. David Ibbotson's family said on a crowdfunding page to raise money for the search that divers would begin looking for the body […]

Essen (Germany) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has urged Manchester City to use the experience of their FA Cup win at lowly Newport when they play Bundesliga strugglers Schalke in the Champions League on Wednesday. Guardiola's high-flying City arrived in Germany as overwhelming favourites to win Wednesday's last 16, first leg clash at Schalke's Veltins Arena. […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Neymar "cried for two days" after injuring his right foot for a second time in January, he told Brazilian television according to an excerpt of an interview broadcast on Tuesday. The 27-year-old Paris Saint-Germain star recognized that damaging the same metatarsal he hurt in February 2018, necessitating an operation, was […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was forced to name a makeshift centre-back pairing of Joel Matip and Fabinho for his side's Champions League last 16, first leg at home to Bayern Munich on Tuesday. Talismanic Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk is suspended, while fellow centre-backs Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren are injured, forcing […]

Gelsenkirchen (Germany) (AFP) – Schalke are embracing the role of underdogs for Wednesday's Champions League clash against Manchester City with the Bundesliga strugglers promising not to raise a white flag against the reigning Premier League champions. Schalke have failed to win in their last four league games, leaving them 14th in the Bundesliga table, and […]

Monaco (AFP) – Arsene Wenger received the Laureus Lifetime Achievement award on Monday but it was the glowing tribute from the unlikeliest of sources Jose Mourinho that caught the eye. The 69-year-old Wenger won the award on the back of his revolutionising English football especially in the first part of his over two decades in […]

Madrid (AFP) – Massimiliano Allegri told Juventus not to be afraid of Atletico Madrid but for one of these teams their worst fears in this season's Champions League are about to become a reality. Crashing out in the last 16 would be unthinkable for two clubs that were among the favourites when the draw for […]