London (AFP) – Belgian star Eden Hazard's recent struggles with injury is giving Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri cause for concern the Italian admitted on Wednesday. The 27-year-old playmaker — who played a pivotal role in Belgium finishing a best ever third in the World Cup in Russia earlier this year — is out of the […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Niko Kovac admits Bayern Munich have a problem with playing in the Bundesliga after his side brushed off recent woeful domestic form with a five-goal romp in the Champions League. "It sounds strange, but when we play in the Champions League or against the big names in the Bundesliga, you can […]

Dublin (AFP) – Irish football legend Robbie Keane brought the curtain down on over two decades as a player on Wednesday saying his career had exceeded all his hopes when he was a "football-mad boy growing up in Dublin". The 38-year-old — his country's record goalscorer on 68 well clear of Niall Quinn who is […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho once again stole the show from his players, smashing drinks crates to the ground after Marouane Fellaini's late winner took Manchester United into the Champions League knockout stages and eliciting headlines on Wednesday such as "Bottle of Red". The volatile 55-year-old Portuguese — whose mood swings and barbed remarks about […]

Rome (AFP) – Italian police said on Wednesday that they had seized 2.6 million euros ($2.9 million) in cash and property from Sampdoria club president Massimo Ferrero, the club and five other people as part of a financial investigation. The investigators are particularly interested in funds related to the 2015 transfer of Pedro Obiang, a […]

Athens (AFP) – Six Ajax fans as well as three police were hospitalised after violent confrontations with AEK supporters at a Champions League game in Athens, Greek authorities said on Wednesday. A statement said the police were "injured by thrown bottles and other objects." Most of the injuries were slight but one police officer was […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri hailed the impact Cristiano Ronaldo was having on the Italian champions as the Portuguese star became the first player to achieve 100 Champions League wins in Tuesday's 1-0 success over Valencia that clinched their passage to the knockout rounds. "Ronaldo gives us a sense of security and […]

Lyon (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said the Champions League poses a tougher challenge than any other competition after his side salvaged a 2-2 draw at Lyon on Tuesday to qualify for the knockout phase. The Premier League leaders clinched a place in the last 16 for the sixth season in a row […]

Paris (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is relishing trying to stop a fit Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, with Paris Saint-Germain's superstar duo having shaken off injuries in time for Wednesday's potentially decisive Champions League showdown. The two most expensive players in the world had been fitness worries for the match at the Parc des […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Leicester will face holders Manchester City in the League Cup quarter-finals after a 6-5 penalty shoot-out win over Southampton that was marred by a VAR row on Tuesday. In a match rearranged following the tragic death of Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in October, Claude Puel's side were held to a […]

Paris (AFP) – Holders Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus were among seven teams to reach the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday while Sergio Aguero's late equaliser at Lyon also sent Manchester City through. Bayern Munich thumped Benfica 5-1 to book their place and ease the pressure on coach Niko Kovac. "It's […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho boasted about his Champions League record after Marouane Fellaini's injury time winner fired his side into the last 16 with a 1-0 win over Young Boys at Old Trafford. The three-time European champions sealed their place in the knockout stages with a slice of fortune […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Mario Mandzukic scored the only goal as Juventus eased into the knockout stages of the Champions League on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Valencia in their Group H clash. Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo provided the assist that allowed the Croatian World Cup runner-up to tap-in the winner just before the […]

Rome (AFP) – Gareth Bale helped Real Madrid beat Roma on Tuesday to ensure they will go through top of their Champions League group despite a chaotic start to the season. Bale scored one and then provided the cross that led to another as Lucas Vazquez wrapped up a clinical 2-0 win at the Stadio […]

Lyon (AFP) – Sergio Aguero grabbed a late equaliser to send Manchester City through to the knockout stages of the Champions League on Tuesday in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Lyon. Maxwel Cornet curled in a stunning strike to give Lyon the lead on 55 minutes at the Groupama Stadium before Aymeric Laporte headed Premier […]