London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has challenged Manchester City to prove they are still the Premier League's preeminent force as the champions face a key test against title rivals Tottenham on Monday. Since losing to Lyon in the Champions League in September, Guardiola's side have gone on a seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions. City […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – A helicopter belonging to Thai billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha crashed on Saturday near the stadium of his Premier League club Leicester City. The helicopter was seen enveloped in flames in mobile phone images from the scene and an AFP photographer later saw smoke coming from the wreckage. It crashed shortly after […]

Paris (AFP) – Thierry Henry is still searching for his first victory as Monaco coach after the Ligue 1 strugglers drew 2-2 with Dijon on Saturday, while second-place Lille extended their winning run to four matches. Henry, who took over from the sacked Leonardo Jardim earlier this month, needed a powerful header from centre-back Kamil […]

Madrid (AFP) – Defenders Diego Godin and Filipe Luis scored as Atletico Madrid bounced back from their midweek thrashing by Borussia Dortmund with a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad to move top of La Liga on Saturday ahead of the season's first Clasico. Despite a stuttering start to the campaign, the poor form of both […]

Milan (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice, including a thunderous 25-yard drive, as Italian champions Juventus surged seven points clear in Serie A on Saturday following a battling 2-1 victory at Empoli. Empoli, without a win since the opening weekend of the season, grabbed a 28th-minute lead at the Stadio Carlo Castellani as Francesco Caputo […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany midfielder Mario Goetze admitted Borussia Dortmund's 2-2 draw at home to Hertha Berlin on Saturday felt "like a defeat" after the Bundesliga leaders conceded a stoppage-time equaliser. English teenager Jadon Sancho netted either side of half-time as Dortmund were heading for a seventh straight win in all competitions until Salomon Kalou […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp claimed victory felt like it was worth "20 points" as a 4-1 win over Cardiff City at Anfield on Saturday moved his Liverpool side back to the top of the Premier League, for 48 hours at least. The Liverpool manager insisted holding first place this early in the season mattered […]

Madrid (AFP) – Julen Lopetegui dismissed concerns that he is on the brink of being sacked as coach of Real Madrid as his team prepare for Sunday's Clasico against a Barcelona side missing the injured Lionel Messi. "I hope to still be breathing. I don't think I am going to die," Lopetegui replied at a […]

London (AFP) – Billy Sharp's first hat-trick in 10 years inspired Sheffield United to a 4-2 victory over Wigan Athletic and to the top of the Championship on Saturday. The 32-year-old striker took his tally to 11 for the season as the Blades and manager Chris Wilder ended the week on a high note having […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich cut Borussia Dortmund's lead at the top of the Bundesliga table to just two points on Saturday with a 2-1 victory at Mainz, thanks to Thiago Alcantara's winning goal. While goals by Leon Goretzka and Thiago sealed the three points for Bayern, Dortmund have only themselves to blame for conceding […]

London (AFP) – Sadio Mane scored twice as Liverpool took advantage of their title rivals' inactivity to go three points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 4-1 win at home to Cardiff on Saturday as Bournemouth and Watford both continued their fine starts to the season. Liverpool were the only club […]

Marseille (AFP) – Marseille coach Rudi Garcia has extended his contract until 2021, the French giants announced on Saturday in a boost ahead of this weekend's clash with great rivals Paris Saint-Germain. "I am very proud and honoured to continue the adventure," Garcia, who was appointed in October 2016, said at a press conference before […]

Madrid (AFP) – Faced with uncomfortable questions about his future amid speculation that he is set to be sacked, Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui tried to play down suggestions that his job is on the line in Sunday's Clasico against Barcelona. "I hope to still be breathing. I don't think I am going to die," […]

London (AFP) – Former England manager Glenn Hoddle has been hospitalised after being taken ill on his 61st birthday on Saturday. Hoddle fell ill shortly after he began his punditry duties on BT Sport — the show was cancelled as a result. BT presenter Jake Humphrey said Hoddle was "taken seriously ill at the BT […]

London (AFP) – David de Gea says he will not allow talks over a new contract with Manchester United to distract him, the Spanish international goalkeeper told Sky Sports. The 27-year-old has been linked in recent days with a move to Italian champions Juventus. However, whilst United manager Jose Mourinho professed on Friday to fearing […]