Berlin (AFP) – It might be only six rounds in, but Bayern Munich's wobbles — along with some impressive performances from their rivals — have threatened to breathe life into the 2018-19 Bundesliga title race. Second-placed Bayern take on fourth-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday evening, but may start the match four points off the pace […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool will be banking on the Anfield factor to propel them to victory against Manchester City this weekend as Jose Mourinho desperately tries to stop the rot at Manchester United. Despite becoming a major force in recent years, City have a miserable record at Liverpool, where they have not won in the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho's defence is causing him headaches as he tries to turn around a woeful start to Manchester United's season against a struggling Newcastle United. United have not been this badly off seven games into a league campaign since 1989 but Saturday's visit of a Newcastle side in the bottom […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid could have been forgiven for watching on with envy as Barcelona lifted the mood with a rousing win over Tottenham on Wednesday. Spain's established pair have endured a turbulent fortnight, registering just one win between them in six league games. While the Champions League offered Barca some respite, Madrid's dip […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool welcome Manchester City to fortress Anfield on Sunday hoping to lay down a marker against the Premier League champions and regain momentum for a tilt at a first title in 29 years. Both sides can only be separated by City's superior goal difference at the top of the table having dropped […]

Paris (AFP) – Neymar may have grabbed the headlines with a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Red Star Belgrade in their midweek Champions League match, but Angel Di Maria is proving vital to the French giants' strong start to the season. The 6-1 hammering of Red Star at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday was […]

Paris (AFP) – An emotional Alvaro Morata snapped his recent goal drought to secure a 1-0 win for Chelsea over Hungarian champions Vidi in the Europa League on Thursday, as Arsenal cruised to a 3-0 victory away to Qarabag in Azerbaijan. Spain striker Morata, without a goal since August 18, wasted a terrific chance in […]

Milan (AFP) – Italian champions Juventus on Thursday broke their silence over rape allegations against their superstar player Cristiano Ronaldo, saying the claims made by an American model do not change their opinion of the Portuguese striker. "Cristiano Ronaldo has shown in recent months his great professionalism and dedication, which is appreciated by everyone at […]

Abidjan (AFP) – In-form Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha was recalled by the Ivory Coast on Thursday for their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against the Central African Republic. The 25-year-old, capped twice by England before swapping allegiance to the Elephants, missed the win over Rwanda last month for "personal reasons". Zaha has […]

Paris (AFP) – Unai Emery's Arsenal cruised to a 3-0 victory away to Azeri champions Qarabag in the Europa League on Thursday, while Celtic slumped to a 3-1 defeat against Red Bull Salzburg. Sokratis bundled in a Nacho Monreal header on four minutes in Baku, with Arsenal academy graduate Emile Smith Rowe and French youngster […]

Paris (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps insisted Thursday he was not concerned by escalating tensions between Paul Pogba and Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho after he named his latest squad ahead of games against Iceland and Germany. Pogba told reporters he was "not allowed" to talk as he passed through the post-match mixed zone […]

Naples (Italy) (AFP) – Napoli have been charged by UEFA after fans set off flares during the team's 1-0 win over Liverpool in the Champions League in Naples. Lorenzo Insigne's late winner sent Carlo Ancelotti's side top of Group C after two games, one point ahead of Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool. But on Thursday the […]

London (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund teenager Jadon Sancho was a surprise selection when England manager Gareth Southgate named a 25-man squad on Thursday for this month's Nations League matches away to Croatia and Spain. Mason Mount and James Maddison were also given their first senior England call-ups by Southgate as it was announced that the […]

Paris (AFP) – Midfielder Tanguy Ndombele's impressive ascension through the French football ranks was rewarded with a first call-up for France as the World Cup winners prepare for games against Iceland and Germany. France coach Didier Deschamps, who led Les Bleus to World Cup triumph over Croatia last summer, also recalled Crystal Palace's Mamadou Sakho, […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of Portugal's next four internationals, the national coach Fernando Santos said Thursday, days after rape allegations against the Real Madrid star resurfaced. Fernando Santos told a press conference that he and the President of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) Fernando Gomes talked to Ronaldo and "we […]