Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona slipped up for the third time in a week but stay top of La Liga after Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid cancelled each other out at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday. Real and Atletico began a pulsating derby less than three hours after Barca had scrambled to a 1-1 draw at […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid were criticised by Israeli officials on Saturday after Ahed Tamimi, a teenager associated with Palestinian resistance to the Israeli occupation, was pictured being presented with a club shirt. The 17-year-old is visiting Spain this week with her family to participate in various social and political events. According to top Spanish […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui has confirmed Gareth Bale sustained an injury to his thigh during the goalless draw with Atletico Madrid on Saturday. Bale was substituted at half-time at the Santiago Bernabeu and is now a doubt for Real's Champions League game against CSKA Moscow on Tuesday. "Gareth had discomfort in […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United are a club in crisis and Jose Mourinho is seemingly powerless to prevent a slide into mid-table mediocrity for the 20-time English champions. The Old Trafford hierarchy preened this week after the latest financial results showed the club had earned revenue of more than half a billion pounds for the […]

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan coach Luciano Spalletti hailed new striker Lautaro Martinez as having the right dose of "selfishness" after he scored his first Serie A goal in a 2-0 win over Cagliari on Saturday. Martinez, who joined Inter from Racing Club this season, got a rare start up front against the Sardinians with […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois came back to haunt Atletico Madrid as two crunch saves denied Antoine Griezmann and Diego Costa on Saturday in a goalless draw at the Santiago Bernabeu. Courtois spent three seasons at Atletico on loan from Chelsea but this was his first Madrid derby for Real. He made the […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge struck a spectacular late equaliser as two of the Premier League's top three shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Saturday. Both sides remain unbeaten in the league with Liverpool second behind champions Manchester City only on goal difference and Chelsea just two points adrift in […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Penalty shootout heroics from Dutch goalkeeper Peter Leeuwenburgh ensured UEFA Champions League winner Benni McCarthy won his first South African trophy as a coach Saturday. McCarthy's Cape Town City dominated Supersports in an MTN8 final in Indian Ocean city Durban that ended 0-0 after extra time. Leeuwenburgh then saved two shootout kicks […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus chief executive Giuseppe Marotta confirmed on Saturday he is leaving the reigning Serie A champions next month after eight years in Turin. "The club is carrying out an extensive renewal. My mandate as chief executive comes to an end on October 25 and the list of board members, which will be […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Ernesto Valverde admitted his gamble to rest Lionel Messi backfired on Saturday as Barcelona drew 1-1 at home to Athletic Bilbao to make it three games without a victory. Messi came on in the 55th minute at the Camp Nou and it was the Argentinian's shot that was turned in by another […]

London (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp praised Daniel Sturridge's ability to make a difference off the bench after his sensational strike a minute from time preserved Liverpool's unbeaten start to the Premier League in a 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Saturday. Sturridge has endured an injury-ravaged three years since Klopp took charge at Anfield and was […]

Berlin (AFP) – New signing Paco Alcacer came off the bench to score two late goals and seal Borussia Dortmund's stunning 4-2 win as they fought back from two goals down at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday to knock Bayern Munich from top spot in the Bundesliga. Alcacer, on loan from Barcelona until June, came on […]

Eibar (Spain) (AFP) – At least two people were injured after a barrier at Ipurua football stadium in Eibar collapsed as Sevilla supporters celebrated a goal, according to Spanish television footage on Saturday. After a penalty scored by Ever Banega in the 59th minute, Sevilla fans rushed to the bottom of the away stand. A […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea ended Liverpool's perfect start to the Premier League season as the title contenders drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Liverpool had won all six of their previous league matches this term but, having lost to Chelsea in the League Cup in midweek, they fell behind on Saturday when Eden Hazard […]

Milan (AFP) – Mario Mandzukic scored in either half as Juventus came from behind to beat ten-man Napoli 3-1 and open up a six-point lead on Carlo Ancelotti's side at the top of the Serie A table. Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo played a role in all three goals as Massimiliano Allegri's side have a maximum […]