Paris (AFP) – If only one French club was going to emerge victorious in the Champions League this week, probably very few thought that team would be Lyon, for all that they possess in their ranks a World Cup winner in Nabil Fekir. France's Champions League trio all had extremely difficult assignments, with Lyon recording […]

Valencia (Spain) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo should escape an increase on his one-match ban in the Champions League but Juventus' star summer signing might not get off so easily in the race for the Ballon d'Or. Ronaldo is among the frontrunners for the prestigious prize, which considers performances during the calendar year, as well as […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City's fourth consecutive Champions League defeat is a stark reminder of the size of the challenge facing the Premier League champions as they seek to replicate their domestic dominance on the European stage. Pep Guardiola's richly talented team are among the favourites to be crowned kings of Europe after […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac believes the German champions have unearthed the next Lothar Matthaeus as Renato Sanches continues to resurrect his career with a stunning display at Benfica. The 21-year-old sealed Bayern's 2-0 win at Benfica on Wednesday as the Bavarian giants won their opening Champions League group game. After Robert […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Belgium have joined world champions France as joint leaders of the FIFA world rankings released Thursday, the first time in the table's 25-year history that top spot has been shared. Belgium have notched up a pair of wins, including victory over Iceland in the inaugural Nations League competition to bring them level […]

Bern (Switzerland) (AFP) – With Paul Pogba putting his stamp on games and Jose Mourinho in an upbeat mood, the atmosphere around Manchester United is markedly more relaxed than it was just a few weeks ago. United's 3-0 win over Young Boys in the Champions League in Bern on Wednesday was not completely straightforward, with […]

Valencia (Spain) (AFP) – Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri lamented the lack of a Video Assistant Referee after Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off on his Champions League debut for the club against Valencia on Wednesday. A tearful Ronaldo was shown a red card in the 29th minute at the Estadio Mestalla for an altercation with Valencia […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City assistant manager Mikel Arteta admitted the English champions were handed a wake-up call in a shock 2-1 home defeat by Lyon to start their Champions League campaign on Wednesday. Arteta took charge for the evening with Pep Guardiola serving a touchline ban for being sent-off in last season's […]

London (AFP) – Bernd Leno has been challenged to make the Arsenal goalkeeper's jersey his own after Unai Emery confirmed the German will make his debut against Vorskla Poltava on Thursday. Leno is yet to feature for Arsenal since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in the close-season. Petr Cech has played every minute in goal under […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City assistant coach Mikel Arteta admitted his side had only themselves to blame for their shock 2-1 defeat against Lyon on Wednesday. With City manager Pep Guardiola serving a touchline ban, it was Arteta in charge as the Premier League champions suffered a dismal start to their Champions League […]

Paris (AFP) – Juventus kicked off their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 victory at Valencia in a match overshadowed by a controversial red card for Cristiano Ronaldo, while tournament favourites Manchester City were stunned at home by Lyon on Wednesday. Ronaldo's Champions League debut for Juventus lasted less than half an hour as the […]

London (AFP) – Middlesbrough stepped up their impressive bid to win promotion to the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Bolton on Wednesday. Tony Pulis's side produced a confident display at the Riverside Stadium to move within one point of Championship leaders Leeds, who had beaten Preston on Tuesday. Middlesbrough took the lead through […]

Madrid (AFP) – Gareth Bale scored as Real Madrid moved on from the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane with a 3-0 win over Roma on Wednesday to confidently launch their pursuit of a fourth successive Champions League title. Isco curled in a terrific free-kick just before half-time at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Bale […]

Valencia (Spain) (AFP) – Juventus believe they can win the Champions League with Cristiano Ronaldo, but they had to start by beating Valencia 2-0 without him after he was controversially sent off on his debut in the competition for the Italian champions on Wednesday. A tearful Ronaldo left the pitch in disbelief in the 29th […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Renato Sanches received a standing ovation from Benfica fans after he scored against his old club to inspire Bayern Munich to a 2-0 win in their opening Champions League fixture on Wednesday. Sanches, who has endured a torrid few years since leaving Benfica for Munich as an 18-year-old in the summer of […]