Dudelange (Luxembourg) (AFP) – "Everyone believes we will let in 4 or 5, but I think we will be far from being humiliated," said Clement Couturier, a midfielder with Dudelange who, on Thursday, become the first Luxembourg team to play in the Europa League group stage. The tiny club, who have in their squad a […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool turned the page on defeat in May's Champions League final and showed whey they are even stronger candidates to win a sixth European Cup this season as they launched their campaign in style against Paris Saint-Germain. The home side left it late to seal the win at Anfield on Tuesday, with […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane is not a "machine" and it is only a matter of time before he is back among the goals, according to Tottenham teammate Erik Lamela. The under-fire England striker endured another frustrating game on Tuesday as Spurs slumped to a late 2-1 Champions League defeat at Inter Milan. The England […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Sadio Mane said he had urged Liverpool match-winner Roberto Firmino to declare himself fit for the Champions League opener against Paris Saint-Germain, insisting he didn't "need his eye to play". Firmino sustained an abrasion to the cornea in his left eye in the weekend win at Tottenham after a clash with Jan […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Lionel Messi had said it was time Barcelona won the Champions League again and he played like a man on a mission on Tuesday, scoring a hat-trick in a 4-0 demolition of PSV Eindhoven. It was his eighth treble in the competition, taking him above the record of seven he shared with […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham's bright start to the season is a distant memory after Mauricio Pochettino's men slumped to their third consecutive defeat against Inter Milan in the Champions League. Spurs conceded two late goals after dominating the second half at the San Siro to slip to lose 2-1 in the opening match of their […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany defender Jerome Boateng wants clear-the-air talks with Bayern Munich bosses Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeness after his off-season transfer to Paris Saint-Germain fell through. "I think we should talk again in the near future – that's what we have set out to do – it's important for me to make it […]

London (AFP) – Wales international Ethan Ampadu has signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday. Ampadu, who signed from Exeter in 2017 with the fee agreed by tribunal, has impressed since moving to Stamford Bridge. "I'm really proud and happy, I'm looking forward to the next five years," […]

Hangzhou (China) (AFP) – Friends call him "Maradona" and Chinese media have dubbed him "Soccer Nut" — Zhao Chongshan is 63 but he still plays football three times a week and has no plan to hang up his boots. Zhao looks like any other doting grandfather with his gentle manner and warm smile, but he […]

Paris (AFP) – The Europa League group stage begins on Thursday, with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, AC Milan and Sevilla among the leading sides hoping to negotiate a marathon competition all the way to the final in Baku in May. AFP Sport looks at some of the main talking points ahead of the opening […]

Asuncion (AFP) – South American football confederation CONMEBOL announced on Tuesday that it wants to change its calendar so that the Copa America is held in the same year as the European Championship from 2020. The Copa America is usually played the year after the World Cup, with the next edition to be hosted by […]

Paris (AFP) – Roberto Firmino's last-gasp strike gave Liverpool a 3-2 win over Paris Saint-Germain in a thrilling encounter on the opening night of the UEFA Champions League group stage on Tuesday, after Lionel Messi's latest hat-trick handed Barcelona a winning start. There were dramatic late goals around Europe, including for Inter Milan against Tottenham […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp saluted lethal finishes from Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge as Liverpool kicked off their Champions League campaign with a dramatic 3-2 win over Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. Klopp's side raced into a two-goal lead against the star-studded French champions thanks to Sturridge's clinical header and a James Milner penalty. Thomas […]

Belgrade (AFP) – Former European Cup winners Red Star Belgrade held Carlo Ancelotti's Napoli to a creditable 0-0 draw Tuesday as the Serbian club made their debut in the Champions League group stage. Lorenzo Insigne rattled the crossbar in the first half for Napoli, while Red Star defender Milan Rodic made a vital goal-line clearance […]

Bruges (Belgium) (AFP) – Christian Pulisic celebrated his 20th birthday in style on Tuesday with a lucky late goal as Borussia Dortmund won 1-0 at Club Brugge in the Champions League. The US international claimed the winner in fortuitous fashion by charging down a clearance from Brugge defender Matej Mitrovic which looped over the goalkeeper […]