Amsterdam (AFP) – Forget Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, the real star of the opening round of games in this season's Champions League was Sebastien Haller, who scored four times for Ajax in their 5-1 thumping of Sporting in Portugal. It was a remarkable Champions League debut for the 27-year-old Ivory Coast striker, the first […]

Milan (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic might hog the headlines at AC Milan but Ante Rebic has quietly carved out a key role for himself in the Rossoneri attack despite stiff competition from both veteran stars and up-and-coming talent. Milan fans are preparing for their first home Champions League match in over seven years with Spanish champions […]

Paris (AFP) – There was a time when a reunion between Lionel Messi and Pep Guardiola looked distinctly possible, but on Tuesday they will be on opposite sides again when Paris Saint-Germain play Manchester City in the Champions League. Had it not been for Jack Grealish, perhaps things would have turned out differently. City announced […]

Paris (AFP) – Lens deposed Marseille from second place in the French Ligue 1 on Sunday with a 3-2 win which condemned the southern giants to a first defeat of the season and first league loss at their Velodrome home since February. Lens have 15 points but are nine behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain who have […]

Milan (AFP) – Napoli maintained their perfect start to the Serie A season on Sunday with a 2-0 win over Cagliari which ensured they reclaimed top spot, while Lazio won an eventful derby 3-2 to down Jose Mourinho's Roma. Luciano Spalletti's side cruised to their sixth victory in as many league games against a Cagliari […]

London (AFP) – Mikel Arteta called on Arsenal to consistently match the "special" levels they showed in blowing Tottenham away in the first-half of a 3-1 win on Sunday to move above their north London rivals in the Premier League table. Just three weeks ago Spurs sat top and Arsenal bottom after their worst start […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Nigeria goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi rescued Kaizer Chiefs with several superb saves in a dour 0-0 South African Premiership draw at fellow strugglers Marumo Gallants on Sunday. Thabo Mnyamane thought he had put Marumo ahead 14 minutes from time in northern city Polokwane only to be thwarted by Akpeyi, whose brilliant reflex […]

Rome (AFP) – Lazio came out on top of an eventful Rome derby on Sunday, winning 3-2 to turn around a poor recent run of results and inflict a second league defeat of the season on Jose Mourinho. Goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Pedro and Felipe Anderson gave Lazio a tight win over their local rivals […]

Rome (AFP) – Lazio came out on top of an eventful Rome derby on Sunday, winning 3-2 to turn around a poor recent run of results and to inflict a second league defeat of the season on Jose Mourinho. Goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Pedro and Felipe Anderson gave Lazio a tight win over their local […]

Berlin (AFP) – Champions Bayern Munich and Freiburg remain the only unbeaten teams in the Bundesliga after the club from Germany's Black Forest beat Augsburg 3-0 at home on Sunday in the last game at their Schwarzwald Stadion ground. The hosts dominated struggling Augsburg with defender Lukas Kuebler, striker Lucas Hoeler and Italian deadball specialist […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal struck three times inside 35 minutes to beat Tottenham 3-1 on Sunday and move above their north London rivals in the Premier League table. Just three weeks ago Spurs sat top and Arsenal bottom after their worst start to a league season for 67 years. However, the Gunners have been rejuvenated […]

Paris (AFP) – Wissam Ben Yedder and Kevin Volland both scored as Monaco came from behind to beat Clermont 3-1 on Sunday and claim successive wins for the first time this season. Guinea striker Mohamed Bayo notched his fourth goal this term to give top-flight newcomers Clermont an early lead, but Ben Yedder netted for […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona's Ansu Fati made the perfect return after 10 months out through injury by scoring in a 3-0 victory over Levante on Sunday, a result that eases the pressure on coach Ronald Koeman. Fati, wearing the number 10 shirt previously belonging to Lionel Messi, came on to a raucous reception at Camp […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona's Ansu Fati made the perfect return after 10 months out through injury by scoring in a 3-0 victory over Levante on Sunday, a result that eases the pressure on coach Ronald Koeman. Fati, wearing the number 10 shirt previously belonging to Lionel Messi, came on to a raucous reception at Camp […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Raul Jimenez scored an emotional first goal since his horrific head injury in November as Wolves earned a 1-0 win over Southampton on Sunday. Jimenez feared he would never play again after suffering a fractured skull in a clash with David Luiz at Arsenal last autumn. The Mexico striker only […]