Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich will be without France midfielders Corentin Tolisso and Kingsley Coman for their crunch Bundesliga clash at fellow Champions League side RB Leipzig on Saturday. RB Leipzig were runners-up to defending champions Bayern last season and Saturday's game at the Red Bull Arena is a chance for both sides to put […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Turkey parted ways on Friday with head coach Senol Gunes after the national team was demolished 6-1 by the Netherlands in their 2022 World Cup qualifier earlier this week. The national football federation said "it was mutually decided to part ways" with Gunes after Turkey suffered one of its heaviest defeats in […]

Berlin (AFP) – As the only current Bundesliga coach to have won the German league title either as a player or manager, former Bayern Munich midfielder Mark van Bommel has made a flying start at the helm of early leaders Wolfsburg. In his first taste of being a head coach of a Bundesliga club, the […]

Milan (AFP) – An under-strength Juventus will travel to Napoli after coach Massimiliano Allegri said on Friday both Federico Chiesa and all of his South American internationals would be left at home following their World Cup qualifying efforts. Chiesa missed Italy's 5-0 hammering of Lithuania on Wednesday with a muscle problem and even though tests […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said Friday he still does not know whether he will be able to select Alisson Becker or Fabinho this weekend after the Brazilian Football Confederation asked FIFA to ban the players. The pair, plus Roberto Firmino — who is currently injured — were selected for this month's World […]

Paris (AFP) – Having scored a hat-trick for Argentina in World Cup qualifying, Lionel Messi will have to wait for his home debut in France, possibly leaving Paris Saint-Germain without their star front three for Saturday's Ligue 1 match against promoted side Clermont. PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino will be deprived of the majority of his […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus travel to one of their biggest rivals on Saturday as they return from the international break hoping to rebound from the dispiriting opening two weeks of the season which have left serious question marks hanging over their Serie A title credentials. Napoli await for Massimiliano Allegri's team who have so far […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to overtake Pele as the top international goalscorer in South American football history on Thursday as Argentina cruised to a 3-0 victory over Bolivia in their 2022 World Cup qualifier. Messi pounced for his 77th, 78th and 79th international goals to keep Argentina firmly on course […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo's second coming at Manchester United has transformed the mood around Old Trafford with fans whipped into a frenzy of excitement for the return of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner against Newcastle on Saturday. United swooped for Ronaldo late in the transfer window when it seemed he could cross […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich new signing Marcel Sabitzer is relishing returning to former club RB Leipzig on Saturday, but he expects a frosty reception on his debut for the Bundesliga champions. Leipzig finished runners-up to Bayern last season and Saturday's league clash at the Red Bull Arena is an early chance for both clubs […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo will make an eagerly anticipated second debut for Manchester United on Saturday while Arsenal aim to get themselves off the foot of the Premier League table. Ronaldo made his name as a global star in six trophy-filled years with United between 2003-2009 before leaving for Real Madrid in […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Germany's 2014 World Cup winner Jerome Boateng was on Thursday fined 1.8 million euros ($2 million) by a court in Munich after being found guilty of assaulting his former partner three years ago. The huge fine handed down by Munich regional court comes after Boateng was convicted of wilful bodily harm […]

London (AFP) – Former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand said Thursday there was a "disheartening" inevitability about the racist abuse directed at black England players after they missed penalties in the Euro 2020 final. Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were the victims of online attacks after failing to convert spot-kicks against Italy at […]

Berlin (AFP) – Following a 14-hour journey, the German football team arrived in Frankfurt on Thursday after the plane returning them from a World Cup qualifier in Iceland had to make an unexpected landing in Edinburgh. Germany cruised to a 4-0 win in Reykjavik on Wednesday to go four points clear at the top of […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – German 2014 World Cup winner Jerome Boateng on Thursday denied accusations before a Munich court that he assaulted the mother of his twin daughters during a heated argument in 2018. Wearing a dark suit and white shirt, the burly 33-year-old defender gave his version of events as he testified for almost […]