Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid scrapped their way into a third consecutive Champions League final on Tuesday and coach Zinedine Zidane said he would not have wanted it any other way. After their last-gasp win over Juventus in the quarter-finals, Real were left hanging on against Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu as Karim Benzema's […]

Rome (AFP) – Liverpool will not make the same mistake as Barcelona and underestimate Roma at their fortress Stadio Olimpico, Jurgen Klopp has warned as his side target a place in the Champions League final. The five-time champions have a 5-2 lead heading into the second leg of a semi-final overshadowed by security concerns and […]

London (AFP) – Roberto Firmino has become accustomed to living in the shadow of Mohamed Salah such has been the impact of the Egyptian's stunning 43-goal first season at Anfield. It was no different last week when Salah tore his former employers Roma to shreds, scoring twice and setting up two more goals as Liverpool […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid are within touching distance of a third consecutive Champions League triumph after Karim Benzema scored twice to eliminate Bayern Munich on Tuesday and book their place in the final. Bayern, who trailed 2-1 after last week's opening leg in Germany, looked capable of inflicting this season's latest European comeback when […]

Madrid (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane said the Champions League is "in Real Madrid's DNA" after his side hung on to deny Bayern Munich and move into their fourth final in five years. Real earned the chance to win their third Champions League in a row after Karim Benzema's double strike and desperate last-minute defending gave […]

London (AFP) – England's talismanic striker Harry Kane believes he and his international colleagues are an easy target for cheap jokes just over a month before he carries his nation's hopes at the World Cup. Kane was widely mocked on social media even by a number of ex-professionals, fans and even England team-mate Jamie Vardy […]

Madrid (AFP) – Coach Jupp Heynckes said Bayern Munich played their best match for years but were undone by a mistake from goalkeeper Sven Ulreich to allow Real Madrid to reach the Champions League final. "We are very disappointed," Heynckes said. "My team played an outstanding game. I haven't seen Bayern play as well as […]

Rome (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp said on Tuesday that Liverpool are reaping the benefits of the footballing maturity Mohamed Salah gained during his spell at Roma. The 25-year-old Egyptian returns to the Stadio Olimpico for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg looking to add to his 43 goals this season — including two in last […]

London (AFP) – Steven Gerrard confirmed he will hold further negotiations with Rangers over the vacant managerial job at Ibrox on Thursday after "positive" early talks. Rangers sacked Graeme Murty on Tuesday following Sunday's 5-0 thrashing at the hands of bitter rivals Celtic that saw Brendan Rodgers's men seal a seventh consecutive Scottish Premiership title. […]

Milan (AFP) – Zenit Saint Petersburg coach Roberto Mancini has agreed in principle to become the next Italy coach, Italian federation (FIGC) commissioner Roberto Fabbricini said Tuesday. "Yesterday (Monday) in Rome there was a meeting ... with Roberto Mancini, who said he was ready to end his relationship with Zenit and coach the national team," […]

Rome (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp warned that Liverpool would not let off-field distractions take the focus off their dream of reaching the Champions League final when they face Roma on Wednesday. Klopp's side are on the brink of reaching the final for the first time since 2007 as they look to defend a three-goal advantage […]

Madrid (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane sprung a surprise by dropping Casemiro for Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich on Tuesday. Casemiro started on the bench for the first time in this season's knock-out stage, with Mateo Kovacic coming into a three-man midfield alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. There was no […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Istanbul giants Besiktas on Tuesday lodged an appeal against a ruling by Turkish football authorities to resume a match against city rivals Fenerbahce at the point where it had been abandoned due to crowd trouble. The match, a Turkish Cup semi-final second leg at Fenerbahce's ground on April 19, was abandoned in […]

Lausanne (AFP) – FIFA chief Gianni Infantino is busily promoting money-spinning schemes for world football ahead of an expected bid for a second term, including a revamped Club World Cup and a so-called Global Nations League. Infantino faces a re-election vote in June next year, three years after he took control of world football's governing […]

Rome (AFP) – Roma players trained on Tuesday ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg wearing shirts bearing the words "Forza Sean" in support of injured Liverpool fan Sean Cox. The 53-year-old Irishman was attacked by Roman hooligans outside Anfield before Liverpool's 5-2 first-leg win last week and is still in a serious condition […]