Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona enjoy breathing space again at the top of La Liga and Ernesto Valverde can afford to keep one eye on Chelsea when his side visit bottom club Malaga on Saturday. While the Catalans´ 1-0 win against Atletico Madrid last weekend extended the gap at the summit to eight points, their advantage […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain and their embattled coach Unai Emery must put aside the pain from their Champions League exit to drag their focus back to domestic affairs with an unglamorous Ligue 1 tie against Metz on Saturday. PSG's European ambitions are again in tatters after Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Real Madrid. To add […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has the tough task of keeping Liverpool's Mohamed Salah quiet as Jurgen Klopp's entertainers roll into town at the weekend — with second place in the Premier League the prize on offer. With Pep Guardiola's Manchester City virtually assured of the title, northwest rivals United […]

Paris (AFP) – Under-fire Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was relieved after his side's impressive 2-0 Europa League last 16, first-leg victory at AC Milan on Thursday, following a "nightmare" week. Henrikh Mkhitaryan drove Arsenal into a 15th-minute lead with his first goal for the club, and a shellshocked Milan fell further behind before half-time as […]

Thessaloniki (Greece) (AFP) – Around 4,000 PAOK supporters on Thursday held a peaceful protest rally in the centre of Thessaloniki a day before a Greek sports court decides the outcome of an appeal by the team to reduce their punishment by the Super League. On Friday the court has said it will announce its decision […]

Paris (AFP) – Arsenal claimed an impressive 2-0 victory at AC Milan in their Europa League last 16, first leg on Thursday to ease some of the pressure on under-fire manager Arsene Wenger. Henrikh Mkhitaryan drove Arsenal into a 15th-minute lead with his first goal for the club, and a shellshocked Milan fell further behind […]

Madrid (AFP) – Diego Costa helped Atletico Madrid take a big step toward the Europa League quarter-finals by scoring in a 3-0 victory over Lokomotiv Moscow on Thursday. Atletico will carry a commanding lead into the second leg in Russia. Saul Niguez hit the net with a stunning strike at the Wanda Metropolitano before Costa […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Five people, including the head of Benfica's legal department and a computer operator at the Portuguese Justice Ministry, have been charged in a corruption case involving the Lisbon club, the prosecutor said on Thursday. "A total of five people have been indicted," the Portuguese prosecutor said in a statement. The Benfica official, […]

Zurich (AFP) – Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Thursday that he is growing impatient with the corruption investigation which led to his and Michel Platini's downfall. Blatter said "nothing" had happened since September 2015, the date of the opening of proceedings against him for "corrupt management" stemming from the two million Swiss Franc (1.8mn […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus backed Brazilian international team-mate Neymar to make a full recovery in time to lead his country's bid to win a sixth World Cup. Neymar underwent surgery in Brazil last week to repair a broken bone in his foot just over three months from the tournament getting underway […]

Florence (Italy) (AFP) – Thousands of mourners and the cream of Italian football gave an emotional sendoff Thursday to Fiorentina player Davide Astori, whose sudden death at the age of 31 has shocked the country. Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and his Juventus teammate Giorgio Chiellini were among those who paid their respects in Florence to […]

London (AFP) – Leicester City midfielder Riyad Mahrez refused on Thursday to quash speculation surrounding his future but did say he maintains a good relationship with the club. Mahrez was absent from training for 10 days last month after Leicester turned down a bid from runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City in the January transfer […]

Bagshot (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Eddie Jones said a need for greater speed from his back three lay behind his decision to drop Mike Brown for Saturday's Six Nations clash against France in Paris. Brown is the kind of fullback beloved by coaches if not always appreciated by fans — sound under the high ball […]

Zurich (AFP) – Sepp Blatter said on Thursday that he is growing impatient. The former FIFA president has been under investigation since 2015 over an "illegal payment" to Michel Platini, and would like the whole thing to be wrapped up. Blatter, talking to journalists in Zurich on Thursday, said "nothing" had happened since September 2015, the […]

Florence (Italy) (AFP) – Thousands of mourners holding banners and letting off smoke flares gathered in Florence on Thursday for the funeral of Fiorentina and Italy footballer Davide Astori. The sudden death of the 31-year-old who captained his club has sparked an outpouring of grief in football-mad Italy. One banner in the crowd read "Ciao captain", […]