Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City's relentless run towards the Premier League title continued as they opened up an 18-point lead by inflicting more damage on Chelsea's chances of a top-four finish with a 1-0 home win on Sunday. Bernardo Silva scored the only goal of the match 35 seconds into the second half […]

Rome (AFP) – A visibly shaken Antonio Conte and World Cup winner Gianluigi Buffon paid emotional tributes to Davide Astori, who died at the age of 31 on Sunday, describing their Italian compatriot as "fantastic" and "a great guy". Fiorentina and Italy international defender Astori was found dead from a suspected heart attack in his […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona have one hand on the La Liga title after Lionel Messi's sensational free-kick earned them a deserved 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Atletico arrived at the Camp Nou on the back of eight consecutive wins but Barca halted the surge and instead restored their own lead at the top […]

Brighton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Arsene Wenger admitted a top-four finish for Arsenal was now "nearly impossible" after the Gunners woes deepened following the 2-1 loss away to Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday. Their fourth successive loss in all competitions fanned the flames of an already-intense debate surrounding the future of Arsenal manager […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spanish La Liga strugglers Levante announced on Sunday they had sacked manager Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz, with the club appointing reserve team coach Paco Lopez as his replacement. Muniz, who took over in 2016 and returned the club to the top division last year, was dismissed following Saturday's 1-1 draw with Espanyol […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – A visibly shaken Antonio Conte paid an emotional tribute to Davide Astori, describing the 31-year-old who died suddenly on Sunday as "a fantastic guy". Conte, who coached the Fiorentina defender when he was in charge of the Italian national team, said the player's death, due to a suspected heart attack, […]

Doha (AFP) – Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder on Sunday called time on his glittering international football career and said he is likely to join Ronald Koeman's national team coaching staff. Sneijder made his decision to retire — after 14 years and a record 133 caps for his country — following a visit to Qatar, where […]

Brighton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Arsene Wenger's problems deepened as Arsenal lost 2-1 away to Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday — the Gunners' fourth successive loss in all competitions. The future of Arsenal manager Wenger has been the subject of fierce debate amid reports of players' meetings and of a weakening in boardroom […]

Rome (AFP) – Italy international defender Davide Astori died in his hotel room during the night of Saturday to Sunday, his club Fiorentina said on Sunday. "Fiorentina are profoundly shocked to have to announce the death of captain Davide Astori after a sudden illness," the Serie A club said on Twitter. The 31-year-old, who leaves […]

Belo Horizonte (Brazil) (AFP) – Brazilian superstar Neymar left hospital by helicopter on Sunday, a day after a successful foot operation, to begin his recovery ahead of a possible World Cup return. The 26-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward went to the airport in Belo Horizonte by helicopter, from where he was expected to head on a […]

The Hague (AFP) – Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder has decided to end his international football career after 14 years and a record 133 caps during a golden era for his country. Alongside Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Mark van Bommel, Sneijder propelled the Netherlands to the 2010 World Cup final where an extra-time goal […]

Rome (AFP) – Italy international defender Davide Astori died in his hotel room during the night of Saturday to Sunday, his club Fiorentina said on Sunday. "Fiorentina are profoundly shocked to have to announce the death of captain Davide Astori after a sudden illness," the Serie A club said on Twitter. The 31-year-old, who leaves […]

Brasília (AFP) – Brasiliense and Bolamense clubs were playing on one of Brazil's biggest stages, a 73,000 capacity stadium in the capital Brasilia — and with just 100 or so supporters in attendance. The Mane Garrincha stadium, named after one of Brazil's greatest players and built ahead of the 2014 World Cup, is beautiful and […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Everyone's heard of Neymar but now make way for the latest footballing diamond from Brazil's seemingly inexhaustible talent mine: Vinicius Junior. Recruited for $45 million (36.5 million euros) by Real Madrid last year, the rising star from Rio de Janeiro side Flamengo has done everything to persuade fans that he […]

Montreal (AFP) – Toronto FC's MLS Cup title defence got off to a rocky start Saturday as they fell 2-0 at home to Columbus Crew in the first game of the 2018 Major League Soccer season. Federico Higuain and Gyasi Zardes on either side of halftime lifted Columbus, who gained a measure of revenge after […]