Doha (AFP) – Baghdad Bounedjah continued his spectacular comeback from a near three-month injury layoff to power Al Sadd to their second straight victory in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday. The Algerian striker, who scored a brace in Al Sadd's 2-1 win over the UAE's Al Wasl last week, was twice on target again […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowski netted twice as Bayern Munich thrashed 10-man Besiktas 5-0 on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie. Disaster struck for Besiktas after just 16 minutes when Domagoj Vida was sent off bringing down Lewandowski when the Poland striker was through on […]

London (AFP) – Lionel Messi struck for the first time in nine games against Chelsea to give Barcelona the upper hand from the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday by salvaging a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. Willian's fine strike just after the hour mark had put Chelsea in command after […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will not face punishment from the Football Association following an altercation with a Wigan fan after the Premier League leaders' shock FA Cup defeat. Aguero became involved in a physical exchange with a Wigan supporter as hundreds of fans spilled onto the pitch following the League One […]

Lagos (AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino insisted on Tuesday that Russia is ready to host the World Cup later this year, despite reports that several stadiums have failed to meet completion deadlines. Russia will host the World Cup from June 14 to July 15 across 11 cities. "Russia is 99 percent ready to host […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Manchester United make their return to the Champions League knockout stage on Wednesday with Jose Mourinho, himself back on familiar ground, saying it is too early to judge their chances of going all the way in the competition. The last-16 tie against Sevilla marks the Old Trafford club's first appearance beyond […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho played down suggestions that Paul Pogba needs to use the Champions League knockout stage to justify his huge price tag as Manchester United prepare for Wednesday's clash with Sevilla. "I dont think it's fair to speak about the responsibilities of a player. When I decide a team to play […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Bayern Munich head coach Jupp Heynckes opted to leave wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben on the bench for Tuesday's Champions League clash at home to Besiktas, with Thomas Mueller and Kingsley Coman starting. Heynckes, 72, also selected James Rodriguez to play alongside Javi Martinez and Arturo Vidal in midfield for […]

London (AFP) – Eden Hazard is expected to operate in an unusual centre-forward role after Chelsea boss Antonio Conte left Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata on the bench for Tuesday's Champions League last 16, first leg against Barcelona. Giroud has made just two starts since joining from Arsenal on transfer deadline day last month, but […]

London (AFP) – Paul Pogba has been included in Manchester United's squad for Wednesday's Champions League last 16, first leg trip to Sevilla. The French international missed United's 2-0 FA Cup 5th round win at Huddersfield on Saturday through illness, to compound a poor few weeks for the midfielder. Pogba hasn't completed 90 minutes for […]

Madrid (AFP) – Luka Modric has become the latest player to join the queue to the Real Madrid treatment room, with the injury problems starting to pile up for coach Zinedine Zidane. The Croatian playmaker has a thigh injury, meaning he is set to sit out Wednesday's rearranged La Liga game at Leganes. "He felt […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich confirmed Tuesday that Qatar Airways will replace Lufthansa as one of their sponsors, expanding the German club's business links with the Gulf state. Qatar Airways have signed a five-year deal as 'platinum partners', the level below Bayern's main sponsors Adidas, Telekom, Audi and Allianz. The Qatar Airways logo will now […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Sevilla coach Vincenzo Montella joked he might have to use a novel approach to dealing with the threat of Alexis Sanchez when his team come up against Manchester United in the Champions League on Wednesday. "Manchester have fantastic players and Sanchez has improved hugely over the course of his career," said […]

London (AFP) – Wigan striker Will Grigg hailed the greatest moment of his career after shattering Manchester City's quadruple dream by firing his team into the FA Cup quarter-finals. The Northern Ireland forward scored the only goal of a stormy fifth-round tie in Wigan on Monday, netting after 79 minutes to stun the runaway Premier […]

Berlin (AFP) – Wolfsburg on Tuesday appointed Bruno Labbadia as their new head coach in their fight to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga. The 52-year-old Labbadia has stepped in after Martin Schmidt resigned from the 2015 German Cup winners on Monday after just five months in the job. Under Swiss coach Schmidt, Wolfsburg won just […]