Paris (AFP) – Five-time winners Liverpool romped into the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday, while Shakhtar Donetsk, Porto and Sevilla also joined them in the knockout stage. Here, AFP Sport looks at five things we learned from the final day of group-stage matches: Liverpool's 'fab four' ready for latter stages Needing only to avoid […]

Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to ever score in all six Champions League group games in one season as Real Madrid edged out a dispirited Borussia Dortmund 3-2 on Wednesday. Lucas Vazquez grabbed the winner nine minutes from time for the European champions, who were already guaranteed to go through to […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Philippe Coutinho's first Liverpool hat-trick propelled Jurgen Klopp's side to a 7-0 thrashing of Spartak Moscow on Wednesday that swept the Merseyside club into the Champions League last 16. Sadio Mane scored twice and Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah both found the net as Liverpool's 'Fab Four' emphatically returned the five-time champions to […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool have reported Spartak Moscow to UEFA, the English club confirmed on Wednesday, after teenage striker Rhian Brewster was allegedly subjected to racist abuse by the Russian club's players. Brewster, who won the Under-17 World Cup with England in October, was visibly irate at the end of Liverpool's 2-0 win over Spartak […]

Paris (AFP) – The president of the French Football Federation (FFF) has effectively ruled out any prospect of a return to the national team for Karim Benzema ahead of next year's World Cup. "You would need to be a bit blind or deaf to not understand that it will be difficult to select him, that […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Romarinho's goal allowed Al Jazira of the United Arab Emirates to beat Auckland City 1-0 in the opening game of the Club World Cup on Wednesday, keeping them on course to meet Real Madrid. Al Jazira were making their debut at the tournament as champions of the host nation, and the […]

Paris (AFP) – There will be some jangling nerves as the Europa League group stage concludes on Thursday – but not many, with the likes of Arsenal, AC Milan and Lyon already through. Of the 48 teams in the 12 groups, 16 have already ensured qualification and 15 are eliminated. That leaves 17 clubs scrapping […]

Milan (AFP) – Davide Nicola has resigned as coach of Serie A strugglers Crotone, the club confirmed on Wednesday. The 44-year-old took over in June 2016 leading the promoted side from Calabria in their maiden Serie A campaign. They dramatically survived last season by finishing 17th but this season are just one place higher with […]

Kuwait City (AFP) – World football governing body FIFA announced on Wednesday it was lifting its suspension of Kuwait, after the Gulf state's parliament adopted a law meant to end government interference in the sport. "The suspension of the Kuwait football association is lifted," FIFA's president Gianni Infantino announced alongside a Kuwaiti official in a […]

New Delhi (AFP) – Steve Coppell said he did not want his Indian Super League side Jamshedpur FC to play in smog-tainted Delhi later Wednesday but insisted the players would not wear masks if the game goes ahead. The former England winger said medical authorities must decide whether the evening game against Delhi Dynamos should […]

Kuala Lumpur (AFP) – Chinese FA Cup winners Shanghai Shenhua face a tough test in the 2018 Asian Champions League after being drawn Wednesday against top Japanese club Kashima Antlers and Australian A-League leaders Sydney FC. The Chinese side unexpectedly beat expensively assembled rivals Shanghai SIPG in last month's FA Cup final, without Argentine forward […]

London (AFP) – Antonio Conte insists Chelsea have nothing to fear in the Champions League last 16 even though his side could face a crunch clash with Barcelona or Paris Saint Germain. Conte's team blew their chance to finish top of Group C as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Atletico Madrid on […]

Paris (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo looks set to match his great rival Lionel Messi on Thursday by claiming a fifth Ballon d'Or as recognition for leading Real Madrid to a La Liga and Champions League double last season. Barcelona's 30-year-old Argentinian superstar won the coveted award from 2009 to 2012 and in 2015. Portugal's Ronaldo, […]

Rome (AFP) – Eusebio Di Francesco hailed his Roma side for proving the doubters wrong after the Serie A runners-up qualified for the Champions League last 16 top of their group ahead of Chelsea on Tuesday. There was double celebrations for Di Francesco's side on the night after it was announced just before kick-off that […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has aimed a subtle dig at Pep Guardiola and Arsene Wenger by declaring he would only tell "the truth" about the fitness of his players. United, who beat CSKA Moscow 2-1 on Tuesday to reach the Champions League knockout rounds for the first time since […]