Moscow (AFP) – Russian Premier League leaders Lokomotiv Moscow host struggling Rubin Kazan on Saturday, hoping to extend their six-point advantage at the top of the table. All eyes in Moscow will be on Friday's World Cup draw, but three of the capital's clubs are still in the Russian title race. CSKA Moscow are seven […]

Moscow (AFP) – The real countdown to the 2018 World Cup in Russia begins on Friday as the draw for the tournament is held at a star-studded ceremony in the Kremlin. President Vladimir Putin is expected to address the footballing world that has descended upon Moscow, in the midst of a freezing Russian winter, to […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona look to extend their four-point lead at the top of La Liga against an old friend turned foe in Celta Vigo coach Juan Carlos Unzue on Saturday. Meanwhile, Real Madrid travel to a struggling Athletic Bilbao with their eyes firmly on one of Athletic's rising stars. Here, AFP Sport looks at […]

London (AFP) – Cesc Fabregas has promised Chelsea will be dogged in their ongoing pursuit of Manchester City despite admitting Pep Guardiola's side appear on course for the Premier League title. Chelsea moved to back to within 11 points of the league leaders after labouring to a 1-0 win over struggling Swansea City and will […]

Paris (AFP) – Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim said his faltering French champions need players "with character" after slipping 12 points behind runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain. The principality side made a strong start to the domestic season despite seeing their title-winning side decimated in the transfer window, with Benjamin Mendy, Bernardo Silva, Kylian Mbappe and Tiemoue […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund boss Peter Bosz will be fighting for his job once again when his struggling side visit a resurgent Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga on Saturday. The pressure on the Dortmund coach is higher than ever following last weekend's collapse against arch rivals Schalke, when Dortmund threw away a four-goal lead […]

Brighton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Liverpool defender Joe Gomez admits the club face a run of games which will "make or break" their season ahead of a Premier League clash with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday. The Reds are in fifth spot, a huge 14 points behind table-topping Manchester City, but they are in […]

London (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino says both he and his Tottenham Hotspur players must "accept the criticism" after dropping to seventh place in the Premier League table. Spurs travel to Watford on Saturday with their hopes of winning the Premier League all but extinguished following defeats at Arsenal and Leicester City either side of a […]

London (AFP) – When Arsenal face Manchester United in a crucial Premier League clash on Saturday, the antics of the two sworn enemies on the touchline will take up as much attention as the actual match. It was ever thus when Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and United manager Jose Mourinho lock horns. The acrimony between […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has been charged with misconduct by England's governing Football Association following his dismissal against Swansea City on Wednesday. The Italian was ordered off the touchline by referee Neil Swarbrick near the end of the first half of Chelsea's 1-0 win in the Premier League after complaining angrily about […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Morocco and the three-nation ticket of the United States, Mexico, and Canada formally confirmed their bids to host the 2026 World Cup on Thursday's deadline. That World Cup will be the first to include 48 teams, rather than the 32 who will compete in Russia next year and in Qatar in 2022. […]

London (AFP) – Everton have appointed former England boss and renowned top-flight survival specialist Sam Allardyce as their new manager on an 18-month contract, the English Premier League club announced Thursday. Allardyce, whose previous clubs include Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United, Sunderland and Crystal Palace, will take charge of the Merseysiders for the first time when […]

Rome (AFP) – Roma captain Daniele De Rossi will be disciplined by his club after picking up a two-match ban for slapping Genoa's Gianluca Lapadula, coach Eusebio De Francesco said Thursday. De Rossi was sent off with his side leading 1-0 after 69 minutes for hitting Lapadula in the face and the Genoa striker scored […]

London (AFP) – Spanish midfielder David Silva has extended his contract with Manchester City by one year to 2020, the Premier League leaders announced on Thursday. Silva, 31, has become one of City's most decorated players since joining in 2010 and has played a pivotal role this season as Pep Guardiola's side have surged to […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said he was confident Gonzalo Higuain can play Friday's Serie A clash with Napoli despite having surgery on a broken finger this week. "Gonzalo Higuain's hand is still hurting, but we're quietly confident about his chances. We'll have to see how he feels later today and tomorrow," […]