Paris (AFP) – French champions Lille staggered to a toothless 0-0 draw at home to lowly Metz on Friday ahead of their midweek Champions League clash at Chelsea. Lille are a shadow of the side that romped past Paris Saint-Germain to win Ligue 1 last year, and now sit ninth with only nine wins in […]

Mainz (Germany) (AFP) – Bayer Leverkusen's push for a Champions League place suffered a jolt when Mainz scored two late goals to snatch a 3-2 win in the Bundesliga on Friday. Leverkusen remain in third place in the table with 41 points, 11 behind leaders Bayern Munich and seven clear of Leipzig who currently occupy […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Andrea Belotti was the derby star for Torino with the leveller in Friday's hard-fought 1-1 draw at Juventus which hands Atalanta the advantage in the Champions League race. Injury-plagued Belotti swept home Torino's equaliser in the 62nd minute of his first start since late November. The draw means that Juve, who […]

London (AFP) – West Ham manager David Moyes says Kurt Zouma needs to focus on football as the France defender deals with the fall-out from his cat abuse shame. Zouma was fined two weeks' wages and dropped by his personal kit supplier Adidas after he was filmed kicking and slapping his pet cat. The 27-year-old […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola fears Tottenham's recent slump could cause a problem for Manchester City as Antonio Conte's side bid to bounce back against the Premier League leaders. City host Tottenham on Saturday looking to hand the visitors a fourth successive league defeat. In contrast to Tottenham's dismal run, City have won […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham manager Antonio Conte insists his relationship with chairman Daniel Levy will not be damaged by people trying to "create problems" after his controversial comments about the club's transfer policy. Conte appeared frustrated with Levy's January transfer window moves during a recent interview with Sky Sports Italia. The 52-year-old Italian said Tottenham's […]

Paris (AFP) – Little over a decade after being forced into liquidation and relegated to the regional fifth tier, Strasbourg are pushing for a Champions League place following an impressive first season under Julien Stephan. French champions in 1979, the club from the eastern Alsace region that neighbours Germany and Switzerland is having its best […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Harry Maguire will remain Manchester United captain for the rest of the season, interim manager Ralf Rangnick confirmed on Friday amid reports of a power struggle in the dressing room with Cristiano Ronaldo. Maguire's poor form has played a major role in United's struggles this season. It had been reported […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier faces a race to return before the end of the season after having surgery on his broken foot just weeks after joining the club. The England right-back fractured a metatarsal bone in his left foot during Sunday's 1-0 win against Aston Villa in the Premier League. The 31-year-old […]

London (AFP) – Marcelo Bielsa said injuries at Leeds were not an excuse for their poor season and that the club had an "obligation" to remain in the Premier League. Leeds finished ninth in their first campaign back in the top-flight last season after a 16-year absence but are now in a relegation battle. Ahead […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid can hope to overcome the one goal deficit in their Champions League last 16 clash with Paris Saint Germain but the La Liga leaders need their strikers to rediscover their form beginning at home to struggling Alaves on Saturday. Carlo Ancelotti's side have been far from clinical in front of […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has denied reports of a power struggle with Cristiano Ronaldo as the club battle to end the season in the Premier League's top four. Maguire has been well below his best this season and it has been reported the United skipper feels undermined by Ronaldo's influence, with […]

Berlin (AFP) – US teenagers Joe Scally and Giovanni Reyna are hoping to face off for the first time in the Bundesliga when Borussia Moenchengladbach travel to Borussia Dortmund on Sunday. Scally and Reyna have been close friends ever since they were trainees together at MLS side New York City FC, and both have made […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur face a daunting trip to Manchester City this weekend, desperate to arrest a losing streak that threatens to derail their season as Manchester United brace themselves for a hostile reception at Leeds. Newcastle can pull further clear of relegation trouble and dent West Ham's top-four ambitions as they seek their […]

Paris (AFP) – Rangers stunned Borussia Dortmund 4-2 in the Europa League on Thursday while Barcelona had to come from behind to draw 1-1 at home to Napoli in their play-off first leg tie. In Dortmund, James Tavernier gave Rangers the lead with a 38th-minute penalty after a handball by Dan-Axel Zagadou from a corner. […]