Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Lionel Messi started on the bench but Barcelona advanced to the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday and clinched top spot in Group D after drawing 0-0 with Juventus in Turin. Last season's finalists Juventus remain second in the group following the stalemate, a point ahead of third-place Sporting Lisbon, and […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Barcelona advanced to the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday and clinched top spot in Group D after drawing 0-0 with Juventus in Turin. Last season's finalists Juventus remain second in the group following the stalemate, a point ahead of third-place Sporting Lisbon, and can secure their qualification with victory at […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa was suspended by Lille on Wednesday after a dreadful start to the French season, the struggling Ligue 1 club announced. Ligue are second from bottom after just three wins in 13 matches under Bielsa, with the 62-year-old "suspended momentarily as coach" pending further announcement, according to a […]

Basel (Switzerland) (AFP) – Manchester United were forced to wait to book a place in the Champions League last 16 as Michael Lang's last-gasp strike gave Basel a shock 1-0 win St Jakob-Park on Wednesday. Jose Mourinho's side were moments away from securing top spot in Group A when Lang pounced on sloppy defending to […]

Paris (AFP) – Neymar was back in the mood with the Brazilian scoring twice to set up Paris Saint-Germain's comeback from behind as they hammered a shellshocked Celtic 7-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday. Moussa Dembele had put the visitors ahead inside a minute at the Parc des Princes, but Neymar's brace soon turned […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid kept their slim chances of Champions League progress alive as Antoine Griezmann snapped an eight-game goal drought in spectacular fashion with an overhead kick to help see off Roma 2-0 on Wednesday. Kevin Gameiro added a second five minutes from time for Atletico, who still need Roma to drop points […]

Baku (AFP) – Chelsea powered into the Champions League last 16 as Eden Hazard and Willian inspired a 4-0 thrashing of 10-man Qarabag on Wednesday. Antonio Conte's side reached the knockout stages with a game to spare thanks to influential displays from Hazard and Willian at the Olympic Stadium that knocked Azerbaijanis Qarabag out of the […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Spanish football rallied round Sevilla's Argentine coach Eduardo Berizzo on Wednesday after the club confirmed he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer a day after his side staged a dramatic Champions League comeback against Liverpool. "The medical services of Sevilla FC can inform that the coach of the first team, Eduardo Berizzo, […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham's Danny Rose said he was left "fuming" by his north London derby snub but insists he understood the decision and has not fallen out with manager Mauricio Pochettino. Rose was not even named on the bench for Saturday's defeat to Arsenal as Pochettino felt he would be better off doing a […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United defender Chris Smalling says he has nothing to prove despite the shock of losing his England place and seeing his ability publicly questioned by manager Gareth Southgate. The 27-year-old, capped 31 times for England, was overlooked for recent friendlies against Germany and Brazil because of concerns over his passing despite […]

Madrid (AFP) – Dani Carvajal could be banned for the Real Madrid's Champions League last 16 first leg after UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against the right-back for "receiving a yellow card on purpose" during Tuesday's 6-0 rout of APOEL Nicosia. The Spanish international picked up his third booking of the group stage, to trigger an […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Sevilla's Argentine coach Eduardo Berizzo has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the club confirmed on Wednesday, just hours after his side staged a remarkable comeback against Liverpool in the Champions League. "The medical services of Sevilla FC can inform that the coach of the first team, Eduardo Berizzo, has been diagnosed with an […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp defended his side's mental strength despite crumbling under the pressure of an inspired second-half Sevilla comeback to throw away a three-goal lead in Spain on Tuesday. A thrilling 3-3 draw leaves Liverpool still on top of Champions League Group E, but means they still require a point […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Defending champions Seattle Sounders put one foot in the final of the MLS Cup on Tuesday after outclassing Houston Dynamo 2-0 in the first leg of their Western Conference Championship game. First half goals from Gustav Svensson and Will Bruin sealed a clinical win for the Sounders as Houston's raucous home […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola set Manchester City the target of becoming the first English club to win all six of their Champions League group matches after they secured top spot in Group F. Raheem Sterling struck in the 88th minute to give City a 1-0 win over Feyenoord on Tuesday, which — […]