London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger first made his name as Arsenal manager by discovering players that few rivals had spotted and signing them at bargain prices. Victory in his 800th league game in charge, 2-1 against Swansea City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, came thanks to another player who attracted few headlines when he […]

Bournemouth (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Antonio Conte has admitted Chelsea face a daunting challenge if they are to claw back the nine-point deficit to leaders Manchester City and successfully defend their Premier League title. A 1-0 victory at Bournemouth on Saturday ensured Conte's men didn't lose more ground to Pep Guardiola's side and the head […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted his side had laboured hard in their uninspiring 3-0 victory over Huddersfield Town at Anfield on Saturday. Goals from Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum would suggest this was an easy afternoon’s work for Liverpool but they were dreadfully pedestrian in the first half of a […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona recorded their best ever start to a La Liga season as coach Ernesto Valverde enjoyed a successful return to Athletic Bilbao thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Paulinho in a 2-0 win on Saturday. Valverde has now overseen 12 wins and a draw from his first 13 La Liga and […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho says his friendship with Mauricio Pochettino remains intact despite the Tottenham manager claiming in his autobiography he was angry with his Manchester United counterpart for making overtures to midfielder Eric Dier. In the book 'Brave New World' Pochettino alleges Mourinho had a lengthy conversation with Dier in the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes hopes Robert Lewandowski can face Celtic in the Champions League on Tuesday despite limping out of their Bundesliga win over RB Leipzig. James Rodriguez and Lewandowski netted first-half goals against Leipzig who had captain Willi Orban sent off after 13 minutes. Lewandowski came off just before the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Valencia maintained their stunning revival under Marcelino Garcia Toral to move to within a point of La Liga leaders Barcelona with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Alaves on Saturday sealed thanks to a Rodrigo penalty. Barcelona can regain their four-point lead at the top when they travel to Athletic Bilbao later on […]

Berlin (AFP) – James Rodriguez and Robert Lewandowski scored as Bayern Munich went top of the Bundesliga table on Saturday with a 2-0 home win against RB Leipzig, who played most of the game with 10 men. This was Bayern's second win over RB in four days after they won on penalties in Leipzig in […]

Bournemouth (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Eden Hazard quietened the debate surrounding Antonio Conte’s future with the second-half goal that secured a 1-0 win at Bournemouth on Saturday and maintained champions Chelsea’s hold on fourth spot, nine points adrift of Premier League leaders Manchester City. Chelsea manager Conte had reacted angrily to suggestions in the build-up […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was heartened by the way his side stayed five points clear at the top of the Premier League table despite making hard work of a 3-2 victory away to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. Guardiola left City's joint all-time leading goal-scorer Sergio Aguero on the bench but […]

Milan (AFP) – Gonzalo Higuain scored in either half to bring his tally of Serie A goals to 101 as Juventus went top of the Italian league with a 2-0 win that plunged AC Milan further into crisis on Saturday. Higuain opened after 23 minutes in front of a capacity crowd at the San Siro […]

Kolkata (AFP) – Manchester City starlet Phil Foden scored twice as England came from behind to crush Spain 5-2 in the Under 17 World Cup final on Sunday. Victory added to England’s growing list of youth honours – they have won the Under 20 World Cup and European Under 19 championship this year – and […]

Paris (AFP) – Monaco shrugged off the absence of leading scorer Radamel Falcao as they eased to a 2-0 victory away at Bordeaux in Ligue 1 on Saturday. Keita Balde and Thomas Lemar scored second-half goals for the defending champions, who close back to within four points of league leaders Paris Saint-Germain. PSG, without the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund crashed to a 4-2 defeat at Hanover on Saturday, collapsing at the back after the sending-off of teenage defender Dan-Axel Zagadou. Togo striker Ihlas Bebou scored twice for the hosts as Dortmund were picked off on the counter-attack, slumping to a loss that is the last thing coach […]

West Bromwich (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Raheem Sterling scored with his first touch as Manchester City stayed five-points clear atop of the Premier League with a 3-2 win at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. Sterling, who replaced Bernardo Silva in the 61st minute, scored his ninth goal of the season in all competitions as City […]