Newcastle (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Dele Alli fired Tottenham to a 2-0 victory at Newcastle on Sunday after the England midfielder was involved in the crucial dismissal of Magpies midfielder Jonjo Shelvey. Shelvey was shown a second half red card for deliberately treading on Alli, who was on the ground only yards from referee Andre […]

London (AFP) – Antonio Rudiger has called on his Chelsea team-mates to make amends for their shock loss against Burnley by bouncing back against title rivals Tottenham next weekend. Antonio Conte's side began the defence of their Premier League crown with an embarrassing 3-2 defeat against Burnley at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Chelsea never recovered […]

Harare (AFP) – Former Barcelona stars Patrick Kluivert and Edgar Davids joined Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on stage at a political rally ahead of a veterans match planned later this year. Davids and Kluivert were pictured alongside Mugabe, 93, at a youth rally for the ruling ZANU-PF party in the southern town of Gwanda on […]

Paris (AFP) – After dazzling Rio's imposing Maracana and Barcelona's storied Camp Nou, the world's most expensive footballer Neymar will be welcomed to French football on Sunday at Guingamp's humble 17,000-capacity Stade du Rouduorou in sleepy Brittany. With the mundanity of transfer paperwork finally resolved, the 25-year-old Brazilian magician will line up for Paris Saint-Germain […]

Frankfurt am Main (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund on Sunday said Ousmane Dembele remained suspended "until further notice" for skipping training this week, as speculation continues to swirl over the wantaway forward's possible move to Barcelona. "Borussia Dortmund have decided to maintain the player Ousmane Dembele's suspension from team training until further notice," the Bundesliga outfit […]

Brighton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola says Manchester City will not get carried away after a 2-0 opening day win at promoted Brighton as he is still stung by the bitter experiences of last season. A year ago City won their first 10 games in all competitions, beginning with a victory at home to […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has accepted he may have to embed a new formation in his team if they continue to have players sent off. After being reduced to 10 men in both the FA Cup final and the Community Shield, Conte's men finished the opening game of their Premier League title […]

Watford (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp insists Philippe Coutinho's Liverpool future will be determined by the club's owners as Barcelona bid to land the want-away Brazil star. Coutinho is keen to join Barcelona and the Reds forward submitted a transfer request 24 hours before Liverpool opened their Premier League campaign with a 3-3 draw […]

Brighton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City confirmed their status as Premier League title favourites with a professional 2-0 win at promoted Brighton and Hove Albion in their opening game on Saturday. While rivals Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool made uncertain starts to the campaign, City dominated their game against the division's new boys. Only a […]

London (AFP) – Sam Vokes scored twice as Burnley torpedoed defending champions Chelsea 3-2 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday in one of the most sensational opening-weekend results in English top-flight history. Chelsea had captain Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas sent off and Burnley took full advantage through Vokes's brace and a superb Stephen Ward effort, […]

Paris (AFP) – Lucas Ocampos snatched a late 1-0 win for Marseille as Claudio Ranieri's injury-depleted Nantes suffered their second Ligue 1 defeat of the new campaign on Saturday. Marseille join Lyon — 2-1 winners at Rennes on Friday — provisionally top of Ligue 1 to give Rudi Garcia's side a timely boost ahead of […]

Berlin (AFP) – A hat-trick for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and a brace for Robert Lewandowski saw Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich reach the second round of the German Cup on Saturday. Defending champions Dortmund eased to a 4-0 victory over sixth-tier minnows Riesalingen-Arlen, while Bayern secured a 5-0 win over third division Chemnitz. A deflected free-kick […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Brazilian international midfielder Paulinho is expected to become Barcelona's first signing since losing Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain, according to widespread reports in the Spanish media on Saturday. Barca are reportedly willing to meet the 29-year-old's 40 million euro ($47 million) buyout clause with Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande. Catalan radio station Rac1 described […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Gerard Pique knew Neymar had decided to leave Barcelona long before the Brazilian completed his world record 222 million euro ($261 million) move to Paris Saint-Germain, the Barcelona defender admitted on Saturday. Pique has been mocked for posting "he stays" with a picture of him and Neymar together on Barca's pre-season tour […]

London (AFP) – Sam Vokes scored twice as Burnley torpedoed defending champions Chelsea 3-2 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday in one of the most sensational opening-weekend results in English top flight history. Chelsea had captain Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas sent off and Burnley took full advantage through Vokes's brace and a superb Stephen Ward […]