Monaco (AFP) – Teenage star Kylian Mbappe helped Monaco secure their first Ligue 1 title in 17 years with his 15th goal of the season in Wednesday's 2-0 victory at home to Saint-Etienne. The 18-year-old raced clear of the visiting defence to nervelessly roll in the opening goal after 19 minutes at the Stade Louis […]

Rome (AFP) – Dani Alves and Leonardo Bonucci struck one apiece as treble-chasing Juventus secured a record third successive Italian Cup with a 2-0 victory over Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday. Juventus, who won a league and Cup double the past two seasons, can clinch a record sixth consecutive Serie A title — […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid moved to within one point of winning La Liga as Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice to down Celta Vigo 4-1 on Wednesday. The European champions lead Barcelona by three points at the top of the table and now need to just avoid defeat at Malaga on Sunday to secure their first […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Sergio Romero displayed some eye-catching pre-Europa League final form by saving a penalty as Manchester United drew 0-0 at Southampton in their penultimate Premier League game on Wednesday. United manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed Romero will start against Ajax in Stockholm next Wednesday and his early save from Manolo Gabbiadini […]

The Hague (AFP) – Former Dutch international Dirk Kuyt announced his retirement on Wednesday, three days after his hat-trick steered Feyenoord their first Eredivisie title in 18 years. "Throughout my career I have always followed my heart when taking decisions and that goes for this one too," Kuyt said in a statement on Feyenoord's website. "To […]

Watford (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Walter Mazzarri's tenure as Watford manager has ended after just one season as the club said on Wednesday he would be leaving after Sunday's final Premier League match against Manchester City. The 55-year-old Italian — who replaced Quique Sanchez-Flores after he was fired at the end of last term — […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham fans can look forward to at least another season under charismatic Argentinian manager Mauricio Pochettino after he committed himself to staying on on Wednesday. The 45-year-old — who cut his coaching teeth first in La Liga with Espanyol and then at Premier League side Southampton — told a press conference he […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski aims to better his record of 30 league goals in a season and beat Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the Bundesliga's top-scorer title on Saturday. His two-goal haul in Bayern's thrilling 5-4 win over RB Leipzig last Saturday left Lewandowski one ahead of Aubameyang of Borussia Dortmund with one […]

London (AFP) – Chinese investors who failed in their bid to buy Hull City last year have succeeded in taking over Reading, who are one win away from the Premier League. Brother and sister Dai Yongge and Dai Xiuli snapped up 75 percent of the Championship club with the previous Thai owners retaining a 25 […]

Shanghai (AFP) – China's football authority said Wednesday it is investigating Brazilian star Hulk's alleged altercation with a rival club's staffer, but it saw "no malicious intent" in a separate racially-charged row involving Argentina's Ezequiel Lavezzi. Both South American players, who are among the growing crop of highly paid foreign stars in China's cash-rich Super […]

Sydney (AFP) – A-League star and former Socceroo Mitch Nichols has been charged with drug possession after a police swoop on a Sydney pub, it emerged Wednesday. Police allege they found three bags of a white powder, believed to be cocaine, on a 28-year-old when they raided a nightclub with sniffer dogs on Saturday evening. […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Harry Kane has backed Tottenham Hotspur to shake off their reputation as title chokers and finally win the Premier League next season. Mauricio Pochettino's side came up short in the title race for the second successive year after Chelsea repelled their determined challenge in the same way Leicester City frustrated […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola said Manchester City's home form must improve next season if they are to challenge for honours after they beat West Bromwich Albion in their last home game. Guardiola's first season in English football will end at Watford on Sunday with the Catalan failing to win silverware for the […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal can still salvage their turbulent season by defying the odds to snatch a Champions League place on the final day. Wenger's side kept alive their faint hopes of qualifying for Europe's elite club competition as Alexis Sanchez's double clinched a 2-0 win over relegated Sunderland on Tuesday. The […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City edged ever closer to a guaranteed place in next season's Champions League after an entertaining 3-1 win over West Bromwich at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday. Gabriel Jesus, Kevin De Bruyne and Yaya Toure scored the goals for Pep Guardiola's side and barring a freak combination of results […]