Paris (AFP) – Portuguese midfielder Xeka scored the only goal as Lille warmed up for their Champions League last 16 clash against Chelsea with a 1-0 success at Montpellier on Saturday as Lyon denied Nice a chance to move second in Ligue 1. Xeka struck with a quarter of an hour to go on the […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Egyptian Mahmoud Hamdy and Tunisian Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, both of whom played in the recent Africa Cup of Nations, starred in the CAF Champions League on Saturday. Centre-back Hamdy scored five minutes into added time to rescue a 2-2 Group D draw for Zamalek at home against Petro Luanda of Angola […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel described winning the Club World Cup as an "incomparable feeling" as the European champions got their hands on the last major trophy missing from their cabinet. Kai Havertz repeated his heroics from the Champions League final in May, nervelessly converting a penalty deep into extra time as Chelsea […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City restored their 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League as Raheem Sterling's hat-trick put Norwich to the sword 4-0, while Manchester United's chances of just making the top four stumbled again in a 1-1 draw against Southampton on Saturday. City boss Pep Guardiola took the chance to heavily […]

Naples (Italy) (AFP) – Inter Milan maintained their one-point lead at the top of Serie A on Saturday with a 1-1 draw at title rivals Napoli which gives AC Milan the chance to claim top spot. Edin Dzeko's powerful 47th-minute equaliser in a pulsating match was enough for Simone Inzaghi's team to earn a point […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Kai Havertz scored a penalty deep into extra time as Chelsea defeated Brazil's Palmeiras 2-1 in the Club World Cup final on Saturday to complete their collection of major trophies. Romelu Lukaku's superb header gave the European champions the lead on 54 minutes but Raphael Veiga levelled from the spot for […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich said his side need to question their mentality after they slumped to a shock 4-2 loss at Bundesliga minnows Bochum ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Red Bull Salzburg. Bayern conceded four goals in the first half for the first time in a Bundesliga match since […]

Norwich (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City powered 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League as Raheem Sterling's hat-trick inspired a 4-0 win against Norwich on Saturday. Sterling put City ahead in the first half at Carrow Road and Phil Foden doubled the champions' lead early in the second period. England forward […]

Naples (Italy) (AFP) – Inter Milan maintained their one-point lead at the top of Serie A on Saturday with a 1-1 draw at title rivals Napoli which gives AC Milan the chance to claim top spot. Edin Dzeko's powerful 47th-minute equaliser in a pulsating match was enough for Simone Inzaghi's team to earn a point […]

London (AFP) – Fulham and Bournemouth remain on track for promotion to the Premier League as the Championship pace setters won against Hull and Blackpool on Saturday. Leaders Fulham had to wait until the 57th minute to break the deadlock in their 1-0 victory at Hull. Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic maintained his prolific form as […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United's top four bid suffered another blow as Southampton hit back to earn a 1-1 draw, while Everton boosted their bid for Premier League survival with a vital 3-0 win against Leeds on Saturday. Ralf Rangnick's side took the lead through Jadon Sancho's first Premier League goal at Old Trafford. But, […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid were held to a goalless draw at Villarreal on Saturday despite the return from a lengthy injury absence of Gareth Bale. The La Liga leaders' slip-up will give renewed hope to title rivals Sevilla after their 2-0 win over Elche on Friday. Carlo Ancelotti's Real are now four points clear […]

Naples (Italy) (AFP) – Lorenzo Insigne overtook Diego Maradona in Napoli's all-time scorers list on Saturday after netting the penalty which gave his boyhood team the lead against Serie A title rivals Inter Milan. Insigne, who has played his entire senior career with Napoli, smashed home from the penalty spot in the seventh minute to […]

Berlin (AFP) – VfL Bochum forward Gerrit Holtmann inspired his side to a stunning 4-2 win over Bayern Munich on Saturday, as the Bundesliga leaders suffered a historic humiliation ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Red Bull Salzburg. Holtmann grabbed an assist and a goal as Bochum became the first team to score four […]

Rome (AFP) – Mattia Zaccagni struck a second-half brace as Lazio strolled past Bologna 3-0 to close in on Serie A's Champions League places. Zaccagni doubled Lazio's lead in the 53rd minute when he collected Luis Alberto's through ball and slotted past Lukasz Skorupski, tapping home the third 10 minutes later from Manuel Lazzari's low […]