Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City bounced back after their 21-game winning streak came to an end with a convincing 5-2 win over Southampton to move 14 points clear at the top of the Premier League. City's English top-flight record run came to an end against Manchester United on Sunday. But Pep Guardiola's men […]

Berlin (AFP) – US striker Josh Sargent scored in the third straight Bundesliga game as Werder Bremen tuned up for Bayern Munich with a 2-0 win at Arminia Bielefeld on Wednesday. The result keeps Bremen 12th, but they are now 11 points from the relegation places before hosting Bundesliga leaders Bayern on Saturday. Sargent, 21, […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho wants to celebrate a landmark year for Spurs' chairman Daniel Levy by ending the club's long trophy drought. This week marks 20 years since Levy took charge of day-to-day operations at Tottenham, but he has only overseen one trophy in the 2008 League Cup. Tottenham are back in […]

Berlin (AFP) – Despite being nicknamed 'Grandpa' by his Eintracht Frankfurt team-mates, Japan veteran Makoto Hasebe, 37, dreams of playing Champions League football again next season after extending his contract with the Bundesliga high-fliers. The former Japan captain had planned to retire at the end of this season, but on Monday signed a contract extension […]

Pretoria (AFP) – Namibian Peter Shalulile scored as Mamelodi Sundowns stretched an unbeaten run to 23 matches by trouncing second-division Polokwane City 4-0 on Wednesday in the South African FA Cup last 16. The 27-year-old Windhoek-born forward netted after 10 minutes in Pretoria and further goals from Lebohang Maboe, Lesedi Kapinga and Andile Jali gave […]

Doha (AFP) – Roger Federer played his first match in over a year Wednesday and won his first set as the 20-time Grand Slam champion returned from injury to face British number one Dan Evans at the Qatar Open. Federer, who underwent two knee surgeries in 2020, won the toss and elected to serve first […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli says the Italian giants, like Manchester United, are seeking to return to the "highest level" as they prepare to do battle in the second-tier Europa League. The clubs, with a combined 10 European Cups between them, are well set for a return to the Champions […]

Brøndby (Denmark) (AFP) – Reigning champions Lyon won 3-1 at Brondby on Wednesday to cruise into the quarterfinals of the Women's Champions League. In other early games on Wednesday, Chelsea drew 1-1 away to Atletico Madrid in Italy to advance and Wolfsburg won 2-0 away to go through against ISK of Norway in a game […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Juventus was in the spotlight after a third Champions League flop for the Portuguese star expensively signed to deliver the trophy that has eluded the Italian giants for quarter of a century. Juventus crashed out in the last 16 for the second year running on Tuesday night, […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Football's greatest living legend, Pele, could add another to his long list of accolades: the Rio de Janeiro state legislature has voted to rename Brazil's iconic Maracana stadium for him. Lawmakers voted Tuesday to change the stadium's official name to "Edson Arantes do Nascimento – Rei Pele" — the three-time […]

London (AFP) – Ex-Norway midfielder Hege Riise has been appointed as head coach of Great Britain's women's football team for the Tokyo Olympics, the Football Association announced on Wednesday. Riise was put in temporary charge of England's women's team after Phil Neville stepped down in January, and oversaw a 6-0 win against Northern Ireland in […]

London (AFP) – Former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has been named as the club's first technical director, with John Murtough promoted to the role of football director, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday. United said the two new roles would "further strengthen the club's football operations" after years of speculation over the absence […]

London (AFP) – Wales manager Ryan Giggs, who was arrested on suspicion of assault in November, will remain on leave for the start of his team's World Cup campaign, Welsh football chiefs announced on Wednesday. The arrest of the former Manchester United star, 47, came after a reported row with girlfriend Kate Greville. Last month […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City's Champions League last-16 second leg against Borussia Moenchengladbach has been switched from the Etihad Stadium to Budapest due to coronavirus travel restrictions, UEFA said on Wednesday. Man City won the first leg which was also held in the Hungarian capital 2-0. European football's governing body UEFA confirmed the match "will […]

Berlin (AFP) – Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui predicts Erling Braut Haaland has the talent to dominate the Champions League for years to come after the burly Norwegian fired Borussia Dortmund into the quarter-finals. "We were punished by a player who will dominate an era," said Lopetegui after Haaland sent more Champions League records tumbling with […]