Brussels (AFP) – Barcelona football club on Thursday lost a bid before the EU's top court to overturn a claim it received unfair state aid through tax breaks. The EU's Court of Justice dismissed an appeal lodged by FC Barcelona over a February 2019 ruling that found its status as a non-profit organisation gave it […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United were left a huge 14 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City as Crystal Palace held them to yet another goalless draw on Wednesday. The stalemate at a foggy Selhurst Park was United's third successive goalless draw in all competitions ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby against City, who are on […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona needed extra-time to reach the Copa del Rey final on Wednesday, with a 3-2 aggregate win over Sevilla coming just two days after a police raid on the club and the arrest of their former president. Having trailed 2-0 from the first leg, Danish international Martin Braithwaite hit the crucial goal […]

Milan (AFP) – Franck Kessie scored a 97th-minute penalty to rescue a 1-1 draw for AC Milan at home to Udinese on Wednesday, giving Serie A leaders Inter Milan the chance to pull six points clear at the top. Rodrigo Becao's second-half header at the San Siro completely deceived Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Stefano […]

Paris (AFP) – Canadian forward Jonathan David's late double helped Lille edge out Marseille 2-0 on Wednesday to remain two points clear of Paris Saint-Germain at the top of Ligue 1. Mauricio Pochettino's depleted reigning champions stayed second with a 1-0 victory at Bordeaux, with Lyon one point further back after beating Rennes by the […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United drew another blank to hamper their chances of a return to next season's Champions League after a dismal 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace on Wednesday. In foggy conditions at Selhurst Park, United failed to see a clear route to goal as they were involved in a sixth goalless draw in […]

Berlin (AFP) – Yussuf Poulsen and Hwang Hee-chan netted second-half goals as RB Leipzig beat Wolfsburg 2-0 in Wednesday's German Cup quarter-final in a tense battle between the in-form Bundesliga sides. After Poulsen opened the scoring, South Korea striker Hwang came off the bench to hit a late second goal and seal a semi-final berth […]

Paris (AFP) – Chelsea defeated Atletico Madrid 2-0 in the Women's Champions League last 16 first leg on Wednesday despite being a player short for 75 minutes while also seeing their Spanish visitors miss two penalties. A Maren Mjelde penalty in the 59th minute and a strike from Fran Kirby five minutes later gave the […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Steven Gerrard may have to watch his side's coronation as Scottish champions from the stands after being sent off for a half-time rant at referee John Beaton during Rangers' 1-0 win at Livingston on Wednesday. The Glasgow giants could end their 10-year wait for a league title as early as this weekend […]

London (AFP) – Leicester had captain Kasper Schmeichel to thank just for a point in a 1-1 draw at Burnley on Wednesday as the Foxes' bid for a top-four finish in the Premier League stumbled again at Turf Moor on Wednesday. Aston Villa also missed the chance to move to within two points of the […]

Paris (AFP) – Houssem Aouar's second-half strike clinched Lyon a 1-0 home win over Rennes on Wednesday to send Rudi Garcia's men top of Ligue 1 ahead of their title rivals' matches. OL moved above previous leaders Lille, who host Marseille later on Wednesday, on goal difference, with injury-hit Paris Saint-Germain two points behind before […]

Berlin (AFP) – Having already knocked out Bayern Munich in the second round, Holstein Kiel on Wednesday reached the semi-finals of the German Cup for the first time after a 3-0 win at fourth-tier Rot-Weiss Essen. Second-division Holstein, who stunned holders Bayern in January in a penalty shoot-out, took command in Wednesday's quarter-final with two […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho says Real Madrid are best-placed to explain why it took Gareth Bale quite so long to get somewhere near his best form this season. The Wales star's second spell at the north London club looked like it might become a disappointment after two years of largely being […]

Berlin (AFP) – New Schalke head coach Dimitrios Grammozis insists his appointment is a match made in heaven with only a short honeymoon period before Friday's crucial home Bundesliga match against Mainz. Grammozis finally said 'I do' on Tuesday to coaching Schalke after two rounds of contract talks last year came to nothing, which he […]

Berlin (AFP) – World Cup winner Benjamin Pavard returned to training with Bayern Munich on Wednesday after a fortnight in quarantine following his positive test for Covid-19. The 24-year-old France defender took part in a running session after a medical check-up, the club world champions said in a statement. The right-back had been quarantined at […]