Paris (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino takes Paris Saint-Germain to beleaguered rivals Marseille, while Mesut Ozil could make his home debut for Fenerbahce against Galatasaray and Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane returns to the dugout after missing two games following a positive Covid-19 test. AFP Sport selects some of the standout football action in Europe this weekend: […]

Paris (AFP) – Meetings between Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain are often explosive and events of the last seven days add to the tension of Sunday's latest clash of French football's biggest rivals. Marseille's 67,000-capacity Velodrome will be empty for the game due to Covid-19 restrictions, but the Mediterranean city is still on edge after several […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo, who recently concluded a year on loan at Manchester United, has joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Shabab from Shanghai Shenhua. The 31-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal, the six-time Saudi champions said on Twitter, and becomes the latest major name to depart the Chinese Super League. Former Watford and […]

Madrid (AFP) – Two years ago last month Barcelona signed Frenkie de Jong for 75 million euros ($90 million), while six months earlier Real Madrid spent 100 million euros on Eden Hazard. When the transfer window closed on Monday, Madrid had finished a second consecutive window without signing anyone while Barca coach Ronald Koeman was […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City and Liverpool have dominated the Premier League over the past four seasons but a sizeable gap has opened up between the leaders and the champions ahead of their latest meeting on Sunday. City are seven points clear of fourth-placed Liverpool, with a game in hand, and could kill off any […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman will hope Wednesday's Copa del Rey comeback can inspire his team to close the gap in La Liga as they take on Real Betis on Sunday. Barca scored twice in the last four minutes against Granada to come from two goals down and force extra-time before winning 5-3 […]

Paris (AFP) – Porto defender Nanu was knocked unconscious and "suffered a spinal cord injury" in a sickening collision in a Portuguese top-flight match on Thursday. An ambulance had to come onto the pitch at Belenenses to rush the player to hospital after an accidental clash with home goalkeeper Stanislav Kritsyuk. The incident happened in […]

New York (AFP) – Major League Soccer said Thursday progress has been made in union talks over a new collective bargaining agreement and delayed to Friday a deadline on a threatened lockout. The MLS Players Association and the league are negotiating over terms for a 2021 season, MLS seeking revisions ahead of expected losses due […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea climbed into the Premier League top six as Thomas Tuchel earned the first major victory of his short time in charge of the Blues with a 1-0 win at Tottenham on Thursday. Jorginho's penalty midway through the first-half was scant reward for Chelsea's dominance on another damaging night for Spurs boss […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea climbed into the Premier League top six as Thomas Tuchel earned the first major victory of his short time in charge of the Blues with a 1-0 win at Tottenham on Thursday. Jorginho's penalty midway through the first-half was scant reward for Chelsea's dominance on another damaging night for Spurs boss […]

Berlin (AFP) – Liverpool have been barred from entering Germany for a Champions League match against RB Leipzig on February 16 because of strict entry rules imposed because of the pandemic, the German interior ministry said Thursday. "German federal police informed RB Leipzig today that the described case does not meet the requirements for an […]

Doha (AFP) – Despite playing Qatar's Duhail a stone's throw from their own ground, Egyptian giants Al-Ahly clearly felt they had the home advantage at the first day of the Club World Cup. Doha is home to tens of thousands of Egyptian expats, working in every corner of the Qatari economy, and turned out in […]

Al-Rayyan (Qatar) (AFP) – Al Ahly of Egypt became the first African side since 2013 to win their opening Club World Cup match when they edged Al Duhail from host nation Qatar 1-0 Thursday in the quarter-finals. The reward for the Cairo Red Devils is a semi-final on Monday against tournament favourites and former title-holders […]

Paris (AFP) – France's troubled Ligue 1 on Thursday reached an agreement with Canal Plus to broadcast the remainder of matches this season following the spectacular collapse of a record contract with Mediapro. The league was left without a domestic broadcast partner after the Mediapro deal, which had been expected to bring in 780 million […]

Berlin (AFP) – Liverpool will not be allowed to enter Germany for a Champions League match against RB Leipzig on February 16 because of strict entry rules imposed over the pandemic, the German interior ministry said Thursday. "German federal police informed RB Leipzig today that the described case does not meet the requirements for an […]