Zurich (AFP) – Bayern Munich will face either African champions Al Ahly or Al Duhail of Qatar in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup next month, following the draw at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich on Tuesday. The semi-final will be played on Monday, February 8 at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, […]

London (AFP) – Ex-Norway midfielder Hege Riise will take charge of next month's England women's training camp following the departure of Phil Neville to Inter Miami, the Football Association (FA) announced on Tuesday. The 51-year-old former midfielder has been appointed on a short-term coaching deal alongside former Canada international Rhian Wilkinson. Neville's successor, Sarina Wiegman, […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola hailed the transformative impact of Ruben Dias after the Portugal centre-back helped turn Manchester City into the meanest defence in the Premier League. Dias arrived from Benfica in a 68 million euro (£62 million, $79 million) deal two days after City were thrashed 5-2 at home by Leicester […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has defended Bruno Fernandes after the Portuguese playmaker drew criticism for his performance in the 0-0 draw against Liverpool. The 26-year-old has hit the ground running after arriving from Sporting Lisbon last January, scoring 19 goals and providing 14 assists in just 32 Premier League appearances. […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick said Tuesday they "expect" to lose David Alaba at the end of the season, but the defender's father and agent has denied reports the Austria international will join Real Madrid for next season. "It looks as though he will leave the club, we have to expect that," […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi was handed a two match ban on Tuesday following his first ever sending off for Barcelona. The Argentine forward was shown a red card at the end of Sunday's 3-2 extra-time defeat to Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup final after lashing out at Asier Villalibre. Messi had twice […]

London (AFP) – Dean Smith says Aston Villa were taken aback by the speed of the coronavirus outbreak at the club but said there would be no excuses as they prepare to return to Premier League action. Villa, who face Manchester City on Wednesday, have not played in the English top-flight since New Year's Day. […]

London (AFP) – Newcastle's long-suffering fans are bracing for a bleak midwinter, with coach Steve Bruce and owner Mike Ashley both in the firing line as the club tumble towards the Premier League relegation zone. The northeast side enjoy a huge and passionate following even though they have gone 66 years without a domestic trophy […]

Berlin (AFP) – David Alaba's father and agent on Tuesday denied press reports claming the Bayern Munich defender had signed a contract with Real Madrid. On Monday, Spanish newspaper Marca said Austria centre-back Alaba had agreed a four-year deal with the La Liga giants starting next season and had passed a medical. "No decision has […]

Rome (AFP) – Serie A leaders AC Milan announced on Tuesday the arrival of former Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic on a six-month contract. Free agent Mandzukic, 34, who retired from international football after losing the 2018 World Cup final, returns to the Italian top-flight after four years with Juventus. Mandzukic left Juve for Al-Duhail in […]

Rome (AFP) – Davide Nicola, who spent a season as a player for Torino, was named by the Serie A club on Tuesday as the successor to Marco Giampolo who was sacked as coach on Monday. Torino are struggling third from bottom of the league with just two wins this campaign and none at home. […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger has hailed the "genius" of Mesut Ozil after the Arsenal outcast confirmed he was leaving the Premier League club to join Turkish giants Fenerbahce. The former Arsenal boss signed the German playmaker in 2013 but the relationship has turned sour under current manager Mikel Arteta. The 32-year-old, who is the […]

London (AFP) – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returned to scoring form with a double as Arsenal's rise up the Premier League table continued with a comfortable 3-0 win over Newcastle on Monday. The Gunners were facing an unlikely battle for survival less than a month ago, but 13 points from a possible 15 have lifted Mikel Arteta's men […]

Milan (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice on his first start in two months as AC Milan beat Cagliari 2-0 on Monday to pull ahead of city rivals Inter on top of the Serie A table. Ibrahimovic got the first from the penalty spot after seven minutes, adding a second just after the break in […]

Douala (AFP) – Yahya Jabrane converted a retaken penalty to give Morocco a 1-0 victory over Togo Monday in Douala as they seek to become the first back-to-back winners of the African Nations Championship (CHAN). In the second match of a Group C double-header at the Stade Reunification in the Cameroonian economic capital, Rwanda […]