Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic's misguided mid-season trip to Dubai cost them two more points as, without 13 self-isolating players, the Scottish champions were held 0-0 at home by Livingston. The Hoops' run of nine straight league titles seems certain to be ended by runaway leaders Rangers as a point only edged Celtic to within 20 […]

Berlin (AFP) – RB Leipzig again squandered the chance to usurp Bayern Munich as Bundesliga leaders after being held to a 2-2 draw at Wolfsburg on Saturday. For the second consecutive Saturday, Leipzig, who lost 3-1 last weekend at home to Dortmund, missed out on first place in Germany's top flight. Embattled Bayern, who crashed […]

Berlin (AFP) – Schalke coach Christian Gross is hoping veteran Ajax striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar can be persuaded to return on loan to help the Royal Blues fight relegation from the Bundesliga. "If a player with this experience, aura and personality were to join us again, that would be fantastic," said Gross in the build-up to […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus boss Andrea Pirlo on Saturday credited Inter Milan counterpart Antonio Conte with fuelling his coaching ambitions as the pair prepare for their first clash in Serie A. Ex-Juve boss Conte, 51, led the Turin giants to the first three off their current run of nine Serie A titles with then midfielder […]

London (AFP) – West Bromwich Albion won for the first time under new boss Sam Allardyce as Matheus Pereira's penalty double clinched a 3-2 Premier League victory at local rivals Wolves on Saturday. Allardyce had failed to win any of his first five matches since replacing the sacked Slaven Bilic. But the former England manager […]

London (AFP) – When Liverpool and Manchester United clash at Anfield on Sunday, there will be more at stake than just the usual bragging rights. The bitter rivals are engaged in a battle for the Premier League title, with leaders United sitting three points clear of second placed Liverpool. AFP Sport takes a closer look […]

London (AFP) – When Liverpool and Manchester United clash at Anfield on Sunday, one of the Premier League's most explosive rivalries will carry an extra edge rarely seen in past meetings despite their trophy-laden histories. Over the past four decades, United and Liverpool have often been in the ascendant at different times, so a sustained […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool and Manchester United face off on Sunday as the Premier League's top two teams for the first time since 1997 — with the rivalry between England's most successful clubs rekindled by a fascinating title race. United top the table after the New Year for the first time since Alex Ferguson's retirement […]

Berlin (AFP) – Embattled Bayern Munich face the Bundesliga's longest-serving current coach on Sunday in Christian Streich, the unorthodox trainer who has made buoyant Freiburg a force to be reckoned with, especially in recent weeks. Freiburg have climbed the German table from 14th to eighth on the back of a club-record five straight league wins. […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Iranian international Mehdi Taremi salvaged a point for defending champions Porto in a 1-1 draw with long-time rivals Benfica on Friday. However, Taremi's night ended in misery when he was sent-off in the 73rd minute for a poor challenge on Nicolas Otamendi. Spanish defender Alex Grimaldo had put Benfica in front after […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has told Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp to stop moaning about the number of penalties given to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side. United have been awarded 20 penalties in the Premier League since the start of last season, while title rivals Liverpool have had just 10. Klopp highlighted the […]

Berlin (AFP) – An accusation of racism after the final whistle on Friday threatened to overshadow Union Berlin's 1-0 home win over Bayer Leverkusen which lifted the hosts to fourth in the table. Leverkusen midfielder Nadiem Amiri, who was born in Germany to Afghan parents, was booked on 90 minutes and had to be restrained […]

Paris (AFP) – Captain Wissam Ben Yedder scored twice as Monaco thwarted a late fightback in Friday's 3-2 win at Montpellier in Ligue 1. Kevin Volland and Ben Yedder netted within an hour before Elye Wahi and Andy Delort clawed Montellier back into the game but the Principality outfit moved three points off Lille in third […]

Milan (AFP) – Lazio cruised to a 3-0 victory over city rivals Roma on Friday, equalling their best ever derby victory in Serie A. The win moved Lazio up to seventh place on 31 points, just two behind champions Juventus in fourth. Roma stay third with 34 points, but are six points off leaders AC […]

Berlin (AFP) – Union Berlin claimed another key Bundesliga scalp at home on Friday as a late goal sealed a 1-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen which put the hosts fourth in the table. Having hit the post earlier, Union's replacement forward Cedric Teuchert sprinted onto a pass which split Leverkusen's defence and fired home winning […]