Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi was back to his scintillating best on Wednesday as he scored twice in a 3-2 win for Barcelona over Athletic Bilbao in La Liga. Barca trailed to an early Inaki Williams strike at San Mames but responded with a slick attacking performance that had Messi at the heart of it. […]

Saint-Étienne (France) (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino's first match as Paris Saint-Germain coach ended in a 1-1 draw at Saint-Etienne on Wednesday as his new team slipped three points behind Ligue 1 leaders Lyon. The defending league champions fell behind early on to Romain Hamouma's strike before Moise Kean levelled soon after, but laboured in the […]

Milan (AFP) – Italian champions Juventus inflicted a first league defeat of the season on Serie A leaders AC Milan, ending their 27-match unbeaten run with a 3-1 win on Wednesday. Stefano Pioli's side maintained their one-point advantage over city rivals Inter Milan who missed a chance to go top with a 2-1 loss at […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City reached the League Cup final for fourth consecutive season as they inflicted more semi-final pain on Manchester United with a 2-0 win at Old Trafford on Wednesday. John Stones and Fernandinho were the unlikely goalscorers for Pep Guardiola's men, who will face Jose Mourinho's Tottenham in the final […]

London (AFP) – Derby interim manager Wayne Rooney and the club's entire first-team squad will miss Saturday's FA Cup third-round trip to Chorley due to a coronavirus outbreak resulting in nine positive tests among players and staff. The Rams will instead send a group of players from the club's under-23 and under-18s teams as they […]

London (AFP) – Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Nuno Espirito Santo has been fined £25,000 ($34,000, 28,000 euros) and warned to his future conduct following public criticism of referee Lee Mason. Nuno said Mason was not good enough to officiate in the Premier League following Wolves' 2-1 loss to Burnley on December 21. England's Football Association said […]

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan missed a chance to move top of Serie A on Wednesday with a 2-1 defeat at Sampdoria which ended their eight-match winning streak. Alexis Sanchez missed an early penalty for Antonio Conte's side who were tripped up by goals from former Inter players Antonio Candreva and Keita Balde. Second-placed Inter […]

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan missed a chance to move top of Serie A on Wednesday with a 2-1 defeat at Sampdoria which ended their eight-match winning streak. Alexis Sanchez missed an early penalty for Antonio Conte's side who were tripped up by goals from former Inter players Antonio Candreva and Keita Balde. Second-placed Inter […]

Nicosia (AFP) – Cyprus' ailing giants APOEL on Wednesday sacked former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy as head coach after only two months in the job. In a brief statement, the Nicosia club said they had "terminated" their cooperation with McCarthy, along with assistant Terry Connor, and wished them well for the future. The […]

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan forward Ante Rebic and midfielder Rade Krunic have both tested positive for coronavirus and will miss Wednesday's Serie A clash against Juventus, the Italian league leaders confirmed. "Ante Rebic and Rade Krunic tested positive for a molecular swab carried out yesterday (Tuesday) in anticipation of the match against Juventus," the […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Edina Alves made history this week when she was named as a referee at next month's Club World Cup, and she says her boundary-breaking feat is the product of two decades of preparation and hard work. Brazilian Alves, 40, is set become the first woman to officiate a professional men's football match organized […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona midfielder Carles Alena has joined Getafe on loan until the end of the season, the clubs announced on Wednesday. Getafe, who have dropped to 16th in La Liga, will pay all of Alena's wages as the 23-year-old looks to kickstart his career away from Camp Nou. "FC Barcelona and Getafe CF […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Arsenal's out-of-favour German midfielder Mesut Ozil is in advanced talks to join Istanbul club Fenerbahce, Turkish media reported on Wednesday. Ozil is expected to sign a three and a half year deal with the 19-time Turkish champions, the privately-owned DHA news agency reported. The reports came after the 32-year-old, a World Cup […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City confirmed three more cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, with goalkeeper Scott Carson, teenage midfielder Cole Palmer and a member of staff testing positive. City were without six other players for their Premier League victory at Chelsea on Sunday following positive tests. "Manchester City FC can confirm that Scott Carson, Cole […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho — one win away from a fifth League Cup win in his career — says the recipe for his success is respect for the competition. The 57-year-old could deliver Spurs' first piece of silverware since 2008 if they win the final in April at Wembley. Mourinho became just […]