Milan (AFP) – Antonio Conte's Inter Milan take on Real Madrid in Wednesday's Champions League clash in a game the coach describes as "like a final" with both sides needing a win. "For us it represents a final, after the defeat in Madrid and the two previous draws there are not many solutions," Conte told […]

Berlin (AFP) – Holders Bayern Munich are short on defenders for Wednesday's home Champions League match against Red Bull Salzburg with Niklas Suele out and Lucas Hernandez only likely to start on the bench. Bayern have won their first three games in Group A and will qualify for the last 16 if the European champions […]

London (AFP) – Struggling English Championship club Derby on Tuesday announced the appointment of former manager and ex-England boss Steve McClaren as technical director. McClaren, 59, who had two spells as Derby manager, has returned to Pride Park following an agreement between owner Mel Morris and Derventio Holdings, who are set to complete a takeover […]

Doha (AFP) – Beijing Guoan have one foot in the last-16 of the Asian Champions League after a convincing 3-1 win against a rusty Melbourne Victory side on Tuesday extended their perfect record in Group E to three from three. Another Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua also improved their chances of qualification from Group F with […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Record seven-time winners Lyon will begin the defence of their women's Champions League title against Juventus in the last 32 while last season's runners-up Wolfsburg were drawn Tuesday against Serbian club ZFK Spartak. Lyon defeated twice former champions Wolfsburg 3-1 in the final in August to capture the trophy for a fifth successive […]

London (AFP) – Aston Villa and England midfielder Jack Grealish has admitted careless driving in connection with a crash during the coronavirus lockdown earlier this year. The club captain pleaded guilty to two charges, including one linked to an early-morning incident in which his Range Rover damaged parked vehicles on March 29, just days after […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Sociedad midfielder David Silva faces a spell on the sidelines after injuring his left hamstring, the Spanish league leaders said on Tuesday. Silva, 34, has started eight of 10 league matches for La Real following his summer arrival from Manchester City on a free transfer. The Spain international picked up the injury […]

London (AFP) – English Football League chairman Rick Parry says the government's decision to allow fans back into grounds is a "lifeline" for lower-league clubs who have struggled to survive during the coronavirus pandemic. Up to 4,000 people can return to outdoor sports stadiums in parts of England classified as at low risk from Covid-19 […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – The 2021 CAF Confederation Cup kicks off this week with 19 preliminary round first legs and former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Alex Song is a probable participant. Cameroonian Song recently joined Djibouti outfit Arta Solar 7, who host three-time Confederation of African Football (CAF) title winners Al Mokawloon Al Arab (formerly […]

Milan (AFP) – Christian Eriksen's dream move to Inter Milan looks over with the former Tottenham Hotspur playmaker requesting to leave the Italian giants after just 10 months. The Danish international arrived on a four-and-a-half-year contract worth 20 million euros ($23 million) plus 7.5 million euros in bonuses in January. But during a year overshadowed […]

Berlin (AFP) – Thomas Mueller admitted he watched Germany's humiliating loss to Spain with horror, but insists his focus remains on European champions Bayern Munich despite demands the playmaker be recalled to the national side. At 31, Mueller proved he is in his prime with a Bundesliga record 21 assists last season, serving as the […]

Madrid (AFP) – "It's clear that he's growing," said Diego Simeone, after Joao Felix scored his third and fourth goals in five days last month to put Atletico Madrid within touching distance of the top of the Liga table. Felix's brace against Osasuna would have been a hat-trick had his second penalty of the game […]

New Delhi (AFP) – An influx of footballers to India from Australia has highlighted changing fortunes as the Indian Super League flourishes and the A-League hits lean times during the coronavirus pandemic. Just two Australians played in the Indian Super League last year, but 10 were among the 11 teams when the competition got under […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has committed to Manchester City for the long term but for the first time in his managerial career, results may determine the Catalan's future rather than his desire for a new challenge or break. City's board showed how fully they remain committed to the Guardiola project by extending his contract […]

London (AFP) – Burnley won for the first time in the Premier League this season as Chris Wood sealed a 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace, while Southampton missed a chance to go third in their 1-1 draw at Wolves on Monday. Burnley had failed to win any of their first seven games in the joint […]