Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Gabriel Jesus marked his return from injury with a blistering strike to seal Manchester City's 3-0 win over Olympiakos as Pep Guardiola's men cruised towards a place in the last 16 of the Champions League. City have maximum points from their opening three games in Group C, thanks in large […]

Porto (Portugal) (AFP) – Marseille matched the longest losing streak in UEFA Champions League history with their 3-0 defeat away to Porto in Portugal on Tuesday. The French club, who won the inaugural edition of the Champions League in 1993, have now lost 12 consecutive matches in the competition to equal the mark set by […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid thwarted a second half comeback from Inter Milan to win 3-2 on Tuesday and give their Champions League bid lift-off in Group B. Madrid's 19-year-old Brazilian Rodrygo came off the bench to score the winner at the empty Alfredo di Stefano stadium, where Inter threatened a remarkable turnaround after drawing […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Argentine football great Diego Maradona will undergo brain surgery for a blood clot in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, his personal doctor said. "I will operate on him. It's a routine operation, he's lucid," said Leopoldo Luque. World Cup winner Maradona, 60, was taken to hospital on Monday for a series of […]

Paris (AFP) – Alassane Plea scored a hat-trick as Borussia Moenchengladbach romped to a 6-0 win at Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Atletico Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Lokomotiv Moscow. As well as Plea's goals, a Valeriy Bondar own goal and counters from Ramy Bensebaini and captain Lars […]

Milan (AFP) – Lazio are being probed for possible violations to coronavirus health protocols, the Italian Football Federation announced on Tuesday. The FIGC said in a statement they had "opened an investigation into Lazio to ascertain any violations of the health protocols aimed at containing the Covid-19 epidemic". The Serie A club left for Wednesday's […]

Gelsenkirchen (Germany) (AFP) – Struggling Schalke enjoyed their first win since February on Tuesday when they came from behind to beat fourth-tier minnows Schweinfurt 4-1 in a re-arranged German Cup, first round match. Schalke are winless in 22 Bundesliga games, dating back to January, and their previous win in any competition was a German Cup […]

Leipzig (Germany) (AFP) – Injury to Paris Saint-Germain stars Neymar and Kylian Mbappe gives RB Leipzig a slight advantage for Wednesday's Champions League group match in a repeat of last season's semi-final, says their coach Julian Nagelsmann. "Of course it's not a disadvantage that Mbappe and Neymar won't play – they are fantastic players – […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – United States coach Gregg Berhalter has called up uncapped Borussia Dortmund midfielder Gio Reyna and England youth international Yunus Musah in a 24-man squad for this month's friendlies with Wales and Panama. Reyna and Musah are among 10 players included in the squad who will be looking to win their first […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Argentine football legend Diego Maradona "is much better and eager to leave" after being admitted to hospital for medical checks, his doctor said Tuesday. The 60-year-old is suffering from anemia — a lack of iron in his system — and dehydration, which had left him feeling "very weak, very tired," Leopoldo […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea boss Frank Lampard said on Tuesday "low-maintenance" goalkeeper Edouard Mendy can get even better despite keeping five consecutive clean sheets for his new side. The Senegal stopper will face former club Rennes in Wednesday's Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge in a speedy reunion following his September arrival. The Blues will […]

Berlin (AFP) – Former Germany defender Mats Hummels on Tuesday ruled himself out of Borussia Dortmund's Champions League match at Brugge with a hamstring problem, but hopes to face former club Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga this weekend. Hummels suffered the injury while making a tackle after scoring both goals in last weekend's 2-0 win […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United skipper Harry Maguire on Tuesday rejected former captain Roy Keane's assertion the team lacks leadership and heart after a terrible start to their Premier League campaign. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are languishing in 15th spot in the table with just a single point from their four home games. That is […]

Madrid (AFP) – Ronald Koeman has denied suggestions Lionel Messi is difficult to manage, insisting he has a good relationship with Barcelona's captain. In an interview published in El Pais on Sunday, former Barca coach Quique Setien said he found it hard to handle Messi during his brief spell in charge last season. "There are […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Raja Casablanca coach Jamal Sellami is convinced the Moroccan club will reach the CAF Champions League final Wednesday while admitting his players are less fit than Egyptian opponents Zamalek. A recent coronavirus outbreak at Raja sidelined 16 of the squad and training was limited in the build-up to the second leg of […]