London (AFP) – Five games into a Premier League season full of goals and drama, each of the traditional 'big six' have dropped at least five points, and the title race is wide open. Unbeaten Everton and Aston Villa are the surprise pace-setters and with a gruelling schedule of European games under way, the odds […]

Paris (AFP) – Gareth Bale said it felt good to be "loved and appreciated" after helping Tottenham to a 3-0 win over LASK of Austria in the Europa League on Thursday. The Welsh international started his first match since his return from Real Madrid and played for an hour before Jose Mourinho gave him a […]

Paris (AFP) – Gareth Bale helped Tottenham to an opening 3-0 victory over LASK of Austria in their Europa League campaign on Thursday but Celtic suffered another setback with a home 3-1 loss at the hands of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's AC Milan. There were also wins for Spurs' Premier League rivals Arsenal and Leicester which left […]

Milan (AFP) – Italy coach Roberto Mancini on Thursday apologised after a cartoon he shared on social media of a man in hospital created a storm of protest. Mancini posted the cartoon on his Instagram stories, in which a nurse asks a patient in the hospital: "Do you have any idea how you got sick?". […]

Miami (AFP) – Gonzalo Higuain has been told to cool it after a tempestuous start to his time in Major League Soccer. The former Real Madrid and Juventus striker was red carded in his sixth appearance for David Beckham's Inter Miami after arguing with officials in the wake of last weekend's defeat to Montreal. Higuain, […]

Paris (AFP) – Arsenal came from behind to down Rapid Vienna 2-1 and Rangers beat Standard Liege 2-0 in the opening round of Europa League group stage matches on Thursday. Arsenal, the 2019 finalists under Unai Emery, were struggling to make an impact in Austria. After a goalless first half they went behind when keeper […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane is predicting a "difficult" CAF Champions League semi-final second leg in Egypt Friday against Moroccan visitors Wydad Casablanca despite holding a two-goal advantage. The Cairo Red Devils exceeded expectations under their recently hired South African handler by winning in Casablanca through goals from Mohamed 'Afsha' Magdy and […]

London (AFP) – Edouard Mendy says his struggles to save his football career when he found himself without a club have set him up to succeed at Chelsea. The Senegal goalkeeper joined the Blues in a £20 million ($26 million) deal from Rennes last month, but in 2014 he was without a club and feared […]

London (AFP) – New Chelsea signing Hakim Ziyech has spoken of his relief that he waited for his big move to Stamford Bridge rather than joining Arsenal or Barcelona two years ago. The Moroccan international winger had previously talked of a "dream" switch from Ajax to the Gunners or the Catalan giants, but neither move […]

Milan (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo has again tested positive for coronavirus as Juventus prepare for next week's Champions League clash against Barcelona, according to reports in Italy on Thursday. Ronaldo is currently isolating at his home in Turin after testing positive for Covid-19 on October 13 while with the Portuguese national team for Nations League […]

London (AFP) – Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has defended goalkeeper Jordan Pickford over a reckless tackle that injured Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, saying suggestions it was pre-meditated were "not fair". The England number one has come in for heavy criticism after his challenge in last week's Merseyside derby, which left the Dutch defender with knee […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Rafael Benitez's Dalian Pro avoided relegation from the Chinese Super League on Thursday, despite winning just three times in 16 games this season. The Champions League-winning coach breathed a sigh of relief after Dalian overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit to beat Shijiazhuang Ever Bright 3-2 on aggregate. The former Liverpool and Real […]

Berlin (AFP) – Werder Bremen announced on Thursday they had cancelled training after an unnamed squad member tested positive for coronavirus, disrupting preparations for this weekend's league game against Hoffenheim. The player concerned, who has been place in home quarantine, is "doing well and has no symptoms," Werder said in a statement. Werder's first-team squad […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick has challenged Kingsley Coman to replicate his Champions League form in the Bundesliga after the France winger netted twice and assisted another goal in Wednesday's 4-0 rout of Atletico Madrid. Coman, 24, scored either side of efforts from Leon Goretzka and Corentin Tolisso as holders Bayern opened […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City's lengthening injury list is a concern as they prepare for a gruelling schedule of three away games in the space of eight days. Wednesday's 3-1 Champions League win over Porto ended on a sour note as substitute Fernandinho limped off in the closing stages and the veteran […]