London (AFP) – Marcelo Bielsa has warned his Leeds players it is crucial they retain their attacking threat as they seek to re-establish themselves in the Premier League. Newly-promoted Leeds made a splash on their return to the English top flight after a 16-year gap, scoring three goals in a 4-3 defeat by Liverpool in […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time, Pele will celebrate his 80th birthday Friday, confined to his home in Brazil because of Covid-19 but meeting the milestone with his trademark laugh. "The King" has suffered from a series of health problems in recent years, but has not […]

Suzhou (China) (AFP) – About 10,000 supporters could be allowed at each leg of the Chinese Super League final next month, a top football official said, as spectators return to China's stadiums despite the lingering coronavirus threat. Football across the world is grappling with how to readmit crowds while preventing infections, with the English Premier […]

Sydney (AFP) – Australia abandoned plans Thursday for two friendlies in London next month against England and the United States due to the worsening coronavirus pandemic in Britain. Graham Arnold's Socceroos were in advanced talks to assemble the national team in Europe for a training camp ahead of the two games. No fixtures had been […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid won La Liga only three months ago because of their defensive steel and a relentless will to win but ahead of Saturday's Clasico against Barcelona, they appear to be a team unravelling. After losing 1-0 at home to Cadiz for the first time in their history last weekend, Madrid fell […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola said an injury to Fernandinho late in Manchester City's 3-1 win over Porto to begin their Champions League campaign will be far from the last his side suffer with a gruelling schedule ahead. City face another 17 games in 2020 with all six Champions League group-stage matches packed […]

Paris (AFP) – Bayern Munich began their defence of the Champions League title in ominous fashion by crushing Atletico Madrid 4-0 on Wednesday, while Liverpool and Manchester City also won but Real Madrid suffered a shock defeat. Madrid, the record 13-time European champions, went down to a 3-2 home loss against Shakhtar Donetsk, showing how […]

Amsterdam (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp saluted Liverpool's fighting spirit as the Reds proved they can cope without Virgil van Dijk by grinding out a 1-0 win at Ajax in the opening game of their Champions League campaign on Wednesday. Klopp's side are likely to be without Van Dijk for the rest of the season after […]

Milan (AFP) – Romelu Lukaku scored twice, including a last-gasp equaliser, to rescue a 2-2 draw for Inter Milan in their Champions League opener against Borussia Moenchengladbach on Wednesday. Lukaku put Inter ahead after 49 minutes in the San Siro only for the Bundesliga club to hit back with a 63rd-minute Ramy Bensebaini penalty and […]

Milan (AFP) – Romelu Lukaku scored twice, including a last-gasp equaliser, to rescue a 2-2 draw for Inter Milan in their Champions League opener against Borussia Moenchengladbach on Wednesday. Lukaku put Inter ahead after 49 minutes in the San Siro only for the Bundesliga club to hit back with a 63rd-minute Ramy Bensebaini penalty and […]

Amsterdam (AFP) – Liverpool proved they can cope without Virgil van Dijk as Nicolas Tagliafico's own goal sealed a 1-0 win at Ajax in the opening game of their Champions League campaign on Wednesday. Jurgen Klopp's side are likely to be without Van Dijk for the rest of the season after the influential Dutch centre-back […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City's latest quest for Champions League glory got off to a winning start as Pep Guardiola's men came from behind to beat Porto 3-1 at the Etihad on Wednesday. Luis Diaz's solo effort punished a sloppy City start for the Portuguese champions, who felt hard done by when Sergio […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman picked up where he left off last season with two goals in a 4-0 home rout of Atletico Madrid on Wednesday as the holders got the defence of their Champions League campaign off to a winning start. Coman, whose header settled last season's Champions League final […]

Madrid (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane called for cool heads after Real Madrid lost 3-2 in their Champions League opener at home to a depleted Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, their second consecutive defeat ahead of the Clasico against Barcelona on Saturday. Ukrainian champions Shakhtar were without 10 first-team players and nine members of staff due to […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Australia's Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters champion, withdrew from the US PGA Zozo Championship on Wednesday after testing positive for Covid-19, the tour announced. The 40-year-old from Adelaide was going to make his first start since sharing 38th at last month's US Open. Instead, he will begin a self-isolation period under […]