Lisbon (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain have once again been hit by a flood of injuries going into a crunch Champions League knockout tie, but this time Neymar is fit and seemingly ready to live up to his status as the world's most expensive player. PSG face Atalanta in Lisbon on Wednesday in the first quarter-final […]

Milan (AFP) – Atalanta take on Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday with the tournament debutants the surprise standard bearers for Italian football in Lisbon. Serie A champions Juventus and Napoli were felled in the last 16, leaving Atalanta to carry the nation's hopes of a first major European trophy since Inter […]

Cologne (Germany) (AFP) – Bruno Fernandes scored a penalty in extra time as Manchester United scraped past FC Copenhagen 1-0 on Monday in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, reshaped into an eight-team straight knockout tournament in Germany due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Portugal international notched his competition-best seventh goal of the season as […]

Düsseldorf (Germany) (AFP) – Romelu Lukaku scored as Inter Milan defeated Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in Monday's Europa League quarter-final in Dusseldorf, becoming the first team through to the last four of a mini tournament behind closed doors in Germany. Three-time former winners Inter struck first through Nicolo Barella as he guided in from the edge […]

Asuncion (AFP) – Brazil great Ronaldinho could be freed on August 24 following five months detention in Paraguay over a forged passport, judicial sources told AFP on Monday. The former Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain star was detained alongside his brother Roberto de Assis Moreira on March 6, accused of entering Paraguay in possession […]

London (AFP) – Premier League champions Liverpool signed Greece defender Kostas Tsimikas from Olympiakos for a reported fee of £11.7 million ($15 million) on Monday. Tsimikas agreed a five-year contract with Liverpool and is expected to provide back-up for first choice left-back Andy Robertson at Anfield. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp moved for the 24-year-old after […]

Duisburg (Germany) (AFP) – Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo and midfielder Ruben Neves say the serious knee injury suffered by Spanish defender Jonny will inspire them in Tuesday's Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla. The 26-year-old wing-back was ruled out of Wolves' European campaign after damaging his cruciate knee ligament in Thursday's last-16 1-0 home win […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany's health minister Jens Spahn said Monday he opposes the Bundesliga's plans for the partial return of football fans to stadiums next season amid the coronavirus pandemic. "Thousands of spectators in the stadiums — that is not suitable given the current infection rate," Spahn wrote on Twitter. "Now is not the time […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Runaway Egypt Premier League leaders Al Ahly relied on full-backs for goals as they beat ENPPI 2-0 at the weekend after being sidelined for 150 days by the coronavirus. Mohamed Hany and Tunisian Ali Maaloul scored during the second half for the most successful club in Confederation of African Football (CAF) […]

Berlin (AFP) – Jadon Sancho travelled with Borussia Dortmund to their pre-season training camp on Monday, the day the Bundesliga club's deadline for the England winger's possible transfer to Manchester United expired with the Germans revealing they have increased his salary. "We plan with Jadon, he will play for Borussia Dortmund next season. The decision […]

Berlin (AFP) – RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann says he is fully focused on their Champions League quarter-final despite two detected cases of coronavirus in the squad of Thursday's opponents Atletico Madrid. Atletico's Angel Correa and Sime Vrsaljko, who tested positive for COVID-19 at the weekend, have been isolated and left at home but the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid's Japanese talent Takefusa Kubo has joined Villarreal on loan for the 2020/21 season, the clubs announced on Tuesday. The 19-year-old winger spent last season on loan at relegated Real Mallorca and impressed, registering four goals and five assists in 35 La Liga appearances. One of Kubo's best displays came in […]

Berlin (AFP) – Hansi Flick says treble-chasing Bayern Munich must adapt quickly to the heat in Portugal as they fine-tune preparations for Friday's Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona with Jerome Boateng and Kingsley Coman fit again. Flick oversaw training on Monday in temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius at Bayern's training camp in Lagos in south-west […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Former Newcastle United striker Salomon Rondon scored twice to rescue a point for Rafael Benitez's struggling Dalian Pro in the Chinese Super League on Monday. Benitez, a former Real Madrid coach and Champions League winner with Liverpool in 2005, is still searching for his first victory in four games this season. Rondon […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bundesliga clubs had their hopes dampened on Monday of a partial return of football fans in stadiums when the new league season kicks off in Germany on September 18. Last week, the 36 clubs in Germany's top two tiers agreed to a four-point proposal by the German Football League (DFL) which could […]