Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid breathed a sigh of relief on Monday after further coronavirus tests on their players and staff turned up negative, allowing the team to travel to Portugal on Tuesday for their Champions League quarter-final against Leipzig. Tests at the weekend had revealed two coronavirus cases at the club, which Atletico confirmed […]

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. The 20-year-old is of the brightest talents in Europe and Dortmund, who finished second in the Bundesliga last season, had slapped a 120 […]

Lausanne (AFP) – UEFA said Monday the Champions League quarter-final between Atletico Madrid and Leipzig is "planned to be played as scheduled" on Thursday despite two positive tests for coronavirus at the Spanish club. Atletico on Sunday reported two individuals at the club had tested positive for coronavirus, just days before they face German club […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus says he can imagine his hands round the Champions League trophy and he and his team-mates are stronger for previous disappointments in the competition coveted by their Abu Dhabi owners above all others. The 23-year-old Brazilian had a standout performance in Friday's 2-1 win over 13-time European […]

Lisbon (AFP) – With just two former winners left in the competition, no Cristiano Ronaldo and no fans, the Champions League moves to Lisbon this week for the start of the 'Final Eight' with the intriguing prospect that a new format could lead to a new name on the trophy. However, the shadow of the […]

Auxerre (France) (AFP) – Lyon beat Paris Saint-Germain 4-3 on penalties to claim a record-extending ninth Women's French Cup on Sunday, less than three weeks before the Champions League quarter-finals. The European champions were held 0-0 in normal time before Sarah Bouhaddi saved Lea Khelifi's effort. Former Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg missed the final […]

Madrid (AFP) – Spanish side Atletico Madrid on Sunday reported two positive coronavirus tests, just four days before they face Leipzig in Portugal for a place in the Champions League semi-finals. "On Saturday, all members of the first team and the club's party to Lisbon underwent tests as required by UEFA protocols to participate in […]

Cologne (Germany) (AFP) – Stale Solbakken will set aside his friendship with fellow former Norway international team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when FC Copenhagen face Manchester United in the Europa League quarter-finals on Monday. Solbakken at 52 is five years older than Solskjaer but they were in the Norway side that were once ranked number two […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Alfredo Morelos was praised by Rangers coach Steven Gerrard just days after being given a talking to as his double helped Rangers to a 3-0 victory over St Mirren in their Scottish Premiership clash on Sunday. The 24-year-old Colombia forward's head had been turned according to Gerrard by a bid from Ligue […]

London (AFP) – Willian says he is leaving Chelsea with "his head held high" ending a seven year spell with the Premier League club he told fans in an open letter on Sunday. The 32-year-old Brazil winger has been linked with a move to Arsenal after he failed to agree a new contract with the […]

Milan (AFP) – A first coaching job and already high expectations, Andrea Pirlo's arrival at Juventus has sparked hopes in Italy that he can follow footballing greats Zinedine Zidane and Pep Guardiola's managerial success. The 41-year-old former Italy and Juventus star was promoted to the top job in Turin just a week after having being […]

London (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would love Manchester United to round off the coronavirus-affected season by winning the Europa League which he says will be the proudest moment of his life. United travel to Germany on Sunday for the climax to the competition with Monday's quarter-final against Danish outfit FC Copenhagen a launch-pad Solskjaer […]

Lyon (AFP) – Two days after his club eliminated Juventus in the Champions League, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas returned to his grievance over the early end of the French league saying he "would not forgive." In an interview published on Sunday, Aulas told Lyon daily Le Progres, that the decision to halt the 2019-20 Ligue […]

Paris (AFP) – Manchester United, Inter Milan and Sevilla headline a quintet of former champions travelling to Germany for a remodelled eight-team straight knockout tournament that will crown the winner of a Europa League campaign heavily disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. All games from the quarter-finals onwards in this season's competition will be played behind […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Chelsea manager Frank Lampard insists his injury-depleted side will learn from their 4-1 mauling at Bayern Munich to bow out of the Champions League 7-1 on aggregate in the last 16. Having lost 3-0 to Bayern at Stamford Bridge in the first leg in February, an injury-depleted Chelsea were brushed aside […]