Barcelona (AFP) – Lionel Messi scored a brilliant solo goal as Barcelona saw off Napoli on Saturday but they are likely to need something even more special from their captain to beat Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. Messi's weaving run and finish came between an early Clement Lenglet header and a Luis Suarez penalty, also […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Treble-chasing Bayern Munich are relishing their Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona in Lisbon after Robert Lewandowski netted twice to seal a 4-1 home win over Chelsea on Saturday in the last 16, return-leg tie. "The anticipation is enormous. Barcelona has a good team with very good players, but if you look […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Lionel Messi scored a brilliant solo goal as Barcelona battled past Napoli on Saturday to book a Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich. Messi's weaving run and finish came between an early Clement Lenglet header and a Luis Suarez penalty, won by Messi, as Barca stormed to a 3-0 lead in the […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Robert Lewandowski bagged his Champions League-leading 12th and 13th goals this season as Bayern Munich set up a quarter-final clash with Barcelona after a 4-1 home win over Chelsea in Saturday's last 16 second leg. Leading 3-0 from the first leg at Stamford Bridge in February before the coronavirus pandemic halted […]

Milan (AFP) – Former Italy and Juventus star Andrea Pirlo was Saturday named as the Italian champions' new coach, just hours after Maurizio Sarri's sacking. Sarri, 61, leaves Juventus after just one season, a day after the Turin giants crashed out of the Champions League in the last 16 to French club Lyon. The 41-year-old […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Lorenzo Insigne will start for Napoli in Saturday's Champions League clash with Barcelona after recovering from a thigh injury in time to make Gennaro Gattuso's starting line-up at the Camp Nou. Italy forward Insigne looked a doubt for the second leg of the last 16 tie, in which the two sides are […]

Milan (AFP) – Former Italy and Juventus star Andrea Pirlo could be set to take over from Maurizio Sarri as coach of the Italian champions, according to multiple reports in Italy on Saturday. Sarri, 61, was sacked after just one season as the nine-time reigning Serie A champions crashed out of the Champions League in […]

Soweto (South Africa) (AFP) – Football resumed in South Africa on Saturday after a 145-day coronavirus-induced shutdown with Bloemfontein Celtic reaching the Nedbank Cup final behind closed doors. The semi-final at Orlando Stadium in Soweto saw Celtic score in first-half stoppage time after Baroka had a man sent off, and twice more during the second […]

Milan (AFP) – Maurizio Sarri's reign as Juventus coach ended Saturday after just one season, the veteran manager paying for the Italian team's premature Champions League exit. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in a 2-1 home win on Friday night, but Juve crashed out on away goals to Lyon, who finished seventh in Ligue 1 this […]

London (AFP) – Jason Tindall said on Saturday he is ready for the challenge of returning Bournemouth at the first time of asking to the Premier League after replacing Eddie Howe. The 42-year-old is steeped in the club's history having played 199 times for them and then was former team-mate Howe's assistant for 12 years […]

Milan (AFP) – Juventus sacked coach Maurizio Sarri on Saturday after the Italian club's Champions League last 16 exit to Lyon. Despite Cristiano Ronaldo's double in a 2-1 home win on Friday, Juve fell 2-2 on aggregate to the French club, ending their quest for a title they last won in 1996. "Maurizio Sarri has […]

London (AFP) – The performance of Gabriel Jesus in Manchester City's 2-1 Champions League victory over 13-times winners Real Madrid has given manager Pep Guardiola great heart as he seeks to end the club's quest for the coveted crown. The 23-year-old Brazilian made light of the absence of talismanic striker Sergio Aguero and followed up […]

Paris (AFP) – Thiago Silva's eight years as a Paris Saint-Germain player are about to come to an end and the Brazilian centre-back has one piece of unfinished business to contend with as the Qatar-owned club head to Lisbon targeting Champions League glory. That is something that has so far eluded Silva and PSG, despite […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – French defender Raphael Varane insisted on facing up to his two mistakes that helped Manchester City knock his Real Madrid side out of the Champions League on Friday and admitted: "This is on me. I failed." City won 2-1 on the night for a 4-2 aggregate victory to reach the […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri said he was "bitter" as the Italian giants crashed out of the Champions League on Friday to Lyon despite a Cristiano Ronaldo double giving the hosts a 2-1 win over the French club on the night. Captain Memphis Depay's 12th-minute penalty however, sealed Lyon's berth in the […]