Lyon (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo drew a blank as a Lucas Tousart goal handed Lyon a surprise 1-0 win over Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in France on Wednesday. Midfielder Tousart netted from close range in the 31st minute to give Lyon a lead to defend when they head […]

Madrid (AFP) – Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte hobbled off injured during their Champions League last-16 first leg against Real Madrid on Wednesday. Laporte had to be replaced by Fernandinho during the first half, with the score 0-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu. The French centre-back only returned a few weeks ago after almost five months […]

New York (AFP) – David Beckham's quest to launch a Major League Soccer franchise will finally come to fruition on Sunday when Inter Miami make their competitive debut in a season-opening clash with Los Angeles F.C. A tortuous six-year journey marked by setbacks and frustrations will be put firmly in the rear view mirror as […]

Braga (Portugal) (AFP) – Rangers stormed into the last 16 of the Europa League on Wednesday following an impressive 1-0 win at Braga that put them through 4-2 on aggregate. Steven Gerrard's men had come from two goals down in the first leg to head to Portugal with a narrow lead and should have been […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association over a social media post related to the coronavirus outbreak. Alli posted a video on Snapchat in relation to the deadly virus, while also singling out an Asian man in an airport prior to going on holiday during Spurs' […]

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte said Wednesday it "wasn't nice" being forced to play upcoming Europa League and Serie A games behind closed doors because of the growing coronavirus epidemic in Italy. Inter host Bulgarian side Ludogorets in the Europa League round of 32, second leg at an empty San Siro on […]

London (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says the longer Manchester United are out of the Champions League, the more they will suffer after the club announced disappointing financial figures. United are preparing to take on Club Brugge in the Europa League round of 32 on Thursday after a 1-1 draw away from home in the […]

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte said Wednesday it "wasn't nice" being forced to play upcoming Europa League and Serie A games behind closed doors because of the growing coronavirus epidemic in Italy. Inter host Bulgarian side Ludogorets in the Europa League round of 32, second leg at an empty San Siro on […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Robert Lewandowski will be out for "around four weeks" after the Bayern Munich forward picked up a knee injury during Tuesday's 3-0 Champions League demolition of Chelsea, the Bundesliga leaders announced on Wednesday. In a statement, Bayern said that club doctors had discovered that Poland striker Lewandowski had "fractured the tibia […]

London (AFP) – Alexandre Lacazette says it is crucial that Arsenal keep hold of fellow forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has been linked with a move away from the Emirates. Arsenal's results have picked up since Mikel Arteta took over from Unai Emery in December but they are still seven points off fourth-placed Chelsea in the […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Manchester City's appeal against their two-year European ban for breaches of financial regulations has been officially registered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS announced on Wednesday. The Premier League club, who were also fined 30 million euros ($32.5 million) by European football's governing body UEFA earlier this month, had immediately […]

London (AFP) – Frank Lampard faces the first major test of his nascent managerial career after Chelsea were given a chastening Champions League lesson by Bayern Munich. Lampard's side are on the verge of crashing out of Europe's elite club competition following Tuesday's 3-0 home defeat against the German champions in the last-16 first leg. […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Manchester City's appeal against their two-year European ban has been officially registered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS announced on Wednesday. The Premier League club have vowed to fight the sanction imposed by UEFA on February 14 for breaching financial fair play regulations. Although CAS did not indicate a time-frame […]

Paris (AFP) – French politicians have voiced concerns around fans of Italian side Juventus travelling to Lyon for Wednesday's Champions League tie due to the coronavirus outbreak in Italy. Former presidential candidate Segolene Royal, far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen and National Assembly member Eric Ciotti have all expressed opposition to the decision to […]

Paris (AFP) – Three English clubs and both Celtic and Rangers are hoping to secure places in the last 16 of the Europa League this week, while former European Cup winners Ajax and Inter Milan are bidding to qualify in adversity, for different reasons. AFP Sport picks five last-32, second-leg games to watch: – Manchester […]