Paris (AFP) – Leicester coach Brendan Rodgers said his side's errors have cost them dearly before they head to Napoli on Thursday needing just a draw to secure a Europa League last 16 place. Rodgers' side have won just twice since the end of October. The Foxes lost 2-1 at Aston Villa on Sunday after […]

Beijing (AFP) – Eight-time Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou FC have appointed Zheng Zhi as player-coach, with the club fighting for its future because of a debt crisis at owners China Evergrande. The 41-year-old, a midfielder who played in the English Premier League for Charlton Athletic, takes charge of China's most successful football team following […]

Porto (Portugal) (AFP) – Atletico Madrid grabbed a place in the last 16 of the Champions League as Antoine Griezmann scored one goal and had a key role in the two others as the Spanish side beat Porto 3-1. The win in northern Porto coupled with AC Milan's 2-1 defeat to a second-string Liverpool side […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid will go through as group winners to the Champions League last 16 after Toni Kroos and Marco Asensio each scored in a 2-0 win over Inter Milan on Tuesday. A comfortable victory at the Santiago Bernabeu, aided by Nicolo Barella's red card in the 64th minute when Inter were one […]

Leipzig (Germany) (AFP) – Kyle Walker was shown a late red card as Manchester City suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at RB Leipzig Tuesday, but City still advanced to the Champions League's last 16 as group winners. Walker was dismissed seven minutes from time for kicking Leipzig striker Andre Silva, who had earlier doubled the […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez on Tuesday called on his side to "make history" this week by handing Bayern Munich their first home defeat in the Champions League's group stages since 2013. "Barca can beat anyone," Xavi insisted on the eve of Wednesday's match in Munich, where the Spanish giants have lost […]

Paris (AFP) – Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi both scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain rounded out their Champions League group-stage campaign with a 4-1 thumping of Club Brugge on Tuesday. Mbappe scored twice in the first seven minutes, the second-fastest double at the start of a game in Champions League history, before setting up Messi […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil was named Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Player for 2021 on Tuesday after leading his team to a record-setting regular season campaign. The 29-year-old former Valencia, Aston Villa and Deportivo La Coruna midfielder is the third Spanish player to win the MLS accolade after Toronto's […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham was on Tuesday fined 40,000 euros ($45,000) for explosive comments he made about the referee in last weekend's Bundesliga defeat to Bayern Munich and the match official involved has demanded a personal apology. The German Football Association (DFB) said they have fined Bellingham for "unsportsmanlike conduct" but […]

London (AFP) – Ralf Rangnick announced on Tuesday that Manchester United had appointed a sports sport psychologist to ensure the players "think in the right way". The 63-year-old German, who has been named interim manager until the end of the season, kicked off his time in the hot-seat with a 1-0 win against Crystal Palace […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Injuries will force Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann to make changes for Wednesday's Champions League match at home to Barcelona behind closed doors. Bayern are already into the last 16 as group winners, but want a sixth win from six games in the group stages when they host Barcelona, who they […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham was on Tuesday fined 40,000 euros ($45,000), but escaped a ban after making explosive comments about the referee following last weekend's Bundesliga home defeat to Bayern Munich. The German Football Association (DFB) said they have fined Bellingham for "unsportsmanlike conduct". The 18-year-old claimed costly decisions by referee […]

Madrid (AFP) – No sooner has reality hit than Barcelona have to believe in miracles again as Xavi Hernandez's team seek a victory away at Bayern Munich on Wednesday to take them into the Champions League last 16. Four weeks after Xavi was appointed, Barca suffered their first defeat under their new coach on Saturday […]

Liverpool (AFP) – As Barcelona and Spanish champions Atletico Madrid scrap for a place in the Champions League last 16 this week, the Premier League's four participants can take it easy knowing their places in the knockout stages are already guaranteed. Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United have all secured top spot in their groups […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta lambasted his side's performance after Everton struck twice in the final 11 minutes to end an eight-game winless run with a 2-1 victory over the Gunners. Arteta's men have passed up a huge opportunity to move into the Premier League's top four after blowing the lead at Manchester […]