Doha (AFP) – Bafetimbi Gomis starred as Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal took a giant step towards the AFC Champions League final with a 4-1 drubbing of Qatari giants Al Sadd, coached by Xavi, in the first leg of their semi-final clash in Doha on Tuesday. Gomis went from villain to hero by equalising for Al […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – Chelsea manager Frank Lampard is confident his team can put their defeat against Valencia in their opening Champions League game behind them as they prepare to tackle Lille in France on Wednesday. The London club lost 1-0 at home to the Spaniards a fortnight ago and the Group H game in […]

Paris (AFP) – Manchester United's misfiring attack will face another test of its goalscoring credentials when they travel to AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League on Thursday, days after spluttering to a drab draw with Arsenal. United coach and former striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer watched in frustration as his side squandered opportunities to kill off […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Romelu Lukaku has sustained a thigh injury and will miss Inter Milan's Champions League group game against Barcelona on Wednesday, coach Antonio Conte confirmed. Lukaku was substituted in the second half of Inter's 3-1 win over Sampdoria on Saturday and Conte revealed on Tuesday that the striker has not travelled to Camp […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann has found it "difficult" to connect with Lionel Messi at Barcelona so far, while coach Ernesto Valverde admits he will take no risks with the injured Argentine against Inter Milan on Wednesday. Messi has started only one game so far this season but is close to recovering from a thigh […]

London (AFP) – Everton winger Theo Walcott is on course to return to training this week after being taken to hospital with a head injury. Walcott was discharged from hospital on Saturday following precautionary scans after suffering a blow to the head during Everton's 3-1 defeat against Manchester City. The 30-year-old blocked Raheem Sterling's cross […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund expect to lose England winger Jadon Sancho to a Premier League club with both Manchester United and Manchester City reportedly tracking the teenager, director of sport Michael Zorc has admitted. After turning down a new Manchester City contract to join Dortmund in August 2017, Sancho, still only 19, made his […]

Berlin (AFP) – Eintracht Frankfurt's Germany goalkeeper Kevin Trapp is expected to be out for the rest of the year and needs surgery to repair damaged shoulder ligaments, his Bundesliga club announced Tuesday. The 29-year-old ex-Paris Saint-Germain shot stopper was injured colliding with team-mate Makoto Hasebe, who also suffered a head injury and is out […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund expect to lose England winger Jadon Sancho to a Premier League club with both Manchester United and City reportedly tracking the teenager, director of sport Michael Zorc has admitted. After turning down a new Manchester City contract to join Dortmund in August 2017, Sancho, still only 19, made his England […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne will miss Tuesday's Champions League clash with Dinamo Zagreb with a groin injury that could also see him miss Sunday's Premier League meeting with Wolves. The Belgian has been in sensational form for the English champions, scoring twice and providing nine assists in just […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp said Tuesday that he is determined that unfancied Salzburg spring no surprises on Liverpool as the long-time admirer of the Austrian champions prepares for a key Champions league clash at Anfield. Salzburg are top of Group E after thrashing Genk 6-2 in their Champions League opener two weeks ago, while […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Lawrence Shankland was rewarded for his stunning form in Scotland's second tier for Dundee United with a first international call-up by Scotland boss Steve Clarke on Tuesday. However, there is still no place for Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney. Shankland, 24, has been selected for next month's Euro 2020 qualifiers against Russia and […]

Berlin (AFP) – Lucas Hernandez, the most expensive signing in Bayern Munich's history, says "unbelievable" fees are currently being paid on the transfer market, putting pressure on the players concerned to justify the astronomical sums. The 23-year-old 2018 World Cup winner signed for 80 million euros ($87.2 million) from Atletico Madrid and became a Bayern […]

Prague (AFP) – Eight players from reigning Czech champions Slavia Prague have been called up to face England in next week's Euro 2020 qualifier, Czech Republic coach Jaroslav Silhavy said Tuesday. The Czechs face England on October 11 and Northern Ireland in a friendly three days later, both in Prague. Seeking their seventh straight Euro […]

Milan (AFP) – Italy international midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini has been ruled out for two months after undergoing foot surgery, his Serie A club Roma said Tuesday. "Pellegrini underwent a corrective procedure on the fifth metatarsal of his right foot," the club said in a statement. The surgery was successful and Pellegrini should "complete his recovery […]