London (AFP) – Antonio Conte promised Friday he would have no qualms in celebrating another Chelsea win over Manchester United on Monday despite riling rivals boss Jose Mourinho the last time the Red Devils were at Stamford Bridge. The two English powerhouses meet in the FA Cup quarter-finals for the latest chapter of a rivalry […]

Miami (AFP) – Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid will play each other in a one-off pre-season "El Clasico" in Miami in July, organizers confirmed Friday. The La Liga arch-rivals will meet at the Hard Rock Stadium, the 65,000-seat home of the NFL Miami Dolphins, on July 29. The match is part of the International […]

For viewers in the United States, the 2017 International Champions Cup will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN2, which will include the highly-anticipated game between Barcelona and Real Madrid on Saturday, July 29 — the first time ever el Clasico has been played in the United States. Out of the 12 games in the 2017 […]

London (AFP) – Lincoln manager Danny Cowley accepts his non-league side have just a "one in a thousand chance" of beating Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals but is determined they do more than just "enjoy the day". The Imps are the first non-league team to reach the last eight of the FA Cup, football's […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone believes Fernando Torres will be free to return from a sickening head clash in time for next week's Champions League meeting with Bayer Leverkusen. Torres lost consciousness in a challenge with Deportivo la Coruna's Alex Bergantinos eight days ago, but thankfully he was released from hospital a […]

Libreville (AFP) – A Paris Saint-Germain fan in Gabon killed his friend after getting fed up with being mocked about the French club's Champions League defeat over post-match drinks, a judicial source said Friday. The 18-year-old stabbed his friend in the neck after watching the match late Wednesday in Libreville, the judicial source told AFP, […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has tried to play down talk of Joe Hart’s Manchester City future, despite previous indications that the goalkeeper is set to leave at the end of the season. Hart told the BBC on Thursday that he is “surplus to requirements” at the Etihad and does not expect to […]

Washington (AFP) – Facebook has struck a deal to stream matches from US-based Major League Soccer, in the latest social network tie-up for live sports. At least 22 matches for the 2017 season which are broadcast in Spanish on Univision Deportes will be streamed on Facebook Live with English language commentators, under the deal announced […]

London (AFP) – Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has come to the defence of "gentle giant" Tyrone Mings, saying Friday the defender did not deserve his five-match ban for stamping on Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Mings was suspended by the Football Association on Wednesday for standing on the head of the veteran forward during last weekend's 1-1 draw […]

Berlin (AFP) – World champions Germany will host both Spain and Brazil in international friendlies next year ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the German FA (DFB) announced on Friday. Joachim Loew's side will play 2010 world champions Spain in Dusseldorf on March 23, 2018 before facing record five-time World Cup winners Brazil […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers insists the uncertainty at bitter rivals Rangers will not affect them in Sunday's Old Firm derby at Parkhead. Rangers have been in turmoil on and off the pitch in recent weeks since Mark Warburton and his backroom team departed Ibrox last month. Graeme Murty was placed in interim […]

Middlesbrough (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola faces a selection headache in Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final at Middlesbrough as the Manchester City manager juggles the demands of competing for silverware on two fronts. Guardiola must decide how many of City's best players to risk for at the Riverside Stadium as they have a crucial Champions […]

Berlin (AFP) – The name 'RB Leipzig' remains a red rag for most hardcore German fans, but the controversial Bundesliga club is winning over mainstream supporters, and rightly so, says Michael Ballack. RB Leipzig are second only to Bayern Munich in the German top flight and on course to qualify directly for the group stages […]

Paris (AFP) – There may not have been the dramatic tears this time but there was a familiar feeling of agony for Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva on Wednesday as his side suffered their absurd Champions League humiliation. Silva was derided for letting his emotions get the better of him as he captained Brazil at […]

London (AFP) – Non-league Lincoln City have enjoyed a fairytale run to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and are now dreaming of piling more misery on Arsene Wenger and Arsenal on Saturday. The sides meet at the Emirates Stadium with under-pressure Wenger knowing an unthinkable defeat against fifth-tier opposition would surely spell the end […]