Shanghai (AFP) – Former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas said he hoped to break Guangzhou Evergrande's stranglehold on the Chinese Super League as he was unveiled as Shanghai SIPG's new coach on Friday, replacing the axed Sven-Goran Eriksson. The well-regarded Portuguese manager, nicknamed 'AVB', appeared in front of media in Shanghai shortly after big-spending SIPG announced […]

London (AFP) – It is almost 20 years since Gary Mabbutt played in a North London derby, but the former Tottenham Hotspur captain's feelings about the rivalry burn as intensely as ever. "When the fixtures came out, you always looked to see when the games were," Mabbutt told AFP this week, ahead of Tottenham's trip […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is parting company with Shanghai SIPG, the Chinese club said on Friday, despite taking them to a third-place finish in this year's Chinese Super League (CSL). The decision was taken following "friendly discussions", the club said on a verified social media account, thanking the Swede for his […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona face a huge task to bounce back from defeat at the hands of old boss Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in midweek when the Spanish champions travel to high-flying Sevilla on Sunday. Barca trail La Liga leaders Real Madrid by two points with Sevilla, who have won their last seven home games, […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta believes Antonio Conte's decision to rebuild the team's back line has laid the foundations for their push towards the top of the Premier League table. Conte's side face Everton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday hoping to extend a run of four successive league wins since the head coach […]

Paris (AFP) – With one of the most prolific strike-rates in Europe and Radamel Falcao back fit and on form, Monaco are looking to close the gap on local rivals Nice at the top of Ligue 1. The principality side are second in the table, six points adrift of their Cote d'Azur neighbours before hosting […]

Berlin (AFP) – Unbeaten Hoffenheim, whose coach Julian Nagelsmann, 29, is the youngest in Bundesliga history, are targeting a first win over leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday to underline their title challenge. Hoffenheim are third in Germany's top flight and have already beaten the likes of Schalke, Bayer Leverkusen and Hertha Berlin en route. "There's […]

Glasgow (AFP) – The Scottish season may only be three months old but already talk is turning to Celtic completing a rare domestic clean sweep. Celtic are the runaway leaders in the Scottish Premiership where they top the table by a massive nine points from rivals Rangers — with a game in hand — thanks […]

Milan (AFP) – Maurizio Sarri hopes his rejection of proven goalscorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang does not return to haunt him when goal-shy Napoli host Lazio on Saturday looking to save their wilting Serie A campaign. With goals steadily drying up amid the injury-enforced absence of Polish striker Arkaduisz Milik, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis offered earlier […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has urged his team-mates to quickly regain their focus for Saturday's Premier League fixture with Middlesbrough after the euphoria of their victory over Barcelona. City beat Barcelona 3-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday in what was their first win over the Spanish side […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City will have the chance to put daylight between themselves and their title rivals when the Premier League leaders try to cap a memorable week by beating Middlesbrough at Eastlands on Saturday. City lead on goal difference from Arsenal and Liverpool, with Chelsea just a point further back. Arsenal are not […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Fenerbahce compounded the woes of Manchester United and their manager Jose Mourinho with a 2-1 victory in the Europa League that ruthlessly exposed the shortcomings of the Premier League giants. Roared on by home fans in their 50,000 capacity stadium on the Asian side of Istanbul, Fenerbahce produced a stunning performance capped […]

Paris (AFP) – AFP Sports picks out the best of the action in the Europa League on Thursday as Manchester United went down to defeat in Turkey, Southampton beat Inter and Aritz Aduriz made history: Mourinho woes deepen Manchester United endured another frustrating night as Jose Mourinho's side lost 2-1 to Fenerbahce in Istanbul. They […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on Thursday said that his team had been caught "sleeping" in a 2-1 Europa League defeat by Fenerbahce in Istanbul. Mourinho said that he had warned his side ahead of the game the clash in Istanbul would be completely different to the meeting of the teams in […]

Bilbao (Spain) (AFP) – Veteran striker Aritz Aduriz made history as he scored all five goals for Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish club's 5-3 Europa League win against Genk on Thursday. The 35-year-old had a hat-trick by half-time at San Mames, got his fourth goal in the 74th minute and completed a rare nap-hand by […]