London (AFP) – AFP Sports picks out five facts on Belgian international striker Christian Benteke who completed his move to Crystal Palace from Liverpool for £27million (31m euros, $35m) on Saturday: Congo's loss Belgium's gain Benteke was born in the then Zaire and what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. His father Jean-Pierre was […]

London (AFP) – Belgian international striker Christian Benteke became Crystal Palace's record signing on Saturday as the Premier League club paid £27million (31m euros, $35m) with add ons to end his unhappy spell at rivals Liverpool. The 25-year-old, who cost Liverpool £32.5m when he joined from Aston Villa last year but fell out of favour […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho pledged to shape his team around Paul Pogba after the France midfielder made a successful Old Trafford return in a 2-0 win over Southampton. Pogba played the whole game as Zlatan Ibrahimovic's brace sank Southampton on Friday, a week after returning to United from Juventus […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Germany handed departing coach Silvia Neid the perfect send off by claiming women's football Olympic gold for the first time thanks to a 2-1 win over Sweden in front of a huge crowd at Rio's Maracana. Dzsenifer Marozsan's sweet strike and Lisa Sembrant's comical own goal put Germany 2-0 up […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic marked his competitive home debut with a brace as Paul Pogba's second Manchester United debut ended in a 2-0 Premier League win over Southampton on Friday. Pogba played for the full 90 minutes after his return to United in a world-record 89 million pounds (105 million euros, $116 […]

Berlin (AFP) – Robert Lewandowski netted a hat-trick on Friday as holders Bayern Munich brushed past minnows Carl Zeiss Jena with a 5-0 away win in the first round of the German Cup. The Poland striker put Bayern ahead after just three minutes at fourth-division club Jena, the former East German champions who have fallen […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Paul Pogba produced an assured display as he made his second Manchester United debut in Friday's 2-0 home win over Southampton following his world-record transfer from Juventus. The France international, 23, earned the approval of the Old Trafford crowd with some elegant touches and came close to scoring on several […]

Paris (AFP) – Alexandre Lacazette made it five goals from two Ligue 1 games this season as his brace of penalties allowed Lyon to beat Caen 2-0 on Friday and continue their perfect start to the French campaign. Lacazette's first penalty came in the 31st minute and he netted again from 12 yards in the […]

For La Liga's opening weekend of the 2016/17 season on beIN SPORTS, several familiar voices return to the airwaves to bring you the best of Spanish soccer to TV sets across the United States. beIN SPORTS' crown jewel of Phil Schoen and Ray Hudson will announce the Barcelona and Real Madrid games this weekend, while […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Paul Pogba was named in Manchester United's starting XI for Friday's Premier League home game with Southampton following his record-breaking return to the club from Juventus. Pogba, who has not played since France's 1-0 loss to Portugal in the Euro 2016 final on July 10, replaced Ander Herrera in the […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Brazil's female footballers suffered a second heartbreaking defeat in three days on Friday as a 2-1 bronze medal match loss to Canada in Sao Paulo saw the hosts fail to make the podium. Goals either side of half-time from Deanne Rose and veteran captain Christine Sinclair silenced a passionate crowd […]

Paris (AFP) – UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against Celtic after a section of their support displayed Palestine flags during Wednesday's Champions League play-off first leg against Hapoel Beer-Sheva of Israel. European football's governing body said Celtic had been charged for displays of an "illicit banner" and added: "This case will be dealt with by […]

London (AFP) – Antonio Conte is adamant none of the fiery exchanges he had with Walter Mazzarri in Italy will spill over into England now they are both managers in the Premier League. Conte clashed with Mazzarri when they were both in Serie A and the pair will be in opposition again when Conte's Chelsea […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Scott Brown chose club over country on Friday, announcing his retirement from international football so he could prolong his career with Scottish champions Celtic. The 31-year-old midfielder — who won his 50th and final cap against Denmark in March — said it had been a tough decision but after much thought he […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – The chance to make history by winning Brazil's long-awaited first football gold medal will override desire for revenge insists Brazil coach Rogerio Micale ahead of Saturday's final against Germany at Rio's Maracana. Germany inflicted the worst defeat in Brazil's history in a 7-1 World Cup semi-final mauling just two years […]