Milan (AFP) – Verona striker Luca Toni says he will cherish memories of his final Serie A game "forever" after a fairytale swansong saw him score a cheeky 'Panenka' spot-kick in 2-1 win over champions Juventus on Sunday. "It will be a match I remember forever. It was my last, but it came at the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane insists he believes his side can snatch the La Liga title away from Barcelona in a dramatic final day showdown on Saturday. Barca hold a one-point lead over Real and will retain their title with victory at Granada next weekend after thrashing Espanyol 5-0 on Sunday. However, […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manuel Pellegrini could not conceal his disappointment after his final home game as Manchester City manager ended in a damaging 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday. The result means that City's hopes of finishing in the Premier League's top four and qualifying for the Champions League are no longer in […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was voted France's Ligue 1 player of the year for a record third time on Sunday. Ibrahimovic won the award, voted for by his peers, ahead of PSG team-mate Angel Di Maria, Nice forward Hatem Ben Arfa and Marseille midfielder Lassana Diarra after scoring 35 goals in […]

Berlin (AFP) – Just seven years after being founded, RB Leipzig, sponsored by energy drinks giants Red Bull, will play in the Bundesliga next season after their second division promotion was confirmed Sunday. Goals by Sweden's Emil Forsberg and Marcel Halstenberg sealed their 2-0 win at home to Karlsruhe, in front of 42,559 fans, which […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Goals from Joe Allen and Roberto Firmino helped Liverpool earn three points against Watford in an underwhelming 2-0 win at Anfield on Sunday. Neither set of fans will take home warm memories of this match as it was classic end-of-season stuff between two teams with few domestic ambitions left this term. Reds […]

London (AFP) – Steven Davis added to Tottenham's misery in the aftermath of their failed Premier League title challenge as the Southampton midfielder's double sealed a 2-1 win on Sunday. Mauricio Pochettino's side had gifted the crown to Leicester after squandering the lead in successive draws against West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea and their gloom […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona are one win away from retaining their La Liga title after Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar all scored as they thrashed Espanyol 5-0 in the Catalan derby on Sunday. Real Madrid moved into second place, a point behind Barca with one game remaining, as they racked up an 11th straight […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Alexis Sanchez's 68th-minute equaliser dealt a potentially fatal blow to Manchester City's Champions League qualification hopes as Arsenal claimed a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. In his final home game as City manager before handing over to Pep Guardiola, Manuel Pellegrini saw Kevin De Bruyne put the […]

In a tyranny of greed, corruption and unrest, romance has finally been restored in the beautiful game. Soccer has become tainted by the filthy rich, the scuffed fingerprints on the billions of pound notes being passed between club, owners and businessmen alike. Never had the sport felt so disengaged or been so far removed from […]

Carlos Bacca's first-half penalty secured a precious 1-0 win at Bologna as struggling Serie A giants AC Milan continue their bid to qualify for next season's Europa League. Seven-time European champions Milan have failed to hit the heights for the past few seasons and owner Silvio Berlusconi said last week he is ready to sell […]

Newcastle United will be helpless this week to control their own destiny in the scramble for Premier League survival and could be down before they kick another ball. Yet manager Rafa Benitez insists his side have not given up hope despite a huge change in momentum in the relegation scrap on Saturday. Newcastle's goalless draw […]

French international Alexandre Lacazette hit a hat-trick as Lyon sealed a place in next season's Champions League by thrashing 10-man Monaco 6-1 at Parc OL on Saturday. Second-placed Lyon went into the game ahead of Monaco in the Ligue 1 table on goal difference, and they pulled clear quickly with goals from Rachid Ghezzal and […]

Guus Hiddink has expressed his sadness that John Terry is set to be denied a proper Chelsea send-off after his red card at Sunderland. The former England defender, who has been tipped to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer, will serve a two-match suspension after collecting two late yellow cards in the dramatic 3-2 Premier […]

Japan's Masato Kudo opened his Major League Soccer scoring account to help the Vancouver Whitecaps rally for a 2-1 victory over MLS Cup champions Portland in Vancouver. Kudo, the all-time leading goalscorer for 2011 J-League Champions Kashiwa Reysol, arrived on a free transfer in December. He finally got his first MLS goal in the 60th […]