Defending champion Chelsea has been in absolutely miserable form throughout the Premier League campaign thus far. The title defense is at this point a punchline, and currently the Blues are closer to relegation than a top-four finish that would earn them entry into next season's Champions League. Despite this miraculous turn of events, Chelsea has […]

Wounded Wolfsburg insist they will use the pain of their last-minute German league defeat to beat Manchester United on Tuesday and book their place in the Champions League knockout phase. Wolfsburg lead Group B and need just a point against Louis van Gaal's United to reach the last 16 in Europe, but they must win […]

European champions Barcelona suffered an injury blow on Tuesday as Brazil star Neymar limped out of training ahead of his side's Champions League clash at Bayer Leverkusen. "During training this evening, Neymar suffered a small muscle injury in the abductor of his left leg," Barcelona said in a statement ahead of Wednesday's match. "The development […]

Later today, Manchester United will face off against Wolfsburg in a game that could decide its Champions League group phase fate. Win, and the Reds will progress to the next round as group winners. Lose or draw, and they could find themselves out of the competition altogether. That United even finds themselves in this position, […]

Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon believes his side have the qualities to reach the Champions League final once more this season as they look to seal their place in the last 16 as group winners against Sevilla on Tuesday. A point at the Sanchez Pizjuan will be enough to ensure the Italian champions top Group D […]

Manchester United's Louis van Gaal says the Red Devils must prove they are good enough to reach the Champions League's knockout stages by breaking their goal drought against Wolfsburg on Tuesday. United have scored just one goal in drawing their their last three games, including a goalless draw at home to PSV Eindhoven a fortnight […]

Last week, World Soccer Talk spent several days in Germany and attended the Bayer Leverkusen-Schalke 04 match on November 29. As the tour proves, the Bundesliga has embarked on an aggressive effort to increase its global reach including a prioritization of the American market. German soccer has long had its proponents in the American soccer community. In fact, […]

One of the latest soccer officials arrested in Switzerland in the FIFA corruption probe, Juan Angel Napout, has decided not to contest his extradition to the United States, media in his native Paraguay reported Monday. Napout, the ex-president of South American confederation CONMEBOL and a vice president of FIFA, was arrested Thursday morning at a […]

Barcelona are playing a new and exciting style of attacking soccer, and the Catalan side’s 34 goals, a total that leads La Liga, actually understates the team’s quality. By expected goals, a statistical estimate of the quality of chances created, Barcelona should have scored about 39 goals this season – only occasional struggles with finishing […]

Former France international Franck Ribery is suing the magazine Closer for 400,000 euros ($434,000) over an article which claimed he was implicated in a prostitution case. The 32-year-old is suing Mondadori Magazine France, which publishes Closer, for "serious prejudice to his image and dignity," according to a document seen by AFP on Monday. Closer had […]

Highly-rated France U-21 international Adrien Rabiot has asked Paris Saint-Germain for a January loan to gain more playing time. Recently speaking with French website Telefoot, Rabiot stated: “I’ve asked the president for a loan move in January if my time on the field is insufficient. It’s something that he can’t refuse me – I know […]

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini insists Sergio Aguero's heel injury is not serious even though he doesn't know when the Argentina striker will return. Aguero has missed two games since limping out of last month's victory over Southampton and will again be absent when City wrap up their Champions League group stage fixtures against Borussia […]

Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger faces a three-match ban after being charged with violent conduct by England's Football Association. The Germany international was charged after his elbow struck West Ham's Winston Reid during Saturday's 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. The incident occurred as United's players lined up at the edge of West Ham's penalty area, […]

The FA Cup 3rd Round draw has been completed, and several plum ties have been "picked out of the hat" including Exeter vs. Liverpool, Eastleigh vs. Bolton and Manchester United vs. Sheffield United. The 135th edition of the tournament began in July with 736 professional and amateur teams participating from across England and Wales. Four non-league teams are […]

The FIFA ethics committee probing allegations of corruption against suspended president Sepp Blatter and his would-be successor, Michel Platini, will hear from the pair between Dec. 16-18, a committee spokesman said Monday. "Mr Platini and Mr Blatter will have the chance to present their positions during hearings scheduled between December 16-18," the spokesman told AFP. […]