Tokyo (AFP) – Andres Iniesta won pretty much everything with Barcelona and Spain but the legendary midfielder risks seeing out the tail end of his glittering career in the mire of a relegation dogfight. The 37-year-old joined big-spending Vissel Kobe in Japan in 2018 after making more than 600 appearances for Barcelona, where he won […]

Madrid (AFP) – Manchester City secured the goalless draw they needed to edge out Atletico Madrid and advance to the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday but the match was marred by a mass brawl late in the game that continued to rage in the tunnel after full-time. Police were seen in the tunnel at the […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp admitted he was relieved to see Liverpool book a Champions League semi-final showdown against Villarreal as the quadruple chasers survived a late collapse in Wednesday's 3-3 draw against Benfica. Klopp's side already had one foot in the last four after winning 3-1 in the quarter-final first leg in Lisbon. They […]

Madrid (AFP) – Manchester City defender John Stones praised his team's "incredible" composure in a fiery goalless draw away to Atletico Madrid as Pep Guardiola's side set up a blockbuster Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid. Kevin De Bruyne scored the only goal of the tie in the first leg in Manchester and City held […]

Madrid (AFP) – Manchester City held off a late surge by Atletico Madrid on Wednesday as a bad-tempered stalemate at the Wanda Metropolitano saw Pep Guardiola's side safely through to the Champions League semi-finals. Kevin De Bruyne's first-leg strike last week at the Etihad Stadium proved enough for City to claim a 1-0 victory on […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool booked a Champions League semi-final showdown against Villarreal as the quadruple chasers survived a late collapse in Wednesday's 3-3 draw against Benfica. Jurgen Klopp's side already had one foot in the last four after winning 3-1 in the quarter-final first leg in Lisbon. They were on cruise control for long spells […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool stars Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Virgil Van Dijk were all rested for Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Benfica. With Liverpool leading 3-1 from the first leg, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp opted to make seven changes to the team that drew 2-2 at Premier League leaders Manchester City on […]

Paris (AFP) – At a time when a clique of super clubs has cemented its grip on the Champions League and the riches that go with it, Villarreal's surprise progress to the semi-finals of Europe's elite competition is to be savoured. The Spaniards followed their stunning victory over Italian giants Juventus in the last 16 […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn has dismissed as "nonsense" reports that their top-scoring striker Robert Lewandowski could leave when the season finishes next month. Lewandowski chalking up his 47th goal this season in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at home to Villarreal which saw Bayern knocked out of the Champions League with a […]

The NWSL season is upon us, with the 2022 edition of the Challenge Cup starting last month. Along with a new season comes new kits for (almost) every team, and as someone who has designed a few kits myself over the years, it's always fun to take a look when clubs drop new threads and […]

Tehran (AFP) – Iran announced Wednesday that it will waive visa fees for spectators of the 2022 World Cup finals, as it hopes to attract some of the football fans flocking to nearby Qatar. "The cabinet agreed to make visas free for spectators of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar who wish to visit Iran," […]

London (AFP) – Thomas Tuchel hailed his "special team" after Chelsea's reign as European champions came to an agonising end, with his task now to lift his players for a crucial FA Cup semi-final this weekend. The Blues had one foot in the Champions League semi-finals at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday after staging a […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid were given an almighty scare by Chelsea on Tuesday but the eternal brilliance of Luka Modric and Karim Benzema prevailed and now they are in sight of their 14th European Cup. With the Santiago Bernabeu just about empty, except for the Chelsea fans still singing up in the highest corner, […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – There were 70,000 at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday, but you could have heard a pin drop among home Bayern Munich fans when Villarreal equalised with two minutes left to dump the Germans out of the Champions League. When they were paired with Spanish side Villarreal in last month's quarter-finals draw, […]

Paris (AFP) – Barcelona have toiled at home in continental competition this season but they will need to find a way past Eintracht Frankfurt at the Camp Nou on Thursday if they are to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League. The Catalans needed a second-half Ferran Torres strike to come from behind and draw […]