Naples (Italy) (AFP) – Luciano Spalletti said Wednesday that the late Diego Maradona would support Napoli in their Europa League decider with Barcelona, a meeting of two of the Argentine legend's former clubs. Napoli are level at 1-1 with Barca ahead of Thursday's play-off second leg at the Naples stadium named after their deceased hero, […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he is delighted Raul Jimenez is back playing football after witnessing the Wolves striker fracture his skull. Mexico forward Jimenez suffered the serious injury in an aerial challenge with former Arsenal defender David Luiz during Wolves' 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium in November 2020. But following […]

Paris (AFP) – Barcelona's Europa League tie against Napoli is finely poised heading into the return in Italy on Thursday as Rangers look to finish the job against Borussia Dortmund following their stunning 4-2 win in the first leg last week. Barca needed a Ferran Torres penalty to draw at home to Napoli in the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Bruno Fernandes has said Manchester United have "more identity" under interim manager Ralf Rangnick as they prepare for their first Champions League knockout tie in three years. United face Atletico Madrid in the last 16 on Wednesday, with both teams enduring disappointing seasons heading into the first leg at the […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea showed they can thrive without Romelu Lukaku as Kai Havertz scored after replacing the axed Belgium striker for the 2-0 Champions League last-16, first-leg win against Lille on Tuesday. Thomas Tuchel's side took control of the tie thanks to Havertz's first-half header and Christian Pulisic's clinical finish after the break at […]

Vila-real (Spain) (AFP) – Dusan Vlahovic lived up to the hype by scoring 32 seconds into his Champions League debut on Tuesday but Juventus have work to do to make the last 16 after being held to a 1-1 draw by Villarreal in the first leg. Vlahovic found the corner with just his second touch […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Benfica interim coach Nelson Verissimo said on Tuesday that Ajax are "one of the best teams in Europe", but the Dutch side's manager Erik ten Hag responded that "favourite does not matter" ahead of the two sides' Champions League last-16 first leg. The Portuguese giants welcome the Dutch champions to the Estadio […]

New York (AFP) – While he appreciates interest from Neymar or Lionel Messi, Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber warned football's global stars on Tuesday that US clubs aren't their retirement homes. Speaking ahead of Saturday's MLS season kick off, Garber addressed 30-year-old Brazilian striker Neymar's podcast comments that he "would love to play in […]

London (AFP) – Struggling Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku was dropped for Chelsea's Champions League last 16 first leg clash against Lille at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. Lukaku has endured a difficult start to his second spell with Chelsea after joining for a club record £97 million ($131 million) from Inter Milan last year. He touched […]

Rome (AFP) – Jose Mourinho was suspended for two matches on Tuesday after being sent off for an angry stoppage-time outburst at the referee in Roma's Serie A draw with Verona. Mourinho shouted at referee Luca Pairetto and mimed a phone call, an enigmatic gesture that earned him a red card. Italian media reported that […]

Diamniadio (Senegal) (AFP) – Thousands of Senegalese gathered on Tuesday for the inauguration of a 50,000-seater stadium aimed at making the country Africa's go-to venue for international events. The stadium is in Diamniadio, a town being built about 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the capital Dakar, for which an express train link opened in December. […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Bruno Fernandes has said Manchester United have "more identity" under interim manager Ralf Ragnick as they prepare for their first Champions League knockout tie in three years. Ragnick was appointed to see the English giants through to the end of the current campaign after the former United striker Ole Gunnar […]

Thessaloniki (Greece) (AFP) – Former Argentina goalkeeper German Burgos has signed a two-and-half-year contract to coach Aris Thessaloniki, the Greek Super League club announced on Tuesday. The team did not give any financial details. "I am by nature optimistic, I have a great appetite and together with my players we will do everything to bring […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has insisted his side's quest to win the Premier League title remains unaltered following Manchester City's stunning defeat by Tottenham last weekend. City's 3-2 loss, with Spurs star and England captain Harry Kane scoring twice, and Liverpool's earlier win over Norwich, saw Klopp's men cut the reigning champions' […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has said star forward Harry Kane will be fit to face Burnley in the Premier League on Wednesday. The England captain was hit on the back during a superb two-goal effort in a stunning 3-2 win at Manchester City last weekend that saw the reigning champions' lead at […]