Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich's Carlo Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso are relishing facing their former club Real Madrid when two of the favourites for the Champions League title clash in the quarter-finals. Holders Real play Bayern away on Wednesday April 12 at Munich's Allianz Arena with the return at Madrid's Bernabeu six days later in […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists Pep Guardiola doesn't deserve to be questioned following Manchester City's Champions League exit. Guardiola was criticised after City squandered a two-goal first leg advantage against Monaco as they crashed out of the Champions League following a 3-1 defeat in France on Wednesday. It was just the latest […]

London (AFP) – Antonio Conte has warned Chelsea's Premier League rivals that Eden Hazard can't be intimidated by rough tackles. Hazard was subjected to some brutal challenges during Chelsea's FA Cup quarter-final win over Manchester United on Monday. United midfielder Ander Herrera was sent off for two fouls on Hazard, while Marcos Rojo appeared to […]

Nyon (Switzerland) (AFP) – Manchester United will face Belgian club Anderlecht in the Europa League quarter-finals after Friday's draw in Nyon, which saw France's Lyon land Turkish champions Besiktas. Jose Mourinho's side are the only English club left in the competition after labouring to a 2-1 aggregate win over Russian side FC Rostov in the […]

London (AFP) – Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare is confident his Champions League heroes will be able to win their battle for Premier League survival. Shakespeare's side enjoyed a memorable 2-0 victory over Sevilla in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday as the English champions extended their impressive run in the competition. Leicester were handed […]

Nyon (Switzerland) (AFP) – Holders Real Madrid will face their former coach Carlo Ancelotti's Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals as Juventus were drawn on Friday against comeback kings Barcelona. English champions Leicester play their first quarter-finals in the top-tier European competition against Atletico Madrid as France's Monaco clash with Borussia Dortmund over two […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane insists he will be the "pupil" to Carlo Ancelotti's "master" when the European champions face Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals. Zidane was Ancelotti's assistant when Madrid won their 10th European Cup in 2014 before going onto match the Italian's achievement by winning the Champions League […]

London (AFP) – Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson claims Aitor Karanka agreed to part company with the Premier League strugglers in a bid to save them from relegation. Karanka left Middlesbrough on Thursday, but Gibson insists he didn't sack the Spaniard because he was willing to leave of his own accord. "I know people are cynical […]

Madrid (AFP) – Diego Costa and Pedro Rodriguez were rewarded for Chelsea's march towards the Premier League title on Friday with a recall to Julien Lopetegui's Spain squad for a World Cup qualifier against Israel and a friendly against France. However, there is no place for their Chelsea teammate Cesc Fabregas, whilst Juan Mata also […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – The Premier League is partly responsible for English clubs' underachievements in European competitions this season, according to Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. Continuing a recent trend, there are only two English sides left in Europe — Leicester City in the Champions League, United in the Europa League — compared to […]

Berlin (AFP) – RB Leipzig's 21-year-old striker Timo Werner has been called up by Germany for the first time ahead of next week's friendly against England and World Cup qualifier in Azerbaijan. Werner is set to make his debut when Germany host Gareth Southgate's Three Lions in Dortmund next Wednesday before flying to Baku for […]

Nyon (Switzerland) (AFP) – Holders Real Madrid, comeback kings Barcelona and the mighty Bayern Munich are all in the hat for Friday's Champions League quarter-final draw, but Zinedine Zidane knows who he wants to avoid. "No coach wants Leicester as a rival," the Real boss admitted, a view echoed by Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon: "Leicester, […]

Chapecó (Brazil) (AFP) – Chapecoense made an emotional but ultimately disappointing home debut in the Copa Libertadores losing their biggest hometown match since a plane crash all but wiped out the Brazilian club. The team, which is trying to rise from the ashes of the November 28 crash, lost to Argentine side Lanus 3-1 on […]

Milan (AFP) – The attacking threat of Inter Milan should present a severe test to Serie A-loving England goalkeeper Joe Hart as his side Torino host on form vistors on Sunday. With 15 goals from their past three league outings, Inter's bid for a top three finish and a return to the Champions League for […]

Berlin (AFP) – Joshua Kimmich started the season as Germany's first-choice right-back after making the Team of the Tournament at Euro 2016 — yet now cuts a dejected figure warming Bayern Munich's bench. Should he face Borussia Moenchengladbach in Sunday's Bundesliga clash, it would be his first Bayern start since January, yet Kimmich could still […]