London (AFP) – Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has come to the defence of "gentle giant" Tyrone Mings, saying Friday the defender did not deserve his five-match ban for stamping on Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Mings was suspended by the Football Association on Wednesday for standing on the head of the veteran forward during last weekend's 1-1 draw […]

Berlin (AFP) – World champions Germany will host both Spain and Brazil in international friendlies next year ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the German FA (DFB) announced on Friday. Joachim Loew's side will play 2010 world champions Spain in Dusseldorf on March 23, 2018 before facing record five-time World Cup winners Brazil […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers insists the uncertainty at bitter rivals Rangers will not affect them in Sunday's Old Firm derby at Parkhead. Rangers have been in turmoil on and off the pitch in recent weeks since Mark Warburton and his backroom team departed Ibrox last month. Graeme Murty was placed in interim […]

Middlesbrough (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola faces a selection headache in Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final at Middlesbrough as the Manchester City manager juggles the demands of competing for silverware on two fronts. Guardiola must decide how many of City's best players to risk for at the Riverside Stadium as they have a crucial Champions […]

Berlin (AFP) – The name 'RB Leipzig' remains a red rag for most hardcore German fans, but the controversial Bundesliga club is winning over mainstream supporters, and rightly so, says Michael Ballack. RB Leipzig are second only to Bayern Munich in the German top flight and on course to qualify directly for the group stages […]

Paris (AFP) – There may not have been the dramatic tears this time but there was a familiar feeling of agony for Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva on Wednesday as his side suffered their absurd Champions League humiliation. Silva was derided for letting his emotions get the better of him as he captained Brazil at […]

London (AFP) – Non-league Lincoln City have enjoyed a fairytale run to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and are now dreaming of piling more misery on Arsene Wenger and Arsenal on Saturday. The sides meet at the Emirates Stadium with under-pressure Wenger knowing an unthinkable defeat against fifth-tier opposition would surely spell the end […]

London (AFP) – Just when Arsene Wenger thought life couldn't get any more stressful, the Arsenal manager finds himself on a hiding to nothing as minnows Lincoln eye more FA Cup history in Saturday's quarter-finals. Wenger has endured a week from hell that started when Arsenal were thumped 3-1 at Liverpool following his decision to […]

Rostov-on-Don (Russia) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is hopeful the obstacle of a trip to Chelsea in the FA Cup does not hinder his side's prospects of completing a Europa League last-16 win over Rostov. United drew 1-1 in Russia in the first leg of their tie on Thursday after Henrikh Mkhitaryan's first-half […]

Barcelona (AFP) – For a victory "defined by faith" according to Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, the Catalans rose from the dead inspired by the man who never stopped believing. "As long as there's a one percent chance, we'll have 99 percent faith," said Neymar before a ball had been kicked in Barca's stunning revival from […]

Rostov-on-Don (Russia) (AFP) – Henrikh Mkhitaryan bagged a precious away goal as Manchester United came away from their trip to Russia with a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against Rostov on Thursday. On an awful pitch, the state of which had United manager Jose Mourinho fuming on the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Ukraine international Roman Zozulya on Thursday has given up on his planned transfer to Rayo Vallecano and will remain at Real Betis until the end of the season after being caught up in a 'neo-Nazi' row. Zozulya, 27, spent just 24 hours on loan at the Madrid club last month before being […]

Rostov-on-Don (Russia) (AFP) – Henrikh Mkhitaryan bagged a precious away goal as Manchester United came away from their trip to Russia with a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against Rostov on Thursday. On an awful pitch, the state of which had United manager Jose Mourinho fuming on the […]

Juventus have the opportunity to move a whopping 11 points clear at the top of Serie A on Friday night when they welcome historical rivals AC Milan to the J Stadium. The league leaders actually slipped up in their previous outing, saved by a second-half goal from Leonardo Bonucci and stumbling to a 1-1 draw […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic celebrated the Catalans' extraordinary Champions League comeback against Paris Saint-Germain by extending his contract at the Camp Nou until 2021 on Thursday. Rakitic, 28, started on Wednesday as Barca recovered from a 4-0 first-leg thrashing to beat the French champions 6-1 and reach the quarter-finals for a 10th […]