Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola defended Claudio Bravo on Friday, calling him a "top, top goalkeeper", but refused to say if he will restore the Chilean to his starting XI. Willy Caballero, the club's second-choice goalkeeper, has played in City's last three matches, with Bravo losing his place after going […]

It is no coincidence that both Liverpool and Chelsea found themselves in the top two at the end of December given their absence from European football. Neither side had the burden of a midweek match and therefore received far more rest than their rivals did. The benefit of this rest was clear through the performances […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho expects Zlatan Ibrahimovic to remain at Old Trafford next season despite speculation linking the Swedish striker with one last big-money transfer, he said on Friday. Ibrahimovic, 35, has been a revelation in his first season in England, scoring 20 goals, and is expected to trigger […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane hopes to have Gareth Bale back before the second leg of his side's Champions League last 16 clash with Napoli. The postponement of Madrid's visit to Celta Vigo last weekend due to storm damage caused to Celta's Balaidos stadium has allowed Zidane to recover a fully-fit squad […]

London (AFP) – Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri wants Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez to rediscover their form from the club's title-winning season as the champions battle to remain in the Premier League. Vardy scored 24 goals and Mahrez 17 as Leicester surged to the title last season, but they have contributed only five and […]

Sydney (AFP) – Lionel Messi's Argentina will take on Neymar's Brazil in a 'Superclasico' friendly in Melbourne in June, Australian officials said Friday. The top two teams in the FIFA rankings will clash in the 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground, the world's biggest cricket stadium, on June 9. "There's no bigger occasion in football than when […]

Milan (AFP) – The prospect of Massimiliano Allegri following Chelsea manager Antonio Conte to the Premier League appear on the increase as Juventus travel to Cagliari on Sunday looking to tighten their grip on Serie A. Conte led the Turin giants to three consecutive league titles before Allegri took over the helm when former Juventus […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona have the chance to go top of La Liga for the first time since October in a Copa del Rey final dress rehearsal when they visit Alaves on Saturday. Alaves edged out Celta Vigo on Wednesday to reach the final for the first time, whilst nine-man Barca had to survive a […]

Berlin (AFP) – Strugglers Ingolstadt will take inspiration from the New England Patriot's stunning Super Bowl fightback when they host Bayern Munich on Saturday with the Bundesliga leaders expecting a 'grubby' Bavarian derby. Bayern host Arsenal at the Allianz Arena next Wednesday, but before the Champions League last 16 clash, Munich must take care of […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp have their backs to the wall as their teams go in search of restorative victories in the Premier League this weekend. Arsenal have fallen 12 points off the pace after successive losses against Watford and leaders Chelsea, while Liverpool are a point further […]

Liverpool (AFP) – After a miserable start to 2017, Liverpool are in a sorry state ahead of Tottenham Hotspur's visit in the Premier League on Saturday. They have won only one of their last 10 matches, were knocked out of both domestic cups in the space of four days and slipped out of the top […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – David de Gea has challenged Manchester United to get as close as possible to runaway leaders Chelsea as Jose Mourinho's side battle to finish in the top four. It is one of the Premier League's stranger statistics that United have not moved from sixth position for three months, despite being […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal welcome fast-improving Hull City to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday looking to recover from two deeply damaging results that have all but ruined their Premier League title hopes. Defeats at home to Watford and away at Chelsea have left Arsene Wenger's side a mammoth 12 points behind the latter, who lead the way. But Wenger […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Porto on Thursday activated a 20-million-euro clause to make midfielder Oliver Torres's loan move from Atletico Madrid permanent in the second biggest deal in the history of the Portuguese league. The 22-year-old Spaniard's move is just two million euros shy of the record transfer of 22 million euros that Benfica paid Atletico […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona striker Luis Suarez will miss the Spanish Cup final after picking up a two-match tournament ban for his sending off and subsequent refusal to go to the dressing rooms in a tense semi-final with Atletico Madrid in midweek. The Uruguayan picked up a second yellow card for elbowing in a heated […]