Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane believes he has no need to rush Gareth Bale back from a long-term ankle injury as the European champions extended their lead at the top of La Liga on Sunday. Madrid saw off Real Sociedad 3-0 thanks to goals from Mateo Kovacic, Cristiano Ronaldo and Alvaro Morata […]

London (AFP) – Danny Welbeck is targeting a first Premier League start since last May when Arsenal face Watford on Tuesday after his two-goal showing in the 5-0 FA Cup demolition of Southampton. The England striker confirmed his return to fitness, scoring twice at St Mary's Stadium and is now hoping to play a more […]

London (AFP) – Viewed as Premier League leaders Chelsea's closest rivals a month ago, Liverpool confront Antonio Conte's side at Anfield on Tuesday with their season on the brink of total collapse. Brimming with energy as 2016 drew to a close, Liverpool have looked a spent force in 2017, their only win in eight games […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has challenged his players to continue their impressive run after they extended their unbeaten domestic start to the season to 27 games to set a new club record. The Scottish champions thrashed Hearts 4-0 on Sunday to eclipse the record set in Celtic's greatest ever season — the legendary […]

London (AFP) – For the first time since he arrived at Liverpool Jurgen Klopp is in the midst of a crisis to the extent that a win on Tuesday at home to Premier League leaders Chelsea is obligatory. The 49-year-old charismatic German — who replaced Brendan Rodgers in November 2015 — has seen his side […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho complained about the lack of help being afforded his team by the football authorities as he attempts to win silverware on four fronts over the final four months of the season. The irascible Portuguese coach has described a mounting schedule as a 'nonsense' and 'a […]

Sunderland (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Dutch striker Vincent Janssen believes South Korean teammate Son Heung-Min is demonstrating his growing importance to Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham Hotspur squad. Son helped save Spurs from an FA Cup embarrassment at the hands of Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday and is in contention to retain his starting spot for the Premier […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger joked Sunday that his critics would only be truly happy if he was sent to prison as punishment for pushing a fourth official. The Frenchman was handed a four-match touchline ban for verbally abusing and shoving Anthony Taylor during his side's 2-1 win over Burnley earlier this month […]

London (AFP) – John Stones faces a battle to win back his place at Manchester City after manager Pep Guardiola expressed reservations about his ability to deal with high balls and powerful opponents. City paid £47.5 million ($59.6 million, 55.7 million euros) to sign Stones, 22, from Everton in August, but after some error-strewn displays, […]

Paris (AFP) – Bernardo Silva struck an injury-time equaliser as Monaco salvaged a deserved point in a 1-1 draw at reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain to keep the visitors top of Ligue 1. Edinson Cavani scored his 21st league goal of the season with an 81st-minute penalty at the Parc des Princes, but Portugal international Silva […]

Rome (AFP) – Massimiliano Allegri said Juventus's new-look attacking formation is here to stay after his side opened up a potentially decisive four-point lead at the top of Serie A on Sunday. A 2-0 win at Sassuolo came as nearest rivals Roma went down to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Sampdoria while third-placed […]

Port-Gentil (Gabon) (AFP) – Morocco coach Herve Renard said his team had been "exceptional" at the Africa Cup of Nations despite exiting the competition in the quarter-finals to Egypt on Sunday. In their first appearance in the knockout phase of the tournament since 2004, Morocco lost 1-0 in Port-Gentil after conceding the decisive goal with […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid extended their La Liga lead to four points and still have a game in hand over their title rivals as Cristiano Ronaldo was on target in a 3-0 win over Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu. Earlier on Sunday, Barcelona were left to rue La Liga's lack of goal line […]

Port-Gentil (Gabon) (AFP) – Mahmoud Kahraba scrambled in the winner in the 88th minute as Egypt beat Herve Renard's Morocco 1-0 on Sunday to reach the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. A tense last-eight tie in Port-Gentil seemed destined for extra time until Kahraba, on as a substitute, poked the ball over the […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – One-time outcast Bastian Schweinsteiger appears to be back in favour with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, who insisted Sunday the World Cup winner was staying at Old Trafford despite having yet to appear in the Premier League this season. The 32-year-old former Bayern Munich lynchpin started his first game in […]