Paris (AFP) – French league leaders Nice will look to shake off a first defeat of the season as chasing duo Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain attempt to crank up the pressure on Lucien Favre's side this weekend. A 1-0 loss at Caen before the international break saw Nice's lead at the top trimmed to three points, […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich face a stern challenge to their place at the top of the table this weekend when Carlo Ancelotti's Bavarian giants play Borussia Dortmund away on Saturday. Bayern could be knocked from top spot even before kick-off if second-placed RB Leipzig pick up a point at Bayer Leverkusen on […]

Florence (Italy) (AFP) – New Inter Milan coach Stefano Pioli faces a baptism of fire in Sunday's derby against AC Milan, who are on a hot run of form as they seek their first Serie A title since 2011. Chinese-owned Inter wielded the axe when they sacked Frank de Boer after just 11 games, and […]

London (AFP) – Damaged and derided, Wayne Rooney embodies Manchester United's delicate current predicament as they prepare for Arsenal's visit to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday. Rooney has been splashed across Britain's newspapers this week after photographs emerged of him looking the worse for wear during a post-wedding party at the England […]

London (AFP) – As Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger prepare to resume their rivalry this weekend, AFP Sport recalls some of their most famous exchanges: "Wenger has a real problem with us and I think he is what you call in England a voyeur. He is someone who likes […]

Watford (United Kingdom) (AFP) – A two-week break from Premier League action has brought good news and bad for flagging champions Leicester City, who visit Watford on Saturday. A 2-1 defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion sent Claudio Ranieri's men into the international break just two points above the relegation zone and with injury […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid host Real Madrid for the last time in La Liga at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday with the pain of a second Champions League final defeat in three years to their city rivals still fresh in the memory. However, both sides have been troubled by severe injury problems with Atletico's […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is crossing his fingers Harry Kane will be fit enough to feature in all three of his side's high-profile fixtures over the next week. The Premier League's only remaining unbeaten team host West Ham United in the Saturday evening fixture and go into battle in another London […]

London (AFP) – The one thing people would not have expected of Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, who takes his side to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday, is inconsistency. Yet they veered between inspired and insipid in the lead-up to the international break, following up a superb 3-1 Champions League victory over […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes the international break will not affect his side's momentum as they look to consolidate their position at the top of the Premier League. The Reds, who are a point clear of second-place Chelsea, travel to Southampton on Saturday on the back of seven wins in their […]

London (AFP) – The next chapter in one of the Premier League's most volatile managerial rivalries will be written this weekend when Arsene Wenger's Arsenal visit Jose Mourinho's Manchester United. Sparks often fly when the pair are obliged to share a touchline, typified by a notorious shoving match during a Chelsea-Arsenal fixture at Stamford Bridge […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Robbie Keane is leaving the Los Angeles Galaxy after six seasons with the Major League Soccer franchise, confirming his exit just days after Steven Gerrard announced his departure. Ireland international record goalscorer Keane, 36, said in a statement he was targeting one final challenge in club football before hanging up his […]

In addition to revenue generated, sponsorships and attendances, TV ratings are one of the key metrics that US Soccer measures to gauge the effectiveness of the federation. During 2016, both the US Men's National Team (USMNT) and US Women's National Team (USWNT) saw impressive ratings figures from participating in Copa America and the Olympics respectively. While […]

London (AFP) – Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is in contact with Milton Keynes Dons over the England third-tier club's vacant managerial role, the BBC reported on Thursday. Gerrard, 36, announced earlier this week that he will leave the LA Galaxy in December after 18 months in Major League Soccer. MK Dons are currently 21st […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has received unanimous backing from the Scottish Football Association despite his side's recent struggles, SFA chief executive Stewart Regan announced on Thursday. Scotland were the only team from the British Isles not to qualify for Euro 2016 and are currently six points below group leaders England in qualifying […]