Berlin (AFP) – Controversial new-boys RB Leipzig are up to third in the Bundesliga after claiming another big-name scalp in Germany's top flight with a 1-0 win at VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday. Sweden international midfielder Emil Forsberg's winner gave unbeaten RB their fourth win in seven games as Wolfsburg joined Borussia Dortmund, Hamburg and Augsburg, […]

Bremen (Germany) (AFP) – Werder Bremen striker Ousman Manneh admitted it was "a dream come true" to score his first Bundesliga goal, just two years after the teenage refugee fled Gambia. The 19-year-old netted Bremen’s winner in Saturday's 2-1 shock victory over Bayer Leverkusen to cap his fairytale rise having only been plucked from Bremen's […]

Milan (AFP) – Frank De Boer slammed his forgetful Inter Milan players after a shock 2-1 San Siro defeat to Cagliari left the Nerazzurri 10 points behind Serie A leaders Juventus on Sunday. Inter started the season with new Chinese owners and fresh ambitions after capturing a number of top players in the close season. […]

Madrid (AFP) – Athletic Bilbao moved to within three points of La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid with a 3-2 win over local rivals Real Sociedad in a pulsating Basque derby on Sunday. Sociedad took the lead against the run of play when David Zurutuza volleyed home Xabi Prieto's corner on 17 minutes. Athletic laid siege […]

Milan (AFP) – Disputed captain Mauro Icardi missed a first-half penalty as Inter Milan's unlikely title hopes were dented by a shock 2-1 San Siro defeat to Cagliari on Sunday. Elsewhere, high-flying Lazio needed a 97th minute penalty from Italy forward Ciro Immobile to rescue a share of the spoils at home to Bologna, who […]

Madrid (AFP) – Eibar coach Jose Luis Mendilibar lamented the Basque side's fine start to the season has been forgotten amidst a sex-tape scandal involving striker Sergi Enrich and defender Antonio Luna. The players issued a joint statement to apologise just days after Eibar secured a historic point in a 1-1 draw at Real Madrid […]

London (AFP) – Wayne Rooney will get the "respect he deserves" when the 30-year-old forward returns to Manchester United, manager Jose Mourinho has insisted. The dropped England captain returned to Old Trafford earlier in the week following an international break when he was booed by home fans during a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over […]

Middlesbrough (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Holebas's powerful strike saw Watford to a 1-0 win away to Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Sunday. Victory saw Watford climb to ninth in the table but the result condemned northeast side Middlesbrough to a fourth defeat in five league matches. Greece international Holebas's goal was a rare […]

London (AFP) – Antonio Conte revealed he ignored Diego Costa's request to be substituted because the volatile Chelsea striker's passion is too important to lose. Costa scored his seventh Premier League goal of the season as Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 win over spluttering champions Leicester at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. But the controversial Spain […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers praised his side's hunger for success as they extended their unbeaten start to the defence of their Scottish Premiership title with a 2-0 win over Motherwell on Saturday. Celtic maintained their four point lead over Aberdeen at the top of the table thanks to a first-half strike from […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he will not be appealing the red card given to Granit Xhaka during the Gunners' narrow 3-2 win over Swansea City. The midfielder was controversially sent off 20 minutes from the end of Sunday's match at the Emirates Stadium for a late tackle on Modou Barrow. […]

West Bromwich (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino, the Tottenham Hotspur manager, insisted after a 1-1 draw away to West Bromwich Albion that his delight at the character they had shown outweighed any disappointment with the result. Victory would have extended Spurs run of victories in all competitions to six, but Pochettino was satisfied to […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid must match the intensity of a stunning first 45 minutes urged coach Zinedine Zidane after snapping a four-game draw streak with a 6-1 rout at Real Betis on Saturday. Zidane's men surrendered top spot on goal difference to city rivals Atletico Madrid with three consecutive La Liga draws, along with […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola admitted his Manchester City players had not practised penalties before they missed two during a 1-1 draw at home to Everton. Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero both had spot-kicks saved by goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg before substitute Nolito's header earned a point for City. For Aguero, it was […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Alex Ferguson once described Liverpool versus Manchester United as the biggest fixture in club football and Monday's clash at Anfield has been made all the more intriguing by the debate over the form of Wayne Rooney. United’s captain, dropped to the bench by manager Jose Mourinho for his club’s last three fixtures, […]