Berlin (AFP) – His nickname 'Chicharito' means 'little pea', but ex-Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez is proving to be a big deal for Bayer Leverkusen ahead of Tuesday's Champions League match at Monaco. The 28-year-old netted a hat-trick — his second in Germany's top flight — in helping Leverkusen come from 2-1 down to claim […]

London (AFP) – Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri gave little away when asked if goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel would be fit to face Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday. Schmeichel, a key member of the Leicester side that won the Premier League title last season, has been sidelined with a groin injury. "Schmeichel trained normally […]

Here are the ten things we learned from Week 29 of the 2016 MLS season. 1. Seattle Throws Western Conference Playoff Race Wide Open In the penultimate game of the 2015 MLS regular season, the Portland Timbers, playoff hopes hanging in the balance, traveled to the StubHub Center to face a heavily favored LA Galaxy […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Disgruntled Cristiano Ronaldo could make more Champions League history on Tuesday as his Real Madrid side look to end their losing streak at high-flying Borussia Dortmund. A hat-trick for Ronaldo in Dortmund, who was left fuming after being substituted on Saturday, would see him become the first player to score a […]

Prague (AFP) – Czech giants Sparta Prague are in turmoil just three days ahead of their Europa League clash with Inter Milan after revealing on Monday they have fired coach Zdenek Scasny. The 59-year-old Scasny, who led Sparta to the Europa League quarter-finals last season, was ditched following a series of poor results, culminating with […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Leicester City may be unfamiliar Champions League opponents for Porto, who visit the King Power Stadium on Tuesday, but Islam Slimani is a player they know all too well. During his three seasons with Sporting Lisbon, the Algeria striker scored six goals against Porto in six appearances, earning him the […]

Milan (AFP) – As hard as he tries, Roma coach Luciano Spalletti is unlikely to convince fans this week that Francesco Totti is just another player for the Serie A giants. On Tuesday Totti turns 40 and the one-club man who is in his 25th and likely last season with the 'Giallorossi' (Yellow and Reds) […]

Paris (AFP) – AFP Sports looks ahead to Tuesday's Champions League action as last year's winners Real Madrid go to Borussia Dortmund and Premier League champions Leicester City host Porto looking to claim a second win in as many games (all kick-offs 1845 GMT): Group E At Monaco Monaco (FRA) v Bayer Leverkusen (GER) Former […]

London (AFP) – Slaven Bilic has warned his West Ham flops they won't be allowed to live off past achievements after Southampton condemned them to a fourth successive Premier League defeat. Bilic's side were lauded after finishing seventh last season but just months later they are languishing in the relegation zone following a miserable 3-0 […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – The Los Angeles Galaxy were denied a chance to qualify for the Major League Soccer post-season on their first attempt Sunday, losing 4-2 to the Seattle Sounders. Jordan Morris scored back-to-back goals in the second half to keep the Sounders' playoff hopes alive and spoil the festive atmosphere for the Galaxy […]

Jerusalem (AFP) – FIFA has been condoning football matches played on "stolen" land in the occupied West Bank, Human Rights Watch said Monday, calling for Israeli clubs based in settlements to be forced to relocate. Six clubs in the Israeli football league play in West Bank Jewish settlements, which are considered illegal under international law, the […]

Berlin (AFP) – German Bundesliga strugglers Hamburg on Sunday appointed Markus Gisdol as their new coach after earlier sacking Bruno Labbadia, for the second time. The former European Cup winners released a statement to say the 47-year-old Gisdol had agreed a contract through to the end of the season. Gisdol, who had previously been in […]

Berlin (AFP) – Scottish teenager Oliver Burke scored his first Bundesliga goal on Sunday as new-boys RB Leipzig drew 1-1 at Cologne to remain unbeaten in Germany's top flight. Leipzig are backed by Austrian energy drinks giants Red Bull and are unpopular with fans of Germany's traditional clubs due to the commercialism they represent. For […]

London (AFP) – Southampton condemned West Ham to another miserable experience at their new London Stadium as Charlie Austin and Dusan Tadic inspired the visitors' 3-0 victory on Sunday. West Ham's move from Upton Park to the former Olympic Stadium just across east London was supposed to herald the start of a successful new era. […]

Madrid (AFP) – Antoine Griezmann was Atletico Madrid's hero once more with the winner as last season's Champions League finalists moved third in La Liga with a 1-0 win over 10-man Deportivo la Coruna. However, the hosts' victory was overshadowed by an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered by midfielder Augusto Fernandez before half-time that will […]