London (AFP) – Leicester City's fairytale Premier League title win made 2016 the year of the underdog in English football, but as 2017 approaches, the giants are emerging from their slumbers. A team of misfits and cast-offs marshalled by twinkly-eyed Italian manager Claudio Ranieri, Leicester pulled off a 5,000-1 triumph that was one of the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich face an acid test of their status as Bundesliga leaders in Wednesday's crunch showdown when they host second-placed RB Leipzig, who know they have nothing to lose. The Bavarian giants have won the Bundesliga title at a canter in each of the last four seasons, but Leipzig, who were only […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Brendan Rodgers says Stuart Armstrong is a shining example for all the players in his squad for the way the midfielder has rejuvenated his Celtic career. The 24-year-old enjoyed a good start to his time at Celtic Park after signing from Dundee United in February 2015, but then a dip in form […]

London (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham are firmly back in the hunt for a Champions League place after battling back for a 2-1 win over Burnley. Pochettino's side moved within one point of fourth place, currently occupied by Arsenal, ahead of the pivotal Christmas schedule of games thanks to their spirited showing at White […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona striker Luis Suarez hopes teammate Lionel Messi will follow his lead by signing a long-term contract to see out the remainder of his prime years at the Camp Nou. Suarez celebrated a new five-year deal by scoring twice in a 4-1 rout of Espanyol on Sunday as Barca closed to within […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Luis Suarez celebrated his bumper new five-year Barcelona deal in style with a double as the champions defeated Espanyol 4-1 in the Catalan derby to move to within three points of La Liga leaders Real Madrid. However, it was Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi's skills that stole the show as Barca took […]

Milan (AFP) – Dries Mertens put four goals past England's Joe Hart as rampant Napoli completed a memorable 5-3 win over Torino to move up to third place in Serie A Sunday. Mertens has been pushed into the main striker's role by coach Maurizio Sarri to fill in for missing centre-forward Arkadiusz Milik, who is […]

Paris (AFP) – Mario Balotelli scored twice to stretch Nice's advantage at the top of Ligue 1 to four points with with a 2-1 victory over Dijon as title rivals Monaco lost 3-1 to Lyon. Italy striker Balotelli made his first league start in six weeks after returning from a calf injury and converted a […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Raheem Sterling struck the winning goal as Manchester City reinvigorated their Premier League challenge by coming from behind to defeat title rivals Arsenal 2-1 on Sunday. Arsenal took an early lead through Theo Walcott, but just as in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Everton, they wilted in the second half as […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger suggested referees were over-protected after complaining "two offside goals" had accounted for his team in Sunday's 2-1 Premier League defeat at Manchester City. Theo Walcott gave Arsenal a fifth-minute lead, but Leroy Sane equalised early in the second half, getting the benefit of the doubt in […]

London (AFP) – Danny Rose capped Tottenham's comeback as they edged out Burnley 2-1 to keep alive their Champions League aspirations on Sunday. Mauricio Pochettino's side were forced to come from behind after Ashley Barnes had opened the scoring for Burnley at White Hart Lane. Normal service was resumed when Dele Alli almost instantly equalised, […]

Paris (AFP) – Mario Balotelli scored twice on his return to the starting line-up as Ligue 1 leaders Nice stretched their advantage at the top to four points on Sunday with a 2-1 victory at home to Dijon. The Italy striker made his first league start in six weeks after recovering from a calf injury […]

Istanbul (AFP) – President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday opened the new 40,000-plus capacity stadium of Turkish football team Trabzonspor, the latest ambitious infrastructure project to take shape in the country. Erdogan cut the ceremonial opening ribbon alongside visiting Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar, one of Ankara's top allies. The stadium, spectacularly located […]

Yokohama (Japan) (AFP) – Real Madrid playmaker James Rodriguez plunged his future into doubt by claiming he will decide in the next week whether to remain with the European champions in the January transfer window. The Colombian joined Real for a reported 80 million euros from Monaco ($84 million) after starring as the top scorer […]

Berlin (AFP) – Douglas Costa's long-range strike rescued Bayern Munich in their 1-0 victory at bottom side Darmstadt on Sunday to reinstate his side as Bundesliga leaders before their showdown with RB Leipzig. Bayern host second-placed Leipzig at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday in a mouth-watering clash. Both teams are on 36 points, but the […]