So what are this version of Arsenal? A team stiffened and settled by the acquisition of some gritty players, ready to challenge for the Premier League title? Or the same crop of supremely talented footballers prone to frailties in feisty situations? As the Gunners get ready to take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium […]

London (AFP) – Championship leaders Newcastle ensured pole position at Christmas thanks to a 2-1 win at Burton Albion, while Gianfranco Zola's debut as Birmingham manager ended in a frustrating 2-1 defeat against Brighton on Saturday. Rafael Benitez's Newcastle took the lead in the 15th minute of their first ever meeting with Burton when former […]

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan lost ground on leaders Juventus and second-placed AS Roma after being held to a lacklustre goalless draw at their San Siro stronghold on Saturday by Lombardy rivals Atalanta. Milan stay third two points behind Roma and six off leaders Juventus, with the top two going head to head later Saturday […]

West Bromwich (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice as Manchester United secured their fourth consecutive victory with a comfortable 2-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. The Swedish striker struck early in each half as Jose Mourinho's side pursued their recent upturn in form to move alongside fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur on 30 […]

London (AFP) – Diego Costa earned Chelsea a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday as the Premier League leaders claimed a club record-equalling 11th consecutive league victory. Costa headed home Cesar Azpilicueta's cross in the 43rd minute at a foggy Selhurst Park to send Antonio Conte's men nine points clear. "The run is fantastic," […]

Sunderland (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Patrick van Aanholt's goal earned Sunderland a potentially priceless 1-0 win over Watford on Saturday as they climbed off the foot of the Premier League table. The Dutch left-back struck for the third time this season in the 49th minute at the Stadium of Light as David Moyes's men returned […]

Paris (AFP) – French title favourites Paris Saint Germain slumped to a 2-1 loss at Guingamp on Saturday to stay four points adrift of leaders Monaco and make just one point in their past three games. PSG, champions for the past four years to take their overall haul to six — the Qatari-owned outfit was […]

London (AFP) – Mark Noble boosted West Ham's bid for Premier League survival as the midfielder's late penalty sealed a 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Hull on Saturday. Noble struck from the spot with 14 minutes left to give Slaven Bilic's side successive victories at the London Stadium for the first time since moving into […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic restored their 11-point advantage at the top of the Scottish Premiership with an 11th consecutive victory as Dundee were beaten 2-1 at Parkhead on Saturday. Leigh Griffiths grabbed the opener from a free-kick in first-half stoppage time before Nir Bitton doubled the lead early in the second half. Marcus Haber's deflected […]

Leipzig (Germany) (AFP) – RB Leipzig knocked Bayern Munich, who they meet in five days' time, off the top of the Bundesliga on Saturday with a 2-0 win at home to Hertha Berlin. With Bayern at bottom side Darmstadt on Sunday, Leipzig took their chance to reclaim top spot with a convincing win at their […]

Middlesbrough (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Alvaro Negredo scored a brace as goal-shy Middlesbrough got back to winning ways before Christmas with a 3-0 success which sent Swansea deeper into the relegation zone on Saturday. The Spanish international had netted just three times for the Premier League strugglers, failing to score in 13 of his previous 15 […]

Stoke-on-Trent (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Claudio Ranieri lost Jamie Vardy and his own composure, but saw 10-man Leicester City display the spirit of champions in a 2-2 draw at Stoke City on Saturday. Daniel Amartey completed the comeback in the 88th minute as he rose between two defenders to head home a Christian Fuchs cross […]

Madrid (AFP) – A stunning 25-yard strike from Saul Niguez snapped Atletico Madrid's three-game winless streak with a nervy 1-0 win over Las Palmas on Saturday to move up to fifth in La Liga. Atletico started the day 12 points adrift of leaders Real Madrid after a run of four defeats in seven league games. […]

London (AFP) – Diego Costa earned Chelsea a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday as the Premier League leaders claimed a club record-equalling 11th consecutive league victory. Costa headed home Cesar Azpilicueta's cross in the 43rd minute at a foggy Selhurst Park to send Antonio Conte's men nine points clear of second-place Liverpool. "The […]

London (AFP) – Diego Costa's goal gave Chelsea a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday as the Premier League leaders claimed a club record-equalling 11th consecutive league victory. Costa struck in the 43rd-minute at a foggy Selhurst Park, rising at the back post to nod Cesar Azpilicueta's cross past Wayne Hennessey for his 13th […]