London (AFP) – Arsenal lynchpins Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil will not be allowed to leave the club before their contracts expire in 18 months' time, manager Arsene Wenger said on Thursday. British media reports this week suggested Chilean forward Sanchez and German playmaker Ozil want new deals that will put them on a par […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – It is ranked as the top match to see before you die: the ferocious tie between Boca Juniors and River Plate, who meet on Sunday in the Argentine league. In a country where football is power, and even a matter of life and death, the Buenos Aires derby is the ultimate […]

Singapore (AFP) – FIFA chief Gianni Infantino on Thursday said Asian countries backed his plan to expand the World Cup to 48 teams — and added that up to three countries should be allowed to co-host the tournament. Infantino, speaking after a three-day FIFA summit in Singapore, said Asian football associations "unanimously" supported a larger […]

Hanoi (AFP) – Vietnamese football authorities apologised on Thursday after fans hurled stones at the Indonesian team bus shortly after their Suzuki Cup semi-final tie in Hanoi, breaking a window and injuring two of the visiting team's staff. The second leg of the fiercely contested tie at the My Dinh stadium on Wednesday night ended […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Juventus don't care who scores, as long as they win, coach Massimiliano Allegri insisted after Gonzalo Higuain ended his five-week goal drought to help secure a precious 2-0 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb. Juventus, beaten finalists in 2015, will head into the draw for the last 16 seeded as Group […]

London (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino insists Tottenham's 3-1 win over CSKA Moscow was more than an upbeat farewell to the Champions League because the stylish success showed his team have got their swagger back. Pochettino's side were already eliminated from the Champions League before their last Group E fixture on Wednesday, but they rounded off […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is hoping to avoid a return to Juventus in the Champions League last 16 after the holders blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against Borussia Dortmund and qualify second from Group F. A double from Karim Benzema had Real well on course to leapfrog the Germans […]

Most of us have used NBC Sports App to watch Premier League matches whether it's on our computers, smartphones and tablets, or Roku and AppleTV devices. But how many times have we stopped to take a closer look at the features and functionality of the app that's used on NBCSports.com to get the most out […]

Madrid (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund set a new record of 21 goals in the group stages of the Champions League in Wednesday's 2-2 draw at Real Madrid. Karim Benzema's double put Madrid 2-0 up before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Marco Reus netted for Dortmund. The point was enough to see the Germans finish top of the […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Gonzalo Higuain hit a slick, second-half winner and Daniele Rugani added a late second as dominant Juventus laboured to a 2-0 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb that secured top spot in Group H on Wednesday. With qualification for the last 16 already secure, Juventus welcomed the Croats looking for a […]

Madrid (AFP) – Marco Reus's dramatic equaliser two minutes from time ensured Borussia Dortmund beat holders Real Madrid to top spot in Champions League Group F with a pulsating 2-2 draw on Wednesday. With both sides already qualified, a double from Karim Benzema looked to have Real well set to leapfrog Dortmund and secure a […]

Lyon (AFP) – Sevilla are through to the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time in seven years after soaking up the pressure to draw 0-0 away to Lyon on Wednesday. Lyon — who lost 1-0 in Seville in September and trailed the Spaniards by three points — needed to win by […]

Leverkusen (Germany) (AFP) – Bayer Leverkusen earned a first Champions League win over Monaco at the sixth attempt on Wednesday, sealing a 3-0 victory with both sides already through to the knock-out stages. A first-half strike from Vladlen Yurchenko, a well-worked goal by Germany winger Julian Brandt and a late own goal by Monaco goalkeeper […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham rounded off a frustrating Champions League campaign with a 3-1 victory over CSKA Moscow that secured the dubious consolation of a place in the Europa League. Mauricio Pochettino's side were already eliminated from the Champions League before Wednesday's final Group E fixture, but they finished on a high note with their […]

Odessa (Ukraine) (AFP) – Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho blasted the "rock" hard surface at Chernomorets Stadium ahead of Thursday's Europa League clash with Ukraine's Zorya Luhansk, insisting it may take a "miracle" for the game to go-ahead. United need just a point to reach the knockout stages but with temperatures expected to plunge to […]