Viewership for the four MLS Knockout round playoff matches were down 10% from 2015 despite some matches expanding to include national English language coverage. Last season’s four knockout round matches averaged 329,250 viewers shown exclusively via national TV on UniMás and Univision Deportes. This season saw both ESPN and FOX Sports pick up rights to […]

London (AFP) – Steve Bruce remains unbeaten as Aston Villa manager but his side were unable to get the better of one of his former clubs Birmingham City as their Championship match ended 1-1 on Sunday. Bruce, who played for Birmingham and had a six year stint as manager before upping sticks in 2007, has […]

Wednesday night's Copa MX semi-final between Club America and Chivas was the most-watched Copa MX match ever. Univision's presentation of the Copa MX SuperClasico between America and Guadalajara was watched by an average of 885,000 (ages 18-49) Wednesday night. The audience size matched ESPN’s NBA opener (OKC-Philly) and drew 5x the viewership of NBCSN’s NHL/Bruins-Rangers […]

Sunderland (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jermain Defoe believes beleaguered English Premier League tailenders Sunderland can turn things around if they stick together. The 34-year-old former England international striker — who criticised manager David Moyes earlier this month saying the perennial strugglers had gone backwards since he came in for Sam Allardyce — said it is […]

London (AFP) – French international Olivier Giroud rubbished talk of Arsenal winning the Premier League title despite an excellent run of form saying Sunday it is far too early to make such predictions. The 30-year-old striker had been a peripheral figure this season, after suffering a toe injury, but his double after coming off the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Gareth Bale tied his long term future to Real Madrid on Sunday by extending his contract with the Spanish giants to 2022, the club confirmed. "Real Madrid C. F. and Gareth Bale have agreed an extension to the player's contract, keeping him at the club until the 30th of June 2022," Madrid […]

London (AFP) – Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri believes his side have finally rediscovered the defensive resilience that helped them to their fairytale Premier League title triumph last season. The defending champions collected their first point on their travels this season in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur after Ahmed Musa cancelled out Vincent Janssen's […]

West Bromwich (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Sergio Aguero was branded Manchester City's 'Special One' after ending the worst run of manager Pep Guardiola's career. Argentina forward Aguero scored twice in the first half against West Bromwich Albion before setting up the third for Ilkay Gundogan, who also grabbed the final goal in City's 4-0 win […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United assistant manager Rui Faria suggested sarcastically that referee Mark Clattenburg did "fantastic work" by sending off Ander Herrera during their 0-0 draw with Burnley. United midfielder Herrera was dismissed for two bookable offences, the second of which came midway through the second half for a foul on Dean […]

London (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp insisted Liverpool's defensive problems were no cause for alarm after his side maintained their push for the Premier League title with a 4-2 win away to Crystal Palace. Despite an ultimately comfortable scoreline that drew Liverpool level on points with league leaders Manchester City and second-placed Arsenal, the visitors' shaky […]

Sunderland (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Olivier Giroud will continue to answer his critics after the France forward ended his goal drought in style at Sunderland. Giroud climbed off the bench to score twice — his first Premier League goals since May — as the Gunners won 4-1 away to the bottom-of-the-table […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona coach Luis Enrique insisted his side will need an improved display when faced with the very different challenge of former Barca boss Pep Guardiola's Manchester City after labouring to a 1-0 win over Granada on Saturday. Barca travel to Manchester on Tuesday having thrashed Guardiola's men 4-0 less than two weeks […]

Milan (AFP) – Gonzalo Higuain hit a fairytale winner as Juventus edged the Argentine's former club Napoli 2-1 in Turin on Saturday to stretch their lead to five points at the top of Italy's Serie A. Higuain, who hit a Serie A record of 36 goals for Napoli last season, has become a hate figure […]

Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo returned to goalscoring form with his first hat-trick of the season and also missed a penalty as Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of La Liga with a 4-1 win at Alaves on Saturday. Barcelona move up to second, just two points adrift, despite a below-par display in […]

Paris (AFP) – Surprise package Nice can stretch their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to six points on Sunday after Monaco could only labour to a 1-1 draw at Saint-Etienne. Unbeaten Nice host struggling Nantes knowing that victory would propel them clear in the French league, with Monaco now second, ahead of Paris […]