Barcelona (AFP) – For one of the most decorated coaches of all-time, boasting a 75 percent career win percentage and 21 trophies, Pep Guardiola's record of two wins from his last 11 away Champions League matches is an uncharacteristic stain. Manchester City's long court of the Catalan was not just to dominate at home, but […]

Paris (AFP) – AFP Sports previews Wednesday's Champions League action with Pep Guardiola taking Manchester City to Barcelona. (all kick-offs 1845 GMT): GROUP A At Paris Paris Saint Germain (FRA) v Basel (SUI) As coach of Sevilla last season Unai Emery beat Basel on the way to winning the Europa League. Now his current charges, […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Borussia Monchengladbach face a test of fire as they travel into the cauldron of Celtic Park on Wednesday with a first Champions League Group C win at stake for both sides. Celtic's raucous fans carried the Hoops to a 3-3 draw with Manchester City last time out and coupled with Gladbach's poor […]

London (AFP) – After crumbling at the first sign of pressure far too often in recent years, Arsenal are finally showing signs of developing a steely spine and Theo Walcott is the unlikely standard bearer. Arsene Wenger's side have been guilty of squandering numerous chances to mount Premier League title challenges and go deep into […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho praised his team for subduing Anfield after they held in-form Liverpool to a dour 0-0 draw in the Premier League on Monday. United have won only one of their last five league games and remain seventh in the league, three points below fourth-place Liverpool and five points […]

Zagreb (AFP) – Fresh from ending a 17-month wait for an away La Liga win, Sevilla will seek another scalp on the road at Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday to take a huge step towards the Champions League last 16. Victory at the 23rd attempt on the road, 3-2 at Leganes on Saturday, moved Sevilla up […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri is not worried by the English champions' poor domestic run and is confident they will rediscover their winning ways, he said on Monday. The Foxes have won just twice in eight Premier League games and slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Chelsea on Saturday, leaving […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – If new Marseille owner Frank McCourt's turbulent eight-year reign over the Los Angeles Dodgers is anything to go by, fans of the French giants could be in for a bumpy ride. The 63-year-old Boston-born tycoon, who on Monday completed his purchase of the Ligue 1 side, began his career in commercial […]

Marseille (AFP) – American tycoon Frank McCourt on Monday officially completed his purchase of Marseille and vowed to return the fallen French Ligue 1 giants to glory. The 63-year-old former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers signed the necessary paperwork in Paris having entered into exclusive discussions to buy Marseille from owner Margarita Louis-Dreyfus on […]

London (AFP) – Football Association chairman Greg Clarke told members of parliament on Monday that he was ashamed of the sport's homophobia and admitted the governing body must do more to tackle the issue. Clarke, who was speaking before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, believes there is a vocal minority who make it impossible […]

Berlin (AFP) – Eintracht Frankfurt's captain Marco Russ is hoping to get the green light from doctors on Wednesday to resume training after battling testicular cancer and hopes to play again in 2017. The 31-year-old defender says his goal is to rejoin his Bundesliga team-mates for their winter training camp in Abu Dhabi in early […]

Berlin (AFP) – VfL Wolfsburg on Monday reportedly sacked coach Dieter Hecking after their latest defeat left the ambitious Bundesliga club winless in their last six league games. According to both German daily Bild and broadcaster Sport1, ex-French defender Valerien Ismael, 41, has already been promoted from the Under-23 team to be caretaker coach for […]

Paris (AFP) – American tycoon Frank McCourt on Monday officially completed his purchase of French Ligue 1 side Marseille, his communications office confirmed. The 63-year-old former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers signed the necessary paperwork in Paris having entered into exclusive discussions to buy Marseille from owner Margarita Louis-Dreyfus on August 29. McCourt's ownership […]

London (AFP) – Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri says he is not worried about the English champions' poor domestic run and is confident they will rediscover their winning ways. The 64-year-old Italian added the manner in which the team were showing fighting qualities satisfied him they would turn the corner sooner or later. The Foxes have […]

London (AFP) – Chinese group Trillion Trophy Asia (TTA) completed their lengthy takeover of English club Birmingham City on Monday making it the third club based in the city to fall under Chinese control. The confirmation of the purchase of the second tier side by TTA — who are controlled by 55-year-old Hong Kong businessman […]