Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid's France international central defender Raphael Varane has picked up a hamstring injury and risks missing up to three weeks as the European champions fight on two fronts for silverware. Real Madrid revealed on their website Friday that Varane suffered the injury in their shock 2-1 defeat at Valencia midweek where […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – The sacking of Claudio Ranieri as Leicester City manager just nine months after guiding the unfashionable club to a sensational Premier League title stunned the football world Friday and brought widespread condemnation on the owners. The Thai owners axed the Italian barely two weeks after giving Ranieri "unwavering support" despite […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Manchester United is the most popular club online in China but the Bundesliga's web presence far outstrips the English Premier League, a new study has shown. The survey by sports marketing company Mailman also found that Cristiano Ronaldo was the player with the biggest presence among Chinese fans with United's Wayne Rooney, […]

Beijing (AFP) – Ronaldinho launched a Barcelona academy for about 1,000 students in China on Friday as the world's most populous nation pursues its grand ambitions in the world's most popular sport. The Barcelona and Brazil great and club president Josep Maria Bartomeu met children and toured the site at the Mission Hills golf complex […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic defender Kieran Tierney is desperate to help his side to a domestic treble because the teenager is too young to remember the Hoops' last clean sweep. The 19-year-old hadn't even started school when Martin O'Neill's side swept all before them as they claimed the Championship, League Cup and Scottish Cup in […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Romelu Lukaku's return to fitness has given Everton extra reason for optimism as they prepare to welcome their former manager David Moyes back to Goodison Park in the Premier League on Saturday. Lukaku was outstanding in Everton's last home match, scoring four times in a 6-3 victory over Bournemouth at the start […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte will hope to take inspiration from England rugby union coach Eddie Jones when his Premier League leaders face Swansea City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Conte demonstrated his desire to improve his team's performance when he shared ideas with Jones, who has a perfect record of 15 wins […]

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan's Champions League qualifying hopes could hinge on victory over Roma this Sunday, and former coach Frank De Boer believes the 'Nerazzurri' only have themselves to blame. Inter, fourth at 15 points adrift of leaders Juventus and six behind Napoli in the third and final Champions League spot, have failed to […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich central defender Mats Hummels says the club's powerful position going into their Bundesliga home tie with Hamburg this weekend is a good measure of coach Carlo Ancelotti's ambitions for the season. After Robert Lewandowski last gasp equaliser saved their 2017 unbeaten record in Berlin last weekend, Bayern are five points […]

London (AFP) – Eden Hazard has warned Chelsea not to lose their focus as the runaway Premier League leaders approach the final furlong in the title race, while crisis-torn champions Leicester face up to life without sacked boss Claudio Ranieri. Antonio Conte's side are eight points clear at the top with just 13 games remaining […]

Marseille (AFP) – Everyone keeps asking Andoni Zubizarreta, a Barcelona legend, why he joined Olympique Marseille and when they are going to unveil the next Lionel Messi. "That is the first question that Patrice Evra asked when I went to Turin to sign him up," the Spanish goalkeeper hero and now sporting director at the […]

Seville (Spain) (AFP) – In a city famous for its flamenco and religious parades, nothing captures hearts and minds in Seville more than when Real Betis and Sevilla clash in Spanish football's most passionate derby. "You are Betis or Sevilla. It is an identity, like a religion," former Sevilla defender Julien Escude tells AFP. "The […]

Paris (AFP) – French Ligue 1 side Bastia were punished Thursday over racist abuse directed at Nice striker Mario Balotelli in a game last month. The French league's disciplinary commission docked Bastia one point – suspended – and ordered the club to close its East Stand for the next three home games over the monkey […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham slumped to a shock Europa League exit as Gent's 2-2 draw at Wembley gave the unfancied Belgians a stunning 3-2 aggregate success in the last 32 second leg on Thursday. Mauricio Pochettino's side trailed 1-0 from the first leg and they were unable to overturn the deficit despite twice leading on […]

London (AFP) – Former Leicester City and England striker Gary Lineker said the club had taken an "unforgivable" decision in sacking manager Claudio Ranieri on Thursday, less than a year after he led them to a shock Premier League title success. Ranieri's position had come under intense scrutiny this season during a slump that has […]