Nyon (Switzerland) (AFP) – Arsenal were once again drawn against Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League on Monday, while Barcelona will also come up against familiar foes in the shape of Paris Saint-Germain. Arsene Wenger's side had hoped winning their group for the first time in five years would spare […]

Paris (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo looks poised to seal his fourth Ballon d'Or on Monday to get one over his old rival Lionel Messi in their long-running duel for the title of world's best footballer. It will be the perfect ending to another terrific year for the Real Madrid star, who won the Champions League […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal are in the 'fight' for their first Premier League title since 2004 and insists the Gunners will maintain the pressure on leaders Chelsea in Tuesday's trip to out of sorts Everton. Arsenal have not lost in the Premier League since the opening day of the season, and had […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Real Madrid's early birds swept into Tokyo at the crack of dawn Monday to contest the Club World Cup and were greeted by hundreds of bleary-eyed Japanese fans. The European champions, led by talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, arrived a little after 5am local time and, despite the presence of around 300 supporters waiting […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Striker Leigh Griffiths says Celtic Park is regaining the fear factor for rival teams that it lost last season. Celtic have made an ominous start to the defence of their Scottish Premiership title and sit eight points clear at the top of the table with three games in hand. Brendan Rodgers' side […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte believes Diego Costa has become a reformed character because the fiery striker has rediscovered his love of the game. Costa's quality was never in doubt after he fired Chelsea to the Premier League title two years ago, but the Spaniard found himself in hot water time and again […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – The booing of midfielder Marouane Fellaini by Manchester United's supporters was an acceptable reflection of frustration over the team's recent results, according to manager Jose Mourinho. United ended a dispiriting run of four consecutive home draws in the Premier League by beating Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 on Sunday courtesy of a […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp bemoaned his side's defending and lack of composure after they fell behind in the Premier League title race with a 2-2 draw at home to struggling West Ham. Divock Origi scored for the fourth consecutive match after Darren Randolph's blunder to save a point for frail Liverpool, who […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Carlos Tevez scored twice as Boca Juniors defeated bitter rivals River Plate 4-2 to win the Clasico of Argentine football on Sunday in a tense encounter at the Estadio Monumental. Boca took the lead after 13 minutes through striker Walter Bou from a fine pass by Tevez. But 20 minutes later, […]

Paris (AFP) – A second-half brace from Edinson Cavani saw champions Paris Saint Germain come from two down to earn a 2-2 draw with Ligue 1 leaders Nice at the Parc des Princes on Sunday. The visitors withstood an early onslaught to go into the break 2-0 up after a sumptuous free-kick from Wylan Cyprien […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Slaven Bilic dedicated West Ham's point in a 2-2 draw at Liverpool on Sunday to the people of Turkey after twin attacks in Istanbul killed 38 people. A car bomb exploded on Saturday outside the stadium of football giants Besiktas, where Bilic coached for two years, and less than a minute later […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Divock Origi scored for the fourth consecutive match to save a point for frail Liverpool as they were frustrated in their attempts to stay in touch with Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday. Jurgen Klopp's side took an early lead through Adam Lallana's stylish finish, but weaknesses at the back allowed Dimitri […]

Paris (AFP) – Seven former champions and nine dreaming of a first crown — Monday's draw for the last 16 of the Champions League throws up a raft of fascinating permutations as the competition switches into knockout mode. Conventional wisdom says group winners can feel favoured as they are drawn out of the hat against […]

London (AFP) – Goal-shy Southampton will have to cope without their most prolific striker Charlie Austin for up to four months, says manager Claude Puel. Austin, who has scored almost half of the Saints' paltry 14 goals in the Premier League this season, faces surgery on the shoulder he dislocated in last Thursday's Europa League […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Gonzalo Higuain hit his 19th Serie A brace as Juventus moved seven points clear of Roma and AC Milan at the top with a 3-1 derby win over Torino on Sunday. Scoring his last league goal in a 2-1 win over Napoli at the end of October, Juve fans had every […]