Seville (Spain) (AFP) – Sevilla were left fuming at English referee Mark Clattenburg as Juventus came from behind to win 3-1 in Spain and seal their place in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday. The hosts made the perfect start through Nico Pareja's ninth minute opener, but were reduced to 10 men […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo was lauded like a king on his return to where his career began at Sporting Lisbon, but Real Madrid showed no mercy in booking their place in the knockout stages for a 20th consecutive season with a 2-1 win on Tuesday. However, victory came at a cost for the European […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Germany winger Marco Reus claimed a hat-trick on his comeback as Borussia Dortmund hammered Legia Warsaw 8-4 on Tuesday in a record Champions League result which yielded seven first-half goals. It was the first time a Champions League game has had a 5-2 half-time scoreline since Monaco ended up beating Deportivo […]

Leicester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Shinji Okazaki and Riyad Mahrez scored as England's miracle club Leicester City beat Club Brugge 2-1 on Tuesday to book their place in the Champions League knockout phase. Leicester are toiling in defence of their 5,000-1 Premier League title, but victory over Brugge made them the first Champions League debutants […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – An older, wiser Bruce Arena returned to the US national team coaching role Tuesday after a 10-year absence, vowing talent and hard work will result in a 2018 World Cup berth. Arena, who had guided the team from 1998-2006 before taking charge of Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy, was named to […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – Coach Frederic Antonetti has parted company with Ligue 1 strugglers Lille, the French club confirmed on Tuesday. The 55-year-old Corsican has agreed terms to leave "in a friendly manner," a statement from the northern outfit said. Antonetti paid the price for a disastrous start to the season with the 2011 Ligue […]

Madrid (AFP) – Boasting the only perfect record in the Champions League this season Atletico Madrid have already booked their place in the last 16, but PSV Eindhoven's visit on Wednesday offers a much-needed chance for Diego Simeone's men get back to winning ways. Since Antoine Griezmann's stoppage time winner saw off FC Rostov three […]

Chicago (AFP) – Bruce Arena was rehired Tuesday for a second stint as United States head coach, replacing sacked German Jurgen Klinsmann. The 65-year-old American who guided the United States to the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals during his previous tenure from 1998-2006, struck a new deal Tuesday through to the 2018 Russia World Cup. "I'm […]

Moscow (AFP) – Bayer Leverkusen played out a 1-1 draw at CSKA Moscow on Tuesday to put the German club on the verge of qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages. Kevin Volland put Leverkusen ahead after 16 minutes before Israeli international Bibras Natcho converted a second-half penalty to snatch a draw for the Russian […]

Berlin (AFP) – On the eve of Wednesday's Champions League game at Borussia Moenchengladbach, Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola revealed captain Vincent Kompany could 'be out for weeks' with a knee injury. City are chasing a win in Germany to put them in the last 16, but they must do so without their skipper. Kompany, […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain defender Serge Aurier has been barred from Britain and will miss the club's Champions League tie against Arsenal on Wednesday after British authorities revoked his visa. The French champions called the decision "incomprehensible" but Britain's Interior Ministry said it was acting according to established immigration rules. "Paris Saint-Germain is stunned […]

Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – FIFA envoy Tokyo Sexwale on Tuesday called for movement on the "headache" issue of Israeli clubs in settlements in the occupied West Bank, after meeting Israeli and Palestinian leaders. FIFA president Gianni Infantino last month told AFP the issue was a "priority" for him, and Sexwale, chairman of the FIFA Monitoring […]

Prague (AFP) – Private Chinese company CEFC China said Tuesday it had taken full control of Czech top-flight side Slavia Prague after snapping up a 20 percent stake from a minority shareholder. It is just the latest example of Chinese money flowing into European football, after investors from the country bought up stakes in scores […]

Nice (France) (AFP) – Nice go into their crunch Europa League clash with Schalke 04 without star striker Mario Balotelli after the Italian pulled a calf muscle in training, the French club said on Tuesday. Nice are bottom of Group I on three points while Schalke have already qualified for the next round on 12 […]

Milan (AFP) – Belgium's Dries Mertens said he's happy to remain Napoli's number one striker against Dinamo Kiev on Wednesday, as long as it helps the Italians secure their ticket for the Champions League last 16. With Poland striker Milik not due to return from a knee ligament injury until January, Mertens has been pushed […]