Madrid (AFP) – Alvaro Morata struck twice to secure Atletico Madrid a 3-0 victory at Getafe in their opening game of the La Liga season on Monday. Morata, who has returned to Atletico after two years on loan with Juventus, scored a goal in each half before Antoine Griezmann wrapped up the points. Joao Felix […]

Verona (Italy) (AFP) – Napoli ran out convincing 5-2 winners at Verona on Monday in their opening match of the Serie A season which was marred by Victor Osimhen being targeted by racist abuse from the stands. Osimhen was among the scorers in a thumping win for Napoli, who have had a tricky summer after […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel and Tottenham boss Antonio Conte have been charged with improper conduct after their explosive clashes in Sunday's stormy 2-2 draw. Tuchel and Conte were embroiled in two angry exchanges as tempers flared in the Premier League showdown at Stamford Bridge. Both managers were booked for the first bust-up, […]

Chester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – An English court on Monday heard that Manchester City and France footballer Benjamin Mendy, on trial for rape and sexual assault, was a "predator" who callously pursued vulnerable women. Mendy, 28, is on trial at Chester Crown Court in northwest England, facing eight counts of rape, one count of sexual […]

Paris (AFP) – Nigerian Taiwo Awoniyi began repaying the £17.5 million ($21 mn, 20.7 mn euros) he cost Nottingham Forest with the goal that beat West Ham 1-0 in the Premier League at the weekend. Joe Aribo was another Nigerian international to score in the most watched domestic league in the world, with his goal […]

Madrid (AFP) – David Alaba scored with a stunning free-kick immediately after coming on as a substitute as reigning champions Real Madrid came from behind to beat Almeria 2-1 in their opening game of the season in La Liga on Sunday. Carlo Ancelotti's side trailed to an early goal by Largie Ramazani away against their […]

Milan (AFP) – Roma began their Serie A campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Salernitana on Sunday, while Ciro Immobile shot Lazio to a comeback 2-1 win over Bologna. Paulo Dybala and Georginio Wijnaldum both made their league debuts for Jose Mourinho's Roma but it was an older hand in Bryan Cristante who decided […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Perennial strugglers Chippa United shocked Orlando Pirates 1-0 on Sunday in a South African Premiership third-round match, condemning new Spanish coach Jose Riveiro to his first loss. Tanzanian Abdi Banda netted four minutes from time for the Gqeberha-based club, rising unchallenged to powerfully nod a corner past Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori. […]

Paris (AFP) – Alexis Sanchez came off the bench to make his debut for Marseille as his new club drew 1-1 with Brest in Ligue 1 on Sunday. The Chilean forward was named among the substitutes by coach Igor Tudor for the game in Brittany, four days after signing a one-year contract. He was introduced […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said he was happy to take a "fair tackle" from Tottenham boss Antonio Conte after both were shown red cards for clashing twice during a heated 2-2 on Sunday. Conte's overexuberant celebrations of Spurs' first equaliser resulted in the two coaches being booked for squaring up. Tuchel then […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich chief executive Oliver Kahn lauded 19-year-old forward Jamal Musiala's performance as "simply extraordinary" in Sunday's 2-0 win over Wolfsburg. Musiala, who declared himself eligible for Germany in 2021 despite playing for England as a junior, scored against Wolfsburg and now has four goals in three competitive matches to start the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Japan star Takefusa Kubo marked his Real Sociedad debut by scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win away to Cadiz in their opening game of the season in La Liga on Sunday. The 21-year-old finished after being picked out by Mikel Merino midway through the first half, and the strike proved […]

London (AFP) – Harry Kane snatched a 96th minute equaliser to salvage a 2-2 draw for Tottenham from a feisty London derby against Chelsea on Sunday. Both managers Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel were sent-off after the full-time whistle for their second physical altercation of the match. Chelsea looked set to get a new era […]

Berlin (AFP) – Nineteen-year-old Bayern forward Jamal Musiala continued his blistering early season form, scoring again as Munich beat Wolfsburg 2-0 on Sunday. Musiala, who declared himself eligible for Germany in 2021 despite playing for England as a junior, now has four goals in three competitive matches to start the season. The 2-0 scoreline flattered […]

Berlin (AFP) – Mainz and Union Berlin split the points after a dour 0-0 draw at a two-thirds full Mewa Arena in the Bundesliga on Sunday in a game described by Berlin coach Urs Fischer as "not too pretty". Both sides struggled to find attacking rhythm in a game played in 31-degree heat and punctuated […]