Madrid (AFP) – After another case of so near yet so far for Atletico Madrid, the spectacular form of Yannick Carrasco is powering the latest strong bid from Diego Simeone's men to finally be crowned kings of Europe. Victory at home to Champions League debutants FC Rostov on Tuesday will seal Atletico's place in the […]

Berlin (AFP) – World champions Germany will be granted an audience with Pope Francis when the team travel to Italy for a friendly international next month, head coach Joachim Loew confirmed on Monday. Germany play a 2018 World Cup qualifier away to minnows San Marino on November 11, then face Italy in a friendly in […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw hailed Bastian Schweinsteiger's return to first-team training after the former Germany midfielder's exile came to an end on Monday. The 32-year-old has not featured since United manager Jose Mourinho's pre-season arrival and was written off as an asset in the club's financial results for the […]

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s move to Arsenal in 2011 came at an unusual time. The then 18-year-old was surely a big prospect, and the Gunners weren’t the only massive club to be in on the Ox sweepstakes, but Arsenal supporters wanted proven players at that particular time. When Chamberlain arrived, the north London club was yet to […]

Madrid (AFP) – Gareth Bale's new six-year Real Madrid contract will see the Welshman reportedly rake in well in excess of 115 million euros ($126 million) as the Spanish giants bet on Bale to lead another glorious era at the Santiago Bernabeu. Bale, who has won two Champions League titles in three years in Spain, […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted his players must keep their discipline and produce the "perfect" performance to beat Barcelona in the Champions League at Eastlands on Tuesday. Guardiola's side lost 4-0 in their Group C encounter against the Spanish giants at the Nou Camp on October 19 –- their […]

Berlin (AFP) – After packing on 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of muscle, ex-Germany goalkeeper Tim Wiese will make his full WWE debut on Thursday in what he describes as the "Champions League" of wrestling. The 34-year-old made the last of his six friendly appearances for Germany in 2012 and was part of their 2010 World […]

Madrid (AFP) – Gareth Bale declared the lure of "the biggest club in the world" behind his decision to sign a new bumper six-year deal with Real Madrid which makes him one of football's highest paid players. Bale, who has won two Champions League titles in three seasons in Spain, is set to take home […]

Berlin (AFP) – Arjen Robben is relishing his return to PSV Eindhoven, 14 years after his Champions League debut, with Bayern Munich hunting a win to take them closer to the knock-out stages. Eindhoven host Bayern at PSV's Philips Stadium on Tuesday. Robben, 32, was outstanding in Bayern's 3-1 win at Augsburg on Saturday as […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany's World Cup-winning coach Joachim Loew has extend his contract until 2020, the German FA (DFB) announced on Monday. The 56-year-old, who took charge in 2006, has penned a two-year extension to lead Germany's defence of the World Cup in Russia in 2018 and to the European Championships in 2020. If Loew […]

Paris (AFP) – Lyon on Monday hit out at "despicable" social media reports that French international Mathieu Valbuena had died. "Mathieu Valbuena is happily alive and well contrary to what those despicable individuals are spreading on Twitter," the club said in their own Twitter retort. The Ligue 1 club acted after after a number of […]

Paris (AFP) – AFP Sports looks ahead to Tuesday's Champions League action as Pep Guardiola's Manchester City host Barcelona with a number of sides, including the Spanish champions, looking to seal a place in the next round (all kick-offs 1945 GMT unless stated): Group A Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) v Arsenal (ENG) At Sofia, Bulgaria Mesut […]

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Antonio Conte insists it is too soon to label Chelsea as Premier League title contenders after his side maintained their impressive run with a 2-0 victory at Southampton. Conte's team have reeled off four successive league wins for the first time in 18 months and they sit just one point […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Giovani dos Santos's second-half header was enough to give the Los Angeles Galaxy a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Sunday and the edge in their MLS Cup playoff tie. The Mexican striker made good use of a strong individual effort from Jelle Van Damme with a header that deflected […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Ross Barkley's excellent goal sealed an impressive 2-0 win for Everton over West Ham in their Premier League clash on Sunday ending a four-match winless run in the league. For Barkley, who had been dropped both from the England squad and the Everton starting line-up this season as his form dipped, it […]