Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – The flow of Chinese billionaires seeking to invest in European clubs, especially the Premier League, must be sensitive to local feeling should they succeed in buying a team, a senior media executive warns. Molly Li Mo, director of international and external relations at sports service platform Alisports, admitted in talks […]

Mumbai (AFP) – The third Indian Super League season kicks off on Saturday with organisers intent on turning it into a global brand — and shrugging off comparisons with big-spending China. Former Atletico Madrid star Diego Forlan, Brazilian World Cup-winner Lucio and Champions League winner John Arne Riise are some of the stars of yesteryear turning out in […]

Monchengladbach (Germany) (AFP) – Gerard Pique said committing fewer second-half errors was the key to Barcelona's 2-1 come-from-behind victory at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Wednesday as they proved they can win in the Champions League without injured Lionel Messi. Thorgan Hazard — the younger brother of Chelsea midfielder Eden — gave Gladbach a shock yet deserved […]

Naples (Italy) (AFP) – Emotional Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri called for calm after a 4-2 demolition of Benfica on Wednesday put the Italian giants within sight of a coveted place in the last 16 of the Champions League. "Mentally, this is only a confirmation for us and it will give us a spur. But we […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Southgate promised to bring some "stability" to the England set-up after Sam Allardyce admitted an "error of judgement" was behind his shock exit as the national side's manager. Allardyce's one-game career as England manager came to a humiliating end after just 67 days on Tuesday following controversial comments made to undercover […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed hope his players would learn their lesson after losing their 100 percent season record in a spectacular 3-3 Champions League draw at Celtic. Aiming to equal Tottenham Hotspur's English record of 11 straight wins at the start of a season, City had to come from behind […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone hailed his side's display as one of the best in his hugely successful five-year reign in charge as Yannick Carrasco inflicted another 1-0 defeat for Bayern Munich at the Vicente Calderon. Simeone's men also beat Bayern at home in April on their way to a second Champions […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has refused to completely rule out accepting a potential offer to take charge of England at the end of the season. Wenger has been linked with the England job following the Football Association's decision to part company with Sam Allardyce on Tuesday. Quizzed on possible England interest after […]

Istanbul (AFP) – Dynamo Kiev substitutes Nikita Korzun and teenage star Viktor Tsygankov made crucial impacts as the Ukrainians battled to a 1-1 Champions League draw at Besiktas on Wednesday. Korzun gave away the free-kick that led to Besiktas's first-half opener in Istanbul before Tsygankov came off the bench in the second period to secure […]

Milan (AFP) – Arkadiusz Milik struck his third Champions League goal and Dries Mertens hit a brace as Napoli staked an early claim for a place in the last 16 with a 4-2 win against Benfica on Wednesday. Milik, signed as a replacement for Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain, headed a brace in a 2-1 come-from-behind […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid haunted Bayern Munich once more as Yannick Carrasco inflicted Carlo Ancelotti's first defeat as coach of the German giants with a 1-0 win at the Vicente Calderon in the Champions League on Wednesday. The Spaniards eliminated Bayern on away goals in the semi-finals of last season's Champions League and there […]

Monchengladbach (Germany) (AFP) – Barcelona proved they can win away in Europe even without Lionel Messi as they posted a 2-1 comeback victory at Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Champions League on Wednesday. Thorgan Hazard — the younger brother of Chelsea midfielder Eden — gave Gladbach a shock, yet deserved first-half lead. But goals in the […]

Rostov-on-Don (Russia) (AFP) – On their home Champions League group phase debut Russia's Rostov were twice pegged back in an action-packed first-half as PSV Eindhoven grabbed a 2-2 draw on Wednesday. Dmitri Poloz put the Russian rookies ahead twice in the eighth and 37th minutes as they took the game to PSV, who on their […]

Razgrad (Bulgaria) (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain recovered from a slow start to canter to a 3-1 win at Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League on Wednesday night and keep pace with Arsenal at the top of Group A. Edinson Cavani scored a brace after Blaise Matuidi had cancelled out Natanael Pimienta's surprise opener for the […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal showed why the Football Association can only dream of hiring Arsene Wenger to take charge of England as Theo Walcott's double inspired a swaggering 2-0 victory over Basel in the Champions League on Wednesday. The FA's decision to part ways with disgraced England manager Sam Allardyce on Tuesday triggered reports that […]