Glasgow (AFP) – Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says his side's confidence is high ahead of their Champions League clash against Manchester City following their thrashing of Kilmarnock. The Hoops warmed up for Wednesday's Group C match with a comprehensive 6-1 defeat of Killie in Glasgow's East End to maintain their unbeaten start to the domestic […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp would not allow controversial comments from defender Mamadou Sakho to take the gloss off a "brilliant" first-half performance from his Liverpool side as they beat Hull City 5-1 at Anfield. Sakho said in a social media posting on Saturday that suggestions that he was not fit to play were a […]

Swansea (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has vowed to make Sergio Aguero an even better player. The Argentine striker scored two goals on his return to City colours as the visitors made it 10 straight wins in league and cup football this season with a 3-1 victory away to Swansea on […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane insisted Cristiano Ronaldo has to learn to live with being substituted after sulking off the field visibly frustrated in the European champions' 2-2 draw at Las Palmas. Zidane replaced the three-time World Player of the Year with Madrid leading 2-1 18 minutes from time, but an unhappy […]

Middlesbrough (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Moussa Sissoko has added to the injury worries facing Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino ahead of Tuesday's Champions League tie at CSKA Moscow. Sissoko suffered concussion during Tottenham's 2-1 success at Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Saturday and appears unlikely to make the trip to Russia. A win in Moscow […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he was hungrier than ever for success after his side marked the 20th anniversary of his appointment by stylishly defeating Chelsea 3-0. First-half goals from Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday swept Arsenal to a first league victory over their […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho says Wayne Rooney remains a key figure at Manchester United despite dropping his captain for the 4-1 thrashing of Leicester. Mourinho left United and England captain Rooney on the substitutes' bench at Old Trafford on Saturday and was rewarded with a ruthless display against the Premier League champions. […]

Milan (AFP) – Marek Hamsik celebrated hitting his 100th goal for Napoli in a 2-0 win over Chievo that will instill confidence ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash at home to Benfica. Yet Slovakian international Hamsik, who is now only 15 short of equalling the all-time scorers' record at the club, held by former icon […]

Milan (AFP) – Massimiliano Allegri insists focus is fully on claiming the first points of their Champions League campaign after a cagey 1-0 win at Palermo on Saturday maintained the early-season doubts hanging over Juventus. The Italian champions travel to Dinamno Zagreb on Tuesday looking for the win that would get their Group H campaign […]

Moscow (AFP) – Russian champions CSKA Moscow warmed up for their Champions League clash with Tottenham Hotspur by drawing 1-1 at home to Krasnodar on Saturday. The result left the Red Army side in second place in the Russian Premier League, one point behind leaders Spartak, who take on Ufa on Sunday. Zenit St Petersburg, […]

Madrid (AFP) – A substituted Cristiano Ronaldo cut a disconsolate figure as Real Madrid conceded a late equaliser to draw 2-2 at Las Palmas on Saturday. Earlier, Barcelona shrugged off the absence of the injured Lionel Messi to move to within a point of Madrid at the top of the table as Luis Suarez and […]

Paris (AFP) – With Radamel Falcao out injured, Monaco came from behind to claim a scrappy 2-1 win over Angers at the Stade Louis II on Saturday and move top of the Ligue 1 table. Falcao was absent after being hospitalised with a blow to the head in the principality club's 4-0 trouncing at local […]

Milan (AFP) – Roma coach Luciano Spalletti is all set to ruin the birthday celebrations of club icon Francesco Totti, by showing up at his party. Totti, in his 25th and likely last season with the club he made his debut for in 1993, will celebrate his 40th birthday on Tuesday. The Roma veteran has […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his team had come close to perfection after watching them mark his 20th anniversary with a 3-0 win over Chelsea on Saturday. Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil scored in the first 40 minutes as Arsenal claimed their biggest win over Chelsea since April 1997. It […]

Berlin (AFP) – Mats Hummels is facing an anxious wait to see whether he is fit to face Atletico Madrid on Wednesday after limping out of Bayern Munich's 1-0 win at Hamburg. Atletico host Bayern at Madrid's Vicente Calderon Stadium with both sides having won their opening Group D matches in the Champions League. But […]