Los Angeles (AFP) – The Seattle Sounders took control of their CONCACAF Champions League semi-final against Major League Soccer champions New York City on Wednesday with a convincing 3-1 first-leg victory. Goals from Albert Rusnak, Jordan Morris and captain Nicolas Lodeiro powered the Sounders to a deserved win that leaves the club on the brink […]

London (AFP) – Thomas Tuchel turned on Chelsea's players as the Blues boss let his frustration pour out after their dismal 3-1 defeat against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final first leg. Tuchel's side are facing the end of their reign as Champions League holders following a bitter night at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. […]

London (AFP) – Thomas Tuchel claims Chelsea have no chance of advancing to the Champions League semi-finals after Karim Benzema's hat-trick inspired Real Madrid's stunning 3-1 win on Wednesday. Tuchel's side were rocked by Benzema's brilliant treble at Stamford Bridge and the shell-shocked Blues boss conceded the holders' reign is almost certainly over. With away […]

Villarreal (Spain) (AFP) – Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann said his team "deserved" to lose following their 1-0 loss away to Villarreal in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final Wednesday. Arnaut Danjuma scored an early goal and Bayern were fortunate they will return to Germany not trailing by more after Villarreal striker Gerard […]

London (AFP) – Carlo Ancelotti hailed Karim Benzema's "fantastic" hat-trick as he fired Real Madrid to a 3-1 win against Chelsea that put the Champions League holders on the brink of elimination after Wednesday's quarter-final first leg. Benzema produced a masterclass at Stamford Bridge as the France striker netted twice in the first half with […]

Vila-real (Spain) (AFP) – Villarreal inflicted a shock 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich on Wednesday as Arnaut Danjuma's strike boosted the Spanish team's hopes of causing a huge upset in the Champions League quarter-finals. Danjuma diverted in Dani Parejo's shot in the eighth minute at La Ceramica to seal a surprise win, with Bayern perhaps […]

Burnley (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Maxwel Cornet scored five minutes from time as Burnley beat Premier League relegation rivals Everton 3-2 in a see-saw clash at Turf Moor on Wednesday. Victory saw Burnley remain in the relegation zone but move to within a point of Everton. Burnley took an early lead through Nathan Collins' first […]

London (AFP) – Karim Benzema's hat-trick fired Real Madrid to a stunning 3-1 win against Chelsea that put the Champions League holders on the brink of elimination after a dramatic quarter-final first leg on Wednesday. Benzema produced a masterclass at Stamford Bridge as the France striker netted twice in the first half with two perfectly-taken […]

Madrid (AFP) – Ferran Torres joked on Wednesday he would kidnap Ousmane Dembele to make the winger stay at Barcelona. Dembele is expected to leave for free at the end of the season after he decided against renewing his contract in January. But the Frenchman has been revitalised by Xavi Hernandez and his agent reportedly […]

London (AFP) – Thomas Tuchel made four changes for Chelsea's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid as he looked for a response following last weekend's shock thrashing by Brentford. After Brentford romped to a 4-1 victory in the Premier League on Saturday, Tuchel dropped Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Marcos Alonso and Ruben Loftus-Cheek […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has warned against viewing Sunday's match with Manchester City as a decider for the Premier League title. Victory at the Etihad Stadium would give Liverpool an 11th successive league win and leave them two points ahead of City at the top of the table with seven games left […]

New York (AFP) – The jersey worn by Diego Maradona when he scored twice against England in the 1986 World Cup, including the infamous "hand of God" goal, is to be auctioned off later this month, Sotheby's announced Wednesday. The blue number 10 shirt has been owned since the end of the controversial World Cup […]

The Hague (AFP) – Former Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman will take over as Netherlands boss from Louis van Gaal after this year's World Cup, the Dutch football federation said on Wednesday. Van Gaal announced at the weekend that he had been receiving treatment for prostate cancer for the last two years but that he still […]

Paris (AFP) – West Ham United host Lyon in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday with the Hammers' run in continental competition bringing back memories of the club's halcyon days. They have not seen a European quarter-final in the east end of London since 1981, when second-division West Ham lost to […]

Madrid (AFP) – "A gift from heaven," was how Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez described the arrival Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the striker, discarded by Arsenal, has certainly delivered. It is hard to think of a more significant January acquisition than Aubameyang, given his impact on Barca's immediate and long-term future. By the end of the season, […]