Milan (AFP) – Lazio bounced back from Rome derby defeat with a 2-1 win over Sassuolo on Saturday which got their push for European football back on track. Goals in each half from Manuel Lazzari and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic were enough to take Maurizio Sarri's side up to fifth, a point ahead of Atalanta and Roma, […]

Burnley (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola said Manchester City have already had an incredible season by putting themselves into position to fight for three trophies in the closing months of the campaign. City retook top spot in the Premier League with a routine 2-0 win at Burnley after being briefly knocked off their perch […]

Paris (AFP) – Martin Terrier grabbed the equaliser to fire Rennes second in Ligue 1 with a 1-1 draw at Nice on Saturday. The French forward struck with 12 minutes to go after Andy Delort had nodded Nice ahead after 67 minutes at the Allianz Riviera. Terrier connected with Benjamin Bourigeaud's free kick to head […]

Berlin (AFP) – Leon Goretzka scored on his first appearance for four months as Bayern Munich romped to a controversial 4-1 win at Freiburg in a match overshadowed by a substitute mix-up on Saturday. Four days before their Champions League quarter-final, first leg at Villarreal, Bayern put in a strong performance on the road. However, […]

London (AFP) – Brentford boss Thomas Frank hailed the impact Christian Eriksen has made on his return to the Premier League after the Dane scored in a remarkable 4-1 win at Chelsea on Saturday. The European champions had gone in front early in the second half at Stamford Bridge through Antonio Rudiger's sensational long-range strike, […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea slumped to a first defeat to Brentford since 1939 as Christian Eriksen inspired the Bees to a 4-1 win that should seal their Premier League survival. The European champions had gone in front early in the second half at Stamford Bridge through Antonio Rudiger's sensational long-range strike, but they collapsed to […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City kept their cool under pressure on Saturday, cruising past Burnley 2-0 after Liverpool briefly replaced the long-time Premier League leaders at the top of the table. Elsewhere, Christian Eriksen scored as Brentford came from behind to beat third-placed Chelsea 4-1 — their first victory against their London rivals since 1939. […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said winning the Premier League is his priority after the Reds went top of the table for the first time this year thanks to a 2-0 win over Watford. Diogo Jota and Fabinho got the goals at Anfield as Klopp's men moved two points ahead of Manchester City, […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool moved top of the Premier League for the first time this year as Diogo Jota's header and a late Fabinho penalty saw off Watford 2-0. Jurgen Klopp's men edge two points ahead of Manchester City, who travel to Burnley later on Saturday, having trailed the English champions by 14 points just […]

Milan (AFP) – Paulo Dybala will start Juventus' pivotal clash with Inter Milan despite a summer exit as a free agent, with rumours the Argentine international could move to the reigning Serie A champions. Coach Massimiliano Allegri confirmed that Dybala would be in his starting XI for Sunday's 'Derby of Italy' as Juve, who are […]

Doha (AFP) – Having fought to win the respect of Iran's football public, Dragan Skocic now has a World Cup showdown with England and a politically charged clash with the United States to cement his international standing. England manager Gareth Southgate admitted he knew little about the Iranian team his side will face on the […]

Paris (AFP) – Heavy snowfall in central France has caused the postponement of the Ligue 1 match between Saint Etienne and Marseille, which had been scheduled for Saturday at 2100 local time. Weather reports said up to 25cm of snow had fallen overnight and the French League agreed with a request from Saint Etienne to […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu says his team have nothing to fear and are aiming for at least the quarter-finals after being drawn in a tough World Cup group containing former champions Spain and Germany. Friday's draw for the World Cup in Qatar later this year threw Japan into Group E along with […]

Doha (AFP) – Who said what at the draw for the 2022 World Cup on Friday: "We have negative memories, but something like that doesn't happen to us twice." — Germany goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer on being drawn with fellow former champions Spain. The Spanish thrashed Germany 6-0 in a Nations League match in […]

Doha (AFP) – AFP Sport examines each group following Friday's draw in Doha for the 2022 Qatar World Cup: Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands Qatar, ranked 51st in the world, are appearing at their first World Cup but were among the top seeds thanks to their privileged status as hosts. With a squad of […]