Moscow (AFP) – Russian Premier League leaders CSKA Moscow hope to bounce back from Monday's 4-1 defeat to Zenit St Petersburg in the domestic cup final when they host Terek Grozny on Saturday. The Red Army side moved top of the table following a 3-0 win at Ural Yekaterinburg last week but are just two […]

Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo lauded the impact made by Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane as the Frenchman led the Spanish giants into the Champions League final with a 1-0 win over Manchester City on Wednesday. Brazilian midfielder Fernando's first-half own goal was the only difference between the sides over two legs as Real set […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid will face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final for the second time in three years after overcoming Manchester City 1-0 in their semi-final second leg on Wednesday. Brazilian midfielder Fernando deflected Gareth Bale's cross into his own net after 20 minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu for the only goal […]

Miami (AFP) – Former England and Chelsea star Joe Cole has signed a deal with US second tier side the Tampa Bay Rowdies, the club said Wednesday. The 34-year-old attacking midfielder joins the North American Soccer League (NASL) team on a deal which runs through to the end of the 2017 season. The club has […]

Montpellier (France) (AFP) – French top-flight side Montpellier will move into a new 25,000-seat stadium no later than 2021, the city's mayor announced on Wednesday. Montpellier mayor Philippe Saurel confirmed to AFP that local authorities are "working on the project of a new football stadium" that will be ready by 2020 or 2021. The planned […]

Madrid (AFP) – A first-half Fernando own goal allowed Real Madrid to beat Manchester City 1-0 in their Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday and qualify for the final. A Gareth Bale shot in the 20th minute at the Santiago Bernabeu deflected in off Fernando and proved the difference in the tie after the […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool midfielder Emre Can is in contention to face Villarreal in Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg after overcoming an ankle problem, manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed on Wednesday. Germany international Can was expected to be sidelined for around four weeks after spraining ankle ligaments against Borussia Dortmund on April 14, but he […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has hit back at critics of the Spanish side's defensive tactics after the club reached a second Champions League final in three years. An incredible rearguard action against Bayern Munich saw Atletico narrowly defeated 2-1 by the German giants on Tuesday to progress on away goals after […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele faces a lengthy ban after the Football Association on Wednesday charged him with violent conduct over an incident involving Chelsea's Diego Costa. Dembele appeared to gouge Costa's eye during Monday's 2-2 draw between the teams at Stamford Bridge and the FA said that if the Belgian midfielder […]

Milan (AFP) – Claudio Ranieri's triumph with Leicester City in England has more than made amends for his unsuccessful time at Roma, according to the Italian's 96-year-old mother. "I'm sorry about how it finished for him at Roma: we've always been a big Roma-supporting family," Renata Ranieri told La Repubblica newspaper on Wednesday. "He took […]

London (AFP) – Having stunned world football by defying odds of 5,000-1 to win the Premier League, the challenge facing Leicester City is how to preserve their new-found status. With preparations for a first ever Champions League campaign high on the agenda, AFP Sport looks at five issues that the club's inspirational manager Claudio Ranieri […]

The new official Chelsea home jersey has been unveiled, and it's a classic blue with white detailing; featuring a new side adidas three stripe execution and a classic V-neck collar with a fitted collar tape. Also, tonal lions adorn the sleeves and front. Chelsea's new jersey will be worn for the first time by the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has promised his side won't be afraid to attack Real Madrid in their bid to reach a first ever Champions League final on Wednesday. City travel to the Spanish capital with the tie finely balanced at 0-0 hoping to stop a Madrid side that has scored 18 […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola says he views his three-year reign at Bayern Munich as a failure having again been unable to steer the Bavarians to the Champions League final. Bayern won the semi-final first leg 1-0 in Spain, but lost the return 2-1 in Munich on Tuesday as Atletico Madrid triumphed on away […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has vowed that his team will rediscover their mojo in time for Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg at home to slick Spanish opponents Villarreal. After a 1-0 first-leg defeat, Klopp saw a much-changed side beaten 3-1 by Swansea City on Sunday and goes into the biggest game […]