London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his team were not physically ready for the Premier League season after opening the campaign with a chaotic 4-3 defeat at home to Liverpool. With Per Mertesacker and Gabriel injured and Laurent Koscielny short of match fitness, Wenger deployed Calum Chambers, 21, and 20-year-old debutant Rob Holding […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Already buoyed by the pursuit of landing a first gold medal in the sport for football-mad Brazil, the hosts' women will be inspired by the rare chance to play at the iconic Maracana in their Olympics semi-final with Sweden on Tuesday. Having lived for so long in the shadow of […]

Bournemouth (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho believes Zlatan Ibrahimovic's influence on his Manchester United team-mates will be just as crucial as his inspirational contribution on the pitch. Ibrahimovic marked his Premier League debut for United in memorable fashion as the flamboyant Swedish striker hammered a 25-yard strike past Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc to cap […]

Madrid (AFP) – Luis Suarez and Munir El Haddadi shot down Sevilla to give Barcelona a comfortable victory in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday. The Uruguayan opened the scoring early in the second half, making amends for two misses earlier in the game, before Munir sealed the win when […]

Paris (AFP) – Nice started the new Ligue 1 season with a 1-0 victory over Rennes on Sunday as emotional tributes were paid to the 85 people killed in last month's terror attack, while Alexandre Lacazette's hat-trick powered Lyon past Nancy. Teenage debutant Malang Sarr's second-half header ensured a winning start for new Nice coach […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Carlo Ancelotti claimed his first title as Bayern Munich coach on Sunday as a 2-0 victory at Borussia Dortmund gave last season's double winners the German Super Cup. The 57-year-old has succeeded Pep Guardiola, who won seven titles in three years as Bayern coach, and Ancelotti made a flying start on […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech's day went from bad to worse as he conceded four goals in a 4-3 defeat by Liverpool on Sunday before crashing his car into a pillar. The former Czech Republic international, 34, was beaten four times at the Emirates Stadium as Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool came from behind to […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said his over-exuberant celebrations were to blame for his team almost throwing away victory in their pulsating 4-3 Premier League win at Arsenal on Sunday. After Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead at the Emirates Stadium, Philippe Coutinho scored twice and Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane also found the […]

Paris (AFP) – Nice started the new Ligue 1 season with a 1-0 victory over Rennes on Sunday as emotional tributes were paid to the 85 people killed in last month's terror attack. Teenage debutant Malang Sarr's second-half header ensured a winning start for new coach Lucien Favre, but the atmosphere was sombre at the […]

London (AFP) – Philippe Coutinho's double inspired Liverpool to come from behind and beat Arsenal 4-3 in an action-packed clash of Premier League heavyweights at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. After seeing a penalty saved by Simon Mignolet, Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead, only for Coutinho to reply with a picture-perfect free-kick in first-half injury […]

Paris (AFP) – Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette scored a hat-trick on the opening weekend of the French season as last year's Ligue 1 runners-up won 3-0 away to promoted Nancy on Sunday. Lacazette, who has been linked with a move to the Premier League as well as Paris Saint-Germain this summer, fired Lyon ahead on […]

Bournemouth (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho expects Zlatan Ibrahimovic to help Manchester United rule the Premier League after the Swedish star marked his debut with an excellent goal in Sunday's 3-1 win at Bournemouth. After winning league titles with Ajax, Barcelona, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, Ibrahimovic has his sights set on […]

Bournemouth (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United made a flying start to the Jose Mourinho era as goals from Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic sealed a 3-1 win in their Premier League opener at Bournemouth on Sunday. Mourinho is desperate to restore his tarnished reputation after being sacked by Chelsea last season and […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer says he is baffled as to why Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has demoted World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger and banished him from United's senior squad. "I can't understand it. Bastian is a super player and an important figure with a lot of experience, who is very important […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Neymar led Brazil into the semi-finals of the Olympics with his first goal of the competition to edge the third of a trilogy of grudge matches with Colombia in three years 2-0. The Barcelona star curled home an inch-perfect free-kick after just 12 minutes of Saturday's game, but was lucky […]