Middlesbrough (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Alvaro Negredo scored a brace as goal-shy Middlesbrough got back to winning ways before Christmas with a 3-0 success which sent Swansea deeper into the relegation zone on Saturday. The Spanish international had netted just three times for the Premier League strugglers, failing to score in 13 of his previous 15 […]

Stoke-on-Trent (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Claudio Ranieri lost Jamie Vardy and his own composure, but saw 10-man Leicester City display the spirit of champions in a 2-2 draw at Stoke City on Saturday. Daniel Amartey completed the comeback in the 88th minute as he rose between two defenders to head home a Christian Fuchs cross […]

Madrid (AFP) – A stunning 25-yard strike from Saul Niguez snapped Atletico Madrid's three-game winless streak with a nervy 1-0 win over Las Palmas on Saturday to move up to fifth in La Liga. Atletico started the day 12 points adrift of leaders Real Madrid after a run of four defeats in seven league games. […]

London (AFP) – Diego Costa earned Chelsea a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday as the Premier League leaders claimed a club record-equalling 11th consecutive league victory. Costa headed home Cesar Azpilicueta's cross in the 43rd minute at a foggy Selhurst Park to send Antonio Conte's men nine points clear of second-place Liverpool. "The […]

London (AFP) – Diego Costa's goal gave Chelsea a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday as the Premier League leaders claimed a club record-equalling 11th consecutive league victory. Costa struck in the 43rd-minute at a foggy Selhurst Park, rising at the back post to nod Cesar Azpilicueta's cross past Wayne Hennessey for his 13th […]

Yokohama (Japan) (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane admitted on Saturday his players were suffering from cabin fever after spending almost a week cooped up in a Japanese hotel. As the European champions prepare to plunder more silverware at the Club World Cup, Zidane has noticed his players becoming restless before the final against […]

London (AFP) – David Moyes admits he might not have taken the Sunderland job if he had known the Premier League strugglers had so little money and would be put up for sale. Moyes took charge at Sunderland in July after Sam Allardyce was appointed England manager, but the Scot now claims he was lured […]

If we are going to get an overdue title race in Serie A this season, we’ll find out on Saturday. That’s as leaders Juventus, with four points in hand at the top of the pile, host their keenest pursuers in Roma. Juve may have been a shade under their very best for the majority of […]

London (AFP) – Antonio Conte has warned his Chelsea stars to guard against complacency as the Premier League leaders travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday. Conte's side secured a 10th straight victory by winning 1-0 at Sunderland in midweek and can register 11 successive league wins within the same season for the first time if […]

London (AFP) – Long portrayed as a lone idealist amid the cut-throat pragmatism of the Premier League, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has found a new ally in his Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola. They face off at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday at a time when Guardiola's attachment to attacking football has itself come under […]

London (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino admits Tottenham have no margin for error as they try to make up ground in the title race with a win against Burnley on Sunday. Pochettino's side currently occupy fifth place in the Premier League table after last season's tilt at the title saw them pipped by Leicester and then […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich's German international defender Jerome Boateng will be sidelined for a number of weeks after needing a shoulder operation, Kicker magazine reported on its website. Asked if surgery was necessary, the 28-year-old Boateng told Kicker: "Unfortunately, yes." Boateng, who suffered the injury in a training ground fall, missed the start of […]

Berlin (AFP) – Hoffenhem and Borussia Dortmund fought out an entertaining 2-2 draw Friday which saw both sides stay on the fringes of the Bundesliga title race. Hoffenheim, who move third with the point after their fourth draw in five games, now trail Bayern Munich and Leipzig by six points having played a game more […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Luis Suarez on Friday said he was delighted after signing his lucrative contract extension at Barcelona through to June 2021. "I am very happy. It's what I wanted and the club too and so I feel huge satisfaction," Suarez told Barca TV, saying the deal showed the "recognition of the club" to […]

London (AFP) – Alexis Sanchez has told Arsenal he is "very happy" at the Premier League club, but the Chile forward insists it is up to them to come up with the right contract to keep him. Sanchez has 18 months remaining on his current deal and both he and Arsenal team-mate Mesut Ozil are […]