Liverpool made it a perfect six Champions League wins from six on Tuesday with a 2-1 victory at AC Milan which knocked one of Europe’s most storied clubs out of continental competition for another season. Fikayo Tomori had given Milan, who needed to win and a favourable result between Porto and Atletico Madrid, hope they … Read more
Eight-time Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou FC have appointed Zheng Zhi as player-coach, with the club fighting for its future because of a debt crisis at owners China Evergrande. The 41-year-old, a midfielder who played in the English Premier League for Charlton Athletic, takes charge of China’s most successful football team following the sacking two … Read more
Domenico Tedesco is expected to succeed Jesse Marsch as the next head coach of RB Leipzig, according to German media reports Wednesday. Broadcaster Sky, top-selling daily Bild and magazine Kicker say Tedesco, 36, is on the verge of agreeing to take on the job. Marsch was sacked last Sunday, after just four months in charge, … Read more
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham was on Tuesday fined 40,000 euros ($45,000), but escaped a ban after making explosive comments about the referee following last weekend’s Bundesliga home defeat to Bayern Munich. The German Football Association (DFB) said they have fined Bellingham for “unsportsmanlike conduct”. The 18-year-old claimed costly decisions by referee Felix Zwayer in … Read more
Tottenham have been hit by a coronavirus outbreak ahead of their vital Europa Conference League match against Rennes, reports said on Tuesday. It is understood that a number of first-team players and members of the coaching staff have tested positive for Covid-19, with more tests due to take place. Antonio Conte’s side are due to … Read more
Injuries will force Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann to make changes for Wednesday’s Champions League match at home to Barcelona behind closed doors. Bayern are already into the last 16 as group winners, but want a sixth win from six games in the group stages when they host Barcelona, who they trounced 3-0 at the … Read more
Kevin De Bruyne will make his first Manchester City start for a month in Tuesday’s Champions League trip to RB Leipzig after Pep Guardiola revealed the Belgian was left feeling “empty” by coronavirus. De Bruyne’s season has been heavily disrupted by injury and illness. The 30-year-old suffered ankle ligament damage when representing his country at … Read more
Mauricio Pochettino says he has the support of the Paris Saint-Germain players and he will not change course despite criticism of the style of play of the Qatar-backed French club. The 49-year-old Argentinian was in attacking mode at his press conference on the eve of PSG’s final Champions League group game with Club Brugge. The … Read more
Pep Guardiola has warned Kevin De Bruyne that he faces a fight to win back a regular place in the Manchester City side after a campaign marred by injuries and a coronavirus infection. The Belgium midfielder returned to action as a substitute against Watford on Saturday but has been told he will start Tuesday’s Champions … Read more
Fresh off winning the Brazilian league title for the first time in 50 years, football club Atletico Mineiro gave its fans free tattoos Monday to celebrate. Hundreds of fans lined up in the rain in the club’s hometown, the southeastern city of Belo Horizonte, to get one of four designs immortalized on the body part … Read more
Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero has resigned after his reported arrest on Monday for alleged involvement in fraudulent bankruptcy cases, the Italian Serie A club announced. “We learned with great surprise of the arrest of Massimo Ferrero (…) for bankruptcy cases which date back many years,” Genoa-based outfit said in a statement. “It is important to … Read more
“There are two responses,” Diego Simeone said after Atletico Madrid lost to Mallorca on Saturday in La Liga, four days before needing to win away at Porto in the Champions League — “depression or rebellion.” Only a victory will do in Portugal otherwise Atletico will go out in the group stage for only the second … Read more
West Ham defender Arthur Masuaku was the unlikely match-winner as the Hammers twice came from behind to shock Chelsea 3-2 at the weekend in the Premier League. The Democratic Republic of Congo international came off the bench and beat Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy at his near post on 87 minutes with a cross-cum-shot. Chelsea began … Read more
Norwegian club Tromso IL on Monday presented what it called “the world’s first football jersey with a QR code” aimed at defending human rights in Qatar ahead of the 2022 World Cup. The jersey, developed in collaboration with Amnesty International, features a QR code which, when scanned, takes users to a website with information about … Read more
The German Football Association (DFB) on Monday opened an investigation into explosive remarks made by England midfielder Jude Bellingham about the referee after Borussia Dortmund’s 3-2 loss to Bayern Munich. The 18-year-old Bellingham claimed costly decisions by referee Felix Zwayer in Saturday’s game were to be expected given he was implicated in the worst match-fixing … Read more
Ralf Rangnick’s reign at Manchester United got off to a winning start thanks to a stunning strike from the much-maligned Fred to beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday. A bright start from the Red Devils fizzled out without reward and the German looked like he might have to settle for a disappointing … Read more
New Hertha Berlin coach Tayfun Korkut began his reign with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against former club and fellow Bundesliga strugglers Stuttgart on Sunday. Montenegro striker Stevan Jovetic struck either side of half-time as Hertha fought back from two goals down to snatch a point in their first game under their new boss. Stuttgart-born Korkut … Read more
Chelsea’s women completed a treble of domestic trophies from the 2020/21 season as Sam Kerr scored twice to beat Arsenal 3-0 in front of more than 40,000 fans at Wembley. Fran Kirby gave the Blues a third-minute lead and Chelsea dominated throughout, squandering a number of chances before Kerr struck twice in the second half. … Read more
Marseille missed the chance to cement their grip on second place in the Ligue 1 table on Saturday as Jorge Sampaoli’s side threw away the lead to lose 2-1 at home to a Brest team on a record winning run. Brazilian international Gerson gave Marseille a first-half lead at the Velodrome with his second goal … Read more
A much-changed AC Milan saw off bottom side Salernitana 2-0 on Saturday to take top spot in Serie A as previous leaders Napoli lost 3-2 to Atalanta, while Inter Milan cruised to victory at Roma. Milan coach Stefano Pioli made six changes to his starting XI from the midweek victory at Genoa, with Tuesday’s crucial … Read more
Real Madrid stretched their lead at the top of La Liga to eight points on Saturday with a slick 2-0 win over Real Sociedad but the victory was tarnished by an injury to Karim Benzema. Carlo Ancelotti said Benzema is likely now to miss Tuesday’s Champions League game at home to Inter Milan although was … Read more
Felipe Mora scored in the first half and Santiago Moreno in the second Saturday as the Portland Timbers beat Real Salt Lake 2-0 to reach the MLS Cup Final. The victory in the Western Conference Final sends Portland into their third-ever MLS Cup championship match, which they will host on December 11 against either New … Read more
RB Leipzig said Sunday that coach Jesse Marsch is leaving his job with immediate effect, amid a disappointing season for the ambitious Bundesliga side. The 48-year-old American had come under increasing pressure due to a series of poor results, with Friday’s 2-1 loss to Union Berlin — their third successive Bundesliga defeat — proving the … Read more
Borussia Dortmund said Sunday they would stand by England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who faces potential sanctions and even legal consequences after he made explosive comments about the referee after his side’s 3-2 defeat to Bayern Munich on Saturday. “The boy is 18 years old and was speaking after a heated and emotional game. We will … Read more
Italian prosecutors have targeted Juventus with fresh searches in a probe over player transfers, turning a spotlight on the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Serie A club announced. In a statement issued overnight, which only emerged Friday, Juventus said it had “received notification today (Thursday) of a new search and seizure order relative to the … Read more
PAOK Thessaloniki were on Friday fined 193,500 euros by the Greek Super League and must play their next four home matches without spectators because of fan violence during last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Aris. The club has the right to appeal the decision by the league’s disciplinary board. Police arrested four PAOK supporters as dozens … Read more
Jurgen Klopp says Diogo Jota’s intensity made him stand out as an ideal Liverpool player before the Portugal forward even moved to Anfield. Jota first caught Klopp’s attention with his work-rate and intelligence while playing for Wolves against Liverpool in the FA Cup in 2018. Less than two years later, Klopp paid £41 million ($54 … Read more
Bayern Munich hope Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka can shake off a hip injury to feature in their Bundesliga showdown at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. “With Leon, the chances are 60/40, so it won’t be decided until tomorrow. There is a pain issue,” Bayern head coach Julian Nagelsmann said Friday. “I hope he plays, but the … Read more
