PARIS: The coronavirus is once again disrupting global sport, forcing the cancellation of English Premier League matches and the scrapping of a one-day cricket series. AFP Sport looks at the state of play around the world as authorities scramble to cope with the surging pandemic. Football Five of the 10 Premier League matches scheduled for … Read more
PARIS: Last season’s beaten finalists Chelsea were sent packing from the Women’s Champions League on Thursday after a 4-0 defeat away to Wolfsburg in Germany in a dramatic final round of group games. Captain Svenja Huth and Tabea Wassmuth, the competition’s leading scorer, both scored twice as the Germans claimed the comprehensive win they needed … Read more
LONDON: The Premier League on Thursday postponed six more matches due to the wave of coronavirus infections hitting Britain, but said it intended to “continue its current fixture schedule where safely possible” as calls for a circuit break intensified. Leicester’s scheduled match against Tottenham was postponed just hours before kick-off on Thursday. Five more games … Read more
MILAN: Inter Milan will attempt to pull clear of AC Milan as they travel to struggling Salernitana in Serie A this weekend while their title rivals host a Napoli smarting from back-to-back defeats. Champions Inter are one point ahead of Milan who on Sunday face a tricky tie against fourth-placed Napoli, just four points off … Read more
MADRID: Sevilla may be Real Madrid’s most likely challengers in La Liga this season and they have a chance to prove it on Saturday when they face the defending champions Atletico Madrid. Atletico’s defeat last weekend in the Madrid derby leaves them 13 points off the top but Sevilla in second are at least slightly … Read more
Barcelona forward Sergio Aguero will make an announcement on his future on Wednesday following cardiac and respiratory difficulties suffered while playing in La Liga in October. Aguero will be accompanied at a press conference Wednesday by club president Joan Laporta, where local media say he will announce his retirement. The 33-year-old joined Barca from Manchester … Read more
MADRID: Carlo Ancelotti was adamant Real Madrid have not sewn up the La Liga title already but beat Atletico Madrid on Sunday and they might not be far away. Madrid are 10 points clear of Atletico heading into the derby at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the chance to extend the gap to 13 points, two weeks before … Read more
MADRID: No sooner has reality hit than Barcelona have to believe in miracles again as Xavi Hernandez’s team seek a victory away at Bayern Munich on Wednesday to take them into the Champions League last 16. Four weeks after Xavi was appointed, Barca suffered their first defeat under their new coach on Saturday and as Real Betis’ … Read more
LIVERPOOL: As Barcelona and Spanish champions Atletico Madrid scrap for a place in the Champions League last 16 this week, the Premier League’s four participants can take it easy knowing their places in the knockout stages are already guaranteed. Read more: Barca, Atletico in danger of Champions League exit Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United … 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
MADRID: Real Sociedad will attempt to halt Real Madrid’s march away from La Liga’s chasing pack on Saturday in a battle of first against third at the Reale Arena. Madrid have stormed seven points clear at the top of the table after seven consecutive victories in all competitions, with nine wins and a draw recorded … Read more
PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain have been milking the fact that they have this year’s Ballon d’Or winner in their ranks, but Lionel Messi was crowned the world’s best player for the seventh time in his glittering career entirely because of what he achieved elsewhere. Read more: Messi claims Ballon d’Or for seventh time At 34, perhaps … Read more
MADRID: Barcelona notched their first away win in La Liga this season in Xavi Hernandez’s first away game in charge as late goals from Memphis Depay and Philippe Coutinho secured a 3-1 victory over Villarreal on Saturday. Barca had gone five away matches in the league without a win but Xavi had the magic touch, with … Read more
LONDON: Giovanni Van Bronckhorst got off to a perfect start as Rangers manager as a 2-0 win over Sparta Prague secured their place in the last 32 of the Europa League, while Leicester edged towards the knockout stages with a 3-1 win over Legia Warsaw. But Celtic’s chances of progress were ended by a late Bayer … Read more
MADRID: Real Madrid will need to capitalise on their excellent run of form to extend their lead at the top of La Liga when they face third-placed Sevilla on Sunday. Madrid have won seven and drawn one of their last eight games in all competitions and look by far the most reliable team in Spain after a … Read more
MADRID: Barcelona threw away a three-goal half-time lead on the day Xavi Hernandez was appointed coach as Celta Vigo scored in the 96th minute to complete a stunning comeback in La Liga on Saturday. Real Madrid then held off Rayo Vallecano’s revival to win 2-1 and return to the top of the table, two points … Read more
Barcelona’s spending limit this season will be almost 650 million euros ($754 million) lower than Real Madrid’s, according to official figures announced by La Liga on Wednesday. Madrid’s cap will be 739 million euros while Barca’s has been cut to just 97 million euros as a result of their dire financial situation. The budgets issued … Read more
Lionel Messi has to leave Barcelona after 21 years. Neither he wanted to leave nor Barcelona wanted him to leave. However, there was another factor that broke them apart. Messi, who is loved by many fans, cried at a press conference on August 8, telling the media that he had no other choice, “The club … Read more
Three goals in 10 minutes at the end of the first half helped Madrid lead the way against Atlético de Madrid, who play at home against Huesca on Thursday.Karim Benzema scored twice and summoned Alvaro Odriozola to enter the Ramon de Carranza Stadium, where any suggestions from Madrid’s players could be destabilized after several extremely … Read more
Lionel Messi missed his chance to score three goals on Thursday when Barcelona sustained a late rematch at Getafe to win 5-2 and remain at the top of the league. Messi scored twice and could have made the third in extra time at the Camp Nou, but postponed the penalty to Antoine Griezmann, who completed … Read more
Spanish Club Barcelona enjoyed the remarkable victory against Villarreal after defeating it with 4-0 in La Liga. Lionel Messi, who remained in the controversy of leaving his club or not, scored in his first game. Notably, Ronald Koeman, who now coaches Barca, tasted the victory of his club and started his era of Barca management … Read more
Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid stole the show on Sunday after his penalty shot against Betis lead to the 3-2 victory in La Liga. According to the details, Madrid captain Ramos showed nerves of steel to shot the ball into the net making their first La Liga victory of the season. Federico Valverde had given … Read more
English Football Club Arsenal after claiming a remarkable victory with 2-0 against Manchester City, has now reached that FA cup final. According to media reports, Arsenal will face Chelsea or Manchester United, who meet in the other semi-final on Sunday, in the final at Wembley on August 1. Arsenal Coach Mikel Arteta said “We have great … Read more
Finally, Real Madrid after tireless efforts and straight wins sealed their 34th LaLiga title with a 2-1 battling victory over Villarreal. The match was played in Alfredo di Stefano in the suburbs of Madrid. Zinedine Zidane’s side claimed their first Spanish title since the 2016/17 season thanks to a Karim Benzema double. Real Madrid marched … Read more
As Real Madrid defeated Granada with 2-1 in a nail biting match on Monday night, Spanish professional football club is now just one way to take the La Liga Title. According to media reports, after its ninth straight win following the coronavirus pandemic break, Club Real Madrid is on the verge of reclaiming the Spanish … Read more
La Liga winning chances of Real Madrid goes high after Karim Benzema leads his team to a 2-0 victory over Alaves in an enticing match on Friday. Karim Benzema took over the armband and then penalty duties, firing in from the spot before teeing up Marco Asensio to add a second at the Alfredo di … Read more
