SPORTS

Berlin, Germany | XINHUA | There are likely few topics that occupy Robert Lewandowski’s mind as much as winning the Champions League. Seven years ago, he arrived at closest point to realizing his dream. Playing for Dortmund, he narrowly lost the 2013 final against Bayern 2-1 while also failing to …

Madrid, Spain | XINHUA | It is make or break time for FC Barcelona and coach Quique Setien when Barca take on Napoli in the Camp Nou Stadium on Saturday night for a place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Defeat for Setien’s men will bring Barca’s season to …

Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA |   Bayer Leverkusen cruised into the quarterfinal after beating Glasgow Rangers 1-0 (4-1 on aggregate) thanks to a second-half goal from Moussa Diaby in the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday. The Rangers had a tough task ahead as they needed three goals without reply …

Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | Sevilla booked their spot in the quarterfinal after edging an uninspired Roma 2-0 on first-half goals from Sergio Reguilon and Youssef En-Nesyri in an all-or-nothing encounter in Europa League’s round of the last 16 on Thursday. The fixture was set as a single-legged clash after the …

Madrid, Spain | XINHUA | Real Madrid look to overturn a 2-1 home defeat from the first leg when they visit Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium on Friday night in the return leg of their last 16 Champions League tie. When City outplayed Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium at the …

Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA |  Real Madrid’s Japanese international forward Takefusa Kubo is on the verge of agreeing to a one-year loan deal with Villarreal, with the agreement likely to be made official in the coming hours according to reports in the Spanish press. The 19-year-old impressed last season in …

Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA |  English Premier League side Manchester City announced on Wednesday that Dutch international Nathan Ake has signed a five-year deal with the club to the summer of 2025. The 25-year-old defender, departing from relegated Bournemouth, became City’s second signing of this summer after the club completed …

Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA |  Goals from Romelu Lukaku and substitute Christian Eriksen helped clinical Inter to move 2-0 past wasteful Getafe in the Europa League round of 16 at the Arena AufSchalke on Wednesday. Inter Milan booked their berth for the quarterfinal as the game against Getafe was played …

Madrid, Spain | XINHUA | Former Spain and Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas officially announced his retirement on Tuesday, after 725 games for Real Madrid, 156 for Porto and a record 167 caps for the Spanish national team. The 39-year-old confirmed in an open letter that he had hung up his …

Tokyo, Japan | XINHUA | Tokyo 2020 spokesman Masa Takaya on Tuesday did not rule out the possibility of hosting the postponed Olympic Games behind closed doors while insisting that nobody wants to see the games without spectators. Japan’s JIJI Press last week quoted an unnamed Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) …