Munich, Germany | AFP | Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowski netted twice as Bayern Munich thrashed 10-man Besiktas 5-0 on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie. Disaster struck for Besiktas after just 16 minutes at Munich’s Allianz Arena when Domagoj Vida was sent off …
Read More »Messi ends Chelsea drought to give Barcelona last-16 edge
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Chelsea manager Antonio Conte rued one costly mistake as Lionel Messi gave Barcelona the upper hand from the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie by salvaging a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. Messi struck for the first time in nine games against …
Read More »Wigan to probe crowd trouble after Man City FA Cup shock
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Wigan announced a full investigation on Tuesday into crowd disturbances that marred the club’s dramatic FA Cup victory over Premier League leaders Manchester City. City striker Sergio Aguero became involved in a physical exchange with a Wigan supporter as thousands of fans spilled onto …
Read More »Peace with Pogba needed for Mourinho to shirk familiar criticism
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Manchester United’s Champions League trip to Sevilla on Wednesday night is the type of occasion for which the English giants swallowed their pride to pay £89 million ($125 million) for Paul Pogba, four years after he left Old Trafford for Juventus as a free …
Read More »Paul Put quits as Kenya football coach after brief stay
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Belgian Paul Put on Monday quit as Kenya’s national football coach just two months after taking up the position. Football Kenya Federation (FKF) said 61-year-old Put, who took charge of the Harambee Stars in November and led the team to win the CECAFA Challenge Cup …
Read More »Arsenal announce record shirt deal with Emirates
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Arsenal announced the club’s biggest-ever sponsorship deal worth a reported £200 million on Monday, extending their shirt partnership with Dubai-based airline Emirates by five years. The Gunners confirmed the branding of Emirates, which began its sponsorship agreement with the north London club in 2006, …
Read More »Barca visit presents Champions League stage Conte craves
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Barcelona’s visit to Chelsea on Tuesday gives Antonio Conte the perfect opportunity to reaffirm his stature as one of Europe’s greatest coaches. “To play against Barcelona is a great challenge for us,” Conte said after easing the pressure on his job with back-to-back home …
Read More »Wigan end Man City quadruple bid with Cup shock
Wigan, United Kingdom | AFP | Pep Guardiola’s quest to win an unprecedented quadruple with Manchester City came to a stunning and controversial end when they fell to a 1-0 defeat at third-tier Wigan in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Monday. In an uncanny repeat of the …
Read More »Real Madrid win eight-goal thriller, Atletico keep up Barca chase
Seville, Spain | AFP | Man of the moment Marco Asensio scored twice and Cristiano Ronaldo was also on target as Real Madrid kept up the feel-good factor with a thrilling 5-3 victory at Real Betis in La Liga on Sunday night. Madrid had been 2-1 down at half-time in …
Read More »Spurs face uncertain Cup fate after Rochdale revival
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Tottenham Hotspur were left in FA Cup limbo after being held to a 2-2 draw by lowly Rochdale in a fifth-round tie on Sunday. It seemed Harry Kane’s penalty two minutes from time, which made it 2-1 to the visitors, had seen Spurs straight …
Read More »