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 »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 »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 »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 »Barcelona grind out victory in Eibar before Chelsea trip
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba were on target as Barcelona saw off Eibar 2-0 on Saturday to continue their unbeaten record in La Liga and extend their lead at the top of the table. Lionel Messi had a hand in both goals against an Eibar …
Read More »Demands of coaching Real Madrid are ‘exhausting’ – Zidane
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Zinedine Zidane has admitted that coaching Real Madrid is draining as he prepares his side for their return to La Liga action on the back of the Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain. “It is exhausting, for sure, even more so at Real Madrid,” the …
Read More »Advantage Ronaldo but Neymar warns it’s not over yet
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Paris Saint-Germain face a huge task to reach the Champions League quarter-finals after Cristiano Ronaldo defied talk that his powers are waning with two goals as Real Madrid won 3-1 in the first leg of their last-16 tie. Billed as a contest between World Player …
Read More »Barcelona humiliation can help PSG in Real Madrid clash – Emery
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery believes his side can benefit from the memory of last year’s stinging defeat to Barcelona when they take on Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday. “Perhaps our preparation began with that match. We have not talked about it a …
Read More »Zidane fighting for future in PSG Champions League tie
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Zinedine Zidane inspired France to World Cup glory as a player, but his extraordinary career has to a large degree been defined by the Champions League. His magnificent volleyed goal for Real Madrid in their 2002 win over Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park in Glasgow is …
Read More »Froome to start season in Spain under doping cloud
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Chris Froome said Monday he is “confident” of progress in a probe into his adverse doping test as the British rider prepares for his first race of the season at this month’s Ruta del Sol. Froome will be part of Team Sky’s line-up for the …
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