Mbappe and Di Maria inspire PSG and delight Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel lauded Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria s powers of recovery after they inspired Paris Saint-Germain s 3-0 win at Nice on Sunday.

France forward Mbappe made his first PSG appearance of the season following a positive coronavirus test.

His return heralded by far PSG s most convincing display of their title defence to date, following back-to-back losses against Lens and Marseille before the last-gasp 1-0 victory over Metz in midweek.

Di Maria also tested positive for COVID-19 but has managed to play three games since his return despite minimal time on the training pitch.

The Argentina winger scored from the rebound in first-half stoppage time when Mbappe s shot was saved, with the ex-Monaco man having won and converted a penalty to open the sc…

AC Milan go after Mandzukic

According to a recent report from Corriere dello Sport, AC Milan will make an effort to try and sign Juventus forward Mario Mandzukic during the January transfer window – however, they will also continue to try and focus on bringing Zlatan Ibrahimovic back to the club. 

There are still quite a few moving parts, but given how poorly Milan’s season has gone up to this point, it feels like they need to act pretty quickly. They need to vault themselves back into a position whereby they’re viewed as contenders in Serie A again, and right now, with this squad, that looks quite a distance off of becoming a reality. 

They need a natural goalscorer and with that can also come a veteran that knows how to lead a team. In both senses, Mandzukic and Ibrahimovic will …

Cannavaro appointed as Benevento boss

Italy legend Fabio Cannavaro has taken his first coaching role in his homeland with Serie B side Benevento.

The former Azzurri captain was appointed on Wednesday after Fabio Caserta was relieved of his duties.

Caserta was sacked on Tuesday following back-to-back defeats to Cagliari and Brescia.

Cannavaro takes charge with Benevento 13th in the second tier of Italian football, and his first game at the helm will be against Ascoli on October 2.

The 49-year-old s last role was with Chinese Super League side Guangzhou, and he had a brief spell as China boss in 2019.

Cannavaro will be presented to the media at Palazzo Paolo V at 5pm local time on Thursday.

Prediction: Manchester City vs Liverpool

Best odds: 1/2

Bookmaker:

The World Cup is over and the players are slowly going back to their clubs to resume their regular duties between now and the end of the season. In England, it s the Carabao Cup first, and the fourth-round draw has coughed up the biggest rivalry of the country. On Thursday evening, Premier League champions Manchester City will play host to the holders of both cups, as well as Premier League and Champions League runners-up from last season, Liverpool.

Manchester City

This particular competition has mostly been a speciality of Pep Guardiola and his team since he took over back in 2016, and this clash will surely be the best possible opportunity to get back at Liverpool for taking that trophy away to Anfield last term. To get here, City e…

Juventus successfully appeal 15-point deduction but Paratici´s ban upheld

Juventus 15-point deduction has been suspended, but Fabio Paratici has had his ban from football upheld.

Serie A giants Juve were handed the punishment in January after an investigation into a capital gains case, with the club found guilty of alleged breaches in relation to historical transfer dealings.

Former chairman Andrea Agnelli, ex-director Pavel Nedved and managing director Fabio Paratici, who joined Tottenham in 2021, were all suspended from football by the Italian Football Federation (FICG), along with eight other individuals.

However, Juve s initial appeal to have the deduction revoked has proved successful, with the Collegio di Garanzia referring the case back to the FIGC.

That will mean the Bianconeri rise to third in Serie A, back into the Ch…

´He´s earned the right´ – England boss Southgate says Maddison deserved World Cup call-up

Gareth Southgate says James Maddison earned the right to be called up to England s squad for the World Cup in Qatar.

Maddison s 22 Premier League goal involvements in 2022 are the second most among England players behind Harry Kane s 32.

But despite his impressive form this year, Maddison was not called up for England s Nations League games in September and, having not featured for the national team since 2019, there was a debate over whether he should be included in the squad for Qatar.

Thursday s announcement confirmed his seat on the plane, and Southgate says the Leicester City man deserves it.

He s playing really well. He s a good player, we ve always said he s a good player. He s earned the right, the England boss said.

We think he can give…

Whitecaps sign free agent Armstrong after Southampton departure

Stuart Armstrong has completed a move to the MLS with the Vancouver Whitecaps following his exit from Southampton at the end of last season.

Armstrong, who made 214 appearances in all competitions for the Saints, has signed a two-year deal and will join fellow Scotland team-mate Ryan Gauld at the club, having previously played with him at Dundee United.

The 32-year-old was part of Steve Clarke s Scotland side during their dismal display at Euro 2024, featuring once as a substitute in their 1-0 defeat to Hungary.

He played 42 times in the Championship for Russell Martin s side last year, scoring five goals and adding seven assists, but missed the play-off final with a hamstring injury.

During his four-year stint at St. Mary s, Armstrong made 149 appearan…

Chelsea agree fee with Monaco for France international defender Axel Disasi

Chelsea have agreed a fee with Monaco to sign France defender Axel Disasi, the PA news agency understands.

A deal worth £38.5million is believed to have been struck, which will see the 25-year-old make the move to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues dipped into the market for a centre-back after Wesley Fofana suffered a serious knee injury.

Disasi moved to Monaco from Reims in 2020 and has made 118 appearances for the Ligue 1 side, and has impressed suitably in the principality to have made his senior France debut.

Having previously been capped at Under-20 level, he became the first Frenchman to make his debut at a World Cup since 1966 when he featured in the 1-0 group-stage loss to Tunisia in Qatar.

Disasi is set to become Chelsea’s third major signing…

Bitesize Prediction: Borussia Monchengladbach vs Augsburg – 21/01/24

Market: Borussia Monchengladbach win

Odds: 1/1 @

Hoping to extend their stay in the top-half of the Bundesliga standings, Borussia Monchengladbach will host Augsburg on Sunday afternoon.

Starting with the hosts, while Borussia Monchengladbach might have signed off 2023 in the midst of a blip, Gerardo Seoane’s side certainly came roaring back last weekend. Putting in a rampant performance on home soil as they stormed to a 3-1 victory against Champions League dreamers Stuttgart, the Foals will be desperate to use that display as a platform to build on. With another top-half finish at the top of their agenda this year, the former Bayer Leverkusen boss will be hugely excited by his side’s continued success at Borussia-Park. Including a stellar 4-0 romp against W…

Ten Hag and Rashford bemoan referee after Barcelona draw

Erik ten Hag was left furious with the referee s decision to not give Manchester United a free-kick for an apparent foul on Marcus Rashford during their 2-2 draw with Barcelona at Camp Nou in their Europa League knockout round play-off first leg.

Rashford was a thorn in Barca s side throughout and appeared to be taken out by Jules Kounde when through on goal just outside the penalty area with United leading 2-1, but referee Maurizio Mariani allowed play to continue.

The England international equalised Marcos Alonso s opener earlier in the second half before forcing a Kounde own goal to give United the lead, though Raphinha levelled with 14 minutes remaining.

Despite the generally positive performance and result, Ten Hag felt a need to focus on the incident involv…