An assist and a goal for the perfect night out / Image via mirror.co.uk
Reigning champions of England, Chelsea, have ended their European path on Wednesday night as they have suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, who have outplayed Blues on both occasions of this two-legged tie.
French giants are progressing through to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on a 4-2 aggregate win, which comes as a merited reward for Laurent Blanc’s men.
On the other hand, it was an utterly disappointing night for the English champions who have lost their only hope of playing in Europe next season.
Sitting tenth in the Premier League table, Chelsea were hoping to repeat their 2012 heroics when they managed to lift the European trophy as the sixth …
Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain says his team-mates are dreaming of the Scudetto ahead of Monday s visit from Serie A leaders Inter.
Going into the weekend s Serie A action, Inter sit two points clear of Maurizio Sarri s Napoli at the summit, although the pair s closest challengers Fiorentina and Roma are both in action on Sunday.
Inter and Napoli have conceded just seven and eight league goals respectively this term, taking advantage of Juventus sluggish title defence to stake an early claim for the Scudetto.
While both camps have been eager to play down their respective title chances so far as they approach the midway point of the season, Higuain admitted his focus was firmly on winning the league.
It s only right to dream and anyone who says they…
FIFPRO, the global union representing football players, has launched a legal claim against FIFA over the match calendar and the scheduling of next year s expanded Club World Cup.
FIFA s decision to stage a 32-team Club World Cup in the United States next year has attracted fierce criticism from pundits and players, with many believing it will exacerbate issues arising from fixture congestion.
Earlier this week, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti suggested the European champions could boycott the tournament, only for the club to quickly confirm their participation in a statement.
Ahead of last year s seven-team Club World Cup, Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva said the expansion of the football calendar would lead to matches losing energy and intensity .
Erik ten Hag challenged a fully fit Aaron Wan-Bissaka to stake his claim for a starting berth and welcomed the added competition he provides at right-back for Manchester United.
The defender has played just three times across all competitions under the Dutchman this campaign, having struggled with illness and injuries.
Wan-Bissaka had been linked with a January exit from Old Trafford, with former club Crystal Palace having been tipped among his suitors.
But an impressive performance on United s return to Premier League action against Nottingham Forest has seemingly breathed new life into his career with the Red Devils.
Ahead of his side s trip to Wolves on Saturday, Ten Hag indicated Wan-Bissaka s absence was more a matter of fitness than form.
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Defending champions Manchester United will open their EFL Cup campaign against Burton Albion in the third round.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the hero last season as United edged Southampton in extra time to claim the trophy, and Jose Mourinho s men are set to start their title defence at home to the Championship outfit in September.
It will be only the second meeting between the two sides following United s FA Cup third-round replay win in 2006.
The draw was heavily criticised prior to Thursday due to the location and unusual time, with it scheduled to be staged in Beijing at 11:15 local time (03:15 GMT) in the Chinese capital.
: Round Three Draw :trophy: v
— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup)
And fans in Britain who set their alarms to follow the…
Javier Pastore is not contemplating leaving Paris Saint-Germain in January despite acknowledging that he needs to play more regularly if he is to get into Argentina s World Cup squad.
The playmaker joined PSG from Palermo ahead of the 2011-12 Ligue 1 season and was one of the first big signings of the club s Qatari revolution.
He was a success in his first four years in Paris, but injuries, inconsistency and competition for places have hampered his progress since 2015.
This term Pastore has featured in seven of PSG s 13 Ligue 1 games, earning his fourth start in Saturday s 4-1 win over Nantes, setting up Edinson Cavani for their first goal and scoring the third.
The 28-year-old knows that he probably needs to be featuring more regularly if he is to be inc…
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…
With the Champions League knockout stage getting underway on Tuesday night, two of Europe’s biggest icons will steal centre stage.
On a Tuesday schedule that features both Real Madrid and defending European champions Manchester City, we have found a pair of intriguing betting markets that are worth keeping an eye out for.
20:00 FC Copenhagen vs Manchester City
Making real history last season as they became the first English club since 1999 to be crowned treble champions, Manchester City have cemented their spot as one of the greatest club side from across the modern era. Enjoying what has been an extended purple patch, the Premier League giants will be looking to make another statement here.
Picking up some perfect momentum over the weekend as they s…
Bruno Fernandes said the criticism that followed Portugal s 2-1 defeat by Croatia at the weekend was a reflection of fans elevated expectations ahead of Euro 2024.
The Selecao das Quinas concluded their preparations for the tournament with a disappointing display in Lisbon, with Luka Modric s penalty and Ante Budimir s second-half strike cancelling Diogo Jota s equaliser, giving the visitors their first win over their opponents in their history.
Portugal won all 10 of their qualifiers, but prior to travelling to Germany this week, have suffered defeats to Croatia and Slovenia in recent friendlies.
The 2016 champions have since failed to go beyond the quarter-finals of an international tournament, including at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Fernandes says…
By a quirk of fate Dean Smith is in familiar territory. Three years ago, at an empty London Stadium because of the pandemic, he preserved Aston Villa’s Premier League status on the final day of the season courtesy of a draw against David Moyes’s West Ham. Moyes and West Ham again stand in the way of Smith securing safety and, eerily, Everton also host Bournemouth, as they did at the climax of that strange season.
This time, however, the scenario is much simpler – and there will be supporters to provide mood music. “Can you create scoreboard pressure on other teams? I don’t know,” the interim Leicester manager says. “We just have to concentrate on trying to win the game.”
Allardyce calls in Leeds legends to prepare squad fo…