Football
Europa: Arsenal overcome scare to beat Molde
Arsenal overcame an early scare to continue their perfect start in the Europa League with a 4-1 victory over Norwegian side Molde at the Emirates Stadium. Martin Ellingsen’s long-range effort gave the visitors a shock lead in the 22nd minute, but Arsenal, after a rather disjointed first-half performance, were back on level terms just before the break thanks to Kristoffer Haugen’s own goal (+1). The turnaround was complete in the 62nd minute as substitute Sheriff Sinyan also turned into his own net, before Nicolas Pepe (69) and Joe Willock (88) added the gloss to the scoreline for Mikel Arteta’s side. It’s three wins from three in Europe now for the Gunners, who move three points clear of Molde at the top of Group B as they race towards qualification for the knockout rounds. After a slow st...
Fabinho wants Liverpool contract talks after rejecting ‘top Spanish club’
Getty Images Fabinho and Liverpool will begin talks soon over a contract extension. The Brazilian has become an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s side, which has won the Champions League and Premier League since he arrived. And reputable journalist Fabrizio Romano says that while Fabinho rejected an offer from a ‘top club in Spain’ last summer, he wants to extend his stay at Anfield. Romano told his Here We Go podcast: “Talks are going to start for Fabinho to extend his contract with Liverpool. It is the same situation [as] Van Dijk, they have the same contract, so two years [remaining] with Liverpool. “Fabinho wants to extend his contract with Liverpool. He [gave] an interview explaining he is so happy with Liverpool, but he’s also so happy for the future of Liverpool; [he has been] talking...
Cristiano Ronaldo to make Portugal return against France, Croatia
Cristiano Ronaldo was on Thursday named in the Portugal squad to play a friendly against Andorra and Nations League matches against France and Croatia. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner tested positive for coronavirus on October 13 when with the Portugal squad, going on to miss the 3-0 victory over Sweden. The 35-year-old finally tested negative 19 days later, returning to the pitch with a double for Juventus against Spezia in Serie A action on Sunday. The Portugal captain also played in Juve’s 4-1 victory over Ferencvaros in the Champions League on Wednesday. Reigning European champions Portugal take on Andorra on Wednesday before Nations League A3 matches at home against France on November 14 and away to Croatia three days later. The main absentee from Fernando Santos’ 25-man squad is Pep...
Flying Eagles: WAFU B Zonal U-20 qualifiers postponed due to virus
The WAFU B Zonal qualifiers which will feature the Flying Eagles of Nigeria and six other West African countries billed for Lome, Togo, has been shifted to a later date due to coronavirus. The Togolese Football Federation (FTF) confirmed the postponement of the tournament in a communique published on their Twitter handle on Thursday. The WAFU B Zonal qualifiers which will be the qualifiers for the 2021 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Mauritania, was originally scheduled for November 18 to December 2. According to FTF they will engage WAFU and CAF to find a new date for the competition. “The Togolese Football Federation is announcing to the sporting world that the WAFU Zone B tournament scheduled for Lome between November 18 and December has been postponed to a future date following a decisio...
Barcelona boss angry with team and individual performances
Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman is not happy with multiple aspects of the performance of his team and individuals. The Dutchman once again was critical of elements of his side’s play despite edging out a 2-1 victory over Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. Koeman told reporters after the encounter, in quotes carried by Marca: “I’m concerned about our performance in attack. “The problem against Dinamo Kiev was our performance without the ball. The problem exists, sometimes you cannot press and when you do, you leave spaces. “We have to talk about this and analyse it as a team, because the whole team has to improve. The game without possession has to improve.” Whilst Koeman did not speak directly about any of his players after the match, it is increasingly evident that he ...
Crystal Palace defender receives ‘substantial’ damages from WADA
Crystal Palace defender Mamadou Sakho has accepted damages from the World Anti-Doping Agency. The damages are the result of allegations he took performance enhancing drugs. He received a brief suspension in 2016 when he tested positive for a substance that helps burn fat called higenamine whilst playing for Liverpool. Sakho was eventually cleared by UEFA and has now been rewarded for damages caused. He said in a statement: “I am pleased with Wada’s acceptance that I did not breach the Uefa anti-doping regulations, did not cheat, had no intention of gaining any advantage and acted in good faith. “I am also pleased that Wada has apologised to me and agreed to pay a substantial sum in damages. “I consider myself vindicated and now look forward to continuing my career.” He added: “This is the ...
Ola Aina thrilled to score first Premier League goal
Ola Aina says he feels special after scoring his maiden Premier League goal in Fulham’s 2-0 home win against West Bromwich Albion on Monday. Aina scored Fulham’s second goal of the game, thunderous left-footed strike into the top corner, to help the hosts on their way to a comfortable win over the Baggies. “It is always special getting your first Premier League goal,” he said. “It has been a long time since I made my League debut,” Aina told Standard Sport. “I am just glad that the goal came and I was able to help the team with it. “It is a dream to play in the Premier League and score, and get games in the Premier League. When I left Chelsea, it was kick-starting a career for myself. “I always wanted to come back and play in the Premier League. I am just happy that I am making it a realit...
Real Madrid rekindle last 16 hopes with 3-2 win over Inter Milan
Real Madrid boosted their chances of reaching the UEFA Champions League knockout stages after a late winner by substitute Rodrygo. The win gave them a 3-2 home victory over Inter Milan in an absorbing Group B clash on Tuesday. The result left Real Madrid, winners of a record 13 titles in Europe’s premier club competition, level on four points with Shakhtar Donetsk. They are one point behind leaders Borussia Moenchengladbach and two ahead of bottom placed Inter Milan. Real Madrid had thrown away a two-goal lead and were flirting with a defeat which would have piled more pressure on manager Zinedine Zidane. Then, their Brazilian duo of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo combined to save the day. Chances had gone begging at either end before Karim Benzema gave the home side a 25th minute lead. He ro...
Mauricio Pochettino opens door to Premier League return
Mauricio Pochettino says he is ready to return to management, almost a year after he was sacked by Tottenham. The Argentine’s enthusiasm will no doubt intensify speculation linking him with replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager of Manchester United. Pressure has begun to mount on Solskjaer at Old Trafford in recent months, with United currently 15th in the Premier League table. After taking Spurs to the Champions League final, Pochettino has been linked with a number of top jobs including those at Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain. However, after six years in England, Pochettino seems keen to return to the Premier League. “I discovered an amazing people in this country, an amazing culture. I am in love,” Pochettino said on Sky Sports. “I was always ready to be involved in t...
Bayern Munich confirm David Alaba is set to leave the club
Bayern Munich have upped the ante in the David Alaba saga by withdrawing the contract extension offer that had been on the table. The versatile 28-year-old’s current deal with the Bavarians runs out at the end of the current season. While at times it has looked like an agreement between the two parties was only a matter of time, this latest development will intensify speculation that the Austria native will move elsewhere on a free transfer next summer. The club’s decision to break off negotiations was reported by German station Sport 1. Bayern president Herbert Hainer was quoted by BR24Sport broadcaster as saying: “We made a very good offer to David and his advisor a long time ago. “We negotiated for months […] and last time told David’s advisor that we wanted to have clarity by the end o...
David Alaba’s future in doubt as Bayern withdraw contract offer
Bayern Munich have withdrawn their contract offer to David Alaba, after failing to reach an agreement with the defender. The club’s president, Herbert Hainer, has revealed a deadline of 31 October was set to reach an agreement. Negotiations have now ended, after Alaba’s agent indicated their latest offer was not acceptable. The Austria international’s current deal expires at the end of the season and he will be free to discuss terms with rival clubs from January. A host of sides have been linked with a move for the defender, most notably Serie A champions Juventus. “We presented him with a really, very good very fair, competitive offer – especially during these times,” Hainer told BR24Sport. “We told David’s agent during the last meeting that we wanted clarity and an answer by the end of O...
Zlatan Ibrahimovic overhead kick seals AC Milan win at Udinese
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored an acrobatic late winner as AC Milan consolidated top spot in Serie A with a 2-1 win over Udinese on Udinese. The 39-year-old has scored seven goals in four league games played having missed the other two after contracting coronavirus. Stefano Pioli’s side are top of the table with 16 points from six games, four points ahead of Atalanta. Champions Juventus are sixth — seven points behind AC Milan — before Sunday’s game against promoted Spezia where Cristiano Ronaldo starts on the bench after testing negative for Covid-19. Magic from Zlatan Ibrahimović! 🙌 Just when his team needed it, he came up with an acrobatic finish which will likely seal the win for Milan 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oNPtU0KCdo — Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) November 1, 202...
