Match coverage

Borussia Dortmund 2-1 RB Leipzig: Goals from Reus, Can see BVB back top of the Bundesliga

Dortmund's German forward Marco Reus celebrates with Dortmund's Turkish midfielder Salih Ozcan and Dortmund's German midfielder Emre Can scoring a...

First-half goals from Emre Can and a Marco Reus penalty saw an in-form Borussia Dortmund side extend their winning run to ten games across all competitions, returning top of the Bundesliga after a hard-fought 2-1 home victory against rivals RB Leipzig. Emil Forsberg pulled one back for Marco Rose’s side, before they almost snatched a point at the death in stoppage-time. Continue reading “Borussia Dortmund 2-1 RB Leipzig: Goals from Reus, Can see BVB back top of the Bundesliga”

Match coverage

Man Utd 2-1 Barcelona: Antony the matchwinner as ten Hag’s Reds rally to seal UEL last-16 berth

Antony of Manchester United celebrates with teammates Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho after scoring the team's second goal during the UEFA...

Second-half goals from Fred and substitute Anthony were the catalyst for a nervy but hard-earned comeback win for Manchester United over La Liga leaders Barcelona in the second leg of their Europa League last-32 tie, prevailing 4-3 on aggregate – welcome preparation before their Wembley trip on Sunday for the Carabao Cup final as Newcastle await.

Continue reading “Man Utd 2-1 Barcelona: Antony the matchwinner as ten Hag’s Reds rally to seal UEL last-16 berth”

Match coverage

Arsenal 1-3 Manchester City: Individual mistakes cost profligate Gunners as Citizens return top

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester...

Individual mistakes from Gunners defensive duo Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Magalhaes during both halves helped reigning champions Manchester City rally from a tetchy start to return top of the Premier League, earning a hard-fought 3-1 away win over long-running leaders Arsenal in north London. Erling Haaland ended his three-match goalscoring drought to wrap up the points, combining with – who else – Kevin de Bruyne. Continue reading “Arsenal 1-3 Manchester City: Individual mistakes cost profligate Gunners as Citizens return top”

Match coverage

Milan 1-0 Tottenham: Diaz’s early opener stings Spurs as Champions League knockout stages return

Brahim Diaz of Ac Milan celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg one match between AC Milan...

Milan playmaker Brahim Diaz scored his first goal since October – a rebounded finish from close-range – as Antonio Conte’s Tottenham side suffered consecutive defeats for the second time already in 2023 with a frustrating collective showing in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. The return fixture might be in three weeks’ time, but they’ll have to execute with far more incision than they managed here if they’re to advance into the quarter-finals. Continue reading “Milan 1-0 Tottenham: Diaz’s early opener stings Spurs as Champions League knockout stages return”

Match coverage

Chelsea 0-0 Fulham: Ream rescues Cottagers as £106m man Enzo Fernandez makes Blues debut

Chelseas Enzo Fernandez shoots at goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Fulham FC at Stamford Bridge on February 03, 2023 in...

World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez, signed in the dying hours on deadline day this past Tuesday, made his Premier League debut for Graham Potter’s Chelsea side but the midfielder couldn’t inspire his new teammates to produce more than a frustrating goalless draw with west London rivals Fulham, who defended valiantly with centre-back and captain Tim Ream in particular. Continue reading “Chelsea 0-0 Fulham: Ream rescues Cottagers as £106m man Enzo Fernandez makes Blues debut”

Match coverage

Brentford 2-2 Tottenham: Kane, Hojberg save sluggish Spurs in frantic London derby

Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Tottenham...

A six-week World Cup hiatus didn’t appear to faze a bullish Brentford display, nor spring Tottenham out of their worrying tendencies as the pair played out a compelling 2-2 draw in the Premier League’s first fixture back since the winter international pause ended earlier today. Continue reading “Brentford 2-2 Tottenham: Kane, Hojberg save sluggish Spurs in frantic London derby”

Match coverage

World Cup 2022: Kolo Muani reflects on magical experience, while Morocco duo set to leave Angers

Randal Kolo Muani of France is passing dejected the world cup trophy after receiving the silver medal during the World Cup match between Argentina v...

France forward Randal Kolo Muani will undoubtedly be thinking about his stoppage-time miss against Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup Final, but the Eintracht Frankfurt frontman – a late-notice injury replacement – shone on the world stage and spoke of his pride at a tournament he didn’t expect to be at. Elsewhere, Morocco duo Sofiane Boufal and Azzedine Ounahi have attracted interest from a host of European clubs: both are now anticipating January transfers. Continue reading “World Cup 2022: Kolo Muani reflects on magical experience, while Morocco duo set to leave Angers”

Match coverage

Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 on pens): Montiel ends frenzied final in shootout after Mbappe hat-trick

Lionel Messi of Argentina and team celebrate after winning the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium...

Argentina found themselves just 10 minutes from glory. Kylian Mbappe scored twice in 97 seconds to equalise. Lionel Messi made it 3-2 in extra-time, yet his club teammate completed his hat-trick from the spot during a frantic finish. Into a penalty shootout they went and Sevilla fullback Gonzalo Montiel had the final say: sending Hugo Lloris the wrong way, finishing a remarkable World Cup Final with a dramatic win over the defending champions last night. Continue reading “Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 on pens): Montiel ends frenzied final in shootout after Mbappe hat-trick”

Match coverage

WC 2022 – France 2-0 Morocco: Hernandez, Kolo Muani sink historic Africans, into Sunday’s final

Randal Kolo Muani of France celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with teammates during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 semi final match...

Theo Hernandez’s early strike and a first international goal for second-half substitute Randal Kolo Muani ensure reigning champions France are back in the World Cup final, where they’ll play Lionel Messi and Argentina on Sunday afternoon. Morocco fought valiantly, but Les Bleus can now become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to defend their crown as world champions.
Continue reading “WC 2022 – France 2-0 Morocco: Hernandez, Kolo Muani sink historic Africans, into Sunday’s final”

Match coverage

World Cup 2022: Messi’s masterful display, Alvarez brace propels Argentina into Sunday’s final

Josko GVARDIOL of Croatia and Lionel MESSI of Argentina during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Semi Final match between Argentina and Croatia at...

Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates will play defending champions France or African record-breakers Morocco on Sunday afternoon in the World Cup Final after ultimately easing to a 3-0 win over Croatia in the tournament’s first semi-final. Turns out, Nicolas Tagliafico’s pre-match comments on the PSG man’s presence aged well here. Will they again this weekend?
Continue reading “World Cup 2022: Messi’s masterful display, Alvarez brace propels Argentina into Sunday’s final”

Match coverage

World Cup 2022: Nicolas Tagliafico praises Messi’s presence before tonight’s semi-final against Croatia

Lionel Messi of Argentina during the Argentina Training Session at on December 12, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Ahead of tonight’s World Cup semi-final against Croatia, Lyon left-back Nicolas Tagliafico praised Lionel Messi’s presence as one that will give their Argentina side a special advantage as they prepare to face the tournament’s runners-up from Russia 2018. Who will outlast the other? Continue reading “World Cup 2022: Nicolas Tagliafico praises Messi’s presence before tonight’s semi-final against Croatia”

Match coverage

France 2-1 England: Giroud the matchwinner as Kane’s penalty miss sends Southgate’s men out

Olivier Giroud of France celebrates scoring the winning goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between England and France at...

For all the talk of focusing on defending against the brilliance of Kylian Mbappe, it was France’s all-time top goalscorer Olivier Giroud – who spent nine years playing in England’s top-tier – delivering the final blow as Gareth Southgate’s men showed spirit but ultimately crashed out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage with a jarring 2-1 defeat by the defending champions. Continue reading “France 2-1 England: Giroud the matchwinner as Kane’s penalty miss sends Southgate’s men out”