Leicester City were knocked out of the Europa League at the last 32 stage after a meek 2-0 home defeat to Slavia Prague on Thursday.
With the first leg having finished goalless in Prague, Leicester were strong favourites to reach the last 16 at the King Power Stadium.
But Lukas Provod gave Slavia the lead early in the second half with a cool volleyed finish inside the penalty area after his run went unchecked by the Leicester defence.
Abdallah Dipo Sima made the outcome certain with 11 minutes left when he fired home spectacularly from just outside the box as the Premier League high-flyers went crashing out.
5 Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has been eliminated from all five of his UEFA Europa League knockout ties as a manager (all last 32) – with Liv…
At times, Sunday s contest at Norwich City must have felt like Groundhog Day if you re an Arsenal fan.
At times, Sunday s contest at Norwich City must have felt like Groundhog Day if you re an Arsenal fan.
Always start with a joke, they say.
Only, the laughs have been few and far between for the Gunners faithful this season save for ones of rueful derision.
There was as much inevitability about Arsenal s decision to end Unai Emery s 18-month tenure this week as death or taxes.
But the failings that cost the amiable Spaniard so dearly were laid bare in 90 microcosmic minutes of a 2-2 draw at Carrow Road.
Arsenal are a little bit like a warm chocolate fudge cake. On the surface, great to look at, a delicious treat but soft at their core an…
As the likes of the EFL Cup and Coppa Italia make their respective returns in midweek, there are plenty of noteworthy fixtures from across the continent.
With a host of European heavyweights all featuring throughout Wednesday’s stacked schedule, we have found a couple of intriguing betting markets that are worth keeping an eye out for.
20:00 Liverpool vs Fulham
Although Liverpool might have eventually missed out on booking a lucrative Champions League ticket last season, Jurgen Klopp’s side have come roaring back in a stunning fashion. Firing on all cylinders and holding a three-point buffer at the top of the Premier League table, Wednesday’s hosts certainly find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high.
Picking up a major FA Cup scalp last weeke…
Liverpool and Manchester United could be set for another transfer battle.
The Premier League rivals were both reportedly interested in Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara, who is set for a move to Anfield.
Now it seems they could be targeting the same player once more.
TOP STORY – LIVERPOOL, MAN UTD TARGET SARR
Liverpool have enquired about Watford star Ismaila Sarr, according to the Daily Mail.
It reports Watford want at least £36million for the 22-year-old forward, who scored five goals and provided four assists in 28 Premier League games last season.
Liverpool seriously considering move for Watford star Ismaila Sarr
— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport)
Meanwhile, The Independent says Manchester United …
Best odds: 9/10
Bookmaker:
Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk and cup winners Dinamo Kiev, the two fiercest rivals in the country by far, are set to meet in the Super Cup on Tuesday evening at the Olympic National Sports Complex in Kiev, where Dynamo usually play their European games. No team apart from these two has won the league title since Tavriya Simferopol in 1992, or the Ukrainian Cup since 2010 when it was taken by the same team.
Shakhtar Donetsk
The 2019/20 season was one of mixed success for Shakhtar. They won the Ukranian Premier League very convincingly, with 82 points from 32 games including both the regular part of the season and the championship play-off, 23 more than Dynamo who finished as runners-up. However, they were knocked out of the …
Everton are interested in signing Ismaila Sarr from Marseille before the January transfer window closes on Thursday, according to . The report has claimed that Everton, who are in danger of getting relegated to the Championship at the end of the season, are hopeful of signing Sarr on a loan deal with an option to make it permanent in the summer of 2024.
Marseille are open to offloading Sarr this week, but the French club want a permanent exit. According to Football Transfers, the Ligue 1 outfit are looking for £13 million in transfer fees. Nottingham Forest, who, like Everton, are fighting for survival in the Premier League, and Spanish club Villarreal are also keen on the 25-year-old Senegal international winger.
Sarr has been on the books of Marseille since the summe…
Barcelona missed the opportunity to secure their place in the Champions League last 16 after they were held to a goalless draw by Benfica, meaning they may now have to win at Bayern Munich.
Despite dominating possession for large periods of the Group E clash at Camp Nou, Xavi’s side were unable to find a way past their stubborn opponents, who might have stolen victory at the last.
Yusuf Demir struck the woodwork, while Benfica goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos produced smart saves to keep out Jordi Alba and Frenkie de Jong before an offside flag denied Ronald Araujo.
Haris Seferovic then somehow missed with the goal gaping in stoppage time, but Barca remain second in the pool – two points ahead of their opponents – albeit with Bayern to play in two weeks tim…
Former Barcelona, Liverpool and Argentina star Javier Mascherano has announced his retirement.
Mascherano, 36, revealed his decision on Sunday, calling it quits after 17 years as a professional.
A 147-time Argentina international – the most in the country s history – Mascherano returned to his homeland by signing with Estudiantes de La Plata in January.
After 11 appearances in all competitions for the Argentine side, including Sunday s 1-0 loss to Argentinos Juniors, Mascherano said it was time to hang up his boots.
I want to announce that today I am retiring from football professionally, he said.
I want to thank this club that gave me the opportunity to finish my career in Argentina.
Mascherano added: I have lived m…
As reported by La Republicca (via ), the man named as third-richest in the world by Forbes magazine, Bernard Arnault, is keen on buying AC Milan. What s more, he wants the current Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, and the player who just won the record sixth Ballon d Or, Lionel Messi, to come and take the club on a fresh path of glory.
Guardiola and Messi worked extremely successfully together at Barcelona from 2008 to 2012, and it could be argued that the Catalan coach is the man most responsible for the rapid rise of the Argentinian, having chosen to put his faith in him rather than the likes of Ronaldinho or Samuel Eto o.
But even if Arnault completes the takeover of the seven-time European champions, it will prove a tough task to sign either Guardiola or Messi, wi…
Bayern Munich will face either Al-Duhail or Al Ahly in their Club World Cup semi-final on February 8.
The competition s draw took place on Tuesday in Zurich and confirmed European champions Bayern will tackle hosts Al-Duhail or CAF Champions League holders Al Ahly.
Al-Duhail secured their qualification as hosts by winning the Qatar Stars League in 2019-20, with no Qatari side managing to win the AFC Champions League.
Egyptian giants Al Ahly won African club football s biggest prize in November and qualified for the Club World Cup for the sixth time, having last appeared in 2013, which was also Bayern s only previous appearance.
The official draw for the 2020 is complete
Bring on 4 February!
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom)
Al-Duhail re…