Ten-man Paris Saint-Germain began their Ligue 1 title defence with a battling 1-0 victory over Lille at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Friday.
With the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic and new recruit Angel di Maria watching from the stands, Laurent Blanc s men looked to be up against it when they lost Adrien Rabiot to a senseless red card with only 28 minutes on the clock.
However, the visitors dug deep and pinched the points courtesy of a superbly-constructed goal from Lucas Moura just short of the hour mark.
The result marked the first time since 2010 that PSG have started their league campaign with a win and although they rarely resembled the side that swept all before them en route to an historic domestic treble last season, Blanc will certainly have been heartened by …
Spain defender Cesar Azpilicueta is anticipating another difficult encounter as the reigning European Champions prepare to host Slovakia in Saturday s Euro 2016 qualifier.
The only defeat of Vicente del Bosqu
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e s side s campaign came at the hands of Slovakia, who claimed a 2-1 win in the reverse fixture in Zilina last October.
Juraj Kucka gave Slovakia the lead on that occasion, with Miroslav Stoch ensuring success three minutes from time after Paco Alcacer had cancelled out the opener.
Slovakia remain unbeaten and head Group C by three points from Spain and can approach the game with a degree of freedom knowing that qualification is within their grasp.
Regardless of the result in Oviedo, Jan Kozak s men will qualify for the finals providing…
Brazil coach Tite believes Philippe Coutinho has all the attributes a footballer needs and has become a very strong player as he prepares for his first World Cup.
Coutinho has established himself as one of the world s most talented midfielders since narrowly missing out on Luiz Felipe Scolari s 2014 World Cup squad.
Playing regularly in a Liverpool side renowned for their attacking fluency under Brendan Rodgers and then Jurgen Klopp has played a major role in his development, before eventually sealing a £142million switch to Barcelona in January.
He has perhaps lacked consistency a little since making the move to Spain, but Tite is convinced the 25-year-old who scored in Friday s 3-0 win over Russia is the complete package.
What qualities do you think a…
Philippe Coutinho wants to establish a legacy at Liverpool rather than leave and be another player at Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Real Madrid.
The Brazilian enjoyed his best season at Anfield since arriving from Inter in January 2013, scoring 13 Premier League goals and registering seven assists.
Coutinho signed a long-term contract, believed to run until 2022, in January but reports of interest from Barca have remained persistent, with Klopp having to address the issue at recent news conferences.
However, the 24-year-old has allayed concerns he will be on the move in the close-season, outlining why he would prefer to stay at Liverpool.
Stay here and they will end up building a statue in your honour, Coutinho said in an interview with ESPN Brasil.
…
Fabinho praised the impact made by Raphinha since arriving in the Premier League and says he expected the Leeds United winger to join Liverpool earlier this year.
Raphinha has starred for Leeds since arriving from Rennes for a reported £17million (€20m) in October 2020 and was rewarded with his first cap for Brazil last week.
The 24-year-old further enhanced his reputation with two goals, while also winning a penalty, in a 3-1 World Cup qualifying victory against Venezuela.
He also featured as a second-half substitute in Brazil s stalemate with Colombia and is in contention to play a part in Thursday s clash with Uruguay.
Fabinho, who played a full the full 90 minutes in those two previous matches, has been particularly impressed by what he has seen fr…
Matthijs de Ligt was linked with Manchester United before his move to Juventus in 2019.
United have reportedly renewed their interest in the 21-year-old Dutch defender.
Could he end up in Manchester?
TOP STORY – UNITED WANT DE LIGT
Manchester United are set to target Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, according to TodoFichajes.
United were heavily linked with De Ligt before the Netherlands international swapped Ajax for Serie A champions Juve in 2019.
El United va a por De Ligt
— Todofichajes.com (@TDfichajes)
With United reportedly not advancing in their pursuit of Real Madrid pair Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, the Red Devils are eyeing De Ligt.
United have also been linked with RB Leipzig …
Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Sebastian Rode has insisted he is fully committed to the club amid speculation linking him with a summer move to Bayern Munich, .
Rode, who joined Frankfurt from Kickers Offenbach in the summer of 2010, will not be extending his contract at the Waldstadion beyond 2014, but remains fully committed to fulfilling the deal.
After more speculation about my future emerged yesterday and since this took something away from the Schalke win and the great performance of the whole team, I would like to make one thing clear, said Rode.
I have a contract with Eintracht until 2014 and I am very happy in Frankfurt.
During talks with the club bosses, I made it clear quite soon that I will fulfill my contract, but would not lik…
Michael Beale offered an apology to travelling Rangers fans after a 5-1 play-off defeat by PSV Eindhoven ended their Champions League hopes 7-3 on aggregate.
After drawing 2-2 in the first leg at Ibrox last week, the Light Blues were put to the sword in the Philips Stadion, starting in the 35th minute when Ismael Saibari headed in the opener.
The Moroccan attacker added a second in the 53rd minute and while Gers skipper James Tavernier pulled a goal back in the 64th minute, PSV captain Luuk de Jong soon restored the two-goal lead before a Joey Veerman strike and an own goal by Gers defender Connor Goldson sealed a miserable night for the Light Blues, who drop down to the Europa League.
Michael Beale spoke to the media after tonight’s match against PSV.
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West Brom manager Steve Clarke is desperate to keep hold of combative midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu.
The 26-year-old has excelled for the Hawthorns outfit since arriving from French giants PSG, initially on loan, in January 2009.
He remained a first-team regular following Clarke s appointment prior to the 2012-13 campaign, and went on to score two goals in 28
Premier League appearances.
Fiorentina have been linked with a move for Mulumbu of late, with the Italians reportedly set to offer four million pounds for
the Congolese midfielder.
But Clarke says he has told the club s board that Mulumbu is a player he needs to keep if West
Brom are to improve further.
Youssouf has been excellent for us since I have
been here and is one of the players we …
Louis Van Gaal has approved of Wesley Sneijder’s proposed move to Chelsea, saying it would be easier to monitor the midfielder’s progress if he was playing in the Premier League.
The 29 year old only signed for Galatasaray in January, though the Mirror understands that the Turkish champions would be willing to listen to offers in the region of £12.75million for the player.
Recently re-appointed Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho had the Dutch international with him at Inter Milan during the 2009/10 season, where together they won a historic treble.
Having just received a league winner’s medal at the Turk Telekom Arena, Sneijder has joined a handful of players to have won league titles in four different countries, having also been triumphant with Real Madrid and A…