Lionel Messi scored a marvellous hat-trick as Barcelona got their Champions League campaign up and running with a 4-0 win over PSV at Camp Nou.
Barca were off the pace for much of the first half of Tuesday s Group B clash, but Messi broke the deadlock with a trademark free-kick.
They moved through the gears after the restart but found PSV dogged in defence, with two further excellent goals needed to make the points safe.
Ousmane Dembele doubled the lead with an outstanding individual effort and Messi fittingly had the final say, completing his hat-trick by scoring either side of a red card for Samuel Umtiti.
87: GOOOOAAAALLLL! HAT TRICK MESSI!!!!! (4-0)
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
PSV had the better of the opening stages and Ga…
Cristiano Ronaldo opted not to speak to reporters after making a court appearance in Madrid over his tax evasion case.
The Real Madrid forward, who denies any wrongdoing, had been expected to make a statement after attending court proceedings in Pozuelo de Alarcon the suburb where he lives on Monday.
But Ronaldo opted not to speak to reporters after the 90-minute session with a judge, Inaki Torres of his management company Gestifute instead speaking on his behalf, insisting everything is in order with the case.
The announcement that Ronaldo, who did not enter or leave through the court s main entrance, would not be speaking was met by boos from some sections of the gathered media.
Prosecutors allege the 32-year-old has evaded €14.7million in taxes relat…
Joaquin Correa scored a second-half double as Inter eased to a 2-0 Serie A win over Udinese at San Siro.
Correa had not been on target for the Nerazzurri since striking twice on his debut against Hellas Verona in August but doubled his tally for the champions on Sunday.
The forward took both goals superbly as Simone Inzaghi s third-placed side extended their unbeaten run to four matches.
Lautaro Martinez came on as a late substitute at the end of a week in which he signed a new deal, with Inzaghi rotating his squad ahead of a Champions League clash against Sheriff and the Milan derby in the next week.
| TEAM
— Inter (@Inter_en)
Nicolo Barella twice went close to an early opening goal, landing a dipping long-range drive on th…
Aston Villa sealed their Premier League return with a 2-1 victory against Derby County in an entertaining Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium on Monday afternoon.
Villa claimed the lead just before the break as Anwar El Ghazi opened the deadlock from Ahmed Elmohamady s cross. A horrendous error from Derby goalkeeper Kelle Roos gifted John McGinn a second to put Villa firmly in the advantage. Frank Lampard s men halved the deficit late on though as substitute Jack Marriott s effort brushed Martyn Waghorn to find the back of the net but it was not enough as Villa bounced back from last year s disappointment to earn promotion.
Early Villa chances
Dean Smith s men started excellently and should probably have taken lead early on. The ball fell to Manchester Unite…
Atletico Madrid eased into the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over beleaguered Monaco, who saw Radamel Falcao miss a late penalty against his former club.
Diego Simeone s men were able to control proceedings against an injury-hit visiting side who lined up with four teenagers, taking the lead inside two minutes as Koke s strike found the net via a deflection off 17-year-old centre-back Benoit Badiashile.
Antoine Griezmann soon added a second goal and Atletico remained comfortable thereafter as they moved to 12 points from five games, a total Borussia Dortmund can match with victory over Club Brugge later on Wednesday.
Monaco, who finally claimed a first win since August 11 on Saturday, did have the chance to set up a nervy finish, only for Falcao …
Phil Foden has put off-field issues behind him to make a superb start to what could come to be seen as a definitive season for the Manchester City youngster.
The attacking midfielder was used with increased frequency by during the 2019-20 campaign by manager Pep Guardiola, who handed him his debut as a 17-year-old in 2017.
Foden was named man of the match as City won a third consecutive EFL Cup with a 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Wembley on March 1 and, after lockdown, he took on a more prominent place in the first team.
Injury and illness problems have complicated the early days of this season at the Etihad Stadium, with Guardiola claiming he only expects to have 13 fit senior players for the visit of Leicester City on Saturday.
The former Barcelona boss …
Manchester City s history of achievement is dwarfed by Liverpool s at the elite level, according to Pep Guardiola – a factor that could loom over Thursday s crunch Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium.
Victory for Jurgen Klopp s side would take them 10 points clear of champions City at the summit and in prime position to claim their 19th top-flight title.
The most recent of those arrived in 1989-90, with their most recent near-miss coming as runners up in 2013-14.
City triumphed that season and have won three of the previous seven Premier Leagues under the ownership and vast financial muscle of Sheikh Mansour.
The presence of seasoned campaigners with repeated title-winning experience such as Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Sergio Aguero may wor…
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta branded the VAR decision not to rule out Anthony Gordon’s goal in his side’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle “an absolute disgrace”.
Gordon turned home the winner in a scrappy game of few chances from close range midway through the second half to end Arsenal’s 10-game unbeaten Premier League start.
After referee Stuart Attwell awarded the goal, jubilant Newcastle fans had an extended, anxious wait as the VAR made a triple check to see whether the ball had gone out of play before Joe Willock’s cross, whether Joelinton had fouled Arsenal defender Gabriel and whether Gordon had been offside.
Arteta, whose side slipped two points behind leaders Manchester City, could not hide his anger after the match.
Newcastle end Arsenal s unb…
Many speculative stories about the future of Paul Pogba popped up during his obvious spat with Jose Mourinho while the Portuguese was in charge of the team. However, it was Mourinho who left first as the club decided to part ways with him and give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a chance for the rest of the season, and the French midfielder exploded into life under the Norwegian.
But the rumours haven t stopped with his (and United s) change in fortunes. Pogba started his career with the Red Devils but only made seven appearances for them before he made his way to Juventus in 2012, with former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson disappointed with his attitude.
He became a vital player for the Old Lady, helping them reach the 2015 Champions League final which they lost to Barcelona, a…
UEFA is investigating whether Junior Moraes is eligible to play for Ukraine after Portugal and Luxembourg lodged complaints about him featuring in Euro 2020 qualifiers against the two nations.
Moraes, a Brazil-born striker, is enjoying a fine season at club level with Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine, the country in which he has played much of his senior career.
He received his first call-up to the Ukraine team ahead of recent qualifying matches against Portugal and Luxembourg and played in both games, having reportedly been granted a passport.
However, both opponents have questioned his eligibility to play for Ukraine as a naturalised player, as FIFA regulations state a player must have lived continuously for at least five years after reaching the age of 18 in the re…