Bayern Munich returned to winning ways in the Bundesliga as Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry both scored twice in a convincing 5-1 win over Cologne.
After returning to domestic duties following their Club World Cup success in Qatar with a home draw against Arminia Bielefeld, the reigning champions slipped to a 2-1 loss away at Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend.
However, a 4-1 thrashing of Lazio in Champions League action in midweek proved the catalyst for a first league triumph at their Allianz Arena home since January 30.
Lewandowski s first goal helped Bayern ease into a 2-0 half-time lead and while Cologne briefly threatened a comeback, the returning Thomas Muller made an immediate impression off the bench, providing the assist that allowed the c…
Peter Crouch has announced his retirement from football at the age of 38 having represented England, Liverpool, Tottenham and many other clubs across a distinguished career.
Most known for his height – measuring at 6ft 7in tall – Crouch spent much of his playing days in the Premier League and featured for his country at two World Cups, in 2006 and 2010.
A gangly centre-forward, Crouch was rarely celebrated for his technical abilities but still managed to have a strong impact for several big clubs in England s top flight.
But having long balls hopefully pumped up to him has ultimately taken its toll, as he revealed that scenario to be a contributing factor in his final decision to draw things to a close.
In his Daily Mail column, Crouch wrote: I have h…
With the announcement that the 2020 Ballon d Or will not be awarded this year due to the coronavirus-enforced break in play, Robert Lewandowski will feel pretty hard done by.
By the end of June, Lewandowski s goals had propelled Bayern Munich to a Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double. His goals in the league (34 in total) made him the highest single-season foreign goalscorer in history. With another six goals in the Pokal – including two in the final to seal the deal in a 4-2 win against Bayer Leverkusen – and 11 more in the Champions League, Lewandowski has scored more goals in all competitions than any other player across Europe s top five leagues this season.
For Lewandowski, it has been undoubtedly the best season of his career. Remarkably, the 31-year-old is av…
Diego Simeone said he knew Atletico Madrid had to win after the LaLiga leaders moved a step closer to the title after defeating Real Sociedad.
After Barcelona dropped points, Atletico could be within one victory of claiming their second league crown of Simeone s tenure following Wednesday s 2-1 win over Sociedad.
Yannick Carrasco and Angel Correa struck in the space of 12 first-half minutes to give Atletico a 2-0 lead inside half an hour in the Spanish capital midweek.
Carrasco has been involved in 14 LaLiga goals this season (six goals and eight assists), equalling his record in a same campaign in the competition (14 in 2016-17 – 10 goals, four assists).
La Real set up a grandstand finish through Igor Zubeldia but Atletico held on to move four points c…
One of the worst-kept secrets in football is out in the open after Manchester United confirmed Paul Pogba s second stint at the club is coming to an end.
The France star departed for Juventus back in 2012 before returning to Old Trafford in an £89million deal four years later.
Few Premier League players have proven as enigmatic as Pogba, with the 29-year-old capable of incredible individual brilliance but frequently subjected to fierce criticism throughout his difficult second spell at United.
From a World Cup success to sparring with Jose Mourinho, Stats Perform looks back on the highs and lows of Pogba s second spell with United.
Once a Red, always a Red
Thank you for your service,
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
High: Cup gl…
Manchester City player Benjamin Mendy has pleaded not guilty to an additional rape charge.
Mendy appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday to enter the plea ahead of his trial.
The 28-year-old attended court back in May when he entered pleas for nine charges of sexual offences – he then denied seven counts of rape, one count of sexual assault and one count of attempted rape.
Mendy also denies this further count of rape.
The offences, reported by seven different women, allegedly occurred between October 2018 and August last year, with all purported to have taken place at Mendy s home.
Mendy will go on trial with co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie, who denies eight counts of rape and four of sexual assault between July 2012 and August 2021.
…
Jurgen Klopp conceded his Liverpool side were not at their best against Manchester City on Sunday and would like to see them produce a better performance in Saturday s FA Cup semi-final against Pep Guardiola s side.
The two Premier League title rivals played out a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium, leaving City a point clear at the top of the table.
Speaking at a news conference ahead of his first FA Cup semi-final since arriving on Merseyside in 2015, Klopp said while City were really strong , he feels his players could have found other levels.
Having also drawn 2-2 at Anfield earlier in the season, Klopp was asked whether the two teams could still surprise each other.
Not just surprise, I think we all think a lot about these games, we have to, he said.<…
Market: Both teams to score
Odds: 7/10 @
In another A-League showdown that could prove to be a lively affair on Wednesday morning, the Brisbane Roar will welcome Wellington to Queensland.
Starting with the hosts, while Brisbane might have managed to find a much-needed boost earlier in the month, the Roar have really come crashing back down to earth. Enduring what has been another worrying week in Queensland, Head Coach Warren Moon has seen his side suffer back-to-back A-League defeats on home soil. Last seen over the weekend getting hit with an action-packed 3-2 defeat against Western United, the former champions have now lost five of their last seven outings. Firmly battling it out at the foot of the table and desperate not to lift the wooden spoon this season,…
Liverpool slumped to a sixth successive home defeat on Sunday as relegation-threatened Fulham claimed a 1-0 win.
The worst part for Jurgen Klopp s beleaguered side was the fact that, from the moment Mario Lemina put the visitors ahead at half-time, the writing was on the wall to an extent.
The Reds slump includes January s 4-1 defeat to Manchester City, when Mohamed Salah scored from the penalty spot.
That was the only defeat where they have found the net, with the losing run immediately preceded by a 0-0 draw against Manchester United.
It means, following 16 attempts without reward against Fulham, Liverpool have racked up 115 shots since they last scored from open play at Anfield in a 1-1 draw against West Brom on December 27.
That amounts to t…
Lilian Thuram has declared Paris Saint-Germain cannot rely on their superstar strike force to deliver trophies – and he wishes he had the chance to face them down.
France great Thuram recognises Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe bring individual brilliance to PSG, who are tearing away at the top of Ligue 1 despite a shock weekend defeat at Rennes.
In a reputational sense, the French giants possess the most fearsome front three in world football, with Messi arriving from Barcelona in August to complement an already mighty attack, with Mauro Icardi also hoping to make an impact.
That makes them strong contenders for the Champions League, in theory, and a European triumph is the target that PSG have been striving for since Qatar Sports Investments came o…