The final stretch of the Premier League race has rarely been as interesting as this season. Well, at least when it comes to the top end of the table.
Six clubs have established themselves as England s elite, and it speaks volumes about the quality of the league itself at the moment that all six still compete in Europe. Two of them in the Europa League at this stage, it s not unheard of, but it s been a long time since four English teams made it to the Champions League quarterfinals.
Rarely has a team managed to upset the odds and walk in on them lately all the more reason to express massive respect to Leicester City for winning the 2016 title.
At the moment, champions Manchester City and Liverpool are locked in a fierce battle for that throne, with every challen…
World Cup winners don t always arrive at tournaments ready-made. And apparently, Switzerland enjoy making them sweat.
In South Africa in 2010, the Swiss stunned heavy favourites Spain 1-0 in their opening group game, as Vicente Del Bosque s side got off to a false start.
It didn t prevent them from lifting the trophy a little under four weeks later and a frustrating 1-1 draw in Rostov-on-Don on Sunday should not diminish Brazil s status as one of the frontrunners for the big prize on offer in Russia.
Perhaps Tite s team did not want to feel left out, after watching fellow heavyweights Spain and Argentina drop points against Portugal and Iceland respectively, France labour to an unconvincing win over Australia and holders Germany suffer a shock loss to Mexico.
Son Heung-min capitalised on Alisson s mistake to salvage a point for Tottenham in an enthralling 2-2 Premier League draw with Liverpool.
Spurs went ahead on Sunday through Harry Kane, who ended a run of 788 minutes without a league goal at home, but Diogo Jota levelled before half-time.
Andy Robertson nodded Liverpool ahead after Spurs had wasted good chances for a second, but when Alisson came off his line and failed to clear the ball, Son was gifted an easy equaliser.
Robertson saw red for a swipe on Emerson Royal, but Jurgen Klopp s men held out for a share of the spoils.
Spurs moved ahead 13 minutes in thanks to Kane s second league goal of the season, the England captain slotting first time past Alisson from Tanguy Ndombele s throughball.
Borussia Dortmund will struggle to replace outgoing captain Mats Hummels, according to former boss Ottmar Hitzfeld.
Hummels, who joined Dortmund from Bayern Munich in 2009 after a successful loan spell, will head back to the Allianz Arena at the end of the 2015-16 season for an undisclosed fee.
The 27-year-old has established himself as one of the most integral players in the Dortmund line-up over the past seven years, which included back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
However, with Hummels now on his way to German champions Bayern, Hitzfeld admits Dortmund are going to find it tough to find a replacement for the World Cup winner.
Hitzfeld, who won the Champions League as Dortmund coach in 1997, told Omnisport: Hummels leaves a big ga…
Marta left the field in tears after being sent off for a dangerous high tackle during Brazil s 2-0 defeat to Spain in their final Group C game at the Olympics.
The Brazil great narrowly missed Olga Carmona s head with an out-of-control attempt to reach the ball in first-half stoppage time, receiving a straight red card in what could turn out to be her final-ever Olympic game.
Brazil needed a win to secure a place in the knockout rounds, but now face a nervous wait to see if they will be one of the two best third-place teams in the last eight – a match they would have to play without their captain.
Athenea del Castillo eventually got the breakthrough after 68 minutes, before Alexia Putellas scored in the 107th minute to ensure they stayed perfect to top the grou…
Burnley boss Sean Dyche could have a massive job on his hands to keep the Clarets in the Premier League
Arsenal travel to Turf Moor to face newly-promoted Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, in a game that could see an upset given the impressive home form of the underdogs.
Arsenal are enjoying a fantastic run of results in all competitions, but they’ve often been given a tough test away to Burnley in the past which could see their winning streak broken this weekend.
Burnley in fine form at Turf Moor this season
Burnley have impressed in their own backyard in the Premier League this season, picking up seven points from four games at Turf Moor. Only Manchester City have managed more points on home soil than Burnley this season, and only Le…
Atletico Madrid racked up a third win in the space of eight days despite missing two penalties in Sunday s 2-0 LaLiga victory at Valencia.
Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves broke the record for the most saved spot-kicks in LaLiga history against Leganes last week and he extended his tally to 18 by keeping out Antoine Griezmann s first-half penalty.
That was Griezmann s second miss from 12 yards in as many games following his failure against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The France star made amends after the break, though, keeping his cool in the penalty area after Fernando Torres had been foiled by Alves to score his 50th LaLiga goal for Atleti.
Atleti then had the chance to put daylight between the teams when Mario Suarez fouled Griez…
Celtic crashed out of Europe for the season after a late double by super substitute Ciro Immobile gave Lazio a 2-0 Champions League win in Rome.
The Hoops went into the make-or-break game with one point from four Group E matches but gave as good as they got for most of the game before the home side’s veteran attacker struck in the 82nd and 85th minute to sink the Scottish champions.
To rub salt in the Celtic wounds they were awarded a penalty by Halil Umut Meler in added time for a push on substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu but it was overturned when VAR intervened and sent the referee to the pitchside monitor for another look.
Celtic remain bottom of the section and cannot catch Lazio, Atletico Madrid or Feyenoord.
The Celts lose out in Italy. | |
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Borussia Dortmund have agreed to sell midfielder Julian Weigl to Benfica ahead of the January transfer window.
The Germany international, who joined Dortmund from 1860 Munich in 2015, will complete a reported €20million move following a medical.
Weigl started 12 times in the Bundesliga in the first half of the season but requested the move, Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc revealed.
Julian came to us with this wish and we agreed also because of his services to the club, Zorc said. We wish him all the best for his future.
The 24-year-old Weigl said on Dortmund s website: I would like to thank my team-mates, BVB employees and all fans of this great club for a great time, and I will always carry Borussia Dortmund in my heart.
Borussia Dor…
England have a good enough squad to win the World Cup and should be feared by other competing nations, according to Three Lions midfielder Declan Rice.
Gareth Southgate s side finished top of Group B with seven points after beating Iran 6-2 and Wales 3-0 either side of a goalless draw with the United States.
It is the first time since 2006 that England have finished top en route to the last 16, where Group A runners-up Senegal now await on Sunday.
Following shock defeats in the group phase already for France, Argentina, Belgium and Germany, Rice believes England s serene progress is a sign they mean business.
I didn t see the France [loss to Tunisia] last night. I saw the result and there have been a lot of shocks in this tournament, he said at a press c…