It s shameful, a shellshocked Gerard Pique said in the aftermath of Barcelona s 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich. Shame is the word.
The sentiment was different on Tuesday, as Barca at least this time battled, but Bayern were comfortable again, 3-0 winners in the Champions League at Camp Nou.
The Blaugrana s remarkable August 2020 humiliation was so significant because these sides were supposed to be rivals of a similar standard. Thirteen months on to the day, Bayern were backed to win big again. The only surprise was that Barca limited their opponents to three.
The Catalan club eventually heeded Pique s calls for changes at all levels – new president, new coach, new team – but it is tough to sincerely suggest this is a better outfit, even if they have a little …
Zinedine Zidane urged Isco to maintain his fine form after the midfielder scored for the second time in two LaLiga games since the Real Madrid coach s return.
Isco equalised for Madrid in Sunday s 3-2 victory at home to bottom side Huesca, with the five-goal thriller settled by a Karim Benzema strike in the 89th minute.
The Spain international did not start any LaLiga matches under Zidane s predecessor Santiago Solari but has been reintroduced into the fold by the Frenchman.
Solari questioned Isco s commitment and attitude during his brief time in charge of Madrid and Zidane warned the midfielder to keep up his performance levels.
We all know the player Isco is, Zidane told a post-match news conference.
I have started him twice, he has scored tw…
Alan Pardew has quit his role as CSKA Sofia boss after several of the club s players were subjected to racist abuse by their own fans.
Pardew initially joined the Bulgarian club in an advisory capacity in 2020 but moved into the dugout after Stoycho Mladenov s resignation this April.
But the former Newcastle United boss has now left the club after four CSKA black players had bananas thrown at them by their own fans before a game against Botev Plovdiv last month, one week on from losing the Bulgarian cup final to fierce rivals Levski Sofia.
In a statement released on the club s website, Pardew said: First, I want to thank all the real CSKA fans for their support and passion for the club.
It was a privilege for me to be a part of and to serve this club. …
According to German outlet Bild, Borussia Dortmund are preparing for the more than likely departure of Erling Haaland at the end of the season, and one of the options they re currently considering as a candidate to replace the Norwegian sensation in RB Salzburg striker Karim Adeyemi. The 19-year-old would thus follow the path taken by Haaland himself in January 2020, before he took the Bundesliga by storm.
However, Dortmund would likely face some stiff competition for Adeyemi s signature, with Liverpool and Bayern Munich both looking to rejuvenate their attacking lines in the coming transfer windows.
Adeyemi passed through several German academies as a youngster, Bayern s being one of them, and eventually rose through the ranks at Unterhaching before leaving their Under…
Georginio Wijnaldum has confirmed he will leave Liverpool on a free transfer this off season and suggested that the decision to depart was not his own.
The Dutchman is approaching the end of the five-year contract he signed upon arriving from Newcastle United in a £25m deal in July 2016.
In the build-up to his final appearance for the Reds – a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace that secured Champions League football for next season – both club and player had not let much slip over what the future held.
But, speaking after he was given a guard of honour by his team-mates, Wijnaldum explained that he will be leaving Anfield – and not of his own volition.
He told Sky Sports: I m fighting against tears right now. The people in Liverpool have shown me love…
Erik ten Hag believes Sir Bobby Charlton will always remain an inspiration to Manchester United as they prepare for their first home game since the World Cup-winner died on Saturday.
Tributes to Charlton, who was 86, will take place before Tuesday’s Champions League fixture against Copenhagen, in the form of a minute’s silence, a wreath being placed on Charlton’s seat in the directors’ box and players and club staff wearing black armbands.
Charlton will also be remembered in the official programme for both the Copenhagen match and Sunday’s derby against Manchester City. There will be a minute’s applause prior to the City match as well as expressions of remembrance via flags and banners in the stadium.
Fans have already been flocking to Old Trafford to…
Monaco head coach Philippe Clement hopes Takumi Minamino can bring new qualities to his side as the Liverpool forward closes on a move to Ligue 1.
Minamino is widely expected to join Monaco in the coming days, with the club reportedly agreeing a €13.3million (£15.5m) deal to sign the Japan international.
The forward has scored four goals in 30 Premier League appearances for Liverpool since joining from Salzburg in 2020, but he started only five of those games as he struggled for regular minutes in Jurgen Klopp s star-studded side, spending half a season on loan at Southampton.
Ahead of Monaco s 1-0 friendly win over Cercle Brugge on Sunday, Clement revealed Minamino was set to complete his move to the principality and affirmed his belief in the 27-year-old …
New Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier has pledged to end predecessor Mauricio Pochettino s practice of rotating between goalkeepers Gianluigi Donnarumma and Keylor Navas.
Galtier was announced as PSG s new head coach on Tuesday, with the former Lille and Nice boss signing a two-year deal with the club.
The man who beat PSG to the Ligue 1 title when in charge of Lille during the 2020-21 season takes over a squad containing two world-class goalkeepers in Italy s Euro 2020 hero Donnarumma and three-time Champions League winner Navas.
Pochettino used both goalkeepers often during his one full season in charge of the Parisian giants, with Navas making 26 appearances in all competitions and Donnarumma featuring 24 times.
Donnarumma managed one cle…
Pep Guardiola enjoyed the Centre Court action at Wimbledon as Alexander Zverev sought an opportunity to entice the Manchester City manager to Bayern Munich.
Premier League title-winning coach Guardiola turned his attention away from football on Saturday, watching on as Zverev overcame Cameron Norrie in straight sets.
The Man City boss was joined by Arsenal Women and England captain Leah Williamson, as well as cricketing stars Jos Buttler and Joe Root in a star-studded lineup.
Yet Zverev was most interested in pointing out former Bayern boss Guardiola as the fourth seed urged the Spaniard back to Bavaria.
For me and for all tennis players it s an honour to play on this beautiful Centre Court and in front of the Royal Box, we had so many sporting legends t…
While the current climate might be playing havoc with the football schedule, we hope to have another stacked list on our hands this weekend. So, for those of you who are looking to stick on a Saturday acca, we have found a handful of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.
Saturday December 18th
BST 15:00 Aston Villa vs Burnley
Starting with Saturday s hosts, putting in what was another professional display earlier in the week, Aston Villa have really found an immediate boost since Steven Gerrard made his arrival last month. While the Midlands outfit might have found themselves in the midst of a real struggle when heading into November s international break, they have come roaring back. Last seen away at Carrow Road and landing a deserved 2-0 vic…