London, United Kingdom | AFP | Pep Guardiola fears his Manchester City players are not ready for the gruelling demands of the Premier League restart. Guardiola’s reigning champions host Arsenal behind closed doors on Wednesday in the second game of the Premier League’s return to action following the coronavirus hiatus. City play again on Monday …
Read More »Rashford 1 UK govt 0: footballer forces change on child poverty
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain’s government on Tuesday bowed to demands by Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford to change its policy on free school meals for the poorest children, amid growing concerns about the impact of the coronavirus lockdown on low-income families. The England international drew on his own experience of growing up …
Read More »Key UEFA meeting to decide on way forward for suspended Champions League
Paris, France | AFP | As football around Europe returns after a long suspension, UEFA is set to announce the format for the latter stages of the Champions League at a key meeting on Wednesday which will also raise the thorny issue of the postponed, pan-continental Euro 2020. The Champions League …
Read More »Flick sees advantage in revamped Champions League for treble-chasing Bayern
Berlin, Germany | AFP | Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick believes a revamped Champions League format could be an ‘advantage’ for his side, who are still in the hunt for the treble this season. The Bavarian giants are just one win from an eighth straight Bundesliga title and Flick can win the German league in …
Read More »Tougher tests await for Madrid and Barca in race for La Liga
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Real Madrid and Barcelona will have tougher tests to come but emphatic victories on their return to action at the weekend suggest there may not be much margin for error in what is left of La Liga’s title race. Leaders Barca hammered Real Mallorca 4-0 on …
Read More »Four things to look for as European football picks up speed this week
Paris, France | AFP | The European club football trophies should already be stowed in the cabinets, instead most of the top leagues are only just resuming after the coronavirus interruption. While the Germans returned on May 16, the top two Spanish divisions have only just resumed, and the English Premier …
Read More »Tanzania first African country to restart league amid virus
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Tanzania this weekend became the first African country to resume a national league suspended during March because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Young Africans, who have been champions a record 22 times, won 1-0 away to Mwadui and Coastal Union overcame a two-goal deficit to …
Read More »Premier League’s international appeal faces coronavirus test
London, United Kingdom | AFP | When the 100 day-wait for Premier League football comes to an end on Wednesday, the anticipation will be felt as keenly in Mumbai and Beijing as in Manchester and Birmingham. The global reach of the English top-flight has helped secure its position as the wealthiest …
Read More »Messi caps Barcelona win over Mallorca on La Liga return
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Lionel Messi returned without a beard and with a goal and two assists as Barcelona resumed their La Liga title challenge on Saturday with a thumping 4-0 victory over Real Mallorca. After three months away because of the coronavirus pandemic, Barca exploded into the lead with …
Read More »Zidane tells Real Madrid to adopt World Cup mentality for La Liga finish
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Zinedine Zidane wants Real Madrid to treat their remaining 11 games in La Liga like a World Cup as they aim to overhaul Barcelona to win their second league title in eight years. Real sit two points behind Barca and return after three months away against Eibar on Sunday, when …
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