Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | A national tour by Rugby World Cup winners the Springboks begins on Thursday and one of the first stops will be Soweto, a township near Johannesburg where they were once hated. Three decades ago, as black nationalists fought apartheid regime brutality, South Africa’s national rugby …
Read More »Rodrygo makes history as Madrid put six past Galatasaray
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Rodrygo scored a sensational hat-trick and the fastest two goals in Champions League history on Wednesday as Real Madrid humiliated Galatasaray 6-0. The 18-year-old had his double after just six minutes and 14 seconds at the Santiago Bernabeu before teeing up Karim Benzema to make it …
Read More »Arsenal stumble again at Vitoria Guimaraes
Guimaraes, Portugal | AFP | Arsenal’s faltering form continued as a much-changed side limped towards the last 32 of the Europa League with a 1-1 draw at Vitoria Guimaraes on Wednesday. Shkodran Mustafi’s header 10 minutes from time looked set to hand the Gunners a barely deserved three points and …
Read More »Son bounces back with a brace as Tottenham thrash Red Star again
Belgrade, Serbia | AFP | Son Heung-min bounced back from a traumatic weekend by scoring twice as Tottenham beat Red Star Belgrade 4-0 on Wednesday to take a huge step towards reaching the last 16 of the Champions League for a third straight year. The South Korean was left in tears …
Read More »Wenger said to be in talks with Bayern, Rangnick ‘not available’
Berlin, Germany | AFP | Arsene Wenger is reportedly in talks with Bayern Munich to potentially become their new head coach while Ralf Rangnick, another possible candidate, is said to not be interested. Wenger, 70, gave an evasive answer when broadcaster beIn Sports directly asked him about working at Bayern, …
Read More »Costa’s late winner sends Juve to Champions League knockouts
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Substitute Douglas Costa’s injury-time winner secured Juventus their spot in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday after a 2-1 victory over Lokomotiv Moscow. The Brazilian winger struck a magnificent, last-gasp solo goal for the Italian champions after Aleksei Miranchuk had cancelled out Aaron Ramsey’s fourth-minute …
Read More »Xhaka stripped of Arsenal captaincy
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Arsenal manager Unai Emery confirmed on Tuesday that Granit Xhaka has been stripped of the club captaincy after an emotional outburst towards supporters. The Swiss international swore and threw the captain’s armband to the floor after being booed as he was substituted against Crystal Palace 10 days ago. Pierre-Emerick …
Read More »Chelsea, Ajax draw European thriller as Liverpool win and Barca stumble
Paris, France | AFP | Jorginho scored two penalties as Chelsea came roaring back from 4-1 down to draw 4-4 with nine-man Ajax in a Champions League classic on Tuesday, while holders Liverpool claimed a narrow victory and a stuttering Barcelona were held. There was also a rousing comeback win for …
Read More »Hazard’s slow start gathering pace as Madrid look for attacking release
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Eden Hazard is beginning to show glimpses of his best form and it cannot come soon enough for Real Madrid. They play at home to Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday, when victory would put them within touching distance of qualification from Group A. Hazard …
Read More »Barca’s fragility casts doubts on Champions League credentials
Madrid, Spain | AFP | They may be one of Europe’s most devastating teams at their best but another collapse in La Liga last weekend has shown Barcelona can be a soft touch. Their 3-1 defeat by Levante on Saturday reopened old wounds from Anfield and Rome and suggests they have …
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