Madrid, Spain | AFP | Karim Benzema shot Real Madrid to within two points of La Liga leaders Barcelona with the winner in a scrappy 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, while countryman Antoine Griezmann fired a brace in a 3-2 win over Real Valladolid to take Atletico Madrid level with …
Read More »Griezmann shoots Atletico level with Barcelona
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Antoine Griezmann dragged Atletico Madrid level with Barcelona at the top of La Liga as he scored twice and created another in a 3-2 win at Valladolid. The victory left Diego Simeone’s side second in La Liga but they joined Barca, who travel to Levante …
Read More »Champions League: Who needs what in final round
Paris, France | AFP | The Champions League goes into its final round of group games this week with 12 teams already assured of featuring in the last 16 and seven others battling for the remaining four places. Here, AFP Sports looks at what remains at stake: Group A The …
Read More »Afghan football chiefs suspended over sex abuse on women’s team
Kabul, Afghanistan | AFP | Afghanistan has suspended five officials including the president of the country’s football federation over allegations of sexual and physical abuse against the national women’s team, officials said Sunday. The decision comes days after President Ashraf Ghani ordered the attorney general to conduct a “thorough investigation” …
Read More »Klopp banking on Chelsea to slow City charge as Napoli tie looms
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Jurgen Klopp will be desperately hoping Chelsea can slow down Manchester City’s title charge this weekend as he balances his Premier League ambitions with a Champions League decider against Napoli. Unbeaten Liverpool are clinging on in the title race — scoring deep into added …
Read More »From dream to nightmare: Afghan ‘Little Messi’ forced to flee
Kabul, Afghanistan | AFP | Murtaza Ahmadi moved the world with his love for footballer Lionel Messi in 2016. His dream of meeting the Argentinian came true, but now the seven-year-old boy is living a nightmare as one of thousands of Afghans displaced by war. Murtaza and his family abandoned …
Read More »Liverpool close on City, Arsenal held by Man Utd
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Liverpool closed back to within two points of Premier League leaders Manchester City by coming from behind to beat Burnley 3-1 as Manchester United and Arsenal shared the spoils in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Old Trafford. Wolves also overturned an early deficit to …
Read More »Falcao penalties lift Monaco out of relegation zone
Paris, France | AFP | Radamel Falcao scored a pair of penalties as Thierry Henry’s Monaco won 2-0 at fellow strugglers Amiens to climb out of the bottom three in Ligue 1 on Tuesday. The Colombian had missed twice from the spot this season but calmly converted on 43 minutes …
Read More »Man City withstand late Watford onslaught to move five points clear
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Pep Guardiola called on Manchester City to learn from a nervy finish to a seventh straight Premier League victory as a 2-1 win at Watford moved the champions five points clear of Liverpool at the top of the table. City’s goals came either side …
Read More »BALLON d’Or: It is Luka Modric
Paris, France | AFP | Luka Modric saw off competition from France’s World Cup stars as the Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder won the Ballon d’Or on Monday to end a 10-year stranglehold on the award by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Modric, 33, was announced as the winner of the prestigious prize in Paris …
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