Bayern Munich effectively guaranteed themselves a place in the Champions League quarter-finals and left Arsenal facing the prospect of another early exit from the knockout stages of European competition after the Bundesliga title-holders romped to a second 5-1 thrashing in successive seasons over the Gunners at Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
Carlo Ancelotti s hosts led through Arjen Robben s early goal, before Alexis Sanchez levelled for an Arsenal side that improved markedly as the first half progressed.
It was a different, sorry story for the visitors after the break, as a Thiago Alcantara brace, Robert Lewandowski s header and Thomas Muller s late strike earned Bayern a commanding lead going into the second leg at Emirates Stadium next month, although they will be…
Antoine Griezmann thinks he should be in the running for the Ballon d Or after the bizarre decision to omit him from the shortlist for the Best FIFA Men s Player award.
The 27-year-old inspired Atletico Madrid to victory in the Europa League last season before going on to play a starring role in France s triumph at the World Cup.
A UEFA Super Cup prize with Atletico followed last month, but it was not enough to place him among the final three nominees for FIFA s top individual award, which will go to Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric or Mohamed Salah.
Griezmann thinks it odd that no France player is in the running given their World Cup success, but he believes he is closer than ever before to the Ballon d Or, having still finished third two years ago despite defeats…
What the papers say
Wolves may look to sell star winger Pedro Neto this summer to avoid breaching profit and sustainability rules, with several papers reporting the Midlands outfit are willing to do business. Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United are interested in the 23-year-old, who has scored two goals with eight assists in 15 games this season.
Barcelona have shown interest in Manchester City and England winger Lauren Hemp with her contract set to expire in summer and reports of uncertainty over her future at the club, the Standard says. Hemp has scored seven goals with five assists this season.
The Guardian says Crystal Palace are looking at former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner to replace Roy Hodgson if they decide to part ways with the vete…
Mathieu Valbuena insists Marseille can upset Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday by inflicting just their second Ligue 1 defeat of the season.
The two rivals meet in Le Classique at the Parc des Princes this weekend with champions PSG five points clear at the top of the table and a further 18 ahead of fifth-placed Marseille with 12 games remaining.
Laurent Blanc s side have not lost at home in the league all season, and have only dropped points on three occasions, but Valbuena still believes he and his team-mates side can spring a surprise.
Marseille are currently unbeaten in their last five league matches and according to the 29-year-old midfielder they are desperate to make it six with their first win over PSG since November 2011.
Paris is the favourite, he told L Eq…
Bayer Leverkusen defender Omer Toprak says his team are hell-bent on improving from their last spiritless UEFA Champions League outing.
Toprak and his team-mates were embarrassed in the first leg of their last-16 tie against Paris-Saint Germain, losing 4-0 in front of their home fans in Germany.
Leverkusen were humbled 10-2 on aggregate by Barcelona at the same stage of the 2011-12 competition, with a 7-1 defeat in the second leg particularly humiliating.
Sami Hyypia s side have not won in their last six matches, seeing them slip to third in the Bundesliga, and there seems little to play for in Wednesday s second leg in Paris.
Toprak sees it differently though, and is adamant his side will put in a fighting display in hope of restoring their credibility.
It…
Ross Barkley hopes that Eden Hazard can resist the lure of Real Madrid and commit his long-term future to Chelsea.
Speaking after the Blues 3-0 win over Southampton on Sunday, in which both the Belgian and Barkley scored and assisted, Hazard said: Real Madrid is the best club in the world. It is my dream since I was a kid. We will see.
Barkley, however, is desperate for the 27-year-old to pledge his future to Maurizio Sarri s side and continue to light up Stamford Bridge for years to come.
He s a magnificent player, Barkley told a media conference.
You can see how he has started the season and the World Cup that he had, you don t get many players like him. He s capable of magic at any moment.
It s important [he stays] because he s been at Che…
Xavi feels Juventus forward Paulo Dybala would be a perfect fit for Barcelona.
The Argentina international has developed into a key figure at Juventus since joining the club from Palermo in 2015 and his impressive performances, which have seen him score 14 goals this season, have not gone unnoticed elsewhere.
Barcelona have been credited with an interest in signing the 23-year-old and Xavi believes he would be a shrewd addition for the Camp Nou side.
Dybala would fit in perfectly at Barcelona if you look at the other players there, Xavi told Marca.
He has a lot of talent and is capable of playing for any big team. He is a natural who plays at a high level and is still young. He is ready to play for Barcelona.
He is making the difference in …
Xabi Alonso accepts he is taking a risk after being appointed as Bayer Leverkusen head coach, but felt the time was right to make the move into senior management.
The 40-year-old former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder was announced as Gerardo Seoane s replacement on Wednesday.
Alonso coached Real Sociedad B for three years before departing in May and previously spent time working in Madrid s youth system.
The Leverkusen job presents a new challenge for Alonso, who inherits a side sitting 17th in the Bundesliga and third in their Champions League group after three games.
There is of course always a risk, Alonso said at his unveiling press conference on Thursday ahead of this weekend s visit of Schalke.
But you have to always i…
Things seem to be going from bad to worse for Barcelona this season. On Wednesday, they suffered a 3-0 defeat away to Benfica in the Champions League, and with the fact that they were beaten by Bayern Munich by the same scoreline at home in the opening round in mind, they are in serious danger of not making it into the knockout stages of the competition.
Consequently, the future of head coach Ronald Koeman at the club is in more doubt than ever.
The future of the coach in this world is in doubt and you have to accept that, and if you don t then it s better to leave.
Ronald Koeman admits his future at Barcelona is out of his hands
— Football Daily (@footballdaily)
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Get well soon
I don’t know how many of you will have heard of Salvador Cabanas Ortega. The twenty-nine year old Paraguay international striker plays his football for Club America in the Mexican Primera Division.
Prolific
He is a prolific goal-scorer who is a well respected player and was expected to represent Paraguay at the recent World Cup.
Cabanas has scored sixty-six goals in one hundred and fifteen games for Club America having scored one hundred and four goals in two hundred and one games for various teams before that. He has found the net ten times in forty-four international games for Paraguay.
Scorer
In 2003 Cabanas was the top scorer in the Chilean football league. In 2006 he was top scorer in the Mexican Primera Division. In 20…