Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid rounded off their La Liga season on a high with a 2-0 home win against Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Defeat to Levante last weekend ended Atletico s title hopes but goals from Fernando Torres and Antoine Griezmann saw Diego Simeone s men finish their domestic campaign with three points.

Diego Godin went close to opening the scoring after six minutes, but his header struck both the crossbar and the post before Fabian Orellana had Celta s best chance of the first half, only to find Jan Oblak in terrific form.

A brace of goals in the space of three minutes shortly after half-time secured the points for Atletico, with Torres brilliantly volleying in the opener following Celta s failure to clear a corner.

Griezmann then …

Frank Lampard criticised Chelsea for failing to see off Brighton and Hove Albion before half-time on New Year s Day, as Alireza Jahanbakhsh s sensational late strike earned a 1-1 draw.

The Blues led early through Cesar Azpilicueta and were then comfortable for the most part until they came under increasing pressure in the final 10 minutes.

Kepa Arrizabalaga was forced into impressive saves either side of a stunning overhead-kick from Jahanbakhsh.

Chelsea also could have clinched the points in the closing minutes, yet Lampard did not believe they should have been in a position where the game was still in the balance.

It was frustrating for different reasons, he told BT Sport. In the first half, the game was there to be won.

We weren t ruthless en…

Inter Milan midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia is close to leaving the Italian club after an underwhelming two-year stint in the Serie A.

The French international joined Nerazzurri from AS Monaco in 2015 for a significant €35 million transfer fee, but the midfielder never quite managed to live up to the expectations in Italy.

The 24-year-old midfielder made only 20 Serie A appearances for Inter Milan last season, adding one goal in the process and is expected to leave the club as Nerazzurri look to rebuild squad for the forthcoming campaign.

Super Deporte reports that La Liga outfit Valencia have expressed interest in signing the French international who, on his own part, looks keen to make a switch to Spain hoping it would increase his chances of earning his place…

Mikel Arteta insisted Arsenal want to be the best and claims that his side can improve in every department despite their positive recent form.

The Gunners lost their first three Premier League games of the season but have gone unbeaten in eight games across all competitions since then, winning six and drawing two.

Arsenal have also kept five clean sheets across that period, conceding just four goals and scoring 15 of their own, but Arteta is not satisfied with his side s progress and is convinced they can reach an even higher level.

[We have improved by] going game by game, trying to improve every single game, trying to keep the spirit and the perspective in the right place when things are not working and the same when things are getting better, Arteta said ahe…

Mainz have announced the departure of head coach Achim Beierlorzer following back-to-back losses at the start of the new Bundesliga season.

After a 3-1 defeat at RB Leipzig in their opener, Mainz were beaten 4-1 at home by newly promoted Stuttgart on Saturday.

Beierlorzer made sure the club retained their top-flight status in the previous campaign, having taken over in November 2019 shortly after losing his job at Cologne.

However, following talks involving sports director Rouven Schroder and chairman Stefan Hofmann on Sunday, Mainz have decided to make a change.

I am disappointed with the club s decision. Nonetheless, I wish Mainz and the team all the best for the future, Beierlorzer said.

Mainz have parted ways with head coach Achim Beierlorzer…

Bayern Munich and Liverpool have both been credited with strong interest in Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso to replace Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp, respectively. There is, of course, the possibility that the former midfielder who played for both those clubs remains at his current club, but according to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, if he does leave Leverkusen, he will join Bayern, rather than Liverpool.

The information should probably be taken with some reservation, as even Plettenberg himself states it comes from his sources around Bayern .

Sky Germany s Florian Plettenberg understands that if Xabi Alonso leaves Bayer Leverkusen this summer, he will join Bayern Munich over Liverpool.

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews)

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What the papers say

Arsenal’s pursuit of a striker has received some encouragement from a potential target. Newcastle’s Sweden forward Alexander Isak, 24, admitted “things can happen” during the summer according to the Daily Mail.

The Gunners have been tracking another Sweden forward but the Sun reports scouting trips to see Viktor Gyokeres, 25, at Sporting have seen the Lisbon club’s Ivory Coast centre-back Ousmane Diomande, 20, catch their eye.

Wolves are in pole position to sign Southampton’s Scotland striker Che Adams according to The Daily Telegraph. The 27-year-old becomes a free agent in the summer.

Brighton are looking at Nigerian winger Philip Otele at Romanian club Cluj, reports the Evening Standard.

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Brazil c…

FIFA have suspended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with immediate effect, citing government interference.

Nigeria s national and club teams will be unable to participate in any regional, continental or international competitions while the suspension in in place.

Similarly, the NFF and its members will not be able to take part in any FIFA or Confederation of African Football (CAF) programmes or courses.

The African nation endured a turbulent conclusion and aftermath to its FIFA World Cup campaign in Brazil, which ended in a 2-0 last-16 defeat to France.

In the build-up to the match, Nigeria s players boycotted a training session amid reported disputes over bonus payments with the NFF, who have been accused by the country s government of hindering th…

Holger Osieck has recalled Mark Schwarzer, Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton for Australia s World Cup qualifiers against Oman and Thailand.

Aston Villa youngster Chris Herd has been handed his first international call-up, while in-form Brisbane Roar midfielder Mitch Nichols has been rewarded for his excellent start to the A-League season with a return to the national squad for the first time since March 2009.

Schwarzer, Kewell and Emerton were all left out of the squad that easily accounted for Malaysia in a friendly on October 7 before seeing Oman off in a World Cup qualifier four days later.

That victory has put the Socceroos on the precipice of direct entry to the next round of qualifiers.

Kewell and Emerton returned to the A-League amid much fanfare at…

Real Madrid midfielder Isco expects to sign a new contract with the club soon following his man-of-the-match display in their UEFA Super Cup win over Manchester United.

The Spain international scored a fine second goal after Casemiro had put Madrid ahead in the first half, with Romelu Lukaku s strike not enough to prevent the European champions from claiming a 2-1 win in Skopje on Tuesday.

Isco s future had come under scrutiny in recent weeks, with the 25-year-old yet to extend a deal that expires next year despite insisting after last term s LaLiga title triumph that he would not be leaving.

However, speaking after the victory, Isco made it clear that he intends to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu.

We re very close and it will be done soon, he said of the…