Juventus attacker Paulo Dybala
Juventus surprisingly ran out comfortable 3-0 winners against Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday night.
In a repeat of the final in 2015, the Italian champions showed why they are unbeaten in 47 games in all competitions at home with a masterclass in fine defending and clinical finishing.
A first-half double from Paulo Dybala and a Giorgio Chiellini header in the second period ensured the Old Lady head into next week’s return second leg in a commanding position.
Here are five things we learned.
Crucial 76 seconds in first-half decided the match
The turning point in the game came when Juventus were 1-0 up and Lionel Messi sent Andres Iniesta through on goal with a sublime p…
Megan Rapinoe and her United States team-mates are angry and exhausted after a report detailed widespread misconduct in the National Women s Soccer League (NWSL).
Former US Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates released a report on Monday concluding abuse and sexual misconduct spanned multiple teams and coaches, while the NWSL and US Soccer failed to put in basic measures to safeguard players or respond appropriately when confronted with player reports and evidence of abuse .
The report s findings have cast a dark shadow on women s football ahead of the United States friendly with England at Wembley Stadium on Friday.
Rapinoe is grateful the United States squad were able to support each other at a difficult time.
I mean it s horrifying, Rapinoe told report…
Kai Havertz is reportedly still pushing for a move to Chelsea, while Manchester United are considering their options.
Havertz has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea after an impressive season with Bayer Leverkusen.
The attacker may be getting closer to a switch to Stamford Bridge.
TOP STORY – HAVERTZ STILL PUSHING FOR CHELSEA MOVE
Havertz is still pushing for a move to Chelsea from Leverkusen, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Germany international would join Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech in heading to Chelsea ahead of 2020-21.
Havertz scored 18 goals and provided nine assists in 45 games for Leverkusen this season.
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With Jadon Sancho potentially staying at Borussia Dortmund, Manchest…
Marseille forward Mamadou Samassa has left the reigning Ligue 1 champions to join Valenciennes. The 24 year old was viewed by L OM as a long term replacement for Djibril Cisse when he was signed in August 2008 from Le Mans, but failure to live up to expectations has resulted in him making a quick exit.
Samassa took four months to score his first Marseille goal. He was loaned out to Valenciennes for the entire 09/10 season and netted seven times in seventeen games.
Samassa represented France at U-21 level, but chose to shift his allegiance to the Malian team at international level.
[Source:- Olympique Marseille]
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The Europa League, poor relation of the Champions League financial behemoth, affords some of the continent s small fry the chance to enjoy a quick slice of fame, especially if they can squeeze through this week s playoff returns.
Yet the gulf between the participating clubs is huge and, in financial terms, nobody can talk of a level playing field.
While the likes of Welsh league outfit The New Saints can dream of mixing it with millionaires they would normally only see playing on television while sat in their own armchairs, for the larger clubs the tournament is almost an unwanted distraction.
For money-no-object Manchester City, who have been bankrolled to the tune of a reported 350 million euros since Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan took over in August 2008…
Ex-Inter captain Javier Zanetti has anointed Andrea Ranocchia to replace him in the role next season.
The 40-year-old retired from football last season, ending a 15-year stint as skipper of the Italian giants.
Defender Ranocchia joined Inter from Genoa in 2011 and has quickly gone on to cement himself as a first-team regular at San Siro.
And Zanetti believes that he has the leadership qualities to take on the position for coach Walter Mazzarri.
Zanetti told Sky Sport 24: Andrea knows the value of the Nerazzurri (Inter) shirt and, in my opinion, he could be the right man when it comes to making this decision.
He is always available and everyone listens to him.
In my opinion he could do very well.
Zanetti, who stated how keen he was to take up a …
Chelsea have accepted an offer of £10m from Bournemouth for goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, according to Sky Sports.
The Cherries are looking to bring in a new goalkeeper having secured their best ever league position last term, and have identified Begovic, who is behind Thibaut Courtois is the pecking order with the Champions, as their top target.
Begovic moved to Stamford Bridge from Stoke City in the summer of 2015 and has since racked up thirty-three appearances in all competitions.
Over three quarters of those appearances came in his first campaign with the club as Courtois struggled with injury meaning that he only managed eight outings last term, with just two coming in the league.
Prior to his switch to the Blues he had spent six years with Stoke…
Croatia international and Real Madrid midfield maestro Luka Modric was awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or award on Monday night.
The Croat beat the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann to lift the coveted individual prize which capped a remarkable year for the diminutive midfielder.
Et le vainqueur du 2018 est… Luka Modric !
— la chaine L Équipe (@lachainelequipe)
Modric was overwhelmed with emotion upon the announcement.
He thanked his club, country and family…
La première réaction du Ballon d Or France Football 2018, Luka Modric
— la chaine L Équipe (@lachainelequipe)
…but he also mentioned the former Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane who might hav…
Juventus have always got it right in the games that matter this season and have a great chance to win the Champions League, according to Andrea Pirlo.
Having already secured the Serie A and Coppa Italia titles, a first treble in Juve s history is on the cards when they take on Real Madrid in Saturday s Cardiff final.
The Bianconeri s previous attempt to claim all three trophies in the same season fell at the final hurdle in 2015, with Pirlo part of the side that suffered a 3-1 defeat against Barcelona in the Champions League showpiece in Berlin.
Although the experienced midfielder now plies his trade at New York City, he will be cheering on Juve and believes they have proved their ability to come out on top at crucial moments this season.
We re here: Juv…
Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is the latest player to be called up to Spain s back-up training bubble ahead of Euro 2020.
Spain s preparations have been thrown into disarray following Sergio Busquets positive coronavirus test on Sunday.
The senior squad, who are in isolation, all returned negative tests on Monday but will continue to follow strict protocols before the start of the Euros, with players from the Under-21 squad set to play in Tuesday s friendly with Lithuania.
As a precaution against further positive cases depleting his squad, coach Luis Enrique has created a parallel training bubble with players effectively on stand-by to join the main Euros squad.
Rodrigo Moreno, Pablo Fornals, Carlos Soler and Brais Mendez were first called up to th…