Pep Guardiola insists he trusts Manchester City to take the next step in the Champions League, adamant he would be crazy not to have that belief ahead of Wednesday s quarter-final second leg.
City go to Borussia Dortmund with a 2-1 lead from last week s home leg, meaning the Germans will be quietly confident of pulling off an upset given they managed an away goal.
While City have progressed from 13 of their 15 knockout ties in European competition when winning the first leg, in the Champions League the side that won the first leg 2-1 at home has been eliminated more often (15) than they have progressed (12).
The tie is in the balance and Guardiola knows too well to take anything for granted given City have been eliminated at this stage of the competition in each …
Monaco progressed to their first Coupe de France final since 2010 as they beat minnows Rumilly Vallieres 5-1 to tee up a showdown with Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG needed penalties to beat Montpellier on Wednesday, though Monaco got the job done in the allotted 90 minutes, with Cesc Fabregas delivering a star turn.
Indeed, Monaco had to come from behind after Alexis Peuget s fine opener, but Arthur Bozon s calamitous own goal and Aurelien Tchouameni s header put Niko Kovac s team in control.
Wissam Ben Yedder s 21st goal of the season dashed any lingering comeback hopes, and Rumilly Vallieres incredible run came to an end with a whimper as Fabregas – who provided two assists – curled in an exquisite free-kick before Aleksandr Golovin finished things off.
Burnley 0-4 Chelsea: Off-field uncertainty no distraction as James and Havertz star in Turf Moor str
Kai Havertz netted twice as Chelsea cruised past Burnley at Turf Moor, with Reece James and Christian Pulisic also scoring in a comfortable 4-0 win for Thomas Tuchel s men.
It was Chelsea s first Premier League game since owner Roman Abramovich confirmed he had put the club up for sale, though there were no signs of distraction among the players.
They did struggle to create chances before half-time but then netted three goals in eight minutes to take the game away from Burnley soon after the break, before Pulisic added some gloss a little later.
Chelsea s first opening saw Charlie Taylor block from James, before Thiago Silva made a vital goal-line clearance from Wout Weghorst s shot at the other end.
Nathan Collins headed over as Sean Dyche s men enjoyed …
Merseyside Police is investigating after a threatening banner was hung up near the home of prospective new Everton manager Rafael Benitez.
Benitez is the strong favourite to take over at Goodison Park following Carlo Ancelotti s move to Real Madrid earlier this month.
The proposed appointment has not gone down well with some Everton fans given Benitez s links to city rivals Liverpool, whom he guided to Champions League. FA Cup and European Super Cup success.
Sections of the Toffees fanbase have left messages outside the club s stadium over the past week, but those protests have now turned more sinister.
Images and videos emerged on social media on Monday of a banner reading We know where you live, don t sign close to Benitez s family home in Wirral.
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Real Madrid were crowned kings of Europe for a record-extending 15th time with a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley on Saturday.
Huge favourites going into the game, the Spanish side were outplayed for long periods but broke Dortmund s resistance with late goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior.
Veteran right back Carvajal glanced in a header from a Toni Kroos corner in the 74th minute and from that moment Carlo Ancelotti s side sparked into life.
Vinicius slid home Madrid s second in the 83rd minute to silence the yellow-clad Dortmund fans who had created a wall of noise throughout the final.
22 22 goals in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League (11 goals, 11 assists); the joint-most by any player …
Moise Kean scored his first Paris Saint-Germain goals as the Ligue 1 champions bounced back from their Champions League disappointment by beating lowly Dijon 4-0 at the Parc des Princes.
PSG, finalists in Europe last season, started the new continental campaign with a surprise home defeat to Manchester United on Tuesday.
Perhaps with one eye on their next Champions League assignment at Istanbul Basaksehir, Thomas Tuchel started with Kylian Mbappe on the bench against Dijon but there was never any serious prospect of a second straight loss on Saturday.
The division s bottom side performed admirably but lacked the sort of cutting edge displayed by Everton loanee Kean, with his first-half brace, and substitute Mbappe, who added a late double of his own.
2 Mo…
Aitana Bonmati secured the Women s Champions League Player of the Season for a second straight campaign after guiding Barcelona to European glory.
The Spain international scored in Saturday s 2-0 victory over Lyon in the final, helping Jonatan Giraldez s side clinch an unprecedented quadruple.
Fellow Ballon d Or winner Alexia Putellas produced the other goal in that victory, but Bonmati was named Player of the Match after another eye-catching performance.
With six goals and six assists, the 26-year-old managed more goal contributions than any other player in this season s Champions League, and that earned Bonmati further individual recognition.
She influenced the game all over the pitch in and out of possession. High progressive passes, high ball recover…
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti would not be drawn on whether he thinks Jude Bellingham is currently the best midfielder in the world.
Bellingham, 20, scored his eighth goal in eight appearances in all competitions for Real in Saturday’s 3-0 LaLiga win at Girona.
He scored the winner in the Spanish giants’ opening Champions League game against Union Berlin two weeks ago and will aim to maintain his dream start for Ancelotti’s side in Italy against Group C rivals Napoli on Tuesday night.
Jude, again
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague)
Ancelotti told a press conference: “I think Bellingham has adapted very well to his new team. He’s doing very well and is showing all of his quality.
“If someone thinks he’s the best…
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang showed Leeds United little love on Valentine s Day as his first Premier League hat-trick led Arsenal to a 4-2 triumph.
Making his first league start since January 18, Aubameyang put Arsenal 2-0 up by the 41st minute on Sunday and then rounded off his hat-trick early in the second half.
Aubameyang s second goal marked his 200th across 369 appearances in Europe s top five leagues, with Hector Bellerin making it 3-0 four minutes later.
Arsenal went some way to undoing their hard work as goals from Pascal Struijk and Helder Costa gave Leeds hope, but Mikel Arteta s side ultimately held firm.
3 Since the start of the 2009-10 season, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is one of only three players to score a hat-trick in three of the top five Eu…
Prediction: England to Win 3-0
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England and Albania will both be aiming to keep up their perfect start to their 2022 World Cup qualification campaigns as they come together in Tirana on Sunday.
The two sides kicked off qualification with a victory each and will of course be aiming to keep that form up as next year s showpiece tournament draws ever closer.
Albania
Edoardo Reja s men are certainly in fine form as they prepare to take on the Three Lions. Following their 1-0 victory against Andorra last time out, coming courtesy of Ermir Lenjani s solitary strike, they have now won their last four games in all competitions. It is the longest winning run in the nation s history since 2010. Should they beat England on Sunday then it …