Romelu Lukaku s 19th Premier League goal of the season helped Everton beat West Brom 3-0 on Saturday in a win which saw them match their total points tally of 47 from last season, highlighting their marked improvement under Ronald Koeman.
Everton s display emphasised their increased solidity in defence since Roberto Martinez s departure, while there were no signs of that negatively impacting their effectiveness going forward as they equalled last season s record despite having 10 more games to play.
It did take them a little longer than they would have liked to open the scoring, but a brilliant six-minute spell at the end of the first half had Everton well on course to wrapping up a comfortable win, finally making the most of their superiority over a West Brom team whi…
Cristiano Ronaldo s relationship with his teammates has been brought into question in recent months
Cristiano Ronaldo was baited slightly by journalists yesterday ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday night.
Journalists asked the Portuguese star about Leo Messi’s now infamous passed penalty.
Ronaldo never one to enjoy talking about his nemesis, was visibly annoyed by questions about his relationship with fellow Real forwards Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, compared to that of Messi’s relationship with Luis Suarez and Neymar.
Always driven to individual success
At times it seems that Ronaldo would be quite happy playing without any teammates. Football is a team game, but the Portuguese’s determination to be the be…
Republic of Ireland could not avenge their World Cup play-off defeat to Denmark as they were held to a goalless draw by a visiting side missing Christian Eriksen in Dublin.
Hat-trick hero Eriksen extinguished Ireland s qualifying hopes in a 5-1 away win last November, but the Tottenham midfielder was not fit to feature in Saturday s rematch in the Nations League.
However, rather than opening the door for Ireland to record a much-needed victory, Eriksen s absence merely sapped the quality from the contest as both outfits struggled to offer anything in the final third.
Denmark at least know Eriksen s return should ensure improvement from this dour display, but there were few positives for Martin O Neill and Ireland to take forward.
The first of very few fir…
Verdict: Both teams to score – yes
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Serie A champions Juventus lock horns with Catalan giants Barcelona in the replay of the 2014-15 Champions League finals and Bianconeri are relishing the opportunity to get their payback against an out-of-form La Liga side.
Juventus
have gone through a bit of a hiccup over the past couple of weeks with Max Allegri’s men drawing and losing to Napoli in a Serie A game and a Coppa Italia clash, respectively. The Cup defeat came at no cost for Bianconeri however, as Juventus sealed their place in the final despite the 3-2 loss as the aggregate result of 5-4 worked in their favour. Juventus got back to winning ways at the weekend however to make a suitable introduction for the highly-anticipated d…
Daniel Farke felt Leeds’ 1-0 victory over Stoke was his side’s “best win in 2024” as they continued their Championship automatic-promotion charge.
Dan James could have had a couple in the first half but for Daniel Iversen’s saves before the Wales international put his side ahead with his 11th goal of the season just after the half-hour mark.
Stoke did not roll over and Illan Meslier kept out chances from Lewis Baker, Tyrese Campbell and Josh Laurent in the second period.
Mateo Joseph saw one blocked off the line to deny Leeds a second while substitute Ben Pearson was sent off late on for the visitors.
Farke said: “For me, it is the best win in 2024 because everyone expects us to win this home game.
“Everyone expects us at Elland Road…
Pep Guardiola hailed his players for writing themselves into history after Manchester City finally claimed Champions League glory.
City secured the prize they have craved for so long when they beat Inter Milan 1-0 in a hard-fought final in Istanbul on Saturday night.
Rodri scored the only goal of a tough contest in the 68th minute at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, landing City’s first European crown after several years of near misses and completing the treble.
Guardiola hopes all of City’s successes, including their five Premier League titles in the past six years, will now be given due credit without the shadow of Champions League under-achievement hanging over them.
CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE!!!
— Manchester City (@ManCity)
The City manag…
The fluctuating fortunes of Wayne Rooney this year once again highlighted English football s age-old tendency of flattering to deceive as the Premier League lost some of its sparkle.
Rooney was the toast of England in May after a barnstorming domestic campaign which saw him finish with 34 goals for Manchester United while scooping the Players Player of the Year and Footballer of the Year awards.
While Rooney s heroics were not enough to prevent Chelsea winning a Premier League and FA Cup double, the striker s form left England in buoyant mood as they headed to South Africa for the World Cup.
Rooney, in the form of his life and benefiting from a maturity conferred on him by fatherhood, was finally ready to end England s long wait for international glory, or so th…
Bayern Munich s UEFA Champions League defence reaches a crucial juncture in Wednesday s semi-final first leg at Real Madrid.
The Bavarian giants are bidding to become the first team to defend Europe s premier club competition since Milan did so in 1990.
Pep Guardiola s men secured the Bundesliga crown last month, allowing them to turn their full attention to lifting the Champions League trophy once again.
Nine-time winners Real – who will be hoping key men Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are passed fit do not have the same luxury and are involved a three-horse race, with city rivals Atletico and Gerardo Martino s Barcelona, for La Liga glory.
Real were not in action at the weekend, but Bayern beat Eintracht Braunschweig 2-0.
Captain Philipp Lahm felt th…
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is desperate for the Premier League club to take a step forward and win a trophy next season.
Jurgen Klopp s men reached two finals in 2015-16 – losing the Europa League and EFL Cup deciders – but were unable to go on a similar run the following campaign.
A fourth-place finish domestically gave Liverpool a Champions League return and Mignolet hopes that will allow his team to push on.
It [top-four finish] gives us the platform again to go for that trophy next year and this is what I want and what the lads in the dressing room want, the shot-stopper told Liverpool FC magazine.
Last year, we had the chance to play in two finals, but unfortunately we lost both of them.
We have learned from that and I think e…
Borussia M’gladbach are hot on the trail of Stuttgart striker Simon Terodde, according to German daily newspaper Bild.
The 29-year-old first exploded at Bochum, bagging 16 and 25 league goals respectively in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 campaigns, before repeating the feat at Stuttgart.
Having scored 25 goals to help the Swabians return to the elite division, Terodde has become one of Germany’s hottest commodities.
Borussia M’gladbach have decided to match the player’s €6 million release clause and they are also prepared to offer him a four-year contact worth €3 million per campaign.
Meanwhile, Stuttgart are expected to submit a counter offer and attempt to keep hold of their vice-captain, who seems quite happy at Mercedes-Benz Arena, at least for…