Bruno Fernandes netted an extra-time penalty as Manchester United edged past Copenhagen and into the semi-finals of the Europa League with a 1-0 win.
United secured Champions League qualification through their Premier League position but headed to Germany hoping to secure a first piece of silverware for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager.
The Old Trafford outfit were frustrated for long periods on Monday, struggling to negotiate the woodwork, a series of VAR reviews that repeatedly found fairly in Copenhagen s favour and a remarkable display from goalkeeper Karl-Johan Johnsson.
But Stale Solbakken s side playing their first major European quarter-final could not hold out and, with Anthony Martial in inspired form, Fernandes settled the one-legged tie with 95 minute…
Barcelona midfielder Gavi has undergone a successful operation on his right knee.
The 19-year-old tore his anterior cruciate ligament and damaged the lateral meniscus during the first half of Spain’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Georgia earlier this month.
The news was a major blow to club and country, with Gavi having established himself as a key player for both. He is expected to miss the rest of the season and the European Championship next summer.
First team player Gavi had a successful operation on his torn right knee anterior cruciate ligament plus a meniscus suture today. Supervised by the Club s Medical Services, Doctor Joan Carles Monllau performed the intervention at Hospital de Barcelona.
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
A statement f…
Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola meet in the Premier League on Saturday going head to head for just the second time since November 2018.
Tottenham host Manchester City and will be hoping to continue their strong start to 2020-21, in which they have won five times and lost just once in eight league matches.
City are five points worse off than Spurs but have likewise suffered only one defeat, and Guardiola s record against his old LaLiga rival will give fans reason to believe they will emerge triumphant in north London.
Mourinho has certainly not always enjoyed facing Guardiola, but recent encounters – and the trends in their teams performances this term – suggest he might just have his old foe s number
134 Pep Guardiola won his 100th Premier League m…
Manchester City are interested in signing Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund, according to . Adeyemi is starring for Borussia Dortmund at the moment, and City manager Pep Guardiola is reportedly keen on bringing the 22-year-old forward to the Etihad Stadium.
Adeyemi is one of the best young players in Europe and can play as a winger or as a forward. The Germany international has scored two goals and given three assists in four starts and one substitute appearance in the Bundesliga and has scored three goals in two UEFA Champions League for Dortmund so far this campaign.
City are second in the Premier League table at the moment with 14 points from six matches. The defending champions are a point behind leaders Liverpool. As for Dortmund, they currently find themselves …
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan is focused on winning more silverware ahead of the Coppa Italia quarter-final against Atalanta.
Maignan’s first season at the San Siro in 2021-22 ended with Milan winning their first Scudetto for 11 years.
But there was no sequel to Serie A glory last term as Milan finished the campaign empty-handed.
YMWDHMS –
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For many, Ralf Rangnick s arrival at Old Trafford has come eight years too late.
Manchester United have struggled since Alex Ferguson delivered a 20th league title in his final season in 2012-13.
David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have come and gone – the latter relieved of his duties following humiliating losses to Liverpool, Manchester City and lowly Watford at the end of a trophyless tenure dating back to December 2018.
There have been Europa League, FA Cup and EFL Cup successes and a couple of runner-up finishes in the Premier League since Ferguson left, but United have never looked close to competing for the title.
A lack of direction and vision from the top at United has seen the Red Devils slip behind their rivals…
Paris Saint-Germain crashed out of the Coupe de France as they were beaten 6-5 on penalties by Nice after a 0-0 draw at Parc des Princes.
Marcin Bulka was the hero as he denied Leandro Paredes and Xavi Simons in the shoot-out to send the visitors through to the quarter-finals.
The PSG loanee ended the holders 14-match winning run in the competition, while halting their quest for a third straight triumph.
Mauricio Pochettino s side also failed to score in a Coupe de France tie for the first time since losing 1-0 to Lille in the 2011 final.
Unbeaten in their eight previous meetings with Nice in all competitions, PSG welcomed Lionel Messi back into the starting line-up for the first time in a month.
The Argentina skipper was involved in the hosts bes…
Juventus great Gianluigi Buffon believes Paulo Dybala will benefit from joining Roma over Serie A rivals Inter.
Dybala had been strongly linked with a switch to San Siro after his contract with Juve, where he had spent the past seven seasons, expired.
However, Inter instead re-signed Romelu Lukaku on loan from Chelsea, and the Argentina international then had a choice between Napoli and Roma, eventually opting for the latter on a three-year deal.
Buffon, who spent five seasons playing in the same side as Dybala in Turin, feels his former colleague made the right decision.
Paulo had the right to choose after his exit from Juventus on a free transfer, Parma goalkeeper Buffon told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
In the past few weeks, Dybala could have g…
Now at the centre of a stacked winter schedule, Friday offers a host of intriguing affairs from across England s top tiers.
On a Friday fixture list that is highlighted by Aston Villa’s showdown against Sheffield United, we have found a trio of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.
Friday, December 22nd
BST 19:45 Cambridge United vs Exeter
While Cambridge might have opened December in the midst of a minor rut, Friday’s hosts have come roaring back in any eye-catching fashion. Last seen mounting a stellar comeback at home against Blackpool as they clinched a 2-1 victory, Neil Harris’ men are unbeaten in all of their previous three appearances across all competitions. Skyrocketing away from a looming relegation scrap and now desperate to mak…
Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez headlined a spectacular Inter performance as they dismantled relegation-threatened Hellas Verona in a 6-0 victory in Serie A, scoring two goals apiece.
The Nerazzurri ran riot against their hosts at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi to boost their Champions League qualification prospects on Wednesday.
A long-range strike from Hakan Calhanoglu and an Adolfo Gaich own goal piled further misery on Verona, helping Simone Inzaghi s visitors move back above Atalanta into Serie A s top four.
The victory also proved an emphatic warm-up for their upcoming Champions League semi-final tie against rivals Milan, though for Marco Zaffaroni, it leaves his side grasping at straws in their battle for safety.
Inter laid siege to the Verona box fr…