Thomas Muller acknowledged Bayern Munich needed some good fortune to overcome Paris Saint-Germain and reach the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Julian Nagelsmann s side were indebted to Matthijs de Ligt s goal-line clearance from Vitinha in the first half at Allianz Arena after Yann Sommer s error offered the PSG midfielder an open goal.
De Ligt subsequently hooked off the line, keeping Bayern 1-0 ahead in the tie after Kingsley Coman s first-leg strike, before Nagelsmann s men seized control of the return meeting.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting came back to haunt his former side PSG with a second-half strike before Serge Gnabry sealed progression, though Muller was thankful for the fine margins fell for Bayern.
You have to be honest, in a footba…
Leicester City s vice-chairman is confident Jamie Vardy will reject a move to Arsenal and remain with the Premier League champions next season.
Vardy netted 24 times as he helped inspire the Foxes to the most unlikely of title triumphs in 2015-16 and his efforts were rewarded with a place in England s Euro 2016 squad.
His performances for Leicester attracted the attention of Arsenal, who have triggered a release clause – believed to be worth £20million – with Vardy set to make a final decision once England s participation in the finals in France has come to an end.
But vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, son of chairman and owner Vichai, believes Vardy will stay at the King Power Stadium as Leicester prepare to take their seat at European cl…
Galatasaray have failed in their appeal to have a ban from European football overturned.
The Turkish club turned to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the hope of getting the suspension – to apply in the next UEFA club competition for which they qualify in the next two seasons – lifted, having been penalised for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations.
However, their appeal was rejected and Galatasaray will not be able to take their place in next season s Europa League.
They had qualified courtesy of winning the Turkish Cup, but, despite seeing the sentence earlier reduced by a year, the ban will stand.
On Thursday, a CAS statement read: The CAS Panel in charge of this matter has dismissed the appeal and has confirmed that the …
Ivan Rakitic said Croatia can disrupt Spain s free-flowing football when they face them in their final Euro 2012 group game.
Slaven Bilic s side go into their final Group C game against the world and European champions in second place, level on points with Vicente del Bosque s men, knowing that a win would see them progress as group winners.
And the Sevilla midfielder said their opponents are beatable, and suggested that his side can take heart from the way in which Italy attacked the midfield, forcing the World Champions to make mistakes.
It is possible to attack this Spain, after all Switzerland beat them in the (2010) World Cup, the 24-year-old told reporters.
They are humans, have their flaws, make mistakes, and we have to exploit those mistakes.<…
There are rumours flying around London that suggest that former Italian coach Roberto Donadoni has flown into London for an interview at West HamÂ’s Upton Park.
Donadoni was sacked after Euro 2008 by the IFF (Italian Football Federation).
The former Italian coach is one of many people that have been linked to the Hammers job after Alan Curbishley resigned from the club earlier in the week.
…
Lionel Messi believes the gap between Barcelona, Real Madrid and the rest of LaLiga has closed.
Barcelona lead Madrid on goal difference at the top of the table on 34 points, with Sevilla three points back in third.
However, just three points separate fourth-place Real Sociedad on 27 points and Granada in ninth.
Barcelona have lost three and drawn one of their 15 games this season, while Madrid have drawn four and lost one.
Messi thinks it displays that the strength of the teams across the league has improved.
Everything is becoming more and more even, the Argentina forward said at an Adidas media event on Wednesday.
They have been for several years and we notice that there is more equality, that any team beats any other team, which is i…
Croatia will be without stars Ivan Rakitic and Ante Rebic for their upcoming Euro 2020 qualifier against Wales.
Barcelona midfielder Rakitic and Eintracht Frankfurt s Rebic were ruled out due to leg and knee injuries respectively, the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) announced.
The 2018 World Cup runners-up will host Wales on June 8 before taking on Tunisia in a friendly three days later.
We have jointly made the decision that Rakitic will not play, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said in a statement on Wednesday.
Due to injuries, and Ante Rebić will miss qualifier against and a friendly against Tunisia.
— HNS (@HNS_CFF)
He has had problems with his leg, it reoccurred in the Copa del Rey final and he won t be ready for Wales and…
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers thinks Philippe Coutinho is flourishing at Anfield, calling him a selfless player and a humble guy .
Philippe Coutinho is coming of age at Liverpool and is primed to get even better, according to manager Brendan Rodgers.
The Brazil midfielder put the seal on his latest eye-catching performance by netting a superb winner as Liverpool beat Premier League champions Manchester City 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday.
Coutinho has netted three times in his last seven games to leave Rodgers relishing what the future has in store for the 22-year-old, who joined the Merseyside club in January 2013 and signed a new long-term deal earlier this month.
Rodgers beamed: I think his performances, in particular since he signed his contract, he …
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has launched a staunch defence of Mesut Ozil following criticism from former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes.
Ozil moved to the Emirates Stadium in September 2013, but the World Cup winner has flattered to deceive at times, while injuries have also hindered his progress.
Scholes, who won the Premier League on 11 occasions with United, stated that Ozil took the easy option when he left Real Madrid for Arsenal.
But Wenger has backed the job his record signing does for the team and believes his style of play masks his work rate.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal s FA Cup quarter-final meeting with United at Old Trafford on Monday, Wenger said I believe that what was said about Ozil was wrong. He works very hard and is a g…
Roberto Martinez believes Cristiano Ronaldo s experience and commitment is crucial to Portugal s new cycle.
Ronaldo became the most-capped men s player of all time when he took to the field in Lisbon on Thursday for his 197th Portugal appearance.
The 38-year-old marked the occasion with two goals, scoring from the penalty spot before lashing in a free-kick to complete a 4-0 rout over Liechtenstein in Euro 2024 qualifying Group J.
Joao Cancelo put Portugal ahead early on and Bernardo Silva netted shortly after half-time, with Martinez s tenure getting off to the simplest of starts.
Ronaldo was dropped to the bench by previous coach Fernando Santos for Portugal s World Cup knock-out games, but Martinez wanted to get the five-time Ballon d Or winner into his…