football – pressnews

7Jun

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N’Golo Kante Joins Karim Benzema At Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad: Report | Football News

File photo of N'Golo Kante.© InstagramWorld Cup-winning French midfielder N'Golo Kante has signed a three-year deal with Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad, a club source told AFP on Wednesday, a day after Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema also joined the team. Kante, 32, underwent a full medical before the contract was signed, the source said on condition of anonymity, not being authorised to make the information public. The departing Chelsea player, who lifted the 2018 World Cup in Russia, has a history of injuries and missed six months of this season with a hamstring problem.The club source did not divulge the size of the deal, which comes as the oil-rich Gulf monarchy buys up a swathe of players for its domestic Saudi Pro League.On Tuesday Benzema, the 35-year-old French Ballon d'Or-winner, ...

28May

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Aston Villa Back In Europe For First Time In 13 years | Football News

Aston Villa will play in Europe for the first time in 13 years after Sunday's 2-1 win over Brighton sealed their place in next season's Europa Conference League. Unai Emery's side secured a seventh-place finish in the Premier League thanks to first-half goals from Douglas Luiz and Ollie Watkins on the final day of the season at Villa Park. Villa's long-awaited return to continental competition was a fitting reward for Emery after the Spaniard's impressive impact since taking over from the sacked Steven Gerrard in October.After a disappointing first spell in the Premier League with Arsenal, Emery has won over his doubters by leading Villa into their first European competition since they lost in the Europa League play-off round in 2010.Villa have been revitalised by the former Paris Saint...

28May

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Erling Haaland Picks Up Premier League Player And Young Player Prizes | Football News

File photo of Erling Haaland.© AFPErling Haaland became the first man to win both Premier League player and young player of the year awards in the same season on Saturday. The 22-year-old has taken just 35 appearances to set a new Premier League record of 36 goals in a single season to help Manchester City retain the title. "I am honoured to have become the first player to win both awards in the same season - thank you to everyone who voted for me," said Haaland in a City statement."It has been an incredible first season in the Premier League and lifting the trophy last weekend in front of our fans at the Etihad was a very special moment for me."The Norwegian, who was also named the football writers' player of the year this week, has scored 52 goals in all competitions as City close in ...

23May

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Three Detained Over Racist Insults Against Vinicius Junor: Spanish Police | Football News

File photo of Vinicius Junior.© AFPSpanish police arrested Tuesday three youths suspected of hurling racist insults at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during a weekend match, sparking an international outcry. The 22-year-old Brazilian international forward was targeted by a home supporter during a 1-0 defeat at Valencia on Sunday and was later sent off. He has often been racially abused at stadiums across Spain this season. "Police arrested today three young people in Valencia for the racist behaviour that occurred Sunday in the match between Valencia and Real Madrid," Spain's National Police said in a statement.Sunday's match was held up for several minutes and the referee wrote in his post-match report that shouts of "monkey" had been directed at Vinicius.Spanish prosecutors opene...

20May

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Bundesliga: RB Leipzig Thump Bayern Munich To Hand Borussia Dortmund Title Edge | Football News

Borussia Dortmund are two wins away from their first title in a decade, after RB Leipzig came from behind to win 3-1 away at Bayern Munich on Saturday. Bayern led 1-0 thanks to an early Serge Gnabry goal and looked in cruise control, but the visitors scored three second-half goals to turn the match, and the Bundesliga title race, on its head. Dortmund can go two points clear with one matchday remaining with a win on Sunday against Augsburg. The win, Leipzig's first in Munich and only their second victory over the German champions, secured the visitors Champions League football next season.Bayern came into the match secure in the knowledge that two wins in their last two games would snare an 11th straight league title.Gnabry settled Bayern's nerves after 25 minutes, blasting a rising sho...

12May

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Premier League: Jurgen Klopp Recalls ‘Miracles’ As Liverpool Fight For Top Four | Football News

Jurgen Klopp recalled past "miracles" on Friday but admitted Liverpool's destiny was not in their own hands as his red-hot team hunt down a top-four finish in the Premier League. Last month the Reds were in eighth place, 10 points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, but six successive victories have propelled them to fifth and only a point behind their fierce rivals, who have a match in hand. Klopp, whose team have three games left, starting at relegation-threatened Leicester on Monday, was reminded at his pre-match press conference of previous remarkable comebacks, including the overturning of a 3-0 first-leg deficit to beat Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals in 2019.Liverpool also came from a seemingly impossible position in the Premier League in 2021 to qualify for the...

8May

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Apologetic Lionel Messi Returns To Training With PSG | Football News

File photo of Lionel Messi.© AFPLionel Messi returned to training with Paris Saint-Germain on Monday six days after Argentina's World Cup-winning captain was suspended for going on an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia. "Leo Messi returns to training Monday morning," tweeted the club along with a photo of the 35-year-old in action. His return makes it likely he will feature in PSG's home match with relegation-threatened Ajaccio next Saturday. PSG hold the whip hand in defending their Ligue 1 title, a six point lead over Lens with four matches remaining.He was suspended by the Qatar-owned club after failing to turn up for training last Monday.Instead, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner travelled to Saudi Arabia without PSG's permission to fulfil commitments as part of a contract with the c...

30Apr

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Premier League: Manchester City Back On Top As Newcastle United, Manchester United Press Top-Four Claims | Football News

Erling Haaland scored his 50th goal of the season on Sunday as Manchester City beat Fulham to return to the Premier League summit, with Newcastle and Manchester United winning to close in on a top-four finish. Liverpool maintained their unlikely pursuit of a Champions League place by beating Tottenham 4-3 in a thriller but Southampton and Leeds are staring into the abyss. City's 2-1 win at Craven Cottage left Pep Guardiola's men a point clear of long-time leaders Arsenal, with a game in hand.The defending champions, chasing their fifth Premier League title in six seasons, were ahead in the third minute when Haaland scored from the penalty spot after Julian Alvarez was fouled.Haaland's 34th Premier League goal of the season equals the competition record held by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer...

25Apr

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Premier League: Mikel Arteta Says ‘Incredible Opportunity’ Awaits Arsenal At Manchester City | Football News

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his Premier League leaders to make the most of an "incredible opportunity" when they travel to nearest challengers Manchester City on Wednesday. The Gunners are five points clear of second-placed City but have played two games more than the reigning champions. Anything other than a first away win against City since 2015 would leave the destiny of the title in Pep Guardiola's side's hands. Arsenal have drawn their last three league games, raising doubts over whether a youthful side can deliver the north London club's first Premier League crown in 19 years.But Arteta, having seen Arsenal record several notable away wins this season, told a pre-match news conference on Tuesday: "It is going to be a tough night and challenge, yes, but the opportunity i...

22Apr

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Premier League: Liverpool Beat Nottingham Forest To Remain In Top-Four Fight, In-form Aston Villa Held | Football News

Liverpool kept their outside shot at Champions League football next season alive as Diogo Jota scored twice in a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest, while Aston Villa's European charge stalled in a 1-1 defeat at Brentford on Saturday. At the other end of the Premier League table, Leicester came from behind to secure a first win in 11 games by beating Wolves 2-1 to move out of the relegation zone. Liverpool thrashed Leeds 6-1 on Monday to rekindle their hopes of a late challenge for a top-four finish but made heavy work of overcoming a Forest side that had scored just five away goals all season prior to their visit to Anfield.Jota had not scored for a year prior to netting twice at Elland Road earlier in the week, but now has four goals in a week.All of Liverpool's goals came from set-pieces...