Page 47 - Football

Japan soccer league to resume in without fans after 4-month Covid-19 break

Japan's soccer league is back in action this weekend after a four-month delay because of the coronavirus pandemic. The resumption on Saturday comes as Tokyo reported 107 coronavirus cases on Thursday. It was the largest daily increase reported in two months, and worrying in a country that seems to have kept the virus under check. The J-League will be like most sports around the world and will play in stadiums without fans because of the pandemic. A key match will feature defending champion Yokohama facing the Urawa Reds. All 18 teams open play on Saturday. The season was stopped in February after only one round of matches. Playing against the reigning champion on the first day of resumption of the season is a great motivation for the team, Reds coach Tsuyoshi Otsuki said. Yokohama coach Ange Postecoglou, a former national coach of Australia, summed up the unknown. Obviously, it's been a long time between the last game and now," he said. A lot of training and waiting. The reality

Jose Mourinho bemoans Tottenham Spurs mentality after VAR frustration

I used to go the fourth official but the man on the pitch is the assistant referee, says Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho

We did well against 'champions': Raheem Sterling after thrashing Liverpool

Manchester City registered an emphatic 4-0 win over Liverpool, who were competing for the first time since they sealed the Premier League title

Bayern Munich finally gets its man, signs Leroy San from Manchester City

City was already resigned to losing the pacey forward, who had one year left on his contract with the Premier League side

La Liga: Ramos penalty takes Real Madrid four points clear over Barcelona

Madrid finally took the lead in the 78th minute from the penalty spot, with Sergio Ramos firing home

EPL: Liverpool thrashed 4-0 by Manchester City in 1st game as champions

As they stepped onto the pitch, Liverpool's players were given a guard of honor from Manchester City. It was the only time they looked like Premier League champions on Thursday. I think they drank a lot of beers in the last week, City manager Pep Guardiola said. The dethroned champions made sure there was an abrupt comedown from the partying. A merciless attacking display sparked by City scorers Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden consigned Liverpool to a 4-0 loss exactly a week after its 30-year title drought ended. They were quicker than us in mind -- we lacked fluidity, Liverpool manager Jrgen Klopp said. "Isn't it nice another team can be champions when Man City play so well? The slack defending and lack of sharpness from Liverpool was perhaps forgivable from players who had spent the previous 31 rounds establishing an unprecedented 23-point lead to become England's earliest champions. Such an emphatic loss is not how Liverpool wanted to close out such a memorable

Lionel Messi unwilling to extend contract with Barcelona after 2021: Report

Messi, who is club's all-time top scorer's contract, was expected to sign a new deal that would keep him at the club until at least 2023

Fifa hands Punjab FC 3-window transfer ban over players' contract row

The ban on signing any player, nationally or internationally, is from the upcoming summer transfer window. The ban will be lifted once the payment is made and the proof of payment is sent to Fifa

English Premier League: Manchester United confirm Angel Gomes departure

Angel Gomes joined the Reds youth academy when he was six years old and made his first-team debut at the age of 16 in 2017

West Ham beats Chelsea 3-2 to boost its Premier League survival bid

With the loss, fourth-place Chelsea is now only two points ahead of Manchester United and Wolverhampton in the pursuit of Champions League qualification

Serie A: Inter Milan secures a dominating 6-0 victory over Brescia

Inter Milan displayed a dominant performance throughout the match and all six goals were scored by six different players

Liverpool captain Henderson dedicates EPL title to former skipper Gerrard

Liverpool recently ended its 30-year long wait for a top-flight title

Premier League: Pablo Moreno signs 4-year contract with Manchester City

Moreno will join Manchester City from Juventus, where he has been a part of the under-23 squad for the last two seasons

India files expression of interest for hosting 2027 AFC Asian Cup

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Wednesday confirmed it has received expressions of interest from five member associations, including India, to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

Messi scores 700th goal but Barca's La Liga title hope hangs by a thread

Lionel Messi scored his 700th career goal for club and country before Atletico Madrid came back to draw 2-2 in the Spanish league and deal Barcelona's title hopes a major blow. Barcelona's third draw in four rounds left it in second place, one point behind leader Real Madrid. Madrid hosts Getafe on Thursday with a chance to open up a four-point lead with five more matches remaining. Barcelona was two points ahead of Madrid when the league was halted in March because of the coronavirus outbreak. While Madrid has won five of five since the resumption after a three-month stoppage, Barcelona has only won three of six. The pressure is increasing on coach Quique Setin, who took over the team in mid-season with the task of rekindling its attacking spirit. "It is too bad because we keep dropping points and getting further and further away from the title," Setin said on Tuesday. "But we have to keep fighting." Barcelona struck first in the 11th minute on Tuesday when Atltico striker Diego

Serie A: Cristiano Ronaldo's rocket powers Juventus to 3-1 win at Genoa

Juventus still lead the Serie A table with 72 points after Tuesday's games, four points ahead of second-placed Lazio

Premier League: Fernandes nets twice in Man United's 3-0 win at Brighton

Bruno Fernandes scored twice to lead Manchester United to a 3-0 victory over Brighton to maintain its push for Champions League qualification

Covid-19: Peru postpones football restart to August over hygiene protocols

The Liga 1 Apertura tournament - suspended on March 12 - will now restart on August 7, league boss Victor Villavicencio said

Spanish club Valencia fires coach Albert Celades after poor streak

The announcement came a day after a 2-0 loss at Villarreal, the team's third Spanish league defeat following the pandemic break

Juventus' Pjanic shares heartfelt message after signing contract with Barca

After signing a contract with Barcelona, Juventus' Miralem Pjanic has penned a heartfelt goodbye to the club, thanking everyone involved during his four years' stay.Pjanic took to Instagram and wrote: "Breathe Mire, this is the refrain that I repeat in my mind, in the decisive moments of a game. And that's what I keep telling myself now, as I try to write what I'm feeling right now. I arrived four years ago to try and win everything. Because even when you can't, this is what an @Juventus player should always try to do.""They have been four intense years, lived alongside great professionals but above all true friends, with whom I shared victories and records, but also bitter defeats one step away from the finish. Those were years in which I matured as a man and as a father. This is the city where Edin grew up, becoming the first fan of this team, and where with my family we have built the best memories of our life," he added.Pjanic is set to make a move from Juventus to Spanish club ...