Hawsawi signs with Anderlecht

Real Madrid must overturn a one-goal deficit against Bayern Munich if they are to book their place in the UEFA Champions League final.

Jose Mourinho s Real went down 2-1 in the semi-final first leg at Bayern s Allianz Arena last Tuesday.

The hosts took the lead through France forward Franck Ribery in the 17th minute of the match.

The visitors from Spain had more than their fair share of chances, and registered a deserved away goal through Germany midfielder Mezut Oezil eight minutes into the second half.

It looked like the teams would be locked at 1-1 going into the return fixture in the Spanish capital, until Mario Gomez struck an injury-time winner for Bayern.

The German outfit carry a slender advantage with them to Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, b…

Pep Guardiola thinks Manchester City s upcoming three-game stretch will define their season.

The defending Premier League champions kicked off March with a 2-0 victory against Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, to keep up the pressure on leaders Arsenal.

The Gunners appeared to have faltered under that pressure as they went down 2-0 to Bournemouth but Reiss Nelson s stunning finish sealed a remarkable comeback.

A clash with Crystal Palace is next up for City in the top flight, before a Champions League encounter with RB Leipzig – that last-16 tie is level at 1-1 – and FA Cup meeting with Vincent Kompany s Burnley.

With the three games effectively forming major hurdles towards City s hopes of trophy success this term, Guardiola is not …

Newcastle United have completed the signing of French right back Mathieu Debuchy from Lille on a five-and-a-half year deal.

The defender was believed to be close to joining the Premier League side during the summer transfer window following a string of impressive performances during France s Euro 2012 campaign, only for the two clubs to be unable to agree a fee.

Debuchy was present during Newcastle s 2-1 defeat to Everton on Wednesday as he watched from the stands at St James Park, and joins up with fellow France internationals Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye after completing the five-million-pound move.

I hope I can bring something fresh to the team and help us get up to the highest possible position in the Premier League this season, Debuchy told the club s o…

Maurizio Sarri reiterated Juventus cannot play with three forwards as he expressed confidence in his side s ability to bounce back from a disappointing draw with Sassuolo.

Sarri has faced consistent questions this season over the possibility of using Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain in a front three.

Dybala was left on the bench last Sunday as Ronaldo and Higuain started up front in a gripping 2-2 game that saw Juventus surrender top spot in Serie A to Inter.

Third-placed Lazio, who are seven points off the top, are the opposition on Saturday as Juve make the trip to the Stadio Olimpico.

There is unlikely to be a Juve attacking triumvirate on show in the capital, however, with coach Sarri insisting it is not possible to play all thr…

It wouldn’t be exaggerated to call Ajax as the most successful team in Europe during the 2018/19 season. Considering their squad and all the accomplishments they’ve conquered; the argument can make a case on its own.

The Amsterdam giants are two wins away from clinching the Eredivisie title, and already won the KNVB Beker trophy after topping Willem II by an expressive 4-0 score. Plus, they reached the UEFA Champions League semifinals, and couldn’t reach the Final thanks to a stoppage-time strike from Tottenham’s Lucas Moura. Quite an impressive run if we consider Ajax had to go though the qualifying rounds just to get into the Group Stage.

With such an impressive season, the exodus of some of their best players was bound to occur. Frenkie de Jong already signed…

Everton and West Ham will see Tuesday s FA Cup third-round clash as an ideal chance to rediscover their best form.

A run of just one win in Everton s last nine games in all competitions has seen the pressure increase on Roberto Martinez, with speculation mounting over his future.

The Spaniard is having to cope with some key absentees, too, with goalkeeper Tim Howard sidelined by a calf issue, while defenders John Stones and Phil Jagielka are out with ankle complaints.

Martinez could well recall Romelu Lukaku and Samuel Eto o as he looks to arrest a run of four successive defeats, but Antolin Alcaraz is out through suspension.

I do feel that it is a game in which he have to perform well and have to win,  the manager said.

It will be a fantastic…

Tottenham, Southampton and Bradford City advanced in the FA Cup on Wednesday to complete the line-up for the fourth round.

Having found themselves 2-0 down inside eight minutes at home against Burnley following Marvin Sordell s fine strike and a deflected Ross Wallace free-kick, Tottenham rallied to win 4-2 in style at White Hart Lane during a pulsating third-round replay.

Paulinho and Etienne Capoue restored parity before two goals in three second-half minutes from Vlad Chiriches   who took advantage of an error from Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton – and Danny Rose set up a tie with Leicester City next. 

Joining Spurs in the next round are Southampton, who were 1-0 victors at Championship high-flyers Ipswich Town. 

Shane Long made no mistake when Luk…

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has underlined his determination to keep Wesley Fofana and James Maddison, amid interest from Chelsea and Newcastle United.

The Foxes have already lost captain Kasper Schmeichel to Nice and have reportedly refused a number of offers from Newcastle for Maddison, while Chelsea are said to be targeting a swoop for Fofana.

Both players have been reported to be open to a move before the transfer window closes on September 1; however, speaking ahead of Leicester s Premier League opener against Brentford, Rodgers made it clear he does not want to lose either man.

I hope not, I hope we want to keep them. I mentioned before, these players are not for sale, they are very important players for us, Rodgers told a news conference.

…

Italy international Lorenzo Insigne netted his first goal in the MLS as Toronto won a seven-goal thriller 4-3 over Nashville on Saturday, while Gareth Bale was on the scoresheet again for LAFC.

The 31-year-old winger fired in Toronto s fourth goal to make it 4-2 in the 77th minute with a near-post strike from just outside the box.

Insigne, making his third MLS appearance for Toronto, showed his class to create a pocket of space for himself before opening up his body to fire past Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis.

The goal headlined an entertaining contest which helped Toronto claim their seventh win of the season as they seek to mount a late-season charge.

Jonathan Osorio rifled Toronto in a 19th-minute lead but Hany Mukhtar s penalty squared it up in the 4…

Competition: Serie A

Market: Crotone to beat SPAL

Odds:

Serie A continues this weekend in what should be yet another massively exciting round of games. The league has remained incredibly tight meaning that a single win can quite often see a side rise up a number of places and, with this in mind, Crotone host SPAL on Sunday.

Crotone have been struggling this season and they desperately need to start winning their games or they will surely fall into the relegation zone. After 25 games they have won five, drawn six and lost 14, scoring 21 times and conceding 44 goals. In their last five they have won once, lost once and drawn three times which has seen them onto 21 points. Crotone need to start winning their games or the relegation zone, which is…