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Barcelona, Inter and upstart Brest win again in Champions League. Bizarre penalty dooms Aston Villa
Read full article: Barcelona, Inter and upstart Brest win again in Champions League. Bizarre penalty dooms Aston VillaBarcelona and Inter Milan won again in the Champions League on Wednesday though both former title holders are looking up in the standings toward upstart newcomer Brest.
Ronaldo scores again in Nations League win for perfect Portugal. Spain finds replacement for Rodri
Read full article: Ronaldo scores again in Nations League win for perfect Portugal. Spain finds replacement for RodriCristiano Ronaldo has scored his record-extending 133rd international goal to keep Portugal perfect in the Nations League with a 3-1 win over Poland while Spain struck late to edge Denmark 1-0.
Dortmund scores 7 while Barcelona, Man City and Arsenal all win in Champions League
Read full article: Dortmund scores 7 while Barcelona, Man City and Arsenal all win in Champions LeagueKarim Adeyemi starred as Borussia Dortmund has run riot against Celtic while Barcelona and Manchester City claimed their first wins in the restructured Champions League.
Lewandowski scores his 7th goal to give Barcelona its 7th straight win in Spanish league
Read full article: Lewandowski scores his 7th goal to give Barcelona its 7th straight win in Spanish leagueRobert Lewandowski was on target again and Barcelona extended its perfect start to the Spanish league season.
Kylian Mbappé scores on return from broken nose and France draws 1-1 with Poland at Euro 2024
Read full article: Kylian Mbappé scores on return from broken nose and France draws 1-1 with Poland at Euro 2024Kylian Mbappé scored from the penalty spot on his return after breaking his nose before France conceded a spot kick by Robert Lewandowski in a 1-1 draw with Poland at the European Championship.
Energized Austria wins and makes Lewandowski's Poland the first team to go out at Euro 2024
Read full article: Energized Austria wins and makes Lewandowski's Poland the first team to go out at Euro 2024Austria has picked up its first win at Euro 2024 by defeating Poland 3-1 in its second group match in Berlin.
Weghorst returns from World Cup clash with Messi and lifts Netherlands to beat Poland at Euro 2024
Read full article: Weghorst returns from World Cup clash with Messi and lifts Netherlands to beat Poland at Euro 2024Netherlands forward Wout Weghorst loves to make a big impression off the bench and he did it again late in a 2-1 win over Poland at the European Championship.
Ukraine, Georgia and Poland are going to Euro 2024 after late drama in qualifying playoffs
Read full article: Ukraine, Georgia and Poland are going to Euro 2024 after late drama in qualifying playoffsUkraine, Georgia and Poland are going to the 2024 European Championship after bringing late drama to win emotional qualifying playoffs on Tuesday.
Barcelona gets tough Champs League group with Bayern, Inter
Read full article: Barcelona gets tough Champs League group with Bayern, InterBarcelona faces another tough Champions League group after being drawn with Bayern Munich and Inter Milan as it tries to avoid a second straight group-stage exit since losing Lionel Messi.
Barcelona sells more assets to clear Lewandowski for opener
Read full article: Barcelona sells more assets to clear Lewandowski for openerBarcelona has sold off even more of its club assets so it could meet the Spanish league’s financial rules and clear Robert Lewandowski and other newcomers to play in the season opener.
Madrid starts Spanish league defense aiming for title sweep
Read full article: Madrid starts Spanish league defense aiming for title sweepReal Madrid starts the Spanish league season overflowing with confidence that it can retain the domestic title despite Barcelona spending big to add top talent to its team.
Poland, Sweden refuse to play Russia in World Cup playoffs
Read full article: Poland, Sweden refuse to play Russia in World Cup playoffsPoland’s refusal to play its World Cup qualifier against Russia next month in response to that nation's invasion of Ukraine gained wider support when Sweden followed with its own plans to protest to FIFA.
Löw limps closer to exit after Germany's latest painful loss
Read full article: Löw limps closer to exit after Germany's latest painful lossGermany's collapse at the World Cup in Russia the following month meant the final act of Löw's long tenure would be a rebuild. Germany's showing in Russia was its worst World Cup campaign since 1938, and there's been more unwanted history since. Losing to North Macedonia ended a 20-year, 35-game unbeaten run for the national team in World Cup qualifying. AdInjuries have played their part, too, leading Löw to use defensive midfielder Emre Can at left back and right back in successive World Cup qualifiers. Löw has done some useful groundwork for his successor, like persuading 18-year-old Bayern forward Jamal Musiala to choose Germany over England.
Poland protesters take weekend off for fundraiser
Read full article: Poland protesters take weekend off for fundraiserA child in a red costume collects money for Poland's most popular nationwide fundraiser for health purposes, the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, that was postponed by two weeks due to the pandemic, in downtown Warsaw, Poland, on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021. Anti-government protesters angry about a near-total abortion ban suspended their marches for the weekend to show solidarity and ensure that they didn't steal the spotlight from the event. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)WARSAW – From soccer star Robert Lewandowski to opposition politicians, Polish citizens on Sunday donated at least 71 million zlotys ($19 million) to a charity's fundraiser for health causes that has been criticized by the conservative government for its liberal agenda. Anti-government protesters angry about a near-total abortion ban suspended their marches for the weekend to show solidarity and ensure that they didn't steal the spotlight from the event. The 71 million zlotys ($19 million) collected is significantly less than over 180 million zlotys collected last year, but the event was to continue until midnight, and making donations was also possible later.
Sports in 2020: Disruptions aplenty, only constant was loss
Read full article: Sports in 2020: Disruptions aplenty, only constant was lossFILE - In this Aug. 6, 2020, file photo, the Olympic rings for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 pass by on a barge by tugboats off the Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo. Tokyo Olympic officials said Thursday, Dec. 24, they have reached a basic agreement with all 68 domestic sponsors to extend their contracts into next year to support the postponed Games. Facing increasingly long odds, some mega-events — the Olympics, March Madness, the Boston Marathon and Wimbledon — pushed the starting line into 2021. … Continue to push (against) everything that’s the opposite of love.”If only for a moment, the pandemic receded into the background. “If we can continue to do that, all of us,” James concluded, “America would be a much better place.”
Ronaldo in doubt for Messi's visit to Juventus
Read full article: Ronaldo in doubt for Messi's visit to JuventusSome talking points ahead of the second round of games in the Champions League:NO RONALDO VS. MESSI? The highly anticipated matchup of Cristiano Ronaldo against Lionel Messi likely won’t happen because Ronaldo has the coronavirus. Alvaro Morata replaced Ronaldo against Dynamo Kyiv last week and scored twice in a 2-0 win. Eden Hazard was added to the Madrid squad and could make his season debut after nursing a muscle injury. Diego Simeone's side was thrashed 4-0 by defending champion Bayern Munich and next hosts Salzburg in Group A on Tuesday.
Bayern cruises past Chelsea into Champions League quarters
Read full article: Bayern cruises past Chelsea into Champions League quartersBayern's Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring his team's first goal from the penalty spot during the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Chelsea at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)MUNICH Robert Lewandowski scored two goals and assisted two more as Bayern Munich cruised into the Champions League quarterfinals with a 4-1 win over Chelsea on Saturday, completing an overwhelming 7-1 victory on aggregate. The coronavirus-enforced suspension of the season didn't interrupt Bayern's charge to the Bundesliga title and it hasn't interrupted its Champions League bid either. Abraham did get a goal for Chelsea just before halftime when Bayern 'keeper Manuel Neuer gifted him the ball when clearing a cross. Corentin Tolisso added another for Bayern in the 76th before Lewandowski headed in the fourth eight minutes later.
How Germany did it: completing the soccer season in Europe
Read full article: How Germany did it: completing the soccer season in EuropeMunich's players celebrate in front of the empty stands after the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and FC Bayern Munich in Wolfsburg, Germany, Saturday, June 27, 2020. A SEASON LIKE NO OTHERThe games were eerie as players shouts echoed off empty concrete terraces and the colorful fan displays were gone. It helped that Germany was a world leader in ramping up its coronavirus testing. Bundesliga players spent less time training at home than their counterparts in England or Spain because of Germany's quick move to socially distanced training in groups. The English Premier League and Spanish league are both heading into talks on new domestic TV rights cycles from 2022.
Bayern coach Flick the key to latest Bundesliga triumph
Read full article: Bayern coach Flick the key to latest Bundesliga triumph(AP Photo/Martin Meissner, Pool)BERLIN Bayern Munich effectively won the Bundesliga title in November when it appointed Hansi Flick as coach. Bayerns defensive record was its worst since Jrgen Klinsmann was coach in 2008. Kovac had led Bayern to a league and cup double the season before but never had the full backing of the clubs leadership. Bayern is currently on a 14-game winning run including the 3-0 win over Chelsea in London in the Champions League. There are also other reasons Bayern has won an unprecedented eight consecutive title, mostly tied to the clubs financial might.
Black Lives Matter in Bundesliga, Bayern keeps winning
Read full article: Black Lives Matter in Bundesliga, Bayern keeps winning(Lars Baron, Pool via AP)BERLIN Germanys soccer league was marked by gestures against racism and support for the Black Lives Matter movement on Saturday as Bayern Munich took another step toward a record-extending eighth straight Bundesliga title. All of Borussia Dortmund and Hertha Berlins 22 outfield players took a knee in the center-circle together before the top tier's late game with no fans present. Bayern's players had Black Lives Matter printed on their armbands, partly covering sponsor Qatar Airways logo on the left arm. Robert Lewandowski scored Bayerns fourth to claim his 30th Bundesliga goal of the season, set up by Thomas Mller, who now has 20 assists. It also had to do without fans, as all Bundesliga games are being played without supporters amid strict hygiene measures against coronavirus.
Old-fashioned No. 9's are back in fashion in Serie A
Read full article: Old-fashioned No. 9's are back in fashion in Serie AZlatan Ibrahimovic trains in Carnago, near Milan, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2020. The 38-year-old striker signed a deal with AC Milan until the end of the season with an option to extend for another year. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
Old-fashioned No. 9's are back in fashion in Serie A
Read full article: Old-fashioned No. 9's are back in fashion in Serie A9’s are back in vogue in Serie A. The last round of matches was a case in point, with a hat trick from Ronaldo and multiple goals from Lukaku, Immobile and Belotti. Meanwhile, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is only one game into his Serie A return with AC Milan. 9’s, his vertical moves have been in perfect synch with crossing specialists Sergej Milinković-Savić and Luis Alberto. Dubbed “LuLa,” the duo has scored 23 goals in Serie A this season — seven more than all of AC Milan.