football
SportAFP NewsNagelsmann promises Leipzig will 'attack' Bayern in title chase
Julian Nagelsmann says his RB Leipzig team are ready to push Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich all the way this season as they prepare for Saturday's trip to lowly Mainz.
SportAFP NewsUnion's Huebner banned but 'no evidence' found of racial abuse towards Amiri
The German FA (DFB) on Thursday said there was "no evidence" that Union Berlin's Florian Huebner racially abused Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Nadiem Amiri, but gave the defender a two-match ban and 20,000-euro ($24,292) fine.
SportReutersPalace sign French striker Mateta on loan
Crystal Palace have signed French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta from Bundesliga side Mainz on an 18-month loan deal, the Premier League club said on Thursday. Playing in the Premier League was my dream when I was a child. Palace chairman Steve Parish said the club had followed the development of Mateta, who began his career at French third-tier side Chateroux before joining Ligue 1 Olympique Lyonnais.
SportAFP NewsBayern maintain Bundesliga lead with win over Augsburg
Robert Lewandowski scored his 22nd Bundesliga goal of the season as Bayern Munich stayed four points clear, helped by a late penalty miss from Alfred Finnbogason in a 1-0 victory at Augsburg on Wednesday.
SportReutersBayern squeeze past Augsburg thanks to Lewandowski penalty
Bundesliga top scorer Robert Lewandowski struck a first-half penalty to help Bayern Munich earn a nervous 1-0 victory at Augsburg on Wednesday and stay four points clear at the top of the Bundesliga at the season's halfway mark. The Bavarians, chasing a record-extending ninth straight league crown, are on 39 points, four ahead of RB Leipzig, who beat Union Berlin 1-0. Title rivals Borussia Dortmund are already 10 points adrift.
SportAFP NewsGladbach striker Embolo set to face Dortmund amid party allegations
Borussia Moenchengladbach say Breel Embolo will face Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Friday amid police allegations he attended a party last weekend despite the coronavirus lockdown in Germany.
SportThe TelegraphFrank Lampard fighting to save Chelsea job as Roman Abramovich considers his options
Frank Lampard is fighting to hold on to his Chelsea job as owner Roman Abramovich considers how long he will have to try to turn around the slump in form that has seen his team beaten five times in eight Premier League games. Chelsea’s latest defeat came at the hands of Leicester City, which left Lampard’s team nine points behind the Foxes and off in the pace in the race for the top four. The Blues have three big home games coming up against Luton Town in the FA Cup and Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley in the Premier League, which offer the opportunity to revive the season. Lampard has not sought any reassurances over his future, but remains confident he can find a solution to Chelsea’s current predicament and knows he must instigate a quick turnaround in fortunes and close the gap on the top four. Now 18 months into the three-year contract he was given when he was appointed in the summer of 2019, Lampard overachieved in his first season in charge, during which the Blues did not sign any players, by guiding the club to Champions League qualification and the final of the FA Cup. Abramovich spent £220million on new players last summer in preparation for this campaign and, although Chelsea comfortably qualified for the last-16 of the Champions League and remain in the FA Cup, their current League position is not deemed to be good enough. As well as judging whether to allow Lampard to continue, Abramovich will have to consider who would immediately replace the 42-year-old if he made a change during the season.
SportThe TelegraphMike McGrath’s transfer notebook: Wolves offered Douglas Costa amid struggle to replace injured Raul Jimenez
Brazil forward Douglas Costa has emerged as a January option for Wolverhampton Wanderers to bolster their attack. The Juventus winger, 30, is back at Bayern Munich on loan for the season but has only started one Bundesliga game in the last two months and his deal at Allianz Arena could be cut short for the right offer. Wolves are among the clubs who have been offered Costa as a potential recruit during the current window as Nuno Espirito Santo assesses whether he needs additions following Raul Jimenez’s serious head injury. Costa can play across the forward line but has generally played in wide roles during a career that saw him play for Shakhtar Donetsk before moving to Bayern. He was loaned to Juve before joining them permanently and was loaned back to the Germans at the start of the season. He has another full season on his Juve contract and any deal to the Premier League would be on loan. At Bayern he has been competing with Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman among the forwards in Hansi Flick’s squad, while England Under-21 international Jamal Musiala has also broken into the first team this term. Costa has not played consecutive matches this season and has been limited to three starts in the Bundesliga and three in cup competitions. Amavi eyes Premier League return Former Aston Villa winger Jordan Amavi has put Premier League clubs on alert after rejecting contract offers to stay at Marseille. The 26-year-old has been a regular in Ligue 1 since leaving Villa Park in 2017 and has been playing Champions League football this season. But he has failed to agree terms on a new deal, which could tempt clubs into a low offer late in the January window or wait until the summer when he can move for free.
SportReutersArsenal agree to terminate defender Sokratis' contract
Sokratis has not played for Arsenal this season after being left out of their Premier League and Europa League squads. The 32-year-old, who joined the London club from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in 2018, played 69 games in all competitions for Arsenal and helped them win the FA Cup last season.
SportThe TelegraphIf Frank Lampard fails to get Chelsea firing, who could replace him?
The pressure continues to mount on Frank Lampard after Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Leicester on Tuesday night. Chelsea currently sit eighth in the Premier League, although there are no plans to change manager as it stands. If, and it is a big if, Roman Abramovich chooses to move on from Lampard, who are the possible replacements that could be brought in? Thomas Tuchel Tuchel was relieved from his duties at PSG at the end of December, meaning he is available should Chelsea wish to move swiftly. The German has plenty of experience at big clubs, having managed at Borussia Dortmund for two years before moving to Paris. Tuchel won two league titles with PSG and led them to their first ever Champions League final. However, his spell in charge was full of falling out with players and disharmony in the squad, particularly in the current season before his dismissal. It is thought Chelsea could be put off by his management style due to Tuchel’s reputation as being difficult to work with. His inability to manage the big personalities at PSG, of which there are many, could count against him. However, it feels as if Tuchel would be a safe appointment on the pitch. He is a competent and experienced manager, used to dealing with high expectations.
SportEvening StandardJean-Philippe Mateta to Crystal Palace: Eagles set to clinch 18-month loan deal for Mainz striker
Crystal Palace are finalising the signing of French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta on an 18-month loan from Mainz. Mateta, who has scored seven goals in the Bundesliga this season, is due to have a medical in London on Wednesday. Roy Hodgson is keen to bolster his attacking options this month and Mateta, 23, will provide competition for Christian Benteke.
SportReutersLeverkusen's Diaby terrorises Dortmund in 2-1 win
Moussa Diaby scored one goal and set up the winner for Florian Wirtz as Bayer Leverkusen beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 on Tuesday to move into second place in the Bundesliga and snap a four-game winless run this year. The 21-year-old Frenchman terrorised the Dortmund defence throughout a one-sided first half when he fired the hosts in front, finishing off a quick break in the 14th minute. He should have added at least one more goal, carving out several good scoring chances with Dortmund struggling to contain the speedy winger and keeper Roman Buerki denying him repeatedly.
SportAFP NewsDiaby shines to down Dortmund and send Leverkusen second
Moussa Diaby starred with a goal and assist as Bayer Leverkusen went second in the Bundesliga on Tuesday with a 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund.
SportAFP NewsGladbach beat Bremen with Embolo dropped for 'senseless' breach of hygiene rules
Swiss striker Breel Embolo was dropped by Borussia Moenchengladbach on Tuesday for a 'senseless' breach of the Bundesliga's hygiene rules which saw him sit out his side's 1-0 home league win over Werder Bremen.
SportAFP NewsHuntelaar returns to join Schalke's relegation fight
Bundesliga bottom side Schalke signed another former player on Tuesday with Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar returning from Ajax to join the relegation battle.
SportReutersDutch striker Huntelaar returns to Schalke from Ajax
Huntelaar returns to Schalke having played for the German club from 2010-17. The former Netherlands international scored more than 100 goals for the Bundesliga side and also won the German Cup in 2011. He joins a relegation-threatened Schalke side who are rooted to the bottom of the standings with seven points after 16 games.
SportAFP NewsBayern to face African champions Al Ahly or Qatar's Al Duhail in Club World Cup
Bayern Munich will face either African champions Al Ahly or Al Duhail of Qatar in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup next month, following the draw at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich on Tuesday.
SportThe TelegraphMike McGrath’s transfer notebook: Joshua King happy to bide his time and leave Bournemouth on a free
Joshua King might stay at Bournemouth for the last six months of his contract rather than pushing for a move to the Premier League during this month’s transfer window. The Norway forward, 29, can speak to foreign clubs about a pre-contract and may decide to move on a free transfer in the summer like former team-mate Ryan Fraser did at the end of last season when he moved to Newcastle United. West Ham United, Fulham and Aston Villa moved for King in pre-season but did not strike a deal and there have been no approaches this month. Manchester United made a bid for King in the mid-season window last season before signing Odion Ighalo on a loan instead. It is understood that King is relaxed about seeing out his contract at the Vitality Stadium, where he has started games again in the last two weeks after being used as a substitute this season when he returned from injury. He scored two goals in the FA Cup win over Oldham Athletic, his first goals of the season. Bournemouth have been willing to listen to offers for the former Blackburn Rovers striker but a transfer in the last two weeks of the window would depend on clubs coming up with a suitable bid. Baah heading for big time Premier League and Serie A clubs in Italy have joined the race for Rochdale winger Kwadwo Baah following his performances in League One. The 17-year-old was being tracked by Bundesliga, Championship and Scottish Premier League teams but Champions League clubs have now shown interest following his spectacular goals at Charlton Athletic last week. Baah could be loaned back to Rochdale to continue his development if a deal is struck this month. England youth teams are also looking at him - he qualifies because he moved here as a six-year-old but he is also eligible to play for Germany or Ghana. Wimbledon bolter AFC Wimbledon full-back Paul Osew has been tracked by Wycombe Wanderers, Sunderland and Salford City for a six-month loan. The 20-year-old has played in the Football League Trophy this season and could be allowed out for the rest of the season.
SportReutersDon't blame me for fierce Real squad competition, says Zidane
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said he is not to blame for Luka Jovic failing to succeed at the club after the Serbian striker scored as many goals in his first game with Eintracht Frankfurt as he managed in 18 months in the Spanish capital. Jovic is one of several players who have proven their worth after an unproductive spell at Real under Zidane, such as Sergio Reguilon at Tottenham Hotspur and Achraf Hakim at Inter Milan.
SportAFP NewsBayern 'expect' to lose Alaba, but 'no decision yet' on Madrid move
Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick said Tuesday they "expect" to lose David Alaba at the end of the season, but the defender's father and agent has denied reports the Austria international will join Real Madrid for next season.
SportReutersSoccer: Misfiring Werner must not be compared to Torres, says Lampard
Werner, who joined Chelsea from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig in the close season for around 50 million euros ($60.34 million), has not scored in his last 10 Premier League appearances. Torres also endured similar struggles after his high profile move from Liverpool in 2011 and Lampard said he will work with the misfiring Werner, who is struggling for confidence after a bright start to the season.
SportReutersMisfiring Werner must not be compared to Torres, says Lampard
Werner, who joined Chelsea from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig in the close season for around 50 million euros ($60.34 million), has not scored in his last 10 Premier League appearances. Torres also endured similar struggles after his high profile move from Liverpool in 2011 and Lampard said he will work with the misfiring Werner, who is struggling for confidence after a bright start to the season.
SportAFP NewsMessi sees red, 'fearful' Juventus, PSG back top: Talking points from around Europe
Frustration got the better of Lionel Messi as he saw red in the Spanish Super Cup final, while Inter dealt a major blow to Juventus's Serie A title hopes but Paris Saint-Germain are back on top in France.
SportAFP NewsAfrican players in Europe: Wolves' Ivorian Boly hogs limelight
Ivory Coast defender Willy Boly conceded a penalty, created a goal, and scored for Wolves in a 3-2 defeat by West Brom at the weekend in the English Premier League.
SportAFP NewsLewandowski claims Bundesliga record, Jovic hits double on return from Real Madrid
Robert Lewandowski set a new record for the first half of a Bundesliga season on Sunday by netting his 21st league goal of 2020/21 as leaders Bayern Munich went four points clear with a 2-1 win over Freiburg.
