Barcelona secured their place in the Champions League last 16 despite late drama in a 1-1 draw against Inter at a rain-soaked San Siro.
The Blaugrana looked set to register a fourth victory from four Group B matches when Malcom netted his first goal for the club seven minutes from time.
However, Mauro Icardi otherwise anonymous as Inter struggled to trouble Barca pounced to strike following a goalmouth scramble three minutes later, his goal crucial as Tottenham defeated PSV elsewhere.
Barca were still able to celebrate a place in the next round thanks to their superior head-to-head record against Inter, but this was a frustrating evening as they missed Lionel Messi s ruthless nature in the final third.
Leo
San Siro
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcel…
“I feel like everything I say will affect it in one way or the other, so I prefer not to answer.
“I’m a happy man. I love the guys. Life is good in London and at this great club. That’s all I want to say.”
Those are the words of Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen who continues to be hesitant when it comes to answering questions about his future. The Belgian’s current deal is set to expire during the summer transfer window and upon that happening, many are expecting him to test the waters elsewhere.
Alas, after a questionable start to the campaign people are still undecided regarding whether or not Jose Mourinho will even want to feature him in his first team plans heading into next season and beyond.
There’s a lot of uncertai…
Mauricio Pochettino accused his Tottenham players of failing to respect the plan in their Champions League draw with Olympiacos.
Having led 2-0 after half an hour in Athens, Spurs were pegged back to draw 2-2, allowing Bayern Munich to move top of Group B with a 3-0 win over Red Star Belgrade.
Harry Kane opened the scoring with a penalty 26 minutes in, which was the visitors first shot of a match in which they were second best.
Lucas Moura struck a fine second but Daniel Podence halved the deficit just before the interval and Mathieu Valbuena s second-half penalty sealed a point for the Greek side.
Pochettino was unhappy with Spurs display throughout the contest and felt they did not show anywhere near the level of effort they produced in last Saturday s …
John Stones believes he and his Manchester City team-mates are helping to bring some of Pep Guardiola s influence into England s World Cup campaign.
Stones produced arguably his finest display in international colours as England came through a bruising 1-1 draw against Colombia in Moscow on Tuesday before prevailing on penalties to book a quarter-final clash with Sweden.
Club-mates Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling have been mainstays of Gareth Southgate s first-choice XI in Russia along with Stones, while City midfielder Fabian Delph has also featured and is back with the squad after returning home for the birth of his third child.
England fans looking for positive omens amid the growing wave of It s Coming Home optimism in their homeland might look to the identit…
Marcus Rashford has denied nonsense claims he is holding out for a huge £500,000-a-week deal to stay at Manchester United.
The England international, who has scored a career-best 27 goals in 44 games this campaign, is due to be out of contract at Old Trafford at the end of next season.
According to British publication the Daily Star, Rashford s United future is in limbo due to the ongoing sale of the club and his big wage demands.
However, the 25-year-old directly replied to the article on his personal Twitter page on Wednesday to deny that is the case.
Just before this one starts to do the rounds! It s complete nonsense, he posted. The club and make self [sic] have been respectful to one another, and that s how it will remain.
My focus is pur…
Barcelona are interested in signing Alessio Romagnoli from AC Milan in the summer of 2021, according to a report in . It has been reported that the Spanish and European giants are looking at the 26-year-old central defender as a potential replacement for Samuel Umtiti, whom they are keen on offloading.
Romagnoli has been on the books of Milan since 2015 and is a key figure in the team. The Italy international central defender is also the club captain, and his agent, Mino Raiola, has held talks with the Serie A outfit over a new contract, according to the report, which has added that the player is open to a move away.
According to , Romagnoli has scored one goal and provided one assist in 20 Serie A games and has made five starts and one substitute appearance in the Euro…
Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his thanks to Manchester United s supporters after receiving a warm welcome upon his return to the club on Tuesday.
Former United star Ronaldo was back in Manchester as Juventus outclassed the Red Devils 1-0 in the Champions League.
Ronaldo and Juventus silenced the home crowd but the United fans still gave the five-time Ballon d Or winner an ovation post-match.
And it was appreciated by Ronaldo, who won three Premier League titles and the Champions League among other trophies in six years before moving to Real Madrid in 2009.
…
The Serie A title has gone for both last season s champions Juventus and 2020-21 pace-setters Milan, but they still have plenty to play for on Sunday.
The two Italian giants are third and fourth heading into the weekend but neither are yet assured of Champions League qualification.
The losers when the sides meet in Turin – or both teams in the event of a draw – could soon be caught by those below them.
And Milan s preparations have been impacted by speculation around regular goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, as Stats Perform explains.
Concentrati, determinati e pronti. Vogliamo e possiamo raggiungere il nostro obiettivo. Daremo tutto Forza Milan
— Gianluigi Donnarumma (@gigiodonna1)
What s happened with Donnarumma?
The It…
Former Manchester United youngster Ravel Morrison has taken the latest step in his nomadic career by signing for Eredivisie side ADO Den Haag.
Morrison, an ex-England Under-21 international, was praised by Alex Ferguson as one of the finest talents he had ever seen.
But struggles for form and fitness, along with off-field issues, mean the 27-year-old is now set to play for his 11th professional club in a sixth country.
After briefly suggesting he might realise his considerable promise at West Ham during the 2013-14 season, loan spells at Birmingham City, Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City followed.
Morrison then took his talents outside the UK, briefly turning out for Lazio, Mexican club Atlas and Swedish outfit Ostersunds.
Sheffield United brou…
Alessio Romagnoli feels ready to step up for Italy in attempt to replace the injured Giorgio Chiellini.
Romagnoli featured alongside Leonardo Bonucci at the centre of Italy s defence on Thursday, as Roberto Mancini s side overcame Armenia 3-1 in a Euro 2020 qualifier.
However, the 24-year-old was caught out when Armenia took the lead through Aleksandre Karapetyan, who was later sent off.
With Chiellini set to miss the majority of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury, Romagnoli seems likely to be Mancini s first choice to stand in for the Juventus stalwart.
We always have to improve and be ready when called upon, Romagnoli told Rai Sport.
Giorgio is a fantastic player and a great man. He helped me a great deal on intern…