Bayern Munich great Lothar Matthaus compared Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi as he lauded the exceptional striker.
Lewandowski, who has been linked with a move to Spanish and European champions Real Madrid after changing agents which only fuelled speculation, has scored 20 goals in as many starts for Bayern in the Bundesliga this season.
The 29-year-old has netted more than 100 goals since arriving from German rivals Borussia Dortmund in 2014, while helping deliver three Bundesliga titles among others.
And former Bayern captain Matthaus hailed the importance of Lewandowski at the Allianz Arena, likening the Poland international to five-time Ballon d Or winner Messi.
Lewy makes a difference, he cannot be replaced, Matthaus said via …
The 59-year-old Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri is an unusual football figure.
The Italian tactician spent the first decade of his managerial career splitting time between coaching and working in the banking sector and it wasn’t until his sixth job in football that he decided to commit his full-time to management.
From amateur sides and the world’s oldest bank still in operation – the Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena – Maurizio Sarri has come the long way to become the head coach of Serie A giants Napoli.
Napoli Sarri A Match made in Heaven
With spells at the likes of Avellino, Verona, Perugia and Empoli under his belt, Maurizio Sarri commenced his Napoli stint in 2015, quickly realizing that partnership with one of Italy’s most difficult clubs to work at …
Nikola Kalinic crashed in a much-needed goal to rescue a 1-1 draw for AC Milan against Sassuolo in Serie A.
Croatia striker Kalinic has struggled badly for his best form since joining Milan from Fiorentina last August and he was without a goal in 2018 for the Rossoneri when he came off the bench midway through the second half on Sunday.
He missed a gilt-edged headed chance after Matteo Politano s 75th-minute opener for the relegation-threatened visitors but Kalinic latched on to Mateo Musacchio s cross and turned to fire into the roof of the net with four minutes to go.
Milan head coach Gennaro Gattuso signed a contract extension until 2021 this week and the work ethic he has successfully instilled in the squad was again in evidence as they tore at Giuseppe Iachi…
Borussia Dortmund head coach Marco Rose asked to ease the pressure on Erling Haaland and let him recover from a thigh injury amid question marks over his availability for Norway ahead of their World Cup qualifiers.
Haaland was absent again as Dortmund defeated Augsburg 2-1 in the Bundesliga thanks to goals from Raphael Guerreiro and Julian Brandt on Saturday.
Dortmund sensation Haaland also missed last weekend s defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach and the Champions League victory over Sporting CP on Tuesday.
As Norway prepare for qualifiers against Turkey (October 8) and Montenegro (October 11) on the road to Qatar 2022, Rose stressed that both the national team and Dortmund need the 21-year-old forward back.
It is not my job to finish someone s hope, …
Jurgen Klopp hopes Liverpool can have a little more luck with regards to injuries next season, believing a full-strength squad would see them sitting much closer to runaway leaders Manchester City.
Liverpool finished 18 points clear of second-place City in the 2019-20 Premier League season as they ended a 30-year wait to be crowned champions again.
However, while they have struggled in the defence of their title, Pep Guardiola s squad are once again the team to beat. They set a new record with Wednesday s 3-1 triumph at Everton, becoming the first top-flight team to start a calendar year with 10 straight league victories.
The Reds focus has switched to finishing in the top four they sit in fifth place ahead of Saturday s Merseyside der…
USA winger Robbie Rogers has publicly announced that he is gay and revealed that he is retiring from professional football.
USA winger Robbie Rogers has publicly announced that he is gay and revealed that he is retiring from professional football.
The 25-year-old most recently played for Championship side Leeds United before his release from Elland Road last month and also had a brief a loan spell at Stevenage.
Rogers had been an MLS Cup winner with Columbus Crew in 2008 before he made his move to England after a successful start to his career in America.
Secrets can cause so much internal damage, Rogers wrote on his personal blog.
People love to preach about honesty, how honesty is so plain and simple. Try explaining to your loved ones after 25 years you are gay. T…
Italian daily that Inter Milan are looking to sign AC Milan midfielder Mathieu Flamini.
New Inter boss Walter Mazzarri is keen to sign midfield reinforcements, with the French footballer reportedly on his hit-list.
Flamini s contract at San Siro is due to expire at the end of the current campaign and he has yet to sign a new deal with the Rossoneri.
Inter are hoping to take advantage of the situation and they are preparing a lucrative contract offer for the Frenchman.
Flamini arrived at San Siro on a free transfer from Arsenal in the summer of 2008, but his career at Milan has been plagued by numerous injuries.
He has, nevertheless, made a total of 96 Serie A appearances for the club, scoring 7 goals in the process.
The 29-year-old again…
Real Madrid s last-gasp Clasico defeat to Barcelona does not make the European champions inferior to their bitter rivals, insisted Marcelo as the full-back remained upbeat afterwards.
Madrid s lead atop LaLiga was erased as titleholders Barcelona stunned the hosts 3-2 in a thrilling top-of-the-table clash at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.
Lionel Messi scored in the 92nd minute his second of the match to silence Madrid and their fans in the Spanish capital after substitute James Rodriguez had equalised seven minutes earlier following Sergio Ramos red card in the second half.
With the result, Barca and Madrid moved level on points, though the latter have a game in hand in their pursuit of a first LaLiga title since 2012 and Marcelo was in a positive mood post-mat…
A 90th-minute own goal saw Melbourne Victory s nine-game undefeated run against Adelaide United come to an end with a 1-0 loss at AAMI Park on Friday.
Bruce Kamau s last-gasp effort was diverted in by Scott Galloway, ending Adelaide s winless streak in all competitions against defending champions Victory that stretched back to 2011.
It looked like the visitors impressive record would resume as they came close to an opener seven minutes before the break, Gui Finkler rattling the crossbar with a 30-yard free-kick that had Eugene Galekovic beaten.
Victory failed to build upon that opportunity in a drab second half that included few chances, and, in a bid to change the outcome of the game, Adelaide coach Guillermo Amor sent Kamau on with 16 minutes remaini…
Marcus Rashford has high hopes that he and Romelu Lukaku can fire Manchester United to glory this season.
Jose Mourinho guided United to third place in the Premier League last season, securing a return to the Champions League, but a title tilt fizzled out early in the campaign hampered by a struggle to break sides down at Old Trafford.
Their shot-shyness has been remedied somewhat by the £75million capture of Lukaku, who scored 25 goals last season a tally bettered only by Harry Kane in the league.
Rashford and Lukaku are yet to play in tandem for United, having taken turns to lead the line in either half of their pre-season friendlies so far, but the England striker is excited by the prospect of a potential partnership.
I think different games require …