Lionel Messi is once again absent from the Barcelona squad for Sunday s LaLiga clash with Real Betis.
Messi returned to training this week following a calf problem, with the 32-year-old missing Barca s entire programme of pre-season friendlies due to Copa America commitments and his injury.
Although he got several days of training under his belt and appeared to be in fine form in video footage that came out of the sessions, it was reported Messi felt discomfort on Friday.
Coach Ernesto Valverde also urged fans to be patient in his pre-match news conference a day later, adamant Messi will not be risked if he is anything other than 100 per cent ready to feature.
As such, Messi has been left out of the squad for the visit of Betis, who left Camp Nou with a s…
Queens Park Rangers will accept the trophy as Championship winners at Loftus Road on Saturday and keep it.
Despite being found guilty of two of seven charges relating to the Alejandro Faurlin signing, the London club has escaped a points deduction, the Football Association has ruled
QPR were accused of breaking third-party ownership rules over the Argentine s transfer in July 2009.
It had been feared that QPR could be docked up to 15 points, which would have left them in the play-off places.
The club play Leeds at home in their final game of the season on Saturday.
There have been a few tears in the dressing room. It s been a hell of a time and how they [the players] have been able to focus I ll never know, manager Neil Warnock said.
I…
Turkish newspaper Vatan claims that Manchester United are keen on Galatasaray goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.
The Red Devils are actively searching for a new shot-stopper due to the fact that David De Gea is widely expected to join Real Madrid in the summer transfer window.
And while they have been linked with Hugo Lloris and Asmir Begovic, the latest reports suggest that Fernando Muslera has emerged as their top target.
Vatan has even suggested that Manchester United submitted a €35 million bid for his services with a hope of luring him to Old Trafford.
The Uruguayan has spent last four years at Galatasaray, having joined from Lazio, and went on to make 133 Super Lig appearances for the club.
Muslera has been capped 72 times by Uruguay, starting …
Kai Havertz admits he s had a difficult start to life with Chelsea since his off-season move and that many people still have doubts about him.
The 21-year-old Germany international joined Chelsea in September after a blistering 2019-20 campaign with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
But Havertz has struggled to make the expected impact, coming in and out of the side, making 29 appearances in all competitions and only scoring one Premier League goal.
Havertz has only made 13 Premier League starts, although he played a key part in Chelsea s opening goal, named as a Ben Godfrey own goal, in the 2-0 win over Everton on Monday.
Yes, it is difficult to say [if it is my best performance for Chelsea] but the first few months were difficult for me, Havertz told…
Premier League outfit West Ham are closing in on Sampdoria midfielder Pedro Obiang, .
The 23-year-old has developed into one of league s top midfielders and he now has a chance to leave the Blucerchiati for greener pastures.
While Napoli and Atletico Madrid are also keen on his services, the latest reports suggest West Ham have moved to the front of the queue.
La Gazzetta dello Sport has learned that the Hammers are ready to offer around €8.5 million for the highly rated footballer.
And even if Sampdoria are holding out for €10 million, everything suggests an agreement will be reached soon.
The Atletico Madrid graduate joined the Blucerchiati in 2008 and has so far scored 4 goals in 93 Serie A appearances.
Having climbed to fifth in S…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes Chelsea’s struggles this season are a warning sign of how difficult life can be after a takeover.
As the Glazers continue to consider a full or partial sale of United, a process which has been rumbling on since November, Chelsea will visit Old Trafford on Thursday limping to the end of a hugely disappointing first campaign since a group headed by Todd Boehly bought the club last summer.
There has been no lack of funding as the London club have spent almost £600million in the last two transfer windows, but the investment is yet to pay off with one of the Premier League’s so-called ‘Big Six’ stuck down in 12th place, a top-half finish now beyond them.
Frank Lampard, Chelsea’s third manager this term followi…
Juan Esnaider has been appointed Getafe coach until the end of the season.
The Liga strugglers parted company with Fran Escriba on Monday with the club mired in relegation trouble.
Esnaider a former Real Madrid and Juventus striker who won three caps for Argentina previously served as Getafe assistant under Michel during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons.
The 43-year-old s last coaching role came at Cordoba in 2013.
Getafe s 2-0 loss to Villarreal on Sunday left them second from bottom in La Liga, with just two points taken from a possible 36 since their last win against Espanyol on January 17.
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Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic acknowledged his side were fortunate to defeat Chelsea – but saw little reason to apologise for a fortuitous Champions League victory.
Chelsea dominated at the Signal Iduna Park but Karim Adeyemi s ruthless 63rd-minute strike ensured Dortmund will head back to Stamford Bridge on March 7 with a slender 1-0 lead in the last-16 tie.
Joao Felix twice spurned gilt-edged chances in the first half before Adeyemi broke away from a Chelsea corner to round Kepa Arrizabalaga and earn Dortmund a rare win over English opposition on Wednesday.
It marked the Bundesliga side s first win against an English team in European competition for 11 games, their last such victory against Tottenham in March 2016.
Terzic pinpointed Gregor …
Belgium have lost form at a terrible time at the World Cup, with their place in the last 16 at risk against Croatia, but Eden Hazard still believes in their quality.
The Red Devils were out of sorts in beating Canada 1-0 and were duly punished in their second match against Morocco, losing 2-0.
That defeat ended a 13-game unbeaten run in group-stage games at the finals, although they have not lost consecutive such matches since a sequence of three in a row across the 1982 and 1986 tournaments.
Another reverse against Croatia – who impressed in crushing Canada – would see them eliminated, while a draw may not be enough either.
We have to do better, we cannot deliver the performance we want [right now], said captain Hazard, who also skippered Belgium to…