Barcelona pushing for Lewandowski

Leicester City manager Steve Cooper wants the Premier League to provide clear evidence as to why Jean Philippe Mateta s first goal was given in their 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.

Mateta netted a brace to deny Leicester their first win of the season, but his first goal was originally flagged as offside before it was overturned after a VAR review.

Cooper s side had performed brilliantly to take a two-goal advantage up to that point, with goals from Jamie Vardy and Stephy Mavididi putting them in a comfortable position.

However, the Leicester boss was left with a sour taste in his mouth, confirming he wants greater clarity on why Palace s first goal was awarded.

I really want to see the image that says that was definitely onside because at the moment we ha…

Stephen Kenny’s contract as manager of the Republic of Ireland will not be renewed, the Football Association of Ireland has announced.

His departure comes following Ireland’s disappointing Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, where the team missed out on a spot in next year’s finals in Germany.

Their qualification run came to a close on Saturday after being beaten 1-0 by the Netherlands in Amsterdam and as a result finished fourth in the Group B standings having won only two of their eight games.

Kenny’s final game in charge saw Ireland draw 1-1 with New Zealand in a friendly in Dublin on Tuesday, with the FAI deciding that his contract would not be renewed following the conclusion of the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

They added that “now is the righ…

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first Serie A hat-trick as Juventus overcame Cagliari and he was pleased to put the pressure on Inter, who topped the league during the mid-season break.

After a goalless first half at Allianz Stadium, Ronaldo showed great anticipation to beat Sebastian Walukiewicz to Ragnar Klavan s loose pass and round Robin Olsen for the opener.

The 34-year-old added a second from the penalty spot following Marko Rog s foul on Paulo Dybala.

Gonzalo Higuain extended Juve s lead further in the 81st minute and five seconds after Cagliari restarted the match Ronaldo slotted in his third.

The victory sent Maurizio Sarri s men three points clear of Inter ahead of the Nerazzurri s trip to Napoli later on Monday.

The year has started very…

Chris Armas says the Colorado Rapids comprehensive defeat to Sporting Kansas City must serve as a wakeup call as they prepare to resume their playoff push against Toronto FC.

Colorado won their first two games upon returning to MLS play after the Leagues Cup break, but they were brought crashing back to earth with a 4-1 defeat in Kansas City in midweek.

Armas men remain in a positive position, sitting fourth in the Western Conference standings with a game in hand on some of the teams around them, but he knows they need to ensure Wednesday s performance was a one-off.

It s probably a wakeup call to all of us, what these games are going to look like, Armas said. Everyone s fighting for something.

Everyone s got something to play for and in our league, eve…

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor was in a reflective mood after their 7-0 victory at Crystal Palace ensured they continued their perfect start to the Women s Super League.

The former Champions League winner joined the club in May after leading Lyon to a third successive French title, and has won her first two matches in the English top-flight.

Understandably, having never played or managed in England before taking the job at Chelsea, Bompastor spent a lot of time learning about the league before the move.

I feel wiser, she told Sky Sports after the match.

Coming to this league, I ve spent a lot of time studying the teams, the managers and the way they play.

I want a lot of information, the most possible. This league is so competitive and if you…

Market: Both teams to score

Odds: 3/5 @

In what could prove to be an action-packed La Liga showdown from El Sadar on Saturday lunchtime, Osasuna will welcome Villarreal to Navarre.

Starting with the hosts, managing to make a stunning return to winning ways last weekend as they stormed their way to a famous 4-1 romp away at Atletico Madrid, Osasuna will be desperate to use that sensational display as a platform to build on. Opening their season finale sat just a single point adrift of breaking into the top-half, Los Rojillos will be desperate to make another statement here. However, despite drawing a line under their six-match winless run last week, Jagoba Arrasate will have a headache over his side’s extended issues on home soil. Including an action-packed 4-2…

The European Super League needs English clubs more than they need the breakaway competition, says football finance expert Dan Plumley.

The European Super League was initially announced back in April 2021, with 12 of the continent s biggest clubs announcing their intention to join. Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham all agreed to participate.

However, a fan backlash eventually forced nine of the clubs to back down, including all six English teams, and the Super League looked to be a thing of the past.

A ruling this week may have given it a second life, though, with the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg deciding FIFA and UEFA abused a dominant position in blocking the Super League.

A new proposal was sw…

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will renew acquaintances with Manchester United after the Red Devils were drawn against his Milan side in the Europa League last 16.

Sweden great Ibrahimovic spent just under two seasons with the Red Devils under Jose Mourinho, joining in July 2016 and departing in March 2018 to move to LA Galaxy.

During his first campaign at Old Trafford, Ibrahimovic missed out on United s Europa League final triumph against Ajax due to a serious knee injury and he will now aim to be the downfall of his former employers in this season s competition.

United have been eliminated by Milan in European knockout ties four times, the most of any side along with Real Madrid.

4 Manchester United have been eliminated from four of their five UEFA European knockou…

The first time Pep Guardiola was drawn to face a Bundesliga team in the Champions League as Manchester City manager, the match was postponed after a torrential pre-match downpour soaked the Etihad Stadium.

Twenty-four hours later, Borussia Monchengladbach were swatted aside 4-0 but there were some other, more incongruous storm clouds hovering.

Sergio Aguero scored a hat-trick, already his second of the campaign to move on to nine goals in his first five outings under Guardiola.  A brace that weekend at Swansea City took him to 11 in six, but his manager was not completely satisfied with the bigger picture.

Sergio just has a talent to score goals that is natural, I cannot teach him that, Guardiola said.

What I can tell him is there is a team behind him …

Paul Pogba insists he and his fellow France players have no problem with head coach Didier Deschamps but were disgusted by the team s failure at Euro 2020

Draws against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Ukraine in World Cup qualifying have followed France s wretched European mission.

Despite going into Euro 2020 as many people s favourites, France were knocked out on penalties by Switzerland in the second round, with Pogba seen in a lively discussion with Deschamps after the game.

Deschamps has been boss of France since 2012 and is set to lead his reigning world champions into next year s World Cup, assuming they qualify.

Manchester United midfielder Pogba looks set to face Finland on Tuesday as France attempt to end a run of five successive draws – including the …