Real Madrid 2-1 Sevilla: Vinicius stunner seals victory for Ancelotti´s men

Vinicius Junior s stunning late strike helped Real Madrid to a 2-1 win over Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

Sevilla, led by former Los Blancos boss Julen Lopetegui, could have moved a point clear of Madrid at the top of the table with victory, and they got off to a fine start thanks to Rafa Mir s early header.

Karim Benzema pulled the hosts level shortly after the half-hour mark, before Vinicius secured maximum points three minutes from full-time with a wonderful long-range drive.

The result moved Carlo Ancelotti s men four points clear of Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad at the top of the table, with Sevilla a further point back in fourth.

18 Only Mohamed Salah (19, 11 goals and 8 assists) has been involved in more goals in Europe s five maj…

Atletico snare Savic from Fiorentina

Atletico Madrid have completed the signing of Fiorentina defender Stefan Savic on a five-year deal.

Atleti reached an agreement with the Serie A club for the centre-back, and the Montenegro defender agreed terms until 2020 after passing a medical.

Savic moved to Fiorentina in August 2012 after struggling to adapt during a one-year stay at Manchester City, with whom he won the Premier League in the 2011-12 campaign.

The 24-year-old has impressed in Italy, though, and was linked with a move to Milan, while talk of a switch to Manchester United was also mooted.

However, Savic has opted to join Atleti and the club s sporting director Jose Luis Caminero is happy with the club s business.

We are very satisfied with the agreement reached with Fiorentin…

Kenedy leaves Chelsea for Newcastle loan

Chelsea wing-back Kenedy has joined Newcastle United on loan for the remainder of the season.

Kenedy will be ineligible for Newcastle s FA Cup fourth-round clash against Chelsea on Sunday, but could make his debut against Burnley at St James Park next Wednesday.

The 21-year-old is looking forward to working under Rafael Benitez and reuniting with former Blues team-mate Christian Atsu.

I m so happy with this opportunity at Newcastle. They ve opened the door to me to come here, show my potential and come and play for Newcastle, said Kenedy in a statement.

It s a traditional club and Rafa Benitez is a fantastic, amazing coach. Christian Atsu, as well – we trained together at Chelsea and know each other, and he said good things about the club. So it was …

Lazio rekindle interest in Alessio Cerci

Serie A outfit Lazio are showing interest in Atletico Madrid winger Alessio Cerci, .

The Biancocelesti could offload Ricardo Kishna to Genoa in the coming days and if that happens, they will make a move on the former Torino star.

It is believed that Atletico Madrid would accept a loan deal until the end of the season with an option to buy for €4 million, which sounds like a great deal for the player who was one of Serie A’s leading performers in the 2013/2014 season.

Cerci has, however, struggled for form and playing time since moving to Atletico Madrid, making just six substitute appearances in La Liga, while enjoying loan spells with AC Milan and Genoa.

The forward made a return from a knee injury back in December, but it is clear that he does not …

Mbappe wanted Madrid but PSG convinced him to stay – Emery

Former Paris Saint-Germain head coach Unai Emery said Kylian Mbappe wanted to join Real Madrid before the French giants eventually persuaded the forward to stay.

Mbappe has been heavily linked with LaLiga side Madrid after the PSG star fuelled speculation over his future by hinting it could be time for a new project .

Ligue 1 champions PSG dismissed Mbappe s comments, insisting the 20-year-old World Cup-winning sensation will remain in Paris.

However, Arsenal boss Emery revealed the desire Mbappe had to sign for Madrid during his time at PSG, which came to an end following the 2017-18 season.

and his for the Player of the Year 

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English)

At some point, everyone pushed at PSG, Emery told Cadena SER. I even…

UEFA inspectors receive death threats over Skenderbeu match-fixing investigation

UEFA has announced inspectors from the organisation have received death threats over an investigation into match-fixing.

The body has been examining suspicious betting patterns involving Albanian club Skenderbeu Korce, who were banned from European competition for the 2016-17 season as a result of the probe.

UEFA s Betting Fraud Detection System (BFDS) has now uncovered a far greater pattern of involvement in alleged match-fixing at Skenderbeu, with the club set to receive a longer European suspension.

And in an extraordinary statement released on Friday, UEFA confirmed staff members on the Skenderbeu case have been the subject of death threats.

Today, UEFA disciplinary inspectors working on this case have received anonymous death threats, presumably int…

Messi exit could liberate Barcelona players – Nagelsmann

Lionel Messi s departure from Barcelona could be liberating for some of their other players, according to Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann. 

Six-time Ballon d Or winner Messi left Barcelona following the conclusion of his contract, with the club s dire financial situation making it impossible for them to retain their all-time leading goalscorer. 

Barca remain unbeaten at the start of the post-Messi era this season, but their biggest test of the campaign will come when they host Bayern in Champions League Group E next Tuesday. 

Nagelsmann does not believe Messi s move to Paris Saint-Germain necessarily makes Barca any less dangerous, though, because there will be plenty of individuals keen to step out of his shadow. 

A great player who mark…

Bundesliga strugglers Hertha Berlin sack head coach Labbadia

Hertha Berlin have sacked head coach Bruno Labbadia and general manager Michael Preetz following a poor run of form.

Saturday s 4-1 home loss to fellow strugglers Werder Bremen proved to be the final game in charge for Labbadia, who was only appointed nine months ago.

Labbadia guided Hertha from 13th to 10th upon taking over from Jurgen Klinsmann last season but the Old Lady have failed to push on this term.

They have lost three of their previous four games and have won just four of their 18 league matches all season.

With the capital club only two points above the relegation play-off spot having played a game more than 16th-place Cologne, the board has now taken action.

Hertha confirmed the news on their official website on Sunday, with chairman…

Ziyech found Belgium ´easier´ to play against than Croatia in famous Morocco win

Hakim Ziyech says Morocco found it easier to face Belgium than Croatia after they moved top of World Cup Group F with a 2-0 win over the Red Devils.

Belgium were favourites to secure what would have been a record ninth consecutive victory in a World Cup group game at Al Thumama Stadium on Sunday.

Morocco were worthy winners, though, following up a goalless draw with Croatia by taking all three points in Doha.

Romain Saiss got on the end of Abdelhamid Sabiri s set-piece to open the scoring and Zakaria Aboukhlal sealed a famous victory for the Atlas Lions in stoppage time.

Ziyech was named man of the match after having a first-half goal disallowed for offside and providing an assist for Aboukhlal in the closing stages.

The Chelsea winger said: The f…

Leicester-Tottenham the latest fixture off due to COVID outbreaks

Leicester City s Premier League clash against Tottenham has become the latest Premier League fixture to be postponed due to coronavirus outbreaks.

Spurs had already seen their past two matches against Rennes in the Conference League, and Brighton and Hove Albion in the top flight curtailed due to not having enough players available due to the number of positive COVID-19 tests in their squad.

However, the Foxes have also been affected by a spate of infections in their camp, with a further number of positive tests on Thursday leading to the match being called off and Leicester closing first-team operations for 48 hours.

A club statement read: Leicester City can confirm that the Premier League Board has decided to postpone Thursday night’s fixture against Tottenh…