Real Madrid to meet PSG in Champions League, Barca drawn with Leverkusen

Angel di Maria will return to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League group stage after Paris Saint-Germain were drawn alongside the 10-time European champions in Group A.

The Argentina international left the Santiago Bernabeu in 2014 for Manchester United, but never faced Real while at Old Trafford.

He will get that opportunity in Group A after his new club were pitched against Rafael Benitez s side, with Shakhtar Donetsk and Malmo – PSG talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic s first club – completing the group.

Manchester United s return to the group phase will see them go head to head with Eredivisie champions PSV.

Louis van Gaal s side were not involved in last season s competition, but rejoined the continental elite on Wednesday with a comprehe…

Premier League duo given Lemar boost

The Mail Online understands that Thomas Lemar has rejected a new contract at Monaco.

The news will be welcomed by Premier League duo Arsenal and Liverpool both of whom were linked with a move for the France international last summer.

Then, the Ligue 1 champions managed to keep hold of their man though they have been dealt a blow with the twenty-two year old turning down an offer of a new deal that would run until the summer of 2020.

Lemar moved to Monaco from Caen in the summer of 2015 and has since racked up one hundred and twelve appearances in all competitions, scoring twenty-two goals.

Nine of those goals came in the league last season as Leonardo Jardim’s side clinched the championship while internationally he has been capped eight times by Fr…

Prediction: Manchester City vs West Brom

Verdict: Manchester City and both teams to score

Best Odds: 

Bookmaker: 

Premier League leaders Manchester City must be wary on Wednesday night as they face a West Brom side who have shown they re capable of delivering a shock.

Manchester City

For the Premier League s current runaway leaders, Pep Guardiola s free-flying Manchester City side once again produced another professional performance as they secured their spot in the fifth-round of the FA Cup after beating Championship promotion hopefuls Cardiff City. Currently on a three-match winning run since their first Premier League defeat against Liverpool earlier this month, City s dominant form has seen them move 12 points clear of Manchester United who sit in second. For Guardiola s Citizens, t…

Hat-trick hero Plea enjoys assists first as Gladbach rout Shakhtar

Alassane Plea hit a hat-trick but made Champions League history with an assist as Borussia Monchengladbach claimed their biggest European away win in 47 years against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Plea netted half of Gladbach s goals as they won 6-0 in Kiev against a Shakhtar team who had defeated Real Madrid and held Inter to lead Group B after two games.

The Ukrainian side were brought crashing back down to earth in a brutal first half as Plea scored twice, once either side of Valerii Bondar s own goal and before Ramy Bensebaini added the fourth.

Gladbach became the first away side to score at least four times in the first half of a Champions League match since Real Madrid routed Viktoria Plzen 5-0 in November 2018.

6 – 6 goals in 1 game for are the most goals f…

Belgium 2-0 England: Three Lions´ Nations League Finals hopes ended

England hopes of reaching the Nations League Finals were ended as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Belgium.

Gareth Southgate s side needed at least a draw to ensure their chances of topping Group A2 remained alive going into their final game against Iceland.

However, first-half goals from Dries Mertens and Youri Tielemans put the hosts on track for a win that leaves them needing just a point in their final group game against Denmark to reach the Finals.

Belgium made a strong start to proceedings as some front-footed defending from Jan Vertonghen was followed by the ball being fired up toward Tielemans, whose shot took a deflection off Tyrone Mings before going in off the post just 10 minutes in.

England almost hit back immediately, Harry Kane s header from a…

I want to say thank you to all of the academy – Guardiola hails Man City youngsters

Pep Guardiola thanked Manchester City s academy after handing debuts to five youngsters in Tuesday s EFL Cup win over Wycombe Wanderers.

City, who have won the EFL Cup in each of the last four seasons, stormed to a 6-1 victory over their third-tier opposition at the Etihad Stadium.

Wycombe did take a shock lead through Brandon Hanlan, but Kevin De Bruyne s strike swiftly restored parity before Riyad Mahrez and the excellent Phil Foden put City in control.

Ferran Torres, Mahrez and substitute Cole Palmer – another academy graduate – got in on the act after the break.

All four of City s defenders were debutants, with each player born after the turn of the century, while holding midfielder Romeo Lavia was also making his senior bow.

Guardiola h…

Donnarumma laughs off ´nonsense´ claims he is unhappy at PSG

Gianluigi Donnarumma has laughed off nonsense claims he is unhappy at Paris Saint-Germain and seeking a swift return to Serie A.

The 22-year-old only joined PSG in July after reaching the end of his Milan contract and failing to agree fresh terms with his boyhood club.

However, according to reports from Italy this week, Donnarumma is already eyeing up a move to Juventus in January as he is not happy about having to challenge Keylor Navas for a starting spot.

Donnarumma was given an extended break after playing a huge part in Italy s Euro 2020 success and had to wait until six games into the campaign to make his debut in a 4-0 Ligue 1 win over Clermont.

He has played a further two games since – the 2-1 league win over Lyon and 2-0 victory over Manchester…

Palermo name Malesani as new coach

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has appointed his 25th coach since becoming club president in 2002, with the arrival of Alberto Malesani.

Malesani has been given the role after the sacking of Gian Piero Gasperini with Palermo bottom of Serie A four points from safety.

A statement on the club s official website read: Palermo can announce that it has entrusted Alberto Malesani to lead the first team.

Malesani will take charge of his first training session this afternoon and will be presented to the press tomorrow morning.”

Malesani has previously taken charge of Bologna, Genoa and Parma where he won the UEFA Cup and the Coppa Italia.

Zamparini sacked Roberto Pruzzo, who had been in charge for five days, when he bought the club in 2002.

Newcastle United linked with Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Pedro Neto

Newcastle United are interested in signing Pedro Neto from Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Newcastle are looking for a new winger, and that Portugal international star Neto is one of the players on their radar.

Neto is one of the best wingers in the Premier League and is a major player for Wolves. There have been injury problems for the 24-year-old in recent times, but when fit and available, he is one of the first names on the Wanderers’ teamsheet. Neto has scored two goals and given nine assists in 18 starts and one substitute appearance in the Premier League for Wolves this season.

Newcastle are sixth in the Premier League table at the moment with 56 points from 35 matches, whil…

FA Cup Third Round: Who will write the headlines?

Arsenal begin their cup defence against Sunderland

So here it is, arguably the most exciting weekend of the English football season – the FA Cup third round with Exeter City and Liverpool getting things underway on Friday evening.

Despite many claiming that the ‘magic’ of the cup doesn’t quite exist in the same way it once did, the competition still holds a special place in the heart of football fans up and down the country, and beyond.

Everyone has their favourite memory from the tournaments history, most of which are based around lower league clubs usurping superior opposition.

Whether it be the non-league triumph’s such as Sutton United’s over Coventry City in 1989 or Hereford United’s over Newcastle United in 1972, everyone has thei…