Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice as Borussia Dortmund eased into the Europa League quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Tottenham at White Hart Lane, meaning the Bundesliga side progress 5-1 on aggregate.
Striker Aubameyang ended any slender hopes Tottenham had of overhauling a 3-0 deficit from the first leg when he launched a long-range shot beyond goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the 24th minute.
The Gabon international took his tally for the season to 35 with a second goal in the 70th minute, with Lloris failing to keep out a powerful drive that deflected into the net off the Frenchman s right arm.
Neven Subotic s weak back pass allowed Son Heung-min the chance to cut the deficit in half with 17 minutes to play, although his effort was no more tha…
Jordi Cruyff would love to take up a role at former clubs Barcelona or Manchester United, but insists he is not obsessed by the idea.
The 42-year-old spent two years as sporting director of Cypriot side AEK Larnaca before moving to Maccabi Tel Aviv who have won the last three league titles in Israel in 2012.
Asked if his dream was to return to Camp Nou or Old Trafford in some capacity, Cruyff told Omnisport: I think as a football player I have had the luck and the pride to be at clubs like Barcelona and Manchester United.
I ve also been very happy in smaller clubs, but of course these are two clubs with a very big stature, big name, big status. It s one of those dream clubs.
Of course one of these clubs would be fantastic, but I ve also learned not…
Jurgen Klopp was very interested in him two and a half years ago and that interested has not died since. Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski is reportedly Liverpool s transfer target for the upcoming summer, Calciomercato reports. The Poland international was allegedly close to joining Merseyside club back in the summer of 2016, ahead of the start of the season, before he opted for Napoli instead.
Report says that Zielinski is now back on Jurgen Klopp s radar and that the club will pursue the Polish player whatever the outcome of this Premier League and Champions League season is. Still, it remains to be seen how realistic all of this will be, as there are some reports in Italy saying Zielinski could be renewing his contract with the club from Naples.
Zielinski i…
Belgium midfielder Radja Nainggolan is not for sale and won t be leaving Roma in this transfer window, according to club president James Pallotta.
Nainggolan has been linked with Manchester United in recent days, but Pallotta has ruled out losing the 29-year-old, or defender Kostas Manolas, as Roma look to improve on last season s second-placed finish in Serie A.
He told reporters: Nainggolan and Manolas will stay with us, they are not moving from Roma.
I think we have the best midfield in Italy. In defence we will improve and we can do that by buying some new players.
The Giallorossi have sold Leandro Paredes, Antonio Rudiger and Mohamed Salah since the end of last season with Pallotta explaining it was due to financial reasons.
He added: We v…
Thomas Muller has expressed the pain he is suffering after missing a golden opportunity in Germany s 2-0 Euro 2020 defeat to England.
Muller fired wide with only Jordan Pickford to beat when Joachim Low s side were 1-0 down with nine minutes to go in the round of 16 tie at Wembley on Tuesday.
The Bayern Munich forward had his head in his hands after that costly miss with time running out for Germany to stay in the tournament.
Harry Kane doubled England s lead with a header five minutes later and Muller cut a deflated figure when he was substituted in stoppage time.
Muller failed to score in the tournament after being recalled from the international wilderness by Low, managing only one shot on target in four games and missing his only big chance.
T…
Moussa Sissoko has hailed Serge Aurier s response to facing competition from new Tottenham signing Matt Doherty.
The midfielder believes Spurs strength in depth will motivate players to be at their best, pointing to Aurier as a prime example.
With Doherty having been signed from Wolves for a reported £14.7million, Aurier will have to fight for his spot at right-back.
Aurier produced an excellent display in the 6-1 thrashing of Manchester United last time out, with the Ivory Coast international marking his first start of the season with a goal and an assist.
captains Ivory Coast against Belgium in today s international friendly.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial)
That s Serge s character and if you want to have the best of …
Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso believes Spanish players who play in the English Premier League make their national side stronger.
The 29-year-old spent five successful years in the Premier League with Liverpool before joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2009, and maintains his time in the UK was invaluable.
Spain benefited from players going to England, Alonso told The Guardian. They had the chance to play at the highest level and were given responsibility they might not have had, experiencing a very different type of football.
I listened and learnt from people like Carra (Jamie Carragher), Stevie (Gerrard), Didi Hamann and Sami Hyypia and definitely improved. I was privileged to play there and every Spaniard who s been there loves it.
Since Alonso s …
The New York Giants will meet the New England Patriots in the NFL s Super Bowl after both won their championship games on Sunday.
A 31-yard field goal from Lawrence Tynes saw the Giants to a thrilling 20-17 sudden-death overtime win against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park.
Quarterback Eli Manning (32 of 58 for 316 yards and two touchdowns) starred as the Giants won the NFC championship and booked a meeting with the Patriots in the season decider on February 5.
The teams met in the Super Bowl in 2008, when the Giants recorded a 17-14 win for what was their third title.
Tynes winning field goal was set up by a second costly mistake from 49ers punt returner Kyle Williams, who fumbled and allowed Devin Thomas to recover.
Just five plays l…
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has made his side s intentions clear at the Club World Cup victory.
The European champions open their campaign in Japan against AFC Champions League winners Al Sadd of Qatar on Thursday in the semi-finals, with questions being asked in the press over the importance of the competition given the La Liga outfit s already congested fixture calendar.
But Guardiola who guided Barca to a win in the competition in 2009 assured reporters that his side is taking the tournament seriously.
We are here because we earned it and now we will work to take the title, he said.
It s all much more even, anything can happen in a game; we must not take victory for granted.
It is the competition I am most excited about this year because…
Lyon midfielder Ederson reveals that he could leave les Gones when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The Brazilian has just few months left on his deal at Gerland and is currently negotiating a new contract with the club chiefs.
However, it appears that the two parties are unable to reach an agreement and unless there is a breakthrough soon, Ederson says he will leave the club at the end of the season.
“My priority is to stay,” Ederson said at a press conference arranged before the first training session this week.
“For now, discussions are not progressing. It is certain that while being on the bench, it is difficult to find motives to renew.
”If I do not renew, I would go to play elsewhere. It wouldn’t be a problem. Many c…