Marcus Thuram has issued an apology after he was sent off for accidentally spitting in Stefan Posch s face during Borussia Monchengladbach s Bundesliga defeat to Hoffenheim on Saturday.
Thuram was given his marching orders by referee Frank Willenborg 11 minutes from time at Borussia-Park following an off-the-ball incident that was spotted by the VAR.
The France international spat at Posch as they squared up when the two sides were level at 1-1 and Ryan Sessegnon made matters worse for Gladbach by securing a 2-1 victory.
Striker Thuram expressed his remorse for his behaviour and said he would accept whatever punishment comes his way, but claimed he did not spit at Posch on purpose.
He posted on Twitter and Instagram: Today something took place that …
Argentina s new all-time leading goalscorer Lionel Messi was lavished in praise by coach Gerardo Martino after the best player in the world guided last year s Copa America runners-up to yet another final.
Messi, who overcame a back problem at the start of the tournament, surpassed Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina s top scorer with his 55th international goal in Tuesday s comprehensive 4-0 win over the United States in the semi-finals.
The captain s fifth goal of the centenary tournament helped Argentina to back-to-back Copa America finals following last year s penalty shoot-out loss to Chile.
Asked about Messi s historic night in Houston, Martino told reporters: It makes me very happy what he has done. Very pleased that has been in this Copa America.
It is…
Argentina cannot afford to let Lionel Messi retire from international football, insists Oscar Ruggeri.
Messi, who became his country s all-time highest scorer with his 55th international strike in the semi-final win over the United States, missed a spot-kick as Argentina were beaten 4-2 on penalties by Chile in the Copa America Centenario final on Sunday.
Having also been on the losing side in finals at the 2007 and 2015 Copa America, as well as the 2014 World Cup, the 29-year-old brought his international career to an end in the aftermath of the defeat at MetLife Stadium.
However, Ruggeri, a World Cup winner in 1986 and part of the last Argentina side to win a major trophy at Copa America 1993, hopes Messi s participation can salvaged in future.
He to…
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has revealed that Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku are likely to feature in next season s first-team squad.
Lukaku joined the London club from Anderlecht in 2011 for a reported fee of 10 million pounds, but, after failing to gain regular action, spent the 2012-13 campaign on loan at West Brom.
De Bruyne has also been loaned out from Stamford Bridge since joining in January 2012, spending time with Genk and Werder Bremen over the past one-and-a-half seasons.
However, Mourinho has now hinted that the Belgian duo have earned a place in his reckoning as he prepares for a second stint in charge at Chelsea.
First of all, I want to meet them, he said. I think it s fair that the players are the first ones to know about their future and to know about their fu…
Jose Mourinho knew about Alex Ferguson s retirement plans months ago and also shared his desire to return to Chelsea with the Scot.
The Portuguese manager disclosed details of the pair s close friendship which saw them keep each other s dramatic secrets while he discussed his second spell at Stamford Bridge with the Chelsea hierarchy.
I knew that Ferguson was retiring many months ago and I was so happy to have his trust. It was big news for the world. I can imagine that just a very close circle around him knew that and it was a big responsibility for me to know that, Mourinho said.
Why do I know that? Because we are friends. If I am his friend to know he is going to retire, he is also my friend to know that the club I want to coach in England is Chelsea. Of c…
Barcelona are not affected by off-field matters amid the ongoing Negreira scandal, head coach Xavi said.
The Catalan giants are subject to an investigation from UEFA with prosecutors in Spain pursuing charges for alleged corruption, having allegedly paid over €7million to the company owned by former vice-president of the refereeing committee in Spain, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.
LaLiga cannot take action due to a statute of limitations in Spain but, speaking on Monday, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin confirmed no such restrictions are in place for their investigation, while talking up the severity of the scandal.
Barcelona have denied any wrongdoing.
And Xavi insists the allegations are having no impact upon his squad.
Extra-sporting issues…
Bayer Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling says he still harbours hope of being called up for Germany despite not being involved in two years.
The 28-year-old last featured for Germany at the last World Cup, earning a third-place medal after appearing as a substitute in the wins over England and Uruguay.
Kiessling, who has hit six goals in 10 league games for Leverkusen so far in 201/-13, maintains he is still open to a recall, but concedes he has not had contact with Joachim Loew for years.
Of course, one hopes. It is an honour to play for Germany. I am 28, and I have not yet written off my chances of a return. We will see in the next few years what is to come, Kiessling told Bild.
But it s OK for me. I can fully focus on Bayer, my main job, and do not…
Market: Brentford win
Odds: 7/10 @
Looking to open 2020 by laying down another marker in West London, a high-flying Brentford will host Bristol City from behind closed doors on Saturday afternoon.
Starting with the hosts, while Brentford might have fallen behind against fellow promotion chasers Bournemouth in midweek, Thomas Frank s men mounted an eye-catching revival. Eventually picking up a hugely impressive 2-1 victory against the Cherries and with the mood in their camp at a red-hot high, the Bees find themselves enjoying a real festive purple patch. Breaking their way into the top-two and now sat within striking distance of league leaders Norwich, Brentford are enjoying a four-match Championship winning run. Still tipped by many across England s second-tie…
Christophe Galtier discussed his hostile return to Nice and hailed Paris Saint-Germain s resolve following their 2-0 victory on Saturday.
Goals from Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos ensured a return to winning ways after back-to-back losses for the Ligue 1 champions.
Defeats against Rennes and Lyon had seen the league leaders slip up in their title pursuit, marking out their trip to Galtier s old club as a must-win.
The former Nice boss was greeted with offensive banners upon his return – one of which targeted his mother to his understandable frustration.
I went to thank them for this wonderful welcome, he told Canal+, before explaining his gesture towards the supporters.
Why did I react like this? Did you see? Did you read? Did you hear? My moth…
Verdict: Over 3.5 goals
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Spanish champions Barcelona play host to Real Sociedad in the final match of the La Liga season which will officially mark the end of Andres Iniesta’s career at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona
The Catalans are ready to put an end on a successful season in Spain when they welcome Real Sociedad on Sunday night. With a league trophy in the bag and Copa del Rey title secured as well, one might think this was a rather successful season for Barcelona.
A bitter feeling remains, however, after the Champions League disappointment and following last weekend’s 5-4 La Liga defeat which ruined Barcelona’s dream of finishing the domestic season unbeaten. Overall, the 2017/18 season’s victory feels like defeat and…