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

Best Odds:

Bookmaker:

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…

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has underlined his desire to keep Donny van de Beek at Manchester United despite a difficult start to his Old Trafford career.

Since arriving from Ajax in a reported £40million deal in pre-season, the Dutchman has made just eight starts in total, with only two of those coming in the Premier League.

That lack of action prompted Van de Beek s boss at international level, Frank de Boer, to suggest this week that the midfielder might need to move on in January in order to strengthen his chances of featuring in the Netherlands European Championship squad.

However, Solskjaer has reiterated his faith in the 23-year-old and revealed he will be handed a rare opportunity to start when United face Watford in the FA Cup on Saturday.

I ve answer…

Pep Guardiola believes a demanding schedule can help Manchester City in the Premier League title race but one defeat will end their quest to be champions.

Guardiola s side will be three points behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand if they beat relegation-threatened Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Free-scoring City extended their winning run to nine matches by beating Bayern Munich 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

City travel to face Bayern in the second leg next week before taking on Sheffield United in an FA Cup semi-final, followed by their game in hand against Brighton and Hove Albion before a potential title decider at home to the Gunners.

Arsenal can focus solely on the battle to win the …

Liverpool have completed the signing of Brazil international attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho from Inter Milan in a deal believed to be worth £8.5 million, .

Coutinho, 20, is Brendan Rodgers second signing in the winter transfer window, with Daniel Sturridge having already arrived with a bang may I add from Chelsea.

The 20-year-old is a highly-rated prospect, but failed to receive consistent playing time under Inter Milan boss Andrea Stramaccioni this season despite an impressive loan spell at Espanyol last term.

Coutinho who netted two goals in 12 appearances in all competitions for Inter Milan this season  is thrilled with the move, and rightfully so.

I m feeling very happy, it s a very important step in my career and I m expecti…

Alan Pardew has told Yohan Cabaye that he expects the midfielder to return to action in Saturday s Premier League clash with Fulham.

The France international has not featured this season after the club received a bid from Arsenal prior to their Premier League opener against Manchester City

According to his manager, the bid caused Cabaye who joined Newcastle from Lille in 2011 to have his head turned , which upset the 52-year-old.

However, Pardew revealed that no further bids had been received for the 27-year-old and admitted that he had told the Frenchman to be ready for their next league match.

I ve said to Yohan that I expect him to play this weekend, he said. Is he receptive? I think so but we ll have to wait and see.

The Newcastle boss underlined his d…

Borussia Monchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl has stressed promising youngster Mahmoud Dahoud will not leave the Bundesliga side in the January transfer window.

The 20-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool, while Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City have also been credited with an interest in the midfielder.

Nevertheless, Gladbach have not received any offers for the Germany Under-21 star and will not allow him to depart.

There is a zero per cent chance that Mahmoud will leave in January, Eberl told Kicker.

There is no offer for him on the table from any club and we have not had any offers for him in the past either.

Dahoud has a contract with the club until June 2018 and Gladbach are ready to open talks over a renew…