LIVERPOOL (AFP) – Liverpool secured a place in next season’s Champions League by sweeping aside Crystal Palace 2-0 as 10,000 fans returned to Anfield on Sunday (May 23). Sadio Mane struck either side of half-time as the Reds registered an eighth win in their final 10 games of the season to finish third in the... » read more
LONDON (AFP) – Edinson Cavani welcomed Manchester United fans back to Old Trafford with a stunning strike, but relegated Fulham recovered to rescue a 1-1 draw, while Chelsea and Leicester prepared for their top four showdown later on Tuesday (May 18). Supporters have been allowed to return to Premier League matches this week for the... » read more
ANKARA (REUTERS) – Uefa has moved this month’s Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea to Porto from Istanbul, two Turkish Football Federation sources said on Wednesday (May 12). The sources said Turkey was expecting to host the 2023 Champions League final in Istanbul, as part of the agreement with European soccer’s ruling body.... » read more
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM (AFP) – Chelsea forced Manchester City to put their Premier League title party on hold on Saturday (May 8), winning 2-1 to boost their own chances of a top-four finish in a dress rehearsal for the Champions League final. Raheem Sterling gave the home side the lead just before half-time at an... » read more
LONDON (AFP) – Britain on Friday (May 7) said it was willing to step in to host the Champions League football final, after the government placed Turkey on a coronavirus travel red list. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Britain was “very open to hosting the final round” of the competition, which is due to take... » read more
LONDON (AFP) – Thomas Tuchel has hailed rejuvenated Cesar Azpilicueta as a “key factor” in Chelsea’s fine run, saying the pair struck up an instant rapport. Chelsea have lost just twice since the German replaced Frank Lampard as manager at Stamford Bridge in January, reaching the FA Cup final and the Champions League final. Tuchel’s... » read more
BARCELONA (AFP) – Rafael Nadal trounced compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta to reach his 12th Barcelona final where he will face Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek star who stunned the great Spaniard from two sets down in this year’s Australian Open. Top seed Nadal, an 11-time champion in Barcelona, eased to a 6-3, 6-2 win over world... » read more
North American team Evil Geniuses will contest today’s One Esports Dota 2 Major grand final after defeating Chinese wild card PSG.LGD 2-1 in Saturday’s (April 3) upper-bracket final. Evil Geniuses, who boast Singapore’s top-earning player Daryl “iceiceice” Koh, won the first game easily and appeared to be cruising to a straightforward win after a strong... » read more
SINGAPORE – For the first time in Singapore’s table tennis history, a local-born paddler will be competing in the men’s singles at the Olympic Games after Koen Pang and Clarence Chew both reached the final of the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament in Doha. With the winner of the clash earning a ticket to Tokyo, the... » read more
AL RAYYAN (Qatar) • Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick challenged his dominant machine to find another gear to secure their sixth trophy in a year, after advancing to the Club World Cup final with a 2-0 victory over African champions Al Ahly on Monday. The European champions face Tigres in the title decider tomorrow after... » read more
BANGKOK • Spain’s Carolina Marin and Viktor Axelsen of Denmark yesterday claimed their second Thailand Open badminton singles titles in a fortnight. Axelsen was a commanding force against Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus in the men’s final in Bangkok, beating his compatriot 21-11, 21-7 and showing the difference in class, with the world No. 4 several levels... » read more
LONDON • Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has said he senses the desire of his players to end the club’s trophy drought after they reached the League Cup final by beating Championship side Brentford 2-0 on Tuesday. Spurs have not lifted a major trophy since their League Cup triumph over Chelsea in 2008 but they have... » read more
LONDON • World No. 1 Novak Djokovic admitted that he needs to play cleaner tennis if he is to stay on course for a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals title. The Serb lost for just the fourth time this year when fourth seed Daniil Medvedev beat him 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday to leave his hopes of... » read more
LONDON • With a 9-5 head-to-head advantage over Dominic Thiem, Rafael Nadal will be the favourite in today’s London 2020 group clash at the ATP Finals. However, the pair have never played on an indoor hard court – their past two encounters were on outdoor hard courts with one win apiece – so the world... » read more
PARIS • Third seed Daniil Medvedev battled past Milos Raonic yesterday to reach his first final of the season at the Paris Masters, where he will face Rafael Nadal or Alexander Zverev. The Russian, 24, edged out the big-serving Raonic 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) for his third victory in as many meetings with the Canadian. Medvedev,... » read more