BATE have opted to forgo their usual tactical plan to try to stop Barcelona, according to head coach Aleksandr Yermakovich.
The Belarusian champions who clinched their 10th consecutive domestic title at the weekend last faced Barca in the Champions League group stage of the 2011-12 season, when they were beaten 5-0 at home and 4-0 at Camp Nou.
Ahead of another daunting trip to face the reigning Spanish and European champions, Yermakovich says they have learned from those defeats that overburdening the players with pre-game analysis can prove costly.
This game will decide our hopes, he said on Monday. Four years ago, we also played against Barcelona but then overloaded the team with tactical knowledge. We gave the players a lot of information but it did not he…
An emotional Carlos Tevez revelled in Boca Juniors Argentine Primera Division success on Sunday.
A first-half header from Fabian Monzon saw Boca to a 1-0 win over Tigre in Buenos Aires for their first league crown since the 2011 Apertura.
Tevez scored five goals in 12 league games after returning to his boyhood club from Juventus in June.
The 31-year-old was delighted to bring the title back to Boca.
These guys needed this championship. From now on it s going to be a new Boca, Tevez said.
I ve left many sides a champion, but this feeling is unexplainable.
Boca are six points clear at the top with a game remaining in the league campaign.
…
Sepp Blatter s lawyer Richard Cullen claims there is no evidence of any improper motivation in an agreement between FIFA and Michel Platini which resulted in the pair being banned from all football-related activities.
FIFA president Blatter and vice-president Platini were handed 90-day suspensions by the Ethics Commission in early October over a disloyal payment made to the Frenchman in 2011.
The pair deny any wrongdoing but had their appeals against the bans rejected by FIFA s Appeal Committee on Wednesday.
Blatter s lawyer revealed they will press forward with attempts to clear the outgoing president s name and claimed there is no evidence to support allegations of wrongdoing.
President Blatter is disappointed by today s decision of the Appeal Committe…
Philipp Lahm s decision to retire at the end of the season was not wholly surprising to Michael Tarnat, who says the Bayern Munich star will have made the call in the interests of himself and his club.
Bayern captain Lahm retired from international duty after lifting the World Cup in 2014 and has opted to cut short his contract at the Allianz Arena by one year and hang up his boots.
Lahm, a seven-time Bundesliga champion and 2012-13 Champions League winner, is only 33, but Tarnat – the sporting director of Bayern s junior team, having played for the club for six years – is confident the versatile defender knows what is best for him.
He told Omnisport: On the one hand I was surprised about his decision to retire, but on the other hand, if you know Philipp …
Fernando Torres hit his 100th LaLiga goal at the end of the week he announced he is to leave Atletico Madrid.
Torres confirmed he will depart the club, where he made his name as a young striker, when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The 34-year-old, who returned to Atletico in 2015 on an initial loan deal, has been waiting for his 100th LaLiga goal since hitting the net against Las Palmas in January.
And the former Spain international brought up three figures in the 3-0 beating of Levante on Sunday, volleying in a superb finish from Angel Correa s cross to complete the scoring.
100 Fernando Torres is the fifth Atletico player to reach 100+ goals in La Liga history. Myth.
— OptaJose (@OptaJose)
Torres, the fifth Atletico p…
Roberto Firmino has signed a new long-term contract at Liverpool, the Premier League club have announced.
The Brazil international moved to Anfield from Bundesliga club Hoffenheim in 2015 and has established himself as an integral member of Jurgen Klopp s side.
Across all competitions this season, Firmino has 27 goals as part of a formidable forward line alongside Sadio Mane and PFA Player of the Year Mohamed Salah.
Two of those arrived in the Reds thumping 5-2 victory over Roma in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final last Tuesday, with the second leg to come this week in the Italian capital.
Overall, Firmino has 50 goals in 140 Liverpool appearances.
Roberto Firmino agrees terms on new long-term deal:
— Liverpool FC (@L…
Jurgen Klopp s agent has ruled out the prospect of the Liverpool manager replacing Hansi Flick as Germany boss following their surprise World Cup exit.
Kai Havertz s brace, as well as goals from Serge Gnabry and Niclas Fullkrug, ensured Germany secured a 4-2 win over Costa Rica on Thursday, but their efforts were in vain as Japan staged a remarkable comeback to beat Spain and join them in escaping Group E.
Germany s group-stage elimination – their second in as many World Cup tournaments – has led to stern criticism of the side, with some questioning Flick s suitability for the role of head coach.
Former Germany international Dietmar Hamann has called for Flick to depart after overseeing a pathetic campaign in Qatar, and Liverpool boss Klopp – as well as for…
Lionel Messi celebrated his first World Cup knockout stage goal on his 1,000th career appearance by showing appreciation for Argentina s fans as he helped his country reach the quarter-finals in Qatar.
Messi opened the scoring in Argentina s 2-1 win against Australia at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Saturday, with Julian Alvarez doubling the lead before an Enzo Fernandez own goal caused some late nerves.
Only Gabriel Batistuta (10) has scored more World Cup goals for La Albiceleste than Messi s nine, and the captain praised the efforts of travelling fans as his team advanced to face the Netherlands in the last eight.
I am very happy for taking another step forward and achieving another objective, Messi said at a post-match press conference. [Australia] were very stro…
Jose Mourinho refused to rule out a potential return to Real Madrid, but will only think about other clubs after the end of his Chelsea contract.
Reports in the British media have indicated Madrid are planning a bid to lure Mourinho who coached the Spanish side from 2010 to 2013 back to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Madrid boss Rafael Benitez has come under pressure following their 4-0 Clasico defeat to Barcelona and expulsion from the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player.
Mourinho himself has been the subject of intense scrutiny, with Chelsea languishing a lowly 14th in the Premier League table, just two points above the relegation zone.
The Portuguese s contract at Stamford Bridge runs until June 2019.
Asked if he imagined himself coaching …
Fulham have announced that the club has been taken over by Pakistani-American businessman Shahid Khan.
Khan, who made his fortune in the automotive industry and also owns NFL franchise Jacksonville Jaguars, has assumed 100 per cent control of the London club as of Friday.
And, having eradicated all debts in the process of his takeover, Khan has outlined his plans to ensure Fulham can continue to flourish the Premier League.
“Fulham is the perfect club at the perfect time for me. I want to be clear, I do not view myself so much as the owner of Fulham, but a custodian of the club on behalf of its fans, he told the club s official website.
My priority is to ensure the club and Craven Cottage each have a viable and sustainable Premier League future that fans of pre…