Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta has announced he will seek a return to the role and stand for election next month.

Laporta spent seven years as Barca s president between 2003 and 2010 the club winning four Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League on two occasions during that period.

And the Catalan politician is now in the running to succeed Josep Maria Bartomeu, who is standing for re-election on July 18.

In a video announcing his candidacy, Laporta said: As you know, I will be a candidate ahead of Barcelona presidency elections. I am doing it to make Barcelona a club for everyone. I have to say that I feel more prepared than ever to be the president of this club.

I have more experience, I have my faults too as you know, but I have the s…

Eden Hazard knows he must shine in matches like Chelsea s Champions League last-16 showdown with Barcelona on Tuesday if he wants to be considered in the same bracket as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Hazard starred in Chelsea s 2014-15 and 2016-17 title-winning campaigns in the Premier League, but there is a lingering sense that Europe s top competition is yet to see the best of the Belgium playmaker.

Speaking at a news conference ahead of Barcelona s visit to Stamford Bridge, Hazard reminded reporters of his fine displays in the group stage against Atletico Madrid this season, but knows where he stands in the overall pecking order.

I played again Messi once in the World Cup against Argentina and we lost the game. I hope tomorrow is going to be different,…

Roberto Di Matteo has urged Chelsea to stick with Jose Mourinho as he feels the Portuguese remains one of the best managers in the world.

Mourinho s position has come under fire following the reigning champions underwhelming start to the season, with Chelsea sitting 16th in the Premier League table after 12 games.

Nevertheless, Di Matteo believes stability is vital for Chelsea and has reminded Mourinho s critics of his success in 2014-15.

I really hope Mourinho is going to stay long term, stability is so important for the club, Di Matteo was quoted as saying by London Evening Standard. 

We have short memories but only four months ago we won the double.

Chelsea have been so successful for the last 15 years and it can happen that you have a bad …

Gennaro Gattuso feels AC Milan must play a perfect game to cause a Serie A upset away to leaders Juventus on Saturday.

Juve have built a two-point lead from Napoli at the top of the table as they seek a seventh straight Scudetto.

Massimiliano Allegri s men have lost once in Serie A at home since 2015 and Gattuso is under no illusions about the task facing Milan, who head to Turin with five straight league wins under their belts.

Juventus are a great team, unbeatable for the last six years, Gattuso told reporters on Friday. 

I am confident we will play a great game tomorrow and that Juve will have a hard time against us. 

We have to be humble and respect our opponents who are stronger than us. We must play as a team. There s a lot at stake a…

Manchester United finally enjoyed away-day success as Anthony Martial s 43rd-minute penalty earned an unconvincing 1-0 win over Partizan Belgrade, lifting Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s men to the top of Group L in the Europa League.

Prior to Thursday s contest in Serbia, United had gone 11 matches without an away win in all competitions their worst such run in 40 years since beating Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League back in March.

Yet the Red Devils travelling support were finally given reason to celebrate again as a spot-kick from Martial making his first start since August 24 following injury was complemented by the club s third clean sheet in as many Europa League matches this term.

United s overall performance was far from impressive and a lack of creati…

Tottenham are out of the Europa Conference League, with UEFA awarding Rennes a 3-0 victory after the Premier League club were unable to play their final group-stage game due to a number of COVID-19 cases.

Spurs were scheduled to host Rennes on December 9, but five staff members and eight players tested positive for COVID-19 and the game did not take place.

The outbreak in the Spurs camp also forced the postponement of their Premier League clash with Brighton and Hove Albion, while last week s scheduled meeting with Leicester City was then called off due to an outbreak in the Foxes camp.

Antonio Conte s side returned to action on Sunday with a 2-2 draw against Liverpool.

The points are shared.

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial)

Wit…

France head coach Didier Deschamps hailed crucial Karim Benzema after the star forward guided Les Bleus to Nations League glory.

Benzema scored a stunning equaliser as world champions France came from behind to beat Spain 2-1 in Sunday s final in Milan.

After Mikel Oyarzabal broke the deadlock, Benzema struck moments later in sublime fashion to restore parity before Kylian Mbappe settled the contest 10 minutes from the end.

Benzema ended the Nations League Finals as the joint leading scorer alongside Mbappe and Spain s Ferran Torres to cap a particularly pleasing campaign for the Real Madrid talisman, who had spent more than five years in international exile before returning ahead of Euro 2020.

…

Zwischen 2003 und 2009 spielte Cristiano Ronaldo insgesamt 196 Mal für Manchester United. Am Dienstag kehrt der Portugiese erstmals für ein Pflichtspiel ins Old Trafford zurück.

Manchester. Sir Alex Ferguson warnt seine Spieler davor, ihren Fokus alleine auf Cristiano Ronaldo zu richten. Stattdessen ist seinem Team durchaus bewusst, dass Real Madrid seit Jahren ein Achtelfinal-Trauma in der Champions-League verfolgt.
Natürlich wird er uns Probleme bereiten, aber wir versuchen diese möglichst gering zu halten. Was erwarten Sie, wenn Sie gegen die Mannschaft von Cristiano Ronaldo spielen , sagte der Coach auf der Pressekonferenz zum Achtelfinal-Rückspiel in der Champions League am Dienstag. Ronaldo erzielt im Hinspiel den 1:1-Ausgleichstreffer.
Es werden Tore fallen
Bei…

Stefan Radu s agent has denied reports that Manchester City have placed a bid for the Lazio defender.

There is no 12 million-pound Manchester City offer for Stefan Radu, Victor Becali told Radiosei.

I also read these stories of a proposal for Stefan, but I can comfortably deny all of it. City have not requested Radu and the lad is very happy in Rome.

If something like this were to happen, clearly the importance of the club in question would force Lazio to evaluate their options.

It would be down to Lazio, but as things stand it s all idle chatter.

Romanian Radu played 23 Serie A games for Lazio last season, scoring one goal. The 26-year-old has been with the club since 2008 after joining from Dinamo Bucharest.

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Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has defended his BBC strikeforce of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo after comments made by midfielder Toni Kroos following the Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid.

Zidane s men beat Atletico 3-0 in the first leg of their semi-final tie on Tuesday, with Kroos saying after the match that his side s impressive dominance had come due to four midfielders playing on the pitch, Isco having started in place of the injured Gareth Bale.

But the Madrid head coach, whose side face already-relegated Granada at Los Carmenes on Saturday before the second leg against Diego Simeone s men next Wednesday, feels his BBC attackers are all world-class players who benefit the team when played together.

Zidane insisted he disag…