News - Archive

Saint-Etienne host Nice in Ligue 1 on Saturday, as the chasing pack seek to apply pressure in the race for Champions League qualification.

All the focus so far this season has been on the heavyweight clubs scrapping it out at the very top of the Ligue 1 table.

Big-spending Paris Saint-Germain occupy top spot, three points clear of Lyon, with Marseille a further five points back in third spot.

Defeat to PSG last weekend saw Marseille's hopes of staying in the title race take a major hit, and Elie Baup's attention may now turn to consolidating third place and the prize of a route into UEFA's elite club competition.

Struggling Augsburg will rely on durable striker Sascha Moelders to make the difference when they meet Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga.

Unfancied Augsburg are a lowly 16th on the table, and may yet fail in their bid to secure top-flight football for a third successive season.

Markus Weinzierl's team occupy the relegation playoff berth, sitting just two points clear of 17th and the automatic drop.

There remains a hefty margin of nine points between Augsburg and the confirmed safety of 15th, but they can at least take heart from a battling 2-1 win at home to Hoffenheim last week.

Pavel Nedved believes Juventus boss Antonio Conte has what it takes to follow in the footsteps of Marcello Lippi and Fabio Capello.

Conte guided Juventus to the Serie A title in his first season in charge of the Bianconeri, while also leading them to the Coppa Italia final.

The Turin giants are now enjoying yet another successful campaign, much to the delight of director Nedved, who reckons Conte can become a coaching great.

"Conte's a true star. I really like his way of thinking. He manages to get his humility across and that leads to successful results," the former Juventus star told Sky Sport Italia.

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero believes his side can still win the Premier League title despite sitting 12 points behind Manchester United.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men are in pole position ahead of the season run-in with 11 games remaining but the Argentine insists it would be wrong to write off Roberto Mancini's side and claims his team-mates will 'fight to the end'.

"Can we still win the title? I'd like to believe so," Aguero told reporters. 

"We can't give up, even though it looks tough. I'd still rather think we can and we'll fight to the end, I can guarantee that.

Radamel Falcao was delighted after helping Atletico Madrid reach their second Copa del Rey final in four years.

Falcao's 29th-minute strike against Sevilla was crucial as it sent the away side into a 4-1 aggregate lead, before they eventually prevailed 4-3 on aggregate.

"Being in the final is very important for Atletico, (so) we are pleased and we are proud," Falcao said after the match.

"The end of the match was ugly, but it doesn't matter," he added, referring to Gary Medel's incensed reaction to being red-carded as the match drifted away from the Andalusians.

David Beckham says he feels 'at home' in France after making his full debut for Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night.

Beckham played 85 minutes of PSG's 2-0 Coupe de France win over Marseille at Parc des Princes, and the former England captain was full of praise for the way his team-mates have helped him settle.

"It's always good to start a match," he said. "It was a pleasure. I feel at home, I'm playing with super players in a super team. I felt good, but I cannot always play 85 minutes immediately."

Beckham was harshly booked shortly before being substituted after a confrontation with Jordan Ayew, but he insists such incidents are par for the course in big games.

Deportes Iquique have stunned Ecuadorian league leaders Emelec 2-0 to claim their maiden Copa Libertadores victory.

Alvaro Ormeno was the match-winner for Iquique, setting up both goals as the Chilean club scored twice in the opening 22 minutes and then held on after half-time as Emelec poured forward, hoping for a comeback.

Having lost both their Copa Libertadores group-stage matches, Iquique desperately needed a victory to keep their hopes of progression alive in the continental tournament but their form did not bode well with four straight defeats heading into Wednesday's encounter.