AZ are on the verge of booking a second UEFA Europa League quarter-final in three years when they face Anzhi in Russia on Thursday.
The Eredivisie side hold a 1-0 lead going into the second leg of their round-of-16 clash and are looking to extend their unbeaten run in the competition to 10 games.
Dick Advocaat s men topped Group L as they came through the first stage courtesy of wins against Shakhter Karagandy and Maccabi Haifa, as well as two draws against PAOK.
Having beaten Slovan Liberec over two legs in the last round, they now stand on the brink of a place in the last eight of the competition again after their run in 2011-12, although Advocaat will have to watch from the stands as he serves a one-game ban.
The 66-year-old was ordered from the dugout during …
Chelsea forward Eden Hazard s dribbling technique is similar to that of Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi, according to Belgium boss Roberto Martinez.
After a dismal previous campaign, Hazard is again showing the form that won him the 2014-15 PFA Players Player of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Season awards.
The 26-year-old produced a sublime individual goal as Chelsea thumped Arsenal 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, dribbling from inside his own half before beating Petr Cech.
Martinez feels the 3-4-3 formation favoured by Antonio Conte has brought the best out of Hazard and likened his dribbling ability to that of five-time Ballon d Or winner Messi.
What he does is quite unique. It s that acceleration and stopping and standing still…
Paulo Dybala lauded Massimiliano Allegri s role in his development after signing a contract tying him to Juventus until 2022 on Tuesday.
Dybala joined from Palermo in 2015 and has established himself as one of Europe s leading forwards, evidenced in his exquisite double in the 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg victory over Barcelona on Tuesday.
This season the 23-year-old has been deployed in a freer role behind main striker Gonzalo Higuain, and he has enjoyed how Allegri has managed the early stages of his time in Turin.
This week is filled with very strong feelings and emotions, I m very happy for what I ve done so far, Dybala, who has ended speculation linking him with Barca and Real Madrid by extending his contract, told Juve s official website.
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Looking to lay down another marker on Saturday afternoon, Manchester City will welcome a struggling Southampton to the Etihad.
Manchester City
Starting with the hosts, putting in another rampant display earlier in the week while on Champions League duties, Manchester City have their sights set on making real history this season. Eventually cruising their way to a 5-0 romp at home against Copenhagen, Pep Guardiola’s superstars should find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. While the former Barcelona boss might still find his side sat one-point adrift of Arsenal and climbing to the top of the table, the defending champions are tipped as a landslide pick to defend their crown this time around. Last seen on top-flight duties pick…
Real Sociedad have confirmed midfielder Martin Odegaard has been recalled by Real Madrid ahead of the new LaLiga season.
Odegaard joined Sociedad last year on a deal that ran for two seasons, although the second had to be ratified this year due to Spanish football regulations.
It was reported by ESPN that Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane decided he wanted the player at his disposal for 2020-21 following their Champions League exit at the hands of Manchester City.
Sociedad announced on Wednesday that the Norway star will be heading back to the Santiago Bernabeu after an unforgettable season in the Basque country.
His goals, his football, his character, his effort and his humility have ensured Martin will be remembered with immense affection by all the Re…
According to Italian outlet Tuttosport (via ), Barcelona are considering whether to try and move for Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi to replace Xavi Hernandez as their head coach.
Xavi has already announced his departure from the club where he spent the majority of his extremely successful playing career at the end of the season, due to vast pressure that comes with the job. The Catalans are therefore forced to search for a suitable replacement, and the names that have been mentioned in that aspect are Thomas Tuchel, whose departure from Bayern Munich has also been announced, Hansi Flick, whose most recent job was coaching the German national side, and Brighton and Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi. And it appears Inzaghi is the latest one to come into the equation.
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Real Madrid s Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is being chased by Bundesliga side Schalke 04, according to claims in German tabloid Bild on Thursday.
The 27-year-old Holland star has struggled for first-team football since joining Real in August 2008 from Hamburg and is reported to be keen to transfer to last season s runners-up.
Schalke 04 is a super club. I have had excellent feedback about the club from (ex-Real team-mate and Schalke striker) Raul, Van der Vaart told Bild.
The Dutchman is under contract with Real until 2013 and is estimated to be worth more than 10 million euros on the transfer market.
But I really want to impose myself at Real Madrid, he warned as he will compete with Germany international Mezut Ozil for a first-team place.
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has played down Belgium s chances at the FIFA World Cup amid talk they could win the tournament.
Belgium have been drawn alongside Russia, South Korea and Algeria in Group H at the upcoming tournament in Brazil.
With coach Marc Wilmots able to call upon the likes of captain Vincent Kompany, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, many see Belgium as dark horses at the showpiece event.
But Mignolet, who is set to be understudy to Thibaut Courtois, told FIFA.com he remains cautious about his country s chances.
The first objective was to qualify, said the 26-year-old, who has earned 15 international caps since making his debut against Austria in 2011.
It s been a long time since that happened and we re delighted to be making the t…
Joan Laporta has told Barcelona fans to keep believing as they head into El Clasico on Sunday looking to hit back from a midweek Champions League disappointment.
A 3-3 draw with Inter on Wednesday was a blow to Barca s hopes of reaching the round of 16, but a win against Real Madrid in one of the most anticipated fixtures in world football would be a perfect response.
The fierce rivals head into the match level on points, with the Catalan giants top of LaLiga by virtue of their superior goal difference.
Barca president Laporta urged supporters to maintain their faith in Xavi and his players, telling BarcaTV: Keep believing. We have a very competitive team, with very good players who are going to bring you a lot of joy.
Stick behind Xavi, he needs your wa…
According to Sky Sports, Olympique Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas said he wants the future of Nabil Fekir sorted out soon, before the holidays presumably before Christmas.
Fekir was very close to a move to Liverpool early in the summer transfer window. The fee had been agreed and the promotional interview recorded, only for the deal to fall through in the eleventh hour, reportedly because of a failed medical.
The France international suffered an ACL rupture in April 2016 which made him miss eight months of football. Since then, he has injured the same knee twice more, and Liverpool s medical team apparently weren t satisfied with what they saw, at least not enough to endorse the club s decision to pay over £50million for his services.
However, there are repo…