Griezmann doubt for Betis clash with hamstring strain

Central Coast Mariners moved up to second in the A-League following an emphatic 3-0 win over Newcastle Jets on Saturday.

First-half goals from Anthony Caceres, Daniel McBreen and Matt Simon wrapped up a convincing triumph for the defending champions on home soil.

The result means Newcastle have failed to win a league fixture in Gosford since January 12, 2008, losing six matches and drawing three in that period.

Caceres set the tone after 13 minutes, unleashing an unstoppable 25-yard drive that flew past goalkeeper Mark Birighitti.

The Mariners doubled their lead after 32 minutes when McBreen seized possession on the edge of the area and arrowed a left-footed shot into the back of the net.

And the victory was complete when Matt Simon headed home Mile Sterjov…

AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli feels his side are ready to turn the tide in the Derby della Madonnina against city rivals Inter.

Both Milan clubs have opened the new season with three straight wins to sit top of Serie A, two points ahead of defending champions Napoli, in the build up to Saturday’s clash at the San Siro.

The Nerazzurri won the four derbies played in 2023 across all competitions – with their rivals failing to score a goal in any of the games, including both legs of the Champions League semi-final.

This is Milan

— AC Milan (@acmilan)

Pioli, though, is not bothered by historical statistics.

“I am not interested past derbies – Saturday’s one counts. It is an opportunity to exploit and I want my players to think th…

Borussia Dortmund have dismissed rumours linking defender Mats Hummels with a potential move away from the club.

Hummels joined Dortmund from Bayern Munich in 2009 and has become an integral member of the first team at Signal Iduna Park.

The Germany international has reportedly attracted interest from the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona.

Reports had indicated that Dortmund would be willing to let Hummels leave for a fee of €35million.

However, the club s chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has rejected those suggestions.

That is absolute nonsense, Watzke told German TV station ZDF.

This is a complete non-story. There s no truth whatsoever in these rumours.

Hummels, who has won two Bundesliga titles with Jurgen Klopp s side, has a con…

Kyle Walker claims Manchester City consider themselves back at the bottom of the mountain again this season.

City scaled the heights last term as they became only the second English team to win the treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup.

Now, as City prepare to begin the defence of their European crown at home to Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday, Walker has revealed manager Pep Guardiola wants them to prove themselves all over again.

WALKER We’re at a massive club for a reason as the manager believes in us and and we’re all great players. It comes from within to keep going the hunger is still definitely in the dressing room from the players and the manager. He [Pep] still wants to win more, won t settle…

— Manchester City (@ManCity)

Crystal Palace skipper Mile Jedinak has predictably been handed the captain s armband for Australia s FIFA World Cup campaign.

Australia coach Ange Postecoglou announced on Wednesday that Jedinak would lead his relatively inexperienced side in Brazil.

Postecoglou, who was only installed as Australia s coach in October after Holger Osieck was sacked, has embarked on a rebuilding program ahead of Brazil 2014 to develop the Socceroos for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup and the 2018 World Cup.

And with Jedinak one of only six players with more than 30 caps for Australia and the sole Australian who regularly plays for a club in a top European league the defensive midfielder was the obvious choice to captain the Socceroos at the World Cup finals.

Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano w…

Barcelona coach Xavi says midfield duo Gavi and Pedri are better than he and fellow Blaugrana legend Andres Iniesta were at 20 years of age.

Gavi and Pedri each started all four of Spain s games at the World Cup in Qatar, having also assumed key roles for LaLiga leaders Barca since Xavi took charge last year.

The duo s incisive passing and telepathic relationship has attracted comparisons to Xavi s own partnership with Iniesta, with that pair experiencing remarkable success at club and international level.

However, when speaking to Barca s media channels on Tuesday, Xavi said the Blaugrana s current midfield duo had developed quicker than their illustrious predecessors.

Me at 20 years old and Andres at 20 years old were not at the level of Pedri or Gavi…

Toby Alderweireld says Tottenham are not afraid of the prospect of an intimidating atmosphere in Tuesday s Champions League tie against CSKA Moscow.

Mauricio Pochettino s side travel to Russia for their second Group E game, looking to bounce back from a 2-1 home defeat to Monaco on matchday one.

Much of the pre-match talk has been dominated by concerns over supporter safety, with Spurs the first English side to visit Russia since violent clashes between rival fans during Euro 2016.

Visiting fans have been advised not to wear club colours outside Arena CSKA, in a bid to make them less of a target for would-be troublemakers.

But Alderweireld, who faced Spartak Moscow with Ajax in a Europa League last-16 clash in the 2010-11 season, says his side are fully p…

Paul Lambert hopes to break an unwanted six-and-a-half-year record this weekend as Aston Villa aim for their third consecutive home win.

Villa have not achieved that feat since October 2007, and manager Lambert is determined for Sunday s visit of Stoke City to yield another three points following victories over Norwich City and Chelsea.

The Midlanders have risen to 10th in the Premier League table, above Stoke on goal difference, and Lambert feels his team are well prepared to move clear of their opponents this weekend.

I find it a staggering stat, the Scot told Villa s official website. To not have won three on the bounce for seven years is incredible, it s far too long.

We are playing well enough to do it. We are at home obviously and the last two matches at …

The first two CAF Champions League quarter-finals are finely poised with only one goal scored in Friday s pair of first-leg matches.

ES Setif earned a tight 1-0 victory at home to defending champions Wydad Casablanca, while Horoya and Al Ahly drew 0-0.

Isla Diomande scored his first goal for ES Setif in the 16th minute, the defender bundling home from six yards to record what proved the winner for the 2014 champions.

Wydad will have a chance to turn the tie around in the second leg but the holders were unable to find a way through a determined ES Setif back line, failing to record a shot on target.

STATS | Check out the full-time stats! Which team had the better overall performance?

— CAF (@CAF_Online)

Al Ahly reached the final las…

that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been given the green light to sign a new left back when the transfer window reopens next month.

Any potential new addition in that position could spell the end of Gael Clichy’s time with the Citizens, with the France international falling out of favour under the former Barcelona boss.

The thirty-one year old has played in less than half of his sides Premier League games so far this season and also made just fourteen appearances as they finished fourth last term.

Since signing from Arsenal in the summer of 2011, he has racked up one hundred and seventy-nine outings in all competitions with his one and only goal for City coming in a 3-0 win at Southampton two years ago.

He was part of the squads that w…