Cole Palmer became the Premier League’s joint-leading scorer this season as his four goals helped Chelsea crush hapless Everton 6-0 at Stamford Bridge.
The former Manchester City player now has 20 for the campaign and dismantled Sean Dyche’s side almost single-handedly, netting a hat-trick inside the first 29 minutes to breathe genuine momentum into his team’s bid to qualify for Europe.
This was as complete a first half as Chelsea have managed under Mauricio Pochettino, displaying a clinical edge in front of goal that made the insipid attacking displays of earlier in the season feel like a distant memory.
A night to remember for Cole Palmer and Chelsea!
— Premier League (@premierleague)
It was also a night for individuals. Moises Caiced…
Having already suffered at the hands of Real Sociedad this season, La Liga leaders Real Madrid will be wary at the Santiago Bernabeu.
La Liga leaders Real Madrid will be keen on revenge when they take on Real Sociedad in Spain s capital on Saturday, while Valencia face a tough trip to Malaga.
Sociedad stunned Carlo Ancelotti s side 4-2 in San Sebastian in just the second round of the 2014-15 season the first of two consecutive defeats for the capital club as they lost 2-1 to cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid a fortnight later.
Real responded with a 22-match winning run in all competitions, helping them to the top of La Liga, but have been criticised in the first month of 2015 for a perceived lack of form.
Having lost a friendly to Milan before the Spanish…
Jorginho and Roberto Mancini could cap a golden year for Italy by landing UEFA honours after both were shortlisted for top awards on Thursday, though Manchester City duo Kevin De Bruyne and Pep Guardiola could spoil the Azzurri s party.
Azzurri midfielder Jorginho won the Champions League with Chelsea and followed that by helping his country to Euro 2020 glory, under the leadership of coach Mancini.
Jorginho, 29, is joined on the three-man shortlist for UEFA Men s Player of the Year by Chelsea team-mate N Golo Kante, a standout in the Champions League final, and by City playmaker De Bruyne.
Kante played for France at Euro 2020 and De Bruyne featured for Belgium, but neither side made the progress many anticipated, with Les Bleus eliminated in the last 16 and th…
Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen was bemused by FIFA s decision to ban several European teams from wearing the OneLove armband – an anti-discriminatory symbol – at the World Cup.
The OneLove campaign, which promotes inclusion and sends a message against discrimination of any kind , had grown in significance ahead of the tournament in Qatar, partly due to the country s criminalisation of homosexuality.
Belgium were one of seven European teams to back the initiative, which involved captains wearing a special OneLove armband that features a multi-coloured heart.
But after discussions between FIFA and an alliance of football associations – England, Wales, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland and the Netherlands – a joint statement was released on Monday conf…
Hamburg midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has said that his return to the Bundesliga club should not be perceived as special.
The Netherlands international returned to the club after two seasons in London with Tottenham, in a 13-million-euro deal earlier this off-season.
After spending three years with Rothosen between 2005 and 2008, some supporters have labelled the 29-year-old as the returning prodigal son , a tag he is keen to shake off.
I am not a saviour. I know that people expect many miracles from me, but I cannot make water run, van der Vaart told Bild am Sonntag.
(I have come) to play good football and to improve the quality of the team. Dortmund has led the way. They were away from the top four years (ago), and now? (They are) twice champions.<…
Dynamo Kiev head coach Yuri Semin is relishing his side s opening UEFA Champions League Group A clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
The sides will lock horns for the third time in Europe, with their last meeting in Europe s elite competition coming in 1994.
Semin is well aware of the threat posed by PSG s expensively assembled squad, and believes should his side come away from the Parc de Princes with a draw, it will be a point well earned.
If I remember, we played PSG twice. The first time in 1994 in the Champions League and we lost, he said.
But in 2009, we took our revenge in the Europa League. So this third confrontation will be difficult. It will be hard to predict who will win. We are really ready to play this game.
Three years ag…
Uruguayan defender Diego Godin has put an end to speculation surrounding his future after agreeing a new four-year deal at Atletico Madrid, the Spanish club announced on Thursday.
Premier League side Manchester City were reportedly among the frontrunners for the centre-back s signature, but on the back of Nicolas Otamendi heading to the Etihad Stadium, Godin has pledged his future to Atletico.
The former Villarreal star joined Atletico for a reported for a reported €12 million in August 2010 and has gone on to play over 200 times for them in all competitions.
Since his arrival at the Vicente Calderon, Godin has won no less than six trophies, including the 2013-14 La Liga title in which he and centre-back partner Miranda played a crucial role.
Brazilian …
Nice striker Mario Balotelli believes he deserved a recall to the Italy squad for the friendlies with Argentina and England.
The 27-year-old was overlooked by Luigi Di Biagio despite scoring 14 goals in 19 starts in Ligue 1 this season, with youngsters Federico Chiesa and Patrick Cutrone preferred alongside Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne.
Italy interim boss Di Biagio confirmed he would continue to monitor Balotelli s form with a view to handing him a call-up this year for the first time since the 2014 World Cup finals.
The former Liverpool forward admits he had been hoping to be given a chance this month, however.
I was hoping for it, he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. I thought I deserved it.
14 Mario Balotelli is the player who has scored …
Alexis Saelemaekers is delighted to have pledged his long-term future to Milan, after penning a five-year contract with the Rossoneri.
Saelemaerkers joined Milan from Anderlecht, initially on loan, in January 2020.
Since then, he has made 52 appearances in Serie A, starting 38 times and helping Milan to 35 victories (only Franck Kessie, Theo Hernandez and Gianluigi Donnarumma have been involved in more league wins in that timeframe).
He has created 44 chances, providing six league assists and scoring three goals.
That form has seen him rewarded with a new deal, tying him to the San Siro until June 2026.
I m happy to have grown with this team, Belgium international Saelemaekers told Milan s official website, before expanding on his official Ins…
Real Madrid have already secured their 36th LaLiga title but head coach Carlo Ancelotti is keen to make the most of the remaining games in the build-up to next month s Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund.
Madrid are attempting to win a third trophy this season, having also lifted the Supercopa de Espana in January, and Ancelotti says Tuesday s home match against mid-table Alaves will be a big part of their preparations.
We have to take advantage of these games in order to build some momentum, Ancelotti told reporters on Monday following Madrid s 4-0 victory at Granada on Saturday.
Those who were rested against Granada will play tomorrow. We ll use it to get into a rhythm and good motivation the aim is for the whole squad to be at full strength.