Shortly before the start of the 2019-20 Ligue 1 season, Olympique Lyon looked like bonafide title contenders. Despite being a few echelons below PSG, the Lyonnais side appeared as the lone team capable of putting up a fight with Les Parisiens for the league title.

Fast forward a few months, and there’s no other way to label Lyon’s current season but “disappointing”. The Ligue 1 giants, who endured years of dominance in the top-flight during the beginning of the decade, have now been left as an afterthought in a league that’s once again dominated by the Paris-based club. And as if things couldn’t get any tougher, they will have to endure the rest of the season without their star forward, Memphis Depay.

The former PSV and Manchester United winger suffered a gr…

Verdict: France to Win Both Teams to Score

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The World Cup 2018 is nearing its end and the excitement slowly builds with four countries remaining in the hunt for the coveted trophy.

One of the two semi-final matches is bringing a neighbouring derby between France and Belgium who are hitting top gear just in time to promise a scintillating match at Saint-Petersburg Arena.

France

One of the pre-tournament favourites to win the World Cup, France has emerged as the side most likely to lift the trophy for the first time in last two decades. Didier Deschamps’ men were off to a slow start in Russia, never quite hitting the top gear to maximise the use of incredible attacking potential they have at disposal.

Les Bleus …

(GSM) Roberto Mancini is not satisfied with his team, despite Manchester City s star struck squad.

A new defensive midifielder is a priority for the Italian manager. Patrick Vieira was already signed earlier this month but Mancini keeps on the lookout for more competitors for Dutch international Nigel de Jong.

I need players, Mancini told La Gazzetta dello Sport. I hope that Vieira will be fit soon and perhaps Real Madrid will give me Fernando Gago.

Maybe Milan will give me Mathieu Flamini

Real s Argentina international midfielder Gago has found regular action limited with the Spanish giants and has been linked with a January switch.

Former Arsenal player Flamini has failed to become a regular starter since he joined Milan in 2008 and is kee…

A late goal from Aldo Paniagua led Paraguay to a 2-1 win over hosts Egypt at the 2009 Under-20 World Championships.

Egypt confidently began this match after their opening game win over Trinidad and Tobago, but soon suffered a first blow when Federico Santander put the Paraguayans in the lead in the 27th minute.

Paraguay defender Ronald Huth conceded a red card in the 37th minute however, and Afroto leveled the score from the resulting free kick one minute later.

But the South Americans would have the final say at Cairo International Stadium, as Paniagua found the target for 2-1 in the fourth minute of extra time.

Paraguay share the Group A lead with Italy, who beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 earlier on Monday. Egypt are now in third place and face a tough c…

Morgan Schneiderlin has ended his Manchester United exile by sealing a £24million switch to Premier League rivals Everton.

France midfielder Schneiderlin was unable to break into Jose Mourinho s first-team plans at Old Trafford, playing just 11 minutes in the Premier League across three last-gasp substitute appearances.

Signed from Southampton in July 2015, United have allowed Schneiderlin to leave for an initial £20million, with Everton signing the 27-year-old to a four-and-a-half-year deal.

He is the second player to join Ronald Koeman s side this month, following former Charlton youngster Ademola Lookman in moving to Goodison Park, and linking up with Koeman again after they worked together at Southampton.

Mourinho said of his impending exit this w…

Thierry Henry has spoken to Egypt over the prospect of becoming their next head coach, according to an agent involved in the talks.

Nader El-Sayed, the former Zamalek goalkeeper who now works as an agent and in sports marketing, says he spoke with Henry s representative and Egyptian Football Association (EFA) board member Hazem Emam in London.

El-Sayed claims the former Arsenal star is waiting to learn more of the EFAs plans for developing the team before deciding whether to take up the offer.

We had a meeting with Thierry Henry s agent in London, and Hazem Emam was present. Henry is waiting for the EFA s project for the team before deciding on the offer, apart from the economic aspect,  he told Egyptian radio, as quoted by King Fut.

Henry has been wo…

Kevin De Bruyne struck a stunning equaliser as Manchester City claimed a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.

The Belgian cancelled out an equally brilliant first-half effort from Vinicius Junior when he fired past international team-mate Thibaut Courtois from the edge of the area after 67 minutes in the Bernabeu Stadium.

Treble-chasing City had dominated a lot of the early play but holders Real drew first blood in a tense battle when Vinicius lashed home from 25 yards after 36 minutes.

KDB doing what he does best

— Professional Footballers’ Association (@PFA)

The result leaves the tie delicately poised ahead of next week’s return clash at the Etihad Stadium.

City came into the fixt…

Pep Guardiola insists all thoughts of Manchester City’s Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid have been put to one side ahead of Sunday’s trip to Everton.

City will hope to claim a place in the final when they host the Spanish giants next Wednesday after drawing 1-1 in the first leg of their last-four tie on Tuesday.

Yet the Premier League leaders have little opportunity to ease up beforehand as they face the relegation-threatened Toffees in a clash crucial at both ends of the table.

Everton

— Manchester City (@ManCity)

Guardiola said at a press conference: “My thought is just Everton – no more than that.

“It’s 11 months working for the Premier League. We don’t have much time to Madrid because we play Sunday –…

Yaya Toure is in line to win a third straight African Footballer of the Year award after being named on this year s three-man shortlist.

The Manchester City midfielder collected the prize in 2011 and 2012, and will hope to beat off competition from Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba and Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel to land a record-equalling third award in a row.

Should Toure win the honour, he will join Ghanaian Abedi Pele and Cameroon s Samuel Eto o as only the third man to have been named Africa s leading player on three consecutive occasions.

Toure, Drogba and Mikel made the grade after the original list of 10 players was trimmed on Wednesday.

National team coaches from the Confederation of African Football will cast votes to decide the winner, which will…

Bayern to bid for Sterling

German daily newspaper that Bayern Munich are weighing up summer bid for Liverpool star Raheem Sterling.

The Bavarians cannot be entirely satisfied with the outcome of the current season, and coach Pep Guardiola is eager to reinforce the squad in the summer.

And with Franck Ribery missing a large chunk of the campaign through injury, the boss hopes to recruit Raheem Sterling from Liverpool.

The England hotshot has reportedly expressed his desire to leave the Reds this summer, meaning he could be made available for sale.

But, seeing as Sterling has another two years left on his current deal, it is clear he will not be signed on the cheap.

The 20-year-old has been heavily criticized for the lack of loyalty shown …