Extending on their Premier League title charge, Erling Haaland fired Manchester City to a 2-0 victory against Everton on Saturday lunchtime.

Although Pep Guardiola’s men might have failed to find any real clinical edge for large spells prior to the half-time break, it was the returning Haaland who briefly dragged City to the top of the table.

With Manchester City’s attacking talisman power home on the 71st minute, the Norwegian icon quickly wrapped things up as he produced a slick finish just 14 minutes after his opener.

Although Everton might have largely frustrated the defending champions throughout the first half, Saturday’s guests once again left the Etihad empty-handed.

Still sat one-point adrift of Premier League safety, the Toffees have now …

Pep Guardiola proved to be Real Madrid s nemesis once again as his Barcelona side defeated their expensive Galacticos in both El Clasicos and retained La Liga on the final day of the season.

Guardiola won an historic league, Kings Cup and Champions League treble in his debut season which was always going to be difficult to follow, however, his Barcelona troops continued their excellent brand of exciting football and delivered the league title again.

A record 99 points saw Barcelona crowned league champions ahead of Real and the club also won the European Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup and a first ever World Club championship.

Real had splashed over 250 million euros to take the limelight away from Barcelona but ended up empty-handed as Guardiola masterminded two E…

It will be the start of a new era at Stamford Bridge on Saturday as Chelsea host Sunderland in their first fixture following the departure of manager Jose Mourinho.

The Portuguese guided the team to their first domestic title in 50 years during his first season in charge in 2004-05, successfully defending the trophy the following season.

After successful stints at Inter – where he won the treble – and Real Madrid, Mourinho retook the reins in west London in 2013.

The 52-year-old led Chelsea to the Premier League trophy in 2014-15, but this term they have struggled badly for form, already losing nine top-flight matches – equalling the amount of defeats they suffered in the past two campaigns combined.

It has been a season fraught with controversy for…

Sevilla have completed the signing of Steven N’Zonzi from Stoke City,.

The Europa League winners have paid £7m for the midfielder, who has spent the last three seasons at the Britannia Stadium, having signed from Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2012.

During his time with the Potters, the 26 year old missed just three league games, racking up one hundred and twenty appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring seven goals.

Internationally, he has six caps for France’s U21 but is yet to be recognised at senior level.
He will now get to ply his trade in Europe’s top competition, with Sevilla the first Europa League winners to qualify for the Champions League.

Mark Hughes guided Stoke City to a ninth place finish last season, and they …

Quique Setien is reportedly set to continue as head coach at Barcelona for now.

Following a disappointing end to their chances of winning the third consecutive La Liga title and having seen the trophy pass into the hands of arch-rivals Real Madrid, the Catalan club s hierarchy held an emergency meeting to discuss the immediate future of the team during which president Josep Maria Bartomeu spoke to Setien.

According to , it has been decided that the former Real Betis coach will remain in charge for the time being and oversee the remainder of the 2019/20 season, after which fresh counsels will be taken on the matter. The only possibility of the situation changing would be if Setien himself decides to leave the club sooner than that.

Setien is believed to be hurt b…

Sevilla lead the race to sign Tafekusa Kubo on loan from Real Madrid for next season, according to Spanish radio station Onda Cero (via ).

The 19-year-old Japanese spent 2019/20 on loan at Mallorca, but his 35 La Liga appearances, in which he scored four times and laid on five assists, could help the team avoid relegation as they finished second from the wrong end of the table. He has returned to Madrid and his next step is yet to be decided.

He was reportedly of interest to Real Sociedad, who are looking to fill the position of their own Madrid loanee Martin Odegaard and see Kubo as a like-for-like replacement, while Paris Saint-Germain were said to be keen on a permanent deal for the young attacking midfielder.

But apparently, Sevilla are now in talks with Rea…

French club Montpellier HSC have completed the signing of Turkish forward Hasan Kabze from Russian champions Rubin Kazan.  Kabze, 28, is expected to help fill the void left by Victor Hugo Montano s departure to Rennes.

Kabze started off his career with Bucaspor and left them in 2002 for Dardanelspor. Three years later, he joined Istanbul giants Galatasaray and stayed with them till 2007 before moving north to Russia.

Montpellier, promoted from Ligue 2 in 2008-09, had a fantastic Ligue 1 season last year. They were in the running for the Championship at the beginning and eventually finished a respectable fifth, thereby managing to secure a Europa League spot.

Kabze will wear the No.20 jersey at Montpellier.

[Source:- Montpellier HSC]

…

Mikel Arteta believes Premier League officiating has improved since his “strong” criticism of VAR following Arsenal’s defeat at Newcastle in November.

The Spaniard labelled the decision to allow Anthony Gordon’s goal to stand in a 1-0 loss at St James’ Park as “embarrassing” and a “disgrace”.

Arteta was later charged by the FA for breaking Rule E3.1 – which could have resulted in a ban but was instead cleared in December.

Arsenal now host Newcastle on Saturday looking to keep up the pace in the Premier League title race, as well as bounce back from their 1-0 Champions League last-16 first-leg defeat in Porto on Wednesday.

Asked if he had seen an improvement in officiating and VAR since his post-match rant – which was backed up by an …

Everton F.C. manager Roberto Martinez is hoping Romelu Lukaku stays at Goodison Park next season amid speculation linking him with a summer exit from Chelsea.

The Belgium international, 20, joined Chelsea from Jupiler Pro League side R.S.C. Anderlecht for an initial fee of €12 million, potentially rising to €20 million, in August 2011.

Once tipped as the heir apparent to club legend Didier Drogba, Lukaku now seems increasingly likely to leave West London for pastures new when the transfer window re-opens in the summer.

After netting 17 goals in 35 league appearances for West Bromwich Albion last term, the 20-year-old ace priced at to win the 2014 World Cup Golden Boost award was fancied by many to be the Blues No. 1 striker in 2013/14.

But …

Ivan Rakitic struggled to explain his emotions after Sevilla qualified for the UEFA Europa League final thanks to Stephane M Bia s late goal.

Sevilla looked set to suffer heartbreak on Thursday as they entered stoppage time in the second leg of their last-four tie against Valencia trailing 3-0 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate.

However, M Bia then rose to head home a crucial away goal at the Mestalla and send Unai Emery s men through to a final against Benfica.

Rakitic found it difficult to comprehend what happened in the closing minutes and expects M Bia s goal to go down in club history.

None of us have words to explain what happened, the Croatian midfielder told AS. We work so hard every day and we deserve it, and so do the fans.

I d be lying if I said I…