Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac urged his side to be more ruthless after they were held 1-1 by RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

Emil Forsberg scored from the spot to equalise for Leipzig after Robert Lewandowski s 199th goal for Bayern had put the visitors ahead.

Bayern are in third place in the Bundesliga table, two points behind leaders Leipzig.

We have to do more with our superiority, Kovac said.

In the end, the result is annoying. We had more chances, played well, but unfortunately two points less than planned.

We played sensationally in the first half, that was the best performance so far. After that, we got ourselves into trouble.

We re pulling the positives out of the game we played a really good game.

8 8 poin…

UEFA reaffirmed its opposition to the founding of breakaway competitions in a meeting with Super League backers A22 Sports on Tuesday.

It was revealed last month that media executive Bernd Reichart was heading up plans for a revival of the Super League, which endured a failed launch in the face of public and media pressure last year.

While nine of the competition s 12 founding clubs withdrew in the face of widespread criticism, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus remain committed to the project.

Reichart, who represented A22 Sports at Tuesday s meeting, told the Financial Times in October there is a lot of sympathy for the Super League.

Following the meeting, however, UEFA declared European football s organisers remain committed to competitions based on o…

Arsenal survived a second-half scare to book their place in the Europa League quarter-finals despite a 1-0 defeat to Olympiacos. 

With a 3-1 cushion from the first leg, Arsenal managed to exorcise the demons from their round-of-32 defeat to the same opponents a little over a year ago, but it was tighter than they would have wanted.

Youssef El-Arabi scored the crucial goal for Olympiacos last season, and he was on target again to put the visitors ahead on the night on Thursday.

However, the introduction of Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard helped steady the hosts, before Ousseynou Ba s red card ended Olympiacos hopes.

4/5 Arsenal have made it to the quarter-finals for the fourth time in their last five Europa League/UEFA Cup campaigns (knocked out at L…

Despite finishing top of Group A, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is preparing for a difficult draw in the Champions League round of 16.

Spanish forward Lucas Perez scored a hat-trick as Arsenal eased past Basel 4-1 in Switzerland on Tuesday.

The comprehensive win and Paris Saint-Germain s surprise draw against Ludogorets ensured Arsenal topped Group A.

Progressing as group winners could still see Arsenal come up against German title holders Bayern Munich or Bayer Leverkusen, while reigning European champions Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are possible opponents depending on Wednesday s result.

Whatever transpires, Wenger is braced for a tough draw as the Premier League outfit seek to advance beyond the last 16 for the first time since 2009-10.

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I don t see why not. We all have our ups and downs in football, Kalac said when asked if Rebic can be a success in his second stint in Serie A. The one thing at Milan that people don t realise, the expectations are so high. It doesn t matter who you play against, they expect you to win. You need to win and supporters expect it. The club is built to win.

Once these players play and train regularly, they work out things together and combinations form. I ve seen many great players come to Milan and not be successful because it s a different expectation. When you re the main man or focal point at a smaller club, it s easier because the team works for you. Whereas at Milan, you need to be part of the parcel in the big cog, but he can be a success.

Rebic will have his first…

Gabriel Barbosa s long wait for a first Serie A goal ended as the Brazil international came off the bench to seal a 1-0 win for Inter at Bologna.

Stefano Pioli s men looked set to miss out on the opportunity to regain fourth place in the top flight as Bologna displayed the type of defensive resilience entirely absent from their 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Napoli at Stadio Renato Dall Ara earlier this month.

But Gabriel – who arrived amid much fanfare from Santos but offered little to back up his famed Gabigol  nickname across  five previous substitute cameos in Italy s top flight – provided a headline-grabbing turn worthy of a forward talent who helped to fire the home nation to gold-medal glory at Rio 2016, alongside Neymar and Gabriel Jesus.

The finish…

Keira Walsh vowed England are determined to honour their injured team-mates and “get the job done” when they face Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final.

This is the furthest the Lionesses have ever advanced in a global showpiece, with Wednesday’s 3-1 semi-final victory over co-hosts Australia assuring them of at least one place higher than the bronze medal achieved eight years ago in Canada.

England have reached this unprecedented stage without Euro 2022-winning captain Leah Williamson, that tournament’s Golden Boot winner Beth Mead, and one of the game’s most creative attackers in Fran Kirby, all of whom were ruled out of this event with knee injuries.

“I think it is difficult for them,” said Walsh, who started every game of the Euros triumph alongsi…

Bournemouth have confirmed Maxim Demin again owns 100 per cent of the Premier League club.

US-based Peak6 Football Holdings bought a 25 per cent stake in Bournemouth three years ago.

But the firm co-founded by Matt Hulsizer, who has been involved at Minnesota Wild has sold the stake back to Demin.

Russian businessman Demin now owns 100 per cent of Bournemouth shares through his company AFCB Enterprises.

Demin arrived at Bournemouth in 2011 and has overseen the club s rise to the Premier League.

Under manager Eddie Howe, the Cherries sit 12th in the top flight.

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Newport County FA Cup hero Padraig Amond will enjoy an unlikely reunion when Premier League champions Manchester City visit Rodney Parade in a David-versus-Goliath last-16 clash on Saturday.

Amond s sweetly struck goal against Middlesbrough to help set up the money-spinning tie followed a coolly dispatched penalty as County saw off Leicester City in round three.

The 30-year-old Irish forward has 18 goals in all competitions this season – making him Newport s main threat as they chase an upset he feels would rank as the biggest shock in the history of the FA Cup .

Amond s route to south Wales comes after stints in England s lower divisions with the likes of Accrington Stanley and Hartlepool United but is far from typical.

Following his breakthrough as a…

Manchester United marked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s appointment as permanent manager with an unconvincing 2-1 victory over Watford on Saturday.

Goals in each half from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial got the Red Devils back to winning ways after losses to Arsenal and Wolves in the Premier League and FA Cup, despite Abdoulaye Doucoure s late strike.

It was a mostly uninspiring performance from United at Old Trafford, but the result moves them back into the top four at the end of a week in which Solskjaer was confirmed as their next full-time boss on a three-year deal.

Doucoure dragged a shot wide from inside the United box as the home side endured a strangely sluggish start in the Manchester sun, but they took the lead 28 minutes in, with Rashford clipping a clev…