Pablo Ibanez s gorgeous extra-time volley stunned Athletic Bilbao as Osasuna sealed their spot in the Copa del Rey final with a 1-1 draw at San Mames that secured a 2-1 aggregate win.
Jagoba Arrasate s men only held a slender 1-0 lead from last month s first leg in Pamplona, and for much of the match that looked unlikely to be enough.
Athletic deservedly levelled the aggregate score just after the half-hour, with Inaki Williams diverting Mikel Vesga s flick-on home from close range.
The Ghana international s younger brother Nico Williams seemed destined to put Athletic ahead in the tie during the second half, but the Spain winger wasted two glorious opportunities.
Athletic s profligacy coupled with Sergio Herrera s excellence between the posts ensured the…
Chelsea s dismissal of Graham Potter and decision not to rush into an appointment has generated speculation about their next permanent manager.
The Blues are destined to miss out on the Premier League s top four this season, thus will not qualify for the Champions League via the league.
As a result, there appears a lack of urgency as they look to get back on the right direction after sacking both Potter and Thomas Tuchel this term under new owner Todd Boehly.
TOP STORY – BLUES MULL OVER ENRIQUE, NAGELSMANN AND CONTE
Fabrizio Romano reports Frank Lampard will take over as Chelsea s interim manager, but that ex-Spain boss Luis Enrique is 100 per cent interested in the permanent position.
Enrique has flown into London for talks on the role, while …
Manchester City still hope to sign Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane in the coming days.
The Premier League champions appear likely to add his international team-mate first, with Jack Grealish reportedly close to a move to the Etihad Stadium.
Aston Villa have tabled a contract to keep their star man, but City are prepared to spend big to win his signature.
TOP STORY CITY CLOSE ON GREALISH DEAL
Manchester City are set to complete a £100million move for Jack Grealish in the next few days, according to multiple reports
The Mail says the 25-year-old England international will earn more than £200,000 a week upon joining Pep Guardiola s side.
Though City are expected to cut ties with some veteran players, adding Greali…
Last season s beaten A-League Grand Finalists Melbourne City suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of Adelaide United.
City had started the new campaign with a 1-0 win at Brisbane Roar but Sunday s game turned on the dismissal of Scott Jamieson in the 65th minute for two yellow cards.
A poor challenge on Yaya Dukuly saw the left-back given his marching orders and from the subsequent free-kick Louis D Arrigo pulled the ball back for Tomi Juric to stroke home.
Captain Stefan Mauk doubled Adelaide s lead in the 76th minute as they claimed their first triumph of the 2020-21 season.
Central Coast Mariners have not won more than six games in a season in each of the past six campaigns but now have two wins from two this year after a 2-0 victor…
Mainz attacker Maximilian Beister has signed with A-League outfit Melbourne Victory on loan until the end of the season.
The German, 26, will officially join Victory next week as the club s fifth foreign player.
Victory coach Kevin Muscat talked up the versatility of the former Germany youth international.
We are constantly looking for ways to improve our squad, and we have actively been searching for player who can add depth to our midfield and attacking third, he said.
We have been in contact with Maximilian for some time, and we re thrilled to officially welcome him to the club.
He has proven over a long period of time that he can make an impact in one of the world s toughest leagues, and his versatility allows him to play in midfield and al…
Christophe Galtier has not felt the need to approach Kylian Mbappe about his role in a saga involving Paul Pogba and his brother Mathias.
Mathias last week posted videos online promising to publish great revelations about Paul, his agent and France team-mate Mbappe.
In Mathias Twitter posts, he claimed Paul had sought out a marabout to harm Mbappe with witchcraft.
The lawyers of Juventus midfielder Paul released a statement in response, claiming Mathias comments had followed threats and attempts of extortion by an organised gang against Paul Pogba .
Mbappe has not commented on his unknowing part in the affair, although it was reported he had contacted both men.
Regardless, Galtier, his Paris Saint-Germain coach, is not concerned.
Could th…
Pep Guardiola is keen for Manchester City to keep Bernardo Silva beyond the end of this season, declaring he would like the see the midfielder stay forever .
Guardiola acknowledged Silva was interested in a move to Barcelona last year, but a transfer failed to materialise and the Portugal international stayed with the Premier League champions.
Silva has appeared in 27 of City s 29 league games this term, and he produced arguably his best performance of the campaign in Tuesday s 3-0 Champions League win over Bayern Munich.
While the 28-year-old will likely attract more admiring glances in the next transfer window, Guardiola wants him to stay at the Etihad Stadium for the long term.
With Bernardo, it s not the first season we are together. What he is on a…
Milan s Urby Emanuelson has underlined his desire to nail down a starting berth at left-back with the Italian club this season.
The 27-year-old has failed to regularly secure first-team football at the San Siro since his arrival in January 2011, and spent the latter half of last season on loan with Premier League outfit Fulham.
But he is keen to prove his worth in 2013-14 by seeing off competition from fellow full-back Kevin Constant for a place in Massimiliano Allegri s team.
It is important for me that I play this season, he said. I am back at Milan and the coach has used me as a left-back so far.
I think that would be my position for this season. There is a good rivalry between Kevin Constant and myself for the full-back spot, but Kevin is a friend, we talk a …
Celtic manager Neil Lennon believes his side s UEFA Champions League group draw is simultaneously the best and worst possible outcome.
The Scottish club have been drawn alongside Barcelona, Milan and Ajax in Group H, with their opponents boasting a combined total of 15 victories in the competition s history between them.
And, although Lennon believes the fixtures have plenty of prestige, he admits Celtic s chances of progression are threatened by the standing of their opponents.
I think it’s the best and the worst of draws, he told Sky Sports News. In terms of glamour, I don’t think it gets any better. In terms of football, it’s going to be hugely difficult.
They are three great clubs with fantastic pedigree and the fans can look forward to three more great…
Nice returned to the top of Ligue 1 after Valentin Eysseric s strike against his former club sealed a 1-0 win at Saint-Etienne.
Eysseric, who spent last season on loan with Saint-Etienne, scored the winner on 63 minutes, firing a left-footed strike into the top corner after Jordan Veretout had lost possession in a dangerous area for the hosts.
Nice s victory which came without the suspended Mario Balotelli and injured captain Paul Baysse sees them restore a three-point gap over Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain at the top after both of their title rivals had won their games.
Lucien Favre s men had suffered their first league defeat of the season away to Caen last time out and avoided losing two straight league games – something they have not done since April 2015.…