Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez disputed that his team's performances are not as good as last season, although he acknowledged Real Madrid are in better form ahead of Sunday's Spanish Supercopa final. Barca won the Supercopa and LaLiga last year but go into this weekend's Clasico showdown in Saudi Arabia seven points behind Madrid, who are unbeaten in 20 matches, in the league table. However,...Full Story »

Man Utd's Alvaro Fernandez set to join Befica on loan According to Fabrizio Romano, Benfica and Manchester United have reached an agreement for fullback Alvaro Fernandez. The defender will join the Portuguese club on loan for the duration of the season, with Benfica having the option of making the transfer permanent in the summer. Fernandez's medical has been scheduled, and United is presentl...Full Story »

Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso lifted tournament hosts Ivory Coast to a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau in front of an elated Abidjan crowd to kick off the Africa Cup of Nations.Fofana fired the Elephants in front inside four minutes at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, punishing their Group A rivals for a lapse at the back, and came inches away from adding another before the break.Krasso doub...Full Story »

Pep Guardiola is relieved to have “special player” Kevin De Bruyne back after he inspired Manchester City to victory at Newcastle on his return to Premier League action.The 32-year-old Belgium international, who had not made a league appearance since August because of injury, endured a disappointing start to his evening on Tyneside when he drilled a free-kick harmlessly into the defe...Full Story »

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna praised his team’s level of commitment as they ended a five-match winless run by beating Sunderland 2-1.The Tractor Boys trailed to Jack Clarke’s opener after 26 minutes, but Kayden Jackson levelled matters seven minutes later before Conor Chaplin completed the comeback in the 75th minute with a powerful header.Victory sees Ipswich retain second spot in...Full Story »

Ipswich returned to winning ways in the Championship after coming back from a goal down to beat play-off hopefuls Sunderland 2-1 in a pulsating encounter at Portman Road.Jack Clarke opened the scoring for the Black Cats but Kayden Jackson levelled the scores during a frenetic first half.Conor Chaplin then completed the comeback in the 75th minute when he powered a header past Sunderland goalkeep...Full Story »

Kevin De Bruyne came off the bench to inspire Manchester City to a 3-2 comeback victory over Newcastle as Oscar Bobb snatched a late winner.City were trailing 2-1 at St James’ Park when De Bruyne was sent on as a 69th-minute replacement for Bernardo Silva, but he scored within five minutes before setting up fellow substitute Bobb to snatch victory in stoppage time at the end of a thrilling...Full Story »

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho branded his side “awful” after they were thrashed 3-0 at home by Leyton Orient.The shell-shocked south coast outfit conceded all three goals before half-time as their poor recent run extended to one win in six games.Mousinho did not hold back in his post-match assessment and said: “I thought we were awful, to be honest. In the game as a whole we we...Full Story »

Birmingham’s new manager Tony Mowbray admitted he was frustrated despite rescuing a dramatic 2-2 draw against Swansea at St Andrew’s.Substitute Jordan James drilled home from 25 yards in the fifth minute of added time when Blues were struggling to create chances after plenty of opportunities in the first half.Mowbray thought a point was the least the team deserved in his first game i...Full Story »

Matt Bloomfield bemoaned conceding another late goal as Wycombe had to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw at home to Lincoln.Dale Taylor put the hosts ahead in the 29th minute but Ethan Erhahon rifled home an equaliser in the eighth minute of stoppage time to rescue a point.Bloomfield’s side conceded a 90th-minute equaliser against Port Vale just before Christmas and the 39-year-old vowed to...Full Story »