Kylian Mbappé hit a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain cruised into the final of the French Cup with a thumping 5-1 win at Lyon on Wednesday.

The World Cup winner took his goal tally in all competitions to 30 during a win that was eased by Fernando Marcal being sent off just before Neymar put the French champions ahead in the 64th minute from the penalty spot.

Lyon’s defeat ends a five-match unbeaten run that included an impressive 1-0 win over Juventus in the Champions League and the weekend’s triumph over local rivals Saint-Etienne.

“It was a solid, serious display full of concentration,” said PSG coach Thomas Tuchel.

“After the Dortmund match (lost 2-1 in Germany), Mbappé has responded brilliantly. He uses his speed so intelligently … he is in good form.”

Mbappé equalised for the away side with a simple tap-in just three minutes after Martin Terrier had given the raucous home fans hope with a neat 11th-minute opener.

The 21-year-old was also key to PSG taking the lead in the 64th minute from the penalty spot.

Collecting the ball out on the left wing, he casually saw off two Lyon defenders before floating over a cross to fellow forward Edinson Cavani, who controlled the ball only for Marcal to then handle before the Uruguay striker could let his shot go.

Neymar slotted home the subsequent spot-kick after confirmation of the handball by VAR, while Marcal had to leave the field after being handed his second red card.

“I prefer to say nothing about the penalty,” said Lyon boss Rudi Garcia, whose side face PSG in the League Cup final next month.

“When you are 10 against 11 playing such a strong team it’s no longer a contest.”

Mbappe made sure of the Parisian’s visit to the Stade de France next month with a superb solo effort with 20 minutes left, embarrassing Bruno Guimaraes and Marcelo before calmly slotting past Anthony Lopes.

Pablo Sarabia added a fourth with a stinging low strike 11 minutes later, and Mbappé completed his hat-trick in stoppage time, tapping home Neymar’s cross after good work on the left from the world’s most expensive footballer.

Saint-Etienne and Rennes meet in the second semi-final on Thursday.

(AFP)

Lionel Messi is the “greatest” footballer of all time, ahead of even Diego Maradona, Napoli coach Gennaro Gattuso said on Monday ahead of his side’s Champions League clash with Barcelona.

The 32-year-old Messi scored four goals at the weekend in Barcelona’s 5-0 win over Eibar and has now been involved in more than 1,000 goals in his career, scoring 696 and assisting another 306.

Gattuso was quick to praise Messi, comparing the Barca star to Napoli legend Maradona.

“He’s the greatest and an example for everyone,” said Gattuso ahead of the sides’ last-16 first leg on Tuesday.

“He never says anything inappropriate. He does things that only exist on the Playstation, unthinkable things.

“But I saw him (Maradona) on VHS, or DVD. I never saw him up close, at a stadium.

“I know the champion he was and I know I missed something wonderful. I regret it. Today I see Messi doing things that Maradona was doing.”

Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne was not so keen to accept that Messi has reached greater heights than 1986 World Cup winner Maradona.

“Messi is the best in the world today,” said Insigne. “But for us Neapolitans, Maradona is everything and I don’t want to compare them. Maradona is sacred.”

But Insigne and Gattuso agreed that their team have to be careful not to focus only on trying to stop Messi.

“We have to be careful with their whole team, because it’s not just Messi,” said Gattuso.

Napoli are enjoying a recent upturn in form after a dreadful start to the Serie A season which culminated in the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti following a 4-0 win over Genk that sent them into the Champions League knockout stage.

Last season’s Serie A runners-up have won six of their last seven games.

“Tomorrow (Tuesday), I want a Napoli side that are not afraid,” added Gattuso.

“I want to see a team that knows how to battle… You need to stand up to Barcelona — you can’t worry.

“I want to see a lively team that plays with joy until the end. Can Napoli win the Champions League? Never say never.”

It is the first time Napoli have reached the knockout rounds since a last-16 loss to Real Madrid in 2017, while Barcelona are bidding to make the quarter-finals for a 13th consecutive season.

Source:  AFP

Gabriel Jesus struck to give Manchester City a 1-0 win at Leicester City on Saturday, strengthening their hold on second place behind champions-in-waiting Liverpool.

Pep Guardiola’s men have endured a turbulent week after they were banned from European club competitions for two years for breaches of financial fair play rules.

But a second-half winner from substitute Jesus after Sergio Aguero had failed to convert a penalty put them 17 points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham.

City, who still trail Liverpool by 19 points, bossed possession in a lively opening spell at the King Power Stadium but Leicester should have taken an early lead when Jamie Vardy was put through.

The pacy forward, who has not scored since December after an electric spell, was preparing to celebrate but saw the ball rebound agonisingly off the base of the post to safety.

A minute later, former Leicester favourite Riyad Mahrez went close, striking a left-footed shot from outside the box that was palmed away by Kasper Schmeichel.

Ilkay Gundogan had a chance after being played in by Aguero but he scuffed his shot from close range.

James Maddison tested Ederson with a free-kick in the 37th minute and minutes later played in Kelechi Iheanacho, who was floored in a collision with Ederson.

Aguero had the ball in the net on the stroke of half-time but the goal was ruled out for off-side.

Both sides maintained their intensity after the break and Schmeichel produced a fine save, diving down to his right, to save keep out a Kevin De Bruyne shot.

Defender Aymeric Laporte was replaced by Nicolas Otamendi in the 58th minute, sparking concern ahead of City’s midweek Champions League clash against Real Madrid.

– Penalty saved –

The decisive moment appeared to come just after the hour mark when Manchester City were awarded a penalty after a VAR check confirmed that Leicester’s Dennis Praet had handled the ball in the area.

Aguero blasted the ball down the middle but Schmeichel kept it out with his legs, moments later denying the Argentine hitman with his left foot.

Guardiola replaced Aguero with Jesus with less than a quarter of an hour to go and the change paid quick dividends as the Brazilian stretched to put the ball past the diving Schmeichel after an assist from Mahrez.

City, who could win their third consecutive League Cup next weekend when they face Aston Villa at Wembley, are appealing their UEFA ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Leicester, have won just one out of their past Premier League matches after a fine start to the season and will be glancing nervously over their shoulder at Chelsea, now just six points adrift after their 2-1 win over Tottenham.

Source:  AFP

Manchester City has been banned from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) competitions for the next 2 seasons, following the body’s investigation into the Sky Blues’ alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play rules.

The Premier League club was also fined 30 million by the UEFA. European football’s governing body said in a statement on Friday that Man City had committed “serious breaches of the rules”.

The Citizens expressed their disappointment over the punishment and announced they will appeal against the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. However, the club is still allowed to continue competing in this season’s Champions League, where they face 13-time winners Real Madrid in the last-16. 

Former Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas plans to run for the presidency of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Spanish media reported on Wednesday.

Casillas told the national sports council (CSD) of his intention to run in the upcoming RFEF elections, reported the Cadena Ser radio station early Wednesday.

According to this media, Casillas “has made the decision to run” for the elections and has informed Irene Lozano, who as secretary of state for sport is president of the CSD.

Contacted by AFP, the CSD made no comment.

The date of the election has not been decided. The AS newspaper, citing CSD sources, Casillas met Lozano and expressed an interest in running.

Casillas, 38, played 167 times for Spain, winning two Euros and one World Cup, and more than 700 games for Real Madrid, with whom he won the Champions League three times. He joined Porto in 2015.

Last April he suffered a heart attack during training and has not played since. His name has been linked with the RFEF presidency for some months.

The Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo said that “it was Casillas who requested the meeting” with Lozano.

Current RFEF president Luis Rubiales is in perpetual conflict with Javier Tebas, the president of the Spanish league.

According to the rules, the elections should be held in the second half of the year after the Tokyo Olympics. However, Rubiales has asked the CSD to bring the date forward to the first half of the year before Euro 2020, which will run from 12 June to 12 July.

Source:  AFP

Liverpool opened up the biggest lead by any team at the end of a day in English top-flight history with an emphatic victory over Southampton – but manager Jurgen Klopp says his side are “not even close to being perfect”.

The Reds extended their advantage in the Premier League to 22 points over second-placed Manchester City, who face Tottenham on Sunday, with a 4-0 win against Southampton at Anfield.

They have also equalled City’s record of 20 consecutive Premier League wins at home and only Bill Shankly’s Liverpool team in 1972 had a longer winning streak on home soil in English top-flight history.

“We’re not even close to being perfect. We just look to use our skills in the best possible way. The boys have done that for a while pretty good and that’s why we have these numbers,” said Klopp.

“We didn’t want a 22-point lead. We wanted 73 points at the end of today.”

Four second-half goals gave Liverpool a victory that extends their unbeaten run in the league to 42 games and means they have picked up 100 points from the last 102 available.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored the opener against Southampton just after half time – his second goal in as many league matches – when he drilled the ball low into the bottom corner.

Reds’ skipper Jordan Henderson made it 2-0 on the hour mark with a calm finish after being set up by Roberto Firmino.

Henderson then played in Mohamed Salah for Liverpool’s third and the Egypt forward added a fourth from close range in the last minute.

The scoreline was harsh on the visitors, who matched Liverpool for much of the first hour with Danny Ings going close in the first half and Shane Long also denied by home keeper Alisson.

It was Southampton’s first away defeat in five games and they fall to 11th place.

Title gets closer, unbeaten run rolls on

Liverpool’s wait for a first league title in 30 years will surely end this season. They have one hand on the trophy and seven wins from their remaining 13 games will guarantee success.

Liverpool are unbeaten in 42 games across two seasons, have conceded just one league goal in their last 10 matches and have 73 points from 25 games – a top-flight record.

Before Saturday, only City had won more consecutive games at home in the Premier League, between March 2011 and March 2012.

With only 13 matches left, it is increasingly surely only a question of whether Liverpool can remain unbeaten for the whole season rather than if they end their drought.

Nevertheless, their performance in the first half against Southampton was nervous and suggested the visitors could have a chance to inflict a first defeat on Klopp’s side.

Sloppy passes, mistakes at the back and a lack of intensity going forward meant the Saints had opportunities to score and were barely stretched at the back.

Southampton, spearheaded by top-scorer Ings in attack, finished the half as the better team, going close through the former Reds striker as well as Long and Moussa Djenepo.

But Liverpool, no doubt invigorated by a half-time talk from Klopp, were quick out of the blocks in the second half and as soon as they scored the victory that most will have expected before the match felt inevitable.

The scorer of that opener, Oxlade-Chamberlain, is starting to regain the form he demonstrated prior to picking up a serious knee injury while Henderson was magnificent again in controlling the midfield. They were solid at the back, with Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk’s centre-back partnership continuing to flourish.

The Reds were without the injured Sadio Mane, but Firmino and Salah delivered the goods; the Brazil striker produced a hat-trick of assists to take his total to 51 in all competitions for the club, while Salah scored twice.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl said before the game he wanted his side to “show how far we have come, how competitive we are”.

They certainly did that, especially in the first half.

Ings, who left Liverpool to join the Saints for £20m in July, had scored 14 goals in 19 starts heading into the match and he was a threat throughout.

His close-range effort in the first half looked like it was heading in before it clipped the heel of team-mate Long and bounced away from goal.

The striker, who was praised for his tireless work ethic by Klopp, threatened early in the second half when he bundled into the box before being stopped by a challenge from Fabinho.

There were appeals for a penalty but it was reviewed by VAR, who must have decided it was the eager Ings’ effort to evade Fabinho that sent him to the ground rather contact from Liverpool’s midfielder – although Hasenhuttl believed it was a foul.

To rub salt into Saints’ wound, immediately after the incident Liverpool went up the other end and scored the opener.

Ings continued to cause problems though, earning a corner off a deflected shot after taking on Andy Robertson and Van Dijk as well as linking up with James Ward-Prowse, who fired just wide of the right post.

He was substituted in the 70th minute, alongside strike partner Long, and was given a standing ovation by the fans of his former club.

Ings’ form has been one of the reasons for Southampton’s surge away from the relegation zone and if he continues to be such a threat, Saints look good for a top-half finish in the table.

They had 10 shots in the first half against Liverpool, the most the Reds have faced in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League match at Anfield since Chelsea in November 2014.

Klopp mirrors Shankly – best of the stats

• Only once in English top-flight history has a team had a longer winning streak on home soil – Liverpool themselves between January and December 1972 under Bill Shankly.
• Liverpool have earned 100 points from the last 102 available to them in the Premier League, winning 33 of their last 34 matches in the competition while only failing to win away at Manchester United in October 2019.
• Southampton have lost each of their last six Premier League meetings with Liverpool, losing their last three visits to Anfield in the competition by a 10-0 aggregate score.
• This result was Southampton’s heaviest margin of defeat in an away league game since November 2018 when they lost 1-6 at Manchester City.
• Salah has scored more home goals in this season’s Premier League (12) than any other player; indeed, since he joined Liverpool in 2017, only Lionel Messi (51) has more home goals in Europe’s big-five leagues than the Egyptian (44).

‘When we are rolling, it’s difficult to stop’ – what they said

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: “The readiness to improve in the game and learn from the game [is what we had to do to win]. The set-up of Southampton I could not give more credit to. What a strange result in the end. It’s deserved because we score the goals, but what a team.

“They had too many shots on target and we had to change in the second half. That helped massively and when we are rolling it’s difficult to stop.

“Even when it was 4-0 Southampton did not stop and I have so much respect for that.”

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl: “Maybe the result is a little high but I would like to watch this game if we had gone a goal up. The best team in the world, for 50 minutes had no real chances and we had a massive one.

“It must be brave at that moment to say goal, so it’s no penalty here at Anfield. The way we played was unbelievably good and I am proud and stand by our plan. It is a clear penalty but in such moments the game can turn in our direction. But in the end it was a deserved win for Liverpool. We played the best we can so I am very proud.”

What’s next?

Liverpool’s first-team players will be given the night off on Tuesday for the FA Cup fourth-round replay against Shrewsbury, while their next Premier League match is against Norwich City on Saturday, 15 February (17:30 GMT).

Southampton travel to Tottenham on Wednesday for their FA Cup replay, before hosting Burnley in the Premier League on 15 February (12:30 GMT).

Culled from the BBC

Neymar shook off an injury scare and raged with the match officials while helping Paris Saint-Germain romp to a 5-0 win over Montpellier that stretched their lead at the top of Ligue 1 on Saturday.

Pablo Sarabia, Angel Di Maria, Kylian Mbappe and Layvin Kurzawa all scored along with a Daniel Congre own goal, with the outcome never in doubt after Montpellier goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud was sent off early on.

Montpellier finished the game with nine men, and the result means PSG start February by making it 19 games unbeaten and are now 13 points ahead of nearest rivals Marseille.

But it was Neymar, his hair dyed shocking pink for the occasion, who predictably caught the eye.

The Brazilian warmed up with a shirt bearing the name of Kobe Bryant and the number 24 of the basketball star who was killed in a helicopter crash last weekend. PSG also held a minute’s applause for Bryant ahead of kick-off.

Neymar didn’t score, having to settle just for one assist, but he produced his usual tricks, provoked the opposition, and required lengthy treatment at the end of the first half after appearing to hurt his ribs as he grappled for the ball with Montpellier’s Arnaud Souquet.

Unhappy with the some of the treatment reserved for him, Neymar was then caught by television cameras angrily remonstrating in Portuguese with the fourth official in the tunnel at half-time.

Despite the knock, the world’s most expensive player — who on Sunday is set to host a lavish party for his 28th birthday at a Parisian nightclub — lasted the 90 minutes.

– Cavani back on bench –

PSG coach Thomas Tuchel had opted to leave Mauro Icardi on the bench at kick-off alongside Edinson Cavani, who remains in the French capital after a January move to Atletico Madrid never materialised.

Instead Sarabia started with Mbappe up front, and the former Real Madrid player pounced on a loose ball to curl home a fine opener from 22 yards in the eighth minute for his 10th goal of the season.

Andy Delort then missed a chance to equalise for Montpellier, and their hopes of getting back into the game were as good as over when Bertaud was sent off in the 17th minute.

Only playing because usual first choice Geronimo Rulli was suspended, Bertaud raced out of his box to stop Mbappe bearing down on goal, only to block the ball with his arm and receive a straight red.

On came young debutant Matis Carvalho in goal for the visitors and he had to pick the ball out of his net twice before the interval.

Di Maria exchanged passes with Sarabia before lifting the ball over Carvalho to make it 2-0 in the 41st minute, and shortly afterwards Teji Savanier’s attempt to clear a Di Maria corner rebounded off the face of defender Congre and in.

After Neymar had cooled down at the break, he set up Mbappe for one shot that hit the outside of the post, and then played in the France World Cup winner to round Carvalho and score his 14th league goal of the season.

Kurzawa drilled in the fifth in the 65th minute, and Cavani came on before having a late header disallowed for offside. By that point the visitors were playing with nine men after substitute Joris Chotard saw two quick yellow cards.

Marseille go to Bordeaux on Sunday looking for a first win there in 43 years, while Rennes strengthened their grip on third by scoring twice in injury time to claim a 3-2 win over local rivals Nantes on Friday.

Source:  AFP

Fernandinho has signed a one-year contract extension with Manchester City, the English Premier League champions announced on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old Brazil midfielder, whose previous deal was due to expire at the end of the season, is now set to stay at the Etihad Stadium until 2021.

Fernandinho has been a City mainstay since his arrival in a £30 million ($39 million, 35 million euros) move from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013.

“This is the best possible news,” said Fernandinho. “I have enjoyed every second of my time at City.

“I never expected to build such a meaningful relationship with the club and the fans, but it has happened, and I am grateful every single day.”

Although primarily a defensive midfielder, Fernandinho has spent much of this season playing at centre-back because of City’s lack of cover in that area.

Fernandinho has won three Premier League titles and four English League Cups since joining City, but he missed last season’s FA Cup final victory due to injury.

Source:  AFP

Quique Setien’s honeymoon period lasted less than a fortnight as he tasted his first Barcelona defeat on Saturday in his second La Liga game in charge after a 2-0 loss to Valencia.

Maxi Gomez’s strike and a Jordi Alba own goal at Mestalla handed Barca their fourth league defeat of the campaign, giving Real Madrid the chance to move three points clear of the champions at the top of the table when they visit Real Valladolid on Sunday.

Barcelona had most of the ball but their opponents had the best chances as Gomez missed a penalty and also hit the crossbar in the first half. Gabriel Paulista saw a third goal ruled out late on.

While performances under previous coach Ernesto Valverde were stodgy, he left a team that sat top of the table. Setien promised a new style but despite dominating possession, Barcelona went nowhere with it and as Valencia grew in confidence, they ceded control.

“It should not take us long,” Setien had said on Friday, when asked how quickly his players could adapt to his methods.

Valencia climb to fifth and continue to improve under Albert Celades. This success came without their captain Dani Parejo and, largely, without star striker Rodrigo Moreno, who has been linked with a January move to Barcelona.

The hosts hardly touched the ball for the first six minutes, their fans whistling as they urged a more aggressive approach.

But the plan was to sit and absorb and it worked, with Barcelona unable to cut through or create a single clear chance.

– Valencia dangerous –

And when Valencia did intervene, they were more dangerous too. With their first attack they won a penalty as Jose Gaya slipped past Gerard Pique and would surely have scored from eight yards before being brought down.

Pique was booked and, with Parejo absent, Gomez stepped up, only for his driven shot to be well saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, albeit with the help of half a yard’s headstart off his line.

Barca were riding their luck. Sergi Roberto’s header cannoned off Pique but fell just close enough for Ter Stegen, who parried a Gomez shot onto the crossbar and almost spilled another to Kevin Gameiro.

Referee Gil Manzano puts his hands together as if to apologise after failing to play advantage when Ferran Torres was clear but the frustration of Valencia’s fans turned to ecstasy shortly after half-time.

Pique’s flicked header landed at the feet of Gomez, whose driven effort took a cruel deflection off Alba and flew in.

Setien traded the patience of Arthur Melo for the physicality of Arturo Vidal and Rodrigo came on to a rousing reception.

Barcelona exerted some pressure and Lionel Messi led the way, hauled to the ground by Francis Coquelin and then denied by a brilliant Gabriel tackle. He fired past the post, headed wide and saw a curling free-kick saved.

Yet just as a Barcelona equaliser began to feel inevitable, Valencia struck again. A quick throw caught Alba out of position and Torres did well to cut inside and switch to Gomez. He took a touch and curled into the corner.

Gabriel thought he had a third after volleying in from a corner but VAR persuaded Manzano there had been a push. When Messi ballooned a late free-kick into the stands, Valencia knew their win was secure.

Source  AFP