Europa League knockout round play-off draw: Barcelona face Napoli

Barcelona head coach Xavi has told the club what he wants from the January transfer window and is optimistic that signings will arrive next month.

The Catalan giants crashed out of the Champions League group stage for the first time in 21 years on Wednesday after a 3-0 defeat at Bayern Munich, adding another dark day to a tumultuous period in the club s history.

Barca sit seventh in LaLiga ahead of a trip to Osasuna on Sunday, 16 points behind leaders Real Madrid, and at a media conference ahead of that game, Xavi was asked about plans for the January transfer window, with plenty of rumours circulating that the club will look to sign players, despite well-documented financial issues.

We are working hard on this, that s the reality, the former Barca and Spain mi…

Louis van Gaal does not believe he has placed added pressure on his Netherlands squad by targeting World Cup glory, instead suggesting the players are on board with his ambitious aims.

Van Gaal talked up Oranje s chances right from the start of this tournament and has continued to do so, even if their performances in beating Senegal and drawing with Ecuador have not been entirely convincing.

The Netherlands still have work to do in their third match against Qatar to book a last-16 place, but the coach does not regret being so open with his goals for the finals.

I hope this is no pressure at all, because I think you always have to identify the goal, the purpose for which you are here, he said. Then you can work towards that purpose.

If you don t identify…

Manchester City have recalled Dedryck Boyata from his loan spell at FC Twente after failing to secure regular first-team football at the club.

The one-cap Belgium international moved to Steve McClaren s team on a season-long deal on transfer deadline day in the summer, but went on to make just eight appearances, including one league start.

A statement on City s official website hinted that Boyata may soon find himself farmed out again.

The Belgian defender could well continue his education at another club in the coming weeks, the statement read.

The 22-year-old has made 23 appearances for Roberto Mancini s side since signing from FC Brussels academy in 2009.

He also featured 17 times on loan for Bolton last season, but was unable to prevent the …

Chelsea are in danger of losing third position in the English Premier League if they fail to beat strugglers Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

The visit of lowly Wigan should be a straightforward proposition for a team in the automatic UEFA Champions League places, especially given the match will be at Stamford Bridge.

But Chelsea have been anything but a sure thing in 2013.

Since the start of January, the Blues have suffered defeats to relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers and Newcastle, while they were also knocked out of the League Cup semi-finals by Swansea City.

The London outfit also had to settle for a draw with third-tier Brentford in the third round of the FA Cup while Reading and Southampton – both sitting in the bottom five of the English Prem…

Among all the nostalgic emotions that swirled on Friday when Arsene Wenger called time on one of the most definitive eras experienced by any modern European football club, the strongest feeling in terms of the here and now was relief.

Relief the fan protests against a man who revolutionised football in England around the turn of the century would be no more; relief the sad spectacle of him presiding over a sparsely populated Emirates Stadium would cease; relief Wenger had made his Arsenal exit – just – on his own terms.

The idea anyone other than the 68-year-old Frenchman the mastermind of three Premier League triumphs, leader of the Invincibles and winner of a record seven FA Cups  would have the decisive say on when his 22-year tenure in north London came to a clo…

that Brighton and Hove Albion and Newcastle United are set to battle it out for Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson this summer.

The Seagulls, who secured their long-awaited return to the top-flight last on Monday are already looking to strengthen their squad for next season as are the team who are likely to join then in going up.

Jenkinson returned to the Emirates Stadium for preseason having spent the last two seasons on loan with West Ham United but has barely featured, with his only league appearance for Arsene Wenger’s side coming in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United back in November.

In total, he has played sixty-two times for the Gunners, scoring once while he hit twice as many goals during his time with the Hammers.

His only senior cap for …

Manchester United have secured talented youngster Hannibal Mejbri to a new long-term contract.

The 18-year-old France youth international joined in a reported £9million deal from Monaco in 2019 and has quickly established himself at the club.

Mejbri has already been deemed to have outgrown the Under-18s and is a regular for the club s Under-23s, scoring four goals and registering seven assists this term.

In February, Mejbri and Under-23s team-mate Shole Shoretire were promoted to the senior squad for the rest of the season, only for the former to sustain an injury soon after.

Hannibal has committed his future to United!

— Manchester United (@ManUtd)

Therefore, Mejbri is likely to return to action first with the second team before mak…

Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim insists he remains calm over his future at the Ligue 1 club, despite his position seemingly being under threat.

Jardim is in his second spell in charge of Monaco, having previously guided the side to the league title and a Champions League semi-final in 2016-17.

His first stint came to an end in October 2018, when he was sacked with Monaco languishing in the lower reaches of Ligue 1.

However, Jardim was back at the club in January, replacing his successor Thierry Henry, who had failed to improve results.

Monaco sit ninth in Ligue 1 after 17 games in 2019-20, having won seven matches and suffered six defeats, leading to reports that Jardim is in line to lose his position.

Yet the 45-year-old claims he is not feeling th…

Eddie Howe acknowledges the thought of spending Newcastle United s riches in January is exciting but his immediate focus is on getting the best out of the club s existing playing squad.

Newcastle were taken over last month by a consortium backed by Saudi Arabia s Public Investment Fund, which became the richest football club owner in the world.

New director Amanda Staveley has spoken of targeting a Premier League title win in the next five to 10 years, with heavy investment expected to transform the team.

A host of high-profile players have been linked, including Barcelona trio Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

But Newcastle have nine Premier League fixtures to negotiate before the transfer window opens at the start of 2022 and…

Prediction: Senegal to win 2-0

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Senegal and Guinea will face each other in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group B this week. The match will be held at the Kouekong Stadium in Bafoussam and is scheduled to kick off at 1pm UK time on Friday.

Senegal

Senegal are second in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group B at the moment with three points from one match, level on points with leaders Guinea. Aliou Cisse’s side kicked off their Afcon campaign with a 1-0 win against Zimbabwe at the Kouekong Stadium in Bafoussam, thanks to a 97th minute penalty from Liverpol forward Sadio Mane.

Team News:

Idrissa Gana Gueye, Fode Ballo-Toure, Bamba Dieng, Mame Baba Thiam, Alfred Gomis, Mamadou Loum Ndiaye, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly…