Prediction: Empoli vs Sampdoria

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti understands Eden Hazard s frustration and is sorry after being left on the bench again for Wednesday s 2-1 Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk.

Hazard has only made one appearance in Madrid s four Champions League games this season, starting in the 2-1 home loss to Sheriff.

Belgium international Hazard has only managed five starts and five appearances off the bench in all competitions, totalling 409 minutes this season, with Vinicius Junior excelling in an attacking role on the left side.

The situation has led to speculation Hazard, who was a record signing for Los Blancos from Chelsea in 2019, could leave Madrid in January, further fuelled after being left to warm up and remain unused on the bench as Ancelotti opted …

Leeds United have cooled their interest in Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi, according to . It has been reported that the Champions League winners are looking for £15 million for the Belgium international.

West Yorkshire club Leeds do like Batshuayi, with head coach Marcelo Bielsa having worked with the 27-year-old at Marseille. However, £15 million is a bit too expensive for Leeds, whose main striker Patrick Bamford 17 goals and gave seven assists in the Premier League this past season.

Batshuayi has been on the books of Chelsea since 2016, but the 27-year-old striker has failed to establish himself in the first team at the Blues. The Belgian spent the 2020-21 season on loan at Crystal Palace. Batshuayi made seven starts and 11 substitute appearances in the Premier L…

Turkey stunned world champions France with a dominant and well-deserved 2-0 triumph in Euro 2020 qualifying on Saturday.

First-half goals from Kaan Ayhan and Cengiz Under sealed Turkey s triumph as their revival under boss Senol Gunes continued at pace.

Turkey have won all five matches they have played in Gunes second stint in charge of the national team and they now sit three points ahead of France in Group H after three games played.

Their latest triumph, achieved in front of a passionate crowd in Konya, came against a France side who simply were not at the races and did not manage a shot on target.

2 France  have conceded 2+ goals in the first half for the 1st time since June 2015 against Belgium. Surprise.

— OptaJean (@OptaJean)

T…

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has demanded more from his players after seeing his team lose top spot in Champions League Group H following a 3-3 draw against Zenit in Russia.

The Blues had come from 2-1 down at the break to lead 3-2 going into stoppage time, only for a fine Magomed Ozdoev strike to deny them victory, meaning that Juventus leapfrogged them into top spot after they beat Malmo 1-0 in Turin.

Two goals from Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku s first since returning from injury looked to be enough for Chelsea before Ozdoev equalised in the 94th minute in the Gazprom Arena.

Tuchel s side were forced to settle for second place in Group H, and the German was particularly annoyed to concede three goals in a game for the second time in a week, having seen Chels…

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has suggested the club will have to be ready to move on if Christian Eriksen does not sign a new contract.

Denmark star Eriksen has 18 months left on his deal but has yet to commit to new terms, despite seeing team-mates such as Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Son Heung-min sign extensions recently.

Pochettino insisted last month that he was not worried about Eriksen s future, amid reports Real Madrid are considering an offer for the playmaker.

However, while he remains optimistic over an agreeable resolution for both club and player, he says Spurs must be prepared to adapt to the dynamic and changeable nature of modern football.

Football is so dynamic, always changing every day, he said.  It s not only your decision but th…

Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez has revealed Dani Alves has decided to leave the club as he closes in on a move to Juventus.

The 33-year-old has been at Camp Nou since 2008 and won six La Liga titles, four Copa del Rey crowns and three Champions Leagues as part of an astonishing 23 winners medals.

Juve director Giuseppe Marotta was very optimistic on the club s pursuit of Alves this week and the Brazil international – who is currently preparing for the Copa America in the United States – will now leave Barca.

Dani Alves has decided to leave – he has informed us of his intention and it is a personal decision that we respect, Robert said at a press conference.

I don t like that Alves is leaving  he is an extraordinary player and he is …

Lisandro Lopez has completed a return to Argentina with Boca Juniors.

The 29-year-old moves back to the Superliga after five-and-a-half years in Europe, although Boca have not released details of the deal. 

Reports suggest the Argentine defender has joined from Benfica on an initial loan switch with an option to buy.

Lopez has four caps for his country and joined Genoa from Argentine side Arsenal in a €4million deal in 2013.

The centre-back s form in LaLiga earned a move to Benfica, but he failed to establish himself in Portugal and similarly struggled for opportunities on loan at Inter and Genoa.

Lopez s deal at Genoa was terminated in order for him to join Copa Libertadores finalists Boca, becoming their sixth signing of the transfer window.<…

Liverpool failed to stamp their authority on a battling Bayern Munich as a 0-0 first-leg draw at Anfield left their Champions League last-16 tie in the balance.

The Premier League side produced the more promising attacking moments against a circumspect opponent but are likely to need an away goal when the teams reconvene at Allianz Arena on March 13.

Jurgen Klopp, robbed of Virgil van Dijk and Dejan Lovren through suspension and injury, will at least be pleased with the way his back four navigated the rare instances of danger posed to them by the German champions.

But the strange lack of cutting edge despite Roberto Firmino s presence at the point of attack resulted in a first-leg draw that means a quarter-final berth is still very much up for grabs.

J…

Arsenal will face AC Milan in the standout clash of the Europa League round of 16, Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund having avoided heavyweight meetings in Friday s draw.

Arsene Wenger s side scraped past Ostersunds 4-2 on aggregate, but their reward is a tough test against in-form Milan, who saw off Ludogorets in the round of 32.

The two sides last met at this stage of the 2011-12 Champions League, when Zlatan Ibrahimovic inspired a 4-3 aggregate triumph for the Serie A outfit, with Arsenal unable to come back from a first-leg humbling at San Siro.

Milan will again play at home first, on March 8, with the return fixture at Emirates Stadium scheduled for March 15.

Atletico were handed a seemingly more straightforward draw against Lokomotiv Moscow, whi…

Pep Guardiola has hinted there is a deep-lying role at Manchester City waiting for Phil Foden once he is ready to step back from terrorising defences as a forward.

At the age of 20, Foden is building on the raw potential that was obvious to Guardiola from the outset of his reign as manager.

The City boss was quick to usher Foden into his first-team squad, and at the age of 16 the Stockport-born player was selected as a substitute for a Champions League clash with Celtic in December 2016.

He saw no action that day but has gradually become an influential player, assuming greater responsibility this season following the departure of David Silva.

On Wednesday, Foden may be asked to wreak havoc against Marseille as City attempt to secure a fifth win from six …