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Borussia Dortmund claimed their first win of the Champions League group stage this season after battling to a 2-0 victory away to Slavia Prague.

Achraf Hakimi struck in each half to settle a scrappy encounter in the Czech Republic and move Dortmund top of Group F ahead of Barcelona s meeting with Inter.

The brilliance of Marc-Andre ter Stegen mostly kept Dortmund frustrated against Barca in their opening match, but Wednesday s performance was more in keeping with recent Bundesliga draws with Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen, in which they surrendered leads to draw 2-2.

Jadon Sancho tested Ondrej Kolar within two minutes of kick-off as Dortmund made a bright start in front of Slavia fans bedecked in red and white rain ponchos to create an intimidating sight.<…

Bournemouth have paid £4.75million to settle a dispute with the English Football League over the club s financial results in the 2014-15 season before their Premier League promotion.

The EFL claimed that Bournemouth breached its Financial Fair Play rules at the time but the dispute was paused while those rules were subjected to a legal challenge by Queens Park Rangers.

With the matter having been settled, Premier League outfit Bournemouth are no longer accused of any attempt to infringe the rules or deceive the EFL.

A statement on Bournemouth s official website said: All relevant matters were taken into account when determining the quantum of the settlement.

EFL and AFC Bournemouth reach agreement to settle dispute arising out of financial results of the…

Manchester United stopped the rot at Old Trafford and slowed Liverpool s Premier League title charge with a battling performance in a tightly contested 1-1 draw.

Marcus Rashford opened the scoring in contentious fashion with his first goal for United in over a month to give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s much-improved side hope of a memorable victory.

United s hope faded with five minutes remaining, however, when Adam Lallana struck for the first time in the Premier League in over two years to claim a share of the spoils Liverpool s second-half display deserved.

Jurgen Klopp s men went into the game as favourites but had to settle for a draw, and the key Opta facts marked significant milestones on both sides of a fierce rivalry which rarely delivers a dull game.

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The experienced Brazilian international centre-back Leandro Castan is likely to leave the Serie A outfit in January.

The 31-year-old defender joined Giallorossi in 2012 from Corinthians but never quite managed to hold down a regular playing spot earning only 70 Serie A appearances during five years in Rome.

Castan was meant to go on a year-long deal to Sampdoria for the 2016-17 but just days prior to the new campaign his loan was terminated and the Brazilian went to Torino instead.

Hopes that he could resurrect his career were short-lived as Castan ended up playing mere nine matches during the entire season before returning to AS Rome.

Leandro Castan has yet to feature for Giallorossi this season and looks set to be dispatched on yet another loan once th…

Lautaro Martinez admits he feels irritated by constant speculation over his Inter future, after the forward helped seal a 3-1 win over Spezia on Good Friday.

The Argentine struck in the second half to help confirm a crucial three points for the Serie A champions, moving them back to the summit – temporarily at least – ahead of rivals Milan.

Yet with his contract due to expire next year, talk over an impending exit has dogged Martinez for much of the season, with the striker starting on the bench at Stadio Alberto Picco.

Speaking afterwards, Martinez acknowledged that discussion over his next move is something that bugs him, alongside accusations that he has not put the effort in during the 2021-22 season.

People talk a lot and I don’t like it, he…

France head coach Didier Deschamps hopes Paul Pogba s form during the international break can help him at Manchester United.

Amid his struggles with the Premier League giants, Pogba played 90 minutes in France s 4-2 Nations League win over Sweden on Tuesday.

Pogba had the most interceptions (four) of any player on the pitch, and his eight possessions gained were the equal most.

Deschamps lauded Pogba and hopes the midfielder can take a boost from his international form when he returns to United.  

I don t want to criticise anyone but I know him, I know how he is. He has pride, but even more importantly, he has talent, he told a news conference.

When he has to defend, he is able to defend. He can make assists. Paul is a top player. I hope his re…

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Looking to build off of their stunning display from earlier in the week, Tottenham will welcome Burnley to north London on Sunday lunchtime.

Tottenham

Starting with the hosts, putting in a stunning display as they stormed their way to north London bragging rights earlier in the week, the mood in Tottenham s camp will be at a red-hot high. Eventually breezing their way to a 3-0 romp against their bitter local rivals, Antonio Conte s men now have their sights set on making a late charge for the top-four. With a Champions League return firmly at the top of their agenda, the one-time Chelsea boss will know that victory here would see them temporarily leapfrog the Gunners. Also impressing at Anfield last weekend as they played out a 1-1 dra…

Lionel Messi is leaving Barcelona. The 34-year-old superstar was expected to sign a new contract, but financial restrictions mean his 21-year stint at the club is coming to an end.

Messi, who has been a free agent since the end of June, is now set for pastures new, with Paris Saint-Germain seemingly his destination.

But before potentially linking up with Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Sergio Ramos and the rest of Mauricio Pochettino s star-studded squad, Messi held a farewell news conference in Barcelona.

He was in tears as he took to the stage in front of the media, his family, club officials and his Barca team-mates, who all gave the six-time Ballon d Or winner a standing ovation.

Here are the best quotes from Messi s Barca goodbye.

When Messi cries, w…

Derby County strengthened their promotion push with the loan signing of Tom Ince from Hull City.

Hull City winger Tom Ince has joined Derby County on loan until the end of the season.

Ince will add flair and depth to Derby s attacking ranks as they chase a return to the Premier League.

Steve McClaren s side sit second in the Championship and have not played in the top flight since 2008.

The 23-year-old, who was on loan at Nottingham Forest earlier this season, has made seven appearances for Hull since joining from Blackpool in August.

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Israel and Wales face a pivotal moment in their respective bids to reach Euro 2016 when they meet in a qualifier in Haifa on Saturday.

The teams seeded third and fourth respectively occupy the top two spots in Group B, which also features Belgium and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and are yet to taste defeat during the current campaign.

Indeed, Israel have won all three of their fixtures so far, but former Wales manager John Toshack is confident Chris Coleman s men who have picked up two wins and two draws will eventually qualify for a first major tournament since 1958.

I really do feel this is our time, Toshack is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.  I think Chris has been in there long enough and he knows what he s got and he knows how best to go about it.

Israel a…