Cristiano Ronaldo ties Ali Daei record with 109th international goal

Fenerbahce picked up the point they needed to secure their 19th league title with a 0-0 draw against Rizespor on Sunday.

Ersun Yanal s side started the day 12 points ahead of the then-second-placed Besiktas and knew that a draw would be enough regardless of what their rivals did.

And their goalless stalemate in Istanbul was enough to give them their first title since the 2010-11 season.

Their triumph was witnessed by only women and children inside the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, as men were banned for previous crowd trouble.

But it did not dampen the mood as the title was wrestled back after finishing second to arch-rivals Galatasaray for the last two seasons.

As it turned out, the point was not necessary as Besiktas lost 3-0 at Sivasspor, who remain level on …

Hull City midfielder David Meyler said he appreciates the importance of their FA Cup final appearance, more so after his serious injuries.

Meyler, 24, has twice undergone rehabilitation on his right knee, with one prognosis fearing the Ireland international would be unable to resume walking without discomfort.

The Cork-born midfielder first injured his knee in May 2010 when playing Manchester United, before a recurrence in January 2011.

I was told I might never walk properly again, Meyler said.

That gives you a bit of context, to play in an FA Cup final. I don t know if I will be playing yet, obviously, but to have the opportunity would be fantastic.

I had made a right mess of my leg, I thought I would not be right for a long time. The first time (it was) b…

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is yet to decide on his first-choice formation for the 2017-18 season.

Klopp has brought in Mohamed Salah from Roma in a deal that could reach a value of €50million, but the winger and young striker Dominic Solanke, signed from Chelsea, are the only fresh arrivals so far ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

As well as adding more names to Liverpool s ranks, the former Borussia Dortmund boss is hoping to increase the squad s tactical flexibility, as he decides on the strategy that will work best with the Reds looking to improve on a fourth-place finish last year.

Tactically-wise, getting more flexible depending who is there and when and introducing different systems, Klopp told the club s website when asked for his pre-seas…

Jan Kirchhoff has likened Sunderland securing Premier League survival to winning a title after they beat Everton 3-0 to ensure another season in the top flight.

Kirchhoff won the Bundesliga title and DFB Pokal with Bayern Munich in 2013-14, but left the Bavarians for the Stadium of Light in the January transfer window in order to get regular first-team football, having previously been sent on a long-term loan to Schalke.

He quickly became an important member of the first team after a difficult start to life at Sunderland and was understandably delighted with their successful battle against relegation.

It is really nice, almost like winning a title, it s unbelievable, Kirchhoff told Sky Sports on Wednesday.

We went through dangerous and difficult situati…

Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel is hopeful of having Kylian Mbappe available to face Nice on Sunday.

Mbappe is yet to play for PSG in 2020-21 after testing positive for coronavirus while on France duty earlier this month.

PSG lost their opening two games of the Ligue 1 season, but recorded a much-needed 1-0 win over Metz on Wednesday.

Tuchel said he was hoping to have Mbappe, who scored 30 goals in 2019-20, available against Nice.

Kylian is feeling good. He doesn t have any symptoms, he told a news conference.

He has been tested positive for COVID-19 but he didn t have any symptoms. He is feeling good. He had some individual training sessions.

Maybe we will do the same thing we have done with Angel [Di María], Marquinhos and Ma…

Verdict: Over 2.5 goals

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Serie A heavyweights Milan travel to Atalanta in an attempt to strengthen their top four chances and end a poor patch of results against the in-form Bergamo-based side.

Atalanta

With only one defeat in their last eleven games in all competitions and nine in the league, Atalanta find themselves only one point short of the Champions League spot in the Serie A standings. They are, in fact, trailing behind their Saturday’s rivals and the game at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d[Italia will be a great chance to test their top-four credentials.

Atalanta have been demonstrating their warrior spirit for a while now in the Italian top flight and it has been particularly strong this season with La Dea averaging…

Lazio got the better of Fiorentina 1-0 at home in Serie A on Wednesday evening. Pedro’s goal in the 52nd minute proved to be the difference between the two sides at Stadio Olympico in Rome.

The result means that Lazio are now sixth in the Serie A table with 17 points from 10 matches. 

Maurizio Sarri’s side are only two points behind fourth-placed and bitter city rivals AS Roma.

Meanwhile, Fiorentina currently find themselves eighth in the Serie A table with 15 points from 10 matches.

Lazio are now 5/1 on to finish in the Serie A top four, while Fiorentina’s chances of making it into he Champions League are rated at 20/1.

This is what we learned from Lazio’s 1-0 win against Fiorentina in Rome on Wednesday evening.

Pedro is becoming …

Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini believes qualification for European football could come too soon for the club.

Alan Pardew s side have made an unbeaten start to the season and are currently fourth in the fledgling Premier League table.

But the 29-year-old, who joined the club in 2008, wants his side to build a squad strong enough to consistently reach the Europa League, rather than prematurely enter the competition.

I don t know about Europe next year, Coloccini told the Evening Chronicle.

It is too early to talk about Europe we need to keep going and keep working and then we will see.

First of all we have to build the foundations at this club. I would prefer to leave the Europa League for the year after next not next year.

…

Niclas Fullkrug snatched a scrappy winner as Germany defeated the Netherlands 2-1 to complete a promising international break for Julian Nagelsmann’s side.

Having seen off France 2-0 on Saturday, the Euro 2024 hosts added another notch on their belt in Frankfurt.

They had to come from behind to take out Ronald Koeman’s men, who took a fourth-minute lead through Joey Veerman. Maximilian Mittelstadt responded with a sweetly-struck effort from a corner routine and both teams had chances to take the lead before Germany snatched the win five minutes from time.

YES! YES! YESSSS!!! | Philipp Reinhard

— DFB-Team (@DFB_Team)

It was far from a clean finish, substitute Fullkrug steering the ball towards the far post and marginally over the line as …

Competition: World Cup
Market: Netherlands to reach the World Cup final
Odds:

Netherlands are confident of seeing past South American giants Argentina when the two sides lock horns on Wednesday. Managed by Louis van Gaal, the Oranje have surpassed expectation with how well they’ve performed in this summer’s tournament.

But their job isn’t over yet. The Netherlands side have a difficult semi-final game for a place in the World Cup final four years on from their 2010 World Cup runners-up achievement. Argentina, however, have a host of talented individuals such as Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain who will be hoping to spring a surprise, but Netherlands too have their star players.

While not the finished article, van Gaal’s side have the quality…