The 27-year-old East Germany-born midfielder's elegance on the pitch should not be mistaken for arrogance.
Goals from Hulk and Axel Witsel helped Zenit St Petersburg get their Champions League campaign off to the perfect start as they beat 10-man Benfica 2-0 away on Tuesday.
Kevin-Prince Boateng scored his first goal for Schalke 04 on Saturday to earn his team a 1-0 win at Mainz 05 and champions Bayern Munich beat Hanover 96 2-0.
IMAGES from football matches played across Europe on Wednesday.
Kevin Volland ties record for fastest Bundesliga goal.
Holders Bayern Munich eased into the German Cup third round with a comfortable 3-1 win at Hamburg SV on Wednesday to continue their unbeaten domestic run as they prepare for Saturday's league clash against Borussia Dortmund.
Tottenham Hotspur's France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has signed a new contract that will take him through to 2022, the Premier League club said on Thursday. The 29-year-old, who captains club and country, has made 189 appearances for Spurs since joining from Olympique Lyonnais in 2012 for a fee of about 12 million pounds ($14.81 million). "I'm very pleased with this new contract," Lloris told the club website
Piotr Zielinski converted two penalties for Inter Milan as they played out a thrilling 4-4 draw with Juventus.
A round-up of Saturday's action in La Liga and the Bundesliga.
Manchester City squandered a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Photos from the UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg-matches played on Wednesday
An early penalty by Alexis Mac Allister and a Darwin Nunez brace helped Liverpool to thrash Sparta Prague 5-1.
Thirteen teams have now qualified for the last 32 including Bayer Leverkusen, FC Zurich and Lazio who had already secured places in the next stage of the competition.
Images from the Europa League semi-final first leg matches on Thursday.
Bayern Munich went top of the Bundesliga with a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday as rivals Borussia Dortmund slumped to their first defeat of the season with a 2-0 reverse at Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Germany midfielder Marco Reus scored one goal and set up another in three minutes as Borussia Dortmund survived a late comeback to beat Augsburg 3-2 on Friday and bounce back from an opening Bundesliga defeat last week.
Manchester United's plane had to abort its landing seconds from touchdown as the squad flew to Germany for Wednesday's Champions League match with Bayer Leverkusen, British media reported.
Images from soccer matches held across Europe on Saturday, March 16.
Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal has completed his transfer from Juventus to Bayern Munich by signing a four-year contract with the Bundesliga champions.
Manchester United breezed into the next round with a 6-1 aggregate win over Club Brugge
Round-up of football matches played around Europe on Saturday.
Rishabh Pant has been nominated for the prestigious Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award.
"We are pleased with the win, the many chances and the 70,000-plus spectators."
Jose Mourinho's side top Group G with a maximum nine points, three clear of second-placed Slavia.
Bayer Leverkusen striker Javier Hernandez says he was not given enough chances to shine during his spells at Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Soccer in Germany has been suspended for almost a month and the German Football League (DFL) has said the ban will remain in place for the top divisions at least until April 30. Clubs, however, were given the all clear to resume training this week, with champions Bayern Munich deciding to train players in small groups to minimise the risk of infection.
Manchester United were forced to dig deep to reach the Europa League semi-finals as Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes converted a 95th-minute penalty to secure a 1-0 win over a stubborn FC Copenhagen side after extra time on Monday.
Arsenal will face manager Arsene Wenger's former club Monaco with defending champions Real Madrid pitted against German club Schalke.
A round-up of Tuesday's action in the UEFA Champions League.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard believes his side are a long way short of the levels of Premier League Champions Liverpool and Manchester City, who have set the benchmark in terms of consistency. Lampard's Chelsea, currently third in the league, visit title winners Liverpool on Wednesday, chasing the three points they need to secure Champions League football next season.
Neuer made the squad despite playing in just one official game, a friendly against Austria on Friday, since breaking a bone in his foot in September but talented 22-year-old Sane was the biggest name to miss out.
Several players across the continent are poised to make a name for themselves on the international stage.
Mateo Kovacic's late strike avoided embarrassment for Real Madrid as the European champions surrendered a two-goal lead before drawing 3-3 with Legia Warsaw in an enthralling Champions League game played amid an empty stadium on Wednesday.
Gladbach dominated the first half and missed a string of chances, with Freiburg goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow denying Plea and Lars Stindl in quick succession as the home side defended desperately.
Women's Bundesliga can restart on May 29, says the German Football Association (DFB).
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances