The next instalment of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's mind games with Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini and Arsenal's chance for redemption against Liverpool provide the backdrop to a mouth-watering FA Cup fifth round.
One moment of attacking brilliance and a late Sergio Aguero strike gave Premier League holders Manchester City a winning start to their title defence as they eased past Newcastle United 2-0 away on Sunday.
Champions Manchester United will travel to Swansea City for their first Premier League match under new manager David Moyes while Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City are at home to Newcastle United on August 17.
Tottenham Hotspur's hopes of moving into the top four stalled in a 2-2 draw at bottom club Norwich City, while several VAR interventions overshadowed the action. Images from EPL matches played on Saturday.
Two moments of magic in the space of two second-half minutes helped Manchester City to a 3-1 victory over Sunderland in the English League Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.
Manchester City's new manager should be announced within the next two weeks, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said on the Premier League club's website.
Liverpool are reportedly considering a summer move for Real Madrid and Dutchman Rafael van der Vaart.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is "disrespectful" and a "bully" for describing Arsene Wenger "a specialist in failure", former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson said on Sunday.
Holders Barcelona squandered a chance to all but seal a probable King's Cup semi-final showdown with Real Madrid when they conceded a late goal to draw 2-2 at home to 10-man Malaga in their last-eight first-leg match on Wednesday.
Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini said his side did not deserve to be eliminated from the Champions League despite having only one effort on target in their 1-0 semi-final, second leg defeat to Real Madrid.
Jose Mourinho has made it clear that he will be the one making decisions about the Real Madrid first team should he leave Inter Milan and take over from Manuel Pellegrini as coach of the Spanish side.
Salomon Rondon scored twice in Malaga's 4-2 win over Rayo Vallecano on Thursday to vault the home side into the hunt for the Champions League qualification places.
IMAGES from soccer matches played across Europe on Sunday.
If Real Madrid sack coach Manuel Pellegrini and replace him with Jose Mourinho, as is being hotly-tipped in the local media, it will be serious blow to the credibility of club president Florentino Perez and his long-term plan.
Cristiano Ronaldo fired a hat-trick to keep Real Madrid's title challenge alive with a 4-1 comeback victory at Real Mallorca on Wednesday.
Real Madrid climbed back above Barcelona to the top of La Liga when Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain both netted twice to seal a convincing 4-2 victory at city rivals Getafe on Thursday.
Gonzalo Higuain came off the bench to settle Real Madrid's jitters with a superb lob that completed a 4-2 home victory over Real Valladolid in La Liga on Saturday.
Real Madrid have signed Argentina midfielder Angel di Maria from Benfica on a six-year contract, the Spanish club said on their website on Monday. The 22-year-old, who has helped Argentina reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup in South Africa, is the first signing the club have made since Jose Mourinho replaced Manuel Pellegrini as coach last month.
Pep Guardiola, who will succeed Manuel Pellegrini as a new manager of Manchester City for next season, admitted that he is taking a risk by joining the England club.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain scored in a 2-0 victory away to Racing Santander on Sunday to ensure Real Madrid hold top spot in La Liga before next weekend's visit of title rivals Barcelona.
Real Madrid squandered a chance to climb above Barcelona to the top of La Liga when they were held to a 0-0 draw at mid-table Osasuna on Sunday. A win would have put Real first in the standings on goal difference after Barca dropped their first home points of the season in a 1-1 draw with Villarreal on Saturday.
Third-tier Alcorcon lost 1-0 to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Tuesday but dumped the nine-times European champions out of the King's Cup 4-1 on aggregate. Alcorcon operate on a budget of just over one million euros ($1.50 million), some 400 times smaller than Real's.
Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain scored twice for 10-man Real Madrid in a 2-0 home win over Getafe on Saturday that eased the pressure on coach Manuel Pellegrini. Real have 22 points from nine games and are one point behind La Liga leaders Barcelona after the champions were held to a 1-1 draw at Osasuna, Gerard Pique scoring in his own net in the last minute.
Successive home defeats by leaders Leicester City and second placed Tottenham Hotspur have left City six points off the pace with serious doubts about whether their expensively-assembled squad is still playing for the manager.
Villarreal condemned Barcelona to their first defeat of the campaign with an impressive 3-1 home win to go second in the Primera Liga on Saturday.
Midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme, an outcast at his club Villarreal, scored two majestic free kicks to give Argentina a 2-0 win over Chile in their opening World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini criticised his players' attitude and concentration after they were knocked out of the Intertoto Cup by Slovenian side NK Maribor 3-2 on aggregate.
Villarreal missed their chance to stay in touch with Real Madrid at the top of the Primera Liga when they went down 2-0 at Valladolid on Sunday. The defeat kept Manuel Pellegrini's side level with Barcelona on 28 points in third spot in the table and four adrift of leaders Real, who won 3-1 at home to Racing Santander on Saturday.
Manchester City's England goalkeeper Joe Hart will be rested for this weekend's FA Cup third round tie against Norwich City, manager Manuel Pellegrini said on Friday. Hart was also left on the bench for City's League Cup semi-final, first leg at Everton on Wednesday and Argentine Willy Caballero will continue in his place on Saturday. "Willy will play both cups. For Joe it's good to work one complete week because we are playing so many games," Pellegrini said at his news
Villarreal reclaimed fourth spot and a slim advantage in the race for a Champions League place with a 2-0 win at Malaga.
Manchester City embark on a fifth Champions League campaign buoyant after a perfect start to their domestic season but still searching for the secret formula against Europe's top brass.
Until this season Manchester City's progression in the Champions League could be measured in baby steps but on Tuesday they can make a huge leap forward when they host Real Madrid in their first European semi-final for 45 years.
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Juergen Klopp is being tipped as Manchester City's next manager after announcing on Wednesday that he would be leaving Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season after seven years in charge.
Bundesliga club Schalke 04 have signed Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic on loan until the end of the season.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini insists he will not change the way his team play despite suffering two defeats in a week and losing playmaker David Silva ahead of Manchester United's visit on Sunday.
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has been ruled out for a month with a calf injury sustained in Saturday's 6-3 win over Arsenal, manager Manuel Pellegrini said on Monday.
Sergio Aguero was acclaimed as "the best striker in the Premier League" by manager Manuel Pellegrini after his hat-trick helped Manchester City beat Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Manchester City will be without David Silva, Raheem Sterling and captain Vincent Kompany for this weekend's visit to Chelsea, manager Manuel Pellegrini told reporters on Friday.
English Premier League club Manchester City have named Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola as their new manager from July, hoping the Spaniard can emulate the glory years he enjoyed at Barcelona.
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has lavished praise on incoming Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, comparing the Spaniard with former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
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