Atletico Madrid striker Mario Mandzukic's early goal secured a 1-0 win over Real Madrid and a 2-1 aggregate success to clinch the Spanish Super Cup and gain some revenge for last season's Champions League final defeat.
The all-German Champions League final on Saturday pits traditional powerhouses Bayern Munich against modernists Borussia Dortmund at London's Wembley Stadium with more at stake than Europe's premier club trophy.
Cologne, looking for their fourth straight league win, thought they had wrapped up the match played without spectators after early goals in each half.
Angry Barcelona fans chanted for the resignation of the club president Josep Maria Bartomeu after captain Lionel Messi announced on Tuesday that he wished to leave the Catalan side.
Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is counting on Frenchman Franck Ribery's anger to power them past Real Madrid in their Champions League semi-final second leg on Tuesday despite the winger's recent slump in form.
Tottenham Hotspur have called off talks with Antonio Conte to become their new manager to replace the sacked Jose Mourinho
Netherlands head coach Louis Van Gaal was quickly installed as the bookmakers' favourite to succeed David Moyes as Manchester United manager after the English Premier League club announced the end of the Scot's ill-fated spell in charge on Tuesday.
A 2018 World Cup finalist, Perisic, who also played for Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga between 2011 and 2015, will play for Bayern starting on Friday.
Steven Gerrard scored two penalties as Liverpool went back to the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win at West Ham United to complete a Merseyside win-double over London clubs on Sunday. Whereas in Bundesliga Sascha Moelders brought an end of the unbeaten run of Bayern Munich.
Germany midfielder Toni Kroos has signed a six-year deal to join Real Madrid from Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga club confirmed on Thursday.
Football's world governing body FIFA named Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery as the three nominations from a 10-player shortlist for the Ballon d'Or award. The winner will be announced on January 13.
Reader Ahsan Ali sent us this picture from Saudi Arabia.
Images from the UEFA Champions League matches played on Wednesday.
Former Chelsea great Didier Drogba does not know how he will react when he returns to Stamford Bridge with his Galatasaray team on Tuesday for their Champions League last-16 second leg, the Ivorian striker said.
Photos of the World Cup match between Honduras and Switzerland
Arsenal and Manchester City face monumental tasks when they visit European powerhouses Bayern Munich and Barcelona looking to overturn 2-0 deficits in the second legs of their Champions League last-16 ties.
Yet even without a transfer fee, Messi's colossal salary, reported to be the highest in world football, means very few clubs would be able to afford him.
Bayern Munich led the charge into the last 16 of the Champions League when they beat Viktoria Plzen 1-0 to chalk up a record-equalling ninth straight victory in the competition on Tuesday.
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.
Turning points from the UEFA Champions League matches played between Arsenal-Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid-AC Milan.
Arsene Wenger cut a frustrated figure after his 10-man Arsenal side suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Bayern Munich in their Champions League Round of 16 first-leg clash at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
Zidane will come up against Guardiola for the first time as a manager when their sides meet in a blockbuster tie in the Champions League last 16 next February.
Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski and Arjen Robben scored twice each as the champions crushed Hanover 96 4-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday to go four points clear at the top of the table as rivals Borussia Dortmund lost to Hamburg SV.
Lionel Messi has added another record against his already legendary name.
Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos and are set to make a stunning move for his team-mate Arjen Robben.
Diego Costa's season is getting better and better. The Atletico striker found the net again and took the Madrid team atop the La Liga table.
Images from the football matches played across Europe over the weekend.
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.
Barcelona have been haunted by their recent failures in the Champions League and there are concerning signs for the Catalans as they prepare for Tuesday's last-16 first leg away to Olympique Lyonnais.
A round-up of Saturday's action in Serie A, La Liga and Bundesliga.
Arjen Robben's Champions League final was a microcosm of his career as the Bayern Munich winger perplexed opponents, left team mates waiting in vain for passes, infuriated fans and produced two match-winning moments.
Pep Guardiola is a 'proven winner' who will take Manchester City to a 'whole new level', the Premier League club's chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has said.
Ajax wary of attacking Napoli.
Real Madrid's world record signing Gareth Bale looked forward to his first Champions League final after a 4-0 thrashing of holders Bayern Munich on Tuesday and said it was exactly why he wanted to join the Spanish side.
Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola still believes in possession-based football and cannot alter his feelings about the way the game should be played, he said after the Champions League holders were hammered by Real Madrid.
Real Madrid's Gareth Bale is fit and ready to play in their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich on Tuesday after missing their 4-0 league win over Osasuna at the weekend with flu, he said on Monday.
Bayern Munich crushed European heavyweights Barcelona and Juventus en route to the Champions League final but they should not expect the same to happen against Borussia Dortmund, Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp said on Monday.
If Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, soccer's most expensive duo, can produce the brilliance that prompted Real Madrid to invest $260 million in, the Spanish giants could finally land their 10th European Cup this season.
Real Madrid struck early through Karim Benzema and comfortably held Bayern Munich at bay to beat the holders 1-0 on Wednesday and move a step closer to a first Champions League final in 12 years.
Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale could miss Wednesday's Champions League semi-final, first leg at home to Bayern Munich due to illness, Spanish media reported on Tuesday.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances