Leonardo Bonucci has called time on his glittering career, after playing his final game for Fenerbahce.
The decorated defender announced on Saturday that he would retire at the end of the Turkish Super Lig season, which concluded with Ismail Kartal s side inflicting a 6-0 rout on Istanbulspor.
However, it was not quite enough to snatch the title from Galatasaray, who finished three points clear after a 3-1 victory at Konyaspor on the final day.
Bonucci, who signed from Union Berlin in January, was given a wonderful reception as he was presented with a plaque before the game, in which he came on as a 64th-minute substitute.
We are proud of you!
— Fenerbahçe English (@Fenerbahce_EN)
The 37-year-old enjoyed the most success during his ca…
Harry Maguire has defended under-fire England boss Gareth Southgate after a 4-0 defeat to Hungary, claiming he remains one of the best managers in international football.
Maguire, who came on as a late substitute with England 3-0 down at Molineux on Tuesday, says the loss was unacceptable but insisted the Three Lions can make a big impact at the World Cup this year.
England are facing the threat of Nations League relegation after taking just two points from four Group A3 games, following up draws against Germany and Italy with their heaviest home defeat since a 5-1 hammering by Scotland in 1928.
A failure to win any of their four games this month also leaves England on their worst run since June 2014, when they went without a victory in five games during …
Nicke Kabamba continued his fine scoring form as Barnet preserved their 100 per cent home record in the National League this season with a 2-1 win over Aldershot.
The 30-year-old striker, who had a loan spell at Aldershot in 2018, converted his ninth goal of the campaign after Reece Hall-Johnson’s run and cross four minutes into the second half.
Barnet, beaten 4-2 at Rochdale on Saturday, had taken the lead a minute before half-time when defender Danny Collinge headed home.
Aldershot reduced the deficit just before the hour mark after Lorent Tolaj headed in from a corner but they slipped to a fourth defeat in five games on their travels.
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Karim Benzema has decided to drop his appeal against a one-year suspended sentence handed out after he was found guilty of complicity in the attempted blackmail of Mathieu Valbuena, his lawyer has said.
The Real Madrid striker was handed the sentence along with a €75,000 fine back in November over an extortion case that dated back to 2015 in relation to a sex tape, and saw him exiled from the France national team until his recall last year.
Benzema, who has consistently denied the accusations, was one of five people who stood trial in a case that rocked French football, and it was initially reported he would appeal against the verdict with the hearing set to have taken place over June 30 and July 1.
The 34-year-old s lawyer, Hugues Vigier, told L Equipe that hi…
Gareth Southgate has been England manager for five years and says the memories of the Three Lions Euro 2020 campaign will stay with him forever .
The former Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace defender replaced Sam Allardyce on November 30, 2016, having held the post of Under-21s manager since 2013.
Southgate was initially appointed on an interim basis, but was handed the reins permanently after four games and has since led England to a World Cup semi-final in 2018 and the final of Euro 2020 in July.
England secured their spot at the World Cup in Qatar next year by topping their qualifying group, going unbeaten and conceding just three goals in 10 games in the process, leading to a new contract for the 51-year-old that runs until 2024.
To take a country to…
Best Odds: 3/5
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With the El Classico stealing centre stage this weekend, Barcelona will welcome Real Madrid to Catalonia on Saturday afternoon.
Barcelona
Starting with the hosts, making real La Liga history last season as they got their hands on a first La Liga crown since 2019, Barcelona have once again impressed this time around. Last seen earlier in the week making it three Champions League victories on the spin as they claimed a 2-1 win against Shakhtar Donetsk, some have even tipped Xavi’s squad as a potential European dark horse this year. Signing off September with a gritty 1-0 victory against Sevilla on home soil, the Spanish champions are unbeaten in each of their first 13 straight appearances across all competitions. Getting proceedings wi…
In what was another Premier League classic on Monday night, Chelsea snatched a famous 4-1 victory away at a nine-man Tottenham following a string of infamous incidents at both ends of the pitch.
While Spurs might have taken the lead after just six minutes as Dejan Kulusevski’s deflected effort found a way past the helpless Robert Sanchez, the wheels quickly came off for Tottenham in a remarkable fashion.
Although full-back Destiny Udogie might have initially avoided being shown a straight red card following a reckless lunge on Raheem Sterling, Cristian Romero was not as fortunate as the Argentinian defender was given his marching orders after a lengthy VAR check just minutes later.
Watching summer recruit Cole Palmer extend on his bright start to life in west …
Jamie Carragher hailed Liverpool’s mentality after they twice fought back to seal a 2-2 draw with Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday.
The Reds remain just a point behind Pep Guardiola s side with seven games remaining after Sadio Mane s goal early in the second half.
Diogo Jota had earlier cancelled out Kevin de Bruyne s deflected opener, before Gabriel Jesus restored City s advantage.
Mane s fine strike meant City had scored the first goal and not gone on to win in the Premier League this season for the first time this season, the reigning champions having done so in all 22 games when scoring first prior to the visit of Jurgen Klopp s men.
Carragher, who made 737 appearances for Liverpool between 1996 and 2013, was impressed with…
Best Odds: 4/6
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Looking to cause an upset when they turn their attention back to Champions League duties, Villarreal will welcome Bayern Munich to the Estadio de la Cerámica on Wednesday night.
Villarreal
Starting with the hosts, although Villarreal might have stunned many across Europe as they overcame Italian giants Juventus last month, it appears that the Yellow Submarine are struggling with their consistency. While Head Coach Unai Emery might have seen his side pick up that famous 3-0 romp in Turin on March 16th, the former Arsenal boss saw his side put in another flat display last weekend. Marking their return from the international break with a shock 2-0 defeat away at Levante, the defending Europa League winners have suffered back-to-back La L…
Eddie Nketiah scored his first Premier League double as Arsenal got their top-four hopes back on track with an entertaining 4-2 victory over Chelsea.
Mikel Arteta s faith in Nketiah was rewarded as the 22-year-old ended a wait for a league goal that stretched back to April 2021 with the opener at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Timo Werner scored in consecutive Premier League games for just the second time in his Chelsea career to restore parity, before Emile Smith Rowe put Arsenal back in front.
Cesar Azpilicueta got another equaliser for Chelsea, but he was at fault for Nketiah s second and a stoppage-time penalty from Bukayo Saka as Arsenal ended run of three straight defeats and went level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham.
2 Eddie Nketia…