Bayern Munich were victims of Real Madrid s lethal efficiency in Tuesday s 2-2 draw but the Germans are ready to beat them in next week s Champions League semi-final return leg, says coach Thomas Tuchel.

The Bavarians struck twice in four minutes early in the second half with a shot from Leroy Sane and a Harry Kane penalty to turn the game around after Vinicius Junior had put the visitors ahead in the 24th against the run of play.

Brazilian striker Vinicius also bagged an equaliser with an 83rd-minute spot kick as Bayern were pushing for a third goal.

Tuchel felt Bayern were in a strong position to stretch their lead going into the closing stages, but instead they will travel to Madrid next Wednesday with the tie all square.

The result is what it is and …

Barcelona head coach Xavi wants to sign Brazilian teenager Endrick, revealing he has held talks with the player and his father.

The 16-year-old Palmeiras forward is widely considered to be one of the finest prospects in South American football, drawing the attention of some of Europe s biggest sides.

Endrick s father will reportedly travel to Spain to tour Real Madrid s facilities later this month, but a fight is expected for his services, with Barcelona s own interest now being confirmed.

We ve been talking to his father and also directly to the player. I explained the project we have in Barcelona, Xavi told ESPN.

We want talent and he s a talent, able to make a difference. He can score goals, he can dribble, he s got a brutal ability to make a differe…

On the eve of his 50th A-League appearance, Melbourne Heart skipper Fred has applauded the continuing improvement in Australia.

The 33-year-old midfielder began his A-League career six years ago with Melbourne Victory before stints with DC United and Philadelphia Union in the US.

He had a brief stint on loan at Wellington in 2008, before returning to Melbourne to play with the Heart in June 2011.

Ahead of Friday night s game against the league leaders Central Coast Mariners in Gosford, the influential Brazilian said the improvement in quality over that time has been huge.

It s much better (the standard) than the time that I played with Victory, Fred said after training in hot conditions at La Trobe University on Thursday.

The players are better…

Atletico Madrid closed in on a Champions League spot after winger Rodrigo Riquelme s early strike earned his side a 1-0 win at Mallorca in LaLiga on Saturday.

With four games remaining, Diego Simeone s side are fourth in the standings on 67 points, six ahead of fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao, who beat Getafe on Friday.

There was an end-of-the-season feel at a half-empty Son Moix stadium with both teams lacking urgency in a lacklustre match, with the only standout moment being Riquelme s fine individual effort in the fifth minute, which ultimately secured the win for the visitors.

Riquelme pounced on a loose ball in the edge of the box and cleared two defenders before unleashing an unstoppable strike just inside the right post.

3 points on the road

…

Brian McDermott has been set the target of steering Reading into the Premier League for a second time after returning to take charge of the Championship club. 

The former Leeds United boss was confirmed on Thursday as Steve Clarke s successor at the Madejski Stadium, the 51-year-old inheriting a side 13th in the second tier of English football. 

McDermott guiding Reading into the top flight as champions in 2011-12, only to depart the following March.

I m absolutely delighted to welcome Brian back, Reading co-chairman John Madejski told the club s official website. 

He was able to win us promotion to the Premier League before and now it is his mission to do it again. 

I ve always enjoyed working with Brian, he is a great manager and I wish h…

Lassana Diarra has thanked Didier Deschamps for giving him another opportunity to represent France.

Having previously said in 2013 that his time with the national team was finished, the midfielder had a change of heart and accepted a recall to the squad for the upcoming friendlies with Armenia and Denmark.

The former Real Madrid man, whose last cap came against Norway in August 2010, admitted to informing Deschamps that we wished to return to the set-up and thanked the coach for obliging.

I had a discussion with the coach. I told him of my motivation, Diarra said in a news conference.

I wanted to return for France. I had this objective in joining Marseille and obviously I convinced him. I thank him for calling me.

A contractual dispute w…

Javi Gracia remains focused on steering Watford to their best Premier League finish following a frustrating 2-0 loss to Tottenham.

Watford had chances to equalise after Dele Alli gave Spurs the lead on Monday at Wembley, Hugo Lloris denying both Andre Gray and Richarlison before Harry Kane made it 2-0 three minutes into the second half.

Gracia has still yet to see his side score an away goal and they are not quite sure of safety, sitting six points above third-bottom Southampton who have a game in hand but the Spaniard is looking to better the 13th-placed finish the Hornets achieved in 2015-16.

He told Sky Sports: It was frustrating, we competed very well. The first half we created many chances to score. Tottenham with their first chance to score, scored and afte…

Prediction: Villa win

Best Odds: 

Bookmaker: 

After a season which has had many ups and downs in the Championship, we re now on the verge of its conclusion as Aston Villa and Middlesbrough prepare to battle for a place in the playoff final at Wembley. As it stands, Villa have a 1-0 advantage courtesy of their win at the Riverside in the first leg, as Tony Pulis attempts to pull off what would be an impressive comeback.

Aston Villa

Under Steve Bruce, Villa fans have been through it all. They ve been favourites for promotion, and they ve also suffered from complacency leading many to wonder whether or not he s the right man for the job. Now, however, they re on the verge of another trip to Wembley, which is an impressive feat given just how high the ex…

The Premier League has revealed new cases of COVID-19 at its clubs have topped 100 for the first time in a seven-day period.

League chiefs said there were 103 freshly discovered cases in the week from Monday December 20 to Sunday December 26.

That follows the announcement of 90 new positive cases for the previous week, which was more than double the previous high.

It comes as more games fall by the wayside due to clubs being overwhelmed by new cases. Together with mid-season injury tolls, the cases have left several teams unable to field sides.

Three of nine games scheduled for Boxing Day could not be played.

Those were the games between Liverpool and Leeds United, Wolves and Watford, and Burnley and Everton.

Games scheduled for Tuesday …

According to a recent report from Football Insider, Liverpool will allow Divock Origi to leave the club for as little as £12 million.

Origi will forever go down in the history books as an Anfield legend thanks to the many iconic goals he’s scored over the years with the most notable being the goal in the 2019 UEFA Champions League final that sealed the trophy for the Reds.

However, between some of his poor misses as well as a lack of playing time, it certainly feels as if his stint with the club is coming to an end.

At the age of just 25 he certainly has a lot of time left to grow as a striker and when you consider how many clubs could use someone like him in their squad, it doesn t feel like he s going to be short on options.

Sure, he may not stay in…