Raffael has been our most dangerous attackers in recent years, and still has the quality to make a difference, so we’re very happy that he will be with us again next season.”

Those are the words of Borussia Monchengladbach’s sporting director Max Eberl, who confirmed that Raffael has signed a one year contract extension with the club. The Brazilian has been with the club since back in 2013, when he made the jump over from Dynamo Kyiv. He is considered to be a club legend, and at the age of 33, this deal could be one of the last ones he signs as he approaches the final stretch of his career.

Raffael, who is an attacking midfielder, has been a constant in the Gladbach first team for a long time now. When he retires, many fans are expecting him to continue his work …

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri hailed the quality that Dusan Vlahovic has brought to the Bianconeri squad after he netted two superb goals in a 3-2 win at Empoli.

Vlahovic netted twice after Moise Kean had opened the scoring for the Old Lady in a win which saw them consolidate fourth place in Serie A, although they had to survive a late onslaught from their lively hosts.

The Serbian striker now has 20 Serie A goals this season, while the victory has given Juventus a six-point cushion over fifth-placed Atalanta, ahead of Gian Piero Gasperini s team s clash with Sampdoria on Monday.

Vlahovic s neat finishes proved the difference in a hard-fought encounter in which Empoli managed 11 attempts to the visitors 12.

Allegri was keen to praise the in-form…

Central Coast Mariners kicked off their 2020-21 A-League campaign with a 1-0 win over Newcastle Jets on Thursday thanks to Alou Kuol s first-half header at the Central Coast Stadium.

Teenage forward Kuol profited from some hesitant Jets defending to guide in Stefan Nigro s deep free-kick and earn the hosts bragging rights in the F3 Derby.

It marks a first league victory on home soil for the Mariners in nine attempts, while it meant they picked up successive wins in the competition for the first time since December 2017, having ended last term with a 3-2 win over Melbourne Victory at Jubilee Stadium.

The team now coached by Alen Stajcic have finished bottom of the ladder in each of the last three seasons but made a bright start against their neighbours and took…

Fiorentina have confirmed that ex-AC Milan and Sevilla coach Vincenzo Montella will stay on at the Serie A club.

Montella, who coached Fiorentina between 2012 and 2015, returned to the Artemio Franchi in April, replacing Stefano Pioli.

But he failed to win any of his eight games in charge at the end of 2018-19, seemingly casting his future in doubt.

However, it has now been confirmed that Montella will take charge of the Viola next season, following a meeting with new owner Rocco Commisso on Friday.

I m very happy. I met Rocco Commisso for the first time in person and his enthusiasm exceeded all my expectations, Montella told Fiorentina s official website.

He conveys a lot of positivity and I m sure this feeling will spread through to everyon…

Real Madrid are the latest in the line of clubs credited with interested in Donyell Malen of PSV Eindhoven.

The 20-year-old has been on impressive form for a while now, having become a regular feature in Ronald Koeman s Netherlands team and his talents have not gone unnoticed. He is currently being courted by the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona, who are all looking to add young firepower on the flanks.

Malen s football journey started at PSV s fierce rivals Ajax, whose academy ranks he left in 2015 to join Arsenal. Two years later he returned to his homeland, this time with PSV. This season he has scored an incredible 16 goals in 18 competitive matches already, which makes the interest of top European sides quite understandable.

Real are currently devi…

Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel has revealed he played in his country s World Cup clash with Argentina knowing that his father had been kidnapped.

The 31-year-old s father, Pa Michael Obi, was tortured during a week-long ordeal before police secured his release from the kidnappers who demanded a ransom from Nigeria s captain and told him he would be killed if he reported the incident.

Mikel told The Guardian that he contemplated withdrawing from the match but opted to play in the 2-1 defeat without informing Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr of his father s capture so as not to disturb the team s preparation.

I played while my father was in the hands of bandits, said Mikel. I had to suppress the trauma.

I took a call four hours before kick-off to tell me what ha…

Sebastien Corchia is honoured to be linked to Paris Saint-Germain, Sevilla and Napoli, but the French full-back remains focused on Lille.

Former France Under-21 captain Corchia has been a mainstay in the Lille side since arriving from Sochaux in 2014, and his performances have not gone unnoticed.

French champions PSG, where Corchia spent two years as a youth player, as well as three-time and reigning Europa League champions Sevilla and Serie A heavy-hitters Napoli have reportedly shown an interest in the 25-year-old right-back, who has already amassed more than 200 Ligue 1 appearances.

Obviously I can t comment on rumours and club names, but it is true, that there has been some interest from big clubs, Corchia told Omnisport.

I take that as a compliment…

Jamie Vardy s stunning streak continued on Sunday as he became the first player to score in eight consecutive Premier League games since he previously achieved the feat himself in 2015.

Vardy claimed goals in a record-breaking 11 consecutive matches during Leicester City s remarkable title-winning campaign and is now threatening to improve on that landmark.

He was on target after 20 minutes at Aston Villa in Leicester s latest game, boosting the Foxes chances of recording an eighth successive Premier League win and closing back to within eight points of leaders Liverpool.

Vardy has been the English top flight s most prolific forward since Brendan Rodgers first game in charge of Leicester on March 3, scoring 24 league goals in that time, seven more than any othe…

Gonzalo Higuain sent Juventus top of Serie A  and handed Antonio Conte his first league defeat as Inter boss as the reigning champions secured a 2-1 victory at San Siro.

Higuain started on the bench but the experienced striker once more came up with the goods for Maurizio Sarri, who he has played under at Napoli and Chelsea, guiding home the winner 10 minutes from time.

Paulo Dybala was deployed in the first XI at his compatriot s expense and took just four minutes to break the Derby d Italia deadlock, but Lautaro Martinez equalised from the penalty spot after a handball by Matthijs de Ligt.

Although Inter rattled the post through a deflected Matias Vecino shot, a sweeping Juve move ended with Rodrigo Bentancur teeing up fellow replacement Higuain to ensure the…

England boss Sarina Wiegman declared she is willing to “make changes” as the Lionesses look to secure a second successive World Cup victory against Denmark on Friday.

Wiegman stuck with the same starting XI for every match of England’s triumphant Euro 2022 campaign, but the retirements of striker Ellen White and midfielder Jill Scott alongside injuries to European champions Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby have left her current 23-woman squad looking significantly different.

The 53-year-old called for more “ruthlessness” from her side following the nervy 1-0 tournament-opening win over Haiti, decided by Georgia Stanway’s retaken penalty despite several missed chances in open play.

Final session smiles

MD2

— Lionesses (@Li…