Looking for Soccer News?

Former Zambia national team defender George Lwandamina has arrived in Tanzania ready for his appointment as Azam FC coach.

The position fell vacant after the dismissal of Romania coach Aristica Cioaba owing to poor results. The tactician will hold a meeting with the Chamazi-based officials before being unveiled.

The 57-year-old is not new in the Tanzania Mainland League having coached the 27-time champions Yanga SC from 2016-2017, helping them win the league title. He then left for Zesco United of Zambia where he served from 2018 to September 2020.

The tactician was fired after an inconsistent 2019/20 season in which Timu ya Ziko finished fifth and missed out on representing the country in Caf competitions for the first time in eight years.

"Zesco United management and club head coach, George Lwandamina have mutually agreed to separate with immediate effect," the Zambian outfit announced when making the changes.

"Zesco United would like to thank coach George [Lwandamina] for his services in the last three seasons which resulted in the team winning two league titles and one Absa Cup trophy."

Lwandamina has also coached Mufulira Wanderers, Green Buffaloes, Red Arrows and Chipolopolo. 

The Zambian coach will take over from Vivier Bahati who has been coaching the 2014 champions on an interim basis. The Burundian led Azam to a 1-1 draw in his first game in charge a couple of days ago.

The Ice-cream Makers came into the match hoping to give the interim coach a positive outcome after Cioaba's dismissal. 

Despite being away, the 2014 champions played well but struggled to finish the chances they created.

It all changed in the 20th minute - Obrey Chirwa miskicked the ball, but fortunately for him, it went into the right area. The defenders failed to clear it and Lyanga, eventually, managed to tap in from close range.

It happened to be the only goal in the first half.

After the break, the Francis Baraza-led charges came back stronger hoping to get an equalizer.

Their zeal paid dividends in the 58th minute. The Chamazi-based charges committed a foul just outside the 18-yard area, and from the position, Owenga unleashed a shot that Israel Mapigano could not keep out.

The team will take on Gwambina FC in their next assignment.

Uganda international Uche Ikpeazu is yet to feature as Wycombe Wanderers fell 1-0 to Stoke City in a Championship encounter on Wednesday.

Nick Powell headed home to hand Stoke City the all-important win at Adams Park as Ikpeazu’s side failed to pick up a win in the last five games now. The Craen forward remains sidelined from before the November international break.

Stoke City got the opener in the 72nd minute when James McClean delivered a cross that was met by Powell who slotted home as Josh Knight of Wanderers failed to stop the ball from crossing the line.

Ryan Allsop saved Wanderers from conceding again in the 83rd minute after Tyrese Campbell moved fast into the area but his deflected effort was saved by the goalkeeper.

Wanderers failed to produce a positive result in the first match where 1000 fans were allowed at the stadium after nine months of suspension.

Wanderer's manager Gareth Ainsworth said he was proud of his players despite going down to the Potters and also faulted the referee for some decisions.

“We were just done by one touch of class, there was nothing in it,” Ainsworth told Sky Sports .

“I think our fans have seen that we can compete at this level - I've been saying it on camera and our fans have been saying 'Well, we want to see it.'

“They've seen it and our fans can compete at this level as well because they were awesome. I'm really proud of the players, but it was just that one moment of quality.

“We've had a couple of shots, we hit the post in the first few minutes and there are some serious decisions the referee had to make.

“There was a potential red card on Fred [Onyedinma], there was a handball at the end that could have been a penalty, while Jason McCarthy has been dumped WWF-style and has had to come off injured."

On his part, Stoke's Michael O'Neill largely chose to talk about the attendance of fans.

“It was positive, really good,” O’Neill said. “We've been playing now for so long in empty stadiums and, at times, it's a little bit soulless, but tonight, even though there were only 1,000 people in the ground, we had a bit of an atmosphere.

“They were contesting the decisions, obviously, the referee was giving for and against them and, overall, I feel it was positive that they were back.

"There's been a lot talked about teams that will be permitted, fans and teams that won't be permitted. I don't really have any strong opinion on that - we're not permitted fans at Stoke, for example - but it was good to see fans here tonight."

With the win, the Potters moved themselves to within a point of the play-off places.

Bengaluru FC haven't got off to an ideal start in the Indian Super League (ISL). They've played out two consecutive draws, with the latest one a boring goalless affair against Hyderabad FC. They could not muster a single shot on target and coach Carles Cuadrat is aware that they need to improve in attack. 

Ahead of a crucial match against arch-rivals Chennaiyin FC, the Spanish manager is confident that his team will bounce back. 

"The opposition is not creating many chances against us. But we have to improve on some aspects. The problem is we are not winning many duels in the attacking third. We are lacking the last pass. We are showing consistency. We showed how we want to play. But we are not making it count.

"But I think we will shift the momentum after the next game and be the protagonist," he stated. 

He felt that team still has to mature physically and mentally and as the season goes on, their game will also improve. 

"We need to improve our scoring chances. The game against FC Goa (2-2 draw) was very matured. They arrived in our box for the first time only in the 46th minute. We are very close to getting that last pass. We need to be a little bit fresher physically and mentally. In training, I see we have players who can do that. I am sure it will happen. Most teams are shoeing glimpses but with no consistency," said a hopeful Cuadrat. 

He revealed that influential midfielder Dimas Delgado is nearing match fitness and will be ready to get more minutes under his belt against Chennaiyin. 

The Blues have revamped their foreign contingent with the likes of Fran Gonzalez, Cleiton Silva, and Kristian Opseth coming in. The coach feels that the players will start delivering sooner rather than later, as they train more. 

"I am very happy. When you ask a player to play with just 10 days of training, it is difficult. Many players would ask for more weeks to get ready and to avoid injuries. But from the first day, they are ready to give their all. The four (Fran Gonzalez, Cleiton Silva, Deshorn Brown and Kristian Opseth) of them have given everything to the team in conditions that they were not ready for.

"For the Indian contingent, they have had training. For foreigners, they will need time. Indians are giving more in the 90 minutes. There are still some players who are not ready. We are trying to get ready as soon as possible. Matches give you the extra preparation you need and we will be playing a couple in the next week," stated the ISL winner. 

A few days earlier East Bengal coach Robbie Fowler grabbed headlines when he questioned the quality of Indian players in his team. But Cuadrat stated that he thinks that they have improved a lot in the past few seasons and spoke highly of Chennaiyin's Indian contingent which comprises of the likes of Anirudh Thapa and Lallianzuala Chhangte. 

"We are expecting a tough game. They have good foreigners and good Indians in Chhangte and Thapa. In general, the Indians are performing a lot better since the last three seasons. A good sign for Indian football. Players like Suresh (Wangjam) and Ashique (Kuruniyan) have improved so much and they joined us last season, It is really good for Indian football," signed off Cuadrat. 

Manolo Marquez was in a predicament, going into Hyderabad FC's encounter against Jamshedpur FC on Wednesday evening. 

He could field only three overseas players in the starting line-up against Jamshedpur after Lluis Sastre, Joel Chianese and Francisco Sandaza were sidelined with injuries. 

In such a circumstance, the manager could have whined about the situation and cursed his luck. It would've been understandable. But the Barcelona-born tactician took the challenge head-on and dealt with it like a professional. In the absence of his regulars, he put his trust in his young domestic talent and they delivered. 

Akash Mishra is playing his debut season in the Indian Super League (ISL), but the young left-back has already been a revelation and did pretty well against a more experienced campaigner like Jackichand Singh. In fact, Owen Coyle took Jacki off at the hour-mark as he was not able to make an impact on the match. 

Mishra's Indian Arrows senior Asish Rai also played with elan on the opposite flank. He looked solid defensively and also provided support to Liston Colaco in attack with his overlapping runs. In fact, he could have well ended up on the scoresheet if he had shown better decision-making skills as he was late in pulling the trigger in a one-on-one against Pawan Kumar.

But the two best Indian players on the pitch were undoubtedly Halicharan Narzary and Mohammed Yasir. Both players worked tirelessly on the pitch and were inventive in the attacking third which troubled a shaky Jamshedpur defence. 

Narzary's pace on the left flank troubled Laldinliana Renthlei. The India international would often cut inside from the wide areas and have a crack at goal or set up a cross for a prolific Aridane Santana. It was one such shot from Narzary which was pushed onto Santana's path by Pawan Kumar that resulted in Hyderabad taking the lead.  

If the 26-year-old winger had luck on his side he could have opened his goalscoring account much earlier, only to be denied by the woodwork. 

Meanwhile, his teammate Yasir also stepped up on the occasion and put in one of the best displays of his career so far. It is not often that you see an Indian in the number 10 role in an ISL match but the young midfielder hardly put a step wrong. He was allowed the freedom to drift wide and one he had the ball in the flanks he would swing it inside the box targetting Santana. 

He brought cohesion and composure in Hyderbad's midfield and was also not afraid to try his luck from distance when he was getting a glimpse at goal. His understanding with Narzary and Colaco reflected on the pitch as they would often swap positions which bothered Jamshedpur's backline. 

Without a proper preseason, most teams have been plagued by injuries and Hyderabad have been the worst hit. In times of crisis, a team's character comes to the forefront and Marquez's men have stood up to the task. Credit must be given to the manager who has rallied behind his troops.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been urged to axe "pathetic" Fred after Manchester United's defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, with Michael Owen claiming the midfielder "would never play for me again".

United missed the chance to book their place in the Champions League knockout stages after suffering a 3-1 defeat to PSG at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

Neymar volleyed the visitors into a sixth-minute lead in Manchester, and they almost added to their tally moments later when Alessandro Florenzi's fierce shot was parried away by David de Gea.

The Red Devils were lucky not to be reduced to 10 men 20 minutes into the contest, as Fred escaped a red card after pushing his head against Leandro Paredes, with the referee only handing out a yellow to the Brazilian after checking his VAR monitor pitchside.

Solskjaer then saw his side draw level on the half-hour mark when Marcus Rashford's deflected effort trickled into the net after deceiving PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas, setting up an enthralling second half.

Anthony Martial should have put United into the lead minutes after the restart when Rashford set him up in front of goal only for the Frenchman to blaze over the bar from five yards out.

Edinson Cavani came even closer to completing the turnaround when his delightful chip over Navas bounced back off the bar, before PSG made the hosts pay for their wasteful finishing.

Neymar whipped in a corner in the 68th minute which caused havoc in the Red Devils penalty area, and Marquinhos managed to capitalise on the chaos by turning the ball past De Gea from close range.

Fred then picked up a second yellow card for a rash tackle on Ander Herrera, leaving his team with a mountain to climb in the final twenty minutes.

United pushed hard for a crucial second goal but ended up being caught on the break in stoppage time, with Neymar tapping home his second of the game to wrap up the victory for Thomas Tuchel's men.

Owen thinks Fred should be dropped for his ill-discipline, but also admits that Solskjaer deserves to take a share of the blame after failing to use one of his five substitutions  to take 27-year old out of the firing line.

"Mistakes all round really," the ex-United striker told BT Sport .

"It [the clash with Paredes] was a red card. You’re a grown man, you don’t need to do a petulant thing like that to put your team at risk.

"If I was a manager, and one of my players did that, he would never play for me again. It’s pathetic. Overall you have to blame Fred but also Solskjaer.

"The manager has to protect him and the team in that situation so they’re both to blame."

PSG are now favourites to qualify from Group H as they look ahead to a home fixture against Istanbul Basaksehir on matchday six, while United will travel to RB Leipzig knowing a defeat will send them out of Europe.

"PSG are going to go through so basically it’s a shootout between Manchester United and RB Leipzig," Owen added.

"Both teams can score but both teams look vulnerable. United should not go there with any fear.

"I think they will score goals in Germany so I still fancy Manchester United to get a draw or a win but they’ve made it dangerous for themselves."

Tanzania Mainland League side Mbeya City have appointed Mathias Lule as their new head coach after recent struggles.

The Mbeya Tax Collectors have not started the season as they had anticipated and the team's Board has decided to make changes in the technical bench to change the club's fortunes. The changes have been confirmed by the team ahead of their Saturday outing away to Coastal Union.

"Mbeya City have confirmed Mathias Lule as the new head coach effective immediately," the club confirmed through a statement signed by CEO Emmanuel Kimbe and obtained by Goal.

"14 coaches - four Tanzanians and 10 foreigners from Burundi, Mexico, Portugal, Rwanda, Burundi, and Italy, had shown interest in the job and had sent their CVs. 

"However, a special committee and the members chose Lule by giving him 41 votes."

Lule now takes over from Amry Said Juma who was fired in October after a series of poor performances.

"Mbeya City have ended the contract of our coach Amry Said Juma effective immediately," the club had said in a statement.

"The decision to part ways was reached between the two parties after lengthy talks and it was all because of the poor performances the team has been posting in the Mainland Premier League.  

"Said joined the team in December 2019 during the second round of the top-flight and we now wish him well as he leaves to get a new job elsewhere.  

"We take this chance to thank Said for the good job he rendered to the team and we will always remember him for the good things he brought to the team while in charge."

Since Juma's dismissal, the team has been under assistant coach Mathias Wandiba.  

The 41-year-old Lule has initially served as the assistant coach of Uganda Cranes. He has also coached the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Express FC, Entebbe FC and Proline FC.

He is coming to the team which is currently in 15th position with 11 points. They have managed to win just two games this season and drawn five while losing the remaining six out of the 13 played.

Mbeya City have also scored just six goals this season and conceded 15.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is at the same level as Marco van Basten, says Paolo Maldini, with the AC Milan legend seeing similarities between an enigmatic Swede and a “super champion” of the past.

The Rossoneri have been blessed with a wealth of attacking talent down the years.

At the peak of their powers in the late 1980s and early 90s, Dutch icon Van Basten led their line in style as he plundered 125 goals through 201 appearances.

Few have come close to matching the efforts of a classy finisher that saw his career cruelly cut short by injury.

Ibrahimovic is, however, another talismanic presence that has starred for Milan across two spells at San Siro.

He returned to Italy with unfinished business in January and is inspiring a bid for a first title triumph since 2011 – when he led the scoring charts for a team managed by Massimiliano Allegri.

Ibrahimovic has taken his goal return to 78 in 115 outings, with Maldini admitting that the evergreen 39-year-old deserves to stand alongside heroes such as Van Basten.

He told DAZN: “[Ibrahimovic and Van Basten] are two super champions. Ranking them is difficult.

“[Franco] Baresi and Van Basten were the ones who had something more than the others.

“Marco unfortunately had to stop in his best moment. Ibra, for what he has done and what he is doing, is undoubtedly at that level too.

“[Last year] Ibra was the right man to make that mix between youth and experience. But it was a risk for sure.

“He came from two years in the MLS, Serie A is a completely different thing.

“When we proposed an 18-month contract, he told us: ‘Let’s do six months because I don’t know what I can give you’.”

Ibrahimovic offered enough across the second-half of the 2019-20 campaign to earn an extended stay at Milan.

He is only committed to a deal through to the summer of 2021, but is playing his way into contention for further fresh terms that will take him beyond his 40th birthday.

An untimely spell on the sidelines is currently being taken in, as he nurses his way back from injury, but 11 goals have been plundered through 10 games and Stefano Pioli will be ready to welcome Ibrahimovic back with open arms once he returns to full fitness.

Harry Maguire doesn't inspire those around him like Roy Keane or Bryan Robson, according to Andrei Kanchelskis, who says the Manchester United captain is too quiet and lacks aggression.

More than a few eyebrows were raised when United forked out a world-record fee of £80 million ($107m) to sign Maguire from Leicester City in the summer of 2019.

The England international had shone during his time at the King Power Stadium, winning a regular spot in England's national team in the process, but had yet to experience club football at the highest level when he arrived at Old Trafford.

Maguire silenced his doubters initially as he quickly became the first name on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team-sheet while forming a solid partnership with Victor Lindelof in the heart of the defence.

The Norwegian boss was impressed enough to hand the 27-year-old the captain's armband following Ashley Young's move to Inter in January, and United went on to secure a third-place Premier League finish while also reaching three semi-finals.

However, Maguire has been far less reliable at the start of the new season, with the Red Devils allowing complacency to creep back in which has prevented them from re-emerging as a major force.

Solskjaer's side have conceded 16 goals in their first nine top-flight outings, and they shipped another three as Paris Saint-Germain earned a 3-1 victory at Old Trafford in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Prior to that defeat, Kanchelskis called Maguire's leadership credentials into question, with the former Leicester star considered to be short on the kind of "determination" which defined some of the club's previous captains. 

Asked if the centre-back is the right man to skipper the team in the long-term, the ex-United midfielder told American Gambler: "I don’t know,"

"He’s not someone that inspires you like a Roy Keane. He’s a little bit quiet and doesn’t really sparkle.

"You look at how Roy Keane and Bryan Robson used to fight on the pitch, he’s a little bit quiet and needs some determination and be a bit more aggressive.

"This is football; it’s not ballet."

Kanchelskis was less negative about United's chances of competing for top honours this season though, as he pointed out the fact that results have been difficult to predict in the post-coronavirus lockdown climate.

Asked if the Red Devils can compete for the title, he responded: "Yes! Why not?

"With everything going on with Covid, you are seeing some teams are finding it difficult and some teams are playing badly, some teams play better with fans.

"I’ve seen the results and anything can happen. Liverpool lost 7-2 and United lost 6-1. With everything happening, it’s a good chance to win the title."

Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial learned nothing from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and are not long-term options to fill a No.9 berth at Manchester United, says Paul Scholes, with a Red Devils legend hoping Edinson Cavani can mould Mason Greenwood into a central striker.

Since parting with Romelu Lukaku in the summer of 2019, those at Old Trafford have taken to experimenting in the final third of the field.

Rashford and Martial have both claimed in the past to see their respective futures operating down the middle.

A France international forward has been offered the opportunity to prove his worth in that post, with a person-best return of 23 goals recorded last season.

England star Rashford has also been used down the middle at times, but he has been nudged back to the flanks by club and country as his pace and creativity is considered to be a better fit for a wide attacking role.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has sought to bolster his crop of finishers by acquiring Cavani, with the experienced Uruguayan proving that he has lost none of his sharpness in the final third despite reaching 33 years of age.

Scholes hopes the South American can impart the kind of wisdom on young hopefuls in Manchester that Ibrahimovic was unable to get across to Martial and Rashford during his 18 months in England.

The United legend told BT Sport: “We talked so many times about United not having a proper No.9.

“This lad [Cavani] is a proper No.9 but it might only be for one or two years. We had the same with Zlatan a few years ago. Are we any further down the road?”

Fellow United great Rio Ferdinand replied: “I think Cavani, he would say himself, he's a stop gap, he's here to help support these guys.

“I think they've got to be sponges and take on a lot of elements of his game. That's what I would love to see.”

Scholes responded by adding: “What my point is, exactly what I said about Zlatan with Marcus and Martial - have they developed into centre-forwards, No.9s?

“I think they both like to think they're No.9s, but to me, they're both very dangerous wide players. Did they take anything from Zlatan? I'm not sure they did.

“Now we hope Mason does take something from Cavani.

“I think Mason, out of the three of them, he's the best finisher. He's got more of a chance than the other two to really develop into a proper No.9.”

Cavani started centrally for United in their Champions League home date with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, with Rashford getting the Red Devils’ goal in a 3-1 defeat for Solskjaer’s side.

AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda has dismissed claims the National Executive Committee is a divided body.

AFC Leopards’ NEC is a lean body made of only three officials; Shikanda as the chair, Maurice Chichi as the national treasurer while Oliver Shikuku is the Secretary-General. They were all elected into office in June 2019.

“We read in social media that NEC is divided and is rarely working together,” Shikanda told reporters.

“Why should we not work together and yet we are only three of us? What makes them think we are not working together? Those are wishful thinkers and are doing more harm to the club.

“AFC Leopards is not Shikanda’s club and it is not Maurice Chichi’s club. This AFC Leopards belongs to all members who support, relate and identify with AFC Leopards.”

The official also claimed those people spreading rumours of a divided NEC are jealous after seeing that the club has stabilised. Shikanda had also said a few people masquerading as members had threatened head coach Tomas Trucha and his agent.

AFC Leopards are expected to make a statement following the reported threat on Trucha.

“But now what they have decided is to stabilise the team and make sure that he does not operate peacefully,” Shikanda claimed on Wednesday. “I do not know what they want. The coach is definitely not happy with what is happening

“The same people were saying he does not have papers and that he is just a tourist. But when they saw his credentials they went silent.

“If I invite you to a place and people start threatening, will you be comfortable in that place?

“There are a lot of threats on our coach and his agent and the people who are bringing all these threats are also agents.

“There is a serious issue with the coach. We shall do a press conference and from here we will go and organise to get the nitty-gritty.”

The former Orapa United coach has only overseen one Football Kenya Federation Premier League game for Ingwe which they won 2-1 against Tusker on Saturday.

They will be up against Bidco United on December 6.

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Thomas Tuchel insisted the French giants have not achieved anything after boosting their Champions League qualification hopes by defeating Manchester United 3-1.

A Neymar brace and Marquinhos' goal placed United's last-16 progression on hold, while putting last season's runners-up PSG in control of their own destiny heading into the sixth and final matchday in Group H.

Neymar opened the scoring inside six minutes at Old Trafford on Wednesday before United star Marcus Rashford scored in his third successive Champions League appearance against PSG.

After Anthony Martial wasted a gilt-edged opportunity and former PSG forward Edinson Cavani rattled the crossbar, it all went pear-shaped for United – who watched Marquinhos bundle the ball over the line with 21 minutes remaining and saw Fred receive a second yellow card moments later.

Neymar added gloss to the scoreline in the first minute of stoppage time as PSG joined United and RB Leipzig on nine points with one fixture remaining – Tuchel's side only require a draw against Istanbul Basaksehir to secure a place in the knockout stages.

But Tuchel urged calm post-match, telling RMC Sport: "Nearly qualified, is not qualified. Nearly pregnant, is not being pregnant. That does not exist, I am not going to let a single guy think that everything has been done.

"We have made a big step forward but I am not going to let a single guy think that we are already qualified.

"We need to make the last step and for that, we will need to play with the same mentality, the same fire and the same spirit."

PSG have won both of their last two away matches against English opposition in all competitions (both versus United) – they had only won one of their first 10 such visits prior (drawn four and lost five).

Since his Champions League debut in 2013, only Cristiano Ronaldo (79), Robert Lewandowski (60) and Lionel Messi (59) have more goals in the competition than Neymar (38).

Neymar's double in Manchester was the Brazilian's first goals in his six Champions League games away to English sides.

"We can be proud tonight," PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi told RMC Sport. "We showed the real PSG, a real team who is fighting for the Champions League. It was important for us, this was a decisive match.

"We needed to show that we are always present in the big moments. I am proud of my players. It was difficult, it was a match that everyone wanted to win, I think that we created goals.

"Now we need to continue, we are not yet qualified, that is our aim. We also have the Ligue 1 match with Montpellier."

Andrea Pirlo says Alvaro Morata is playing "free of pressure" after another impressive display from the on-loan striker in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Morata, who returned to Juve on a temporary basis from Atletico Madrid in September, took his tally in this season's competition to six goals with the third in the Bianconeri's 3-0 win over Dynamo Kiev. 

Juve – who had already secured their last-16 spot after three wins from their opening four games – had earlier gone ahead thanks to Federico Chiesa's first Juve strike and Cristiano Ronaldo's 750th career goal.

Morata is level with Manchester United's Marcus Rashford and Erling Haaland as the Champions League top scorer this season, while his seven goal involvements is just one fewer than Borussia Monchengladbach's Alassane Plea, who leads the way in that department. 

Morata's tally also means he has scored the most goals for Juventus in the group stage since David Trezeguet also scored six in the 2001-02 campaign. 

Pirlo was thrilled with the Spain international's contribution and believes his experiences elsewhere in recent years have made him a more rounded player than the one that left the club in 2016. 

"Morata arrived very young at Juventus and he returned from his experiences in Madrid and London a more mature person and player," the Juve boss told Sky Sport Italia .

"He feels happy and free of pressure, so that helps anyone give their best. We wanted him at all costs and are very happy to have him."

Juve will need to overcome Barcelona at Camp Nou by three goals next week if they are to qualify for the knockout stages as group winners. 

While conceding it is a tall order, Pirlo believes his players will be highly motivated by the challenge. 

"These were the easiest games to prepare as a player, so I hope the same will be true as a coach," he added. "These fixtures really focus the mind, the motivation comes by itself and I feel ready."

Captain Leonardo Bonucci agreed with his coach that the trip to Catalonia will be difficult, saying: "It won't be easy to score the three goals against Barcelona to take the top spot, but we'll try our best.

"We know there's a process and a journey we need to go through. The target was to qualify for the round of 16 and be in the running with Barcelona for the top spot until the end, so we've achieved that. Now we'll try to complete the job.

"I think we are on track considering we didn't have any real rest or the kind of pre-season training routine you need when there are many changes both on the bench and in the squad."

Neymar has opened up on an unforgettable early meeting with Diego Maradona as he paid tribute to the 1986 World Cup winner, who passed away from a heart attack last week. 

The Paris Saint-Germain attacker scored twice on Wednesday night as he guided his side to a 3-1 win over Manchester United in the Champions League. 

While Neymar has been household name for over a decade now, the Brazilian star crossed paths with Maradona when he was only just starting to show his promise for Santos. 

One of their earlier exchanges was one Neymar will never forget with Maradona going out of his way to make a young boy feel welcome and even ensuring the duo got a photo together. 

"I had just a few contacts with Maradona, but I'll never forget the one when I was 12 or 13 years old," Neymar told Eleven Sports.

"I was just starting at Santos and I went to watch a show match between Brazil and Argentina - a game between former players.

"As the Brazilian team's bus were already full, I couldn't go with them, so they put me onto Argentina's bus. There were two guys highlighted in there, because they were sitting in the first seats: they were [Alejandro] Mancuso and Maradona.

"So they put me alongside them and treated me very well. So well that, when we arrived in the stadium, they took me to Argentina's locker room and onto the field.

"I even have a photo with Maradona, from when I was a little. He called me over to take that picture. I'll never forget his gesture.

"On the pitch he was an icon for everybody, sure. For me as well, but I've always respected him as an athlete and as a footballer. I will never forget that." 

Neymar is no stranger to talented Argentine footballers and expressed his desire to play with Lionel Messi again on Wednesday night. 

The duo spent four seasons together at Barcelona and the PSG forward has declared they need to be reunited next season with Messi's contract at Camp Nou due to expire. 

"What I want the most is to enjoy playing with him again," Neymar told ESPN. "For sure, next year we have to do it."

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 750th career goal as Juventus cruised past Dynamo Kiev 3-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday. 

Juve, who had already qualified for the last 16 after three wins from their opening four Group G games, scarcely had to get out of second gear against Mircea Lucescu's side, with Federico Chiesa's first goal for the club midway through the first half setting them on their way. 

Ronaldo then reached the latest milestone in his illustrious career, prodding home from almost on the line after 57 minutes.

Alvaro Morata sealed the routine win soon after to ensure Juve go into next week's final group game against Barcelona with an outside chance of securing top spot.

Weston McKennie and Morata were denied by Georgi Bushchan in the early stages but Chiesa got the better of him after 21 minutes to score his first ever Champions League goal. 

Chiesa – who joined on an initial two-year loan deal from Fiorentina in October – met Alex Sandro's left-wing cross with a downwards header, which powered through the grasp of the Dynamo goalkeeper. 

Ronaldo thundered a 12-yard effort against the crossbar after more impressive work from Alex Sandro soon after, while Wojciech Szczesny did well to thwart Viktor Tsygankov at the other end before half-time. 

Bushchan pushed over a long-range Ronaldo effort after the break but the Portugal international was not to be denied shortly before the hour mark, turning in from two yards after Chiesa's cross had caused panic inside the Dynamo penalty area. 

Morata had the assist for that goal and then scored for the sixth time in this season's competition after 66 minutes, the on-loan Atletico Madrid striker coolly slotting home from 10 yards after being picked out by the impressive Chiesa.

Andrea Pirlo's men were content to play out the game at a pedestrian pace after that, sealing a fifth win in six meetings against Dynamo with consummate ease.

What does it mean? Juve get back on track

After a disappointing 1-1 draw with Benevento in Serie A at the weekend, Pirlo desperately needed a return to winning ways to silence the critics. His players did the honours, brushing aside Dynamo with the minimum of fuss. 

They had 17 shots to the visitors' seven and just edged the possession, enjoying 53 per cent of the ball.

Rested Ronaldo back with a bang

Pirlo said Ronaldo was rested for the Benevento game as he was "a bit tired" and there was nothing sluggish about the rested superstar on Wednesday. 

He had six shots – double what anyone else on the pitch managed – made one key pass, and won four of his five duels. The one blot on his copybook, however, was losing possession a team-high 15 times.

Ramsey off the pace

Playing in an advanced role behind Ronaldo and Morata, Aaron Ramsey endured a difficult game. The Wales international had just one shot on goal, made no key passes and took just 40 touches – the joint lowest of any Juve starter. 

It was little wonder he was brought off for Federico Bernardeschi shortly after the hour mark and he has now been replaced in six of his seven Juve starts this season.

Key Opta Stats: Ronaldo goal sets more records

- Ronaldo scored his first goal against Dynamo Kiev since November 2007. Thirteen years and 25 days is the biggest gap between goals by a player against an opponent in Champions League history.
- Ronaldo's goal was his 71st home Champions League goal, an all-time record – he overtakes Lionel Messi, who has 70.
- Chiesa scored his first goal in the Champions League, 20 years and 256 days since his father Enrico Chiesa scored his final goal in the competition, for Fiorentina vs Bordeaux in March 2000.
- Morata has the most goals by a Juventus player in the group stage since David Trezeguet also scored six in the 2001-02 first group stage.
- Dynamo Kiev have lost three consecutive Champions League matches for the first time since December 2007 (six in a row).

What's next?

The Turin derby awaits Juve on Saturday with Torino visiting the Allianz Stadium, while Dynamo are in domestic action against Mariupol on the same day. They host Ferencvaros in this competition on Tuesday with third place and a Europa League spot on the line, while Juve are at Camp Nou.

Olivier Giroud was Chelsea's match-winner for the second time in as many Champions League games as he scored all four goals in a 4-0 victory over Sevilla that clinched first place in Group E for the Blues.

Giroud, making his 50th start for the club, was at his clinical best as he took his tally to 10 goals in his last seven away starts in the competition and ensured Chelsea go into the round of 16 as one of eight seeded teams.

He was the beneficiary of some fine build-up play as Kai Havertz and Callum Hudson-Odoi staked their claim for more regular first-team football in an impressive performance from a changed Chelsea team.

Sevilla went into this game unbeaten in 14 home matches in all European competitions but were scuppered by Frank Lampard's hardworking side, who blocked low for long periods but attacked fluently.

After scoring with either foot, Giroud capped a fine performance with a towering header and then a penalty as he became the oldest player to score a Champions League hat-trick, at 34 years and 63 days.

Havertz tested Sevilla's debutant goalkeeper Alfonso Pastor - a late addition after Tomas Vaclik pulled up in the warm-up - with a swerving cross-cum-shot in the opening minute, and the Germany international assisted the opener moments later.

He was allowed to glide through the Sevilla defence and roll the ball to Giroud, who took a touch to control it before opening up his body and finding the far corner of the net with his shot from 12 yards.

Franco Vazquez then cleared a powerful Antonio Rudiger header off the line but Chelsea found themselves pressed back in the latter stages of the first half as Sevilla tried to turn superior possession into goals.

The hosts emerged with renewed intent after the interval and Jesus Navas' audacious flick with the outside of his boot picked out Nemanja Gudelj, who half-volleyed narrowly over the crossbar from 20 yards.

But Giroud struck again on 54 minutes, latching onto Mateo Kovacic's pass before shrugging off Sergi Gomez and clipping a shot over Pastor and into the far corner of the net.

N'Golo Kante, on as a substitute, strode down the Chelsea right with 16 minutes left on the clock and landed a deft cross onto the head of Giroud, who powered the ball high into the net.

The France World Cup winner then won a late penalty from Gomez that he confidently converted into the corner of the net to complete an historic night.

What does it mean? Away form from the glory years

This was Chelsea's third consecutive Champions League away win – the club's best run on the road in the competition since they won five in a row between September 2003 and April 2004, back when Lampard was their midfield kingpin.

Giroud awakening

Giroud rolled back the years with his second Champions League hat-trick, having scored one for Arsenal against Olympiacos in December 2015.

He is Chelsea's top scorer in major European competition since the start of 2018-19 with 15 goals.

En-Nesyri misfires

Youssef En-Nesyri scored Sevilla's winner off the bench in 1-0 win at Huesca on Saturday but he misfired here, failing to find a way through from any of his four attempts, two of which were on target.

Key Opta facts

- Chelsea have won four consecutive Champions League matches for the first time since 2011-12, when they went on to win the competition.

- Sevilla were unbeaten in 14 home matches in all European competitions coming into this game (W12 D2), with this their first such defeat since April 2018 v Bayern Munich.

- The Blues have won two Champions League games by at least four goals under Lampard - only under Jose Mourinho do they have more such wins (six).

- In what was Sevilla's 100th home match in European competition, they lost by a four-goal margin on home soil for the very first time.

- Giroud is just the second player to a score a UEFA Champions League hat-trick for two different English sides (Arsenal and Chelsea), after Michael Owen (Liverpool and Manchester United).

What's next?

Leeds United visit Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday, while Sevilla entertain Real Madrid in LaLiga on the same day.