Rafael Leao scored a deadly double as Milan returned to winning ways in Serie A and boosted their Champions League qualification hopes with a 2-0 victory over Lecce.

Stefano Pioli s side reached the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday after a 2-1 aggregate win over Napoli, but their recent domestic league form had left much to be desired.

The Rossoneri had managed just one win in their last six league games, but Leao scored in each half on Sunday at San Siro to halt that slide against their relegation-threatened visitors.

Victory moved Milan level on points with fourth-placed Roma, who visit Atalanta on Monday, and three behind Juventus after the Bianconeri s 15-point deduction was reversed.

Rising to the challenge

— AC Milan (@acmilan) <…

Ashley Barnes converted an 83rd-minute penalty as Burnley condemned Liverpool to a first home defeat in the Premier League since April 2017.  

Having been fouled by Alisson for the spot kick, Barnes fired home from 12 yards out to secure his side three welcome and unexpected points to move them away from the relegation zone. 

Defeat means Liverpool remain six points behind leaders Manchester United in the table, the stuttering champions enduring a fourth successive league game without a goal despite having 27 attempts. 

Divock Origi hit the crossbar in the first half while Nick Pope who starred when Burnley end the Reds  100 per cent home record in their title-winning campaign was outstanding in the visiting goal, helping secure a stunning result t…

Stefano Pioli believes Milan are capable of going beyond the 85-point mark in Serie A and insists that is the target as a title battle with Napoli looms.

There are other teams who could also be a factor, but Napoli are the side who have made a flying start, and defending champions Milan were their closest challengers heading into this weekend.

The Rossoneri head coach says it is not essential that his team head the table when the World Cup break comes around next month, but he is wary of letting Napoli build any sort of substantial lead.

Luciano Spalletti s team have already beaten Milan this season, which remains the only league defeat suffered by Pioli s men through 11 rounds of games.

On Sunday, Milan head to Torino, and they only managed a goalless dr…

Santos have dropped immediate plans to retire the number 10 shirt that Pele wore during his career with the Brazilian club.

The club s members were divided on the issue, and the emergence of an old video in which Pele said he was against the idea has seemingly seen the proposal scrapped for now.

In a 2017 YouTube interview, Pele reportedly said: It s better, perhaps, to leave the number 10 because then people will never forget it.

Santos president Andres Rueda said soon after Pele s death that retiring the 10 shirt would be an excellent tribute , revealing it would be put to the club s council for consideration, with the number to be dropped in the meantime pending a final decision.

Multiple reports in Brazil said Pele s daughters had requested the numbe…

Tottenham crashed to defeat in their Champions League encounter with Sporting CP as a stunning late show condemned them to a 2-0 defeat in Lisbon.

Spurs had produced a largely uninspiring performance at Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday and appeared happy to settle for a share of the spoils.

But there was a twist in the tale in the closing stages when Paulinho turned home a corner at the near post in the 90th minute.

Sporting then made sure of the points in the third and final minute of injury time as Arthur Gomes doubled their tally with a superb individual effort on his debut.

Former Tottenham youth product Marcus Edwards was the primary threat in the first half and almost set up the opening goal at the end of a quick break, finding Pote only for the win…

Arsenal are interested in signing Eberechi Eze from London and Premier League rivals Crystal Palace in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that the Gunners have already taken a major step in their quest to bring Eze to the Emirates Stadium.

Football Transfers has reported that Arsenal contacted the agents of Eze earlier this month to gauge his interest in a potential move to the Emirates Stadium. The England international, who can play as an attacking midfielder or as a winger, is hesitant to leave Palace for a club that would not assure him of a regular place in the starting lineup.

Eze is one of the best English wingers in the Premier League and has done well for Palace over the years. The England international joined the Eagles from Quee…

Liverpool’s youngsters have had a significant week in the spotlight, helping beat Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday before setting up an FA Cup quarter-final trip to Manchester United after victory over Southampton.

Three of them – Bobby Clark, Jayden Danns and Lewis Koumas – are following in their former professional footballer fathers’ footsteps.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the fresh faces who have taken their opportunity to shine at Anfield.

Bobby Clark

Given a handful of opportunities in recent weeks, the 19-year-old is an attacking midfielder. The son of former Newcastle midfielder Lee Clark, he joined the club from the Magpies in 2021 and signed a long-term contract last December.

Jayden Danns

An 18-year-old forward, son of …

Chris Armas says his Colorado Rapids players deserve to enjoy their meteoric rise up the MLS standings, and he is confident they will not get carried away ahead of their trip to FC Cincinnati.

Colorado sit fourth in the Western Conference with 15 points from nine games, winning three of their last four after an inconsistent start to the year.

They benefitted from two own goals as they beat FC Dallas 2-1 last time out, and Armas has no issue with his players enjoying their place in the standings, particularly given they finished rock bottom of the West in 2023.

I see the boys looking at the TV where we have the standings posted, and they see that we re climbing, so it s all good stuff, Armas said.

From day one the message that I preached is that everythi…

John Mousinho was gutted his Portsmouth side were unable to see out the final stages as they played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Leeds United in their first game back in the Championship.

Pompey, back in the second tier after a 12-year exile, took a 92nd-minute lead in Saturday s contest at Elland Road through a Callum Lang penalty, only for Brenden Aaronson to strike two minutes later.

The newly promoted side had earlier recovered from a Pascal Struijk penalty to take a 2-1 lead into half-time through goals from Elias Sorensen and Lang, before Willy Gnonto levelled early in the second half.

A point away at one of the promotion favourites can still be considered a hugely encouraging result, but the dramatic conclusion to the contest left Mousinho with bitterswee…

Wolfsburg attacking midfielder Julian Draxler is in danger of missing Euro 2016 after sustaining a muscle tear to his left thigh in the 3-0 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old, who joined Wolfsburg from Schalke in August, impressed in the first leg of the quarter-final tie, but limped off at the half-hour mark in the return at the Santiago Bernabeu, which saw Madrid progress to the last four courtesy of a 3-2 aggregate win.

Draxler underwent further examination on his injury on Thursday and Wolfsburg have now announced he faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

I am disappointed and it s a real shame that I can t help the team right now in looking to achieve our goals for the season, Draxler said.

I will now do everything …