Ten-man Rangers fell to a second straight defeat to begin their Europa League campaign as they went down 1-0 to Sparta Prague at Generali Arena. 

The Gers went unbeaten on their travels in this competition last season but failed to respond in the Czech capital on Thursday after David Hancko headed Sparta into a first-half lead. 

Jakub Pesek missed an open goal early in the second period but Rangers, who lost 2-0 to Lyon in their opening game, had Glen Kamara sent off 16 minutes from time and were unable to get off the mark in Group A. 

The defeat leaves Steven Gerrard s side bottom of the standings, six points off leaders Lyon – who beat Brondby 3-0 – and four adrift of Sparta in the other qualification spot. 

Sparta s stalemate with Brondb…

AS Roma s French defender Philippe Mexes admitted on Tuesday that he was ready to at last replicate his club form on the international stage in Wednesday s friendly with Norway.

The 28-year-old has been recalled to the French squad after new coach Laurent Blanc refused to select any of the 23 players from the World Cup finals squad who shamed the country in June.

It gives Mexes a golden opportunity to as Blanc put it to him not to miss the train a second time after a traumatic appearance for France in a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Austria in September 2008 which apart from one call-up for a friendly against Argentina was the last time he appeared at this level.

But Mexes, who made his name at French side Auxerre before moving to Roma in 2004 for 7million eu…

(GSM) Wesley Sneijder has again dismissed suggestions that he may make a return to Real Madrid with his agent raising the prospects of a reunion with Jose Mourinho.

The player s agent earlier revealed that problems had occurred while negotiating a contract extension with Internazionale but Sneijder, who left Madrid in 2009, has denied any intentions of a return.

We re talking about a contract extension with Internazionale because I wanna stay here in Milan, he wrote on Twitter.

I hope that these agreements will be taken as soon as possible. I rule out a return to Real Madrid because I haven t forgotten the events of long ago.

Real Madrid is a very strong team coached by a coach who made me win all trophies with my current team. I repeat for the umptee…

Karim Benzema and Mathieu Valbuena have been left out of the France squad for the upcoming friendlies with Germany and England.

Benzema was on Thursday charged by prosecutors in Versailles with complicity in an attempt to blackmail and participating in a criminal conspiracy as part of an investigation into a sex-tape plot involving Valbuena.

Benzema s lawyer Sylvain Cormier has denied his client s involvement and, with the Real Madrid man also carrying a thigh injury, Les Blues boss Didier Deschamps opted to omit the pair for the clash with the world champions in Paris on November 13 and the trip to Wembley four days later.

Karim is injured and therefore not in the squad, Deschamps said at a media conference.

Regarding the recent events, I do no…

Chelsea defender Tomas Kalas will join newly promoted FC Cologne on a season-long loan on July 1.

The Czech, who has a solitary international cap to his name, spent two seasons on loan at Dutch outfit Vitesse Arnhem before returning to Stamford Bridge for the 2013-14 campaign.

After being handed his Chelsea debut as a late substitute in a 2-0 League Cup win at Arsenal in October, Kalas made his European bow in a last-16 home triumph over Galatasaray.

Kalas first start for the club came in the huge 2-0 Premier League victory at Liverpool in April, and he was among the starting XI once again on the last day of the Premier League season at relegated Cardiff City.

The 21-year-old will now be hoping to pick up more first-team experience as Cologne adjust to life back …

Conor Hourihane and Anwar El Ghazi scored first-half goals to end Aston Villa s three-match losing run in the Premier League, as they beat Newcastle United 2-0 on Steve Bruce s return to Villa Park.

Bruce was sacked by Villa in October 2018, just over four months after losing the Championship play-off final, and he had little to celebrate in Monday s clash.

Martin Dubravka produced a fingertip save to keep out Douglas Luiz s 25-yard drive but was beaten by Hourihane, the midfielder whipping a free-kick around the wall and into the net.

Villa quickly added a second through El Ghazi, who turned in Hourihane s set-piece delivery from close range for his third league goal of the season, though only after a VAR check for offside.

Allan Saint-Maximin, Isaac Ha…

Monaco have denied the claim that club owner and president Dmitry Rybolovlev allegedly stands to receive €124million from Kylian Mbappe s transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, as reported by Mediapart, the online investigative journal in France.

Mediapart s report is based on documents it claims to have received from whistleblowing platform Football Leaks , though Monaco have branded it misleading .

According to the French news outlet, sums of €77m and €47m from the €145m Monaco obtained from PSG for Mbappe were allegedly designated for Rybolovlev in July 2018 and June 2019 respectively.

Monaco have strenuously refuted the allegation, insisting that although the funds are recoverable for the president due to previous investments he has written off, Rybolovlev …

Raheem Sterling recently spoke about his displeasure with mostly sitting on the Manchester City bench these days.

Manager Pep Guardiola was asked how he felt about being benched during his playing days, and his response was very interesting.

Reporter What were you like when you got left out?

Pep Look I was an exceptional player I was never on the bench.

Pep Guardiola fires back when asked about his reaction as a player when/if he was ever left out of the starting line-up

— Football Daily (@footballdaily)

…

Eddie Howe has clarified comments on Newcastle United s ceiling after Jurgen Klopp congratulated the Magpies on their limitless outlook following last year s Saudi-backed takeover.

Newcastle have made the most of their buyout by an ownership group including Saudi Arabia s Public Investment Fund, the richest owner in world football.

No club spent more in the January window, before Newcastle shattered their transfer record with the £59million August signing of Alexander Isak, who netted on his Premier League debut against Klopp s Liverpool.

So, when Magpies sporting director Dan Ashworth last week spoke of the club having no ceiling – wording that was soon echoed by head coach Howe – it irked Klopp.

I hear now at Newcastle they said, there s no ceilin…

West Brom s Premier League status was predictably confirmed for another season despite a 2-1 defeat to Stoke City at The Hawthorns.

The hosts came into the game under little pressure, knowing Norwich City who began Sunday in 18th position needed to make up a three-point gap while also overturning a significant goal difference deficit.

Norwich were beaten by Arsenal, meaning that West Brom were assured of survival despite a fifth straight home loss at the hands of Stoke.

Stephane Sessegnon hit the bar from point-blank range for Pepe Mel s men early on, but the visitors soon seized control and moved ahead after 22 minutes courtesy of a Gareth McAuley own goal.

West Brom rallied after the break and levelled through a calm finish from Sessegnon, while Youssouf Mulumb…