Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola rested Kevin de Bruyne among other stars for Tuesday's Champions League quarterfinal rescue mission against Liverpool as City look to seal the Premier League title against local rivals Manchester United on Saturday. Guardiola made four changes from the side that lost 3-0 to Liverpool in the first leg of their last eight tie at Anfield on Wednesday with City just one win away from a fifth title and first of the Catalan’s big-spending time in charge. De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus drop to the bench along with full-backs Aymeric Laporte and Kyle Walker. City's all-time top-scorer Sergio Aguero also makes his return from injury, but only as a substitute. Danilo, Fabian Delph, Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling come into the side beaten by Liverpool. United trail their cross city rivals by 16 points, but remain the best of the rest behind City and can boost their chances of finishing second as well as spoiling City’s title party b

Diego Costa will walk out for his seventh Madrid derby in La Liga on Sunday, four seasons since his last at the Santiago Bernabeu when he scored Atletico's winner. Gareth Bale was making his home debut for Real that day back in September 2013, in the same week that Spain requested approval to snatch Costa from the clutches of Brazil and call him up to the national squad. As he celebrated, Real's fans chanted "Costa – he is not Spanish". All the more striking then that Costa's shot, guided past Diego Lopez and inside the far right-hand post, still remains his only goal against Real, and the 1-0 win his sole triumph against Atletico's fiercest rivals.  In all competitions, his record heading into this weekend's derby reads played nine, won one, scored one.  SPEARHEADING SPAIN ATTACK If Costa is looking for positive omens, however, he might draw a parallel between his initiation with Spain in 2013 and the completion of his renaissance with the n

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes has indicated the club will keep James Rodriguez for another year and then look to sign the forward on a permanent deal from Real Madrid. But Heynckes, speaking ahead of Bayern's Champions League quarterfinal first leg in Seville, ruled out the prospect of Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski heading in the opposite direction and moving to Real this summer. James agreed to a two-year loan when he joined Bayern from Los Blancos last year and the Colombian has been in excellent form this season.  A number of top clubs are reportedly interested in buying the 26-year-old, but Heynckes, who is set to retire at the end of the season, believes he will stay at Bayern.  "He's happy in Munich and at Bayern," Heynckes said on Monday.  "Logically I think he’ll stay next year and after. Bayern must take a decision about when they buy him."  Real signed James from Monaco in a deal worth 90 million euros ($110.6 million) after h

Southampton are keeping tabs on Barcelona striker Paco Alcacer,  Sky Sports News  understands. The Premier League club's Spanish scouting network has been tracking the progress of the 24-year old, who scored 24 goals in two La Liga seasons for Valencia before moving to the Nou Camp for £26m two years ago. But Paco Alcacer failed to nail down a regular first place under former Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique and current boss Ernesto Valverde, scoring just nine times in 33 appearances. Southampton, now managed by former Barcelona striker Mark Hughes, are likely to face competition from Villarreal and Celta Vigo. Saints are in the relegation zone and two points off safety heading into Sunday's game at Arsenal, live on  Sky Sports Premier League.  Charlie Austin is their top goalscorer with six, despite having started just six Premier League games this season.

Jupp Heynckes took a gamble on Saturday by resting his stars for Bayern Munich's away match at Augsburg where victory will hand the Bavarians a sixth straight Bundesliga title. With one eye on Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal home leg against Sevilla, Bayern's head coach opted to rest a host of big names. Top scorer Robert Lewandowski, plus Thomas Mueller, Thiago Alcantara, Mats Hummels, Franck Ribery and Javi Martinez were all named on the bench. Augsburg took a shock lead on 18 minutes when Bayern defender Niklas Suele scored an own goal after Sergio Cordova's shot was saved, but the deflection smashed into Suele's face. Corentin Tolisso brought Bayern level with a header when he was left unmarked in the area to equalise on 32 minutes before James Rodriguez put Munich 2-1 up before half-time.

Our friends at Football Whispers have scoured the continental media to bring you a round-up of transfer stories from across Europe. France Nice coach Lucien Favre is on Arsenal's shortlist to replace current manager Arsene Wenger at the end of the season. The 60-year-old has won the Swiss Super League with Zurich and two domestic cups in a 25-year career which has seen him manage in Switzerland, the Bundesliga and Ligue 1.  (L'Equipe) Manchester United have begun talks to bring Monaco right-back Djibril Sidibe to Old Trafford. The 25-year-old France international was one of the few stars of last season's title triumph who did not leave the principality club.  (Le10Sport) Spain Real Madrid are desperate to make Liverpool forward Mo Salah their Galactico signing this summer. President Florentino Perez is readying an offer for the Egyptian worth £50m plus out-of-favour midfielder Isco, who had been linked with the Reds previously.  (Diario Gol) Unconvinced by t

Pep Guardiola says he would rather not play against Manchester United on Saturday as his Manchester City side look to wrap up the title against their rivals. City host United at the Etihad on Saturday, live on  Sky Sports Premier League  from  5pm , knowing victory will confirm Guardiola's first English league title. But with the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool to come on Tuesday, with City 3-0 down from the first, Guardiola says he would prefer an opponent less demanding than United. In an exclusive sit-down with Soccer AM's Fenners, the City boss said: "I would prefer to play with another opponent. Between Liverpool [games]? Yes! I would like to play at home against another team, not strong like United. Definitely. "We would prefer a game not so demanding, to prepare more for the Liverpool game. After that we have Tottenham!" Guardiola would also not be drawn into discussing how he would celebrate if City won the

Pele claims fellow countryman Neymar is more like Lionel Messi than Cristiano Ronaldo. Neymar, who finished third behind Ronaldo and Messi for the Ballon d'Or in 2015 and 2017, has been compared to both players, especially in his native country Brazil. Pele claims Neymar's ability as a playmaker is more similar in style to Barcelona forward Messi, while Real Madrid forward Ronaldo's finishing reminds him of former Brazil team-mates Vava and Coutinho, with whom he won the 1962 World Cup. "Neymar has been compared with Cristiano Ronaldo. So I've said several times, told friends, in Europe, given interviews... Cristiano Ronaldo is an excellent player, he could be like our Vava, our Coutinho, the finisher," Pele told ESPN. "Neymar is really more of a Messi-style, one who constructs the play, but scores the goal also." PSG forward Neymar is currently out of action with a foot injury but is expected to recover in time to play for Brazil at thi

A former Red Devils goalkeeper has saluted the qualities of the club's current No. 1 and compared his game to that of Manchester City rival Ederson  David de Gea has seen his freakish qualities hailed by former Manchester United goalkeeping rival Anders Lindegaard. The Spain international arrived at Old Trafford in 2011 as a raw talent with undoubted potential top reach the top. He endured a baptism of fire in the Premier League, with flaws identified early, but a meteoric rise now sees him  widely heralded as one of the finest performers in world football . Lindegaard is among those to have been impressed by the 27-year-old’s development, with a man who always had the God-given tools to be a superstar now putting them to the best possible use. The former United custodian, who is now on the books at Burnley, told the  Daily Mail  on De Gea: “When he came from Spain he looked like a straw that was standing in the lake, just waving in the wind. “He was so skinny. He

The ex-Barcelona star did get to work with the mercurial Argentine at Camp Nou, but wishes he had longer with a man who has become an all-time great   Ronaldinho considers Lionel Messi to be a better player than Cristiano Ronaldo and wishes he had spent longer alongside the Argentine at Barcelona. The Brazilian icon was at the peak of his powers at Camp Nou when a fresh-faced teenager emerged from the famed La Masia academy system. The two South American stars complemented each other for a brief period, but Ronaldinho moved on to AC Milan in 2008. Two-time World Player of the Year Ronaldinho has seen his former colleague in Catalunya go on to collect five Ballons d’Or and countless other records and awards, and he believes Messi tops Ronaldo as the best in the world. Asked again during a promotional trip to Malaysia to pick between Messi and Ronaldo, Ronaldinho said: "Messi. I would have loved to continue playing alongside him. "I didn't get enough time wi

I t appears Juventus are being dealt a bit of bad news as they look to secure Emre Can for next season.   According to the latest edition of La Repubblica, in fact, on the German midfielder is the target of European giants Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. They are both ready to offer practically twice as much as proposed by the Bianconeri, who offer the player a four-year contract, with option for the fifth season, at a net price of 5 million euros.   These are crazy figures for the 24-year-old midfielder, who, according to the newspaper, is now in danger of escaping Juventus to join another club willing to offer more money.   Can has featured 37 times in all competitions this season, scoring 6 and assisting 5.  The German is currently battling a back injury.

Juventus  are keen on signing wantaway Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes this summer, per  Mundo Deportivo  (h/t  Sam McEvoy  for the MailOnline). The Portugal international has endured a difficult time at Barca  since arriving  for an initial £29.3 million from Valencia in July 2016. He has only started four matches in La Liga this season having failed to impress manager Ernesto Valverde, which has prompted reports that the 24-year-old could be set to leave the club. Gomes has asked to leave the club, per an  AS  report on Friday morning (h/t  Anthony Chapman  for  The    Sun ). The news is perhaps unsurprising given Gomes has not started a competitive Barcelona fixture since January 21, a 5-0 away victory over  Real Betis  in La Liga. Juventus boss Max Allegri is reportedly a "keen admirer" of Gomes and would be willing to give the midfielder a fresh start. The former Benfica player admitted his experience at the Camp Nou has been "hell" and has affected

Liverpool and Everton shared the spoils after running to a 0-0 stalemate in Saturday's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, where a second-string Reds lineup almost succumbed late after dominating most of the Premier League clash. Dominic Solanke and Danny Ings were two of the players drafted in place of Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, but the visitors couldn't find the finishing touch despite being camped in Everton's half for long periods. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp left injury doubt Salah out of his squad altogether, with one eye on Tuesday's UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester City, which they lead 3-0 on aggregate. Here are some of the main talking points from Saturday's derby duel:          Liverpool Lacking in Salah's Absence Ian Doyle  of the  Liverpool Echo  reported Salah was "winning his battle" to be fit for Tuesday's second-leg meeting against the Citizens, but his groin injury was neve

Portuguese defender Fabio Coentrao is set to return to Madrid before the end of the season as his current club Sporting Portugal will terminate his loan deal, according to a report from A Bola. Apparently, Coentrao is leading some kind of rebellion against Sporting’s president and will leave the club imminently. Everything started after Sporting’s match against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Europe League. Sporting’s president was very critic towards his players and they soon started to comment on the matter as well on their social platforms. 18 players have been suspended and coach Jorge Jesus will have to trust his academy players this weekend. Coentrao’s case makes things easier for Sporting as he is just there on a loan deal. He will not be allowed to play for Madrid this season as Los Blancos didn’t register him last January. Coentrao is under contract through 2019 and  Real Madrid  will have to find him a new home next season unless they decide to keep him around, something hi

Real Madrid  coach  Zinedine Zidane  revealed that his team will not give  Barcelona  a traditional guard of honour if the two teams meet right after Barcelona become La Liga Champions. “We will not give a guard of honour, this is my decision,” said Zidane when asked about the matter. “Barcelona didn’t follow the tradition when we won the Club World Cup. This is my decision,” he added. Zidane is clearly stating that this is not something decided by the club in order to protect Real Madrid from potential criticism. Barcelona gave Real Madrid a guard of honour back in 2008 but they said that they would not do the same thing this past winter when Madrid conquered the Club World Cup. Nobody knows whether Los Blancos will finally face Barcelona under the circumstances which could make Madrid give said guard of honour, but it’s now clear that Zidane and his men will not hear anything about it.