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In a showdown between two MLS giants in the early hours of Thursday, LA Galaxy will welcome New York City to Los Angeles.

LA Galaxy

Starting with the hosts, making an immediate return to winning ways last weekend as they secured an action-packed 4-2 victory against Sporting KC, LA Galaxy have continued to receive a string of plaudits since opening up the 2024 campaign. Cruising their way to a play-off ticket in the Western Conference, Greg Vanney’s men have won three of their previous four MLS appearances. Signing off May with a 3-1 romp against FC Dallas, the California-based outfit will also be excited by their extended purple patch on home soil. Winning all of their last four straight showdowns at Dignity Health Sports Park by an …

Wales manager Rob Page has promised not to jeopardise the health of Brennan Johnson by telling him to turn up for international duty when carrying an injury.

Johnson will miss Wales’ crunch Euro 2024 qualifier against Croatia in Cardiff on October 15 after sustaining a hamstring injury on his first start for Tottenham against Arsenal in the north London derby.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou confirmed on Friday that Johnson will miss Tottenham’s Premier League trip to Luton this weekend but will be fit to return after the international break.

Page said: “The communication between us and Tottenham has been first-class. It’s about having mutual respect. Both managers want a talented player fit so it’s about working together.

“I’m not going to insi…

Thomas Frank believes Brentford have a very good chance of keeping midfielder Christian Eriksen.

Former Tottenham playmaker Eriksen resumed his career by making a sensational return to the Premier League in January, joining the Bees on a deal until the end of the season.

It is only last June that the 30-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest during Denmark s Euro 2020 game against Finland and was brought back to life on the pitch.

Eriksen was released by Inter, as he would have been unable to play in Italy after having a cardioverter defibrillator fitted.

Inter s loss has been very much Brentford s gain, as the former Ajax midfield maestro has pulled the strings for the London club and also scored two goals in as many games against Serbia and the Nethe…

Italian daily newspaper Il Secolo XIX is reporting that Valencia are keeping close tabs on Sampdoria midfielder Roberto Soriano.

The 23-year-old is believed to have caught the eye of los Che officials and the La Liga side are expected to make their interest concrete in January.

Il Secolo XIX has learned that Valencia director of football Roberto Ayala watched the youngster in action as Sampdoria faced Torino at the weekend.

The German-born footballer came through the youth ranks at Bayern Munich, but moved to Sampdoria in 2009.

Soriano was promoted to the first team set-up following a successful loan spell at Empoli and has so far featured in 71 league matches for the Bluecerchiati.

The former Italy Under-21 international seems to have nailed dow…

Luke Shaw conceded Manchester United deserved to lose to Arsenal in dramatic fashion due to their passive approach to the second half at Emirates Stadium.

United went down 3-2 to the Premier League leaders on Sunday, dealing a significant blow to their own remote title hopes.

The visitors scored first through Marcus Rashford but trailed early in the second half as Eddie Nketiah s leveller was followed by a fine Bukayo Saka strike.

Lisandro Martinez s header got United back on level terms, only for Erik ten Hag s side to retreat to their own penalty area in a dramatic last stand that saw Nketiah eventually score again to take Arsenal five points clear of Manchester City and 11 ahead of their opponents.

Arsenal had 25 shots to United s six, with those attem…

Raul Ruidiaz netted a brace and Joao Paulo scored a stunning goal as Seattle Sounders started their 2021 MLS season with a 4-0 drubbing of Minnesota United.

Ruidiaz scored twice in the second half after Joao Paulo s memorable opener to give last season s runners-up Seattle the perfect start on opening day.

The Sounders – beaten by Columbus Crew in the 2020 MLS Cup final – hit the front four minutes into the second half, Joao Paulo cushioning a cleared cross with one touch before rifling a thunderous volley into the top corner on Friday.

Ruidiaz entered the new season on the back of 12 MLS goals last term. According to Stats Perform, his 0.76 goals per 90 minutes led the league in 2020. When the Peruvian star was on the field, the Sounders scored two goals per…

Manchester United boss Marc Skinner called for changes to the qualification rules and criticised the referee after his side failed to reach the Champions League group stage.

The Women’s Super League side were beaten 3-1 in the second leg of their second-round qualifier against Paris St Germain at the Parc des Princes to go out 4-2 on aggregate.

Skinner felt it was a tough draw for United while other clubs may have been given an easier passage.

“It’s crazy that we have to play PSG in this qualifying round, crazy,” he told reporters at a press conference.

— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen)

“It needs to be something that is addressed. Having said that, we will learn from it. We’ll come back stronger. We got a taste of i…

Massimiliano Allegri has defended his Juventus players amid their turbulent Serie A season, arguing they deserve greater respect for their performances.

The Bianconeri edged Fiorentina in a 1-0 win on Sunday, with Adrien Rabiot s first-half finish enough to seal the victory in Turin.

The result comes amid a campaign that has seen Juve s top-four hopes torpedoed by a 15-point sanction handed down for financial mismanagement off the field.

Allegri, who was seen rowing with a fan during the closing stages, feels his players have shouldered unfair blame for a decision outside of their control, and backed them afterwards.

I am disappointed, because while most of the crowd is helping the team, there are a few who decide a player is poor and jeer [us], he told …

Joan Laporta is adamant Xavi will be Barcelona head coach one day but refused to reveal if he will replace Ronald Koeman in the dugout this season.

Koeman was relieved of his duties on Wednesday after a poor start to the season that has left Barca ninth in LaLiga and with just three points from three Champions League games. Barca B boss Sergi Barjuan has taken temporary charge.

Club legend and Al Sadd manager Xavi has emerged as the front-runner for the permanent position, but Barca president Laporta – while praising the 41-year-old – maintained he is keeping his options open.

Xavi guided Al Sadd to the Qatar Stars League title last season and has claimed six cups since taking over in 2019, having spent four years at the club as a player.

I have …

John Delaney has admitted that FIFA made a payment to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to prevent the possibility of legal action after the national team controversially missed out on the 2010 World Cup.

The Republic of Ireland were denied a place in the finals when William Gallas headed in an extra-time equaliser in the November 2009 play-off fixture, with officials missing a clear handball from Thierry Henry.

Ireland were dumped out on aggregate as France progressed, with FIFA rejecting requests from the FAI for the game to be replayed.

But it has long since been believed that the world governing body awarded the FAI some financial compensation, thought to be in the region of €5million, in order to bring an end to the matter.

FAI ch…