Looking for Soccer News?

Kevin De Bruyne found it "bizarre" playing in the striker position in Manchester City's 3-1 win against Chelsea on Sunday.

With Gabriel Jesus out due to coronavirus and Sergio Aguero on the bench as he works his way back to full fitness, the Belgium international playmaker started at the front of the attack at Stamford Bridge. 

De Bruyne adjusted well to his new spot, registering a goal and an assist as his side sealed the three points in the Premier League clash. He admits it took some time getting used to the change in position but was happy with his team's performance overall.

He told Sky Sports: "Bit bizarre in the beginning, I've done it a few times in my career obviously we have a lot of forwards out and the coach asked me to do this job, so I tried my best to do it as good as possible."

De Bruyne added: "I think after five or 10 minutes we found our rhythm - the beginning was a bit lacking and I was in a bit of a different role today but after that we played very well. We took our chances at the right time and defensively were solid for 90 minutes. It's a shame we conceded that goal in the last minute.

"We have different players so we play different this year so we have adjusted to our personnel, but the team is finding more rhythm in the last month we are playing better. When we had chances today we took them and leading 3-0 at half-time meant we could play more realistic in the second half."

The victory extended City's winning streak to four matches, while they are unbeaten in 11 in all competitions.

They are now four points adrift of leaders Liverpool, though Pep Guardiola's team have a game in hand and De Bruyne hopes they can maintain their good run of form.

"It's important that we win one of these big games. This season we have played some good games but not won any of them so today we have shown we can win the big games," he said. "We're still fighting an uphill battle but we are getting closer, that's all we can do now.

"The years we were champions we were winning these big games - it's a bit different this year because everyone is losing points. We had a bad start but we are coming back a bit so it's a good thing we're here fighting and that's all we can do now.

"I don't really have an explanation for [the strange results this season] - it is what it is. Every game we play there's never a feeling it's going to be easy. You need to be here 100 per cent for every game. If you're only at 95% then you're not going to win the game and that's what a lot of teams have done this year."

Pep Guardiola was delighted to see Phil Foden take centre stage on Sunday as the youngster's goal helped Manchester City to a comfortable 3-1 win over Chelsea. 

Foden, 20, started at Stamford Bridge as part of a much-changed City starting XI, following the club's woes with coronavirus in the past week. 

City were missing the likes of Ederson, Gabriel Jesus, Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy for the weekend's Premier League clash, but nevertheless proved too much for Frank Lampard's charges who were comprehensively outplayed over the 90 minutes. 

Ilkay Gundogan, Foden and Kevin De Bruyne all found the scoresheet in the first half before Callum Hudson-Odoi netted a late consolation for the hosts, but it was the England international who stood out for his manager. 

"So proud - he never dropped one bit of his energy he can play up front in all four positions," Pep told Sky Sports when asked about Foden's exploits.

"He has a sense of goal, he scored a fantastic goal. We rely on him incredibly, for England and the national team, he will be a top player because he's so clever and calm.

"He made another great performance today."

Despite Chelsea's subdued performance, Guardiola insisted that his team had to work hard for victory and that the game could easily have finished with another outcome.

"[Chelsea] press and push in the first minutes, we suffered a little bit because we didn't concede almost anything except the goal in the last minute but we played really well," he added. 

"The result is excellent at Stamford Bridge but the way we play was really great you can't win titles without playing like that.

"Chelsea are one of the strongest teams, they are suffering from the last game but you see the quality of their players and the bench. We had a plan we tried to play like we have in the past and it worked.

"The players were excellent in every way especially with the ball. We cannot play like other teams, we have to play in our rhythm and attack in the right moment. We won titles in that way, more patient. We missed a bit of this tempo and today we had it.

"We don't have the physicality and quality of players to make quick transitions, maybe Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne but the others haven't played with the ball. You create problems and that's what we have to do. From the keeper to the striker we have to put the ball on the grass, make 1000 passes and pick the right moment."

Bayern Munich came from behind for an eighth successive Bundesliga match as the champions overcame struggling Mainz 5-2 at Allianz Arena.

Hansi Flick's side have not taken the lead in a league game since October and might have been staring down the barrel of a second defeat of the season had Danny Latza beaten Manuel Neuer early in the second half.

Mainz had a 2-0 lead at that stage, with Jonathan Burkardt and Alexander Hack scoring in the first half, but Joshua Kimmich and Leroy Sane restored parity in the space of five minutes.

Robin Quaison struck the woodwork as 17th-placed Mainz fought back, though Bayern ultimately had too much.

Niklas Sule's deflected strike and Robert Lewandowski's double – the first of which came from the spot – settling a thrilling contest firmly in Bayern's favour.

Against the run of play, Mainz struck first – Burkardt getting the better of Jerome Boateng and thumping beyond Neuer.

Bayern were convinced Boateng had been fouled, but the VAR disagreed, though Mainz's lead would have been swiftly cancelled out had Finn Dahmen not palmed over Lewandowski's strike.

But Bayern were dealt another blow before the interval, Hack capitalising on some dreadful marking to head home from Daniel Brosinski's free-kick.

Latza should have put Mainz out of sight three minutes after the restart, only to drill straight at Neuer from point-blank range, and the visitors were punished when Kimmich headed in from Lewandowski's flick.

Bayern quickly doubled down – Sane cutting in from the right to curl in a crisp, low finish.

Neuer's crossbar came to Bayern's rescue from Quaison's blistering shot and the hosts made their fortune count as Sule's volley skewed in off a defender a few moments after Leandro Barreiro's own goal was disallowed for Alphonso Davies straying offside.

Barreiro's luck ran out in the 74th minute when he wildly scythed down Serge Gnabry, giving Lewandowski the chance to wrap up the win.

Having sent Dahmen the wrong way from 12 yards, Lewandowski then met Thomas Muller's cross to add a fifth with seven minutes remaining and send Bayern back to the Bundesliga's summit.

What does it mean? New year, same Bayern

Though their habit of going behind in games may soon come back to bite Bayern, who have kept just one clean sheet in 13 league matches, they just had too much power and quality for Mainz on Sunday.

Bayern have recovered 18 points from losing positions in their last eight league outings, and hold a two-point lead over second-placed RB Leipzig, who beat Stuttgart on Saturday.

Lewandowski keeps on rolling

Having capped off a superb 2020 by pipping Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to the Best FIFA Men's Player award, Lewandowski picked up where he left off.

He created Kimmich's goal with a deft flick-on and took his penalty in typically composed fashion before sweeping in on the volley late on. He is now on 19 league goals for the season from just 14 games and all three of his attempts were on target.

A mixed bag for Barreiro

Barreiro impressed going forward for Mainz, creating three chances – more than any other player for the visitors.

However, he also conceded possession on 15 occasions – a team-high – and committed three fouls, including a ludicrous lunge on Gnabry, while he was fortunate to not have an own goal to his name, too.

What's next?

Bayern travel to Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday, while Mainz host Eintracht Frankfurt a day later.

Manchester City impressively overcame the absence of key first-team players due to coronavirus as they eased to a 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. 

Pep Guardiola's side had their game at Everton postponed earlier this week due to a COVID-19 outbreak at the club, one that left them without six squad members for their first match of 2021. 

But City, who handed a league debut to goalkeeper Zack Steffen, were three up inside 34 minutes thanks to strikes from Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and star of the show Kevin De Bruyne.

Callum Hudson-Odoi scored a late consolation for Chelsea but that was the only disappointment for the visitors, who made it three league wins in a row to move up to fifth in the table, within four points of top spot with a game in hand. Chelsea, meanwhile, remain down in eighth position. 

City started without a recognised striker and it was Gundogan who was in the most advanced position when turning away from Thiago Silva to fire past Edouard Mendy for the opener. 

A second goal followed for Guardiola's side 157 seconds later, Foden sweeping home De Bruyne's low cross at the front post following a poor sliding clearance from Silva in the build-up. 

De Bruyne rounded off a swift counter that he started near his own box for City's third, the playmaker converting from close range after Raheem Sterling's shot came back off the post. 

Gundogan went close to doubling his tally with a smart flick that drifted inches wide of the far post and Rodri's header was well saved by Mendy after half-time as City pushed for a fourth. 

They could not quite hold on for a sixth clean sheet in seven league outings, however, as Hudson-Odoi converted fellow substitute Kai Havertz's delivery at the back post from the final meaningful act of the match.

What does it mean? Pep's plan pays off 

Guardiola may have been missing a few but he made full use of his squad depth - and totally outsmarted opposite number Frank Lampard with his tactical plan.

It was hard to work out exactly who was leading the line for City at times, Sterling, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne all popping up through the middle and terrorising the experienced duo of Silva and N'Golo Kante. 

The damage was done in a first half that saw Chelsea concede three times before the interval in a Premier League game for the second time this season, the hosts' late response doing little to repair their damaged morale - they have now registered just one win in six league games. 

De Bruyne at it again 

De Bruyne has a habit of scoring and assisting against Chelsea; his tally of four goals against them in the Premier League is the most a former player has netted against the Blues in the competition. 

The Belgian playmaker has also now scored in three successive top-flight encounters with Chelsea - the first City player to achieve that feat since Carlos Tevez. 

N'Golo Kante handle City 

The defensive midfielder was not alone in struggling to deal with City's fluid attackers in the first half, but it is difficult to remember him having as bad a day as this. 

He won just six of his 13 duels and lost possession seven times before being replaced by Billy Gilmour with 64 minutes gone, the youngster doing more during his time on the field than the player he replaced. 

Key Opta facts

- Chelsea have suffered as many defeats in their last six Premier League games (W1 D1 L4) as they did in the 23 matches beforehand (W14 D5 L4).
- Since their 2-0 defeat to Spurs in November, City have won five of their seven Premier League matches (D2). Only Manchester United (20) have picked up more points in that time.
- Chelsea have found themselves conceding at least three goals during the opening 45 minutes of two Premier League games this season, just the third time they have done so more than once in the same campaign (also 1996-97 and 2011-12).
- Gundogan has opened the scoring in three of City's last four league games, netting more times in his last four appearances than he did all last season in the top tier (two goals in 31 games).
- Following his 12th appearance in a row without a goal in all competitions, Timo Werner has only ever embarked on two longer goalless runs during his top-flight career – both as a Stuttgart player.

What's next? 

City have an EFL Cup semi-final trip to Manchester United on Wednesday, while Chelsea will be desperate to put this loss behind them when they take on fourth-tier opposition Morecambe in the FA Cup third round next Sunday. 

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA FC) midfielder Keziron Kizito has explained how they can earn victory against AS Kigali in a Caf Confederation Cup tie.

KCCA will welcome the Rwandan side on January 6 and Kizito believes being clinical in front of goal can certainly ensure they win the tie that will be held at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.

“Everyone in the team is focussed,” Kizito said according to Football256. “For the return leg, we have to work as a team and make sure we finish our chances in the game.

“The boys are in a positive mood and confident because with the work we have put in, we are confident we can get over the task and advance to the next level.

“The team being together in the camp helps us to bond more, because if you’re working as a team you need to build important chemistry.

“We are definitely getting to know and understand each other better and focus since you are aiming at a specific goal, it makes it easy to overcome the challenge.”

Kizito’s explanation on how to pull a victory came after his teammate Ashraf Mugume spoke about a possible KCCA debut at the continental stage.

“I am just going to turn what we have been taught by coaches into action when I happen to get a chance because our team is strong, you can’t be very sure about whether you will play or not,” Mugume said in a separate interview. “But if I get that chance, I am ready to give 100%. It will be my first time playing in this tournament and I will be very happy if I get that chance and take the team to the next level.

“Everyone is in good shape and ready for the game and the camp has helped us to get more time together. We are very ready, everyone is positive and just waiting for the day.”

AS Kigali were awarded a walkover in the first leg after the Kasasiro Boys were dealt a blow as 12 players tested positive for the coronavirus.

Coach Mike Mutebi, his assistant Badru Kabuye, goalkeeping coach Moses Oloya, first-team coach Jackson Magera, goalkeeper Charles Lukwago, Denis Iguma, Kezironi Kizito, Brian Aheebwa, Stefano Mazengo, Hassan Matovu, Samson Kigozi, and Hassan Musana were the ones who were sidelined by Covid-19.

Wilfried Singo was among the scorers as Torino defeated Parma 3-0 in Sunday’s Italian top-flight encounter.

The Cote d’Ivoire youth international’s early strike propelled the Maroons to a massive away win against their hosts at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.

Having gone on a run of seven matches without victory in the Serie A (three draws and four defeats), Marco Giampaolo’s men went to Tardini with the ambition of bringing their poor run to a halt.

It took them just eight minutes to take the lead after Singo fired past goalkeeper Luigi Sepe having been teed up by Andrea Belotti. That accounts for his second strike for the team since he joined them in the 2018-19 season.

That goal was a morale booster that saw them dominate ball possession and eventually went into the half-time break with a slim goal advantage.

Parma came out stronger in the second-half, albeit, the combo of Yann Karamoh, Andreas Cornelius and Juan Brunetta could not get past goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu who was rarely tested thanks to a solid backline marshalled by Brazil’s duo of Bremer and Lyanco Vojnovic.

Two minutes from full time, Armando Izzo sealed victory after profiting from an assist from substitute Amer Gojak. With the Crusaders’ backline caught flat-footed, the Italian defender headed home a well taken corner kick by Gojak.

In the fifth minute of added time, Gojak completed the win with a cool finish after he was found by Belotti inside the goal area.

Featuring in his 12th game of the 2020-21 campaign, Singo was in action from start to finish while his compatriot Ndary Adopo and Cameroon's Nicolas Nkoulou were not dressed for action.

For FC Parma, Cote d’Ivoire football great Gervinho did not make the matchday squad, whereas his countryman Drissa Camara was an unused substitute.

Thanks to their latest result, Torino crawled out of the relegation waters with just 11 points from 15 games, while Parma occupy 16th position having accrued 12 points from the same number of outings so far.

Following an impressive outing with Cote d’Ivoire during the 2019 U20 Africa Cup of Nations, Singo was handed his first professional contract by the seven-time Italian kings.

Football Kenya Federation Premier League side Bandari have confirmed the exit of coaches Nasoro Mwakoba and Razak Siwa.

The duo, according to the club, has left after the expiration of their contracts. Siwa and Mwakoba have exited after head coach Ken Okoth ended his stay with Bandari and joined Sofapaka.

Odhiambo joined Batoto ba Mungo, a side he helped earn Kenyan Premier League promotion in 2008 and won the title in 2009, after the exit of another former player John Baraza.

Baraza and Sofapaka parted ways after a poor season's start and Odhiambo was brought on board to steer the club.

Bandari settled on the former AFC Leopards head coach Casa Mbungo who left the local giants in December 2019 after financial issues became unbearable at the den.

“We announce today [Sunday] that the club has parted company with assistant coach [Nasoro] Mwakoba and goalkeeper trainer [Razak] Siwa after the expiry of their contracts,” Bandari announced in a statement obtained by Goal .

“The management and board of trustees would like to thank the two amazing coaches for their great service to the club. Siwa served for a period of six years while Nasoro was with us for nine years, both contributing to the club's success.

“We wish them all the best in their future endeavours. The club will, therefore, provide direction concerning its technical bench alongside unveiling a new head coach early next week.”

Earlier, Goal revealed why the dockers would wait in order to unveil Casa Mbungo as Odhiambo’s replacement.

“Mbungo will not arrive as planned in Mombasa because Rwanda have strict Covid-19 regulations which he has to undergo before boarding the plane to Kenya,” a source privy to the transfer move, and who did not want to be named, told  Goal  on Saturday .

“He took his Covid-19 test on Friday and he is still waiting for the certificate and results and it means he can only arrive on Sunday or Monday meaning the unveiling cannot be done as planned.”

Bandari were in action on Sunday against Western Stima and picked a 2-0 victory despite losing three players to injuries .

Anthony Nwakaeme and Caleb Ekuban found the back of the net in Trabzonspor’s 2-1 victory over Fatih Karagumruk in Sunday’s Turkish Super Lig game.

Nwakaeme was handed his 12th league start and delivered a fine performance to help the Black Sea Storm clinch their sixth win of the season.

The Nigeria international has been in sizzling form since he teamed up with the Medical Park Stadyumu outfit in the summer of 2018.

The forward has registered 21 league goals in his last two seasons for the Black Sea Storm and against Fatih Karagumruk he notched his fourth goal of the 2020-21 campaign.

Ekuban, meanwhile, was afforded his 10th league appearance and utilized the opportunity to increase his goal tally to four.

The game started with both sides aiming to outwit each other but despite their efforts, the first half ended 0-0.

Moments after the restart of the match, Nwakaeme broke the deadlock, firing a fine strike past goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano after he was set up by Serkan Asan.

Jure Balkovec then levelled proceedings for Fatih Karagumruk with an individual effort and with nine minutes before the end of the encounter, Ghana international Ekuban scored the winning goal.

Nwakaeme featured for the duration of the game while Ekuban made way for Kamil Corekci in the 90th minute.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo international and on-loan Stoke City forward Benik Afobe played for seven minutes after replacing Abdulkadir Parmak.

Senegal international Badou Ndiaye, also on loan from Stoke, featured for the duration of the game but could help Fatih Karagumruk avoid defeat.

With the victory, Trabzonspor moved to the seventh spot on the Super Lig table after gathering 23 points from 16 games.

Nwakaeme and Ekuban will be expected to continue their impressive performances in front of goal when the Black Sea Storm take on Goztepe in their next league outing on January 6.

Nwakaeme has only made one appearance for the Nigeria national team despite his consistent club performances.

The forward will hope to get a recall for the Super Eagles in their next 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Atletico Madrid returned to the summit of LaLiga as Luis Suarez's dramatic 90th-minute goal sealed a 2-1 win over 10-man Deportivo Alaves on Sunday. 

Diego Simeone's side dropped to second following Real Madrid's 2-0 win over Celta Vigo on Saturday, but a fourth consecutive top-flight victory restored a two-point advantage over their city rivals with still two games in hand. 

Marcos Llorente put the visitors ahead after 41 minutes with his latest long-range effort – his five from outside the penalty area since the beginning of 2020 more than any other LaLiga player. 

Alaves brushed off Victor Laguardia's 63rd-minute red card to pull level six minutes from time through Felipe's outrageous own goal, but Suarez popped up at the death to snatch a memorable win for Los Rojiblancos.

Simeone started with Joao Felix on the bench and the Portugal forward's spark was sorely missed for much of the first half.

The visitors did forge ahead four minutes before the interval, though, with just their second effort on target.

Llorente collected Suarez's pass, cut inside from the right and found Fernando Pacheco's bottom-left corner courtesy of a substantial deflection from Laguardia for his seventh goal of the season across all competitions.

Laguardia was then dismissed for a wild lunge on Thomas Lemar shortly after the hour mark, referee Juan Martinez Munuera upgrading the defender's initial yellow card after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor.  

Despite that setback, the hosts – who had earlier hit the post through Florian Lejeune's header – pulled level in the 84th minute when Felipe thundered into his own net from substitute Joselu's low cross into the area. 

Atleti roared back in the closing stages, however, and Suarez tapped in Joao Felix's cross from almost on the line to keep the charge for a first league title since 2013-14 on track.
 

What does it mean? Suarez maintains fine form to keep Atleti on track

It was not pretty but Simeone will hardly care. Atleti could easily have let their heads drop after Felipe's comical own goal but Suarez – who has been involved in 11 goals (nine goals, two assists) in his opening 12 LaLiga games for the club – had other ideas. 

The result marks the 12th consecutive year Atleti have not tasted defeat in their first LaLiga game of a calendar year, with eight wins and four draws following a 3-1 defeat to Valencia in January 2009. 

Koke in imperious form 

Koke was outstanding at the heart of Atleti's midfield. No visiting player made more tackles (five), clearances (two) or interceptions (three) than the Spain international, while his 10 possession gains were four more than any other player on the pitch. 

Laguardia's rashness costs Alaves 

The Alaves defender endured a game to forget. It was his effort to block Llorente's shot that ultimately helped the ball into the bottom corner, while his out-of-control challenge on Lemar did his side no favours at all, despite Felipe's best efforts.

Key Opta Facts

- Atletico have scored more own goals than any other LaLiga team in all competitions this season with three, two of them from Felipe (one for Jan Oblak).
- Simeone's side did not allow the opposition a single first-half shot for the first time in LaLiga this season. The four total Alaves shots were the fewest Atleti have faced this term.
- Alaves have failed to win in their past 11 LaLiga games against Atleti (D4 L7), their longest current winless run against an opponent in the top flight.
- Atleti have won five of their past six away LaLiga games (L1), as many wins as in their previous 19 games away from home in the competition (W5 D11 L3).
- Alaves coach Pablo Machin is winless in his five LaLiga games against Atleti (D3 L2), with his team both scoring and conceding in each of those games.

What's next?

Both sides are in Copa del Rey second-round action on Wednesday, with Atleti travelling to Cornella and Alaves away to Deportivo La Coruna.

NorthEast United head coach Gerard Nus is concernet with the manner in which his team lost against ATK Mohun Bagan in their 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) match on Sunday. 

After a goalless first half, Roy Krishna opened the scoring with a header from a corner-kick, not long before Benjamin Lambot scored an own goal from another corner. The Highlanders failed to mount a fightback and could only muster one shot on target in the entire game. 

"It (the defeat) is concerning because we want to win. We want to be competitive. We are building a squad for the future with a lot of young players. Not many players were together, they basically met three months ago.  Every game is a chance for us to get better. We stick to the things that we do well and we keep improving," Nus said after the game. 

He further added, "I think we played in the same way in both halves. Those set-pieces cost us the game."

Nus is hoping to focus on the positives from the team's performance before their next game against Hyderabad on Friday. 

"You are playing against a great team with great players. They won the title last year. They had that consistency, a lot of credit to them. I can see a lot of positives on our side.

"I dont think the fighting spirit has dropped. At the end of the day, scoring goals is the hardest part of football. We are really happy with the players we have, we are working hard to improve them."

ATK Mohun Bagan reclaimed their spot at the top of the Indian Super League (ISL) table after they cruised to a win against NorthEast United on Sunday.

Roy Krishna once again bagged the 'Man of the Match' award for his team after he scored the opening goal of the match. Bagan's second was an own goal by Highlanders skipper Benjamin Lambot.

Coach Antonio Habas was happy with the performance of his team and suggested that while the team could have managed the game better in the first half, they came out with flying colours in the second 45 minutes.

"The team played a good match. Maybe in the first half, the match could have been more balanced but in the second half, Bagan were superior," said Habas.

ATK Mohun Bagan have scored nine of their 10 goals in the second halves of matches this season and Habas explained that the lack of fans in the stadiums might have had an impact on the intensity shown by his players.

"Sometimes it is very difficult to get the pace without the fans in the stadiums and the players subconsciously do not have the same intensity without supporters. This can be an important thing."

The Spanish coach did not seem to be worried about the fact that star striker Roy Krishna has scored most of the goals for the team. He said, "Roy (Krishna) is a very important player for us and whoever scores it is for the team. I am not worried about that."

The two-time ISL champion also explained why he decided to keep Manvir Singh and Pronay Halder on the bench for the game. 

"He (Manvir Singh) played three matches continuously and it is the same with Pronay Halder. They needed rest so they were on the bench. During the match when the opponent is tired,` that was the moment to play them."

FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza has stated they are in Tanzania to finish the job they started in Zimbabwe when they face Simba SC in a Caf Champions League match on Wednesday.

The Platinum Miners managed to secure a slim advantage from the first leg after they edged out the Wekundu wa Msimbazi 1-0 with the goal coming from Perfect Chikwende in the 17th minute at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.

Speaking to reporters after landing in Dar es Salaam for the return leg fixture set for Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Mapeza has maintained their main task is to complete the job they started back home by eliminating Simba from the competition.

“We have come to do the same task of seeking victory and we are ready to get the win and qualify,” Mapeza told reporters at Julius Nyerere Airport.

“There is nothing else we need, all we know is our opponents are psychologically prepared and we know they are a tough team to play at home, we respect them but we are not afraid of them.

“We got a 1-0 win back home, we should have scored more but even the slim advantage is good for us because we will strive to score goals away, we will push them and the more they move forward, we have the chance to kill them off on counter-attacks.”

Asked on what style he will deploy against Simba, Mapeza explained: “Don’t worry, we know how to deal with them, I have been following their games and I know how to handle them, it will be a good game and our main target is to reach the group stage.”

Simba qualified for the second round after a 1-0 aggregate win over Plateau United of Nigeria while Platinum made it to the next round after a 4-1 aggregate win over Costa De Sol of Mozambique, winning the first leg played in Maputo 2-1 before claiming a 2-0 win in the return leg played in Harare.

On Wednesday, Simba sent a warning to Platinum after demolishing Ihefu FC 4-0 in a one-sided Mainland Premier League contest, with the goals coming from Mohamed Hussein, Meddie Kagere (two), and Chris Mugalu.

Simba coach Sven Vandenbroeck is confident they will turn the tables and claim a place in the group stages.

“We lost 1-0 away but we now have 90 minutes to battle and make things right,” Vandenbroeck told reporters in Dar es Salaam. “We know what to expect from our opponents and we are ready to make Tanzanians proud, we want to reach the group stage and we have to win the match.”

Last season, Simba failed to make it past the preliminary stage after losing on the away goals rule to UD Songo of Mozambique.

Bayern Munich came from behind for an eighth successive Bundesliga match as the champions overcame struggling Mainz 5-2 at Allianz Arena.

Hansi Flick's side have not taken the lead in a league game since October and might have been staring down the barrel of a second defeat of the season had Danny Latza beaten Manuel Neuer early in the second half.

Mainz had a 2-0 lead at that stage, with Jonathan Burkardt and Alexander Hack scoring in the first half, but Joshua Kimmich and Leroy Sane restored parity in the space of five minutes.

Robin Quaison struck the woodwork as 17th-placed Mainz fought back, though Bayern ultimately had too much.

Niklas Sule's deflected strike and Robert Lewandowski's double – the first of which came from the spot – settling a thrilling contest firmly in Bayern's favour.

Against the run of play, Mainz struck first – Burkardt getting the better of Jerome Boateng and thumping beyond Neuer.

Bayern were convinced Boateng had been fouled, but the VAR disagreed, though Mainz's lead would have been swiftly cancelled out had Finn Dahmen not palmed over Lewandowski's strike.

But Bayern were dealt another blow before the interval, Hack capitalising on some dreadful marking to head home from Daniel Brosinski's free-kick.

Latza should have put Mainz out of sight three minutes after the restart, only to drill straight at Neuer from point-blank range, and the visitors were punished when Kimmich headed in from Lewandowski's flick.

Bayern quickly doubled down – Sane cutting in from the right to curl in a crisp, low finish.

Neuer's crossbar came to Bayern's rescue from Quaison's blistering shot and the hosts made their fortune count as Sule's volley skewed in off a defender a few moments after Leandro Barreiro's own goal was disallowed for Alphonso Davies straying offside.

Barreiro's luck ran out in the 74th minute when he wildly scythed down Serge Gnabry, giving Lewandowski the chance to wrap up the win.

Having sent Dahmen the wrong way from 12 yards, Lewandowski then met Thomas Muller's cross to add a fifth with seven minutes remaining and send Bayern back to the Bundesliga's summit.

What does it mean? New year, same Bayern

Though their habit of going behind in games may soon come back to bite Bayern, who have kept just one clean sheet in 13 league matches, they just had too much power and quality for Mainz on Sunday.

Bayern have recovered 18 points from losing positions in their last eight league outings, and hold a two-point lead over second-placed RB Leipzig, who beat Stuttgart on Saturday.

Lewandowski keeps on rolling

Having capped off a superb 2020 by pipping Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to the Best FIFA Men's Player award, Lewandowski picked up where he left off.

He created Kimmich's goal with a deft flick-on and took his penalty in typically composed fashion before sweeping in on the volley late on. He is now on 19 league goals for the season from just 14 games and all three of his attempts were on target.

A mixed bag for Barreiro

Barreiro impressed going forward for Mainz, creating three chances – more than any other player for the visitors.

However, he also conceded possession on 15 occasions – a team-high – and committed three fouls, including a ludicrous lunge on Gnabry, while he was fortunate to not have an own goal to his name, too.

What's next?

Bayern travel to Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday, while Mainz host Eintracht Frankfurt a day later.

Former Paris Saint-Germain assistant coach Zsolt Low thinks Thomas Tuchel “overachieved” with the club and says he was “surprised” when news of his sacking broke.

Low was Tuchel’s right-hand man with the Parisians as they swept to the domestic treble in 2019-20 and then reached the Champions League final in August.

However, a mediocre start to the current campaign saw both men fired just before Christmas, with Mauricio Pochettino coming in to replace them as of Saturday.

“We were surprised because on the December 23, after winning a match 4-0 against Strasbourg, Leonardo brought us together to say that the club was no longer counting on Thomas for the future,” Low told Nemzeti Sport.

“After having to face considerable difficulties in 2020, after achieving historic success with PSG, after going through the group stage of the Champions’ League in autumn, and we were in full swing in the league, it made the decision very difficult to understand.

“The fact that we were impacted by numerous injuries throughout the season, and had to come up against Covid-19, I think that it was a great professional success to finish the year the way we did. We overperformed, that is the truth.”

As well as results, however, there was tension between the management team and the sporting director. Low has again pointed his finger at Leonardo as being a source of trouble.

“The summer window did not go as we wanted, the main players who left after the Final 8 were not correctly replaced. That created tensions between certain board members and the staff, as well as with the sporting director who was espousing management principles that were different to that of the coach,” Low claimed.

“They had different ideas in a number of domains, and the difference in viewpoint accrued over time. This led to Leonardo deciding to create a future with a different staff. To be honest this situation could not have lasted. It was better to stop now, nearly at the summit, to say goodbye with a great majority of wonderful memories.”

PSG are currently third in Ligue 1, a single point behind leaders Lyon and second-placed Lille.

The 2019 Spanish champions Atletico Madrid have completed the signing of Cameroon striker Ajara Nchout, on a two-year contract.

The Madrid-based outfit secured the Indomitable Lionesses star as a free agent after successfully seeing out her two-year contract with 2020 Norwegian Toppserien winners Valerenga last December.

The 27-year-old had moved to Atletico to continue her impressive career in Europe, where she had been since 2011 after leaving the Cameroon women's side l’Ecole Franck Rollycek.

During her spell at Intility Arena, the Cameroonian was influential in Valerenga's runners-up finish in 2019 before their maiden domestic double in 2020, scoring 29 goals for Jack Majgaard's side.

Nchout ended her three-year sojourn in Norway on a high as she won the 2020 Toppserien top scorer award, getting 10 goals in 18 games.

Following her unveiling on Sunday, she becomes the third signing in mid-season for Dani Gonzalez's side after Rasheedat Ajibade and Aminata Diallo from Avaldsnes and PSG respectively.

"It is a great pleasure to join a team with a great record of achievements, a great club in both men's and women's football," Nchout told the club website.

“I am an attacker who plays on all three fronts, even behind the attack. I prefer to play as a nine, but I am available for the coach to play where he thinks is best for the team and help the team grow and win.

“I would like all the Rojiblancos to know that I am very proud to wear their colours. I am a very competitive player who believes in victory until the last minute. 

"Cameroonians never hesitate, we never give up. I will put these values ​​at the service of Atlético de Madrid. I will do my best to make them proud of me and the team."

At international level, she featured for Cameroon at the 2015 and 2019 Women's World Cups and is on the brink of inspiring the Lionesses to a second Olympic outing since her debut in Rio 2016.

The signing of Nchout explains the ambition of Gonzalez to put the former champions back in title reckoning after missing out on a fourth trophy in a row in the last term at the expense of Barcelona.

Following her switch, Nchout becomes the second African with the Spanish outfit after Nigeria's Ajibade and the third Cameroonian in the country after Rassia Feudjio and Michaela Abam.

Nchout will aim to hit the ground running at Ciudad Deportiva Rayo Vallecano if handed her debut for Atletico against Rayo Vallecano in their first game of the year 2021 on January 6.

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA FC) midfielder Ashraf Mugume has explained how he is ready for a possible debut in the Caf Confederation Cup against AS Kigali.

The two sides will meet on January 6 as the first leg was awarded to the Rwandan outfit after the Kasasiro Boys failed to raise the required number of players for the showdown then in Kigali. KCCA had to travel with 15 players after 12 of their stars had tested positive for the coronavirus and Caf was forced to award AS Kigali a 2-0 walkover.

The return match at St Mary’s Kitende will offer Mugume a possible opportunity to feature for the first time in continental competition should he earn Mike Mutebi’s trust for the decisive game.

“I am just going to turn what we have been taught by the coaches into action when I happen to get a chance because our team is strong, you can’t be very sure about whether you will play or not,” Mugume said as per Sports Nation.

“But if I get that chance, I am ready to give 100%. It will be my first time playing in this tournament and I will be very happy if I get that chance and taking the team to the next level.

“Everyone is in good shape and ready for the game and the camp has helped us to get more time together. We are very ready, everyone is positive and just waiting for the day.”

The midfielder also expressed his feelings on Caf’s decision to award their opponents a first-leg victory.

“Just like every footballer, when you travel, you want to play, but we were disappointed because we didn’t play due to Covid-19 as you all know,” he added. “But we managed to talk to ourselves as players, we exchanged ideas and we managed to come up with one thing; lifting ourselves and to be able to take our team to the next stage.”

Mugume joined the 13-time Premier League winners from their local rivals Vipers SC – who were unable to progress from the Champions League preliminary round after going down to Al-Hilal Omdurman – on a four-year deal. In the 2019/20 season, the star spent time with Police FC on loan.

Meanwhile, Caf has appointed Anthony Ogwayo as the centre referee while Oliver Odhiambo and Tony Kidiya will be Ogwayo’s assistants.

Tewodros Mitiku has been given the fourth official’s mandate and Malawian Patrick John Sabe will be the match commissioner. Ugandan James Ssekajugo has been appointed as the Covid-19 health official.