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Frank Lampard thinks Chelsea will survive the loss of Willian even if he joins a rival like Arsenal having already coped with the sale of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid last summer for £88 million ($115m).

Willian is understood to be in advance talks with Arsenal over a three-year deal having only been offered a two-year contract to stay at Stamford Bridge with no room for negotiation.

Chelsea look set to lose the 31-year-old but Lampard was clear that Willian only didn't travel due to a minor Achilles injury ahead of Saturday's away match with Bayern Munich.

Lampard spoke of his great relationship with his former team-mate and the player he now manages but expects his side to cope with him leaving in the near future.

"It does not matter if there's a disappointment from any party, in this situation," Lampard said in Munich on Zoom video conference. "He remains our player at the moment. He was injured for the cup final and injured for tomorrow and he would have given everything to play in those game.

"I know Willian well, I have seen him. He has carried this injury a little bit in the latter part of the restart. In terms of being disappointed, certainly as a club we have done everything we can to explain [the situation] to Willian.

"Mine and his relationship is very close and I would have no feeling of disappointment if he does move on. He is a fantastic man and a fantastic player. I think he will feel like that about Chelsea. I will leave him to say his own words.

"But I don’t want anyone to try to find a negative attitude. The club have acted very well in this as well. If he moves on I personally will wish him well. I think he [would] leave a hole as a player who has been here for I think seven seasons, being part of successful teams.

"When I came in and we had a lot of issues in terms of younger players, players back from loan, transitional elements to the group, Willian as the one you looked at and relied on in terms of his experience and quality. He has shown me that all year. He has his own decisions to make.

"We as a club will always want to move forward, no matter what. Eden Hazard left last year; the club continues to work in a forward direction which I think we have in many ways. That remains the same, whatever player leaves the club.

"When a player is out of contract, they have the freedom and the right to play wherever they want. You have to understand that if they stay in the league and it is a player of Willian’s quality, for instance, then they will go and contribute to that team.

"We have to accept that and move on. I have no problems with that."

The 31-year-old first joined Chelsea in 2013 from Anzhi and has since taken a third-captain role at the club and team-mate Antonio Rudiger, who previously explained that Willian helped him settle in London, admitted that he would be missed.

"He is own man and he makes decisions for himself," Rudiger said after Lampard's press conference. "I don’t know what the situation is yet but if he goes it will be a huge loss for us. Especially after the restart people could see he was very important for us."

The Blues face a difficult task on Saturday night as they try to overturn a 3-0 first leg home defeat against a Bayern Munich side that have won their last 17 domestic games and who were crowned Bundesliga champions in July.

Yanga SC have parted ways with veteran defender Kelvin Yondani and Juma Abdul ahead of the new season.

The Jangwani-based side confirmed the new development via their social media platform.

"The management of [Yanga SC] has announced the exit of their star players Kelvin Yondani and Juma Abdul after failure to reach an agreement regarding their contracts," the 27-time league champions confirmed.

This latest move brings to an end Yondani's stay at the club he joined in 2012 from bitter rivals Simba SC. he has since helped Timu ya Wananchi to win four Tanzania Mainland League titles.

A couple of days ago, Yanga confirmed the exit of 14 players.

Former Gor Mahia striker Gnamien Yikpe, who took much criticism last season, has been axed alongside captain Papy Tshishimbi, who refused to renew his contract and Congolese striker David Molinga.

Others dropped are veteran striker Mrisho Ngassa, Jafary Mohamed, Mohamed Issa Banka, Tariq Seif, Andrew Vincent Dante, Patrick Sibomana, Muharami Issa, Ali Ali, Rafael Daud, Ali Mtoni Sonso and Eric Kabamba.

Surprisingly, the club have retained controversial Ghanaian forward Bernard Morrison, who has missed training since the team suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat against rivals Simba SC in the FA Cup semi-final clash and was since arrested under suspicion of marijuana possession.

Other played retained include Kenyan keeper Farouk Shikhalo, Metacha Mnata, Ramadhan Kabwili, Haruna Niyonzima, Lamine Moro, Bernard Morrison, Feisal Salum, Juma Mahadhi, Adeyum Saleh, Said Makapu, Balama Mapinduzi, Deus Kaseke, Ditram Nchimbi, Abdulaziz Makame, and Paul Godfrey.

On Monday, the club denied reports they have been forced into panic transfer activities after missing out on winning silverware in the just-concluded season.

The Jangwani Street-based giants have already signed four players – defender Bakari Mwamnyeto from Coastal Union, striker Waziri Junior from Mbao FC, left-back Yassin Mustapha from Polisi Tanzania and midfielder Peter Mauya from Kagera Sugar.

A section of Yanga fans have questioned the criteria the club is using to sign new players since they have not appointed a new coach after they fired Belgian Luc Eymael at the end of the 2019-20 Mainland Premier League season.

The fans believe the club should have first appointed a new coach, who could reveal the players he wants to be signed for the club ahead of the new season.

Rasheedat Ajibade was involved in Avaldsnes' only goal after assisting Elise Thorsnes in a 1-0 away victory over Roa in a Norwegian Toppserien encounter on Friday evening.

The 20-year-old has been in good form for Thomas Dahle's team so far in this campaign, scoring three goals in five starts - one each against Lyn Football, Arna-Bjornar and Valerenga.

Avaldsnes went into this match with determination to bounce back to winning ways against bottom-placed Roa following recent back-to-back defeats, 2-1 against Valerenga and 3-1 against Sandviken.

While eyeing her side's victory, Ajibade was eager to replicate her form against the hosts, having provided an assist to Ylinn Tennebo to score a 60th-minute lone winner at home, a year ago.

The FC Robo Queens product did not take too long to threaten the backline of the hosts but was denied by the defence in the sixth minute before her second effort hit the crossbar two minutes later.

The Nigerian snatched the ball inside Roa's defence after the hosts failed to deal with her free-kick and calmly teed up Thorsnes, who eventually fired home in the 16th minute to ensure the victory.

The Nigeria international, who was in action for the duration of the match, has now provided her first assist and scored three times in six matches for Avaldsnes this season.

The result means Avaldsnes are fifth with 10 points from six games - sitting only just three points adrift of leaders Lillestrom, who will be visiting them at the Avaldsnes Idrettssenter on August 15.

Former Aston Villa striker Jonathan Kodjia netted a brace in Al-Gharafa’s 2-2 draw with Al-Khor in the Qatar Stars League on Friday.

The Cheetahs lost at home to Al-Duhail in their previous game on their turf, a set-back from their 1-0 win over Al-Arabi at the restart in which Kodjia scored the sole goal.

The Ivorian forward opened the scoring in what was Al-Gharafa’s third home game in a row with a low shot in the 36th minute for a 1-0 first-half lead.

Moroccan wideman Ahmed Hamoudan equalised for Al-Khor two minutes after the half-time break and the score became 2-1 for them four minutes later via Brazilian midfielder Lucca, from the penalty spot.

It looked like it was going to be back-to-back defeats for Al-Gharafa but it wasn’t to be as Kodjia popped up with the equaliser in the 90th minute with a delightful volley.

The brace takes the 30-year-old to eight league goals since he arrived in January. He started off with a hat-trick on his debut in a 4-2 win over Al-Rayyan and scored next in a 2-1 home win over Al-Wakrah just before the Stars League was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Kodjia was on the books of Aston Villa between August 2016 and January 2020, and scored 31 goals and providing nine assists in 106 competitive outings.

He played 41 times during the 2018-19 Championship season, scoring nine goals as Villa secured Premier League promotion with a 1-0 win over Derby County in the play-off final.

Kodjia’s status in the Villa squad began to reduce during the 2019-20 campaign, making only six top-flight appearances, his last coming in a 2-1 win at Burnley in which he played for 19 minutes.

He has previously played for Reims, Angers and Bristol City and has spent time on loan at Cherbourg, Amiens and Caen, all in France, where he was born.

Kodjia has also represented Ivory Coast 24 times, scoring 11 goals.

He featured at the 2017 and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Egypt, respectively, having a hand in three goals (two goals, one assist) in the latter, one of which came in the quarter-finals where they lost 5-4 on penalties to eventual champions Algeria.

Raheem Sterling moved on to 100 goals for Manchester City after he put Pep Guardiola's side ahead against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Sterling opened the scoring nine minutes into Friday's last-16 second leg, finishing in composed fashion after Gabriel Jesus pounced on Raphael Varane's mistake.

It put City 3-1 up on aggregate and took Sterling to a century of goals for the club.

The 25-year-old is the 17th player to achieve the feat for City, though he is the first Englishman to reach triple figures since Dennis Tueart in 1981.

It took Sterling 242 matches to reach the milestone, while the England star has also notched 74 assists during those games.

Sterling, who went close to a second moments after his opener before Karim Benzema equalised, is also the sixth English player to score at least 20 Champions League goals – following Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Harry Kane.

Only Rooney – aged 24 years and 157 days – reached the total at a younger age than the City forward.

Sterling has been in strong goalscoring form again in 2019-20, and recently surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo on the Premier League's all-time scoring list when he notched his 85th career goal. 

Overall, Sterling scored 20 times in the Premier League in 2019-20, setting a new career high in the competition after scoring 17 the previous year and 18 the season before that. 

His exploits, however, weren't enough to earn Man City a third straight Premier League title, as Guardiola's men finished in second place, 18 points behind runaway champions Liverpool.

Sterling continued to be a champion for important causes off the pitch as well, which greatly impressed his manager. 

"I think Raheem and many, many of our players, a lot of people are trying to make a better world," Guardiola said.

"It's difficult, in the world we're living, but I'm proud. I'm really proud of what he is doing and he knows, as a club, myself as a person, we support him 100 per cent."

Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo broke the club record for most goals in a single season on Friday with his double against Lyon in the Champions League. 

The Bianconeri went into the clash needing a positive result to advance to the quarter-finals, having gone down 1-0 in the last-16 opener all the way back in February. 

Though Ronaldo scored a pair of goals to reach 37 on the season, Juventus crashed out of the Champions League after defeating Lyon 2-1 on the night and falling on away goals in a 2-2 aggregate result.

Memphis Depay converted in style from the spot to open the scoring on Friday after Rodrigo Bentancur gave away a contentious spot-kick. 

With Ronaldo in the team, however, there is always the potential for goals, and the Portugal captain proved as much by netting at the end of the first half to keep Juve in the tie. 

Referee Felix Zwayer spotted a handball from Depay and pointed to the spot in a decision every bit as polemic as that which led to the Lyon striker's opener. 

And there was little doubt over the outcome as Cristiano stepped up, the forward this time sending Lopes the wrong way to pull back the scoreline to 1-1. 

It was Ronaldo's 36th goal of the season for Juve in all competitions, with 31 coming in Serie A, three in the Champions League and two in the side's victorious Coppa Italia campaign.

Ronaldo would net again in the 60th minute, scoring his 37th goal of the campaign. The Portugal star picked up the ball on the edge of the box and blasted a shot from distance that Lopes could only get a touch on as it went in.

That strike was enough to write the 35-year-old into the team's history books as their highest all-time scorer over a single season. 

The record had been held for more than 80 years by club legend Felice Borel, who in 1933-34 scored 36 across Serie A and the defunct Mitropa Cup, leading the Bianconeri to the Scudetto in the process. 

To cap that memorable season, Borel went on to represent Italy at the 1934 World Cup, making one appearance as the Azzurri triumphed in France. 

Lyon, like so many other top European clubs, must be sick of the sight of Juve's current sharpshooter. 

Friday's goals mean that Ronaldo has now scored against the French club representing three different sides, a feat previously managed only by Ruud van Nistelrooy and Jorg Butt against Bayern Munich and Juventus respectively.

Hearts of Oak have parted ways with star striker Joseph Esso as well as the quartet of Benjamin Agyare, Christopher Bonney, Bernard Arthur and Abubakar Troare.

A social media post on the club's official Facebook account indicates the five players left the club after deciding against renewing their expired contracts.

They featured for the Phobians in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) and FA Cup last season.

"Hearts of Oak management has met players Joseph Esso, Benjamin Agyare, Christopher Bonney, Bernard Arthur and Abubakar Troare and thanked them for their services as both sides opted not to extend their contracts," Hearts posted.

"We wish them the very best of luck in their respective careers."

Unarguably the biggest loss, Esso joined Hearts from Ebusua Dwarfs in 2018.

In December, the striker was reported to have attracted interest from Sudanese side Al-Hilal following a fine display for Ghana the 2019 Wafu Cup of Nations in Senegal. He netted two times to help the Black Stars finish second at the tournament.

Last season, he made 14 league appearances and scored three goals for Edward Odoom’s outfit.

"I've seen it [exit announcement post] on their [Hearts] social media and no one owns their media accounts," Esso told Otec FM.

"I have nothing to talk about it."

In June, the 23-year-old, who was voted by Ghana Premier League fans as Hearts' most exciting player in the African Sports Centre for Data, Research and Technology's 2019 Ghana Premier League Report, reportedly turned down a renewal offer worth $1000 (€851) a month from the Phobians.

“There has been no information on the contract expiration and renewal of the certain players," Hearts board member Frank Nelson Nwokolo recently told Sikka FM.

“If a player decides not to play for hearts, it won't be a big deal. No player will be forced to play for hearts. There is freedom of movement. We can only engage them in contract talks.

“We are appealing to our supporters to have trust in the board. The project is progressing very well."

Hearts signed defender Agyare from Heart of Lions in 2018, the same year Bonney joined the Phobians as a free agent.

Former Azam FC forward Arthur transferred to the Accra-based outfit in August 2019, a year after Burkinabe striker Traore completed a switch to the 19-time league champions.

The quartet made a combined 14 Premier League appearances for Hearts last season. 

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) unveiled their 2021-2024 development plan on August 6, charting a future path for the growth of women's football in the country.

The development comes just two weeks after the African ruling body, Caf, unveiled a four-year strategy and also comes after hosting a women's football summit in Marrakech two years ago.

RMFF president Fouzi Lekjaa, National Women's Football League (NWFL) president Khadija Ala, National Technical Administration director Roberts Wayne Ocean, and stakeholders were present at the women's strategy launch on Thursday.

With a focus on Women's Leagues and grassroots development, the regional and the national teams' administration are areas targeted for growth by Lekjaa in his inaugural address.

According to Lekjaa, his leadership is aiming to raise the value of women's football by developing a participatory business strategy to actively engage girls at grassroots level from schools.

Before announcing the appointment of Wafa Bakush as NWFL director-general, Lekjaa urged stakeholders to support the success of the plan in a bid to take women's football to the next level.

In the same vein, Ala, the NWFL president, said the plan will ensure the expansion of the practice base and restructuring teams while applauding the Federation's interest to grow the women's game.

The women's football strategy is built on three areas of development, which are comprised of sporting development, financial investment and technical growth.

The sporting aspect will involve the launching of a professional tournament with its first and second divisions, starting in the next football season, and establishment of a national championship for players under 17 years of age, and regional championships for the youngest groups.

The financial area will witness the raising of the annual grant allocated to women's football clubs - 120 million Moroccan Dirham for the first national division clubs and 80 million Moroccan Dirham for second national division clubs - with full compliance to the plan.

Ten million Moroccan Dirham will also be allocated to the regional bodies to advance women's football, with full compliance to the plan.

On the technical area, it will raise the number of girls and women playing football in the country to 90 thousand in 2024, and form 1000 technical frameworks for the women's football clubs.

It will also develop the general level of women's football in the professional national championship with its first and second division, the regional championship and the youth national teams.

With this move, Morocco will be aiming to qualify for the 2022 Africa Women's Cup of Nations for the first time since 2000 following their triumph at the 2020 UNAF Women's Tournament in February. 

Zambia and Simba FC midfielder Clatous Chama is the 2019/20 Tanzania Mainland League's Most Valuable Player (MVP).

The 29-year-old has been the engine for the Msimbazi-based side and played a great role in helping the team win a treble. He also won the best midfielder award for his consistent displays.

Taifa Stars and Simba SC custodian Aishi Manula won the Goalkeeper of the Season Award, having kept 18 clean sheets.

The best defender award went to Azam FC's Ugandan Nicholas Wadada, with Novatus Dismas of Biashara United winning the Best Young Player Award.

Belgian coach Sven Vandenbroeck was named the best coach having helped the Msimbazi-based side to a double. The 40-year-old led the team to their third league title in as many seasons with six games to spare. He went on to win the FA Cup after a 2-1 win against Namungo FC.

His assistant coach Suleiman Matola was there to receive the award on Belgian's behalf.

The league's top scorer Rwandan Meddie Kagere missed the gala but was represented by Wekundu wa Msimbazi team Manager Patrick Rweyemamu, who took the award on behalf of the striker.

The former Gor Mahia striker scored 22 goals in the completed season, one less than the previous season.

Referees Abdallah Mwinyimkuu, Ferdinand Chacha, Mohamed Mkono, and Athuman Lazi were also feted for good collective officiating in the Tanzania Mainland League match between Simba FC and Mtibwa Sugar.  

Ramadhan Kayoko won the overall best centre referee award with Frank Kikomba taking the award for the best assistant.

In the team of the season, Aishi Manula gets his gloves in between the posts with David Luhende, Nicholas Wadada, Bakari Nondo, and Pascal Wawa completing the back four.

Zawadi Mauya and Lucas Kikoti complete the midfield with Chama playing behind Kagere, John Bocco, and Luis Miquissone.

Simba SC pocketed Tsh 100 million for winning the league. Their bitter rivals Yanga SC pocketed Tsh 45 million for finishing in the second position. 

Azam FC and Namungo FC received Tsh 30 million and Tsh 10 million for finishing in the third and fourth positions, respectively, in the concluded campaign.

Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita, Fiorentina loanee Kevin-Prince Boateng, Everton's Alex Iwobi and Villarreal's Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa are among the African players who are making the most of their summer break.

Following the conclusion of the Premier League a fortnight ago, Iwobi, Keita and Salah are some African players who have jetted out of England.

The Nigeria international is having a nice time in Cannes, a French resort town while Keita and Salah appeared to have left Merseyside after helping Liverpool end their 30-year wait for a top-flight crown, with the former flaunting a picture of him in a private jet.

Salah, however, is rocking a new hairstyle and shared a pose with a statue of an Egyptian pharaoh.

Elsewhere, Kevin-Prince Boateng showed off his skills on the turntables after his impressive loan spell at Besiktas and Everton’s Yannick Bolasie announced that he is expecting a baby with his spouse.

Fulham loanee Anguissa turned on his fashion game alongside his Cameroon Clinton Njie as they showed off their modelling skills. Meanwhile, free-agent Ogenyi Onazi is doing his best to keep fit after returning to his hometown of Jos in Nigeria.

Dijon have signed Pape Cheikh Diop on loan from Olympique Lyon for the entirety of the 2020-21 season.

The 22-year-old spent time during the previous season at Celta Vigo where his career began, making 19 appearances in all competitions and providing one assist which came in a 3-1 La Liga opening day defeat by Real Madrid.

The Celestes finished the season in 17th place, just one point clear of relegated Leganes in 18th.

Diop joined Lyon after three years at Celta but has been unable to be a mainstay in the first team, playing just 25 times.

He now heads to the Northeast of France to get more exposure and minutes on the pitch.

Dijon will have the option to purchase Diop for €5 million on a permanent basis at the end of his loan with an additional €1.5 million in add-ons. Lyon are entitled to 15% of any future transfer fee should the Owls decide to sell him.

“He [Diop] puts in a lot of intensity, he is aggressive on the ball, has good technique, as well as a good vision of the game,” Dijon Sporting Director, Peguy Luyindula said on the club website.

Dijon President Olivier Delcourt also praised Diop’s signing, highlighting some of his strong attributes as well.

“His tactical intelligence and versatility allow Pape to adapt to multiple positions in midfield. He has a lot of talent and it is not for nothing that Lyon have him,” he said.

Diop, speaking on the club website as well, stated Dijon is the ideal club for the progress of his career.

“I am very happy to join Dijon whose project I really liked,” he said.

“It is the ideal club for my progress, in a high-level championship which will allow me to learn a lot.

“Dijon gave me their trust and I want to accomplish great things with the club. I hope we have a great season."

Stephane Jobard’s team finished 16th in Ligue 1 after 28 matches last term, seven points clear of the relegation zone.

They start their new season with a home tie against Angers on August 23 before travelling to play Diop’s parent club Lyon five days later.

Diop was born in the Senegalese capital of Dakar and is eligible to play for either the Teranga Lions or La Roja of Spain.

Cristiano Ronaldo's brace could not rescue Juventus' Champions League campaign on Friday as they crashed out to Lyon on away goals at the last-16 stage, despite a 2-1 win in Turin.

Another season will pass without European success for the Bianconeri after their talisman - the competition's most prolific goalscorer - came up just short in his personal quest following the award of contentious penalties at either end in the second leg.

Having lost March's first meeting 1-0 in France, Juve could ill afford another setback but conceded after just 12 minutes as Memphis Depay's spot-kick gave Ronaldo and Co. a mountain to climb.

With the aid of their own generous penalty call, Ronaldo sought to lead the expedition and had the hosts in front on the night when he followed up his strike from 12 yards with a long-range effort in the second half.

Although the Portuguese hit a hat-trick at this stage against Atletico Madrid last season, such a feat proved beyond him this time as Juve paid for Lyon's bright start.

Houssem Aouar saw a low volley touched around the post by Wojciech Szczesny and the first penalty soon followed after the same man appeared to be tripped by Federico Bernardeschi just before a lunging Rodrigo Bentancur swept the ball away.

The spot-kick stood following a VAR review and Depay kept his cool to dink a finish down the centre of the goal, before Juve finally kicked into gear.

A sublime last-ditch challenge from Marcelo denied Bernardeschi an open goal and Ronaldo then directed a stooping header over the crossbar.

Anthony Lopes' strong right hand superbly kept out Ronaldo's free-kick, but the next intervention came from the arm of Depay. Miralem Pjanic's set-piece bounced away off the goalscorer's elbow, prompting a second harsh spot-kick which Ronaldo tucked away.

Just as Juve were toiling approaching the hour mark, Ronaldo came to the fore once more and unleashed a blistering left-footed strike that Lopes could only help into the top-right corner.

Ronaldo centred for Gonzalo Higuain to head over, before the two-goal star was wasteful from a similar position after Juve had called for Paulo Dybala from the bench.

Lyon offered precious little going the other way but clung to their narrow advantage as Dybala hobbled off, Maurizio Sarri's risk in throwing on a half-fit forward failing to bear fruit.

What does it mean? A sorry end to Sarri's season

Sarri's brief was to combine style with Juve's usual success. A ninth straight Scudetto was delivered, but the Bianconeri have repeatedly flattered to deceive this season and will now be spectators as Europe's elite head to Lisbon.

The need to introduce a struggling Dybala said much for the campaign. Juve have relied too heavily on individual talent this term, where Lyon's dogged teamwork got the job done.

Ronaldo attempts rescue act

The Champions League's all-time leading marksman has so often dragged his sides through such ties, be that with Manchester United, Real Madrid or Juve.

But even a typically influential display could not lift the Bianconeri this time. This is the first time Ronaldo has not been involved in the quarter-finals of the competition since 2009-10 - when Madrid lost to Lyon, of course, in the last 16.

Zwayer takes centre stage

No matter which way this tie had turned in the second half on Friday, the losing side were always likely to reflect on the concession of a contentious penalty as referee Felix Zwayer proved a decisive figure.

Juve moaned as Aouar hit the deck, although Bernardeschi did seem to make contact, before Depay was hugely unfortunate to be punished for handball, becoming the first man since detailed Opta data began in 2003-04 to score and concede a spot-kick in a Champions League game.

What's next?

It is Lyon who advance to Portugal to take on Manchester City next week. They are just three wins away from becoming champions of Europe for the very first time.

Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus sent Manchester City into the Champions League quarter-finals as a 2-1 defeat of Real Madrid on Friday sealed a 4-2 aggregate win.

Leading 2-1 from the first leg of their last-16 tie in February, City hit the front early on at the Etihad Stadium when Raphael Varane gift-wrapped Raheem Sterling his 100th goal for the club.

Karim Benzema's fine header restored parity in the 28th minute, only for Varane to again cost Madrid midway through the second half.

Jesus was the benefactor of the centre-back's second calamity of the game, with a quarter-final clash against Lyon the reward for City.

Varane's nightmare started in the ninth minute, with the France international playing himself into trouble, Jesus robbing possession and teeing up Sterling for a simple finish.

Sterling very nearly had his 101st goal in sky blue moments after, but his chipped effort dropped just over the bar.

Ederson had to make two fine saves as Madrid fought back, but City did not heed the warning, and the visitors were on level terms when Benzema headed in from Rodrygo's cross.

Sterling could have done better with a shot into the side netting following the restart, before Thibaut Courtois denied Kevin De Bruyne direct from a corner.

Courtois was in action again with 25 minutes remaining, tipping Jesus' effort over, but City had their second soon after.

Having messed up his initial header, Varane put nowhere near enough power on his nod back to Courtois, with Jesus nipping in to prod home cleverly from a tight angle.

Handed an Etihad farewell in the final stages, David Silva was inches away from making it 3-1 with a dipping free-kick, but City ultimately settled for what they had as they knocked out the 13-time European champions.

What does it mean? Jekyll and Hyde City must sharpen up to break Champions League duck

Sterling's opener was City's 150th Champions League goal, in their 76th appearance in the competition, yet they then conceded their 100th goal in the tournament under 20 minutes later.

If they are to end their wait for Europe's top club trophy this season, City's defence must give more support to their stellar forwards.

Century up for Sterling

Though the goal was gaping, Sterling still showed real composure to nudge City ahead early on, and in doing so he became the 17th player to reach a century of goals for the Citizens and the first Englishman since Dennis Tueart in 1981.

Varane horror show proves decisive

With Sergio Ramos suspended, the pressure was on Eder Militao heading into Friday's clash, yet it was his experienced defensive partner Varane who was left red-faced after his two errors resulted in both of City's goals.

What's next?

Lyon, who knocked out Juventus on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw, are next up for City on August 15 in Lisbon, while Madrid's focus will switch to the new season.

FC Khimki have announced the signing of Brian Idowu on a season-long loan from Lokomotiv Moscow for the 2020-21 Russian Premier League season.

The newly-promoted club, who finished second in the Russian second division last term, added the 28-year-old Nigeria defender to their defensive ranks on Friday, ahead of their league opener against CSKA Moscow on Saturday.

Idowu joins FC Khimki with the ambition of gathering regular playing time after he was restricted to 12 Premier League matches at Lokomotiv Moscow last season.

He is the second African player in Dmitry Gunko's team after Ivory Coast's Mohamed Konate.

“The Red and Blacks rented Lokomotiv defender Brian Idowu. The loan agreement with the Nigerian defender is calculated until the end of the season,” a club statement read.

“We welcome Brian to Khimki and wish him successful performances for our team.”

Immediately he put pen to paper on Friday, Idowu joined his new teammates in preparing for Saturday’s home outing at the Rodina Stadium.

The Super Eagles defender, who was born in Russia to Nigerian parents, has spent his entire career in the European country so far.

After developing his game at Zenit St. Petersburg's youth academy, the left-back moved to Amkar Perm in 2010 where he later made his debut in the Russian Premier League two years later.

He spent eight years in the city of Perm which includes a loan spell with Dynamo St Petersburg in the 2013–14 season, however, he left Amkar Perm in July 2018 to sign a three-year with Lokomotiv Moscow.

Since he arrived in Moscow, the 28-year-old has struggled for regular action as he featured in 25 league games across two seasons.

On the international scene, Idowu’s last outing for the Super Eagles was at the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia, where he played in every game before their group stage exit.

His last invitation to Gernot Rohr’s team was in September 2019 but he was an unused substitute in Nigeria’s 2-2 draw against Ukraine in an international friendly.

Zinedine Zidane has finally been eliminated from the Champions League as a manager after winning the competition in his first three tries.

Zidane's Real Madrid fell 2-1 to Manchester City in the second leg of a last-16 tie on Friday night, crashing out of the competition via a 4-2 aggregate result. 

City had defeated Los Blancos 2-1 in the first leg at Santiago Bernabeu all the way back in February, before the coronavirus pandemic delayed the second leg for nearly six months.

It was the first time Madrid lost both legs of a Champions League knockout tie since 2008-09, when they fell both home and away against Liverpool in the last 16.

That tie against the Reds was also the most recent time an English side won both legs in a Champions League knockout tie against Spanish opposition.

The result saw Zidane's remarkable run of success in Europe's top club competition end after he led Madrid to titles in 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18.

The Frenchman was named Madrid manager in January 2016 and helped his side win the Champions League in his first half season in charge, defeating rivals Atletico in the final.

Triumphs would follow in the next two seasons as well, with Madrid defeating Juventus in the 2016-17 final and Liverpool in the final the following season.

Zidane would step away from his post after the win over Liverpool, but was lured back midway through the 2018-19 season after Madrid had suffered a surprise last-16 elimination from the Champions League against Ajax. 

Now, the Frenchman has finally overseen a Champions League exit as a manager, with Real Madrid having been eliminated before the quarter-finals in consecutive Champions League campaigns for the first time since 2009-10.

Two major errors from Raphael Varane directly led to City's two goals at the Etihad Stadium on Friday.

Varane became the first Real Madrid player to commit two errors leading to a goal in a single Champions League game since at least the 2007-08 season.

After advancing past Real Madrid, Manchester City will now face Lyon in the quarter-final after the Ligue 1 side pulled off a shocking upset against Juventus.

Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane has taken full responsibility for sending his side out of the Champions League after two damaging mistakes sealed the Merengue's fate against Manchester City on Friday.

Having won the trophy on each of his first three attempts at the Madrid helm, Zinedine Zidane finally found himself on the wrong side of a European knock-out clash as City's 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium sent them through to the last four with a 4-2 aggregate triumph. 

Karim Benzema struck in the first half to cancel out Raheem Sterling's early opener, before Gabriel Jesus struck in the second half to put the tie beyond doubt.

Both of the hosts' goals came after errors from Varane, who was exposed at the back in the absence of suspended centre-back partner Sergio Ramos. 

And the France international made no effort to shift the blame as he looked back on a disastrous 90 minutes at the Etihad. 

"This defeat is mine, I have to accept it," he told reporters after the game. 

"I am responsible for this defeat. We had prepared well but you pay for your mistakes. I am sad for my team-mates. 

"At 1-1 we had the chance to qualify and today things did not go to plan.

Zidane, meanwhile, preferred to look at the positives from a season that saw Madrid reclaim the Liga title from Barcelona and backed the defender to recover from his blunders. 

"We will tell Varane, keep your head up," the manager told reporters after the final whistle at the Etihad. 

"I prefer to dwell on what most of my players achieved over the course of the season, which was spectacular. 

“Our season has been very good. We have not ended with a good result, but the season has been good, despite everything. We must be very happy with what we have done.”

“We lost the two games, and in the end they deserved it. In first 15 or 20 minutes there was a feeling we could not get past their press. But then we played pretty well. In the second half, when we were on top, we gave up the second goal.”

City move on to face Lyon in the next round, after the French side upset Juventus on away goals following a 2-1 defeat in Turin.

Jean Kouassi opened his goal account for the 2020 Chinese Super League campaign with a brace in Wuhan Zall's 2-1 win against Shijiazhuang Ever Bright on Friday.

The Ivorian forward opened the scoring for the hosts at the Kunshan Sports Center Stadium in the 15th minute, thanks to an assist from Leo Baptistao.

Twenty minutes later, Kouassi doubled the hosts' lead with his strike from the penalty spot. Towards the end of the first-half, Muriqui pulled a goal back for Shijiazhuang Ever Bright in the stoppage time.

The 46th minute goal was not enough for the visitors as Wuhan Zall held on to their lead in the second 45 minutes to claim their second victory in the Chinese top-flight this season.

Kouassi was on parade from start to finish, and he has started every of his team’s games with 260 minutes of league football played so far this term.

Jose Gonzalez's men have been impressive since the 2020 Chinese Super League season started a fortnight ago after a lengthy suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Wuhan Zall have won two of their opening three matches, and their only defeat was a 1-0 away loss to Beijing Guoan on August 1.

They are third in the league table with six points after three games, a point behind second-placed Shanghai SIPG and three points adrift of unbeaten leaders Beijing Guoan.

Kouassi will be aiming to help Wuhan Zall build on Friday's win when they visit Shanghai SIPG for their next league outing on August 12.

Since his outing for the Ivory Coast U17 team in 2011, Kouassi has not been considered for the selection into the country's national team.

The 25-year-old helped the West African nation reach the round of 16 stage at the U17 World Cup in Mexico nine years ago, where they bowed to a 3-2 defeat against France.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has called on his charges not to rest on their laurels after inflicting defeat on Real Madrid in the Champions League on Friday. 

Holding a 2-1 advantage from March's last-16 first leg, City enjoyed a perfect start at the Etihad Stadium when Raheem Sterling hit the target after just eight minutes. 

Rodrygo pulled one back for the visitors before half-time, but Gabriel Jesus' goal secured qualification for the quarter finals, inflicting in the process a first Champions League knock-out defeat on Merengue coach Zinedine Zidane. 

Madrid have won four of the last six editions of Europe's biggest club competition, including three in a row during Zidane's first spell as coach between 2016 and 2018. 

But while ex-Barcelona player and boss Guardiola was pleased to get one over on his old Clasico rival, he insisted that winning such ties should be the minimum expected of City.

"It is important, we beat them twice. Zinedine Zidane had never lost a knock-out game," the manager told  BT Sport  after the final whistle at the Etihad. 

"You see the calm and personality they play with, they are good. We are here to try and win the Champions League.

"It is one step, if we think that is enough we will show how small we are. If you want to win you have to beat the big clubs.

"I just spoke with the scouting department [about Lyon] and they told me to be alert. We have eight days to prepare for it. We will enjoy it and then after we will think about Lyon."

Despite leading on aggregate throughout the second leg City took the game to their more cautious opponents, recording 20 shots to Madrid's nine over the 90 minutes. 

The hosts nevertheless benefited from no little good fortune as Raphael Varane erred in both goals, which Pep put down to the effectiveness of his side's pressing game.

"We created a lot of chances and scored two goals with mistakes from them. We tried to convince them to go, go and attack but it is not easy against this team," he added.

"We try to [press], sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. In general we did a good job.

"We could not expect after 30 minutes be 4-0 up. The second half didn't have much but we created a lot. The players made an incredible effort - all of them.

"The first half we played with our wingers more inside, not wider. I think that was a mistake from my side. We corrected in the second half and were better."

City move on to face Lyon in the last eight, with the sides' single tie scheduled to be played on August 15 at Lisbon's Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Gabriel Jesus has revealed he uses the incredible talent of Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario as motivation after the Manchester City striker led his team past Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16.

With the English side leading 2-1 after the first leg at the Bernabeu, Jesus twice forced Real centre-half Raphael Varane into errors as City claimed another 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium to progress 4-2 on aggregate.

Jesus robbed Varane of the ball in the ninth minute before squaring to Raheem Sterling for the game's opener, however that strike was cancelled out by Karim Benzema 20 minutes later.

But Jesus ensured that Manchester City were guaranteed progression to meet Lyon in the quarter-finals by nicking in to intercept Varane's back-pass header and expertly finishing past Thibaut Courtois.

With both Man City goals coming from his pressing work, the Brazil international spoke of his focus on his defensive efforts — and revealed he was inspired by the career of his countryman Ronaldo.

"We beat a top team, the best club in this competition so for us it is massive," Jesus told BT Sport.

"It is about belief, believe in their mistakes. We are human and can make mistakes so I believe always and I press, press a lot. It is one of my powers. I was happy to score.

"I work to be a great striker, I work every day hard to be like Ronaldo was. His quality is different from me but I have to work to be a great striker.

"Real Madrid are such a good team, they have a lot of players. They can beat us which is why we came to the pitch to work hard again.

"We have to keep working and stay strong for the next game."

Sterling, who scored his 100th goal for Manchester City and his fifth of their Champions League campaign, believes his team's work-rate was the main reason behind their victory in the tie.

"Energy, passion. It is a competition we want to do well in. If we play our football and run our socks off then the result will come," Sterling said to BT Sport.

"We know how good they are, we know how good we are and the difference was who would run the most and I thought we were brilliant today.

"We wanted to be right on them and from our pressing we got two goals. [It is] a great achievement [to score 100 goals for the club], hopefully plenty more to follow."

City will now meet Ligue 1 outfit Lyon in the competition's quarter-finals after the French side dumped Juventus out on away goals.

Linkopings striker Ebere Orji has won the Swedish Damallsvenskan Player of the Month award for July.

Orji is the second-joint leading scorer in Sweden with five goals, which she managed to score in her six opening outings in the month under review.

The 27-year-old scored a brace against Vaxjo on June 27 and netted once in their 2-1 win at Vittsjo on July 5. Ten days later, she grabbed a brace that helped her side secure a 2-2 draw at Pitea.

Orji is enjoying a fine start to life in Linkoping since her arrival from newly promoted side Umea in February and has been directly involved in six goals in the league, including one assist.

Having being voted by the team's captains and media representatives, the 2010 Africa Women's Cup of Nations winner with Nigeria has admitted her surprise at being named the Player of the Month.

"It came as a shock to me. I am happy to win the prize and I am very happy for my own and for the team's sake," she told the Swedish club's website.

"For me, it is a privilege to score goals. It's good for me and it's good for Linkopings."

Commenting on her achievement, Linkopings coach Olof Unogard congratulated the Nigerian, while hailing her personality and exploits since arriving at Linkoping Arena in the winter transfer.

"She came in in February from Umeå and then we did not have time to play so much before everything was canceled, but we noticed in the training matches we still got to play that she rose worryingly," the coach said. 

"We understood early on that she is a match player, because there were a few more snaps in comparison with the training. And when we started playing the Elittetan, there were a few more levels, so it was fantastic fun to see

"Off the field, she is a fantastic person and a very popular teammate. She is not the one who sounds and talks the most, but is wise and confident and works hard to constantly get better and learn the way we play. 

"It's really fun that it went so well and I wish her all the success. Ebere Orji has, just like the team, high goals. 

"She wants to be part of the fight for the medals and describes that she herself takes it step by step during the season.  I hope to do what I can to help the team end up at the top of the table."

Besides the award, Orji was rewarded with 10,000 Swedish Krona, which she has donated to one of Linkopings' Corporate social responsibility project, LFC Night for the training of 750 girls.

Despite a 2-0 defeat at Goteborg last week, Linkopings are third on the Damallsvenskan log with 16 points from eight games and will aim for victory against Kristianstad on Saturday.