Looking for Soccer News?

Spanish midfielder Hernan Santana is likely to join NorthEast United FC in the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season. The 30-year-old had joined Mumbai City FC on a one-year loan deal from Sporting Gijon. However, his contract ended with Gijon ended earlier this summer and he is expected to join the Highlanders as a free agent. 

He was an instrumental figure in Sergio Lobera's team and played 19 matches, accruing 1581 minutes during the course of the season. He also scored two goals, each against East Bengal and Chennaiyin respectively. He had a passing accuracy of 87.99 per cent and averaged over 50 passes a game. Not only did he play as a defensive midfielder, but also filled in as a centre-back for Mumbai City FC.

Santana, who came through the ranks of Spanish club Las Palmas, was an integral part of the Canaries for the better part of the last decade. From 2011-2018, he played for Las Palmas in the Segunda division and the La Liga. He helped them gain promotion to the La Liga after 13 years in the 2014-15 season, making 36 appearances in that campaign. He made his La Liga debut against Atletico Madrid and has even scored against Real Madrid once. In 2018, he joined Sporting Gijon and thereafter, came to India to try his luck in ISL.

The Highlanders reached the semifinals last season after a stellar run under interim manager Khalid Jamil. They went unbeaten for 10 consecutive matches to finish third on the table with 33 points from 20 matches. However, they were beaten by ATK Mohun Bagan in the last four with an aggregate score of 3-2. 

All Man United fans in Singapore must be thrilled with the opening week’s result in front of a packed Old Trafford which signalled a strong intent for the 2021/22 Premier League title.

LIVENow is where you want to be to catch the next installment of The Red Devils incredible start as they travel to face Southampton in a highly anticipated encounter!

Against Leeds last week, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men were irresistible with Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba working in unison and creating magic for their adoring fans back at home in full force for the first time in more than a year.

For just S$10 and without the burden of costly monthly subscription for the entire season, you can purchase the online match pass for this exciting game that will kick-off at St Mary’s on Sunday (Aug 22) at 9pm.

Even more incredibly, the magnificence against Leeds was with Solskjaer selecting an XI comprising players from last season with new signing Jadon Sancho only appearing from the bench.

Raphael Varane was properly introduced this week and having joined his team mates for training, could be involved at the expense of Victor Lindelof to play alongside Harry Maguire.

LIVENow provides you with the flexibility to stream this Southampton v Man Utd game on various devices from PC to Mac, Chromecast to dedicated iOS/Android applications and many more, so you can catch if the former Real Madrid star makes his debut.

For Ralph Hasenhuttl, this game represents a chance for his side to redeem themselves following an opening day 3-1 defeat away to Everton where his charges were simply no match for the opponents.

But if anyone has the capacity to come back from dire situations to be excellent in the next game, it’s Hasenhuttl’s Southampton and Man United will take this match lightly at their own peril.

In the corresponding fixture last season, Southampton raced to a 2-0 lead in the first half before Edinson Cavani inspired a late Man United revival to snatch an impressive 3-2 away win.

If you’re hoping for the same to happen, all you need to do is CLICK HERE now to sign up and stream the Southampton v Man United game on the device of your choice!

ATK Mohun Bagan's star defender Sandesh Jhingan has joined Croatian First Division Football League side HNK Sibenik for the upcoming 2021/22 season. The 28-year-old defender will become the latest Indian footballer to play professionally in Europe. 

The first Indian player to play for a European club was Mohammed Salim who left Mohammedan Sporting to play for Scottish giants Celtic in 1936. Salim played two matches for Celtic as a trial with the club and had impressed the Celtic management who wanted him to offer a professional contract but unfortunately, he became homesick and decided to return.

In 1999, Bhaichung Bhutia became the first Indian male footballer to sign for a European club when he joined English third division club Bury FC. He went to England after at East Bengal from 1997 to 1999.

Other notable players who have played club football outside the country are Bengaluru FC duo Sunil Chhetri and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

Chhetri was at Dempo when he got an offer to join MLS side Kansas City Wizards in 2010. The Indian striker was on a two-year deal with the Goan giants but he left them midway into the season when he got a lucrative offer from the US. Gurpreet Sandhu joined Norwegian top-tier club Stabaek in 2014 after his four-year association with East Bengal ended.

Here we take a look at the Indian clubs from where some of the prominent male Indian footballers went abroad to ply their trade.

The North West London derby is upon us as the two giants of the Premier League are all set to face-off for the first time in the new season on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal and Chelsea had contrasting starts to their campaign last weekend. While Chelsea were off to a flying start with a convincing 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal suffered a shocking loss to new boys Brentford City who returned to top-flight football after a gap of 74 years.

After a solid start to their campaign, the Blues will now be further boosted as new signing Romelu Lukaku, who re-joined the club this summer for a club record transfer fee of £97.5, is likely to be part of the matchday squad this Sunday.

Arsenal vs Chelsea is certainly a blockbuster fixture in the Premier League as we have seen several high-scoring matches in the past. Didier Drogba has been the most lethal finisher in the history of the North West London derby as he netted 13 goals In 15 derby appearances over the course of two different stints at Chelsea.

The former Ivory Coast international is closely followed by Arsenal legend and the club's all-time highest goalscorer Thierry Henry, who scored 10 goals in 20 appearances in the North West London derby. The French star played at Arsenal from 1999 to 2007.

Former Chelsea star Eden Hazard is also in the top five with seven goals in 19 appearances. 

Here, we take a look at top five players who have scored the most number of goals in the North West London derby.

Major League Soccer side CF Montreal announced that they have mutually terminated the contract of goalkeeper Clement Diop.

Diop played eight MLS games for Wilfried Nancy’s side this season with a record of three clean sheets.

He moved to Montreal from LA Galaxy via the MLS Waiver Draft in 2017 and he helped the club win the Canadian Championship in 2019.

“CF Montreal and goalkeeper Clement Diop agreed on Tuesday to terminate the player's contract,” read a statement on the club’s website.

“Diop, 27, has played a total of 30 games and 2,700 minutes of play in four seasons, after being selected by the Club in the draft of available MLS players on December 13, 2017.

“CF Montreal would like to thank Clement and wish him good luck for the rest of his career.”

The 27-year-old started his professional career in France with Amiens before earning a move to the United States of America in 2015 to join LA Galaxy.

He started his adventure in America by playing for LA Galaxy reserve team for two years and he made his MLS debut against New York City in August 2016.

Although he was born in Paris, Diop is a Senegal international and he has played just a match for the Teranga Lions so far. The encounter was his debut outing in an international friendly match against Uganda in 2017.

Following his exit, Uganda's Mustapha Kizza, Ivory Coast's Ismael Kone, Egypt's Ahmed Hamdi, Nigeria's Ibrahim Sunusi and Kenya captain Victor Wanyama are the remaining African stars at the Saputo Stadium.

CF Montreal are currently seventh in the MLS table and they face FC Cincinnati for their next league match on Thursday morning.

On Sunday, they ended their five-match winless streak with a 2-1 win over New York Red Bulls, thanks to Wanyama’s winning goal from the spot-kick on the stroke of full-time.

Ivory Coast coach Patrice Beaumelle is looking forward to facing champions Algeria in the group stage of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon and is relishing the prospect of a rematch with the reigning champions.

Tuesday’s draw in Yaounde pitched the 2015 Afcon champions against Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea and Algeria in Group E.

Ivory Coast were defeated by the Desert Foxes in the last-eight stage of the tournament two years ago, who went on to lift the title for the second time in their history.

After playing out a 1-1 draw at the end of extra-time in Suez, both teams took turns in the penalty shoot-out which ended in a 4-3 loss for Ivory Coast.

Beaumelle succeeded Ibrahim Kamara at the helm in 2020 and is viewing the encounter, scheduled for the Japoma Stadium on January 20, as a rematch for the quarter-final showdown two years ago.

“In our group, playing Algeria is still fantastic,” Beaumelle told Caf website. “If I remember correctly, Cote d'Ivoire lost to them in the quarter-finals during the last Afcon in Egypt, so it could be a rematch.

"The most important thing is to have three good games and get through that first round, after all.”

Sierra Leone are returning to the Afcon stage for the first time in 26 years, while Equatorial Guinea are set to make their third appearance in the competition.

The Frenchman stated that he is not underrating any team that will feature in Cameroon, and he disclosed that certain group games ought to be considered like finals.

“Everyone has their chance in this Afcon. We have games that could be African Cup finals,” he added. “We must not underestimate the teams which according to the press are second series. I have a lot of respect for the different teams.”

Ivory Coast are gunning for their third success in the continental competition having previously won the title in Senegal 1992 and Equatorial Guinea in 2015.

Uche Ikpeazu scored his second Championship goal of the season on Wednesday but it was not enough to save Middlesbrough from a 3-2 loss against 10-man Queens Park Rangers.

After opening his goal account for Boro in their 2-1 win over Bristol City last Saturday, Ikpeazu continued from where he stopped with the opening goal at the Riverside Stadium.

The 26-year-old stepped forward to convert from the penalty spot in the seventh minute and the effort separated both teams for the first 45 minutes.

Five minutes after the restart of the game, Anglo-Nigerian defender Moses Odubajo was given marching orders after receiving his second yellow card in the encounter.

Odubajo was punished for bringing down Isaiah Jones on the edge of the box. It was the first time the 28-year-old was sent off in a game since he received two yellow cards in a Championship fixture against Derby County in December 2019.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, QPR completed their comeback from a goal deficit with Jonathan Howson's own goal and strikes from Lyndon Dykes and Chris Willock.

Prior to his expulsion, Odubajo who joined the Hoops on a free transfer in July had started the first three games of the season which ended in a draw and two wins.

Later in the second half, Ikpeazu made way for Chuba Akpom to make his first appearance of the season in the 71st minute while Egypt's Sam Morsy and Ivory Coast's Sol Bamba watched on as unused substitutes.

QPR, on the other, had Senegal's Timothy Dieng in goal while Sierra Leone's Osman Kakay replaced Morocco's Ilias Chair in the 58th minute and Ghana's Albert Adomah watched on from the bench.

Wednesday's victory powered Mark Warburton's side to third in the Championship table, level on seven points with leaders West Bromwich Albion and second-placed Fulham after three matches.

They host Barnsley for their next league outing on Saturday while 10th-placed Middlesbrough travel to Derby County that same day.

Club America will hope to maintain their unbeaten start to the Liga MX season when they travel to face winless Juarez at Estadio Olimpico Benito Juarez.

Watch Juarez vs Club America on fuboTV (free 7-day trial)

Las Aguilas are yet to taste defeat this campaign and remain among the runners for a reclassification finish - but they must beat off Los Bravos, seeking a first victory, to maintain that form.

Ahead of the game, Goal has the details of how to watch on TV, stream online, team news and more.

TV channel, live stream & how to watch

In the United States (US), Liga MX matches can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (watch with a 7-day free trial).

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.

Team news & rosters

Having earned their second point of the new season in a draw with 10-men Tijuana last time out, Los Bravos are yet to really find their footing this term in the Apertura race,

Ricardo Ferretti's side have faced some tough opening tests but they will still have to find a win from somewhere soon - and they'll hope they can spring it against America.

Predicted Juarez starting XI: Gonzalez; Velazquez, J. Garcia, Olivera, Acosta; Esquivel, M. Garcia; Rosel, Galvan, Castillo; Fernandez.

Las Aguilas may have picked up a crucial victory against Atlas to move top of the table, but the loss of Leo Suarez to injury is a blow, leaving him sidelined with Santiago Naveda.

Santiago Solari has plenty of options to plug the gap with, but he'll also have to make do without Emanuel Aguilera after the latter was sent off at the weekend.

Predicted Club America starting XI:  Ochoa; J. Sanchez, Caceres, Valdez, Fuentes; Aquino, Madrigal; Fidalgo, Cordova, Lainez; Martin.

Last five results

Head-to-head

Antoine Griezmann has said he is aiming to play another 100 games for Barcelona after reaching an appearance milestone at the weekend. 

Griezmann started in Barca's season-opening win against Real Sociedad, reaching the century mark for the Blaugrana. 

Though he's been linked with an exit in recent months, the France star has indicated he is hoping to stay at Camp Nou for the long term.

What was said?

"I am proud and happy to have reached this figure," Griezmann told Barcelona's official website.

"I hope I get to play another 100 games and carry on giving everything to make history with this club,” he added.

“I want to keep helping the team both on and off the pitch, in attack and defence, and enjoying being at Barca."

Griezmann's 100 appearances

Of his 100 games for Barca, 78 have been in La Liga, with 16 in the Champions League, nine in the Copa del Rey and three in the Spanish Super Cup.

Griezmann has scored 35 goals in those 100 games, having made the move from Atletico Madrid in 2019.

He needs 14 more goals to tie Thierry Henry, who is Barca's all-time leading Frenchman with 49 goals.

Could Griezmann leave Barca?

With Barcelona in a difficult financial situation, the club has indicated it would be open to selling the Frenchman.

"It's not easy for a club to come in with an offer for a player at his level," Barca president Joan Laporta said last month. "But the transfer window is just getting started and there's a market for Griezmann.

"If things start moving, we're open to all proposals because we're in a delicate moment financially and we have to balance the books to comply with the league's financial fair play rules."

Further reading

Leon will seek to make it five wins in a row across all competitions when they face Chivas at Estadio Akron in Liga MX this week.

Watch Chivas vs Leon on fuboTV (free 7-day trial)

Last season's Apertura victors have made a strong start to the latest tournament but face a tough test in the shape of Guadalajara, who themselves are out to move up the table.

Ahead of the game, Goal has the details of how to watch on TV, stream online, team news and more.

TV channel, live stream & how to watch

In the United States (US), Liga MX matches can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (watch with a 7-day free trial).

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.

Team news & rosters

Having held last season's Clausura runners-up Santos Laguna to a hard-earned point over the weekend, Victor Manuel Vucetich will be determined for Guadalajara to find a first win since July.

Alexis Vega picked up a post-Tokyo 2020 start in that goalless game and is likely to keep his spot in attack, with the hosts set to retain the 4-4-2 formation they fielded on the road.

Predicted Chivas starting XI:  Rodriguez; Sanchez, Briseno, Olivas, Mayorga; Antuna, Torres, Flores, Molina, Carlos Cisneros; Vega, Zaldivar.

Since that opening weekend humbling against Pachuca, Leon have not looked back once, with their Leagues Cup demolition of Sporting Kansas City an early-season highlight.

Ariel Holan will hope they can deliver more of the same as they look to further consolidate their place among the frontrunners, with Víctor Davila and Angel Mena set to lead the line once more.

Predicted Leon starting XI: Cota; Mosquera, R. Gonzalez, Tesillo, O. Rodriguez; Fernandez, J. Rodriguez, Colombatto; Mena, Davila, E. Hernandez.

Last five results

Head-to-head

Ghana coach CK Akonnor believes his team have good knowledge about Morocco ahead of their clash at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon next year, and is delighted after the Black Stars and the Atlas Lions were pitted together.

The two teams are set for a showdown at the continental gathering, after being drawn together in Group C, which also contains Gabon and the Comoros Island.

It will be the second meeting between the Black Stars and the Atlas Lions in six months after the latter beat the former 1-0 in an international friendly fixture in June.

“I think we had a strong friendly with Morocco a few months ago and thank God they are in our group. It gives us an idea of the opponent,” Akonnor has told 3sports. “I am thankful to the Ghana FA for organising the friendly,”

In Cameroon, Ghana will begin their title quest with an encounter with Morocco on January 10, before facing Gabon in their second fixture four days later.

The Black Stars’ last group tie has been set against Comoros on January 18.

“I think [the draw] is okay,” Akonnor said. “I didn’t come here with a lot of expectations regarding which group I want to be in. Nowadays football is football so you cannot expect anything.

“We are preparing feverishly for this tournament and the coming matches in the world cup and I am sure we will be ready.”

The continental gathering will be Akonnor’s first Afcon tournament as a coach.

In January last year, he took office as Black Stars coach, replacing James Kwasi Appiah who guided the team to the last Afcon tournament in 2019 where they suffered a Round of 16 exit.

“It’s the first time but I am not under any pressure," said Akonnor. "You guys give me pressure in Ghana but I am okay.

“Ghanaians are yearning for the cup and we will do our best to get it.”

On their 23rd appearance at Afcon, Ghana will be seeking to conquer the continent for the first time since beating Libya on penalties to win the 1982 showpiece for the fourth title.

Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo has said he is unsure if Harry Kane will be available to face Wolves on Sunday.

Kane, who continues to aim for a transfer to Manchester City, has returned to Spurs training as he awaits his 2021-22 season debut.

The England captain will miss out on Thursday's Europa Conference League clash with Pacos de Ferreira, and would miss his second straight league match if he does not feature against Wolves.

What was said?

Asked at a press conference on Wednesday if Kane will face Wolves, Nuno replied: “I cannot answer this. I can answer that he’s getting better and better, fitter, and he will join the group on Friday. Then we’ll see.

“He’s better than yesterday and hopefully he’s going to be better tomorrow. That’s how all the players working should be. Improving and working on fitness."

Asked if he is speaking to Kane, Nuno said: “We speak to all the players on a daily basis. It’s normal that we speak to them all.”

Spurs left-back Ben Davies added: "He's probably one of the world's best strikers and he's training with us now.

"The rest is out of my hands, but of course you'd want him in the team rather than out of it."

Will Kane join Man City?

Though City have been linked with a £100 million ($138m)-plus approach for Kane, Spurs are holding firm in their determination to keep the 28-year-old.

Kane did not play at the weekend as Spurs defeated City 1-0 in their Premier League opener, with fans singing: "Are you watching, Harry Kane?" during the upset win.

The striker, who has three years left on his contract with Spurs, has insisted he did not refuse to train with the club after coming back from his summer holiday.

Further reading

Former Ghana international John Paintsil is upbeat about the Black Stars' chances of making it out of the group stage of the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament but warns against complacency.

The four-time African champions have been pitted against Morocco, Gabon and Comoros in Group C in a draw conducted on Tuesday.

Only the top two teams at the end of the group stage secure automatic qualification for the knockout stage.

"It’s a tricky group. Currently, every country has improved because the game is dynamic and you cannot idle around. I see it as a difficult group," Pantsil, who featured at multiple Afcon tournaments for Ghana, told Asempa FM.

"Ghana will qualify at all cost, but we need to approach everything about it seriously. During our time we were always serious about qualifying, so I pray they maintain that discipline. It’s a very tricky group but Ghana will qualify.

"We will have problems if we don’t get ready. Our readiness is what will take us to the next stage. The group we find ourselves in is not something to relax over. 

"We cannot underestimate Gabon and Morocco, they always prove stubborn in tournaments they feature in. So we must be serious and be well prepared."

A team who finishes third in their group could still progress to the next round of the competition provided they finish among the four best third-placed sides. 

Ghana's last failure to go past the group stage of the Afcon tournament came at Egypt 2006.

In Cameroon next year, the Black Stars will hope to continue what has been a good qualification run in recent times. 

"We came here with a lot of expectations, and it is a good group for us but we are not underrating any team or country," Ghana head coach CK Akonnor said, as reported by Footballghana. 

"Cameroon is like a home to because I have played here before but we will have to prepare well and come into the tournament stronger but as I said, we are not underrating any team.

"We topped our qualifying group but we must prepare well for this tournament."

The continental gathering is set to run between January 9 and February 6 next year.