Schalke and Germany have been boosted by midfielder Benedikt Howedes return to training following an adductor injury.

The 26-year-old has endured a six-week lay-off after sustaining a muscle tear in Schalke s 3-1 UEFA Champions League defeat to Real Madrid in March, a result that confirmed the Gelsenkirchen s side exit from the competition.

Howedes had previously been absent with a thigh injury, to leave Germany head coach Joachim Low potentially without the midfielder at the FIFA World Cup, which starts in Brazil on June 12.

However, Howedes is set to provide a timely boost for Low and for Schalke, as Jens Keller s men attempt to secure a Champions League berth in the final two games of the season.

Howedes back in full training, (Christian) Clemens running again…

Gerard Pique laughed off criticism of magical Neymar after the Brazilian played a starring role in Barcelona s 4-1 in over Villarreal on Saturday.

Neymar opened the scoring at Camp Nou, but his contribution to the final goal was arguably more memorable as he nonchalantly flicked the ball over Mario s head before crossing for Luis Suarez, who was denied by the arm of Jaume Costa, allowing Lionel Messi to score from the spot.

Neymar s act of showboating clearly annoyed Villarreal s players, and the forward has previously attracted criticism for a similar act when Barca beat Athletic Bilbao in the 2015 Copa del Rey final.

However, Pique says Neymar s box of tricks ought to be lauded, as the game is all about entertainment.

He s magic, it s magical, Pique …

Atletico Madrid director Clemente Villaverde says his club must learn from the harsh lessons suffered by Sevilla when they meet Leicester City in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Sevilla were dumped out in the round of 16 on Tuesday as Leicester won 2-0 at the King Power Stadium to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit.

Jorge Sampaoli s side were guilty of spurning a host of chances in that opening leg at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan including a missed penalty and there was more woe in the return as Steven N Zonzi wasted a golden opportunity to force extra time when his weak spot-kick was saved by Kasper Schmeichel.

Leicester held on to continue their fairytale debut campaign and set up a last-eight meeting with Atletico, runners-up to Real Madrid last season and in …

At the start of what was declared to be a new era for the club in July 2019, Inter launched a Not For Everyone  campaign. Perhaps fittingly, Romelu Lukaku joined the Nerazzurri the following month.

Known for his physical traits and goalscoring exploits, the Belgian striker had been deemed surplus to requirements at Manchester United, allowed to depart despite a lack of alternative options within the Red Devils squad. 

Having barely been given a kick during his time at Chelsea, Lukaku had failed to fully convince while with United, despite getting 27 goals in all competitions in an excellent debut campaign. 

Of course, Rom has a good record and stats. He s one of the top number nines around when you want to play with that kind of striker, a targe…

Paulinho struck 15 minutes from time to give Guangzhou Evergrande a 1-0 advantage over Kashima Antlers in their AFC Champions League last-16 tie.

Brazil midfielder Paulinho, who won the tournament with Guangzhou in 2015, converted from close range when Yu Hanchao s corner skidded across the six-yard box to catch out the Antlers defence.

Kawasaki Frontale and Al-Hilal are in command of their ties after respective away wins at Muangthong United and Esteghlal Khuzestan.

Kawasaki were 1-0 down at the interval at SCG Stadium after Muangthong skipper Teerasil Dangda struck in stoppage time.

comes to Guangzhou Evergrande rescue!

— AFC Champions League (@TheAFCCL)

But Kengo Nakamura levelled midway through the second half and substitute Yu K…

Karel Jarolim has quit as Slavia Prague coach, the 2008 and 2009 Czech champions confirmed on Wednesday.

The coach decided Wednesday to no longer carry out his functions, the club said in a statement.

The media pressure of which he is a victim is disturbing the team.

Jarolim, 54, will provisionally be replaced by his 40-year-old assistant, Michal Petrous.

In addition to winning back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009, Jarolim also led the team to the group stage of the Champions League for the first time in 2007/08.

But Slavia have struggled this season and are just 12th in the Czech league, only one point ahead of tailenders Zbrojovka Brno.

Their poor run continued last Friday with a 3-0 defeat at FC Slovacko.

A former internatio…

Mauricio Pochettino said he would have joined in with jeering Chelsea fans who booed his team against Brentford had he been a supporter, as he confirmed three more of his players have succumbed to injury and illness.

The Argentinian was without eight squad members for Saturday’s 2-2 draw at the Gtech Stadium, when away fans turned on their own team after they threw away a first-half lead and needed a late Axel Disasi goal to avoid an 11th Premier League loss of the season.

Now he faces also being without Ben Chilwell, who has been sent for specialist treatment on a knee problem, and Levi Colwill, who has an injured toe, for Monday’s game against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.

Levi Colwill and Ben Chilwell will miss Monday s game against Newcastle United due to…

Tottenham Hotspur defender Younes Kaboul is considering a move to North London rivals Arsenal at the end of the season, .

The France international’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and like former England international Sol Campbell, could make the controversial switch during the summer.

The 28 year old is good friends with Gunners midfielder Abou Diaby, and Arsene Wenger is keen to add depth in his defence with Thomas Vermaelen expected to secure a move away from the summer.

Kaboul re-signed for Spurs from Portsmouth for £9.5m in the summer of 2010, having originally spent the 2007/08 campaign at White Hart Lane.

Tim Sherwood’s side look almost certain to qualify for next season’s Champions League as they sit eight points …

Former European heavyweights IFK Gothenburg continue their quest to reach this season s UEFA Europa League group stage at Gyori on Thursday.

The Swedish side lifted European football s second-tier trophy back in 1982 and again in 1987 under its former guise of the UEFA Cup, but their ambitions for this year s tournament are likely to be much smaller as they approach the first leg of their second-qualifying-round clash in Hungary.

Mikael Stahre s men were third in the Allsvenskan last season, but currently sit a disappointing sixth after 14 games this term and will likely need to improve after only defeating Luxembourg s Fola Esch 2-0 on aggregate in the previous round.

Gothenburg will not be the only Swedish team aiming to try and seal a place in the third qualif…

Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel praised the incredible Ousmane Dembele, but added the Barcelona star was a little crazy .

Dembele, 21, has faced criticism over his discipline this season, but has also found form for the LaLiga giants.

The forward has scored 10 goals and provided five assists in 23 games in all competitions, helping Barca sit top of the league table.

Tuchel worked with Dembele for a season at Borussia Dortmund in 2016-17 and he said there was no doubting the France international s talent.

Ousmane is an incredible player, he s really talented. I could watch his amazing skills in every training session, he told a news conference on Tuesday.

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)

He s also a great human being. He…