Giampiero Ventura predicted Ciro Immobile would score for Italy in Israel, the forward revealed as he thanked the new national team coach for his impact on his career.

Immobile watched on from the bench as Graziano Pelle s close-range finish put the Azzurri ahead in their opening World Cup 2018 qualifier before Antonio Candreva doubled the lead from the penalty spot.

But Israel battled back with a superb Tal Ben Haim chip reducing the deficit and Giorgio Chiellini s red card increased the pressure on Ventura s men.

The Lazio attacker came on as a substitute and his powerful finish from Pelle s flick-on secured all three points for Italy in Haifa, and the forward revealed the strong rapport between himself and Ventura.

This morning the coach saw me do…

Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos believes Marseille s collective strength will be the greatest challenge they face when the defending Ligue 1 champions visit the Stade Velodrome for Le Classique. 

Laurent Blanc s men travel to Marseille for this season s second edition of the biggest rivalry in French football and a match that is likely to have a significant bearing on the destination of the title.

The visitors lead the way at the top, with Lyon a point behind and Marseille a point further adrift in an absorbing battle for the championship.

PSG won the reverse fixture 2-0 at the Parc des Prince in November and have not lost to Marseille since a 3-0 defeat back at the Velodrome back in 2011.

I think from here on in every single match will be …

According to a recent report from Sport Bild, Nabil Bentaleb has been officially ‘banished’ from Schalke’s first team due to disciplinary reasons. The 24 year old has been with the German club since back in 2017, when he made the jump over from Tottenham Hotspur. Bentaleb’s behaviour and attitude behind the scenes is something that has always been speculated over, but until now, it hasn’t really reached that ‘next level’.

Bentaleb is currently out injured and will only be permitted to train with the club’s under 23s squad when returning, and it remains to be seen as to when he could be allowed to make his way back into the senior team setup. Bentaleb is also considered to be a consistent member in the ranks of the Algerian national team.

At this moment i…

Leicester City are keen to make a move for former Newcastle United midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa, according to the Mirror.

The move would see the France international reunited with manager Claude Puel, who he worked with at Nice during the 2015/16 campaign the season before the now Foxes boss moved to England.

Ben Arfa thrived at Nice scoring eighteen goals in thirty-five appearances in all competitions form that earned him a move to Paris Saint Germain.

However, he has struggled to hit the heights since moving to the Parc des Princes, failing to score in twenty-three league appearances while he hasn’t played a single minute of the 2017/18 campaign.

During his time in England the thirty year old played eighty-six times for Newcastle, scoring fourteen g…

Thomas Tuchel hailed an amazing performance from Chelsea after they put Juventus to the sword in a 4-0 victory to qualify for the Champions League last 16.

Chelsea cruised through with a game to spare and replaced Juve at the top of Group H with an emphatic win at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

Trevoh Chalobah marked his first start in the competition by scoring a contentious opening goal after Antonio Rudiger appeared to have handled the ball in the penalty area and the outstanding Reece James doubled Chelsea s lead with a rasping drive.

Callum Hudson-Odoi added a third and the fit-again Timo Werner put the icing on the cake by coming off the bench to complete the scoring with the last kick of the game, consigning Juve to their heaviest Champions League defeat.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta is convinced the LaLiga giants will reach the Champions League last 16 by beating Bayern Munich next month.

Barca s Champions League hopes hang in the balance following Tuesday s goalless draw at home to Benfica.

Xavi s Barca remain second in Group E and two points ahead of their Portuguese counterparts but face runaway leaders Bayern in two weeks  time with their fate yet to be decided.

Barca last failed to advance beyond the group stage in 2000-01, when they finished behind Milan and Leeds United.

However, Laporta is confident Barca can seal progress to the knockout phase heading into the December 8 showdown in Munich.

Beating Bayern is something that can be achieved, Laporta said to Diario AS, with Barca look…

They say the best is left until last and that may be the case in Group D, with the final Asian Cup group featuring the past two champions.

Asian powerhouses Japan come to Australia as defending champions after prevailing against the 2015 hosts at the end of extra-time four years ago in Doha. Iraq defied the odds to win the 2007 tournament held in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

The successful duo are the only proven teams in the group, with Jordan and minnows Palestine, who qualified for their maiden Asian Cup via the AFC Challenge Cup final in May.

The favourites Japan, Iraq

After failing to meet expectations at the World Cup in June-July, four-time champions Japan are tipped to go the all the way Down Under. Viewed as an outsider to reach the…

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has congratulated Real Madrid on the La Liga title after the Catalan side s 2-1 defeat at Camp Nou.

Goals from Sami Khedira and Cristiano Ronaldo gave Jose Mourinho s men a commanding seven-point lead at the top of the table, and Guardiola has been quick to offer praise to Real.

First of all, congratulations to Madrid, for the win and the league title they have confirmed today, Guardiola said after the match.

I wouldn t change my players for anything. These players have been in this situation and have shown they can get up.

Guardiola felt that his side dealt well with the attacking prowess of Madrid, but conceded that they did not do enough to win the game.

We controlled Madrid s counterattacks pretty well, they …

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is back in training with the Milan squad ahead of the Serie A leaders trip to Genoa on Wednesday.

The Swedish striker has not featured for his club since coming off with a hamstring injury during a 3-1 win away at Napoli on November 22. 

Ibrahimovic scored twice in that game to take his tally for the season into double figures – he has managed 10 goals in Serie A in just six appearances so far this campaign. 

However, Milan have not missed him too much during his absence, recording league wins over Fiorentina and Sampdoria prior to Sunday s home draw with Parma. 

Coach Stefano Pioli had said prior to the 2-2 result at San Siro that Ibrahimovic would hopefully be able to return for the midweek game against Genoa. 

As Mi…

The Mail Online understand that new Chelsea manager Frank Lampard will decide on whether on not Willian will be offered a new contract at Stamford Bridge.

The thirty year old, who has just one year remaining on his current deal is about to return to the club after helping Brazil win the Copa America, after he was added to the squad as a replacement for Neymar.

Lampard and Willian played together for one season before the former moved to Manchester City, and then to the MLS.

In total, Willian has racked up close to three hundred appearances in all competitions since signing from Anzhi Makhachkala, scoring fifty-two goals.

He has won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, League Cup and most recently the Europa League while he was named the club s Pla…