Schalke host Maribor in the UEFA Champions League Group G clash buoyed by the return of golden boy Julian Draxler and their fine recent run.
Jens Keller s side go into the game with confidence sky high after a weekend Revierderby win over Borussia Dortmund in Draxler s absence and holding Chelsea to a 1-1 draw on matchday one.
They were two goals to the good over their fierce rivals within the first 23 minutes on Saturday through Joel Matip and Maxim Choupo-Moting and though the visitors got a goal back, Schalke got the win with a performance that left Keller beaming.
He said: We are delighted. A derby is always something special. To be able to celebrate a win at home in front of our fantastic fans, who supported us unbelievably again, is incredible. We played ve…
German media outlet that a number of English Premier League clubs are keeping close tabs on Mainz striker Shinji Okazaki.
West Ham and few other unnamed sides have been watching the 28-year-old in action regularly this season and chances are at least one of them will come forward with an official bid in January.
Given that the striker s contract is due to expire in June 2016, Mainz would probably settle for a fee between €8m and €10m.
Shinji Okazaki started his Bundesliga career at Stuttgart having joined from Shimizu S-Pulse in January 2011, but after failing to prove his worth at Mercedes-Benz Arena, he was sold to Mainz last summer in a €1.5 million deal.
The forward, nevertheless, kick-started his career at Coface Arena, netting 15 league goal…
Arsenal have handed Alexandre Lacazette his Premier League debut for their 2017-18 opener against Leicester City, while Mesut Ozil also starts.
Lacazette plays for the first time in England s top flight, while Ozil is passed fit to support him alongside Danny Welbeck.
Per Mertesacker is out after suffering a head injury in the Community Shield win over Chelsea, with Sead Kolasinac replacing him.
Aaron Ramsey and Shkodran Mustafi are deemed fit enough for places on a substitutes bench that also contains Olivier Giroud.
Leicester, meanwhile, start with Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki up-front, meaning new signing Kelechi Iheanacho is among the subs.
Riyad Mahrez also plays despite being the subject of transfer speculation throughout the off-season,…
Denis Suarez is over the moon with his return to Barcelona and has vowed to give his all to succeed at Camp Nou.
The Spain international, 22, joined Barca from Manchester City in 2013, but spent 2014-15 on loan at Sevilla before he was sold to Villarreal last year.
However, the Liga champions announced on Monday that they have exercised their option to buy back the attacking midfielder for €3.25 million and he is ready to prove his worth in Catalunya.
I am very happy to return to the best team in the world, Suarez told the official Barcelona website.
Ever since I left, I have been wanting to return, and now my dream has come true.
My time at Sevilla and Villarreal has helped me mature as a player and as a person. Now I am ready to make t…
Eric Bailly insisted he was just suffering from tiredness when substituted on international duty after clutching his hamstring.
The Manchester United defender sparked fears he could be set for another spell on the sidelines when he sat on the ground and grabbed the back of his leg during Ivory Coast s 1-1 draw with Belgium on Thursday.
Bailly was withdrawn in the 70th minute as his country ended Belgium s run of 12 straight wins.
However, the 26-year-old stressed there was no major issue.
Thanks for worrying about me, he wrote on Instagram.
But I feel perfectly fine, just fatigue.
Bailly may therefore be involved against Japan on Tuesday before returning to United, whose next game is a trip to Newcastle United on October 17…
There could be a number of goalkeeping changes around Europe.
With Kepa Arrizabalaga s future uncertain at Chelsea, Manuel Neuer is reportedly an option for Frank Lampard s side.
Barcelona s Marc-Andre ter Stegen has also been linked with a move away from Camp Nou.
TOP STORY – CHELSEA TARGET NEUER
Chelsea are interested in signing Bayern Munich captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, according to Sport Bild.
Lampard s Chelsea are reportedly looking to move on from Kepa – the world s most expensive goalkeeper after leaving Athletic Bilbao in 2018.
Neuer is on Chelsea s radar, with the Germany star yet to agree a new deal at Bayern, who have been linked to fellow German and Barcelona keeper Ter Stegen.
Bayern-Zukunft fra…
Chelsea have paid tribute to departing striker Nicolas Anelka, who is leaving the club to join Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.
The 32-year-old put in a transfer request to leave Stamford Bridge, and had been linked with a move to Montreal Impact and West Ham United.
But he eventually signed with the Asian side instead, amid reports he would receive wages of around 200,000 pounds per week.
Chelsea Football Club would like to express our thanks and best wishes to Nicolas Anelka who today leaves us to join Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua, a statement on the club s website read.
As well as finishing as the club s top scorer in two of his three full seasons at the club, the Frenchman departs Stamford Bridge having won the Barclays Premier League …
Newcastle United have agreed personal terms with AS Monaco defender Axel Disasi, according to . The report has claimed that Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Manchester United are interested in signing Disasi from AS Monaco in the summer transfer window, and that it is the Magpies who moved ahead and have convinced him to join them.
Disasi is one of the best defenders in Ligue 1 and has played four times for the France national football team. The 25-year-old made 37 starts and one substitute appearance in Ligue 1 last season, scoring three goals and providing three assists in the process. Disasi also scored two goals and gave one assist in eight UEFA Europa League matches for Monaco.
Newcastle will play in the UEFA Champions League next season after finishing in…
Wesley Sneijder has moved to reassure Inter fans by declaring that he will be fit to return to action next month.
The Dutch playmaker has been out of action since sustaining a muscular problem while warming up for the Serie A clash with Cagliari on November 11.
Sneijder had been expected to return to action earlier this month, but he remains on the sidelines and will play no part in Wednesday s meeting with Lecce, Inter s final outing before the winter break.
But despite mounting concerns about the severity of the injury, Sneijder insists that he will soon be back in action.
Today you will play the last game of 2011 and I unfortunately will not be there, Sneijder wrote on his Twitter page. But certainly I will return to play in January!
Sneijde…
If Fulham believe they can snatch a Europa League spot, a win against Wolverhampton in the English Premier League on Sunday is a must.
Consecutive victories against Stoke City and Queens Park Rangers have seen Fulham regain their belief after an indifferent first half of the campaign.
Martin Jol s men are 11th six points from seventh-placed Liverpool ahead of their clash with Wolves at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak has made an impact since joining from Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart in January, netting twice in as many games including the winner against QPR.
Jol will be hoping former Real Madrid midfielder Mahamadou Diarra can have a similar impact after he signed a deal with the Londoners on Monday.
Clint Dempsey, who s…