Championship Review: Wolves go top, Leeds´ slump continues and Grayson is sacked

They battled back and forth throughout the course of 90 minutes, but in the end, the Old Firm derby ended in a very familiar way Celtic defeated Rangers. Beyond what we re used to seeing, though, we also saw the emergence of a new rivalry of sorts in the form of Brendan Rodgers vs Steven Gerrard. Of course, it s probably going to be a pretty friendly one considering that they enjoyed some time together at Liverpool, but it was Rodgers who came out on top during their first ever managerial war.

Utter dominance

Rangers hadn t won a league derby since back in 2012 heading into this game, and it never seemed as if they were going to change that as Gerrard continues to settle into his role as boss. Still, with this being his first loss in 13 games, he can be pretty proud of how his…

Dídac Vilà is an Espanyol player for the third time in his career, signing a three-year deal to return to his first-ever club, according to a report from .

After spending the past two years with AEK Athens, the 28-year-old left back is returning to his native Spain and to his boyhood club.

Vilà started his career with the Catalan club playing for their youth academy for eight years before getting his chance with Espanyol B.

The former Spain U21 player then got his start with the senior club in 2010 before being sold to AC Milan the following year for €3 million.

His spell with Milan did not fare well as disagreements with then-manager Massimiliano Allegri, various loan spells and injuries hampered his career with the Italian club, making only one …

With Europe s top-tiers making their return from the international break this weekend, we have a stacked schedule on our hands. So, for those of you who are looking to stick on a Saturday acca, we have found a handful of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.

Saturday November 20th

BST 15:00 Fulham vs Barnsley

Starting with Saturday s hosts, last seen heading into the international break with a 1-0 win away at Peterborough, there is no doubt that the mood in Fulham s camp will be at a real high. Tipped by many as a leading contender to book an immediate Premier League return this season, the Cottagers have really found their feet under new boss Marco Silva. Marking their return to action this weekend holding a commanding six-point buffer in the au…

Paderborn clinched their second successive promotion to seal a Bundesliga return, despite losing 3-1 to Dynamo Dresden on the final day of the season.

Steffen Baumgart s men travelled to the DDV-Stadion with a one-point advantage over third-placed Union Berlin, while Cologne were already confirmed as 2. Bundesliga champions.

Philipp Klement gave Paderborn the lead after 10 minutes in Dresden, but Baris Atik hit a hat-trick to give Union the chance to steal promotion with victory over VfL Bochum.

Union were two goals down within four minutes of the second half and while they were given late hope thanks to goals from Grischa Promel and Joshua Mees, they failed to force a winner that would have secured them second place.

Schluss in Bochum! Es reicht! Wir st…

Barcelona booked a Champions League quarter-final place with a 5-1 home win against Lyon secured thanks to Lionel Messi s inspirational performance, triumphing on aggregate by the same scoreline.

After last month s goalless first leg, Messi opened the scoring at Camp Nou from the penalty spot, with Philippe Coutinho adding a second prior to half-time in Wednesday s tie.

Although Lucas Tousart sparked hope of a second-half Lyon fightback, Barca held their nerve and Messi struck again before Gerard Pique and substitute Ousmane Dembele wrapped up the scoring to seal a place in the last eight, where a bigger test likely awaits.

Barca have fallen at the quarter-final stage in each of the past three seasons since they last lifted the trophy in 2014-15, but with…

Ander Herrera has reportedly revealed that he is unlikely to sign a new deal with Manchester United.

As relayed by Sky Sports, the midfielder spoke to Spanish newspaper ABC and told them that at the moment, it looks like there will be no contract renewal to keep him at Old Trafford past the expiration date on his current one June 30, 2019.

The Spaniard s place in the team has never been in much doubt since his arrival from Athletic Bilbao in 2014. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had hoped that his own permanent appointment would help Herrera, as well as Juan Mata and David De Gea, to stay, but it seems Herrera considers that one FA Cup, one League Cup and a Europa League trophy in five years at the north-west of England are enough.

The midfielder has been linked wi…

Hamburg eased to a 3-1 success over local rivals Werder Bremen in the 103rd Nordderby at the Weserstadion on Saturday.

The sides shared the spoils over the two derbies last season and goals from Ivo Ilicevic, Michael Gregoritsch and Nicolai Muller gave the visitors maximum points to leave Bremen just above the drop zone.

Ilicevic opened the scoring three minutes in with a stunning effort and Gregoritsch doubled the advantage inside half an hour.

Anthony Ujah gave the home fans hope shortly after the hour, but Muller applied the finishing touch to a counter-attack to ensure Hamburg a first win in Bremen since 2009.

Bremen slip to 15th, thanks partly to Hannover s thumping 4-0 against Ingolstadt.

Marcelo, Leon Andreasen, Kenan Karaman and Uffe…

Incoming manager Pep Guardiola will be able to lure superstars to Manchester City and a move for Lionel Messi is not out of the question, according to former City striker Darius Vassell.

Bayern Munich head coach Guardiola has agreed a three-year deal to take over from Manuel Pellegrini at the end of the season despite City remaining in the running to win the quadruple this season.

Vassell, who played for City between 2005 and 2009, feels the former Barcelona boss  arrival will take the club to a new level and thinks the likes of Messi will want to come to play for him.

He told Omnisport: It is going to be the new manager comes in and all these superstar players are going to be signed. This is what I envisage. 

City do need a few players to be really c…

Lionel Messi was incredible as Barcelona booked a Champions League quarter-final berth by beating Lyon 5-1, said head coach Ernesto Valverde.

Messi opened the scoring with a Panenka penalty and, after Lucas Tousart sparked Barca nerves by making it 2-1, took the game away from the Ligue 1 side on Wednesday.

The Barca captain dazzled defenders with a stunning solo run before squeezing a low shot past substitute goalkeeper Mathieu Gorgelin.

And Messi then set up late goals for Gerard Pique and Ousmane Dembele to end the second leg with two goals and two assists at Camp Nou.

We are all very focused for this competition and Leo too, he has had an incredible match, Valverde said midweek.

4 Lionel Messi  (2 goals 2 assists tonight) has been involved…

Jonas Hector has spurned the chance to activate an opt-out clause at Cologne and instead extended his contract with the Bundesliga s bottom club.

The Germany international was rumoured to be a transfer target for Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, but has demonstrated his commitment to Cologne despite their precarious position in the table.

Having joined the club in 2010, Hector has renewed for a further two years, meaning he is set to stay put until the end of the 2022-23 season.

Cologne allowed me to take the path from the regional league to the German national team, Hector told the club s website.

I am very connected and thankful to this club and feel very comfortable living in Cologne. It would have been no problem for me to switch to another club…