Prediction: International vs Palmeiras

Cristiano Ronaldo fired Juventus seven points clear in Serie A with a match-winning brace in a hard-earned 2-1 victory at Empoli on Saturday.

The Portugal superstar erased a first-half deficit from the spot shortly after the interval before a thunderous swerving drive 20 minutes from time ensured there was no repeat of last weekend s frustrating home draw with Genoa.

Juve lost Giorgio Chiellini to injury in the warm-up and had looked set to leave the door open for Napoli to move back within a win of joint top spot when Francesco Caputo put the struggling hosts ahead in a tense first half.

But the champions increasingly impressive talisman backed up his fine Champions League showing against Manchester United with a one-man rescue act that boosted his league t…

Nahitan Nandez inflicted another painful defeat on arch-rivals River Plate as Boca Juniors triumphed 2-1 in an enthralling Superclasico that saw two red cards at El Monumental.

Uruguay international Nandez volleyed home the winner with 17 minutes remaining, sending Boca nine points clear at the Superliga summit and adding to River s misery after they were dumped out of the Copa Libertadores by Lanus stunning four-goal comeback in midweek.

Edwin Cardona put Guillermo Barros Schelotto s side ahead before half-time when his majestic free-kick – awarded after a high foot from Nacho Fernandez resulted in the midfielder s dismissal – found the top-right corner.

Referee Nestor Pitana levelled things up by dismissing Cardona for a perceived elbow on Enzo Perez, but, …

Thomas Muller has expressed disbelief at the prospect of a €100 million move to Manchester United, as the forward continues to be linked with the Premier League club.

Bayern Munich striker Muller has long been linked with a switch to Old Trafford, with speculation resurfacing this week as reports in Germany suggested a potential price tag of €100m.

Muller has spoken of interest from United in the past, but agreed a new contract at the Allianz Arena until 2019 in June last year.

And the Germany international has been somewhat taken aback at fresh talk of a big-money bid from United.

It s basically crazy, the current numbers being talked about in football, he told Sport1.

That s just the nature of the business, though, therefore I m very …

Napoli managed to avoid conceding to Sergio Aguero when they faced Manchester City in the Champions League in 2011, but no one escapes he s lethal qualities for long.

The Argentina star scored his landmark 178th in City colours inside the Stadio San Paolo cauldron and an insatiable appetite for goalscoring should bring 200 into view soon enough, with Eric Brook s now-broken club record set to disappear into the distance.

There was a time when the all-time mark set by 1930s hero Brook appeared safe for posterity, as City lurched from self-styled tragicomedy to inevitable farce during the 1980s, 1990s and the early part of this century.

Sheikh Mansour s weighty chequebook was supposed to end all that, but the old bumbling tendencies of what former manager Joe …

It might be the defender in him, but Manchester United great Rio Ferdinand says he is as excited by Atletico Madrid as he is by the likes of Bayern Munich or Barcelona after watching Diego Simeone lead his team to a second Champions League final in three years.

Atletico have not been without their critics for their counter-attacking football that Simeone has perfected since taking the reins in 2011.

The Argentinian has led Atletico to a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey triumph and a Europa League win as well as a second Champions League final after seeing off Bayern Munich in the semi-finals on Tuesday.

And Ferdinand a Champions League winner himself under Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2008 said Simeone had complete buy-in from his players.

A manag…

Kylian Mbappe should join Real Madrid if he wants to continue improving, according to former France international Robert Pires.

Mbappe, 21, has been heavily linked with a move to Madrid after starring at Paris Saint-Germain, where he is contracted until 2022.

Pires, who turned down Madrid during his playing career, said Mbappe should make the move to the LaLiga giants – and the former Arsenal and France midfielder can see it happening.

Of course. I m French, I like Paris Saint-Germain and I d like him to stay in Ligue 1, he told AS.

But if he wants to keep growing as a player, he should sign for Real Madrid.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has previously revealed his admiration for Mbappe, who has six goals and five assists in seven games this s…

Robbie Brady was delighted to see Wes Hoolahan dazzle in the Republic of Ireland s Euro 2016 opener against Sweden, but rued the fact his team-mate s moment on the big stage had not arrived sooner.

Hoolahan, ably supported by the similarly impressive Brady and Jeff Hendrick, helped Ireland into the ascendancy for the much of the first half at the Stade de France his deft touches and razor-sharp awareness helping to elevate a match that often favoured brawn over brains.

The Norwich City playmaker s crowning moment came shortly after the break, when he crashed home an unstoppable half-volley from Seamus Coleman s cross to prompt bedlam among the hordes of green behind the goal.

The Republic could not hold on, as the largely well-shackled Zlatan Ibrahimovic prompted…

France striker Antoine Griezmann has described Lionel Messi s decision to retire from international football as frustrating and sad .

Messi announced that Argentina s Copa America Centenario final penalty shoot-out defeat to Chile on Sunday would be his last appearance for his country.

The decision brings an end to a disappointing international career for Messi, whose only honour for Argentina came in the form of a gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in China.

Griezmann and Messi have been rivals at club level in recent seasons, and the Frenchman was only four goals behind the Barcelona star in La Liga s goal table with his 22 strikes for Atletico Madrid last season.

Of Messi s decision, Griezmann said: He must have his reasons. I think he lost three…

What the papers say

Tottenham will look to fill the hole left by Micky van de Ven – who was injured in their 4-1 loss to Chelsea on Monday – identifying Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly as a possible replacement, according to the Standard. Kelly, 25, was a transfer target in the summer and his contract expires at the end of the season.

Arsenal could look for midfield cover in January with Thomas Partey set to be out for the rest of 2023, the Daily Mail says.

Social media round-up

Arsenal are gonna look again into the midfielders market in January after Thomas injury.

Understand Douglas Luiz remains the fav option in list since long time, Arsenal love him but ambitious want to keep Douglas. Not easy.

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— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRoman…

Italy coach Roberto Mancini likened forward Simone Verdi to a young David Silva.

Mancini signed Silva as Manchester City manager in 2010 and the Spain international has since become one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.

Verdi, 25, played the first hour of Italy s 1-1 draw with Netherlands, who earned a draw thanks to a late goal from Nathan Ake on Monday, and Mancini believes the winger could learn from Silva.

Verdi still needs to grow. It s not easy at this level, but he has good technical qualities, he said.

When I was at Manchester City, I signed Silva, and he was exactly like him, very offensive.

Then we started talking about playing him as an inside forward and he had some problems at the beginning, but now he s been doing it …