Returning Bale rides to rescue of woeful Real

Much-criticised for his inconsistent form and long injury absences, Gareth Bale was for a change declared Real Madrid’s hero on Wednesday after saving a young side from an embarrassing Copa del Rey loss.

Real had a two goal advantage over third-tier Fuenlabrada entering the second leg, but a young side had fallen behind at home when the Welshman came off the bench.

“Bale prevents a disaster,” read Madrid sports daily Marca’s front page after Bale, in his first appearance for two months, helped tee up a double for Borja Mayoral in the final 27 minutes. Despite a late goal that earned the visitors a 2-2 draw, Real had done enough to win 4-2 on aggregate and seal a place in the last 16 of the Cup.

It has been a testing year for Bale, the world’s most expensive player when Real splashed out just over 100 million euros ($119 million) to bring him to Spain in 2013.

Bale has completed 90 minutes with Real just four times since injuring ankle ligaments against Sporting Lisbon in November 2016.

A series of calf problems followed, which meant he had to settle for a place on the bench on his homecoming to Cardiff for the Champions League final when Real thrashed Juventus 4-1 in June.

However, his ability to score and create has been missed in the early part of this season as Madrid have fallen eight points behind Barcelona in La Liga and are doomed to finish second to Bale’s old club Tottenham Hotspur in Champions League Group H.

“Really enjoyed being back out there, and even better to get through to the next round,” Bale tweeted after the match.

His presence was more necessary than Real boss Zinedine Zidane could have imagined when, with a 2-0 first leg lead as a cushion, he named an inexperienced side

However, Luis Milla put the visitors in front thanks to a blunder from Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas before Cata Diaz was inches away from bringing Fuenlabrada level in the tie with a header that struck the bar.

In desperate circumstances, fans at the Santiago Bernabeu rose to acclaim Bale as a returning hero when he made his entrance 28 minutes from time.

Virtually his first touch, a sumptuous cross with the outside of his left foot, gave Mayoral an easy task to settle Real’s nerves.

“Bale returned in style because with that cross I just needed to put my head on it,” said Mayoral.

Bale could have sealed the perfect return when he bore down on goal moments later. His effort was parried by Pol Freixanet, but Mayoral mopped up the rebound for his second of the night.

“People talk a lot about the fact he is injured, but he is a very important player for us,” said Zidane afterwards.

However, Real didn’t escape unharmed as Alvaro Portilla earned Fuenlabrada a deserved draw on the night late on.

“What should have been a cruise for Madrid…turned into a new start for Bale after a atrocious first-half,” concluded Marca.

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Wenger rules out Sanchez and Ozil exits in January

Arsene Wenger has ruled out January departures for Arsenal pair Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil unless “something unbelievable” happens even as the clock ticks down on their contracts.

The players are out of contract at the end of the season as both have so far refused to sign new deals at the Emirates.

Ozil has been linked with a move to Barcelona while Sanchez almost joined Manchester City on the final day of the summer transfer window, only for Arsenal to pull the plug when they failed to land Monaco’s Thomas Lemar as his replacement.

Wenger says he has no concerns over the commitment of the pair, with Sanchez scoring a last-gasp penalty as the Gunners won 1-0 at Burnley on Sunday to move into the Premier League top four.

Arsenal host Huddersfield on Wednesday, with Ozil likely to be missing because of the illness that ruled him out at Turf Moor but Wenger believes the influential pair will not be sold in January — even though they could then walk away from the club for free six months later.

“Yes, I rule it out,” Wenger said at his pre-match press conference when asked about potential departures.

“I do not think about that every day. At the moment, as long as they are here, they have to give their best for the team and for the club.

“In my head, they stay until the end of the season and that’s a decision that was taken at the start of the season. Unless something unbelievable happens, I can’t see why that would change.”

No assurances
However, Wenger could not offer Arsenal supporters assurances that either player would be tempted to sign new deals and extend their stays beyond 2018.

“They’re into the final year of their contract,” he said. “Will they stay longer? That’s impossible to answer today because I don’t know. They have a contract until the end of the season.

“I am not the only one who can decide that. They have a part to play in that as well. If it’s my decision, yes (they would stay longer).”

Another player whose contract expires at the end of the season is England midfielder Jack Wilshere, who has been restricted to just three substitute appearances in the Premier League.

“He’s a football man and I will always decide what is best for him. That is my first priority no matter what kind of decision I make,” Wenger said. “I have to consider the interests of Jack Wilshere and Arsenal Football Club together.”

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Livescore: Latest Premier League results for Week 14, 2017/2018 EPL scores

There will be more action in the English Premier League this midweek, with fixtures all around the country on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Leicester City will welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the King Power, while Watford hope to continue their fine form under Marco Silva when they welcome Manchester United.

Arsenal will welcome Huddersfield and Chelsea are also at home to Swansea.

Leaders Manchester City will be seeking to maintain their eight-point lead, when they take on Southampton at the Etihad Stadium.

WEEK 13 RESULTS

West Ham 1 Leicester 1

Crystal Palace 2 Stoke 1

Man United 1 Brighton 0

Newcastle 0 Watford 3

Swansea 0 Bournemouth 0

Tottenham 1 West Brom 1

Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Southampton 4 Everton 1

Burnley 0 Arsenal 1

Huddersfield 1 Man City 2

WEEK 14 FIXTURES

Tuesday, November 28

Brighton vs Crystal Palace

Leicester vs Tottenham

Watford vs Man United

West Brom vs Newcastle

Wednesday, November 29

Arsenal vs Huddersfield

Bournemouth vs Burnley

Chelsea vs Swansea

Everton vs West Ham

Man City vs Southampton

Stoke vs Liverpool

CURRENT TABLE

Pos Team         P W D L GD Pts

1 Man City 13 12 1 0 34 37

2 Man United 13 9 2 2 22 29

3 Chelsea         13 8 2 3 13 26

4 Arsenal         13 8 1 4 7 25

5 Tottenham 13 7 3 3 11 24

6 Liverpool 13 6 5 2 7 23

7 Burnley         13 6 4 3 2 22

8 Watford         13 6 3 4 1 21

9 Brighton 13 4 4 5 -1 16

10 Southampton 13 4 4 5 -3 16

11 Huddersfield 13 4 3 6 -10 15

12 Leicester 13 3 5 5 -2 14

13 Bournemouth 13 4 2 7 -3 14

14 Newcastle 13 4 2 7 -6 14

15 Stoke         13 3 4 6 -10 13

16 Everton  13 3 3 7 -15 12

17 West Brom  13 2 5 6 -9 11

18 West Ham 13 2 4 7 -14 10

19 Swansea         13 2 3 8 -8 9

20 Crystal Palace 13 2 2 9 -17 8

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Hazard reveals why he doesn’t give 100 percent in training

Chelsea playmaker, Eden Hazard, has admitted that he holds back during training sessions, so that he can give his best on match days.

Hazard has scored six goals and provided four assists in both the Premier League and Champions League this season.

The Belgian is always targeted by opposition defenders and is one of the most fouled players in football. But he has now revealed how he looks after himself.

“Do I protect my legs in training? Yes, yes, yes!” the 26-year-old said.

“To be fair, in training I don’t give everything. When we have drills some people go crazy, but I don’t want to be kicked in training. I try to have a break.

“We don’t have many breaks in the season, so I try in training to have more of a rest and then in games I give everything.”

Pressed on whether he feels that he takes a lot of knocks, Hazard added: “Yes. Sometimes I’m feeling a lot. I get a lot of fouls, a lot on my ankle.

“When I’m on the pitch I do receive kicks, but that is part of football and I’m not complaining.

“I do everything for my body when I’m at the training ground. I know my body is strong and I am working on that.

“It is important I do. I’m lucky to have good health, I take good care of my body the best I can.”

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La Liga: Why I and Ronaldo will never be friends – Messi

Barcelona forward, Lionel Messi has given reasons he and Real Madrid superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo will never share a close friendship.

According to Messi, the duo do not get to spend enough time together to build the required bond.

Messi and Ronaldo have shared a formidable rivalry throughout their La Liga careers and have collected myriad individual honours between them.

Messi, however, claimed the alleged enmity between them is very much created by the media, but admitted the pair are unlikely to ever consider one another friends.

“I don’t know if we will be. Friendship is built through spending time together and getting to know each other”, Daily Mail quoted him as saying.

“We have no relationship, mainly because we only see each other at awards ceremonies and that’s the only time we speak.

“Everything is fine, but our lives don’t cross over very often.”

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Ronaldo relieved as Madrid edge five-goal Malaga thriller

Cristiano Ronaldo’s first La Liga goal for over a month ensured Real Madrid closed the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to seven points by squeezing past struggling Malaga 3-2 on Saturday.

Ronaldo’s relief was clear to see when he fired home the rebound after seeing his penalty saved by Roberto 15 minutes from time.

First-half goals from Karim Benzema and Casemiro had twice put the European champions in front.

However, their defensive fragilities without injured captain Sergio Ramos were also exposed as Diego Rolan and Chory Castro twice levelled for Malaga, who remain in the relegation zone.

Ronaldo’s winner does though put some pressure on Barca when they travel to Valencia for a top-of-the-table clash on Sunday (1945GMT).

The Catalans will though be buoyed by Lionel Messi ending speculation over his future by finally signing a contract extension to 2021 earlier on Saturday.

Ronaldo also played his part for Benzema’s opener after just nine minutes.

The World Player of the Year rose highest at the back post and when his header came back off the angle of post and bar, the unmarked Benzema had the simple task of nodding into an empty net.

Real looked set to shake off their league struggles so far this season in a dominant start as Dani Carvajal also forced Roberto in the Malaga goal into the first of a series of impressive stops.

However, a slack pass from Toni Kroos on the edge of his own box handed Malaga a route back into the game on 18 minutes.

Keko pounced on the German World Cup winner’s gift and his cross was calmly chested down and slotted beyond Kiko Casilla by Rolan.

Parity only lasted three minutes for the visitors, though, as Kroos made amends with a corner from which Casemiro powered home.

Benzema and Ronaldo had plenty of chances to improve their meagre goalscoring returns this season with the Frenchman first to pull a great chance beyond the far post.

Roberto then denied Ronaldo from close range before producing an even more stunning stop by leaping to his left to claw away a powerful header from the Portuguese.

Madrid’s fans had complained before kick-off at their perceived harsh treatment from referees this season, but it was the hosts who were handed a let off from the officials on the stroke of half-time.

Paul Baysse’s header looked to have levelled with the last touch of the half, but the French defender was penalised for a push on Dani Carvajal.

Malaga did level just before the hour mark thanks to some calamitous goalkeeping from Casilla as he let Castro’s drive from 25 yards slip through his grasp into the bottom corner.

Ronaldo saw another chance slip away as he failed to make any connection on Raphael Varane’s knockdown moments later.

However, his moment came when substitute Luka Modric was tripped inside the area and referee Jesus Gil Manzano awarded Real their first penalty in La Liga this season.

Ronaldo still couldn’t find a way past Roberto with his first effort, but followed up to smash home the rebound to avoid Real’s title chances suffering another severe blow.

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FIFA bribery trial to kick off in New York

People wak past the Federal Courthouse in Brooklyn where the FFA trial is talking place on November 13, 2017 in New York. The FIFA corruption trial is to get underway with opening statements in New York two and a half years after US prosecutors unveiled the largest graft scandal in the history of world soccer. Forty-two officials and marketing executives, and three companies were indicted in an exhaustive 236-page complaint detailing 92 separate crimes and 15 corruption schemes to the tune of $200 million. / AFP PHOTO / Don Emmert

The FIFA corruption trial is to get underway with opening statements in New York on Monday, two and a half years after US prosecutors unveiled the largest graft scandal in the history of world soccer.

Forty-two officials and marketing executives, and three companies were indicted in an exhaustive 236-page complaint detailing 92 separate crimes and 15 corruption schemes to the tune of $200 million.

Yet only three of them are going on trial — three fabulously-wealthy and once-powerful soccer officials from South America, charged with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies.

Their fate will be decided by an anonymous jury, chosen after documented attempts at intimidation. The 12-member panel with six alternates was selected after four days of screening last week.

Opening statements are scheduled to begin Monday at the US federal court in Brooklyn.

The most high-profile defendant is Jose Maria Marin, 85, former president of Brazil’s Football Confederation — the sport’s organizing body in one of the premier soccer-playing nations in the world.

Since extradition after his 2015 arrest by Swiss police in a five-star hotel, he has been out on bail, living in luxury at Trump Tower, the Fifth Avenue skyscraper best known for housing the penthouse and company headquarters of the US president.

Also in the dock is former FIFA vice president Juan Angel Napout, 59, and Manuel Burga, who led soccer in Peru until 2014 and once served as a FIFA development committee member.

All three plead not guilty.

The trial due to last five to six weeks, prosecutors are expected to present 350,000 pages of evidence and dozens of witnesses.

If convicted, they will be sentenced by Judge Pamela Chen. The most serious counts each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years.

US prosecutors first announced the indictments on May 27, 2015, lifting the lid on a quarter of a century of endemic corruption in the heart of FIFA, soccer’s governing body.

Twenty-four defendants have already pleaded guilty, and two of them were last month sentenced to jail.

While the US investigation did not indict ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter, he was thrown out of the sport in 2015 after FIFA’s ethics committee found him guilty of accepting an improper two million Swiss franc ($2.1 million) payment from then-UEFA chief Michel Platini.

Blatter was banned from soccer for six years, and Platini, his former heir apparent, for four years.

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Neymar, Brazil roll aside Japan with video help

Brazil’s forward Neymar (L) vies with Japan’s defender Sakai Hiroki during Japan’s friendly football match against Brazil at the Pierre-Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve d’Ascq, near Lille, northern France, on November 10, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / DENIS CHARLET

Neymar scored a penalty and missed another as Brazil signalled their intent ahead of next year’s World Cup by outclassing Japan 3-1 in Friday’s international friendly in Lille.

The Paris Saint-Germain star rolled in a 10th-minute spot-kick following consultation with the video assistant referee, although Neymar saw a second penalty saved shortly after by Eiji Kawashima.

Marcelo rifled in a magnificent second as Brazil doubled their lead on 17 minutes, with Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus rounding off a clinical counter-attack before half-time to make it 3-0.

Tomoaki Makino nodded in a consolation from a corner on 62 minutes but Japan remain winless against Brazil after losing for the 10th time in 12 meetings.

Neymar was joined by PSG team-mate Thiago Silva in the Brazil line-up as coach Tite picked a strong side despite playing in front of a sparsely-filled Stade Pierre-Mauroy in northern France.

Japan boss Vahid Halilhodzic, who served a four-year spell as Lille coach over a decade ago, called up 12 Europe-based players for the double-header with Brazil and Belgium, but experienced attacking trio Shinji Kagawa, Shinji Okazaki and Keisuke Honda were all overlooked for selection.

– Neymar constant threat –
Japan were thrashed 4-0 by a Neymar-inspired Brazil in their last encounter in 2014 and again quickly found themselves under threat from the world’s most expensive player.

He slipped Giuliano through down the right-hand side after carving open space, with captain Yuto Nagatomo forced to produce a vital sliding block.

Brazil were soon in front as referee Benoit Bastien belatedly awarded a penalty after the video official spotted Maya Yoshida tugging the jersey of Fernandinho at a corner.

Neymar calmly converted for his 53rd international goal — eight of which have come against Japan — and the 25-year-old should have added to his tally five minutes later after Gabriel Jesus was barged over by Hotaru Yamaguchi.

But this time Kawashima dived low to his right to deny Neymar, although Brazil surged further ahead from the resulting corner through a thunderbolt from Marcelo.

Yosuke Ideguchi’s poor clearance trickled invitingly into the path of the Real Madrid left-back who hammered a right-footed strike into the top corner from 20 yards.

Yoshida nearly atoned for his early blunder on the half-hour as he crashed a free-kick against the crossbar, but Japan were ruthlessly dissected as Brazil further flexed their muscles on 36 minutes.

Neymar triggered a swift break after a Japanese attack broke down, with Willian releasing the overlapping Danilo whose driven low cross was tapped in by Manchester City team-mate Jesus at the far post.

Brazil substitute goalkeeper Cassio, who replaced Alisson for the second half, clawed away a fizzing shot from Takuma Asano, while Neymar was booked for a tangle with Marseille defender Hiroki Sakai after the incident was reviewed by the VAR.

Japan trimmed the deficit on 62 minutes when centre-back Makino headed in from a corner before a raft of substitutes in the final quarter disrupted the flow of the contest.

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Lukaku denies Beverly Hills party charge

Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku entered a not guilty plea on Monday after being cited for holding a rowdy party at his rented Beverly Hills mansion in July.

A lawyer for Lukaku, who was not required to be in court in Los Angeles, entered the plea on the player’s behalf during a brief hearing before commissioner Jane Godfrey.

The case was adjourned for a pre-trial hearing at Los Angeles Airport Courthouse on November 21. Lukaku can opt not to appear in court for the misdemeanor case.

Beverly Hills Police Department said earlier this year Lukaku was issued with a citation for excessive noise.

It came after police officers responded to five other noise complaints from the same location.

The Belgian international — who clinched a money-spinning transfer to Manchester United from Everton in July — had been staying in Los Angeles with France and Manchester United star Paul Pogba on holiday.

Lukaku is the Premier League’s top scorer this season with seven goals.

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Pique offers to resign from Spain amid Catalonia clashes

Barcelona defender, Gerard Pique, has offered his resignation from the Spain national team, following a day in which the Catalunya region was engulfed by violence between referendum voters and police.

On Sunday, videos of Spanish national police striking out at protesters across the region went viral on social media.

It resulted in Barcelona’s La Liga clash with Las Palmas being played behind closed doors.

And even though won 3-0, Pique could not hide his anger, having voted himself before the match and challenged critics of his pro-Catalan stance in the RFEF and national team.

“If the coach or any director of the Federation thinks that I am a problem for the national, I will step aside before the World Cup,” he said afterwards.

“It has been a very hard game to play, the worst experience of my professional career.

“I am and I feel like a Catalan and today I am proud of the people of Catalunya.

“We are not a minority, there were millions of us. We are not the bad guys, we just want to vote.”

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I want to coach Spain in World Cup – Pep Guardiola

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has revealed he wants to coach Spain in a World Cup and the European Cup competitions.

The former Spain midfielder is in his second season with City after successful spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

The 46-year-old failed to win a trophy in his first year in England, but City have emerged as early pace setters in the Premier League title race this season.

While Guardiola has no plans to leave City any time soon, he admitted he is keen to test his skills at international level.

Asked whether he would like to take charge of a national team when he appeared on BBC’s Football Focus, Guardiola said: “Yes, Spain I think.

“I would like to be a manager in a World Cup, and the European Cup. I would like to feel that.

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Bayern Munich president reveals five players ganged up against Ancelotti

Bayern Munich president, Uli Hoeness, has revealed that five players revolted against Carlo Ancelotti.

Ancelotti was fired on Thursday, following a 3-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League a day before.

On the domestic front, Bayern have had an underwhelming start to the season, sitting third in the Bundesliga, three points off Borussia Dortmund in top spot.

And Hoeness has hinted that Ancelotti lost the dressing room at the Allianz Arena, leading to his dismissal.

“Ancelotti had five players against him,” he told Sport1.

Bayern chief Karl-Heinz Rumenigge said there must be ‘consequences’ in the immediate aftermath of Bayern’s defeat in the French capital.

And after relieving Ancelotti of his duties, he added: “Since the start of the season, the performance of the team has not met our expectations, and the match in Paris has shown clearly that we had to make conclusions.

“Carlos is my friend and that will continue, but we had to take a professional decision for FC Bayern.”

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Okocha reveals why an African player might never be world’s best

Former Super Eagles captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, has said it is “twice difficult” for an African to emerge as the best player in the world.

Okocha stated this in an interview with CNN on Friday, shortly after Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar were shortlisted for the 2017 FIFA Men Best Footballer award.

“I think as an African player, it is twice more difficult for you to win it,” he said.

“Because from onset, you are playing on different kind of pressure- pressure to push yourself, pressure to eradicate poverty, pressure to be successful and I think by doing that, you will lose focus sometimes and quit trying to be the best because you have other things you are worried about.

“To an extent, I think yes. I have to accept with Yaya Touré because it’s very rare as an African that you will sign for a team and you will be fully accepted.

“You will have to prove yourself. I can even give you an example. At some clubs, they don’t even like to sign African players because of the African Nations Cup.

“The timing of it… it happens in January. But we are working towards that. Maybe we will just adjust our calendar to give the next generation better opportunity to win it,”‎ he said.

Liberian George Weah is the only African to be named the world’s best player of the year.

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Cavani: Neymar childish, wouldn’t have treated Messi like that – Forlan

Former Uruguay Striker, Diego Forlan has expressed unhappiness with the Paris Saint-Germain forward, Neymar for the way he treated his team-mate, Edinson Cavani over who should take the penalty against Lyon.

According to Forlan, Neymar would never have treated Lionel Messi the way he did PSG team-mate Cavani.

Neymar and Cavani argued over who would take a penalty during their team’s 2-0 win over Lyon in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Cavani eventually won that battle, but saw his spot-kick saved by Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes.

Forlan feels his countryman, Cavani deserved better, saying Neymar would never have done similar thing to Messi at Barcelona.

“[Cavani] deserves respect,” the former Uruguay and Atletico Madrid star told Radio Sport 890.”

“He has been scoring goals for years and taking penalties, there has to be respect.

“Neymar would not have done that to Messi. He did not want Cavani to take the penalty. He was like a little boy annoying him,”‎ he said.

Despite the penalty disagreement, PSG have made a flying start to the season – winning eight straight matches in all competitions.

PSG president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi has denied any talks of a rift between PSG’s star duo.

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Mourinho calls for Carabao Cup to be scrapped

Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, has sensationally called for the Carabao Cup to be scrapped.

Mourinho stated this while speaking after his side’s 4-1 win over Burton Albion on Wednesday night, to reach the fourth round of the competition.

The Portuguese who has won the cup four times, says English football could do without it.

“If the competition is an official competition, then it’s important for Manchester United and for me as a manager.

“But if you ask me could English football survive or even be better without this competition? Maybe.

“Maybe we would be fresher for European competition, for example.

“But we have this competition, we have to respect the sponsors, we have to respect the opponents and a lot of us are trying to do our best,” Mourinho remarked.

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Man United, Chelsea record big wins to reach Carabao Cup fourth round

Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Manchester City and Manchester United all safely advance from the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.

Marcus Rashford scored twice as Manchester United continued their hot start to the season by breezing past Burton Albion 4-1.

United took the lead after only five minutes when Rashford latched onto an intelligent flick from Jesse Lingard to lift a finish over goalkeeper Connor Ripley. And Rashford grabbed his second in the 17th minute, unleashing a superb shot from distance that went in off the inside of the post.

Lingard got on the scoresheet himself to effectively wrap the tie up nine minutes before the break, but his shot from 25 yards took a huge deflection and left Ripley helpless.

Anthony Martial netted on the hour, latching onto a pass from Rashford and slotting home with ease, with Burton claiming a goal in injury time with Lloyd Dyer scoring.

A Michy Batshuayi hat trick helped Chelsea cruise past Nottingham Forest 5-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Little-used Kenedy opened the scoring after just 13 minutes, tucking in Antonio Rudiger's sumptuous cross at the far post.

Batshuayi struck his first six minutes later with a close-range finish off an Eden Hazard pass, before Charly Musonda fired across the keeper from an angle five minutes before the break to net his first for the club.

Batshuayi then bagged his second in the 53rd minute, converting the easiest of chances after Hazard had again set him up, and completed his hat trick four minutes from time.

Forest grabbed a consolation in stoppage time through Tendayi Darikwa.

Manchester City were tested at the Hawthorns as West Brom put in a good showing pitch before being on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline.

Leroy Sane did the honours on both goals for Man City, opening the scoring in the third minute with a thunderous first-time volley after Ben Foster had done well to keep out Sergio Aguero's close-range effort.

But West Brom were resilient, and scored a deserved equaliser when Claudio Yacob side-footed a volley from a corner past Claudio Bravo to put the teams back on level terms.

The hosts pushed for a second and were unlucky to concede on the counter-attack, as Sane broke down the right flank, cut inside and curled a perfect left-footed shot into the back of the net to put Man City through to the round of 16.

Arsenal edged past Doncaster Rovers with a 1-0 victory at the Emirates.

Theo Walcott scored the only goal as the Gunners navigated what turned out to be an uncomfortable first hurdle in the competition.

Walcott broke the deadlock in the 25th minute, when he dinked his finish over the charging goalkeeper after receiving an inch-perfect Alexis Sanchez pass over the top.

However, Arsenal struggled to translate their superiority in shots or a second goal, and narrowly saw out the victory in London.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin's double helped Everton to a much-needed 3-0 win against Sunderland.

Ronald Koeman's side have been frustrated in the league so far, but found joy against their Championship opposition with the England under-21 striker scoring either side of half-time for an Everton team that had lost four and drawn two in their last six.

Calvert-Lewin's first was a true poacher's goal, as the ball fell to him near the penalty spot after some neat buildup play from Everton broke down and he fired home.

The second came from a lovely counter-attack, with Sandro Ramirez playing Calvert-Lewin in behind the Sunderland defence and the 20-year-old taking one touch and smashing his second into the roof of the net.

And with time running out, substitute Oumar Niasse added a third to seal victory.

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Inter Milan reveal why they rejected Manchester United’s offer for Perisic

Inter Milan have said they rejected Manchester United’s offer for Ivan Perisic this summer, because they are convinced they can be as successful as Manchester United.

Perisic was a major target for Jose Mourinho, but ended up staying at the San Siro, where he has now signed a new contract until 2020, which does not have a release clause.

“Nobody denies that this offer from Manchester United arrived, but we and Spalletti wanted him to be a key player for us and we were convinced that our project could be just as successful as the one the English club were offering,” the club’s sporting director Piero Ausilio told Mediaset.

“Ivan never asked to leave and his new contract is the logical consequence of that. There was no need to insert any kind of release clause in it.”

Perisic has been influential in Inter’s unbeaten start to the season, with three goals and as many assists in the first five games.

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Messi scores 300th goals at Camp Nou in Eibar whipping, eyes Pichichi title

Barcelona superstar, Lionel Messi scored 4 goals in his club’s 6-1 victory over Eibar to bring his Camp Nou tally to 300 goals in all competitions.

The Argentine International reached the milestone and kept the Catalan side perfect during the current La Liga season.

The 30-year-old converted a penalty 20 minutes into the game to take his 2017 tally to 40 goals.

Messi then scored twice in quick succession in the second half to complete a hat-trick – his second of the season after putting three past Espanyol.

He was not done there, as he added his fourth three minutes from the end to complete the six-goal hammering.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored on eight of his last 12 shots in Spanish topflight.

With nine goals already in the league, Messi is already looking a decent bet for the Pichichi title.

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James hits first Bundesliga goal as Bayern go top

James Rodriguez scored his first Bundesliga goal on Tuesday to help Bayern Munich top the table for the first time this season following a 3-0 win at Schalke 04.

The Colombian was involved in all three goals after winning the penalty which Robert Lewandowski converted for the opening goal before his deft chip saw Arturo Vidal fire home.

After five games, the victory in Gelsenkirchen put defending champions Bayern top for the first time, but Borussia Dortmund can regain the lead if they win at Hamburg on Wednesday.

The away win was a boost for Bayern who confirmed Tuesday that goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer had undergone another operation on his left foot and is out until January.

“That wasn’t so easy, but at the end we managed to dominate,” said Neuer’s replacement Sven Ulreich, who now finds himself as Bayern’s first-choice goalkeeper after wanting to quit in the summer.

“Of course it’s a tough situation for the team and Manuel, but we hope he’ll be back soon.”

Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti rotated the squad with James on the right wing as one of six changes from the side which beat Mainz 4-0 on Saturday.

James won a penalty on 23 minutes when the video assistant referee confirmed his cross had been knocked away by the hand of Schalke defender Naldo.

Lewandowski dispatched the penalty for his sixth goal in five games.

James, who signed a two-year loan deal from Real Madrid in July, then fired home on 29 minutes when Corentin Tolisso’s pass found him with acres of space in the area.

It was a sublime chip over the Schalke defence from James which was then drilled home by Vidal on 75 minutes.

Leipzig stumble

The win left Bayern two points clear at the summit while Augsburg are up to third, with 10 points, after their shock 1-0 home win against RB Leipzig.

Austria midfielder Michael Gregoritsch scored Augsburg’s winner after only four minutes in Bavaria, but Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhuettl paid the price for making nine changes as his team played poorly.

Belgium striker Divock Origi, on loan from Liverpool, scored his first goal for Wolfsburg in their 1-1 draw at home to Werder Bremen before Fin Bartels equalised.

Origi showed his pace to win a foot race for the ball and stabbed home on 28 minutes as Wolfsburg’s new coach Martin Schmidt, who replaced the fired Andries Jonker on Monday, picked up a point.

Earlier, Brazil striker Raffael scored two second-half goals as Borussia Moechengladbach climbed to seventh after their 2-0 home win at home to Stuttgart.

It was Stuttgart’s first game since captain Christian Gentner suffered multiple facial fractures and concussion in a collision during Saturday’s win over Wolfsburg.

Gladbach’s Raffael opened the scoring by finishing the move he started with a superb 57th-minute goal after releasing Nico Elvedi on the wing and firing home the Swiss right-back’s cross.

Stuttgart defender Dennis Aogo gave away a penalty when he held Belgian forward Thorgan Hazard back in the area and Raffael slotted away the spot-kick on 74 minutes.

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