Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza is confident his side can deal with the absence of Lionel Messi in upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

The Barcelona star is sidelined with a groin injury and will miss meetings with Peru and Paraguay.

Bauza is aware of the test awaiting his team without Messi, as he named Paulo Dybala and Matias Kranevitter to replace the superstar and Lucas Biglia.

It is a challenge not to have the best player there. For the team, it is a challenge, he told a news conference.

It has happened and hopefully recovery can follow and we ll have him against Brazil and Colombia [in November].

The team are what we have worked with and are prepared to play without him.

Bauza hopes his decision to include Dybala and Kranevitter pays of…

Barcelona have signed teenage Groningen midfielder Ludovit Reis for €3.25million.

Reis was reported to be close to joining Barca by his agent earlier this month and Groningen announced on Thursday that the 18-year-old has agreed a contract running until 2022, with the option of two further years.

The multi-season deal contains a €100m release clause.

Reis first came to prominence in October 2017, when his goal at Sparta Rotterdam made him the first player born in the 21st century to score in the Eredivisie.

The Netherlands Under-19 international turns 19 next month and, having played 50 senior games for Groningen, he is expected to start life in Catalonia as part of the Barca B squad.

It s a dream come true for me, I m very happy. Reis told B…

Serbia international winger Lazar Markovic is edging closer to finally ending his Liverpool nightmare.

Former Benfica starlet has largely failed to prove his worth with the Reds and does not feature in Jurgen Klopp’s plans for the current campaign. The 23-year-old joined Liverpool in 2014 and spent last two seasons on various loans including Fenerbahce, Sporting Lisbon and Hull City.

Liverpool are willing to sell Markovic but appear unable to strike a permanent deal for the Serbian and now another loan deal is being mentioned in .

Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow apparently want to take on the Serbia international and are currently leading the race together with several European sides.

Markovic’s representatives are believed to have informed the Liverpo…

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In a showdown between two sides who have a top-four finish at the top of their agenda, Leicester will welcome Chelsea to an empty King Power Stadium on Tuesday night.

Leicester City

Starting with the hosts, putting in what was a professional display on Saturday night, the mood in Leicester s camp certainly appears to be at a real high. Eventually landing what was a deserved 2-0 victory against European dark horses Southampton over the weekend, the Foxes are enjoying a three-match winning run across all formats. While Brendan Rodgers side might have seen Manchester City knock them off of second spot on Sunday night, they do find themselves sat just two points adrift of climbing to the top of the table. Booking their spot in the fourth…

Liverpool s defensive injury crisis may have deepened further after it was reported Joe Gomez could be facing a lengthy absence.

Gomez is said to have suffered an injury during an England training session ahead of the friendly against Republic of Ireland on Thursday.

Premier League champions Liverpool are already facing the prospect of being without Virgil van Dijk for the rest of the season due to a serious knee injury the centre-back sustained in the derby against Everton last month.

Full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to be out for around for around a month due to a calf problem he picked up in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Sunday.

The loss of Gomez would leave Jurgen Klopp seriously depleted at the back and hoping Fabinho, who ha…

According to a recent report from Fichajes, Manchester City and Real Madrid are both interested in trying to sign Youri Tielemans.

The Leicester City star has enjoyed many great moments with the Foxes over the years with one of the most notable being his FA Cup-winning goal in the final in 2021. Now, though, he may be ready to take the next step in his career, which would feature him heading to a team that just about guarantees Champions League football every season.

Pep Guardiola has witnessed what he can do in the Premier League many times whereas Madrid could really use someone with his ability, especially to drive through the heart of defences.

The 24-year-old has a lot of time left at the elite level if he so wishes and given that he s also a member of the …

Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe said it is pointless scoring 50 goals if the French giants do not win Ligue 1 or the Champions League.

Mbappe scored 42 goals across all competitions last season, but PSG were dethroned by Lille in Ligue 1, while the capital club lost in the Champions League semi-finals.

PSG – who have never won the Champions League – are preparing for a quarter-final showdown with Real Madrid as they sit 13 points clear atop the Ligue 1 standings.

Last year was good for me, I scored 40 goals, but we didn t win the league or the Champions League, Mbappe, who has 13 goals this term, told PSG s television station.

In the end I wonder, what is the use of scoring 50 goals if we don t win? I would prefer to score less and win the le…

Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm believes that there is still everything to play for in the Bundesliga this season.

Bayern lead second-placed Bayer Leverkusen by nine points and are 12 points ahead of last season’s champions Borussia Dortmund.

However, the Bayern captain refuses to believe that the title has already been won, and acknowledged that the Bavarians must not get ahead of themselves.

There are still 17 match days, and a lot can still happen, he told Bild.

The 29-year-old does, however, think that if their second half of the season matches their first then they will be crowned Bundesliga champions for the first time since the 2009-10 season.

If we fulfil our potential in the second half of the season, we probably will not be stop…

Bastian Schweinsteiger believes Germany are on their way to perfection.

The Bayern Munich midfielder added that it is an honour for the team to be compared to reigning European and world champions Spain.

Schweinsteiger says Vicente del Bosque s outfit have been the best team in the past few years, and is keen to emulate the Roja.

Spain have a certain perfection in their game. They have been training on this for the past 10 years or so. We are working hard on achieving the same perfection and are well on our way, Schweinsteiger said.

It s absolutely no problem for us to be compared to Spain. They have been the best team out there since 2008. It s an honour to be compared to them.

The influential midfielder has been capped 97 times so far, and he…

Family loyalty prevented Italy great Paolo Maldini from moving to Manchester United from AC Milan, according to Alex Ferguson.

Two towering figures of football s modern era, Maldini won seven Serie A titles and five European titles during a 25-year Milan career, while Ferguson s 13 Premier League crowns and two Champions League triumphs established United as a dominant force at home and abroad.

Speaking at the launch event for the International Champions Cup in New York, Ferguson spoke on stage alongside Maldini and said his father – former Italy boss Cesare – gave the prospect of the all-time great left-back moving to Old Trafford short shrift.

I did try [to sign Maldini] but when I met his father he was quite formidable, I got a shake of the head, Ferguso…