Lionel Messi remains the best footballer in the world and makes Barcelona a better team when he is in the side, says head coach Ronald Koeman.

The Argentina international was named among the substitutes for a LaLiga game for the first time since September 2019 in Saturday s 5-2 win over Real Betis at Camp Nou.

He had failed to score or assist from open play in six league matches this term before last weekend s contest, but Koeman denied he was dropped and put his absence from the side down to a knock.

Messi ended his open-play drought by powering home as a half-time substitute against Betis, having earlier scored his fifth penalty of the campaign in all competitions.

Koeman has reaffirmed he has full faith in the forward, who failed in an attempt to move …

Frank de Boer has been appointed as the new Netherlands head coach, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) confirmed on Wednesday.

Ronald Koeman left his post as national team boss last month to take over at Barcelona following the dismissal of Quique Setien.

De Boer, who made 112 Netherlands appearances and played at two World Cups for his country, has signed a two-year deal that takes him through to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The 50-year-old enjoyed a promising start to his coaching career, leading Ajax to four straight Eredivisie titles between 2011 and 2014.

However, his appointment may come as somewhat of a surprise given a poor track record since departing the Amsterdam club.

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Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain ended the season on a disappointing note as they were beaten 3-1 at Reims on Friday.

PSG wrapped up the league title over a month ago, but a run of three wins in nine in all competitions – a stretch that included a Coupe de France final loss to Rennes – had put a slight dampener on their campaign even before they arrived at a raucous Stade Auguste-Delaune.

Reims were good value for their two-goal lead with strikes from Baba Rahman and Mathieu Cafaro either side of half-time, although Kylian Mbappe brought the visitors back into contention in the 59th minute.

But PSG mustered little more without the suspended Neymar and substitute Pablo Chavarria scored an opportunistic third in second-half stoppage time to compound their …

Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata were on target as Juventus cruised to a 3-0 victory over Malmo in Tuesday s Champions League Group H opener.

Alex Sandro was the unlikely scorer of the opening goal before Dybala added a second from the penalty spot after a foul on Morata, who netted a third on the stroke of half-time.

Substitute Moise Kean rounded Ismael Diawara in the second half, only for Juve to be denied a fourth goal by the offside flag as Malmo struggled in their first group-stage appearance since 2015-16.

Massimiliano Allegri, who led Juve to the final in 2014-15 and again two seasons later, may be winless so far in Serie A on his return to Turin but his side started their continental campaign impressively.

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Manchester City s Premier League title celebrations were delayed by a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday in a rehearsal of this month s Champions League final.

Pep Guardiola s side are on the brink of a third championship in four seasons but could not complete the job at the Etihad Stadium after Sergio Aguero allowed Edouard Mendy to save a tame spot-kick.

That effort would have added a swift second to Raheem Sterling s breakthrough strike on the stroke of half-time.

Instead, Chelsea rallied after the interval and scored through Hakim Ziyech – their FA Cup semi-final hero against City – and then, in the final seconds, Marcos Alonso to boost their top-four aspirations and keep the leaders waiting, unable yet to turn their focus to the European showpiece.

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Scottish FA chief Ian Maxwell said authorities must seek to alleviate “the unsustainable pressure on match officials and VAR operators” as it was announced Crawford Allan will step down as head of referee operations at the end of the season.

Allan, a former category one official, took up the post in January 2020 and played a key role as video technology was introduced into Scottish football in 2022.

VAR controversies have become almost a weekly occurrence this season and a mid-season review conducted by an independent panel highlighted 16 mistakes in the cinch Premiership during the first two rounds of fixtures.

The game’s ruling body says Allan’s departure to pursue new opportunities “will effect a review of the existing role and remit to reflect the d…

Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle with Manchester City attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva over a move in the summer transfer window, according to Nicolò Schira. The well-known and well-respected journalist has that Silva, who can also operate as a winger, is open to signing a contract until 2026.

Agreement in principle between and for a contract until 2026. are confident to sign him within the end of the summer window. will make an official bid (around €60M) to in the next days.

Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira)

Schira has added that former La Liga and UEFA Champions League winners Barcelona are confident of signing Silva before the summer transfer window closes. The Blaugrana will make an official bid of around €60 million t…

Kylian Mbappe insists his relationship with Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Neymar is one based on deep respect, even though it can be hot and cold .

PSG are preparing to open their Champions League campaign in a marquee fixture at home to Juventus on Tuesday.

They go into the game having made an impressive start to the Ligue 1 season, collecting 16 points from six games and scoring 24 goals in the process.

Mbappe and Neymar have racked up seven goals each – only Erling Haaland (10) has a higher total in Europe s top five leagues.

But Mbappe did face criticism earlier in the season for his actions during the 5-2 win over Montpellier, which included a public argument with Neymar.

It is our sixth year together, PSG striker Mbappe said.  Neymar an…

Jean-Philippe Mateta stole the show with a hat-trick as Crystal Palace ended the Premier League season unbeaten in seven straight games after a 5-0 hammering of Aston Villa at Selhurst Park.

Palace manager Oliver Glasner replaced Roy Hodgson in February and has made an immediate impression on the Eagles, with promising signs awaiting his first full season in England next term.

Mateta has been one of many Palace players to enjoy an upturn in form since Glasner s arrival, with the in-form striker s deadly first-half double paving the way for an impressive victory on Sunday.

Frenchman Mateta completed his hat-trick with a well-taken finish in the second half, in between a pair of eye-catching Eberechi Eze goals, as Palace s dominant triumph saw them finish 10th in t…

With Manchester City and Liverpool facing off in the FA Cup on Saturday, the Premier League s attention turned to the race for a top-four spot.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Manchester United beat Norwich City 3-2, with the Red Devils taking full advantage of 1-0 defeats for Tottenham and Arsenal against Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton respectively.

Elsewhere, Watford s slim survival hopes were dealt a blow as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Brentford.  

Stats Perform takes a look at some key Opta facts from the day s games.

Manchester United 3-2 Norwich City: Ronaldo racks up yet another treble

Ralf Rangnick s side delivered another disjointed performance at Old Trafford, yet they did enough to secure a 13th win in their pa…