2019 Soccer news, photos, stats, schedules, standings and videos

• Dortmund star Witsel has surgery after domestic accident9 December 2019, 1:18 pm
  Borussia Dortmund midfielder Axel Witsel will miss the rest of the year after needing surgery for a facial injury sustained in an accident at home, his club said Monday. "We couldn't talk to him yesterday (Sunday) because he was in intensive care in hospital," said Dortmund coach Lucien
  
• Five talking points in European football this weekend9 December 2019, 1:17 pm
  Lionel Messi's delivered a La Liga record 35th hat-trick as Barcelona kept pace with Real Madrid, in-form Lazio inflicted a first defeat of the season on Juventus to muscle their way into the title picture, while Dutch league leaders Ajax slumped to a surprise home loss. Real Madrid and Barcelona
  
• Judge rules players not guilty in match-fixing case in Spain9 December 2019, 12:27 pm
  The 36 players on trial in Spain's most high-profile match-fixing case were cleared of wrongdoing on Monday. A Spanish judge issued the ''not guilty'' verdict, saying there was not enough evidence to convict the players and others on trial - including former Mexico coach Javier Aguirre
  
• African players in Europe: Salah and Keita drive Liverpool towards title9 December 2019, 11:54 am
  Liverpool's confident march towards a first English title since 1990 continued with Mo Salah and Naby Keita both on target in the 3-0 win at Bournemouth. Algerian defender Ramy Bensebaini, meanwhile, took the plaudits during Borussia Moenchengladbach's win over Bayern Munich which kept them
  
• Timeline of Russia's doping cases and cover-ups9 December 2019, 11:47 am
  The World Anti-Doping Agency has banned Russia from the Olympics and other major sporting events for four years, though many athletes will likely be allowed to compete as neutral athletes. February 2014 — Russian President Vladimir Putin opens the Winter Olympics in Sochi, the first time Russia has
  
• Vinícius Júnior latest Madrid player recovered by Zidane9 December 2019, 11:32 am
  Vinicius Junior has become the latest Real Madrid player given new life by coach Zinedine Zidane. After a long time being overlooked, Vinicius Junior put in an exciting performance in the team's 2-0 win over Espanyol on Saturday, being loudly cheered by the Santiago Bernabeu crowd. ''Vinicius
  
• Klopp says he never doubted Keita's quality9 December 2019, 10:23 am
  Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says he has never doubted the quality of midfielder Naby Keita despite the Guinea international's limited impact since his arrival at Anfield last year. Keita has been confined to a bit-part role since his £52.75 million ( million) move from RB Leipzig in July 2018
  
• Guardiola admits Man City standards have slipped9 December 2019, 9:58 am
  Pep Guardiola says Manchester City may no longer be able to match the standards of the best teams after a painful defeat against Manchester United left them 14 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. Guardiola's City have been the Premier League's outstanding side over the past two years
  
• Maguire says top four in sight for improving Man Utd9 December 2019, 9:49 am
  Harry Maguire has the top four in his crosshairs after Manchester United's thrilling derby triumph at Manchester City lifted them to fifth in the Premier League table. A week that started with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer under pressure after a below-par performance in a home draw against promoted
  
• Stanford women win NCAA soccer title, beating NC on PKs9 December 2019, 5:43 am
  Kiara Pickett drilled home a penalty kick after freshman goalkeeper Katie Meyer saved the previous shot to lift Stanford past North Carolina 5-4 on penalty kicks after a scoreless draw Sunday night in the NCAA championship game. Meyer blocked two shots during the penalty phase, while North Carolina&
  
• Stadium damaged when Cruzeiro soccer fans riot9 December 2019, 3:55 am
  SHOWS: BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL (DECEMBER 8, 2019)(STILL PHOTOS-MUTE)(ESTADIO MINEIRAO - NO RESALE / MUST ON SCREEN COURTESY ESTADIO MINEIRAO) 1. STILL PHOTO OF DAMAGE DONE TO BATHROOM INSIDE STADIUM 2. STILL PHOTO OF DEBRIS LYING ON FLOOR OF STADIUM
  
• Cruzeiro relegated from Brazilian top flight for first time9 December 2019, 2:44 am
  The club had been a mainstay in the Brazilian top flight for the last 98 years.
  
• 'Explosive' Lautaro Martinez fuelling Inter's ambitions at home and abroad9 December 2019, 2:29 am
  Lautaro Martinez has had an explosive start to the season, powering Inter Milan's league title ambitions and European hopes under new coach Antonio Conte. The 22-year-old -- known as 'El Toro' (The Bull) -- joined the 18-time Serie A champions last season from Racing Club, scoring nine goals
  
• Premier League Preview: West Ham United v. Arsenal9 December 2019, 2:05 am
  It's been nine matches since Arsenal beat someone. West Ham hasn't been much better, winning once in its last 10.
  
• Free-scoring Salzburg pose serious threat to leaky Liverpool9 December 2019, 1:29 am
  Liverpool travel to Salzburg on Tuesday needing to avoid defeat to the confident Austrian champions to guard against an embarrassing Champions League group stage exit for the holders. Jurgen Klopp's men are used to getting through to the knockout stages the hard way. The Reds' recorded a first