David Luiz has rejoined Chelsea, continuing a summer trend that has included Mats Hummels (Bayern), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Mario Götze (Dortmund), Álvaro Morata (Real Madrid) and Tomáš Rosický (Sparta Praha).But players returning to their old stomping ground is not new. UEFA.com takes a look at a few returning heroes, including Andriy Shevchenko, Marius Lăcătuş and Lukas Podolski, who have found the lure of their first love too strong to resist.©Getty Images UEFA.com - News
Football Update
Meet the UEFA Women’s Champions League contenders
Seeded clubs:Lyon (FRA, holders)• Round of 32 record (round introduced in 2009/10): W7 L0• Best performance: winners (2011, 2012, 2016)Won their third European title last season, one behind FFC Frankfurt’s record. Their summer arrivals include Dzsenifer Marozsán, Caroline Seger, Jessica Houara-d'Hommeaux and Kheira Hamraoui after the departures of Amandine Henry and Lotta Schelin, plus Louisa Necib's retirement and on Wednesday signed New Zealand goalkeeper Erin Nayler.
Committed custodian Espinola still savouring double duty
Carlos Espinola has always understood the sense of responsibility that comes with being a high-ranking public official. Likewise, he has always answered the call of duty from the Paraguayan national futsal team, for whom he is a long-serving linchpin. It is no surprise, then, to hear that he has bent over backwards to keep combining his two passions ahead of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016, his third Futsal World Cup participation. When he accepted the post of Administrative and Financial Director at the Ministry of Health's General Directorate for Environmental Health, the goalkeeper knew full well that at some point everything would become a bit of a handful, as it is rig... FIFA.com - News
Who can qualify for the U21 finals this week?
For the first time there will be 12 teams in the final tournamentHosts Poland will be joined by 11 qualifiers in the finals in June 2017The nine group winners qualify automaticallyThe four runners-up with the best records against the sides first, third, fourth and fifth in their group will go into the play-offs for the remaining two berthsFULL STANDINGSFULL FIXTURESCurrent top scorer: Michael Gregoritsch (Austria) 9 – all the statisticsThe penultimate set of UEFA European Under-21 Championship qual... UEFA.com - News
Monaco aglow after ‘super’ August
A win against champions Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday capped a great August for Monaco, who lead Ligue 1 as they prepare for their UEFA Champions League group stage return. João Moutinho's astute volley from Djibril Sidibé's pinpoint cross and Fabinho's 12th penalty scored from 12 attempts handed the Riviera side a healthy margin at the break. Despite Edinson Cavani reducing the arrears and Paris pushing for a leveller, Leonardo Jardim's team extended their lead when Sidibé put pressure on Serge Aurier who scored an own-goal, sealing a first defeat for new Paris coach Unai Emery. Monaco have won five of their six games in August. In the process they became the ... UEFA.com - News
Women’s Champions League knockout seedings
Holders Lyon and the side they beat in last season's final, Wolfsburg, are among the 16 seeds in the UEFA Women's Champions League round of 32 draw at 13:30CET on Thursday, streamed live on UEFA.comNine teams came through the qualifying round last week to join the 23 given byes to this stage. Teams entering in the knockout phase include three-time winners Lyon, twice champions Wolfsburg and former finalists Paris Saint-Germain, Zvezda-2005 and Fortuna Hjørring.However, English title-holders Chelsea and current leaders Manchester City, one of ? debutants in the draw, will be unseeded. Chelsea, who could face rematches with either of the teams they played last season – Gla... UEFA.com - News
Five things you didn’t know about João Mário
Blessed with technical ability, footballing intelligence and great vision, the 23-year-old João Mário has joined UEFA Europa League contenders Internazionale eight weeks after helping Portugal to European glory. But how much do you know about the talented midfielder? Here are five things to get you started.1. João Mário was born in Porto and signed for the Dragões' academy in 2002. Two years later his mother relocated to Lisbon and he duly moved south, linking up with Sporting. Initially a defender, he was a midfielder when he made his senior debut in Italy as already-qualified Sporting lost 2-0 at Lazio in the 2011/12 UEFA Europa League group stage.