You know the expression “to have your arse handed to you on a plate”?

Captain Vincent Kompany claims Manchester City are hungry for success and determined to deliver in the Champions League.

Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez remains confident Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema will both still be at the Bernabeu this coming season.

Liverpool are set to trigger Christian Benteke’s £32.5 million (€46.6m) release clause after changing their valuation of the Aston Villa striker.

Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo is relishing the challenge ahead after leaving Juventus for MLS side New York City FC.

Tottenham midfielder Paulinho has joined Guangzhou Evergrande on a four-year deal, the Chinese Super League side have announced.

Joan Laporta would be keen to sign Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba if he wins FC Barcelona’s presidential election on July 18.

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri will not stand in Paul Pogba’s way if the French midfielder decides to leave the Turin giants this summer.

There is enough intrigue as well as quality in the Champions League semi-finals this week to have any football fan salivating, writes David Shonfield.

Celta Vigo stunned Atletico Madrid to bring the La Liga champions back down to earth after last week’s demolition of Real Madrid, winning 2-0 at Balaidos thanks to two second-half goals.

Paul Kelly writes that in 1964 Denis Law scored 50 goals in 51 matches, a staggering return that earned him the Ballon d’Or.

Swansea last night confirmed the signing of Gylfi Sigurdsson from Tottenham and the sale of Ben Davies and Michel Vorm to the north London club for undisclosed fees.

Manchester United are lining up Chile World Cup star Arturo Vidal to join Ander Herrera in their new-look midfield.

Andrea Pirlo has signed a two-year contract extension with Juventus, the Serie A club have announced.

Carlos Tevez’s return will bolster Juventus as the Italians look to bounce back from their defeat at Napoli in tonight’s Europa League quarter-final first leg at Lyon (8.05pm).

For the second successive year, James McGrath from Westmeath has been chosen to referee an All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final replay.

Juventus defender Martin Caceres will undergo surgery on his right knee today, the Italian champions confirmed.

Carlos Tevez will today complete the final stages of his transfer to Juventus after the Italian club last night confirmed his arrival from Manchester City.

Tito Vilanova insisted Barcelona were not a one-man side after Lionel Messi scored twice and set up another as the Catalan club powered on at the top of the Primera Division with a 3-1 victory over Real Zaragoza.

It was all up with Giovanni Trapattoni after the Germany fiasco, according to his Italian compatriots.

Sydney FC striker Alessandro Del Piero has admitted rejecting an approach from Liverpool out of respect for victims of the Heysel disaster.

Real Madrid reduced the gap at the top of the Primera Division to eight points ahead of next week’s El Clasico as Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick led them to a 5-1 victory over Deportivo La Coruna last night.

Westmeath whistler James McGrath has been given the plum job of refereeing Sunday week's GAA All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final replay between Galway and Kilkenny.

Italian football president Giancarlo Abete has rejected the suggestion that football in Italy should be suspended for up to three years in a order to weed out match-fixing from the game.

Italy have received a boost ahead of Euro 2012 with the news Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini is set to recover from a muscle injury in time for the tournament.

Italian champions Juventus have expressed an interest in signing Arsenal striker Robin van Persie this summer.

Juventus last night won their first Serie A crown since 2003 as a Diego Milito hat-trick sunk title rivals AC Milan.

Given the extent of globalisation in football these days, distinct national traits are increasingly hard to define.

Four goals from Lionel Messi put third-placed Valencia to the sword on a night when Barcelona could have scored a dozen but for the efforts of visiting goalkeeper Diego Alves.

Juventus coach Antonio Conte will not allow himself to be carried away by his team’s lofty position in Serie A.

Fiorentina winger Valon Behrami hopes to see Alberto Aquilani join the Serie A outfit this summer.

The agent of Alberto Aquilani has dismissed reports linking his client with a move to Sunderland this summer.

The agent of Alberto Aquilani has brushed aside speculation linking the player with a move to Fiorentina this summer.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has confirmed he will remain at the Turin giants next season.

NEMANJA VIDIC’S agent has dismissed talk of the Manchester United captain leaving Old Trafford.

Giovanni Trapattoni will go head-to-head with a man he always expected to become a manager during their days together at Juventus.

JUVENTUS have appointed Antonio Conte as their new head coach on a two-year contract.

Luigi Del Neri could discover next week whether he will stay on as Juventus coach for another season after club president Andrea Agnelli expressed unhappiness with recent displays.

Fabio Capello has brushed aside reports linking him with a return to Juventus this summer and insists his future lies with England.

Juventus have dismissed reports goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon could join Manchester United.

Veteran midfielder Patrick Vieira intends to push himself to the limit in a bid to win a regular place in the Manchester City side.

BARCELONA star Lionel Messi is set to spend up to three weeks on the sidelines with an ankle sprain.

Rafael Benitez admits it is his dream to one day coach the Spanish national team but has reiterated his immediate future lies at Liverpool.