A Gareth Bale brace and further goals from Sam Vokes and Joe Allen helped Wales ease to a comfortable 4-0 win over Moldova in their opening World Cup 2018 qualifier at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Vokes headed the hosts in front from a fine Bale cross after 38 minutes before Allen capitalised on a goalkeeping error to make it 2-0 six minutes later.

Ivan Jardan s ill-advised backpass then gifted Bale his first of the night after 50 minutes and the Real Madrid star added another from the penalty spot  his 24th international goal putting him four behind his country s all-time top scorer Ian Rush  deep into stoppage time. 

Moldova, who came into the game 154 places below Wales in the FIFA rankings, never looked capable of avoiding defeat and barely mustered a mean…

Real Madrid are eyeing a move for Manchester City hotshot Sergio Aguero, .

The Argentina international was linked with a move to the Bernabeu in the summer of 2011, prior to his switch from Real’s city rivals Atletico to the Etihad Stadium.

The 26 year old, who is a favourite of the European Champions’ owner Florentino Perez, has racked up one hundred and fifty-three appearances in all competitions, scoring ninety-eight goals while his sixty-nine in the Premier League means he is the club’s top scorer in the divisions history.

The most famous of those goals came in the final moments of the final game of the 2011/12 campaign season when City beat Queens Park Rangers to clinch the title, while he gathered his second league winners medal back in May and wo…

According to a recent report from The Mirror, Premier League side Liverpool have had a bid turned down by Benfica for Ferro. The 21 year old has been on the radar of the Reds for what feels like forever, with reports connecting them to the Portuguese star as far back as 2017. Ferro, who plays at centre back, only recently made his senior debut for the club earlier this year – but he’s already made quite the first impression.

The Portuguese giants can clearly see value in him, and as a result, they want to ensure they get the best deal possible from a club of Liverpool’s stature. The Reds will likely have to go back to the drawing board, but it wouldn’t seem as if they’re going to have much of a problem stumping up the cash.

In his nine appearances for the club…

Liverpool have been given the green light to reignite their interest in signing Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk when the transfer window reopens in January, according to the Mirror.

The Merseyside outfit had to submit an apology to the south coast club after pursuing him in the summer but could now finally get their man, as they look to shore up their defence.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have shipped seventeen league goals so far this season with only five sides in the division having conceded more.

Van Dijk returned to the Southampton line-up in September and has so far played six times this season, keeping clean sheets in three of those appearances.

He moved to St Mary’s Stadium from Celtic in the summer of 2015 and has so far racked up seventy-fo…

Xavi has issued a rallying cry to Barcelona as their Champions League hopes hang in the balance following Tuesday s 0-0 draw with Benfica.

The Blaugrana missed the opportunity to seal their progress to the knockout stages of the competition, despite a dominant performance at Camp Nou.

Although Xavi became the 13th consecutive manager to avoid defeat in his first Champions League game in charge of Barca, his side were unable to break down a stubborn Benfica.

The goalless stalemate was only the eighth that Barcelona have recorded in 133 home matches in this competition, while they have mustered just two goals from their opening five games.

They remain second in Group E and two points ahead of their Portuguese counterparts, but face runaway leaders Bayern …

Leicester City midfielder James Maddison does not feel he had anything to prove after an impressive performance in his team s 3-1 win against Legia Warsaw in the Europa League on Thursday.

The 25-year-old scored and assisted during his hour on the pitch at the King Power Stadium in a victory that sent the Foxes to the top of Group C with one match remaining.

All four goals in the game came in the first half, with Patson Daka and Wilfred Ndidi also on the scoresheet for the hosts, while Filip Mladenovic followed up to score after Mahir Emreli s spot-kick was saved by Kasper Schmeichel.

Maddison was heavily involved in most of Leicester s dangerous attacking play, making two key passes, having three shots and putting in six crosses.

He also scored the sec…

that Inter Milan are considering a double-Premier League raid this month, with manager Roberto Mancini eyeing moves for Chelsea’s Mohamed Salah and Lukas Podolski of Arsenal.

The club have struggled so far this season, and went into the recent winter break in eleventh place though they are just six points off the Champions League qualification places.

Salah has falling down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge this season, and has had just twelve minutes playing time in the Premier League.

Podolski has also been limited just only substitute appearances in the league under Arsene Wenger, but the Gunners boss is keen to keep hold of him as they look to challenge on three fronts.

However, Inter may be able to take the Germany international on a tem…

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola expects Real Madrid to go on the offensive in the teams crucial La Liga clash at Camp Nou on Saturday.

League leaders Real go into the match in Catalonia with a four-point advantage over reigning champions Barca.

A share of the spoils would see Jose Mourinho s front runners preserve their buffer, but Guardiola does not anticipate a cagey approach from the visitors.

They ll come to win the game, they ll push us hard, they will try to find a way through our defence, which is one of their greatest qualities, Guardiola said.

I imagine they ll come here and try to win the game and not play to draw.

If Real do emerge with a positive result, Barca will be all but certain to surrender the league title they have made thei…

With the festive fixtures really starting to pile up, we have an action-packed night of football on the cards from across Europe in midweek. On that note, for those of you looking to stick on a Tuesday acca, we have found you a handful of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.

Tuesday 15th December 

BST 19:45 Bournemouth vs Wycombe Wanderers

Starting with Tuesday s hosts, although Bournemouth might have opened December with that dramatic 3-2 defeat against Preston on the South Coast, the Cherries have bounced back in eye-catching fashion. Still opening the midweek fixtures holding onto their spot in the top-two, Jason Tindall s new squad are still tipped by many across the Championship as a leading contender to book an immediate Premier League r…

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has promised star midfielder Paul Pogba he can get the new challenge he is seeking at Manchester United.

A month ago, France international Pogba said he wanted  a new challenge somewhere else amid reports former club Juventus and LaLiga giants Real Madrid could try and prise the 26-year-old away from Old Trafford.

Pogba returned to Premier League side United for a then-record fee of £89million in August 2016, though he has been criticised for failing to consistently deliver the type of performances he did when helping France to win the World Cup at Russia 2018.

Solskjaer, who replaced Jose Mourinho as United manager in December 2018, revealed he has spoken to Pogba on several occasions and is not annoyed by his comments.

I ve said…