• The Canadian Press

    Liga surprise package Girona visits Barcelona in clash of Catalan clubs

    BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona was the Spanish league champion last season. Now it is just the second-best team in the Catalonia region. Girona has upstaged its much more popular regional rival so far, winning 12 of 15 games to sit atop the table level on points with Real Madrid. Barcelona trails the leading pair by four points before it welcomes Girona at its Estadi Olimpic home on Sunday. In just its fourth season in the top-flight, Girona is the undisputed surprise side in Spain and turnin

  • The Canadian Press

    He's no longer just Superpippo's little brother. Simone Inzaghi has Inter aiming for a Serie A title

    ROME (AP) — His playing career was overshadowed by the exploits of his big brother. His coaching career has hitherto been marked by near misses. Now — finally — Simone Inzaghi appears destined to have his moment in the spotlight. Approaching the midpoint of Serie A, Inzaghi’s Inter Milan leads the league and is the favorite to win the title. After routing city rival AC Milan 5-1 in the derby in September, Inter drew at second-placed Juventus and put on a convincing performance in a 3-0 victory a

  • The Canadian Press

    Reserve goalie Tenas grabs the spotlight at PSG with Donnarumma under pressure

    PARIS (AP) — Criticized for recent glaring errors at Paris Saint-Germain, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma did not help his case with his awful tackle last weekend. The reckless move gave younger rival Arnau Tenas the chance to show off his class. And the Spanish goalie seized the moment. When Donnarumma was sent off after only nine minutes, Tenas came off the bench and made his debut in the French league. Seemingly immune to pressure, Tenas made seven decisive saves to deliver a clean shee

  • The Canadian Press

    Two rising stars of the Bundesliga meet as leader Leverkusen takes on Stuttgart

    DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Is Bayer Leverkusen's German title challenge for real? How about Stuttgart's chances? The Bundesliga's two teams on the rise meet on Sunday when league-leading Leverkusen travels to third-placed Stuttgart. Leverkusen's 21-game unbeaten start to the season is on the line again after a rare moment of vulnerability in a 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund on Sunday. Stuttgart knocked Dortmund out of the German Cup on Wednesday and is aiming for another upset win in a season