Barcelona tie tough for AC Milan, says Sacchi

Mario Balotelli and Stephan El Shaarawy have been recalled to the Italian national team for next week s Euro 2016 qualifiers against Croatia.

Liverpool forward Balotelli has not been involved in any Italy squad since Antonio Conte replaced World Cup coach Cesare Prandelli in August, with the former Milan star failing to impress since returning to England.

The 24-year-old has played nine times in the Premier League so far this season, eight of which were from the start, but he is yet to score as he continues to attract criticism.

El Shaarawy on the other hand earned his recall on the back of scoring his first Serie A goal since February 2013 in Milan s 2-2 draw at Sampdoria.

The 22-year-old suffered an injury-ravaged campaign last season and he is in line …

Bolivia interim coach Nestor Clausen has his sights set on a full-time role as he prepares the side for Tuesday s friendly with Venezuela.

Former boss Xabier Azkargorta parted company with the team in March as he took over at Bolivar, which left Mauricio Soria to take the reins on a part-time basis.

Soria, head coach of club side Blooming, oversaw recent friendlies against Chile and Brazil Under-21s, but the Bolivian Football Federation ruled that he would not lead the team against Venezuela after allegedly making racist remarks following Blooming s 1-1 draw with Real Potosi earlier this month.

That decision paved the way for 1986 World Cup winner Clausen to step in for the encounter in La Paz, and the Argentinian believes he could one day secure the role permane…

Gus Poyet is open to the possibility of a fresh move to bring Liverpool forward Fabio Borini back to Sunderland.

Borini spent the 2013-14 campaign on loan at the Stadium of Light and scored seven goals in 32 Premier League appearances.

Head coach Poyet made no secret of his desire to bring the 23-year-old to Wearside on a permanent basis in the last transfer window, but an expected move collapsed.

The forward s prospects of regular first-team football at Anfield appear slim, though, with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers leaving the forward out of his squad for Saturday s 0-0 draw against Poyet s side.

And Poyet is keen to strike a deal in January if the opportunity arises.

I would love to [sign Borini], he said. It is difficult to explain [why t…

Chelsea captain John Terry admitted he was still haunted by his horror penalty miss in the Champions League final as he gears up for the new season here.

Terry, who will lead Chelsea against Guangzhou Pharmaceutical on Wednesday, said mental replays of the botched spot-kick were his first thoughts every day when he wakes up.

Every morning I wake up and it s the first thing on my mind. I still think of it, he said.

I m still very disappointed by it, but last season I said I m a big man and have a big character and it s down for me to deal with it.

Terry slipped and sliced his kick against the post in the Moscow shoot-out, throwing away the chance to seal the title and handing a lifeline to eventual winners Manchester United.

It was the 27-ye…

Alexia Putellas has pushed back on the suggestion Spain s striking players are rebels amid their ongoing dispute with the national team and coach Jorge Vilda.

Following their qualification for the Women s World Cup in September, 15 players rendered themselves unavailable for selection, citing the situation around La Roja.

The RFEF has so far stood by Vilda, despite pleas from the striking group for him to be moved on over reasons involving their emotional health, presenting a stalemate ahead of the tournament in July.

Putellas has rejected the idea those players are in the wrong, with the Barcelona midfielder at pains to stress the view of her colleagues.

We are not rebels, she told beIN SPORTS. It s exhausting having to constantly claim improvements to …

Barcelona head coach Ernesto Valverde has urged patience with Ousmane Dembele after the France winger s latest injury setback.

Dembele joined Barca for an initial fee of €105million from Borussia Dortmund in August following Neymar s world-record move to Paris Saint-Germain.

The 20-year-old s dream move quickly took a nightmare turn when he tore his hamstring against Getafe in September, ruling him out for the rest of 2017.

After four comeback appearances this month, three from the bench, Dembele was diagnosed with a fresh hamstring strain following Sunday s thrilling 4-2 comeback win at Real Sociedad.

It means another three to four weeks on the sidelines but, speaking at a news conference ahead of Wednesday s Copa del Rey derby at Espanyol, Valverde in…

Jose Mourinho could remain with Manchester United until the end of the 2020-21 season after he agreed a new contract with the Premier League giants.

The 54-year-old s reign at Old Trafford has brought silverware, famous wins, transfer coups, controversy and antagonism – very much a microcosm of his stellar career.

As the Portuguese aims to bring sustained success to United for the first time since Alex Ferguson s historic tenure, we look back at a few of the highs and lows he has experienced with the Red Devils so far.

HIGHS

Ibrahimovic s Wembley heroics

Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit the ground running in English football last season, immediately repaying the faith shown in him by his former Inter boss Mourinho. The enigmatic Swede was never…

Scotland forward Steven Fletcher has been selected as part of Great Britain s provisional squad for the London 2012 Olympics.

The 25-year-old, who was part of the Wolves side who were relegated from the Premier League last season, was one of the bright lights in an otherwise poor campaign for the Midlands club.

And his performances have certainly gained recognition from Stuart Pearce, who has been given the reins of the Great Britain side during the Games.

Fletcher, a 6.5-million-pound signing from Burnley in 2010, struggled to adapt in his first season at Molineux but scored 12 Premier League goals in 2011-12, although he was unable to prevent his side from being relegated to the Championship.

Former Manchester City coach Pearce has until the first wee…

Former Netherlands international Ruud Gullit has spoken of his disappointment at his country s humiliating exit from Euro 2012.

Bert van Marwijk s side lost all three games, to Denmark, Germany and Portugal, and finished bottom of Group B, despite being touted as possible favourites to win the tournament.

Gullit, who lifted the trophy as captain in 1988, said he was not surprised the 2010 World Cup finalists failed to pass the first hurdle, adding he even thought the same before the campaign began.

It s disappointing (that the) European Championship for Netherlands has finished, (but it is) no surprise, Gullit wrote in his column for De Telegraaf.

Even before the tournament began, Telesport (wrote) about the problems that threatened to emerge as the t…

Atletico Madrid will not dwell on how Saturday s derby defeat to Real Madrid may have impacted their LaLiga title aspirations, captain Koke says. 

Early leaders Atleti suffered their first league loss of the season, ending a club-record 26-game unbeaten run, as Casemiro s header and a Jan Oblak own goal proved their undoing. 

Koke accepted Madrid deserved victory as Atleti failed to attempt a single shot before the break for the first time in a derby since Opta records began in 2003-04. 

The visitors tested Thibaut Courtois only once in the second half, too, as Madrid closed to within three points of their city rivals at the summit. 

But Atleti, who had won their previous seven league games, still sit top and Koke is confident they can recover…