USM Alger go into Sunday s CAF Champions League semi-final with El Hilal on Sunday in fine form, as they seek to reach the final for the first time since 2003.

Miloud Hamdi s side stormed through Group B ahead of fellow semi-finalists Al Merrikh taking 15 points from their six outings to equal the record points haul set by Esperance in 1999 and 2013.

Their only defeat came at the hands of Merrikh, having already ensured progression with five wins from their first five outings.

However, while Esperance failed to reach the final on both those occasions, Alger will hope to deny their Sudanese opponents a third appearance in the final and ensure a chance at righting the wrongs of 2003 when they were beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Enyimba of Nigeria.

While…

Manchester United greats Alex Ferguson and David Beckham will be reunited at Old Trafford on November 14 after agreeing to take part in a charity match to raise funds for UNICEF.

Beckham will captain a Great Britain and Ireland team managed by Ferguson that will face a Rest of the World XI led by Carlo Ancelotti and skippered by Zinedine Zidane.

Money raised through profits from ticket sales and donations made on matchday will go to UNICEF to help protect the world’s most vulnerable children.

Beckham said: I want a world where children can grow up safe from violence, free from poverty and protected from preventable diseases.

This match gives me the perfect opportunity to raise awareness and vital funds to help reach the children who need it most. I am…

Edinson Cavani will now stay at Manchester United during the international break after Uruguay confirmed the striker will not travel due to current restrictions.

The Premier League announced last week that clubs had agreed players who would have to travel to red-list COVID-19 countries would not be released.

Despite the decision, Cavani was initially selected for Oscar Tabarez s squad for their three World Cup qualifiers against Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador.

Both Uruguay and Peru are on the United Kingdom s red list, meaning the 34-year-old would have had to quarantine for 10 days in a hotel upon his return from South America.

Tabarez has opted to cancel the call-up due to the fact the United forward would subsequently miss at least two top-flight games agai…

Newcastle United are determined to sign Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that the Magpies are willing to hand a four-year contract with Rabiot. Arsenal and Chelsea are also claimed to be keen on the former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, who is out of contract at Juventus at the end of the season.

Rabiot has made 26 starts and one substitute appearance in Serie A for Juventus so far this season, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in the process. The 28-year-old has scored two goals in five UEFA Champions League matches this campaign.

Newcastle are third in the Premier League table at the moment with  65 points from 33 matches. Meanwhile, Juventus currently find themselves third in the Se…

Cardiff City striker Joe Mason has joined Championship side Bolton Wanderers on an emergency loan deal.

The 22-year-old will move to the Reebok Stadium until January 5 and could make his debut against Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Mason almost made his a loan move to Bolton earlier this month but the deal was called off by Cardiff manager Malky Mackay because of injuries to Rudy Gestede and Peter Odemwingie.

However, the former Plymouth Argyle man has now completed his switch and joins a side who are eight games unbeaten in the Championship.

The most recent victory for Dougie Freedman s side came on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Watford, Jermaine Beckford the scorer.

Mason, who moved to the Welsh club in 2011, has not featured in the Premier League this sea…

Felipe Anderson s representatives, Base Soccer, have insisted the Brazil international does not have a gentleman s agreement with Lazio that allows him to leave if a big-money offer comes in.

The 22-year-old has developed into one of his side s undisputed stars since joining them from Santos in 2013 and played a key role in Lazio s third-place finish last term.

A string of good performances have not gone unnoticed elsewhere and he has been linked with a number of big clubs in recent months, including Manchester United.

However, the agency representing the winger together with his sister Juliana Gomes have downplayed suggestions he could be on the move come January if a good offer comes in.

Contrary to reports, Felipe Anderson has not agreed a deal to l…

Lionel Messi is the leader and protector of Argentina, according to international team-mate Nicolas Tagliafico.

Messi, 32, has faced criticism for his performances for the national team as his wait for a first senior trophy at international level goes on.

But Ajax defender Tagliafico, a 25-time Argentina international, said the Barcelona star was key for his nation.

Messi was released from the pressure to get results [at the 2019 Copa America, where Argentina finished third], he told Ole.

He more than anyone gets angry when he loses, but Messi became more aware that he has to enjoy the national team.

I don t know until when he will play, but it is not that he will have too many cups with the national team. He is at a stage where he wants to enj…

United and Valencia vying for Garay

Portuguese newspaper that Manchester United and Valencia lead the chase for Benfica defender Ezequiel Garay.

The Eagles seem to have decided to cash in on the Argentine stopper, and they are obviously looking to sell him to the highest bidder, especially since Real Madrid are entitled to 50% of the transfer fee.

O Jogo has learned that Manchester United and Valencia are locked in the battle for the 27-year-old footballer, whilst Zenit are also keen.

And while the Red Devils see Garay as a perfect long-term replacement for Rio Ferdinand, los Che are looking for defensive reinforcements following the departure of Adil Rami.

Ezequiel Garay has developed into one of world s top centre-backs during his time at Esta…

(GSM) Barcelona playmaker Andres Iniesta has talked up the importance of the Club World Cup as the European champions aim to complete the year 2009, after landing a quintet of titles to Catalona, by winning in Dubai.

Barca, who added the Primera Division and Copa del Rey titles to their continental success earlier this year, have never won the Club World Cup and Spain international Iniesta is hoping to help the club complete the set.

He told Barca TV: This is the most important title for all of us as we ve never won it. We re excited about taking part. We played in it three years ago, and it left us with a taste for more. We really want to win it as we d be making history.

It s not of lesser importance. It s always great to win a trophy. This year we have won e…

(GSM) Barcelona president Joan Laporta has claimed Manchester City have rejected the Spanish club s initial offer for Robinho.

And Laporta has also made it clear that the Catalonia giants will not bid again for the former Real Madrid player.

The Brazil playmaker has previously indicated he would welcome a move to the Nou Camp, prompting Barca to open negotiations with City.

But the Eastlands club, now under new coach Roberto Mancini, turned down Barca s opening bid.

Laporta, speaking in an interview with Catalan radio station Rac1, said: We are very happy with the squad but if we have to make any improvements we will do.

The conditions we set out for Robinho were not acceptable to City and since the squad are developing so well, unless there are…