Bremen must plug Oezil gap as Champions League campaign starts

German side Werder Bremen kicks off its Champions League run with a qualifying match against Italy's Sampdoria. Bremen will play without star midfielder Mesut Oezil, who transferred to Real Madrid earlier this week.

After spending last season in the second-tier Europa League, German side Werder Bremen are eager to return to the top table of European club competition ahead of their first qualifying match in this year's Champions League.

Prior to last season, Bremen had played in the Champions League for five straight years. Now, the only thing standing between them and a return trip to the Champions League group stage is a two-legged playoff against Italy's SC Sampdoria.

Sampdoria have not been to the Champions League since they reached the final in the 1991/92 season and will have the advantage of playing the final match of the series at home.

Real Madrid set to sign Carvalho

Real Madrid set to sign Carvalho

Real Madrid are set to complete the signing of defender Ricardo Carvalho from Chelsea for a fee of £6.7m.

Real Madrid are set to complete the signing of Portugal centre-back Ricardo Carvalho from Chelsea.
The Spanish giants have agreed a £6.7m fee to sign the 32-year-old, who will link up once again with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.
"Chelsea can confirm it has agreed terms with Real Madrid for the transfer of Carvalho," said a club statement.
Carvalho, who was also with Mourinho at Porto, joined Chelsea in 2004 for £19.8m and won the league three times.
The Chelsea statement added: "The transfer is subject to a medical and the player agreeing personal terms. Chelsea would like to thank Riccy for his six years of service, and we wish him well in his future career."

Maradona leaves Argentina

Diego Maradona has been axed as Argentina coach after the Argentina Football Association decided not to renew his contract.

ارجنٹینا کی فٹبال ایسوسی ایشن نے اعلان کیا ہے کہ عالمی شہرت یافتہ اور سابق متنازعہ سٹار کھلاڑی ڈیئگو میراڈونا قومی ٹیم کے کوچ کے طور پر مزید کام جاری نہیں رکھ سکیں گے۔

The former Argentina captain's future as coach has been the subject of intense speculation ever since Argentina's elimination from the World Cup earlier this summer.

The 49-year-old suggested he would step down following the World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of Germany in South Africa this summer.

But he has since admitted he would be prepared to stay on, provided he can retain his full backroom staff, which may prove to be a sticking point.

The AFA have refused to meet Maradona's demands with federation president Julio Grondona looking to reshape the backroom team.

Maradona had been offered a new four-year deal, but after his refusal to change his coaching team the AFA board have decided not to renew his contract.

AFA spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo said: "The president put some salient points to Maradona in their long conversation yesterday.

"And the executive committee unanimously resolved not to renew Maradona's contract as technical director of the national teams."

Maradona took charge of the national side in November 2008 and helped Argentina qualify for the World Cup after an indifferent qualifying campaign.

Argentina won all three of their group games in South Africa, but were humbled 4-0 by Germany in the quarter-finals.

Estudiantes coach Alejandro Sabella is the early favourite to succeed Maradona after steering his side to the Copa Libertadores last year.

Argentina will hope to have a new man in place ahead of next month's friendly with Republic of Ireland in Dublin.