English Premier League champions Manchester City will play European champions Real Madrid in an exhibition match next year at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, organisers said.
The teams will play each other as part of the International Champions Cup, a series of pre-season matches involving top European clubs.
A third team, expected to be Serie A heavyweights Inter, will be announced for the fixtures at the 100,000-seat MCG from July 18-24.
Manchester City own Melbourne City in Australia’s top-flight A-League.
Thiago Silva upbeat of upstaging Barca
Paris St Germain centre-back Thiago Silva says the French club has what it takes to win their Champions League Group F after Tuesday’s decider at Barcelona.
PSG top the group with 13 points, one ahead of Barca, whom they beat 3-2 at home in their first encounter.
The French champions need one point to secure top spot, which Silva is confident they will get.
“It’s a special game and I think we can win at Barcelona or at least get a draw,” the Brazilian international told L’Equipe.
PSG are unbeaten in 22 competitive games this season.
Totti sets sights on scoring record
Francesco Totti turned 38 in September but Roma’s leader still has two burning ambitions before he retires – to lead the capital side to another Serie A title and overtake Silvio Piola as the all-time scorer.
His angry reaction to being substituted during the second half of their home game against Torino last month showed that his passion still runs deep.
“I’d be a liar if I said that I don’t think about it (setting the goal record). I know it won’t be easy, but nobody believed I could have scored as many goals I have,” he told Corriere Dello Sport.
He stands at 237 Serie A goals, 37 short of Piola.
Henry unlikely to play for France
Thierry Henry is unlikely to be given one last taste of international football with France, according to coach Didier Deschamps.
The 37-year-old striker is looking for a new adventure having announced his decision to leave New York Red Bulls, with a return to former club Arsenal in a coaching capacity on the cards.
A campaign by L’Equipe has lobbied for Henry to be given his 124th cap when France face Brazil in a friendly in March by way of a tribute.
Deschamps said: “Titi (Henry) does deserve a tribute but a homage can take many forms.
“He ended his international career four years ago. This game against Brazil is just a friendly, but we are in 2014 and we are playing in March 2015 to prepare for Euro 2016.”
Allardyce wary of former target Bony
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce may live to regret signing Andy Carroll over in-form Swansea striker Wilfried Bony when the east London side host the Welsh club tomorrow.
Allardyce revealed that West Ham bid for Ivory Coast international Bony in 2013 while he was playing for Vitesse Arnhem.
The manager chose to sign Carroll, however, in a £15 million deal from Liverpool instead of the powerful Ivorian, who then completed a move to Wales.
“It was a case of one or the other. We couldn’t do both (deals) with the budget we had,” Allardyce said.
“It’ll be very difficult to contain him (Bony) because he’s in such good form. We’ll have to limit the supply into him from the midfield and wide men.”
Balotelli charged for social media post
Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has been charged by the Football Association for a social media post, the FA said yesterday.
The Italian forward apologised on Tuesday for his Instagram post, subsequently deleted, which appeared to contain potentially racist and anti-Semitic references.
“It is alleged the Liverpool player breached FA Rule E3 in that his posting was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper,” the FA said.
“It is further alleged that this is an ‘Aggravated Breach’ as defined by FA Rule E3 as it included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race and/or nationality and/or religion or belief.”
Balotelli has until December 15 to respond to the charge.
Stramaccioni out to avenge Inter sacking
Inter broke Andrea Stramaccioni’s heart when they sacked him in May 2013 and the Udinese coach will get his chance for revenge when the two teams meet at the San Siro tomorrow.
Udinese go into the game in good spirits after securing a place in the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup with a 4-2 extra-time win over Cesena on Wednesday.
“We are going to the San Siro with our heads high,” said the Udinese boss. “It will be a difficult match because Inter are starting to play better.”
“They are one of the most loved clubs in Italy and I can’t deny that a little piece of my heart is still in Milan,” he said.