REAL MADRID 1 - 0 ATLETICO MADRID [CHAMPIONS LEAGUE]

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Saturday, 18 April 2015

Levante 2 - 2 Espanyol [La Liga]

La Liga strugglers Levante failed to give their survival hopes a major boost as they required a late Victor Casadesus equaliser to salvage a 2-2 draw with Espanyol.  The Valencia-based outfit went into the match level on points with 18th-placed Almeria, aiming to put daylight between themselves and the relegation zone.  However, the hosts rarely looked capable of stealing all three points, as Espanyol forced them to come from behind...

Nantes 1 - 0 Marseille

Marseille’s faltering Ligue 1 title challenge suffered a potentially fatal blow after a huge defensive blunder gifted Nantes a 1-0 win on Friday.  Togolese attacker Serge Gakpe profited from Rod Fanni’s dreadful back-pass attempt to give the hosts the lead after 20 minutes and Marcelo Bielsa’s out-of-form side could not find a way back, meaning they could find themselves 10 points from the summit on Sunday.  The visitors had their chances...

Eintracht Frankfurt 0 - 0 Borussia Moenchengladbach [Bundesliga]

There were chances aplenty but no goals at the Commerzbank Arena as Borussia Monchengladbach spurned the opportunity to move five points clear in third, with Eintracht Frankfurt holding firm.  Lucien Favre’s men were seeking a fifth Bundesliga win in a row, which would have given them breathing space in the final automatic qualification spot for the UEFA Champions League.  The hosts have European aspirations of their own, with the Europa...

Professional Football League (LFP) Reduce Zlatan Ibrahimovic ban to three matches

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has seen his suspension for a foul-mouthed rant reduced to three matches by the Professional Football League (LFP).  The Paris Saint-Germain striker was initially handed a four-game ban for comments towards a referee following a Ligue 1 defeat to Bordeaux, a decision that was criticised by his club.  Ibrahimovic appeared to say: “[I’ve] played 15 years I’ve never seen a referee this s*** country. Don’t even deserve...

Manuel Pellegrini:Yaya Toure to stay at City despite questionable recent performances and persistent rumours regarding a move to Inter

Manuel Pellegrini says he will keep faith with Yaya Toure despite questionable recent performances and persistent rumours regarding a move to Inter.  The Ivorian’s nosedive in form has coincided with City’s stuttering results of late, adding to speculation he could link up with former manager Roberto Mancini at San Siro.  However, Pellegrini refused to criticise the midfielder and said Toure still had a key role to play at the club....

Brendan Rodgers says striker Daniel Sturridge will be given every opportunity to get fit for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final clash

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says striker Daniel Sturridge will be given every opportunity to get fit for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final clash with Aston Villa.  The England international has had an injury-disrupted season, making just seven Premier League starts so far.  After playing 85 minutes as Liverpool picked up a 1-0 win at Blackburn Rovers in their quarter-final replay on April 8, Sturridge was forced to sit out Monday’s league...

ALL EYES ON GERRARD FOR LIVERPOOL FA CUP SEMI-FINAL

The spotlight will be firmly fixed on Steven Gerrard when Liverpool and Aston Villa meet on Sunday at Wembley for a place in the FA Cup final.   Liverpool’s talismanic captain is available for selection for this weekend’s semi-final after serving a three-match ban following his uncharacteristic moment of madness against arch-rivals Manchester United.   Gerrard was sent off just 38 seconds after his introduction as a half-time substitute...

Mourinho plays down United injury worries:Manchester United will not be hindered by their injury problems

Jose Mourinho insists Manchester United will not be hindered by their injury problems at the back when they visit his Chelsea side on Saturday.  United travel to Stamford Bridge without Daley Blind, Phil Jones (both ankle), Michael Carrick (calf) and Marcos Rojo (stomach) following setbacks suffered in their 4-2 win over Manchester City last Sunday.  Those absentees mean that one of Tyler Blackett or Paddy McNair is likely to partner...

Manchester City could be without captain Vincent Kompany for the remainder of the season due to muscle injury

Manchester City could be without captain Vincent Kompany for the remainder of the season, manager Manuel Pellegrini has revealed.  The Belgium international hurt a thigh during the 4-2 derby defeat at Manchester United last Sunday and a prognosis on the defender’s recovery is not yet forthcoming.  “Kompany has a muscle injury – we don’t know how long he’ll be out for. We don’t know if he will be fit before the end of the season,” explained...

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta will miss Saturday’s clash with Valencia after picking up an injury in the UEFA Champions League

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta will miss Saturday’s clash with Valencia after picking up an injury in the UEFA Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain.  The midfielder was withdrawn early in the second half of Barca’s quarter-final first leg victory at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.  He was later confirmed to have suffered heavy bruising to his pelvic region, with coach Luis Enrique revealing the 30-year-old is all but...

Van Gaal searching for answer to United injury problem

Louis van Gaal faces an injury crisis ahead of Manchester United’s crucial Premier League clash with leaders Chelsea on Saturday.   Daley Blind, Phil Jones (both ankle), Michael Carrick (calf) and Marcos Rojo (stomach) have been ruled out after suffering setbacks during United’s derby victory over Manchester City last Sunday.  United travel to Stamford Bridge one point behind second-placed Arsenal – who are in FA Cup semi-final action...

Atletico join chase for Dybala having managed 13 goals and 9 assists 29 Serie A matches

Spanish champions Atletico Madrid have taken a keen interest in Palermo striker Paulo Dybala, according to AS.  Los Colchoneros aim to further reinforce the front line in the summer and they have made the Argentine forward their primary target.  AS has suggested that Dybala’s agents are set to hold a meeting with Atletico Madrid officials as the La Liga side aim to lure the highly rated footballer to Vicente Calderon in the summer....

Benzema to miss Malaga clash due to a knee complaint.

Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Real Madrid will be without the services of Karim Benzema for Saturday’s La Liga game with Malaga, although the striker will return for the second leg of his side’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid.  Reports in Spain claimed that the France international – who was pictured with heavy strapping to his right leg – was forced to withdraw from Friday’s training session due to a knee...

Pep Guardiola has reiterated that he expects to remain at Bayern Munich next season despite the resignation of the club doctor.

Pep Guardiola has reiterated that he expects to remain at Bayern Munich next season despite the resignation of the club doctor.  Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt announced his decision to step down on Thursday due to a break in the “bond of trust”, having claimed his medical team were made responsible for Bayern’s 3-1 UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg loss to Porto on Wednesday.  Muller-Wohlfahrt, who also serves as doctor for...

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew says Bolasie is worth double the $19.2 million price-tag slapped on him by Liverpool.

 Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew  says Bolasie is worth double the $19.2 million price-tag slapped on him by Liverpool. Bolasie, who scored an 11-minute hat-trick in Palace's 4-1 away win at Sunderland last week, has been linked with a $19.2 million transfer to English Premier League rival Liverpool.  The Democratic Republic of Congo international has also been touted as a potential target for Tottenham.  But Pardew said of...

Manchester United and Arsenal battle for Higuain

Arsenal and Manchester United are both set to move for Napoli forward Gonzalo Higuain this summer, according to Talkspot.  The 27 year old, who has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League in the past, has been in Italy for the past two seasons having signed for Rafael Benitez’s side from Real Madrid.  He has made ninety-three appearances for the Serie A side, and scored his forty-eighth goal for them in their 4-1 Europa...

Friday, 17 April 2015

A Newcastle United supporters’ group has finalised plans to boycott Sunday’s Premier League fixture with Tottenham at St James’ Park.

A Newcastle United supporters’ group has finalised plans to boycott Sunday’s Premier League fixture with Tottenham at St James’ Park.  The group, known as AshleyOut.com, have been quick to back the planned protest against owner Mike Ashley that snowballed on Twitter in recent weeks.  As well as a frustration at how the side are stuttering to the end of another disappointing season, sections of Newcastle’s support have grown weary at...

Newcastle United set £10m for Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin bid

Newcastle United are lining up a £10m bid for Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin, according to the Metro.  The North East club are keen on securing a deal for the England U21 international, and believe that completing such a deal could help them in their attempts to lure ex-England manager Steve McClaren from Championship promotion hopefuls Derby County.  Austin, who was playing non-league football just six years ago is on the...

Bayern Munich have confirmed the resignation of club doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt following their 3-1 UEFA Champions League defeat to Porto.

Muller-Wohlfahrt revealed on Thursday that he had stepped down from his position, citing a break in “the bond of trust” after feeling his medical team were blamed for injury-ravaged Bayern’s quarter-final first-leg reverse at Estadio do Dragao.  And a statement on Bayern’s official website read: “FC Bayern Munich notes with regret the decision of chief medical officer Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt [72] to resign his medical duties at the...

Ancelotti:Nobody has called me from Manchester City

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has quelled talk he will leave the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season.  The Italian has seen his future become the subject of discussion in recent weeks with his contract due to expire at the end of the next season.  Premier League champions Manchester City have been credited with an interest in the former Milan boss and Ancelotti says that while his future remains somewhat unclear, he is planning...

The Brazil international Oscar happy at Chelsea

photo via:THENET Chelsea F.C. midfielder Oscar has insisted he has no plans to leave Stamford Bridge amid reports suggesting Jose Mourinho is ready to listen to offers for the player.  The Brazil international, who joined Chelsea from Brasileirão side Internacional for a fee of around £20 million in the summer of 2012, has tallied six goals and seven assists in 26 English Premier League appearances for the Blues this season.  However,...

Jeffrey Webb re-elected as CONCACAF president for a second term

photo via:news power fm Jeffrey Webb was thankful after being re-elected as CONCACAF president for a second term on Thursday.  Webb took over as president in 2012 and will continue in that role, with reports saying he was re-elected unopposed.  The 50-year-old from the Cayman Islands was delighted to be given the opportunity to continue as president.  “Thank you for allowing me to represent you for another term,” Webb tweeted.  “I...

Club Brugge captain Timmy Simons was pleased with a clean sheet after his team drew the home first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final with Dnipro.

Club Brugge captain Timmy Simons was pleased with a clean sheet after his team drew the home first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final with Dnipro.  Both teams passed up chances to break the deadlock but Brugge’s Mathew Ryan found himself to be the busiest goalkeeper during the closing stages.  Brugge are competing for an unprecedented treble as they lie top of the Belgian top flight having won the domestic cup in March, and...

Khouma Babacar is confident Fiorentina can go on to win the UEFA Europa League after his injury-time goal earned a 1-1 draw at Dynamo Kiev

Khouma Babacar is confident Fiorentina can go on to win the UEFA Europa League after his injury-time goal earned a 1-1 draw at Dynamo Kiev in Thursday’s quarter-final first-leg tie.  Jeremain Lens’ deflected first-half opener appeared as though it would be enough for Kiev to take the advantage back to Florence next week.  However, substitute Babacar showed great athleticism to flick the ball over his head from close range in the 92nd...

United States 2-0 Mexico

The United States claimed a 2-0 win over Mexico in an international friendly in Texas on Wednesday.  Goals from Jordan Morris and Juan Agudelo in the second half saw the US to their victory at the Alamodome.  Jurgen Klinsmann’s team were mostly the better side throughout in San Antonio, and they were rewarded after the break.  Both teams were below full strength and it showed for large parts, with neither particularly able to get...

Chelsea close to signing Brazilian youngster Nathan

Chelsea are closing in on the signing of Brazilian youngster Nathan, according to reports from The Telegraph.   The 19-year-old is considered as one of several exciting young talents in Brazil and he is now expected at Chelsea on Wednesday to discuss a £4.5m transfer move.  Reports suggest that Nathan has arrived in London for a medical after being granted permission by his present club, Atletico Paramaense, to discuss personal terms....

Thursday, 16 April 2015

Sevilla 2 - 1 Zenit St. Petersburg [Europa League]

Carlos Bacca and Denis Suarez came off the bench to score as Sevilla's inspired substitutions saw it come from behind to beat Zenit 2-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final. The reigning champion fell behind to Alexander Ryazantsev's 29th-minute opener at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Thursday (Friday AEST) and for a long while looked set to face the prospect of having to overhaul a deficit in Russia next week.  Unai...

Dynamo Kyiv 1 - 1 Fiorentina [Europa League]

Khouma Babacar stepped off the bench to score a dramatic late leveller and earn Fiorentina a precious away goal in a 1-1 UEFA Europa League quarter-final first-leg draw at Dynamo Kiev. It appeared as though Fiorentina's wastefulness would prove costly as Jeremain Lens's deflected effort put the host side into a 1-0 half-time lead.  But Babacar, who replaced Mario Gomez in the 77th minute, provided a neat overhead finish in the second minute...

Club Brugge 0 - 0 Dnipro [Europa League]:Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan made key saves as his Club Brugge side and Dnipro played out an entertaining goalless draw in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final at the Jan Breydel Stadium.

Michel Preud'homme's side is chasing an unprecedented treble as it sits at the top of its domestic league having already won the Belgian Cup against Anderlecht last month.  But it will have to retain its interest in continental glory with a positive result in Ukraine next week, against an opponent which produced the sharper work this time out.  Dnipro enjoyed the better of the first half, although Jose Izquierdo should have given Brugge...

Wolfsburg 1 - 4 Napoli [Europa League]:Napoli gave Rafael Benitez the perfect birthday present with a stunning away performance to beat VfL Wolfsburg 4-1 in the UEFA Europa League.

Goals from Gonzalo Higuain, Manolo Gabbiadini and Marek Hamsik, who scored twice, put the Italian side firmly in control of its quarter-final, and gave Benitez plenty to celebrate on his 55th birthday.  Higuain broke the deadlock with a contentious strike after 15 minutes, before turning provider for Hamsik to double Napoli's advantage in the first half.  Hamsik then added a second just after the hour following calamitous defending...

Fenerbahce returned to action 12 days after the team bus was attacked by a gunman and claimed a 4-1 victory over Mersin Idmanyurdu in the Turkish Cup

Ismail Kartal's side has not played since their 5-1 Super Lig victory over Rizespor on April 4, when several shots were aimed at the front of its team bus after the match.  As a result the whole league program was suspended last weekend to allow a full investigation, while the Cup quarter-final was also rescheduled.  On its return to playing, Fener made a superb start as Dirk Kuyt netted twice before the break, with Hasan-Ali Kaldirim...

Celtic 4-1 Kilmarnock

Celtic came from a goal down to see off Kilmarnock 4-1 on Wednesday with Leigh Griffiths scoring a hat-trick to send his side eight points clear at the summit.  After Kris Commons cancelled out Darryl Westlake’s opener at Celtic Park, substitute Griffiths took his league tally to nine for the season with a 20-minute treble.  Westlake looked to have put Kilmarnock on course to end a three-match losing run in the Premiership when his...

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

PSG 1 - 3 Barcelona [Champions League]

A quickfire brace from Luis Suarez put Barcelona on course for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals as they claimed a comfortable 3-1 first-leg advantage in their quarter-final meeting with Paris Saint-Germain.  After Neymar’s 18th-minute strike had given the Catalan giants an important away goal at the Parc des Princes, Suarez scored twice in 12 second-half minutes to help Barca put one foot in the last four.  Having nutmegged substitute...

Porto 3 - 1 Bayern Munich [Champions League]

Porto took advantage of a host of defensive errors to stun Bayern Munich and prevail 3-1 in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg.  Bayern, winners in 2013, came into Wednesday’s clash at the Estadio do Dragao as favourites, but a trio of mistakes at the back leaves them with it all to do at the Allianz Arena next week.  In a dramatic start to proceedings, Ricardo Quaresma took full advantage of two glaring errors from...

Lyon 2 - 0 Bastia

Mohamed Yattara and Alexandre Lacazette were on target in Lyon’s 2-0 win over Bastia on Wednesday as Hubert Fournier’s side returned to the top of Ligue 1.  Lyon – capitalising on previous leaders Paris Saint-Germain being in UEFA Champions League action – eventually broke down a stubborn Bastia defence in a victory that saw Clement Grenier make his long-awaited return from injury.  The hosts were frustrated for much of the first half...

Dagenham midfielder Joss Labadie has been banned for six months by the Football Association (FA) after being found guilty of biting for a second time.

 Banks took to Twitter to show the bite mark he recieved during Chesterfield's Dagenham and Redbridge midfielder Joss Labadie has been banned for six months by the Football Association (FA) after being found guilty of biting for a second time.  The 24-year-old was charged by the FA after claims that he bit Stevenage defender Ronnie Henry in a League Two encounter last month.  Labadie was banned for 10 games after an independent...

Joel Ward has signed a new contract that will keep him at Crystal Palace until 2018.

Ward has been ever-present during his side's Premier League campaign, with Alan Pardew's men sitting 11th in the top flight.  "I'm really pleased," said Ward. "It's been something that has been talked about a little bit and I'm glad to now put that to the back and just concentrate with my football and I'm delighted to have signed the deal.  "The relationship with the gaffer and the club helped. I'm excited for what the next few years...

Genoa 2 - 0 Parma

Parma remain 13 points from safety with just eight Serie A matches remaining after Wednesday’s 2-0 reverse at Genoa.  The fixture, originally due to take place in early March, was rescheduled amid Parma’s financial woe, with goals from Iago Falque and Leonardo Pavoletti lifting Genoa up to seventh in the table.  Parma had enjoyed rare success in the last week, with a 1-0 win over Udinese followed up by a shock victory by the same margin...

Borussia Dortmund head coach Jurgen Klopp would end his tenure at the end of the season.

Klopp will leave the Bundesliga giant after seven years in charge.  The 47-year-old had a contract at Signal Iduna Park that ran until 2018, but has been permitted to terminate his deal early.  Klopp stated that the decision was taken because he no longer felt he was the best coach for Dortmund.  "We've both invested a lot and got a lot back. No-one needs to be thankful," he said.  "I've said over the last few years that when...

Real Madrid full-back Dani Carvajal has denied he bit Atlético’s Mario Mandzukic

photo via:WN.COM Real Madrid full-back Dani Carvajal has denied he bit Mario Mandzukic during Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg.  Various Spanish news organisations speculated Carvajal had bitten Mandzukic on the elbow and then punched the Atletico Madrid striker in the abdominal region, citing blurry footage from the Vicente Calderon.  Mandzukic was involved in a number of scuffles against Real, with the Croatian...

Diego Simeone was happy with his side’s response in the second half of their goalless UEFA Champions League draw with Real Madrid

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone was happy with his side’s response in the second half of their goalless UEFA Champions League draw with Real Madrid on Tuesday.  Real dominated the opening 45 minutes at the Vicente Calderon but could not find a way past inspired Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak.  And the repeat of last season’s Champions League final finished 0-0, leaving both sides with everything to play for in next week’s second leg...