Arsenal are prepared for a “grand finale” away to Greek champions Olympiakos Piraeus on December 9 knowing a win by two goals will earn them a place in the Champions League knockout stages for a 16th consecutive year, goalkeeper Petr Cech has said. The Gunners kept their hopes alive by easily beating Croats Dinamo Zagreb thanks to two goals from Alexis Sanchez and another by Mesut Ozil on Tuesday, while Bayern Munich helped them by thrashing rivals Olympiakos 4-0 in Group F. “We did our bit, they (Bayern Munich) did their bit and it is now a grand finale for…
Author: David F.
Bayern Munich have been Champions League title contenders since the season started but Tuesday’s 4-0 impressive victory over Olympiakos which secured a spot in the knockout stage will pose as a serious warning to any challengers, with the Germans in unbelievable form. Bayern have scored a huge 17 goals in four of their five Group F games – more than four per game – as they sealed a spot in the round of 16 with a game to spare following their demolition of the Greek champions in Munich. Three goals in the opening 20 minutes left Olympiakos dazed and Bayern…
Barcelona kept getting three points during Lionel Messi’s injury absence but the fans were still clearly happy to have him back on Tuesday and he rewarded their patience with a messi-esque performance against Roma. The Argentina forward, starting for the first time since he damaged a knee at the end of September, played as if he had never been away in the holders’ 6-1 Champions League Group E drubbing of the Italian side at the Nou Camp, netting a double and generally running the show. The familiar chants of “Messi! Messi! Messi!” rang out around the giant stadium and the…
Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has hailed his teammates for helping him equal Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record of scoring in 10 English Premier League games back to back to back. Vardy, who equaled the former Manchester United striker’s record in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Newcastle United, leads the goalscoring charts with 13 to his name, four ahead of his closest competitor Everton’s Romelu Lukaku. The 28-year-old forward has led Leicester’s unlikely rise to the top of the table, following their impressive winning run to avoid relegation last term, but he said it was a team effort. “It’s about hard work…
Manchester City must know they can win the Champions League, goalkeeper Joe Hart has said, after the English Premier League side qualified for the last 16 with two group games to go. Since 2011-12 season, when City qualified for the Champions League for the first time, they have been knocked out twice in the group stages and have exited the competition in the last 16 by Spanish side Barcelona in the previous two seasons. Compared with the most regular English representatives in the continent’s premier club tournament, the Sky Blues have the worst loss percentage, and by some distance, with…
When Liverpool chose Jurgen Klopp as successor to Brendan Rodgers, very few people had something bad to say. Two statements made since by the new manager carry even more weight. Liverpool looked like a team that had lost its identity and inspiration under Brendan Rodgers, a manager who had almost won their first title in 24 years only 18 months before his dismissal. Since he walked into Anfield, Klopp has improved Liverpool. The home defeat by Crystal Palace was a sharp jab of reality but away wins at Chelsea and now Manchester City have shown what the 48-year-old German is…
Mourinho was sad with the Spain striker’s movement as he struggled to get in the game in the first 45 minutes. Costa, who ended a six-game run without scoring against Norwich on Saturday, completed 90 minutes in Israel. “I was disappointed. I reacted and he reacted too,” said the Portuguese. “At half-time in the dressing room there were a few kisses and a few cuddles.” Chelsea’s victory moved them level on 10 points with Porto at the top of Group G. The two meet in their final group game on 9 December, when a point for Mourinho’s side will be…
“It is not always sunshine,” was Arjen Robben’s vital warning to Memphis Depay regarding life in the Premier League with Manchester United. The Netherlands captain was reacting to recent criticism of his compatriot from both club manager Louis van Gaal and national team coach Danny Blind, which resulted in his omission from both teams. The 31-year-old himself went through the highs and lows of being a precocious talent in the English top flight. At the age of 22, the coveted winger joined Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven – and in three years won two league titles, an FA Cup and three…
“A perfect scenario is that we win, I score three goals and everyone chants my name after the match,” he said. Ibrahimovic, 34, was born in Malmo and played for the club between 1999 and 2001. PSG need a victory to secure qualification from Group A. Ibrahimovic has never before returned to Malmo to play a competitive game with a club side and, with tickets scarce, he arranged for the game to be shown on a big screen in the city’s main square, Stortorget. “When the draw was made, I called Malmo FF directly and said ‘Book Stortorget,'” he said.…
Terry , 34, was stretched off in the 72nd minute of Chelsea’s 4-0 win at Maccabi Tel Aviv. “The surface was bad and dangerous,” Mourinho said. “For John to leave the pitch with the score at 1-0, I know already that he is in trouble.” Mourinho who already lost midfielder Ramires to an injury sustained while training at the Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa on Monday criticised the “very bad” pitch before Tuesday’s match kicked off. The surface appeared to cut up heavily throughout the game, with Mourinho replacing a large divot near his technical area at one point. “My…
The Gunners’ 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, coupled with Bayern Munich’s 4-0 thrashing of Olympiakos, means a 2-0 victory or any win by scoring three goals will see Arsenal through to the knockout phase. Wenger said: “We had to come out of this game with a chance and we have done that – now let’s make right what we didn’t do right until now.” Arsenal were defeated 3-2 by Olympiakos at home and are in a bad position after losing their away games to Dinamo Zagreb and Bayern. Wenger added: “We had to do our…
J Lo partied with former boyfriend Sean Diddy Combs at her AMA’s after party which was sponsored by Diddy’s Ciroc. J Lo, 46, looked in high spirits as she danced the night away in company of boyfriend, Casper Smart after her AMA appearance where she made ten wardrobe changes.
Caitlyn Jenner and ex Kris Jenner were both spotted spending time together in New Orleans, Louisiana while shooting footage for I Am Cait. The 66-year-old former Olympian and his 60-year-old ex were standing on a balcony, participating in the Bourbon Street tradition of throwing beads. They were both also filmed in several bars while in the French Quarter. Kris Jenner went back home to Los Angeles Monday morning.
Super talented actor and film maker, Desmond Elliot and Ghanian actress, Jackie Appiah are the latest celebrities to endorse ‘The Dream Center’. The two celebrities attest to the fact that the events center is the perfect destination for weddings, birthdays, Dinners, seminars, conferences and any other event in and around Makurdi, the Benue State Capital. The Dream Center situated in the serene GRA area of Makurdi has been in high demand since it opened for business. The events center was opened in grand style at a special event held earlier this year which had the wife of the Benue state…
Shockingly, Linda Ikeji has been named amongst Top 100 people in Africa. Also on the list by the New Africa magazine are President Buhari and former president Goodluck Jonathan, Lupita Nyong’o, Trevor Noah, Dangote and many more..
Nicki Minaj’s ex-boyfriend Safaree, who continues claiming he wrote her raps, yesterday took credit for her American Music Award wins for Favorite Hip-Hop Album for The Pink Print and Favorite Hip-Hop Artist.
About a month ago, the popular Nollywood Actress & Singer, Dayo Amusa released the song titled ‘Aiye Mi’ featuring Oritsefemi, which is a cool song, an early candidate for “hit” status. On Saturday, the 21st of November, Dayo shot the video for the song on a lovely location, and extremely endearing costumes, and it got the creative touch of talented video director, HG2 Films. See the pics after the cut… Styled by: Angels Touch & Johnsang Make Over by: Certified_CrownCold_Makeover View pictures from the video shoot with stellar guest appearances, such as; Faithia Balogun Williams, Dami’ Adenuga, Odunlade Adekola, Bimbo…
Olympique Lyonnais were out from all European competitions when Kalifa Coulibaly’s last-gasp goal gave Gent a 2-1 win at the Stade de Gerland in a Champions League Group H game on Tuesday. The Malian international Coulibaly headed home five minutes into injury time after Jordan Ferri’s early opener for Lyon had been cancelled out by Danijel Milicevic in the first half of a lively game. Lyon are last in Group H with just one point and cannot now qualify for the Europa League as they lie five points adrift of third-placed Valencia, who lost 2-0 at Zenit St Petersburg as…
A blip by Iker Casillas helped Dynamo Kiev seal a 2-0 win away to Porto in the Champions League which threw Group G wide open on Tuesday and left the hosts in danger of missing out on the knockout stage. Andriy Yarmolenko put the Ukrainian champions ahead with a first-half penalty before the former Real Madrid goalkeeper completely misjudged a weak Derlis Gonzalez shot in the 64th minute. The Paraguayan forward, under pressure and being forced wide by Giannelli Imbula, managed to get in a seemingly harmless shot which Casillas tried to punch away with one hand, only to see…
Suarez easily tapped home the opener and then Messi finished off a sublime move, before Suarez volleyed in his second. Gerard Pique made it 4-0 from close range and Messi rounded it off with another. Adriano smashed in after Neymar had his penalty saved before Edin Dzeko headed in the consolation in stoppage time. Former Manchester City forward Dzeko also headed over from close range and had a penalty saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.