Scraping a victory when under pressure is often a sign of backbone in potential title winners and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was delighted his side “dug deep” to beat Newcastle United on Saturday. Laurent Koscielny grabbed the only goal following a corner after 72 nervy minutes at the Emirates Stadium as the Londoners finally found a way past a fired-up Newcastle to go two points clear at the Premier League summit. It was not vintage Arsenal and there was little of the style and incision that typically characterises Wenger’s sides. However, after claiming a fifth win in six league matches,…
Author: David Folami
Barcelona missed the chance to open up a three-point lead at the top of La Liga as they were held 0-0 by local rivals Espanyol in a heated Catalan derby on Saturday. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez hit the woodwork either side of halftime for the visitors, but Espanyol’s physical approach was rewarded with a first point against Barca in eight matches. “The result in general was fair based on what both teams created, although I thought we had a lot of chances,” said Barca boss Luis Enrique. Espanyol committed 22 fouls despite a lenient approach from referee Jose Luis…
Bastian Schweinsteiger acclaimed an “unbelievable” goal by Wayne Rooney after his Manchester United teammate created a piece of history in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Swansea City. With the score 1-1 in the 77th minute, Rooney met Anthony Martial’s left-wing cut-back with an audacious back-heel flick that flew into the top-right corner to earn a United first win in nine games in all competitions. It was his 238th United goal, taking him past Denis Law into second place in the list of all-time United scorers, and his 188th Premier League goal, putting him in second place behind Alan Shearer (260). “It…
Manchester City maintained their Premier League title challenge after ending their away-day blues with a stirring late comeback that saw them win 2-1 at Watford on Saturday. Two goals in as many minutes from talismans Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero kept City in touch at the top of the table when it appeared that they were destined for defeat. Aleksandar Kolarov had headed Ben Watson’s corner into his own net and the visitors were struggling for ideas before Toure and Aguero struck in quick succession to steal victory. It was City’s first win on the road since September 12 and…
Wayne Rooney eased the pressure on Louis van Gaal as the Manchester United captain’s superb backheeled strike secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Swansea City on Saturday. Rooney’s 77th-minute moment of magic took him ahead of Denis Law to become the second-highest goalscorer in United’s history and he is now also the second-highest scorer in the Premier League era with 188 goals. But even more significantly the England forward’s first league goal since October gave United their first win in nine matches and moved them up to fifth place. It was a badly needed three points for United manager Van…
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney rose to second place on the all-time Premier League scoring list with a clever winner against Swansea City on Saturday. The England captain ended a run of 553 minutes without a goal for his club by deftly flicking in Anthony Martial’s cross 13 minutes from time to secure a 2-1 triumph that ended a run of six league games without a victory for Louis van Gaal’s side. Rooney climbed above former United forward Andy Cole with 188 goals following his instinctive finish, behind only Alan Shearer who netted 260 times for Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle…
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is confident the club have the squad to win trophies in 2016. The Spanish giants failed to lift a trophy in 2015, finishing second in La Liga behind Barcelona and eliminated by Juventus in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Madrid are third in La Liga and were thrown out of the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player, with pressure mounting on coach Rafael Benitez. However, Perez remains upbeat about the club’s chances in the second half of the season. “I ask for health for everyone, work, welfare and happiness,” he said in…
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique gave his team just short of a perfect mark for the year as they completed 2015 with a 4-0 win over Real Betis at Camp Nou. Lionel Messi marked his 500th appearance for the club with a goal and Luis Suarez scored a brace after Heiko Westermann’s first-half own goal on Wednesday. The win saw Barca stay top of La Liga to finish a year which saw them win five trophies. But Luis Enrique was unwilling to describe it as perfect as he urged his team to improve on their efforts. “It’s a very good year…
Barcelona “do not need” penalties like the one awarded to Lionel Messi, furious Real Betis president Juan Carlos Ollero said. Messi collided with Betis goalkeeper Antonio Adan and Barca were awarded a spot-kick, which Neymar put onto the crossbar. But the rebound resulted in a Heiko Westermann own goal to put Barca 1-0 up as they went on to record a 4-0 La Liga victory on Wednesday. Ollero was fuming with the decision and said it was one teams like Luis Enrique’s did not need. “I felt a tremendous outrage at the time when the referee decided to draw a…
Nigerian goalkeeper, Chinedu Agwu has died at the age of 30 after battling a protracted illness. According to a reliable report, Agwu, who became famous while with Kaduna United, had battled the illness for a while before he was confirmed dead on Friday, January 1, 2016. Known for his remarkable saves during a penalty shootout between Kaduna United and Enyimba during the Federation Cup in 2010, which the northern-based club won, friends and family members have been thrown into a state of mourning. “Chinedu finally passed out today after a protracted illness,” a family member who identified himself as Chijioke,…
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo allowed a video crew into his £4.8m plush Madrid mansion. Unscriptd Sport cameramen entered the seven room mansion with Ronaldo describing everything to them. The home is located in the La Finca part of Pozuelo de Alarcon – an elite neighbourhood 10km west of the Moncloa District of Madrid. Ronaldo’s Real Madrid teammate Gareth Bale and club legend Zinedine Zidane also stay in that area. The Portugal international showed off his bedroom and his trophy room. While describing his room, he called it ‘one of the most important things in his life’. “I spend nearly…
Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos is hoping for more balance and stability at the club in 2016. The Spanish giants endured a difficult time in 2015, with Rafael Benitez coming in to replace the sacked Carlo Ancelotti. Benitez is the eighth Madrid coach in 10 years, while rivals Barcelona have only changed trainer five times in the same period. Ramos, who has struggled with niggling injuries in 2015-16, is hoping the New Year is a more prosperous one for Madrid and himself. “At a personal level, first I hope injuries treat me well and it’s a year with a good…
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique believes Atletico Madrid have what it takes to challenge for the Liga title right until the end of the season. Diego Simeone’s men sit second in the table, level on 38 points with Barca, who have played a game less, but two clear of Real Madrid. Atleti beat Barcelona and Madrid to the title in 2013-14 and Luis Enrique feels they are genuine contenders this term, too. “I’m sure that Atletico are candidates for the title,” the Barcelona coach said at a news conference. “They’ve already shown how good they are and I’m sure they’ll challenge…
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says he expects Fernando Torres to improve and has backed the misfiring striker to reach the 100-goal mark for the club. Torres has been stuck on 99 goals for Atleti since he last found the net in September but will again go in search of his landmark goal against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday. Simeone’s men resume their La Liga campaign in second place – level on points with Barcelona, having played a game more – and the Argentinian says there is plenty more to come from his squad. “I always expect more from all of…
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has urged his players to be on their guard when they host basement boys Levante in La Liga on Saturday. The 2013-14 champions head into 2016 level on points with current title holders Barcelona at the top of Spain’s top flight. They might have had a slender advantage to their name without a suffering a surprise 1-0 loss at Malaga before Christmas and Simeone is keen to avoid any similar slip-ups. “Levante are an organised team,” he told a pre-match news conference. “If we don’t work as the match requires it will cost us. “For…
As many of you battle with sore heads and croaky voices following last night’s festivities, Toe Poke thought we’d have a little look to see how some of football’s biggest names chose to ring in the New Year. Sadly, it appears they mostly managed it with a whole lot more class and decorum than we did. Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated the onset of the new calendar year by dressing like a 1920s Mississippi riverboat gambler and doling out motivational quotes. On the other side of the Real-Barca divide, Neymar chose to lay on a classy banquet for his nearest and dearest.…
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has said he considers Dimitri Payet to be on the same level as Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil. France international Payet excelled after joining West Ham from Marseille in the summer before suffering an ankle injury in November. However, Bilic has said the 28-year-old should be fit to return to face Liverpool on Saturday and feels the playmaker bears comparison with in-form Germany star Ozil. Asked about Payet, who scored five goals and provided three assists in 12 Premier League games before his injury, Bilic said: “I rate him on the same level as Mesut Ozil. “He…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not be leaving Paris Saint-Germain in January, but his agent Mino Raiola insists the striker would be perfect for the Premier League. Ibrahimovic, 34, has been linked with a move away due to the fact his contract expires at the end of the season. The Swede has attracted attention from MLS and Qatar, while it has also been reported that he could return to Serie A with AC Milan. Yet, while Raiola made it clear his client was not leaving Ligue 1 just yet, the Premier League remains an option. “He will definitely stay with Paris Saint-Germain…
Everton boss Roberto Martinez is wary of the threat posed by “rare” Tottenham striker Harry Kane ahead Spurs’ trip to Goodison Park on Sunday, but he wouldn’t trade his firing Romelu Lukaku for the England international. Kane scored 27 Premier League goals in 2015, eight more than any other player, and after a slow start to this season, he has netted 10 times in as many league games. The Toffees, meanwhile, have conceded seven goals in their last two home games and boast the worst defensive record in the league. Martinez, who believes Spurs are genuine title contenders, is an…
Guus Hiddink has admitted that Cesc Fabregas is no longer an indispensable part of the Chelsea team and may have to be benched against certain opponents. Fabregas has endured a disappointing second season at Stamford Bridge, registering just two goals and three assists in 25 appearances in all competitions, and was booed by Chelsea supporters during a 3-1 win over Sunderland last month amid reports that he, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard had actively worked to ensure the departure of former manager Jose Mourinho. The Spain international made 47 appearances in all competitions under Mourinho last season as Chelsea surged…