Barcelona’s recent strong run is helping the club put a series of off-field problems behind them and suggests they may be starting to move up the gears at exactly the right stage of the season. . Wednesday’s 1-0 King’s Cup quarterfinal, first leg win at home to Atletico Madrid was Barca’s fifth victory in a row since they fell 1-0 at Real Sociedad in La Liga on January 4. . In this period, they have beaten Atletico twice, once in the Cup and once in La Liga, something they failed to achieve in six meetings between the two sides in…
Author: David F.
Yassine Chikhaoui’s glancing header three minutes from time secured Tunisia a 2-1 win over Zambia in their African Nations Cup Group B match at Estadio de Ebebiyin on Thursday. . It gives Tunisia four points and a strong chance to advance to the quarterfinals while Zambia, who were tournament winners in 2012, are in deep peril but have only themselves to blame after missing a host of chances. . Emmanuel Mayuka, who had two good first half opportunities, broke the deadlock on the hour with a rasping shot but will rue heading straight at Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi in the…
Cape Verde and DR Congo played to a goalless stalemate in their Africa Cup of Nations Group B match at Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyin on Thursday night. . The match was one in which the defences were very much on top and the clash of styles – the Leopards’ physicality and directness contrasted with the Blues Sharks’ possession-oriented game – didn’t necessarily make for great entertainment. . With Tunisia having beaten Zambia 2-1 in the evening’s earlier match, the draw in this encounter means the two teams are tied in second place on two points apiece, while the North Africans…
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has joked that he could try to sign Steven Gerrard on loan next season following the former England captain’s departure from Liverpool. . Gerrard has agreed to sign for MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy in the United States. When asked if he would try to persuade Gerrard to stay in the Premier League, Mourinho tells the BBC on Tuesday: “Or perhaps to take him on loan?”, before breaking into laughter. Mourinho, who tried to sign Gerrard in 2005, says “I’m not happy he leaves. I would love the Premier League to keep the best players and…
Newcastle United might wait until the end of the season to appoint a new manager, the Premier League club’s managing director Lee Charnley said. . Alan Pardew left Newcastle after four years in charge to take the helm at struggling Crystal Palace at the beginning of the year. . Caretaker coach John Carver took temporary charge at St James’ Park and has overseen one draw and three defeats in all competitions. . The 50-year-old confirmed he has applied for the job on a permanent basis and urged the club to make a decision on the appointment quickly but Charnley says…
Arsenal have completed the signing of 17-year-old Polish defensive midfielder Krystian Bielik from Legia Warsaw for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday. . The player had a medical at Arsenal last week and moves to the Emirates Stadium in a deal that British media reports have put at around two million pounds. . Bielik, who has been capped for Poland’s under-17s, signed for Legia from their arch rivals Lech Poznan in July. . He has made six appearances in all competitions for the capital club this season. . Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said last week that…
Senegal midfielder Sadio Mane returned to full training on Tuesday raising hopes he could be fit for their next game at the African Nations Cup against South Africa. . Mane was hurt playing for English Premier League side Southampton last month and ruled out of the tournament in Equatorial Guinea by his club manager Ronald Koeman. . But Senegal insisted on picking Mane in their 23-man squad despite him not having fully recovered. . The 22-year-old, one of the stand-out players in the qualifying competition, is now in contention for a place in the team to face the South Africans…
The Ivory Coast needed a second-half equaliser by substitute Seydou Doumbia to rescue a point after Guinea had struck first through Mohammed Yattara in their opening Group D African Cup of Nations (Afcon) game in Malabo. . Ivory Coast were down to ten men when Gervinho was sent off in the second half, but Doumbia lifted their spirits with a well-worked leveller to cancel out Mohammed Yattara’s volleyed goal against the run of play. . As expected Guinea were happy to sit back and allow Ivory Coast to keep the ball and do all the thinking while they looked for…
Ambroise Oyongo netted a late equaliser to secure Cameroon a 1-1 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations Group D match against Mali in Malabo on Tuesday evening. . After a goalless first half, the Eagles broke the deadlock through Sambou Yatabare with just under 20 minutes to play, but the Indomitable Lions equalised in the 84th minute to secure a share of the spoils. . The result leaves all four teams level on one point in Group D, as the earlier match between Ivory Coast and Guinea also ended in a 1-1 draw. . Mali looked the stronger team…
Lionel Messi’s future at Barcelona has been the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks but the Argentina captain showed again on Sunday he is not letting it distract him from what he does best. . Messi followed up a brilliant showing in last weekend’s 3-1 La Liga win at home to champions Atletico Madrid with a hat-trick in a 4-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna which kept Barca hard on the heels of leaders Real Madrid. . Reports have been swirling about a rift between Messi and Luis Enrique, with the four-times World Player of the Year apparently unhappy…
Real Madrid should have Croatia midfielder Luka Modric back from injury in a month’s time, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Sunday, suggesting he could be available for the holders’ Champions League last 16, first leg at Schalke 04. . Modric damaged a thigh muscle in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy in November and his place in the Real starting line-up has been filled by Spain playmaker Isco. . While Isco has performed admirably and is a favourite with the Real fans, Modric’s return will be a welcome boost and his reliable presence adds an extra level of control. .…
Fifa President Sepp Blatter said on Friday he has received personal assurances from Russian President Vladimir Putin that the country’s economic problems will not affect its ability to host the 2018 World Cup. . Blatter said he was “vigilant” about Russia’s economic situation after the ruble lost almost half of its value last year under pressure from the sinking world oil price and international sanctions. . Blatter said he had spoken with Putin during a visit to Russia on Friday and was assured “there is no intention to ask Fifa to change anything in the pattern and the program of…
Former France winger David Ginola will announce on Friday that he is entering the race to become president of world soccer’s governing body Fifa, The Sun reported on Thursday. . But the ex-Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur player has no chance of winning the election and is unlikely to get the required number of nominations to officially enter the race. . Ginola, who turns 48 later this month, will become the third candidate to announce he is standing after fellow Frenchman Jerome Champagne and Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, according to The Sun newspaper’s website (www.thesun.co.uk). . Swiss…
European hopefuls West Ham United moved closer to the Champions League places on Sunday with a 3-0 victory over relegation-threatened Hull City at Upton Park. . The result sent the Hammers up to seventh with 36 points from 22 games, just four behind fourth-placed Manchester United. . After the visitors had battled manfully in the opening period, in-form Andy Carroll opened the scoring for West Ham with a simple finish in the 49th minute. . Substitute Morgan Amalfitano and the impressive Stuart Downing then applied neat finishes within three minutes of each other as West Ham reignited their top-four challenge…
Manchester City coped admirably when leading striker Sergio Aguero was on the treatment table earlier this season but take midfield powerhouse Yaya Toure out of the engine room and the machine starts grinding to a halt. . After a sluggish start to the season Ivory Coast’s Toure was at his marauding best in the final weeks of 2014, scoring six goals in eight games as champions City closed an eight-point gap to Chelsea in the Premier League. . Since he departed for the African Cup of Nations, however, City have lost momentum, drawing 1-1 with Everton last week and on…
A change of tactics reaped rewards as a new, more subdued but more solid Arsenal arrived at Manchester City on Sunday, saw less of the ball than usual yet still masterfully outplayed the champions. . Arsenal registered just 35 percent possession – their lowest total since these statistics were first compiled 11 years ago – yet produced perhaps their finest performance in recent seasons to end their away-day woes against the Premier League elite with a 2-0 win. . At the same Etihad venue last season, Arsenal commanded 48 percent of the ball but in attempting to go toe-to-toe with…
Real Madrid ensured they will top La Liga at the midway point of the season when Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice in a 3-0 win at Getafe on Sunday before Lionel Messi’s hat-trick helped Barcelona win 4-0 at Deportivo La Coruna. . The world’s two best players were once again in scintillating form but champions Atletico Madrid ensured they stayed in the hunt with a 2-0 success at home to bottom club Granada that lifted them back into third place. . Real, who have a game in hand, have 45 points from 18 of 38 matches, with Barca on 44 and…
Arsenal ended their away hoodoo against Premier League title challengers with a 2-0 victory at Manchester City on Sunday that left Chelsea five points clear at the top. . Santi Cazorla gave Arsenal the lead from the penalty spot in the 24th minute, after returning City skipper Vincent Kompany felled Nacho Monreal, and Olivier Giroud doubled the lead in the 67th minute with a deft header from Cazorla’s free kick. . City included fit-again Sergio Aguero in their starting line-up for the first time since early December but the Argentine was largely anonymous against a vastly-improved Arsenal defence. . The…
DR Congo came from a goal behind on Sunday to snatch a 1-1 draw with Zambia in the two sides’ opening Group B match at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Ebebiyin. . The Leopards were the better side throughout despite Zambia taking the early lead through Given Singuluma before Yannick Bolasie equalised after the break. . Singuluma put Zambia ahead in the second minute to give Honour Janza’s side a 1-0 lead going into the break. . The TP Mazembe striker whipped in a rebound after his club-mate Robert Kidiaba parried Rainford Kalaba’s shot that fell at Singuluma’s…
Cape Verde equalised from the penalty-spot to hold fancied Tunisia to a 1-1 draw in their opening Group B clash at the African Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea on Sunday. . Cape Verde had the better of the opening period, but having rode their luck to go into the break goalless, the north Africans took the lead with a neat move finished by Mohamed Moncer at the back-post. . But the lead lasted just seven minutes as Heldon won and then converted a penalty to earn his side a very good point. . Tunisia enjoyed most of the possession in…