Bayern Munich enter December seven points clear in the Bundesliga and seemingly certain of another German title despite another six months left in the season. . It may seem simplistic to suggest Bayern already have their 25th German league title in the bag with November barely over. . But Pep Guardiola’s Bavarian giants are on course to beat last season’s record of winning the title with seven games to spare and it will take an exceptional performance by one of their rivals to bridge the gap. . At the same stage last year, Bayern had a four-point lead, compared to…
Author: David F.
Majeed Waris wants the Black Stars to use the 2015 Afcon to wipe the shame from Brazil. . The fiasco of the nation at the global showpiece was well documented and Ghanaians are still embarrassed by it. . Majeed Waris wants the Black Stars to use the 2015 Afcon to wipe the shame from Brazil. . The fiasco of the nation at the global showpiece was well documented and Ghanaians are still embarrassed by it. . The diminutive striker who broke his 13-month goal duck with the opener for Ghana in the 3-1 win over Togo last Wednesday would be…
Borussia Dortmund are last in the Bundesliga after their latest defeat on Sunday and the champions in 2011 and 2012 will hope that having finally hit the bottom, they can only go up from their current position. . Borussia Dortmund may sit top of Champions League Group D but Sunday’s latest domestic loss has left them bottom of the Bundesliga. . “The middle of the relegation battle,” was how sport director Michael Zorc chose to describe Dortmund’s situation following the 2-0 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt. . The Dortmund homepage, cataloguing their misery, pointed out that never before had the side…
Valencia will hand out a life ban when they identify the fan who hit Barcelona forward Lionel Messi on the head with a plastic bottle, the club said on Monday. . Messi was celebrating Barca’s 94th-minute winner with his teammates near the corner flag at the Mestalla stadium on Sunday when someone threw the bottle from the stands. . To add insult to injury the Argentina captain was then booked for time wasting. . Messi was examined by a member of Barca’s medical staff after the final whistle and did not appear to be hurt, giving the thumbs-up as he…
It would take an “astronomical fee” for Swansea City to part with in-form Ivory Coast forward Wilfried Bony, manager Gary Monk said on Monday. . The 25-year-old has scored 18 Premier League goals in 2014, two more than his nearest rivalSergio Aguero, and has helped the Welsh team climb to eighth in the table with six goals in his last seven appearances. . According to media reports, Bony was a target for Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspurduring the close-season but he remained at the Liberty Stadium and last month signed a one-year contract extension that ties him to the club…
Manchester City star Yaya Toure has insisted criticism of his performances won’t distract him from concentrating on helping the champions overhaul leaders Chelsea in the Premier League title race. . Ivory Coast midfielder Toure scored the opening goal with a typical 20-yard strike as City leapfrogged Southampton into second place with a 3-0 win at the Saints’ St Mary’s Stadium on Sunday. . City are now six points adrift of Chelsea heading into their trip to Sunderland on Wednesday. . The 31-year-old Toure has had a difficult few months, including having to cope with the death of his brother, but…
Manchester City star Yaya Toure has insisted criticism of his performances won’t distract him from concentrating on helping the champions overhaul leaders Chelsea in the Premier League title race. . Ivory Coast midfielder Toure scored the opening goal with a typical 20-yard strike as City leapfrogged Southampton into second place with a 3-0 win at the Saints’ St Mary’s Stadium on Sunday. . City are now six points adrift of Chelsea heading into their trip to Sunderland on Wednesday. . The 31-year-old Toure has had a difficult few months, including having to cope with the death of his brother, but…
Neymar’s dad and agent told a Spanish court investigating alleged tax fraud in his son’s signing by Barcelona that the player rejected a much higher offer from Real Madrid of €150 million. . Barcelona initially said the signing of the 22-year-old player from Brazilian side Santos in May 2012 cost them €57.1 million. . But after questions were raised about the deal by a Barcelona club member, the club in January revealed the deal was worth €86.2 million when including the player’s signing bonus, commission, marketing deals and other agreements. . The club member, Jordi Cases, accused former Barcelona president…
Lionel Messi is not thinking about breaking Telmo Zarra’s La Liga scoring record of 251 goals despite having closed to within three of the former Athletic Bilbao and Spain forward. . Four-times World Player of the Year Messi has scored five times in Spain’s top flight this season, including two against Granada last weekend, taking his overall tally to 248, and has a chance to add to his haul in Saturday’s match at Rayo Vallecano. . “Right now I am not thinking about the record,” Messi said at a promotional event in Barcelona on Thursday. . “But it is nice…
Brazil international Dani Alves is planning to leave Barcelona at the end of this season and join an English club, the fullback said on Wednesday. . “I am moving to England next year,” he told Rio de Janeiro’s O Globo newspaper. “I am going to play in the cradle of football. This will be my last year at Barcelona.” . He did not say which club he might join or why he wanted to leave the Spanish giants. . The 31-year old joined Barcelona in 2008 and has won four La Liga crowns and two Champions League titles.
Frustrated Arsenal winger Lukas Podolski hinted on Thursday he might leave the Premier League club before his contract expires in 2016 because he was not playing enough. . “I am a full blooded player, a street player and I love competition,” the 29-year-old told RTL television. . “If I don’t have this competition every weekend then a change must occur.” . Podolski, who has scored 47 goals for Germany in 118 internationals, joined the London club in 2012. . He was not involved in the opening four matches of the season following Germany’s successful World Cup in Brazil, and has…
Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema has many detractors in Spain and in his native France but scoring important goals like his winner in Wednesday’s Champions League game at Ludogorets will help silence them. . Benzema’s critics say he should be a lot more prolific, while his supporters, including Real president Florentino Perez and coach Carlo Ancelotti, highlight his work for the team, which they say often goes unnoticed. . The 26-year-old came off the bench in the second half in Sofia and his strike 13 minutes from time to make it 2-1 helped Real complete a comeback from a goal…
Atletico Madrid can repeat last season’s successes if they maintain the same intensity and work rate that helped secure a 1-0 win at home to Juventus in Champions League Group A, according to fullback Juanfran. . With an unspectacular squad fuelled by fierce commitment and self-belief, Atletico won their first La Liga title in 18 years in 2013-14 and were pipped in the final of Europe’s elite club competition by Real Madrid. . Wednesday’s Group A victory over Italian champions Juventus at the Calderon again showcased Atletico’s ability to fluster illustrious opponents with their pressing game. . It was also…
Arsenal fans appear to have found a new god to worship after Danny Welbeck smashed home a hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Galatasaray last night. . Welbeck completed a £16million move from Manchester United on transfer deadline day last month and has since impressed at the Emirates. . But, if the FA are to be believed, he’s still a Manchester United player. Is he loan at Arsenal? If he is then a £16million loan fee is a bit excessive, don’t you think? . Either way, at least he’s scoring goals for Arsenal. Which is more than what can be…
The teenager moved to Old Trafford from Southampton for £27m in the summer but has so far only started one game – last weekend against West Ham – due to various fitness concerns. . United are suffering something of an injury crisis in defence at present, meaning that Shaw will likely be needed to start against Everton on Sunday, and the England international has revealed he held talks with Neville prior to his move. . “I speak to him and we chatted a lot at the World Cup finals in Brazil,” Shaw told the Daily Mirror. . “Obviously, at that…
Manchester United’s injury woes show no sign of abating with Ander Herrera facing the prospect of up to six weeks out with a fractured rib. . The Spaniard came off in the second half of the 2-1 victory against West Ham at Old Trafford and was assessed by United’s medical staff. . United said in a statement on their official website that they will “monitor his progress over the next few weeks”.
Manchester United have been sent crashing back down to earth after a comeback from City saw them lose a seemingly comfortable tie 5-3. United were 3-1 up after Ander Herrera’s 53rd minute goal and seemingly cruising – but goals from David Nugent, Esteban Cambiasso, Jamie Vardy and Leonardo Ulloa saw City complete a fantastic and memorable victory. . But that does not tell the whole story. United’s capitulation was inexcusable but so was the abysmal refereeing display from Clattenburg. . He failed to award a foul before then giving a penalty against the Brazilian who was rtightly feeling aggrieved. He…
Manchester United have been sent crashing back down to earth after a comeback from Leicester City saw them lose a seemingly comfortable tie 5-3. United were 3-1 up after Ander Herrera’s 53rd minute goal and seemingly cruising – but goals from David Nugent, Esteban Cambiasso, Jamie Vardy and Leonardo Ulloa saw Leicester City complete a fantastic and memorable victory. . But that does not tell the whole story. United’s capitulation was inexcusable but so was the abysmal refereeing display from Mark Clattenburg. . He failed to award Rafael a foul before then giving a penalty against the Brazilian who was…
Manchester United interim manager Ryan Giggs says Phil Jones and Wayne Rooney will both be fit to play for England at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil. . United defender Jones, 22, injured his shoulder in Tuesday’s 3-1 win against Hull, while forward Rooney, 28, has had a minor groin problem. . England manager Roy Hodgson will name a provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup on Monday. . On Rooney, Giggs said: “He is training and will be fine for the World Cup.” . The Welshman added: “He has just started over the last couple of days. Sunday is…
Rodgers is set to put pen to paper on a new deal once the title challengers have completed the season. . “I’ve obviously been in discussions with the club and there’s the framework of a deal in place,” said Rodgers. . “But I’ve always said it will be the end of the season. I want nothing to detract from what has been a great season for ourselves.” . The new contract rewards Rodgers for transforming Liverpool into Manchester City’s closest rivals for the Premier League title after finishing seventh last season. . Having let slip a 3-0 lead at Crystal…