..::Football II::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Montpellier 1-2 Arsenal: Podolski and Gervinho get Gunners off to flying start in France

Two goals in as many first-half minutes saw Arsenal triumph 2-1 over Montpellier in their Champions League opener.

The Ligue 1 champion went ahead through an audacious penalty after just eight minutes, before two goals in as many minutes saw the game switch in the Gunners’ favor as first Podolski and then Gervinho showed good composure to give their side the lead at the break.

Abou Diaby, Vito Mannone and former La Paillade striker Olivier Giroud returned to the Arsenal starting lineup in three changes from the team which comfortably beat Southampton 6-1 at the weekend, as Montpellier made six changes from the team which lost 3-1 to newly promoted Stade de Reims.

In an intimidating start in Stade de la Mosson - where the remnants of a multitude of pre-match flares floated menacingly over the pitch - the Champions League debutant was handed a foothold in the game when Thomas Vermaelen’s clumsy challenge upended Belhanda inside the area. The Moroccan international picked himself up and dinked a cheeky penalty past the helpless Mannone for his club’s first goal in the competition.

The lead did not last long - just seven minutes in fact - as slack defending allowed Santi Cazorla and Giroud to combine and play in Podolski for a neat finish from 16 yards.Arsenal took the lead just two minutes later when another fantastically well-worked goal.

Started and finished by Gervinho - who has been excelling in a more advance role by Wenger this season - the Ivorian set Carl Jenkinson free down the left before ghosting past more halfhearted defending from the home side to collect the left back’s low cross and tuck the ball past Geoffrey Jourdren.Responding impressively after going behind, Arsenal looked dangerous on every building attack whereas, at the other end of the pitch, their French opponent was having to make do with pot-shots from distance.

Aside the clever through-ball for Podolski’s equalizer, Giroud was not having the most successful of returns to his old club – much industry but little end product, which was summed up by a twisting run into the area before flashing the shot from 12 yards past the near post in the final action of the first half.

Montpellier came out stronger after the break and was almost gifted another goal when Diaby tried to trick his way out of trouble in his own penalty area and allow Remy Cabella to pinch the ball off him but fire high and wide.

The home team upped the ante and again went close when Cabella spotted Mannone off his line and attempted a glorious chip from over 25 yards that thwacked off the deputizing goalkeeper’s bar and into touch.In an attempt to make up for his earlier mishap, Diaby embarked on a surging run just after the hour mark that took him past three Montpellier players before feeding Cazorla for a stinging drive that Jourdren could only push away.

As the game entered the final stages the French outfit showed the much-needed urgency that lacked throughout the majority of the game and it was that man Belhanda who was the fulcrum.
That was no more evident than when the attacking midfielder switched the play out to the right before receiving the ball inside the area, skipping past the feet of Per Mertesacker, but soon had his head in his hands after hitting his shot straight at Mannone from eight yards.

His side's chances of victory evaporated along with the smoke from those simmering flares.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Real Madrid 3-2 Manchester City: Ronaldo rocking again as Mancini’s men sink to Bernabeu defeat

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning goal in the 90th minute as Real Madrid secured a 3-2 victory against Manchester City after an incredible second half at the Santiago Bernabeu.

All five goals were scored in the final 21 minutes. Edin Dzeko and Aleksandar Kolarov twice gave Manchester City the lead but Real Madrid equalized twice thanks to goals from Marcelo and Karim Benzema.

Dzeko came off the bench to give the visitors the lead after a surging run from midfield from Toure, but Marcelo quickly replied with a curling shot.

The home supporters were left stunned when Kolarov's free kick drifted untouched into the bottom corner of Iker Casillas' goal but Benzema again pulled Madrid back with a sublime turn and finish.

And Ronaldo ensured that Jose Mourinho's team put their early season woes behind them with a dipping shot that flew past both Vincent Kompany and Joe Hart.

Both Mourinho and Roberto Mancini and sprung selection surprises, although the latter made the more drastic changes following his team's poor start to their league campaign.

World champion Sergio Ramos was dropped from the Madrid defense, with 19-year-old Raphael Varane stepping in, while City handed a debut to the similarly inexperienced Matija Nastasic, with Joleon Lescott restricted to a place among the substitutes.

Mourinho has been unhappy with Mesut Ozil's start to the season but opted to replace the German with loan signing Michael Essien, of Chelsea, and not marquee purchase Luka Modric. Javi Garcia scored on his debut on Saturday and played again in midfield for the visitors.

With neither Ozil nor Modric in the starting lineup, Ronaldo roamed into the space left vacant in the center of the pitch and immediately looked the game's most threatening player. Hart was tested for the first time when the Portuguese raced on to Higuain's pass before fooling Kompany with a series of tricks and the England goalkeeper did well to palm the low shot wide.

Ronaldo continued to fire at will from the left side of the penalty area and Hart was called into action again when Higuain deflected another powerful shot with his head from close range.

The visitors gradually began to gain more of a foothold but could not get the ball to stick in attack and when they conceded possession, Real Madrid demonstrated its counterattacking prowess. Higuain could not quite control a superb pass dropped behind the City defense by Angel di Maria and Sami Khedira diverted Ronaldo's follow-up effort over the crossbar.

Two adventurous midfield runs by Toure began with promise but ended without troubling Casillas and Higuain went close again when he latched on to Di Maria's cross to the back post before the half was out.

It is difficult to imagine that in this, of all games, attacking quality would be in short supply but while both teams ventured into dangerous territory early in the second half, the finishing touches needed to open the scoring continued to elude them.

Mancini had already introduced Kolarov from the bench when Samir Nasri suffered a hamstring injury in the first half and with both benches littered with attacking talent, more changes seemed inevitable. Dzeko was next to take the field, replacing David Silva, and the Bosnian would provide the cutting edge that had been missing.

Toure, who had looked City's biggest threat all night long, broke out of the midfield again to create a two-on-one attack and this time successfully found his target with a simple through ball. Dzeko took the pass in his stride and beat Casillas with a composed, low left-footed finish.

Ozil had already been thrown into the fray and Modric and Benzema were quickly introduced as Mourinho sought to salvage something from the match, but Toure almost doubled the lead when released by Carlos Tevez, shooting narrowly wide.

The Spanish champions immediately looked more dangerous in the final third following the changes, though, and Marcelo curled a right-footed shot into the top corner after shaking off Kompany just outside the penalty area.

Set-pieces have troubled Madrid all season and after Pablo Zabaleta had failed to get contact on Carlos Tevez's low cross, Kolarov delivered a free kick that found its way into the back of the net after flying without interference past defenders and attackers alike.

Incredibly, though, there was more to come, and Mancini's celebrations on the sideline were short-lived. Benzema was next to strike after a mazy run from Di Maria, turning on the edge of the box and firing a powerful, low shot into the bottom corner.

And City's hearts were broken when Ronaldo stepped inside Zabaleta – who had relieved Maicon of his duties of marking the Portugal star – and released a dipping shot that beat the partially obscured Hart after Kompany had put himself in the way of the ball but failed to head clear.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

AC Milan 0-0 Anderlecht: Rossoneri's worrying home form continues in San Siro stalemate

AC Milan remains without a competitive win at the Giuseppe Meazza this season after being held to a 0-0 draw by Anderlecht in their Champions League Group C opener on Tuesday night.

The Rossoneri went close on a few of occasions, with Mathieu Flamini, Urby Emanuelson and Stephan El Shaarawy all testing Silvio Proto in the visitors' goal.

However, for the most part, the home side struggled horribly to impose itself on the game and was grateful to a wasteful finish from Lucas Biglia for sparing the club what would have been a third successive defeat at the Giuseppe Meazza this season.

Indeed, with Milan having lost its first two home games in Serie A, against Sampdoria and Atalanta, it was hardly surprising that Anderlecht showed no fear of its illustrious rival. However, the level of control the club exerted over the first half was nonetheless startling.

The visiting side had the lion’s share of possession and repeatedly called Christian Abbiati into action, with Guillaume Gillet going closest with a near-post strike after a rampaging run down the right.

The one plus for Milan was that when the team did get some time on the ball, it looked the far more likely to score. Indeed, Flamini really should have broken the deadlock 18 minutes in after latching onto a clever lay-off from Kevin-Prince Boateng, but the Frenchman’s low drive was saved by the feet of Proto.

The latter came to Anderlecht’s rescue again just after the half-hour mark when he parried away Emanuelson’s instinctive half-volley, after the Dutchman’s run in behind the visiting side’s defense had been superbly spotted by Nigel De Jong.

It was Anderlecht, though, whiich had the best chance to break the deadlock early in the second half, but after being put through by the most delightfully-weighted through ball from Dieudonne Mbokani, Biglia blazed over the bar.

That let off prompted Massimiliano Allegri into action and the under-fire coach replaced the strangely subdued Boateng with El Shaarawy, who immediately injected some life into the Rossoneri attack.

Indeed, the young striker saw a near-post header saved by Proto before then playing a clever ball inside to Emanuelson, but the former Ajax man’s subsequent strike flew high and wide.

However, despite El Shaarawy's promptings, the home side was unable to fashion a late winner, meaning the team will now travel to Russia on Oct. 3 to face Zenit in dire need of a win. Anderlecht, meanwhile, will take great confidence into its meeting with Malaga on the same night.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ronaldo: I had to celebrate tonight

Cristiano Ronaldo put his much discussed sadness to one side to bask in the glory of his match-winning goal in Real Madrid's dramatic 3-2 victory over Manchester City in the Champions League.


The Spanish champions needed late goals from Karim Benzema and Ronaldo to turn a 2-1 deficit into a win in their opening Group D encounter.“It was a very good game, for those who were watching,” Ronaldo told TVE1 afterwards. “We played very well. During the first half we created but missed opportunities, and in the second both Manchester City and us played well.

“We believed we could win and we did. The team has done very well, we knew we could do this and we did so on merit.”The Portuguese was asked about his celebrating of the winning goal, after he recently declared himself "sad".

“I celebrate when I have to celebrate. The match was very important and we are in the fight,” he said.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Aguero: I'd be playing for Real Madrid if it wanted me

Sergio Aguero admitted that had Real Madrid shown an interest in him he would have moved to Santiago Bernabeu, adding that he had no option but to join Manchester City in 2011.

Argentina international Aguero joined City from Atletico Madrid last summer for a fee in the region of 38 million pounds and scored 23 Premier League goals, including the goal that won City the title, but Roberto Mancini's side was by no means his first choice.

At the time of his move Aguero was linked with many clubs, including Real, however the 24-year-old claimed he had no choice but to join City despite a desire to remain in Madrid.

"If Madrid had wanted me, I would be playing here, I had no choice but to sign with Manchester City," Aguero said to reporters after City's 3-2 defeat to Real on Tuesday,

A move to Real was mooted in some sections of the media just prior to joining City, but it was suggested he was unwilling to join Atletico's archrivals as he did not want to betray the club, something he now denies ever saying.

"I never said that I wouldn't play with Real Madrid because I didn't want to betray Atlético," he concluded.

The forward took to Twitter afterwards to stress his happiness since joining City despite his interest in Madrid.

"Just to make it clear - I'm very happy to be in @MCFC. It's the best decision I could have taken," he wrote. "I feel comfortable and appreciated in @MCFC - it's a project I feel involved in. We want more titles and we'll get them!"

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Allegri: Draw a small step forward for AC Milan

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has stated that he believes a hard-fought point at San Siro against Anderlecht is a welcome one, as it is a result the Serie A side can build upon.

Despite a poor performance in the first half that saw the visitors dominate possession, Milan improved after the break and created several good chances, which made a draw a seemingly fair scoreline.

"I'd say we made a lot of technical mistakes in the first half," admitted Allegri. "It's not an easy moment and, of course, the pressure is on to win every game.

"We must continue working and improving on those aspects that need improving. I think getting tense and talking too much would not be helpful."

Allegri did concede that injuries potentially hurt his side's chances to win, as Alexandre Pato, Robinho and Riccardo Montolivo missed the group opener.

"It's only normal that Montolivo is the player who can give us more quality in midfield, while Robinho can get past his man," he said.

"We are missing the three most quality-led players in the squad, so of course that's going to change the way we approach the game."

The Milan boss was keen to look towards his next fixture in Serie A, against Udinese.

"Montolivo will return on Saturday, and everything does not have to be thrown in the bin," he said. "It is a growth process and we've got to speed it up."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Fergie to rotate De Gea and Lindegaard

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed Manchester United will not have a first-choice goalkeeper this season after telling David de Gea and Anders Lindegaard they will share the job.

The United boss said he is ready to switch between the Span and Denmark internationals rather than settling on a regular No. 1.

De Gea, 21, started the season in goal but was dropped after the 3-2 win over Fulham, with Lindegaard, 28, starting the last two games. And Ferguson believes it is a situation that will help both get used to English football.

"The most important thing I am trying to achieve is to give them both experience of the English game," he said. "They are both young, they do not have the experience of a [Edwin] Van der Sar or a [Peter] Schmeichel, so I am happy alternating them. That's the policy I am adopting and I am happy with that situation."

Despite being dropped, de Gea is likely to be recalled for Wednesday's Champions League opener against Galatasaray, with Ferguson saying: "There is a strong possibility of David coming back."

While the Scottish manager believes United's chances of becoming European champions for a fourth time depend upon their defenders remaining available."The key is to keep the defenders fit," he said. "We have had a real rough ride with defenders being injured in the last two or three years.

"At the moment [Chris] Smalling and [Phil] Jones are long term [absentees] and I am down to three centre backs in Vidic, [Rio] Ferdinand and [Jonny] Evans and if I was guaranteed two of those being fit for the rest of the season I would take that now. But it has not been the case over the last few years."

Thinking back to a win at Wolfsburg in December 2009, Ferguson recalled: "We have had [Michael] Carrick and [Darren] Fletcher and [Patrice] Evra at centre-back."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

UEFA Champions League 2012.09.19 Group Stage Fixtures

UEFA Champions League 2012.09.19 Group Stage Fixtures


Group E

Shakhtar Donetsk Vs Nordsjaelland

Chelsea Vs Juventus

Group F

LOSC Vs BATE

Bayern Vs Valencia

Group G

Barcelona Vs Spartak Moskva

Celtic Vs Benfica

Group H

Manchester United Vs Gatasaray

Braga Vs CFR Cluj

​

 

[rcccc]

Montpellier 1-2 Arsenal: Podolski and Gervinho get Gunners off to flying start in France

Two goals in as many first-half minutes saw Arsenal triumph 2-1 over Montpellier in their Champions League opener.

The Ligue 1 champion went ahead through an audacious penalty after just eight minutes, before two goals in as many minutes saw the game switch in the Gunners’ favor as first Podolski and then Gervinho showed good composure to give their side the lead at the break.

Abou Diaby, Vito Mannone and former La Paillade striker Olivier Giroud returned to the Arsenal starting lineup in three changes from the team which comfortably beat Southampton 6-1 at the weekend, as Montpellier made six changes from the team which lost 3-1 to newly promoted Stade de Reims.

In an intimidating start in Stade de la Mosson - where the remnants of a multitude of pre-match flares floated menacingly over the pitch - the Champions League debutant was handed a foothold in the game when Thomas Vermaelen’s clumsy challenge upended Belhanda inside the area. The Moroccan international picked himself up and dinked a cheeky penalty past the helpless Mannone for his club’s first goal in the competition.

The lead did not last long - just seven minutes in fact - as slack defending allowed Santi Cazorla and Giroud to combine and play in Podolski for a neat finish from 16 yards.Arsenal took the lead just two minutes later when another fantastically well-worked goal.

Started and finished by Gervinho - who has been excelling in a more advance role by Wenger this season - the Ivorian set Carl Jenkinson free down the left before ghosting past more halfhearted defending from the home side to collect the left back’s low cross and tuck the ball past Geoffrey Jourdren.Responding impressively after going behind, Arsenal looked dangerous on every building attack whereas, at the other end of the pitch, their French opponent was having to make do with pot-shots from distance.

Aside the clever through-ball for Podolski’s equalizer, Giroud was not having the most successful of returns to his old club – much industry but little end product, which was summed up by a twisting run into the area before flashing the shot from 12 yards past the near post in the final action of the first half.

Montpellier came out stronger after the break and was almost gifted another goal when Diaby tried to trick his way out of trouble in his own penalty area and allow Remy Cabella to pinch the ball off him but fire high and wide.

The home team upped the ante and again went close when Cabella spotted Mannone off his line and attempted a glorious chip from over 25 yards that thwacked off the deputizing goalkeeper’s bar and into touch.In an attempt to make up for his earlier mishap, Diaby embarked on a surging run just after the hour mark that took him past three Montpellier players before feeding Cazorla for a stinging drive that Jourdren could only push away.

As the game entered the final stages the French outfit showed the much-needed urgency that lacked throughout the majority of the game and it was that man Belhanda who was the fulcrum.
That was no more evident than when the attacking midfielder switched the play out to the right before receiving the ball inside the area, skipping past the feet of Per Mertesacker, but soon had his head in his hands after hitting his shot straight at Mannone from eight yards.

His side's chances of victory evaporated along with the smoke from those simmering flares.

Podolski නම් පට්ට.

 

[rcccc]

AC Milan 0-0 Anderlecht: Rossoneri's worrying home form continues in San Siro stalemate

AC Milan remains without a competitive win at the Giuseppe Meazza this season after being held to a 0-0 draw by Anderlecht in their Champions League Group C opener on Tuesday night.

The Rossoneri went close on a few of occasions, with Mathieu Flamini, Urby Emanuelson and Stephan El Shaarawy all testing Silvio Proto in the visitors' goal.

However, for the most part, the home side struggled horribly to impose itself on the game and was grateful to a wasteful finish from Lucas Biglia for sparing the club what would have been a third successive defeat at the Giuseppe Meazza this season.

Indeed, with Milan having lost its first two home games in Serie A, against Sampdoria and Atalanta, it was hardly surprising that Anderlecht showed no fear of its illustrious rival. However, the level of control the club exerted over the first half was nonetheless startling.

The visiting side had the lion’s share of possession and repeatedly called Christian Abbiati into action, with Guillaume Gillet going closest with a near-post strike after a rampaging run down the right.

The one plus for Milan was that when the team did get some time on the ball, it looked the far more likely to score. Indeed, Flamini really should have broken the deadlock 18 minutes in after latching onto a clever lay-off from Kevin-Prince Boateng, but the Frenchman’s low drive was saved by the feet of Proto.

The latter came to Anderlecht’s rescue again just after the half-hour mark when he parried away Emanuelson’s instinctive half-volley, after the Dutchman’s run in behind the visiting side’s defense had been superbly spotted by Nigel De Jong.

It was Anderlecht, though, whiich had the best chance to break the deadlock early in the second half, but after being put through by the most delightfully-weighted through ball from Dieudonne Mbokani, Biglia blazed over the bar.

That let off prompted Massimiliano Allegri into action and the under-fire coach replaced the strangely subdued Boateng with El Shaarawy, who immediately injected some life into the Rossoneri attack.

Indeed, the young striker saw a near-post header saved by Proto before then playing a clever ball inside to Emanuelson, but the former Ajax man’s subsequent strike flew high and wide.

However, despite El Shaarawy's promptings, the home side was unable to fashion a late winner, meaning the team will now travel to Russia on Oct. 3 to face Zenit in dire need of a win. Anderlecht, meanwhile, will take great confidence into its meeting with Malaga on the same night.

 

[panchaz]

Real Madrid 3-2 Manchester City: Ronaldo rocking again as Mancini’s men sink to Bernabeu defeat

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning goal in the 90th minute as Real Madrid secured a 3-2 victory against Manchester City after an incredible second half at the Santiago Bernabeu.

All five goals were scored in the final 21 minutes. Edin Dzeko and Aleksandar Kolarov twice gave Manchester City the lead but Real Madrid equalized twice thanks to goals from Marcelo and Karim Benzema.

Dzeko came off the bench to give the visitors the lead after a surging run from midfield from Toure, but Marcelo quickly replied with a curling shot.

The home supporters were left stunned when Kolarov's free kick drifted untouched into the bottom corner of Iker Casillas' goal but Benzema again pulled Madrid back with a sublime turn and finish.

And Ronaldo ensured that Jose Mourinho's team put their early season woes behind them with a dipping shot that flew past both Vincent Kompany and Joe Hart.

Both Mourinho and Roberto Mancini and sprung selection surprises, although the latter made the more drastic changes following his team's poor start to their league campaign.

World champion Sergio Ramos was dropped from the Madrid defense, with 19-year-old Raphael Varane stepping in, while City handed a debut to the similarly inexperienced Matija Nastasic, with Joleon Lescott restricted to a place among the substitutes.

Mourinho has been unhappy with Mesut Ozil's start to the season but opted to replace the German with loan signing Michael Essien, of Chelsea, and not marquee purchase Luka Modric. Javi Garcia scored on his debut on Saturday and played again in midfield for the visitors.

With neither Ozil nor Modric in the starting lineup, Ronaldo roamed into the space left vacant in the center of the pitch and immediately looked the game's most threatening player. Hart was tested for the first time when the Portuguese raced on to Higuain's pass before fooling Kompany with a series of tricks and the England goalkeeper did well to palm the low shot wide.

Ronaldo continued to fire at will from the left side of the penalty area and Hart was called into action again when Higuain deflected another powerful shot with his head from close range.

The visitors gradually began to gain more of a foothold but could not get the ball to stick in attack and when they conceded possession, Real Madrid demonstrated its counterattacking prowess. Higuain could not quite control a superb pass dropped behind the City defense by Angel di Maria and Sami Khedira diverted Ronaldo's follow-up effort over the crossbar.

Two adventurous midfield runs by Toure began with promise but ended without troubling Casillas and Higuain went close again when he latched on to Di Maria's cross to the back post before the half was out.

It is difficult to imagine that in this, of all games, attacking quality would be in short supply but while both teams ventured into dangerous territory early in the second half, the finishing touches needed to open the scoring continued to elude them.

Mancini had already introduced Kolarov from the bench when Samir Nasri suffered a hamstring injury in the first half and with both benches littered with attacking talent, more changes seemed inevitable. Dzeko was next to take the field, replacing David Silva, and the Bosnian would provide the cutting edge that had been missing.

Toure, who had looked City's biggest threat all night long, broke out of the midfield again to create a two-on-one attack and this time successfully found his target with a simple through ball. Dzeko took the pass in his stride and beat Casillas with a composed, low left-footed finish.

Ozil had already been thrown into the fray and Modric and Benzema were quickly introduced as Mourinho sought to salvage something from the match, but Toure almost doubled the lead when released by Carlos Tevez, shooting narrowly wide.

The Spanish champions immediately looked more dangerous in the final third following the changes, though, and Marcelo curled a right-footed shot into the top corner after shaking off Kompany just outside the penalty area.

Set-pieces have troubled Madrid all season and after Pablo Zabaleta had failed to get contact on Carlos Tevez's low cross, Kolarov delivered a free kick that found its way into the back of the net after flying without interference past defenders and attackers alike.

Incredibly, though, there was more to come, and Mancini's celebrations on the sideline were short-lived. Benzema was next to strike after a mazy run from Di Maria, turning on the edge of the box and firing a powerful, low shot into the bottom corner.

And City's hearts were broken when Ronaldo stepped inside Zabaleta – who had relieved Maicon of his duties of marking the Portugal star – and released a dipping shot that beat the partially obscured Hart after Kompany had put himself in the way of the ball but failed to head clear.

hala madrid

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Arbeloa: Ramos still a key player for Real Madrid

Alvaro Arbeloa has made it clear that Sergio Ramos remains a "very important" player for Real Madrid following his absence in Tuesday's Champions League clash with Manchester City.

The Spain stopper was somewhat surprisingly benched in favor of Raphael Varane for Los Blancos' 3-2 win over the English champions, but the former Liverpool man has jumped to the support of his teammate.

"Sergio Ramos is our vice-captain, and one of the best center backs in the world," Arbeloa was quoted as saying on the official Madrid website.

He added, "The coach makes the decisions and we have to respect them. Other players like [Mesut] Ozil and [Karim] Benzema did not start either.

"However, they are all still very important for Real Madrid."

Ramos, 26, has made six official appearances for the Santiago Bernabeu side this term.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

FIFA extends Luisao's two-month ban to all competitions

FIFA has announced that it has extended the two-month ban incurred by Benfica defender Luisao to cover all competitions.

The 31-year-old was already suspended from domestic games until Nov. 14 after attacking a referee in a preseason friendly against Fortuna Dusseldorf in the summer.

However, in a statement released by the governing body of world football on Wednesday, the stopper will now be ineligible for Champions League matches, as well as international commitments with Brazil.

"FIFA has informed the Federacao Portuguesa de Futebol (FPF) that the Chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has extended the two-month suspension imposed by the FPF on the player Luisao to have worldwide effect.

"This decision, which was communicated yesterday and is in accordance with Article 136 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, comes after the Benfica captain attacked a referee during a preseason friendly against Fortuna Dusseldorf last month.

"The player is banned from all club and international matches during this two-month period."

Luisao will consequently miss Benfica's first four Champions League fixtures away to Celtic, at home to Barcelona, and then away and at home against Spartak Moscow.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barnetta: Schalke still has a long way to go

Schalke winger Tranquillo Barnetta insists talk of qualification for the next round of the Champions League is premature, despite helping his team to a 2-1 win over Olympiakos.


Benedikt Howedes gave the Konigsblauen the lead in the opening 45 minutes of Tuesday's Group B curtain raiser, before Djamel Abdoun restored parity in the second half.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar ensured the Germans claimed all three points with a calm finish, much to the satisfaction of Barnetta, who reflected on a "crazy" game in Piraeus.

"It's still very early in the competition to say what we can achieve," Barnetta told UEFA's official website. "We want to play at a high level consistently and take points. We have made an important step, but there is still a long way to go to achieving qualification.

"We did what we set out to do against Olympiakos: win the match in a very intense atmosphere. We managed to score the opener, then had a very good chance to make it 2-0 but didn't. Afterwards, they equalized. We took the lead again almost immediately, and then wasted a penalty. It was a crazy match, but we won and that's what matters."

Schalke locks horns with Montpellier on Oct. 3 in the club's second group game.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Sir Alex Ferguson: Keeping defenders fit key to Champions League success

Sir Alex Ferguson believes there will be no repeat of Manchester United's shock exit from the Champions League this season if he can keep his first-choice defenders fit.

United crashed out of last year’s campaign after losing at Basel, a game in which captain Nemanja Vidic suffered a serious knee injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season.

The Old Trafford side was a finalist in three of the previous four years prior to its premature exit last time out but United only named the same back four twice out of 10 European matches last term.

“The key for us is if we can keep the defenders fit,” the Scot told reporters ahead of his side’s meeting with Galatasaray at Old Trafford on Wednesday night. “I really mean that, because we’ve had a really rough ride with defenders being injured for the last two or three years.

“But if they remain fit, it definitely gives us a better opportunity, as we are particularly strong in the attacking part of the team, so hopefully that makes a difference to us.

While center backs Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are out for the foreseeable future, Ferguson is happy that he still has Vidic, Rio Ferninand and Jonny Evans available for selection.

The 70-year-old also admitted he was "careless" with his team selection at times last season and insisted he will be picking a full-strength lineup against Fatih Terim's side.

“We don’t want to be as careless as we were last season and the team I choose [against Galatasaray] will reflect that,” he insisted. “I think we’d all agree we were careless in two of the games at home last season.

“Over the past few years the group stages have been very straightforward for us, so it gave me the opportunity to play a lot of young players. But I’ll be playing a more experienced team this time around.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Arsenal no more than a ‘feeder club’ says club legend Tony Adams

Former Arsenal captain Tony Adams says the club’s selling policy is chipping away at its credibility as one of Europe’s top sides.

"It sends out all the wrong messages for me, being a selling club," he told the London Evening Standard.

Adams, who spent his entire career with the north London club, believes that allowing star players such as Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas to leave the Emirates Stadium has given other sides a poor impression of them.

"Piece by piece for seven years, it chips away at your credibility. Selling your best players is part of that," Adams said.

He added, "I very much see Arsenal as the biggest club in the world, so I can't understand why anybody would want to play anywhere else - but I can understand it was very different for me.

"I am looking at it not as an ex-player or pundit, but as a fan and giving what the fans are thinking and feeling."

The Gunners have made an impressive start to the current campaign, remaining unbeaten in all competitions with the addition of Adams’ former defensive partner Steve Bould to the Arsenal dugout being cited for an improvement in their backline, which has shipped just one league goal this season.

However Adams’ feels that the mentality and style of the team is not setup to be a success.

"The problem for me in the last seven years is the defensive vulnerabilities as a team - the goalkeeper, the back four, even the central midfield players, the mentality of the team," he said.

Adams continued to explain: "I don't think they are a team that are set up to do what Chelsea did last year in the Champions League and I don't think Arsene wants to.

“Year in, year out the team with the best defense wins the league and we saw the team with the best defense win the Champions League, so it makes you wonder why a lot of teams aren't focusing more on defending."

Arsenal got its European campaign off to a good start with a win away at French champions Montpellier on Tuesday.

And despite that early win in the competition, Adams is not optimistic about its chances of lifting the trophy for the first time at Wembley Stadium next summer.

"I expect them to score goals, but they cannot win the Champions League with their current mentality," he said.

"I hope they prove me wrong, but against the better teams I think they will fall short again. I am not alone here - I think most of the Arsenal fans would agree with me.

"To actually think you are going to play Barcelona or Real Madrid off the pitch...I don't think this team are good enough to do that."

 

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Gerro and Vidic to lead joint tribute

STEVEN GERRARD and Nemanja Vidic will stand together and lead an emotional tribute to the Hillsborough victims at Anfield on Sunday.

Liverpool have revealed plans for Vidic and rival skipper Gerro to release 96 red balloons before Manchester United’s clash at Liverpool.

The clubs are hopeful the show of unity also spreads to the stands and stops any tasteless chants from supporters. Liverpool will also unveil three separate mosaics around the ground shortly before the match starts.The Anfield Road will display a giant 96, the Lower Centenary Stand will hold up the word ‘Justice’ and The Kop will hold cards bearing the words ‘The Truth’.

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Representatives from three Hillsborough support groups will also be present. Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre said: “It is the first opportunity we have had as a club to pay tribute at Anfield for what everybody has done — the families, the fans and various other people like MP Andy Burnham. “It is a chance for everybody to show their respects on the day.” United boss Alex Ferguson said: “We are completely in support of Liverpool at this moment of time. ​

“We understand what those families must have felt reading that report. "It’s going to be a very emotional day on Sunday and we’ll support them in every way we can.”

 

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Liverpool, United plan Anfield tribute

Liverpool and Manchester United are to release 96 red balloons at Anfield on Sunday as part of a pre-match tribute to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster.

The opposing captains, expected to be Steven Gerrard and Nemanja Vidic, will make the gesture to honour the memory of the 96 Liverpool fans who died in the 1989 tragedy.

Fans on three sides of Anfield will also help to display a giant mosaic before the start of the Premier League match between the two teams.And the match will be attended by representatives of three support groups - The Hillsborough Family Support Group, Hillsborough Justice Campaign and Hope for Hillsborough.

Details of the tribute were revealed as Liverpool prepare for their first home game since the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel's report into the tragedy, which cleared fans of any blame and found damning evidence of a cover-up by the police and ambulance services.
As the players of Liverpool and Manchester United walk on to the pitch, The Kop will form a mosaic displaying the words'The Truth'.

The Anfield Road End opposite will show the number '96', while the Centenary Stand, which faces the players' tunnel, will reveal the word 'Justice'.Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre and United chief executive David Gill have liaised directly to oversee Sunday's tribute.

Talks are continuing, with United still to reveal full details of how they will respect the occasion.
Ayre said: "It is the first opportunity we have had as a football club to pay tribute at Anfield for what everyone has done - the families, the fans and various other people like Andy Burnham MP. It is a chance for everybody to show their respects."

Burnham was instrumental in the setting up of the Hillsborough Independent Panel and the full public disclosure of previously unseen files relating to the disaster.

 

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Full Time

Manchester United 1 Vs 0 Gatasaray

Manchester United Goal(s)

Carrick 7'​

 

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Congratulations Manchester United!

Congratulations Manchester United!​