..::Football II::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Fabregas: I hope Bojan returns to Barcelona

The Blaugrana midfielder believes the former Camp Nou starlet, who is currently on loan at AC Milan from Roma, has matured enough to shine back at his old club
Cesc Fabregas hopes Bojan Krkic returns to Barcelona one day in the future.
The forward left Camp Nou in 2011 for Roma but is currently on loan at AC Milan, where he has struggled for first team appearances with the likes of Stephan El Shaarawy, Mario Balotelli and M’Baye Niang ahead of him in the pecking order.

"I hope Bojan will return one day," Fabregas told Marca. "When he was here before, he was too young to stand out."But I think now he has matured enough to do well at Barcelona."

The 22-year-old made his debut for Barca in 2007 at the age of 17. He went on to score 41 goals in 163 appearances in all competitions during his four seasons with the club.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

La Liga 2013.02.15 Fixture

La Liga 2013.02.15 Fixture

Sevilla Vs Deportivo​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Serie A 2013.02.15 Fixture

Serie A 2013.02.15 Fixture

AC Milan Vs Parma​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Wolfsburg 0-2 Bayern Munich: Mandzukic and Robben earn Bavarians victory at the Volkswagen Arena

Bayern Munich continued its march towards the Bundesliga title after strolling to a 2-0 win over Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena on Friday.

Despite the unremarkable margin of victory, Bayern was always in control but, perhaps with next week's Champions League trip to Arsenal on the agenda, never looked to overexert itself against a side with one of the worst home records in the division.

Mario Mandzukic showed no mercy against his former club when firing home a fantastic overhead effort in the first half, with Arjen Robben rounding off matters emphatically in injury-time to provisionally send the visitors 18 points clear of Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga.

Jupp Heynckes was spoiled for choice when naming his starting lineup, and fielded a side with little surprises, with Robben and Jerome Boateng again taking their places on the bench.

Bayern typically dominated possession throughout the first half, but despite some promising build-up play, the final ball was lacking, breaking down a number of their attacks.Wolfsburg was diligent in defense, and through the pace and directness of Marcel Schafer and Ivica Olic, found themselves with a purposeful outlet on the left flank to relieve pressure on their goal.

The first half seemed destined to end in a stalemate, but, nine minutes before the break, a moment of magic from Mandzukic broke the deadlock in stunning fashion.
Toni Kroos pumped a free kick towards the far post, and Bastian Schweinsteiger nodded back to the Croatia striker, who connected superbly with an overhead kick that rifled in from 15 yards out.The home side made an improved effort to get themselves back into the game in the second half, but were still indebted to Naldo for hacking clear a goalbound Thomas Muller effort off the line.

Vieirinha blasted off target from 20 yards out, but Wolfsburg’s best chance of the match came from Diego, who bent a free kick towards the corner that brought the best out of Manuel Neuer with a quarter of an hour to go.But the hosts' eagerness to get back into the match would cost them at the death, as Muller found Robben peeling away in space, and the winger buried a powerful low finish to seal the game.

With the victory secure, Bayern can now focus all its attention on the club's visit to to Arsenal next Wednesday, while Wolfsburg's next action is a league encounter at Mainz on Sunday.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

AC Milan 2-1 Parma: Beauty from Balotelli as Rossoneri rise to third

An own goal Gabriel Paletta and a Mario Balotelli free kick either side of half time ensured AC Milan secured all three points in a hard fought 2-1 Serie A win against Parma, despite a late Nicola Sansona strike.

The defender inadvertently turned Kevin-Prince Boateng's cross past goalkeeper Nicola Pavarini, five minutes before the end of the first half, before the Rossoneri striker fired into the top corner to earn all three points for the hosts, regardless of the late consolation from the Parma striker.The hosts enjoyed the better of the early possession after Kevin Constant broke through the Parma midfield. He played into Mario Balotelli, but the Italian saw his effort deflected behind for a corner.

Milan continued to press to net an early opener at the San Siro as Kevin-Prince Boateng saw a low drive held comfortably by Parma goalkeeper Pavarini before Rossoneri center back Mario Yepes forced a save out of Christian Abbiati having inadvertently turned a header towards his own goal.Parma looked to take advantage of the shaky Milan defense after a poor Cristian Zapata clearance was capitalized upon by Paletta. The defender skipped past Yepes, but dragged his effort past Abbiati's goal.

The game slowed until the 25th minute as Amauri managed to beat Yepes to a Marco Marchionni corner and head goalbound, only to see his effort well saved by Abbiati, before Marchionni attempted a spectacular half volley from 30 yards that drifted over the bar on the half hour mark.

At the other end, Balotelli played in a Boateng on the left of the 18 yard box with a perfectly weighed reverse pass as the Milan midfielder played across the box, but couldn't pick out the outstretched M'Baye Niang at the far post before the creator almost turned goalscorer after Mattia De Sciglio's cross is header into the path of the Ghanian by Djamel Mesbah, but his effort was weak and saw Pavarini gather easily.Milan took the initiative with five minutes remaining of the first half as Paletta mistakenly turned Boateng's low cross past Pavarini and into the back of the net.

Sully Muntari should've doubled the hosts' advantage just five minutes after the restart after some good work by Niang on the right, but the midfielder couldn't guide the cross past Pavarini. Balotelli then picked out Boateng moments later with a perfect low pass, only for the midfielder to sidefoot his effort just wide of the Parma goal.Balotelli saw a free kick blocked by the wall with half an hour remaining, before launching a venomous half volley towards goal that drifted wide for a goal kick.

Amauri failed to turn a Jaime Valdes ball over the top goalbound, while at the other end Antonio Nocerino looked to capitalise on a poor Pavarini clearance, but fired his speculative effort wide.With 15 minutes remaining, Balotelli ensured the points were secured after firing a free kick from 30 yards out past Pavarini and into the top corner to double Milan's advantage.

Riccardo Montolivo came close to adding a third in the dying embers of the encounter after Pavarini from distance, only for the Parma goalkeeper to deny the Milan midfielder, before Balotelli tested the Crociati man inside the 18 yard box.
Parma netted a late consolation through Sansone, but it was too little to late as Milan hung on for all three points.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Wenger coy on David Villa interest

The Arsenal manager has admitted he likes the player but insists he is not concentrating on brokering a summer deal.Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reiterated his admiration for David Villa but insists he is not lining up a move for the Barcelona striker.

The 63-year-old is believed to be a long-time admirer of the Spanish forward but was unable to lure him from Camp Nou during the January transfer window.

And, despite admitting to being a fan of the player, Wenger insists that he is prioritizing more "immediate targets", such as this weekend's FA Cup clash with Blackburn Rovers.

He told reporters: "I'm not on the case. I like the player but, at the moment, we have some immediate targets that are more important to us - that means a win on Saturday."

The Gunners host Rovers on the back of five consecutive wins in all competitions, although Wenger will be all too aware that the last time his side lifted the trophy was in 2004.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

FA Cup 2013.02.16 Fixtures

FA Cup 2013.02.16 Fixtures


Luton Town Vs Millwall

Arsenal Vs Blackburn Rovers

Milton Keynes Dones Vs Barsley

Oldham Athletic Vs Evrton​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

La Liga 2013.02.16 Fixtures

La Liga 2013.02.16 Fixtures


Getafe Vs Celta Vigo

Malaga Vs Athletic Bilbao

Granada Vs Barcelona

Osasuna Vs Real Zaragoza​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Serie A 2013.02.16 Fixtures

Serie A 2013.02.16 Fixtures


Chievo Vs Palermo

Roma Vs Juventus​

 

[rcccc]

Zenit St Petersburg 2-0 Liverpool: Incredible Hulk strike stuns lackluster Reds

.

 

[rcccc]

Tottenham 2-1 Lyon: Bale wonder goals light up the Lane

.

 

[rcccc]

FA Cup 2013.02.16 Fixtures


Luton Town Vs Millwall

Arsenal Vs Blackburn Rovers

Milton Keynes Dones Vs Barsley

Oldham Athletic Vs Evrton​

 

[rcccc]

 

[rcccc]

 

[rcccc]

totti score karannepatta goal eka

 

[මුගටියා]

totti score karannepatta goal eka

patta

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Sochaux 3-2 Paris Saint-Germain: Bakambu winner stuns league leader

Sochaux stunned Paris Saint-Germain at Stade Bonal on Sunday night as the club produced an unlikely 3-2 victory over the league leader to throw open the Ligue 1 title race.

Alex gave the visiting side the lead against the run of play midway through the first half, but Sebastien Roudet deservedly leveled for Eric Hely’s side. The home side played in a swashbuckling manner that belied its lowly position in Le Championnat and took the lead in the second half through debutant Giovanni Sio, and though a Jerome Roussilon own goal brought PSG level, Sochaux dug deep to find a winning goal from Cedric Bakambu to cap an absolute firecracker of a match.

Somewhat against the run of play, PSG grabbed the lead. Having put together a couple of dangerous moves in the preceding two minutes, the visiting team moved into the ascendancy when Clement Chantome’s corner was met by Alex, whose header looped gracefully into the top corner of the net.

Sochaux never looked concerned by this deficit and quickly got back on terms. Fine work from Ryad Boudebouz, whose performance was of the very highest level, sliced open a febrile PSG back four with an incisive pass to Roudet down the left channel to poke an accurate finish into the corner of the net.

Early in the second half, the adventurous home side worked its way into a thoroughly deserved lead. A terrific one-two between Roudet and Sio sprung open PSG's defensive line again, and though the debutant’s finish was not struck with the most conviction, it was good enough to beat Salvatore Sirigu, who had an uncharacteristically poor game in goal.

Les Lionceaux merited the three points as they were simply outplaying their more illustrious guest, yet they would succumb in an ugly manner from another corner kick. Mamadou Sakho and Ezequiel Lavezzi both reacted quickly to try and turn the ball goalward, and with Alex lurking Roussilon could only turn the ball lamely into his own net.

Just as it seemed that the hopes for three points had been ended, the magnificent Boudebouz inspired another crucial intervention. The Algeria international’s delivery from the right was knocked back across goal by Sloan Privat for fellow substitute Bakambu to tap home a winning goal.

Sochaux had gone so close to securing three points prior to PSG’s second as young right back Sebastien Corchia bent a fierce free kick off the inside of Sirigu’s post and had to watch as the ball shot across the goalmouth.

The Parc des Prince side offered far less than the home team in this encounter, with Sio’s disallowed goal after five minutes a real taste of what was to come for the league leader.

Indeed, it would take Carlo Ancelotti’s men the best part of 30 minutes before they fashioned any kind of threat. Twice pieces of Ibrahimovic magic created chances for Ezequiel Lavezzi and Clement Chantome, yet the Swede was frustratingly peripheral in this match, and PSG could not make up for the star man’s lack of form.

The team mustered a late push, with Gameiro and then 16-year-old debutant substitute Kingsley Coman going close in the closing five minutes.

PSG remains three points clear at the summit of Ligue 1, but with Le Classique to come next weekend against third-placed Olympique de Marseille, the race for the crown remains very much in the balance.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Fiorentina 4-1 Inter: Jovetic and Ljajic dismantle sorry Nerazzurri

Inter saw its hopes of Champions League football for the coming season become an ever distant dream on Sunday night, as a pitiful showing in defense allowed a rampant Fiorentina to run out a 4-1 winner. Strike pair Stevan Jovetic and Adam Ljajic were the stars of the show, both bagging two goals as they made a mockery of their illustrious rival from start to finish.

Given an unexpected chance to close the gap on Juventus following the Serie A leaders' 1-0 reverse at Roma, Inter instead contrived to throw away the opportunity thanks to a nightmare first half in Florence. Gaps appeared across the away defense, which Fiorentina gleefully exploited as it poured forward in numbers and with purpose.

Stevan Jovetic almost handed his side the lead less than three minutes into the encounter, latching on to a lofted ball from David Pizarro only to be denied one-on-one with Samir Handanovic, the keeper stopping the Fiore man's effort with his legs.

Jovetic, however, was unbowed. With 13 minutes gone, the forward did brilliantly to nod Manuel Pasqual's cross into the path of Ljajic, who was completely untroubled by any man in white as he got down low to head in from short range.

Inter needed to respond, and finally managed an effort on the Viola net through Zladko Kuzmanovic's speculative shot, but it was Fiorentina which would continue to dominate proceedings. Tenacious play from Alberto Aquilani led to the home side robbing possession on the edge of the Nerazzurri area, and the midfielder laid off to Jovetic who released a stunning strike past Handanovic and further sink the lackluster visiting side.

The only consolation for Inter was that, in truth, the first 45 minutes could have ended a great deal worse. Handanovic was called into action time and again as the Fiorentina front men took target practice at his posts, aided by a back line that had gone missing in action. Borja Valero was denied by the keeper's legs after receiving a cross unmarked at the back post, while Aquilani also forced an excellent save from the harassed Slovenian. While Inter could count itself lucky to be 'only' 2-0 down a vastly improved performance was required after the break if the club wished to take anything from the encounter.

Nothing, however, appeared to change at the start of the second half as Fiorentina continued to take the initiative. Juan Guillermo Cuadrado almost added a third five minutes in as his savage left-footed shot was deflected inches wide of Handanovic's left post to save Inter from what would have been the coup de grace on the evening.

The jubilant home fans did not have to wait too much longer though. A defensive mix up for Inter left Aquilani in possession of the ball, and it was all so simple for the Italian as he threaded through to Jovetic with the heel. Stevan was blissfully free in the area, and had time to take aim and smash the ball past the hapless Handanovic to end Inter's interest in Sunday's contest.

The home team was coasting to victory, but was still in the mood to twist the knife. Nobody in white checked Valero as he marched on goal down the left, and he found Ljajic who was similarly untroubled in bending a lovely effort into the corner of the net. The Nerazzurri were in shambles, and Antonio Cassano could barely muster a celebration for his brilliant long-range consolation as Fiorentina marched to three points.

The loss means Inter remains 11 points shy of Juve at the summit, while also failing to climb above Lazio in Italy's final Champions League spot. The Romans can go four clear of Andrea Stramaccioni's men if they defeat Siena on Monday evening, while Fiorentina is hot on their heels moving just one behind in sixth.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Huddersfield 1-4 Wigan: Kone double sends Martinez's men into FA Cup quarterfinals

Wigan showed its Premier League quality to secure a 4-1 victory over Huddersfield the John Smith's Stadium and advance to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, matching the club's best-ever showing in the competition.

Callum McManaman opened the scoring for the visitors and was joined by a double from Arouna Kone and a strike from James McArthur to take the Latics through to the next stage.

After McManaman tallied to get Wigan on the board, the visitors doubled their lead before the halftime whistle with a close-range finish from Kone. The Ivorian tapped in the ball after Huddersfield goalkeeper Alex Smithies parried away Roger Espinoza's shot, allowing for an easy halftime talk for manager Roberto Martínez.

McArthur continued his impressive display by scoring Wigan's third goal. The midfielder attained the ball on the edge of the penalty box and thumped home into the corner of the host's net as Smithies looked on in despair.

The home side had looked to have a lifeline when substitute Lee Novak finished from close range to cut the lead to 3-1, but a mistake by Anthony Gerrard presented the ball to Kone in a favorable position, and the striker made no mistake, firing past Smithies from just inside the penalty area to seal Wigan's victory.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Liverpool 5-0 Swansea City: Rampant Reds destroy Laudrup's side

Brendan Rodgers enjoyed a rampant victory over his former side as Liverpool cruised past Swansea City in Sunday’s only Premier League match.

The Reds ended their five game winless run in emphatic fashion as a dominant performance moved them up to seventh in the table and also marked their first victory of the season against top-half opposition.

Skipper Steven Gerrard converted a first-half spot kick before second-half goals from Phillipe Coutinho, Jose Enrique, Luis Suarez and a Daniel Sturridge penalty rewarded the home side for a commanding display.

Liverpool headed into proceedings making three changes from its 2-0 Europa League defeat to Zenit on Thursday. Daniel Agger replaced Martin Skrtel in defense, while Sturridge returned from injury and Coutinho was handed his full debut.

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup, meanwhile, clearly had one eye on next week’s Capital One Cup final as he made seven changes, resting the likes of Michu and Ashley Williams and handing starting berths to Itay Shechter and Kyle Bartley.

The Reds oozed confidence from the off and it was Sturridge who came closest to breaking the deadlock early on as he fired a header inches over the bar before the former Chelsea man latched on to a great long ball in the Swansea area and was brought down after some twists and turns.

Referee Howard Webb waved away any penalty appeals, however, while Coutinho fired the followup shot just wide from close range.

Liverpool’s superiority soon paved a breakthrough as Gerrard whipped a corner in on 34 minutes and Suarez received the ball in the area only to be brought down by Kemy Agustien. Webb took a long look at his linesman, but this time pointed to the spot.

It was the captain who stepped up, picking the opposite corner to the one he chose when missing last week against West Brom. Vorm went the right way, but the England midfielder dispatched his spot kick with aplomb and Liverpool had its first ever Premier League goal against Swansea.

Sturridge then threatened once more but was unable to add to the home side’s tally as a half of sheer Liverpool dominance came to its conclusion.

It took the Reds just 16 seconds after the restart before they had their second. Swansea lost possession in the middle of the park and Suarez played a superb through ball to Coutinho, who embarked upon a fantastic run and beat Vorm from inside the area with palpable ease.

The Reds weren’t done there as Sturridge and Enrique then combined to perfection, advancing into the box with a series of one-two passes before the Spaniard thumped his finish into the roof of the net.

Suarez compounded the away side’s misery on 56 minutes with a fine turn and run before placing the ball in the bottom left corner.

A quarter of an hour later, the rout was completed as the home side was awarded its second penalty of the game and Sturridge duly tucked it away for his fourth goal in five league games after Gerrard unselfishly handed him the ball.