..::Football III::..

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Chelsea 3-0 Schalke: Eto'o double helps edge Blues closer to last 16

Chelsea opened up a three-point lead at the top of their Champions League group with a 3-0 win over Schalke on Wednesday night.


The visitors' experienced goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand paid the price for dwelling on the ball in the first half when his belated attempt at a clearance hit Samuel Eto’o and cannoned into the back of the net.

Eto’o was the scourge of the Schalke keeper once again after the break, converting only his third goal for Chelsea, and his replacement Demba Ba scored his first of the season to ensure Jose Mourinho's men moved clear at the top of Group E.

Chelsea have now won all three of their Champions League games since losing the campaign's opening fixture against Basel and this was their 100th victory in UEFA competitions.Schalke, by contrast, suffered a first defeat in eight away games, but remain second in the group and still in with a good chance of repeating last season’s achievement of reaching the knockout stages.

Eden Hazard was not even on the bench for the clash and Eto'o replaced the injured Fernando Torres (thigh) as Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho reacted to Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Newcastle by making six changes to his starting line-up.
Schalke manager Jens Keller opted for the experience of Jermaine Jones in midfield over teenager Max Meyer and striker Adam Szalai was passed fit despite requiring an ear operation after Saturday's win at Hertha Berlin.

Mourinho was baffled by his side's display at Newcastle and will likely have been scratching his head again in the first five minutes as Schalke spurned two opportunities.

Petr Cech could only watch on as Julian Draxler's right-foot strike flashed just past the far post and the Germany midfielder then set off on an incisive run before setting up Szalai, who also fired narrowly wide.Chelsea started to get into their stride and Hildebrand gifted them the lead after 31 minutes as Eto'o charged down the 34-year-old's clearance.

The lively Draxler came close once again early in the second period when he cut in from the right and lined up a measured left-foot strike, but Cech made a fine fingertip save.

the hosts doubled their lead nine minutes into the half as Willian surged forward and played in Eto'o. The former Barcelona striker beat Hildebrand with a clinical right-foot finish across goal.Ba then got in on the act when Frank Lampard set him up for a well taken left-foot volley seven minutes from time.

 

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Zenit 1-1 Porto: Hulk howler gifts Portuguese precious point

Zenit were left to rue Hulk's missed second-half penalty as they were held 1-1 by Porto at the Petrovsky Stadium on Wednesday.

While the Russian side maintained their unbeaten record at home this season, the former Porto striker's saved penalty ensured the spoils were shared in the Champions League Group G encounter.

Lucho Gonzalez put the home side ahead after 23 minutes, heading home Danilo's delivery from the right, with Hulk on hand to remind Porto of his quality three minutes short of the half hour, when he stole in to latch onto a loose ball, which Nicolas Otamendi, Eliaquim Mangala and goalkeeper Helton all failed to deal with.

The Brazilian was quickly onto Roman Shirokov's aimless pass before coolly dispatching his equaliser, although he spurned the chance to secure Zenit the points early in the second when his 52nd-minute penalty was saved.

Steven Defour replaced the suspended Hector Herrera for Porto, with the midfielder sent off in the sides' last Champions League meeting, while Silvestre Varela was preferred ahead of Lica in the forward line.

For Zenit, Domenico Criscito replacing Neto was one change from the side that won in Portugal, with Hulk starting against his former club. Alexander Kerzhakov had to be content with a place on the bench, despite grabbing an 85th-minute winner in the reverse fixture.

The visitors had the first opportunity of the match, with Josue curling a long-range effort just past Yuri Lodygin's left-hand post after six minutes, while Axel Witsel side-footed Hulk's lay-off over the bar in an even opening.

Porto edged the opening 20 minutes and went ahead shortly after courtesy of Gonzalez. The Argentina international expertly guided a header from a lofted Danilo cross into the far corner of the net, to secure his second goal of this season's competition.

However, the lead last just five minutes when Hulk returned to haunt his former employers. He nipped in to take advantage of confusion between Helton and his defenders, rounding the goalkeeper and slotting home to draw the hosts level.

Victor Fayzulin forced Helton into a good save while Lodygin captured a firm header from Jackson Martinez at the second attempt a minute before the break.

Oleg Shatov's effort rippled the side netting three minute into the second half, although Hulk wasted a glorious opportunity to put the home side in front when he missed his penalty soon after.

Otamendi was penalised for blocking Shatov's cross with his hand, but Helton got down to his right and easily saved Hulk's tame effort.

Martinez's swerving effort almost caught out Lodygin eight minutes after the hour, but his strike was tipped wide, before Otamendi headed narrowly over from the resulting corner.

Both sides pressed for a winner in the late stages of the game, Hulk seeing a penalty appeal waved away as Zenit and Porto remain second and third, respectively.

 

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Busquets: Messi is always a machine

Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets branded Lionel Messi "a machine" after he returned to goalscoring form in style with a double against AC Milan on Wednesday.

The Argentine had struck against the Rossoneri in his last Champions League outing, but had gone three Liga games without getting on the scoresheet, sparking fears of a drop in form.

But the Ballon d'Or frontrunner scored from the spot and tied up the encounter as Barca romped to a 3-1 win at Camp Nou and Busquets - who scored the second goal of the night - thinks Gerardo Martino's men can reflect on a job well done."It was only a matter of matches [before he scored again] and in front of goal Lionel Messi is always a machine," the 25-year-old told reporters. "He has scored two [in this match] and I hope he can continue that way.

"[It was] mission accomplished. I think we played a good first half and we suffered a bit in the second half but the victory leaves us in a very good position in the group."Milan changed tactically and we struggled a bit, but when the third goal arrived everything was easier."

Barca are not guaranteed to be Group H winners but have sealed their place in the last 16, as Milan, Ajax and Celtic battle for the other spot.

 

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'I benched Balotelli for the good of Milan' - Allegri

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has insisted that Mario Balotelli needed to be benched at Barcelona on Wednesday for the good of the team and the striker.

Balotelli was brought on as a substitute but failed to spark a revival as the Rossoneri slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Camp Nou thanks to two goals from Lionel Messi and a Sergio Busquets header.

Allegri insisted that Robinho earned his spot in the starting line-up ahead of Balotelli, who he believes is still recovering from time on the sidelines suspended and injured.

"It’s simple, Mario had that injury on international duty and his recent performances were not sharp, so I preferred to start with the pairing that played in the first leg," the Milan boss told Sky Sport Italia.

"I chose Robinho because he gives a different tempo to the side, played well at San Siro and did fairly well tonight too. We had done well under pressure from Barcelona.

"The club hierarchy knew about my choices. I spoke to the club president [Silvio Berlusconi] before the game, as I always do, and told him Balotelli was not going to start. I did this for the good of the team and for the good of Balotelli too.

"He did some good things in the second half. Of course, people expect a lot from him. He has to improve and get accustomed to playing every three days, which he has never really done before coming to Milan. That’s tough both physically and psychologically.

"He did very well on a few occasions tonight, while in others he delayed the pass a bit too long. It is a particular shame for the third goal, as we had several chances to equalise this evening.

"The real regret is that we didn’t get the final pass right in a few different attacking situations."

Milan - who sit second in Group H ahead of Ajax and Celtic, but 11th in Serie A - next face bottom-of-the-table Chievo in Sunday's league clash.

 

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Wenger: Not many win in Dortmund

Arsene Wenger hailed the maturity of his Arsenal side after they edged Borussia Dortmund 1-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday.Aaron Ramsey scored his 11th goal for the season as the north Londoners moved to the top of Group F with their third win from four matches.

Dortmund controlled the game's first hour, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jakub Blaszczykowski going close, while Marco Reus had an effort disallowed for offside.Arsenal withstood Dortmund's best though – last season's beaten finalists had 13 shots on goal to the four of their opponents – before claiming the victory thanks to Ramsey's 62nd-minute header.

Wenger told reporters: "We were under pressure from first minute to last but we didn't make any mistakes and defended well.

"We were compact and worked together and although there was a difficult period in the first half we put in a very mature performance.
"I was concerned that there was a long way to go at 1-0 but we could have made it two.

"We had some good chances. We knew at half-time it was about keeping our focus and letting our technical ability win the game, which is what happened.
"Our defence was under a lot of pressure but they showed good awareness and tactical ability and that gives us a big lift. Not many teams come here and win."

 

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'Arsenal win was an injustice' - Weidenfeller

Arsenal's 1-0 Champions League victory at Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday was an "injustice", according to the hosts' goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller.

BVB were dominant for large periods, but Aaron Ramsey struck the only goal of the game as the Gunners claimed revenge for their 2-1 home defeat to Jurgen Klopp's men on matchday three.

Weidenfeller, 33, was disappointed that his fellow team-mates were unable to take advantage of their superiority, but conceded that they lacked the determination and enthusiasm needed to claim a win.

"It is a little bit of an injustice," he told ZDF. "But we had that bit of luck in London and today we were punished.

"We settled into the match immediately and had great opportunities. But we lacked determination in the decisive moments.

"We were not energetic enough and always tried to play nicely and maybe do another pass and another pass after that.

"We gave away big points. Group F is totally open now. We have to win against Napoli and best thing would be to win by two goals."

Dortmund coach Klopp remained adamant that last season's runners-up in the Champions League can make it out of the group stage this campaign and lamented his players' profligacy.

"I told the team in the dressing room what everybody saw: we were not rewarded for our efforts," he said. "But nothing has come of the game.

"Of course, this was not planned. The way it is now, the group will be thrilling for a longer time. We still have every chance. If we win our two games, all should be good. Of course, for now, it feels bad.

"We simply did not convert our chances. Arsenal scored with their first shot during a phase where we were playing pretty good.

"We did not turn our good chances into guaranteed goals. We did many things right, but, in the end, we were not focused enough and not clinical enough."

Klopp also hinted that some decisions by official Bjorn Kuipers may have went against his side.

He added: "The referee will not get the reputation of being a referee that favours the home team after tonight. But the analysis starts with looking at your own mistakes."

 

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'Tello is better than Cristiano Ronaldo' - Zubizarreta

Andoni Zubizarreta fanned the flames of football's most heated player rivalry with a cheeky swipe at Cristiano Ronaldo in the wake of Barcelona's 3-1 win against AC Milan.

Barcelona's director of football was delighted with the return to form of Lionel Messi - who scored two goals to end a barren run - and could not resist a putdown of the Argentine's great rival.

Asked about the Messi-Ronaldo debate over who is the world's top player, Zubizarreta insisted the Ballon d'Or holder is peerless but also claimed that even reserve forward Cristian Tello is superior to Real Madrid's star player.

"In this game, we saw Messi's character, he is working so good and knows that he has our confidence," Zubizarreta told Spanish TV station Canal +.

"Messi is the best of the world but, for me, Tello is even better than Cristiano, any FC Barcelona player is better for me."

After his side qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League at Camp Nou, Zubizarreta also spoke of their development as a team under new coach Gerardo Martino.

"We know where we are going with him," added the former Spain goalkeeper. "We will be still playing with our own style.

"At Barcelona to win is not just okay, we have also to play well. This is what this jersey means. Martino knows it and he is adapting very well."

Ronaldo recently received an apology from Fifa president Sepp Blatter for disparaging remarks made about him in appearance at Oxford University.

 

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Boateng: I joined Schalke for family and sporting reasons

Kevin-Prince Boateng has revealed that he joined Schalke for both family and sporting reasons.

The 26-year-old left AC Milan for Die Knappen in the summer and the Hertha Berlin product has impressed upon his return to Germany, scoring four goals in his 10 appearances for the club to date.

Boateng is thrilled with how things have gone so far, feeling his decision to move to Gelsenkirchen has already been fully vindicated.

"I chose Schalke for two reasons," the Ghana international told reporters. "Firstly, because I wanted to be closer to my little boy, and secondly because Schalke are a great club.

"They have so many talented young players here, and that promises a very exciting future."

The former Portsmouth and Tottenham attacking midfielder had been linked with a return to England but Boateng refused to confirm if any English sides were interested in signing him.

"You'll have to speak to my agent on that topic," he said. "He knows the teams that were interested, not me."

 

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Kagawa prefers No.10 role to the wing

Shinji Kagawa says that he found it easier playing more centrally than on the left wing during Manchester United's 0-0 draw with Real Sociedad on Tuesday.

The Japan international started the Champions League game out wide but moved into a No.10 role in the second half, a position which, he admits, he found far more preferable.

"I had an easier time playing as a shadow top [trequartista] than I did on the left wing," Kagawa told reporters.

"I need to be more involved in the match and I hope I can do so in our upcoming fixtures. I want to play better, sharper and faster."

The Premier League champions had chances to win the game, with Robin van Persie twice hitting the woodwork, but ultimately had to settle for a point.

The draw means the Red Devils still top of Group A but they remain just a point clear of Bayer Leverkusen, and Kagawa feels that his team might have done even better and secured all three points.

"I think it was a game we could have won," he added. "If you look at the other groups, too, the number of points you earn in games like these can decide whether or not you advance.

"If we could have converted our chances, we could have won."

Kagawa also insisted that little has changed at the club despite Sir Alex Ferguson leaving Old Trafford after almost 27 years in charge and David Moyes taking over at the helm.

"I don't feel like there are any big differences," he claimed. "Their instructions change from match to match, after all."

 

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Giggs confident of Manchester United progression

Ryan Giggs is confident Manchester United will progress to the Champions League last 16 despite missing a host of chances against Real Sociedad.

Robin van Persie, Chicharito and Wayne Rooney were all guilty of wastefulness during the 0-0 draw in the Champions League, with the former hitting the woodwork twice - including from the penalty spot.

But with United still leading Group A by one point thanks to Bayer Leverkusen and Shakhtar Donetsk also playing out a goalless stalemate, Giggs has no doubt the squad will advance for the eighth time in 10 seasons.

"I think we controlled the game tonight, we had two or three great chances and probably should have won the game," he told ITV Sport.

"We are probably happy with the performance but disappointed that we didn’t get the three points.

"If you get a point away from home and win your home games then you usually go through and we are on track to do that at the moment, so hopefully we can finish the job off.

"That is what we will try and do. We have got two tough games left to play but we are up for the task. We have played both Shakhtar and Leverkusen, we know what they are all about and we are confident of going through."

 

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Ancelotti: Casillas was crucial for Madrid

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted Iker Casillas played a crucial role their 2-2 draw at Juventus on Tuesday.

The goalkeeper has been the Italian's No.1 between the sticks in the Champions League, though Diego Lopez is being favoured in the first team for games in La Liga.

However, Casillas did himself a world of good with a top performance in Turin and the former Chelsea boss heralded the shot-stopper for his efforts in keeping the Bianconeri from scoring more than twice.

"He played a very good game," he told Canal Plus. "He was decisive and made two great saves in the first half.

"For him it is easy to not play every game, but he is ready to do it and that means he's very professional."

Raphael Varane was at fault for both Juve goals in the European encounter but the Italian trainer refused to criticise the Frenchman, who he clearly sees as having a brilliant future ahead of him.

"Varane is only 20 and will be the best in the world," he added. "I could not ask him to make zero mistakes."

Madrid looked off the pace in the first half but reacted to Arturo Vidal's 41-minute opener with second-half strikes from Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, though Fernando Llorente equalised to earn the hosts a point.

Ancelotti continued: "We reacted so well in the second half. I'm very happy about this: the courage and the attitude.

"In the first half we defended too deep, allowing space to Paul Pogba and Claudio Marchisio. After that, we changed and pressed more in the midfield.

"Ramos was in the starting XI to cover gaps. Because in Madrid Juventus crossed too many balls in and Ramos is so good with the head. He played well, he is a great player but him at right-back is only temporary."

One more point in the final two group stage games - at home to second-placed Galatasaray and away to Copenhagen - for los Blancos will see them ease into the last 16.

 

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UEFA Europa League 2013.11.07 Group Stage Fixtures

UEFA Europa League 2013.11.07 Group Stage Fixtures


Kuban' Krasnodar Vs Swansea City
Rubin Kazan Vs Wigan Athletic
St. Gallen Vs Valencia
Ludogorets Vs Chornomorets
PSV Vs Dinamo Zagreb
Esbjerg Vs Elfsborg
Standard Liège Vs Salzburg
Maribor Vs Zulte-Waregem
Dnipro Vs Paços de Ferreira
Pandurii Vs Fiorentina
APOEL Vs Bordeaux
Maccabi Tel Aviv Vs Eintracht
Rapid Wien Genk
Thun Vs Dynamo Kyiv
Sevilla Vs Slovan Liberec
Estoril Vs Freiburg
Rijeka Vs Olympique Lyonnais
Vitória Guimarães Vs Real Betis
Legia Warszawa Vs Trabzonspor
Lazio Vs Apollon
Tromsø Vs Anzhi
Tottenham Hotspur Vs Sheriff
AZ Vs Shakhter Karagandy
Maccabi Haifa Vs PAOK ​

 

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Barcelona 3-1 AC Milan: Messi catapults Catalans into last 16

 

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Napoli 3-2 Olympique de Marseille: Higuain seals key victory

Dortmund lata next match dekama aniwa gahanna wenawa

 

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Atletico Madrid 4-0 Austria Vienna: Atleti cruise through to Last 16

 

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'Tello is better than Cristiano Ronaldo' - Zubizarreta

Andoni Zubizarreta fanned the flames of football's most heated player rivalry with a cheeky swipe at Cristiano Ronaldo in the wake of Barcelona's 3-1 win against AC Milan.

Barcelona's director of football was delighted with the return to form of Lionel Messi - who scored two goals to end a barren run - and could not resist a putdown of the Argentine's great rival.

Asked about the Messi-Ronaldo debate over who is the world's top player, Zubizarreta insisted the Ballon d'Or holder is peerless but also claimed that even reserve forward Cristian Tello is superior to Real Madrid's star player.

"In this game, we saw Messi's character, he is working so good and knows that he has our confidence," Zubizarreta told Spanish TV station Canal +.

"Messi is the best of the world but, for me, Tello is even better than Cristiano, any FC Barcelona player is better for me."

After his side qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League at Camp Nou, Zubizarreta also spoke of their development as a team under new coach Gerardo Martino.

"We know where we are going with him," added the former Spain goalkeeper. "We will be still playing with our own style.

"At Barcelona to win is not just okay, we have also to play well. This is what this jersey means. Martino knows it and he is adapting very well."

Ronaldo recently received an apology from Fifa president Sepp Blatter for disparaging remarks made about him in appearance at Oxford University.

 

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Dortmund lata next match dekama aniwa gahanna wenawa

OWWWWW...With more goals..

 

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Figo as president and Zidane as first team boss

Luis Figo has claimed Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has interfered with team selection and did so to force him out of the club in 2005.

Figo became the first of Perez's galactico signings when he arrived at the Bernabeu from Barcelona in summer 2000 after a promise made to him during that year's Madrid presidential election.

He went on to star as the team won the 2002 Champions League and many other trophies, but by April 2005 things had soured.

Figo was benched by then coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo at Barcelona in April 2005, and did not start another game before leaving for Inter Milan that summer despite having a year left on his contract.

The former Portugal captain told Radio Marca he was sure Perez had told Luxemburgo to leave him out of that Camp Nou game so David Beckham and Michael Owen could play.

"I have no doubts I was on the bench many times, but it is one thing when you are 18 and another when you are 33 or 34," he said. "You cannot treat a kid of 18 like a 33-year-old.

"But sometimes these are technical decisions and sometimes they are not, and it is a question of... in the world of football everything happens."

When asked if he felt it was Perez's doing, he replied: "For me, yes. I have no doubts. But that is the past and I have turned the page."

The 2000 Ballon D'Or winner was asked whether he saw parallels between his own situation and that of Iker Casillas, who is being rotated by Blancos coach Carlo Ancelotti and has not always seen eye-to-eye with Perez.

"A footballer always wants to play, and to be happy, feeling useful," Figo said. "If you cannot do that, or they will not let you -- well you look for the happiness wherever you can find it, whether that is at your lifelong club or not. In these types of situations only the person themselves can decide."

Figo, who recently also told Spanish website Grada 360 he had felt forced out of the club by Perez, continues to represent Madrid's veterans team alongside current assistant manager Zinedine Zidane and youth team coach Fernando Morientes.

He joked in that interview that there was a possibility of a Madrid with him as president and Zidane as first team boss "in ten or 15 years time… that would be a good one."

 

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Lazio 2-1 Apollon Limassol: Floccari double seals vital win for Biancocelesti

Sergio Floccari took his tally to four goals in as many Europa League games as Lazio made hard work of a 2-1 win over Apollon Limassol on Thursday.

The striker scored twice in the opening 37 minutes before Fotis Papoulis pulled a goal back for the Cypriot outfit.

Lazio, who were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw in Limassol in the previous clash, started the stronger in Rome and came close through Floccari and Balde Keita in the opening exchanges.

It was the attacking duo who combined to break the deadlock on 14 minutes, as Keita jinxed his was through a series of challenges before squaring for Floccari to finish from close range.

Lazio continued to pile on the pressure and Floccari had his second from a Keita cross shortly before the break, as the Italian headed home the 18-year-old's corner for his fourth in this season's competition.

However, the visitors stunned Stadio Olimpico just two minutes later, as Papoulis struck a fierce effort from the edge of the area past Etrit Berisha.

Lazio controlled the majority of the second half without being able to kind a killer third goal, and Papoulis almost made them pay in the final 20 minutes as he latched on to a hopeful long ball, but Berisha smartly denied him.

Apollon continued to threaten in the closing stages but Lazio held on for a vital three points, moving them four clear of the Cypriots in Group J with just two games to play.