..::Football III::..

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Swansea City 2-1 Arsenal: Hosts battle back to stun Gunners

Arsenal endured another embarrassing collapse, this time squandering a second-half lead to lose 2-1 to Swansea City in the Premier League.

After a turgid first half, the Gunners broke through just past the hour when Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez combined for the Chilean to finish off an incisive counterattack.

But two goals in three minutes for the Swans - first a Gylfi Sigurdsson free kick and then a header by Bafetimbi Gomis - turned the match on its head at the Liberty Stadium, leaving the Gunners once again dejected after their midweek mishap against Anderlecht.

Victory for Swansea was only their second in eight Premier League matches and moved them above Arsenal into fifth, with Wenger's men slipping a place further back heading into the international break.

Tottenham loanee Tom Carroll replaced the suspended Jonjo Shelvey in Swansea's midfield, with the returning Leon Britton on the bench to enhance Garry Monk's options, while Kyle Bartley and Marvin Emnes replaced the injured Federico Fernandez and Wayne Routledge.

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta was ruled out due to a hamstring injury so Mathieu Flamini came into the starting line-up.

The visitors were accused of being naive for the manner in which they allowed Anderlecht to fight back on Tuesday and, perhaps as a result, made a cautious start.

Calum Chambers was in the thick of the action, with Wilfried Bony going down in the penalty area, claiming that the England defender had pushed him in the back, after 20 minutes but referee Phil Dowd saw nothing amiss.

Jefferson Montero's pace was causing right-back Chambers problems and the Ecuadorian winger forced a save from Wojciech Szczesny at his near post. The Arsenal goalkeeper was called into action again to deny Emnes after Bony had picked out the former Middlesbrough man.

Lukasz Fabianski was finally called into action a minute before the break against his former club to save from Welbeck after the England international had played a one-two with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as Arsenal finished the first half strongly.

Oxlade-Chamberlain had a chance of his own just after the break when Alexis played him in but the midfielder got the ball stuck under his feet before his scuffed shot was easily saved by Fabianski, who was up to the test to deny Santi Cazorla's shot that skidded off the wet surface as rain lashed down.

It came as no surprise when the London club the lead 64 minutes in. Alexis was on hand to apply a simple finish after Welbeck had raced down the right and squared the ball to the red-hot Chile international.

Swansea came roaring back, though, and Sigurdsson gave Szczesny no chance with a moment of class 15 minutes from time as his long-range free kick found the back of the net.

And worse was to come for Arsenal, with Gomis rising to head home Montero's cross soon after replaced Bony to stun the visitors.

Arsenal had a shout for a penalty when they felt that Neil Taylor had handled in stoppage time but referee Dowd waved play on as the visitors suffered only their second top-flight defeat of the season.

 

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Juventus 7-0 Parma: Brilliant Bianconeri run riot in Turin

Fernando Llorente, Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata all netted twice as Juventus crushed Parma 7-0 to increase the heat on Roberto Donadoni.

The Serie A champions were made to work extremely hard for their 3-2 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League on Tuesday, but they were back to their ruthless best as the three strikers starred on Sunday.

Juve were 3-0 up at the break as Llorente twice knocked in simple finishes and Stephan Lichtsteiner drove a ferocious half-volley beyond the helpless Antonio Mirante.Massimiliano Allegri had something of a defensive injury crisis to contend with pre-match, as Kwadwo Asamoah, Patrice Evra, Andrea Barzagli and Martin Caceres all missed out.

Yet Parma struggled to make any impact as an attacking force and Tevez netted twice in the first 15 minutes of the second half, first scoring an incredible solo effort and then pouncing on a rebound.

Juve still had it in them to net two more as Morata, a 71st-minute replacement for Llorente, coolly slotted home 14 minutes from time and then added the seventh at the death to mark his first Spain call-up in style.

Under-pressure Donadoni attempted to rally his men in the build-up, but Juve were utterly dominant right from the start, with Roberto Pereyra's over-head kick serving as a warning after just eight minutes.

Parma struggled to come to terms with Juve's clever use of the ball in the final third and it came as little surprise when the hosts finally took the lead in the 23rd minute.
Mirante failed to hold on to Paul Pogba's 20-yard effort and Llorente was on hand to tap in the rebound.They doubled their lead just six minutes later and in spectacular fashion.Lichtsteiner ran on to a loose ball 25 yards from goal and met it with an unstoppable half-volley, giving Mirante no chance in the Parma net.

The Swiss full-back was integral again as Juve opened up a three-goal lead in the 36th minute, cutting an intelligent cross behind a crowd of players in the area to set up an easy finish for Llorente.Juventus looked determined to punish Parma at the start of the second period, despite already holding a comfortable lead.

And Tevez single-handedly scored the hosts' fourth in the 50th minute as the Argentina forward ran from well inside his own half, dribbled past two defenders and produced a tidy finish into the bottom-right corner to complete a sensational goal.

Tevez's second arrived eight minutes later as he tapped past Mirante from 10 yards after the goalkeeper could only parry a Pogba effort. Juve added number six 14 minutes from time as Kingsley Coman, introduced for Tevez, produced an audacious chipped pass over the Parma defence and Morata prodded past Mirante.

The young Spaniard rounded off an incredible win for the hosts in the 88th minute as he steered Lichtsteiner's cross into the top-right corner with a precise volley.

 

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Tottenham 1-2 Stoke City: Chadli strike not enough for below-par Spurs

A sensational goal from Nacer Chadli proved too little, too late for Tottenham as a largely awful performance saw them beaten 2-1 at home by Stoke City in the Premier League.

A horrendous first-half display saw Mauricio Pochettino's side carved open twice by the Potters, who scored through Bojan Krkic and Jonathan Walters.

Spurs improved somewhat after the break and Chadli's magnificent volleyed goal in the late stages gave them an unexpected lifeline but that soon fizzled out when Kyle Naughton hacked down Victor Moses to prevent a clear goalscoring opportunity and was sent off.

Victory lifts the visitors back into the top 10, while Tottenham's third league defeat in four matches sees them slip into the bottom half.

Spurs created the first chance in the fourth minute as Harry Kane, handed his first league start as one of three changes, saw his header from a Chadli cross easily saved by Asmir Begovic but the visitors took the lead two minutes later through Bojan's excellent solo effort.

Having exchanged passes with Steven N'Zonzi inside his own half, Bojan embarked on a run towards goal from the halfway line and, with no Tottenham challenge forthcoming, he unleashed a low shot from 20 yards that beat Hugo Lloris.

Stoke's joy was dampened slightly in the seventh minute when Phil Bardsley, Mark Hughes's only change after serving a suspension, was forced off with a groin injury, Geoff Cameron replacing him.

Kane continued to pose a threat in the attacking third for Tottenham but he was unable to beat Begovic, the Bosnia and Herzegovina international saving twice from the young striker.

Another defensive injury saw Stoke make their second change before the half hour as Marc Muniesa replaced Marc Wilson but it failed to negatively impact the visitors, who doubled their lead after 32 minutes. Tottenham's defending was again poor, a simple Ryan Shawcross header finding Mame Biram Diouf in space, and his square ball was tapped in by the unmarked Walters.

Pochettino rang the changes at the break in a bid to lift the hosts, Erik Lamela and Mousa Dembele entering the fray for the ineffective Andros Townsend and Christian Eriksen.

Lamela nearly had the desired impact as a run down the left resulted in a pass to Kane but again the striker was unable to beat Begovic.

More disorganised defending from Tottenham almost gifted Stoke a third goal as Federico Fazio gifted the ball to N'Zonzi inside the penalty area but the Argentine's blushes were spared as the resulting shot was lashed wide.

With time running out Tottenham began to lay siege on the Stoke goal, Begovic saving brilliantly from a Lamela free kick before Chadli finally reduced the deficit. Danny Rose made good ground down the left and delivered a cross to the back post where the Belgian volleyed into the top corner from a very tight angle.

Tottenham's momentum was brought to an abrupt halt in the closing minutes as Naughton cynically brought down Victor Moses and Stoke could have extended their lead further through substitute Stephen Ireland.

Lloris made a fine save to deny the midfielder and the final whistle was met by the sound of Tottenham's booing fans.

 

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Sunderland 1-1 Everton: Baines penalty saves Toffees

A late penalty from Leighton Baines rescued a point for Everton at the Stadium of Light after Sebastian Larsson had opened the scoring for Sunderland.

The Black Cats were incensed at the decision to award the spot-kick, given after Seamus Coleman was brought down by Connor Wickham, although in truth Sunderland were fortunate the striker escaped a red card.

The equaliser set up a frantic finale with Wes Brown almost grabbing a dramatic winner only to see his goal-bound header cleared off the line by James McCarthy in stoppage time.

Liam Bridcutt came in for suspended midfielder Lee Cattermole as Sunderland made four changes to the team that won 3-1 at Crystal Palace on Monday night.

An Everton side fresh from a 3-0 Europa League win over Lille was bolstered by Coleman, Samuel Eto'o and Ross Barkley.

The visitors quickly settled into a pleasing passing rhythm and Eto'o linked smoothly with fellow forward Romelu Lukaku to blast wide.

Wickham won a fifth-minute corner and the Sunderland forward's header from Larsson's resulting delivery brushed the roof of the net.

Everton midfielder Barry suffered an early end to his afternoon on a stretcher when Gomez caught his right ankle with a late tackle, aggravating a complaint the former England player carried into the match.

Sunderland were growing in confidence by the time Sylvain Distin hacked a Gomez cross out of the goalmouth, while Aiden McGeady offered Everton's response by sending a rasping drive narrowly over the top corner.

Barkley and McGeady exchanged passes to force a fine block from Bridcutt in the 35th minute before an error from Barry's replacement Darron Gibson saw Gomez force a fine save from Tim Howard.

Bridcutt largely impressed during the opening exchanges of the second half but the former Brighton player under hit an ill-advised backpass, his blushes spared as Costel Pantilimon rushed from his goal to deny Lukaku.

Referee Lee Mason entertained the Stadium of Light masses when he fell over due to a collision with McCarthy, shortly before Baines forced a far more significant tumble from Sunderland substitute Will Buckley - on for the ineffective Adam Johnson.

Larsson stepped up to curl a trademark effort beyond Howard, aided by a disorganised Everton wall, but Sunderland's lead proved short-lived.

Wickham lunged in to bring down Coleman, who dashed into the area on the end of a wonderful Eto'o pass, and Baines crashed home from the spot following prolonged complaints from the Sunderland players.

Sunderland edge three points clear of the relegation zone, although they might have been better off as Brown saw an injury-time header cleared off the line by McCarthy.

 

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West Brom 0-2 Newcastle: Magpies march on as Ayoze shines

Newcastle's resurgence continued as they saw off West Brom in a 2-0 Premier League win at the Hawthorns.Ayoze Perez broke the deadlock just before half-time with a sensational finish, meeting Daryl Janmaat's cross with an exquisite backheeled flick.

Fabricio Coloccini doubled the Magpies' advantage shortly after the hour mark when he stayed up after a corner to head in a second and Alan Irvine's men had no response.

Newcastle now head into the international break just outside the top six as their outstanding and somewhat surprising renaissance goes on.

The visitors showed early attacking initiative with Paul Dummett heading over and only the crossbar denying Sammy Ameobi's curling left-footed half-volley.

Unsurprisingly it was Saido Berahino, partnered up front by Victor Anichebe as part of two changes by manager Alan Irvine, who crafted West Brom's first chance.

The striker - called into the England squad for the first time on Thursday after a run of five goals in his previous five league games - forced Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul to palm over the bar with a powerful drive from the edge of the area.

West Brom gradually began to dictate the flow of the game but were punished for their failure to create goalscoring opportunities by a superb creative finish from Ayoze on the stroke of half-time. The 21-year-old capped off a well-worked Newcastle move by cleverly flicking Janmaat's diagonal pass through his own legs and past Ben Foster.

Christian Gamboa was brought on for Sebastien Pocognoli by Irvine after half-time but the change had little impact for the hosts, who continued to labour in search of an equaliser.

Their performance going forward was in stark contrast to that of Newcastle, the Tyneside club doubling their advantage with a rare goal from their skipper.

Coloccini headed a pinpoint right-wing cross from Janmaat beyond a helpless Foster, finding the net for the first time in the Premier League since a 1-1 draw with Tottenham in January 2011.

Perez was denied a second as his late volley was tipped over the bar by Foster, whose heroics could not prevent a Newcastle victory that should further silence those calling for Pardew to vacate his post following a poor start to the season that now seems a distant memory.

 

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Jordi Alba: Suarez already vital for Barcelona

Barcelona defender Jordi Alba believes Luis Suarez will be vital to in their quest for glory this season after coming off the bench to create both goals in Saturday’s 2-1 victory at Almeria.

Luis Enrique’s side had to come from behind to end a run of two straight Liga defeats as full-back Alba netted the decisive goal eight minutes from time after Brazil captain Neymar had equalised Thievy Bifouma’s first-half opener.

And the Spain international says Suarez has already proved his importance to side following his decisive appearance."He made a great pass to Neymar for the first goal," Jordi Alba told the club website.

"Later, he found me all alone in front of the keeper. Suarez played a great game, he's adapted well, and he's really important for us."The former Valencia left-back conceded that Barca were found wanting in a tricky first period at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos but insists he is no hero after hitting the winner.

"I'm not the hero, we won because of teamwork," the 25-year-old said."They were better than us in the first half. It was tough, but we came out swinging after the half and tried to turn it around," he said.

"We didn't move the ball around so well. Almeria did damage on the counterattack, and that's how they scored."They made us battle uphill a bit, but we had some good chances and some nice crosses. In the end we got a really big win."

Though yet to open his account in Spain, Suarez has provided assists for all of Barca’s previous three league goals, while Lionel Messi has gone three Liga matches without scoring for the first time since January.

 

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Callejon thanks Benitez for Spain call-up

Jose Callejon believes playing regular football with Napoli has been instrumental in his ascension to the Spain national squad.

The attacking midfielder has been called up by Vicente del Bosque for Saturday's Euro 2016 qualifier with Belarus and the subsequent friendly with world champions Germany three days later.

Callejon's maiden inclusion in Spain's squad comes as reward for the superb form he has displayed this season, which has seen him surge to the top of the Serie A scoring charts with eight goals in 10 appearances.

And the 27-year-old feels he has made significant progress after joining Napoli from Real Madrid in 2013.

"Since I have been at Napoli, I've had the chance to play consistently that Iwanted, gained experience and I've been able to mature in Italy," Callejon told AS.

"All of this has allowed me to score many goals and get myself noticed."This call-up is thanks to Rafa Benitez and Napoli. I must thank them for this honour of being able to represent my country.

"I feel a great deal of affection from the fans in Naples and that also helps me to give my best."

 

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Spain next matches walata Callejon & Morata ta chance 1ka dunna 1ka godak hodai

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Bale: I want to be as good as Ronaldo

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale says he is desperate to reach a level similar to that of team-mate and 2013 Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Wales international bagged Madrid's opener in their 5-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, his fifth in eight Liga matches, before Ronaldo rounded off the scoring with his 22nd goal in just 16 games this season.

Bale, who joined los Blancos in a record €100 million deal from Tottenham last year, has often referred to Ronaldo as inspiration and is determined to join him as the world's finest player.

"I'm improving all the time and trying to get to the level Cristiano's at," Bale told the BBC."The amount of goals he scores and what he does for the team is incredible.
"Nobody is living up to that at. At the moment he's on another level to everyone else.

"By seeing him in training and in games it gives me that kind of platform to aim for and keep improving, and hopefully one day I can get there."If you don't want to be the world's best you probably shouldn't be playing football."

Ronaldo has now found the net in 18 of his last 19 Liga matches, helping Madrid to 42 goals in 11 games this season – their joint-best ever record at this stage of the campaign, along with the 1950-51 season.

 

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Wenger: Chelsea the least of my worries

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists that he has "different worries" than being concerned about Chelsea's progress at the top of the table.

After the midweek draw with Anderlecht, the Gunners were again guilty of throwing away points against Swansea City on Sunday as goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Bafetimbi Gomis secured a 2-1 win for the hosts at the Liberty Stadium.

The result leaves Arsenal 12 points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea although Wenger is more concerned with winning games than worrying about Chelsea and their lead at the top.

He told Sky Sports: "At the moment we have different worries than that. We just lost a game that we feel we shouldn't have lost. We have to live in a realistic world, in football you have to win the games you can win and today was one. If you want to challenge for the Premier League, you have to be a bit more realistic than we were today."

Quizzed over the reasons his side lost to Swansea from a winning position, Wenger added: "We had the lead, it's difficult to explain how we lost the lead because we were in control.

"You could see that they didn't give up and I felt we lost some decisive challenges in the middle of the park in the last 20 minutes and we paid for that. That's where we lost the battle.

"We were not in too much trouble and we had the best chances. It's a place where it's always tight, it was a very tactical game and I felt when we were 1-0 up we lacked some spark and killer instinct to win it. They didn't give up and we couldn't get the second goal."

 

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Blanc: PSG struck a big blow against Marseille

Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc has hailed his side’s 2-0 win over bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille as a potential turning point in their season.

The hosts went into the match four points behind the Provence club but cut their lead in the Ligue 1 standings to only one point thanks to goals from Lucas Moura and Edinson Cavani.

Blanc, who had come under pressure early in the season due to some mediocre results, now believes that PSG are back in the title race.“We’ve struck a great blow tonight,” he said after the game. “Altogether, it was a victory that was deserved.

“It was a very good game with a great intensity but also a technically very good level.

“Both teams played freely, with goals and chances. Marseille were very good in the first 25 minutes, during which they were physically the superior side.”Goalkeeper Salvatore Sirugu admitted that it was a unique challenge to face OM, who took the game to PSG from the outset.

“It was different from other games because OM were not defensive,” he admitted. “Anything could have happened. It reminded us of the Champions League.“We are happy with the three points, which are important. It was not a decisive match, but it gives us confidence.”

PSG remain second in Ligue 1, one point behind Marseille and only one ahead over third-placed Olympique Lyonnais.

 

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'It's been a bad day for Atletico' - Moya

Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya urged his side not to dwell on Sunday's surprise 2-1 loss at Real Sociedad in La Liga.

The champions made a bright start and went in front on 10 minutes at Anoeta through Mario Mandzukic, only for Carlos Vela to level soon after.However, a close contest was turned on its head when Guilherme Siqueira was sent off for a second bookable offence early on in the second half.

Atletico's hopes of a sixth straight win in all competitions faded and they were denied even a share of the spoils when Imanol Agirretxe headed home an 82nd-minute winner.

"It has not been a good day for us," said Moya. "Now we have to lift our heads up and bounce back."Substitute Cristian Ansaldi echoed those thoughts when insisting Atletico had nothing to be ashamed of.

He added: "There is no need for us to lower our sights. We have to continue working for each other and with humility."Atletico showed signs of tiredness as the game wore on, having had to travel to Sweden for a 2-0 Champions League win over Malmo in midweek.

However, coach Diego Simeone refused to be too downbeat, commenting: "The game had great intensity and was constantly swinging from one way to the other."

 

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Hazard: I don't want to join Real Madrid

Eden Hazard says he has no desire to join Real Madrid and insists Chelsea are the only club that makes him dream.

The Belgium international continues to be linked with a move to Madrid, while reports also claim that the Spanish club are willing to offload Gareth Bale next summer in order to fund the transfer.

Hazard, who has five goals and two assists in 15 appearances for Chelsea this term, has denied suggestions that he is targeting a move to Madrid and maintains he is only focused on performing for Jose Mourinho’s side.

"I made the choice to join Chelsea because I knew I was going to play,” Hazard told Canal+. “This is my third year here. I don’t know if I'm the main asset of the team, but I can take pleasure by playing in this team.

“I have no nostalgia when I watch Ligue 1, I think about the future not the past.

“Paris [Saint-Germain] have huge players, but Chelsea have more experience and more players in certain positions. And we also have a better experience in the Champions League.

“I never said that if I left Chelsea it will only be for Real Madrid. The only club that makes me dream is Chelsea.”

 

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Tevez: It's been a beautiful week

Juventus striker Carlos Tevez was a happy man after celebrating his Argentina recall with a double in Sunday's 7-0 demolition of Parma.

The forward netted the Bianconeri's fourth after a sensational run from inside his own half and struck again eight minutes later, tapping home a rebound after Paul Pobga had seen a shot saved by Gialloblu goalkeeper Antonio Mirante.

For Tevez, it was the perfect way to mark Gerardo Martino's decision to end his international exile after a three-and-a-half year absence from the Albicleste squad.

"It was important to win today," the former Manchester City striker told Sky Sport Italia. "It's been a beautiful week. No I will enjoy the national team. It's like a prize."Bianconeri boss Massimiliano Allegri was also quick to pay tribute to Tevez after another inspirational display for the reigning Serie A champions, who sit six points clear of second-placed Roma having played one game more.

"He had a great game, on a technical level and in terms of his character," the ex-AC Milan boss enthused."In training he is one that is always most committed. He is very charismatic and he deserved that great goal.

"I congratulate him on his national team recall."

 

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Guardiola: Luis Enrique will be a success at Barcelona

Pep Guardiola is in no doubt that Luis Enrique is capable of making Barcelona great again.

The Bayern Munich boss led the Blaugrana to 14 trophies during his four-year stint in charge of the Liga outfit between 2008 and 2012.

However, the Catalans failed to win a major title under Gerardo Martino last season and, despite a morale-boosting win at Almeria on Saturday, the jury is still out on new coach Luis Enrique, after recent losses at Real Madrid and at home to Celta.Guardiola, though, is adamant that his former team-mate will bring the glory days back to Camp Nou.

“He’s going to be a success," the Bayern coach is quoted as saying by AS. "Everything in life needs time."Football is a process. You don’t turn up and by November you’re champions of everything.

"Everything takes time, everything needs work. Sometimes things go so smoothly, sometimes they are a bit tougher."I only hope I don’t meet them in the Champions League!"

Both Bayern and Barca have already booked their places in the last 16 of this season's Champions League, though the Blaugrana will have to get the better of Paris Saint-Germain in order to progress as group winners.

 

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Di Maria is happy at Manchester United, insists wife

Angel Di Maria is happy at Manchester United despite recent public suggestions to the contrary, according to his wife.

On Friday former Red Devils star Paul Scholes wrote in his column for the Independent that "the mood among the United players feels a bit low-key" as a result of their underwhelming start to the season under Louis van Gaal.

He added: "Preparing for the broadcast of the game [Real Madrid v Liverpool, for which Scholes was a television pundit] in Madrid this week, I watched reruns of last season and Angel Di Maria smiling broadly as he celebrated goal after goal with Cristiano Ronaldo.

"He doesn't seem to be in the same happy mood at United. It feels downbeat among the team."

But posting on her official Instagram page, Jorgelina Cardoso insisted that her husband - who became the most expensive player ever purchased by an English club when United paid Real Madrid €76 million for his services this summer - is settling in well to life in Manchester.

Next to a collage of images of Di Maria at United, Cardoso wrote: "You are free to think whatever you want, but in fact, Angel is absolutely happy of being in Manchester United ... Buenas noches!!!"

 

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Arsenal fragility puts Premier League title out of reach early

Nov. 9 is a highly early juncture to concede the Premier League title, but in the aftermath of another late collapse, Arsene Wenger just about threw in the towel. Only 11 games are gone, but 11 years without a title already beckons.

"Chelsea are on course for 100 points in a season," he said. "If they keep that up, then no one will touch them, that's for sure. There doesn't look to be anybody capable of challenging them at the moment."

Arsenal looks perhaps least capable based on Sunday's evidence. Swansea City's three-minute comeback was the latest exposure of a team far too frail to challenge for an honour that was last theirs in 2004.

"Forty-nine, 49 games unbeaten," visiting fans sang in the early stages, but the 10th anniversary of the club's "Invincible" run's ending passed last month. Despite Jose Mourinho's predictions to the contrary, Chelsea look capable of emulating Wenger's greatest achievement while the Frenchman wallows in the gloom of diminished returns.

The roll of honour for Arsenal's Premier League season cannot make pleasant reading. They have just four victories to their name, having begun their 2014-15 campaign with a last-minute defeat of then-managerless Crystal Palace. Since then they have beaten Aston Villa, a team who have not won since mid-September, Sunderland, coming off the back of an 8-0 defeat, and Burnley, who took until the closing stages to dispatch.

Wenger looked lost and wearied at the Liberty Stadium, almost accepting of Arsenal's fate. As his team suffered its latest collapse at the Liberty, he was rarely on the sideline, even if his club-issued anorak protected him from the inclement conditions of a South Wales squall as thunderstorms raged.

Right-back Calum Chambers had been ravaged, and Wenger's sole venture to the touchline in the closing stages was to offer a hand of consolation to a teenager who departed the scene a picture of adolescent angst. Jefferson Montero's left-wing play, in both attacking and defensive senses, had shown that the Premier League is not a kind place to overexpose fledgling defenders.

"We were struggling a bit on the right side, but I have no experienced players on the right side," said Wenger, whose only other option had been to field the even less experienced Hector Bellerin. Perhaps Chambers might have been more comfortable in central defence, although a clumsy push on Swansea striker Wilfried Bony suggested he might be even more of a danger to Arsenal there.

Which left Nacho Monreal, a left-back who can hardly be termed converted to the role he currently find himself in, to be beaten to the Bafetimbi Gomis winner. Of course, that was set up by the rampant Montero. Alexis Sanchez, otherwise kept quiet despite frequently foraging for the ball, had put Arsenal into a lead they protected carelessly. "We were not rigorous until the end," Wenger said. "We produced quite a decent performance for 75 minutes, but you have to last 90 minutes." The slightest setback now seems to harm Arsenal's delicate sense of equilibrium.

On Tuesday, Anderlecht scored what looked a consolation goal from an offside position through Anthony Vanden Borre, but 3-1 became 3-3 when Wenger's aggrieved team lost their minds. This time, they were rocked on their heels by Gylfi Sigurdsson's free kick, awarded after a Kieran Gibbs foul.

"Did Tuesday night feature in our minds? I don't think so. I hope not. The free kick, it's difficult to predict he will score from there. We didn't give a great goal chance away," Wenger said, as if suggesting that fortune had played its part.

"We had a very disappointing week. Considering the performances we produced and the end result that we got, it's very disappointing. We were 3-0 up against Anderlecht and 1-0 up today, and in the end we lose two points against Anderlecht and three points today. It's very disappointing. We have to be capable of being a team being 1-0 up and winning the game."Wenger was certainly upset. "I don't know how much damaging it is," he continued. "In the table, certainly. We had an opportunity to come back in the top four, and the fact we didn't take it is very disappointing."

Swans manager Garry Monk was able to say something that cannot now possibly ring true of the current Arsenal crop. "We've got belief in ourselves," he said, as a manager who this season has tamed two of European football's big beasts in Louis van Gaal -- on opening day at Old Trafford -- and Wenger here. Meanwhile, Monk himself is short of players he would like to to call on after a heavy spate of injuries. "It takes a squad, not individual players," he said. "We have that inner belief, that mentality. I wanted us to seize the initiative."

Too many teams find it easy to take the initiative from Arsenal for them to be capable of challenging for the title, as damningly recognised by their manager.

 

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EPL title race 1ken danma ain wenna one nahathamath fighting chance 1kak thiyanawa

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Jordi Alba: Suarez already vital for Barcelona

Barcelona defender Jordi Alba believes Luis Suarez will be vital to in their quest for glory this season after coming off the bench to create both goals in Saturday’s 2-1 victory at Almeria.

Luis Enrique’s side had to come from behind to end a run of two straight Liga defeats as full-back Alba netted the decisive goal eight minutes from time after Brazil captain Neymar had equalised Thievy Bifouma’s first-half opener.

And the Spain international says Suarez has already proved his importance to side following his decisive appearance."He made a great pass to Neymar for the first goal," Jordi Alba told the club website.

"Later, he found me all alone in front of the keeper. Suarez played a great game, he's adapted well, and he's really important for us."The former Valencia left-back conceded that Barca were found wanting in a tricky first period at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos but insists he is no hero after hitting the winner.

"I'm not the hero, we won because of teamwork," the 25-year-old said."They were better than us in the first half. It was tough, but we came out swinging after the half and tried to turn it around," he said.

"We didn't move the ball around so well. Almeria did damage on the counterattack, and that's how they scored."They made us battle uphill a bit, but we had some good chances and some nice crosses. In the end we got a really big win."

Though yet to open his account in Spain, Suarez has provided assists for all of Barca’s previous three league goals, while Lionel Messi has gone three Liga matches without scoring for the first time since January.

Madrid and Barca no9 puduma widiyata assists denne..No10 and 11 tama godakma score karanne eka nisa

 

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Spain next matches walata Callejon & Morata ta chance 1ka dunna 1ka godak hodai

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