Wadak naha machan apita one experienced defender kenekMarquinhos ta €150m ilanawalu ne
anith 1ka gana wadi
Latest ads
-
Handmade Character Soft Toys Peppa Pig Family- anil1961
- Updated:
-
Video Content Creator
- pramukag
- Updated:
-
QA Engineer Intern
- pramukag
- Updated:
-
Sell your Land, House on idamata.lk for FREE
- sajith.xp.pk
- Updated:
-
Handmade Character Soft Toys- anil1961
- Updated:
..::Football III::..
- Thread starter Wolverine GTR
- Start date
- Status
anith 1ka gana wadi
Juventus 2-0 Chievo: Pogba scores stunner in Bianconeri stroll
Paul Pogba scored a stunning 25-yard goal as Juventus comfortably saw off Chievo 2-0 in Turin.
Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, this week ruled out a January move for the France midfielder, but Juve will be braced for big-money bids from Europe's elite clubs for the in-form 21-year-old at the end of the season.
The former Manchester United man produced a moment of class to fire Juve in front in the second half at Juventus Stadium and also had a hand in the second goal, when his volley was saved by Albano Bizzarri but Stephan Lichtsteiner was on hand to tuck home the rebound.
Massimiliano Allegri's league leaders have now won eight of their last 11 Serie A games and increased their lead over second-placed Roma ahead of the capital club's trip to Fiorentina later in the day.Chievo, on the other hand, remain in the relegation zone and have now lost their last six games against the champions.
Arturo Vidal replaced Andrea Pirlo in the Juve starting line-up after the veteran midfielder was ruled out due to illness, while Andrea Barzagli was named on the substitutes bench for the first time since September after recovering from an Achilles injury.
Juve wasted no time in putting the visitors on the back foot and Bizzarri kept out Roberto Pereyra's effort at the near post after Patrice Evra had picked out the midfielder, with Giorgio Chiellini then heading the resulting corner just over the crossbar.
Chievo were struggling to live with the champions and there was a moment of controversy 20 minutes in, when Vidal went down in the penalty area under a challenge from Ervin Zukanovic but referee Davide Massa booked the Chile midfielder for diving.
Chiellini was proving to be a real threat from set-pieces and the Italy defender again rose highest to meet a corner from the right, but Bizzarri tipped his header over the bar.Chievo were forced to make a change late in the first half after Nicolas Frey came off worse in a sickening clash of heads with compatriot Evra and was carried off following lengthy treatment.
Juve carried on where they left off after the break and Claudio Marchisio tried his luck from long range but failed to hit the target.The home side's frustration mounted as Rolando Maran's men worked hard to keep them at bay, but Pogba produced the moment of quality that the game had been lacking to open the scoring just before the hour mark.
The France international showed quick feet to beat his man and unleashed a left-footed strike from 25 yards to beat Bizzarri at his near post.Vidal cut a frustrated figure when he was replaced by Lichtsteiner two minutes later and the substitute doubled Juve's lead from close range, reacting quickly after Pogba's volley had been kept out by Bizzarri 17 minutes from time.
Ezequiel Schelotto almost set up a nervy finish when he stole in and struck the near post four minutes from time, but Juve never really looked in danger of surrendering their advantage as they saw out yet another victory.
Paul Pogba scored a stunning 25-yard goal as Juventus comfortably saw off Chievo 2-0 in Turin.
Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, this week ruled out a January move for the France midfielder, but Juve will be braced for big-money bids from Europe's elite clubs for the in-form 21-year-old at the end of the season.
The former Manchester United man produced a moment of class to fire Juve in front in the second half at Juventus Stadium and also had a hand in the second goal, when his volley was saved by Albano Bizzarri but Stephan Lichtsteiner was on hand to tuck home the rebound.
Massimiliano Allegri's league leaders have now won eight of their last 11 Serie A games and increased their lead over second-placed Roma ahead of the capital club's trip to Fiorentina later in the day.Chievo, on the other hand, remain in the relegation zone and have now lost their last six games against the champions.
Arturo Vidal replaced Andrea Pirlo in the Juve starting line-up after the veteran midfielder was ruled out due to illness, while Andrea Barzagli was named on the substitutes bench for the first time since September after recovering from an Achilles injury.
Juve wasted no time in putting the visitors on the back foot and Bizzarri kept out Roberto Pereyra's effort at the near post after Patrice Evra had picked out the midfielder, with Giorgio Chiellini then heading the resulting corner just over the crossbar.
Chievo were struggling to live with the champions and there was a moment of controversy 20 minutes in, when Vidal went down in the penalty area under a challenge from Ervin Zukanovic but referee Davide Massa booked the Chile midfielder for diving.
Chiellini was proving to be a real threat from set-pieces and the Italy defender again rose highest to meet a corner from the right, but Bizzarri tipped his header over the bar.Chievo were forced to make a change late in the first half after Nicolas Frey came off worse in a sickening clash of heads with compatriot Evra and was carried off following lengthy treatment.
Juve carried on where they left off after the break and Claudio Marchisio tried his luck from long range but failed to hit the target.The home side's frustration mounted as Rolando Maran's men worked hard to keep them at bay, but Pogba produced the moment of quality that the game had been lacking to open the scoring just before the hour mark.
The France international showed quick feet to beat his man and unleashed a left-footed strike from 25 yards to beat Bizzarri at his near post.Vidal cut a frustrated figure when he was replaced by Lichtsteiner two minutes later and the substitute doubled Juve's lead from close range, reacting quickly after Pogba's volley had been kept out by Bizzarri 17 minutes from time.
Ezequiel Schelotto almost set up a nervy finish when he stole in and struck the near post four minutes from time, but Juve never really looked in danger of surrendering their advantage as they saw out yet another victory.
Bristol City 0-1 West Ham: Carroll & Sakho combine to ease Hammers through
West Ham left it late to seal a 1-0 win over Bristol City and ensure their place in the next round of the FA Cup.
Substitute Diafra Sakho's late header sank the League One side as the visitors survived a scare to put their name in the hat for the draw.
The Premier League side were well below their best at Ashton Gate, but Sakho stepped off the bench to nod home at the back post in the 81st minute.Defeat was harsh on League One high-flyers City, who belied their underdog status to dominate the opening period.
Matt Smith was a particular threat and he twice saw headers cleared off the goalline.West Ham improved after the break, though, and Sakho hit the crossbar before his decisive strike.
That meant Sam Allardyce's side avoided the same fate as Chelsea and Manchester City - eliminated by Bradford City and Middlesbrough respectively on Saturday.
City started on the front and Smith was at the centre of the first clear opening in the sixth minute when a Luke Freeman corner caused chaos in the penalty area and led to the Fulham loanee's looping header being cleared off the line by Mark Noble.
West Ham continued to struggle against a dynamic City attack led by the lively Freeman and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.Emmanuel-Thomas combined with Joe Bryan to carve open the West Ham defence soon afterwards, in a move that led to the latter flashing an effort across the face of goal from a tight angle.
City's pressure was relentless and another looping Smith header was denied on the goalline, this time striker Andy Carroll doing his defensive duties with a headed clearance, although there were suspicions of handball against the former Liverpool man.
West Ham were being limited to shots from distance, but Carroll will feel he could have done better with a tame volley from Carl Jenkinson's cross that failed to trouble City goalkeeper Frank Fielding in the 38th minute.
The tempo dropped in the second half, leading Allardyce to haul off Alex Song and Enner Valencia in the 57th minute to be replaced by Morgan Amalfitano and Sakho.West Ham's ball retention improved, but chances remained at a premium, with Stewart Downing firing an edge-of-the-box shot over the crossbar.
At the other end, City continued to probe and Smith spurned a good chance with 20 minutes remaining when he headed Mark Little's accurate delivery over the crossbar from near the penalty spot.City were handed a reprieve soon afterwards when the Senegal striker showed expert skill to cut in from the left and unleashed a fierce half-volley that skimmed the crossbar.
However, with nine minutes remaining, Sakho had the decisive say when he stretched to meet Carroll's cross and headed into the roof of the net.
West Ham left it late to seal a 1-0 win over Bristol City and ensure their place in the next round of the FA Cup.
Substitute Diafra Sakho's late header sank the League One side as the visitors survived a scare to put their name in the hat for the draw.
The Premier League side were well below their best at Ashton Gate, but Sakho stepped off the bench to nod home at the back post in the 81st minute.Defeat was harsh on League One high-flyers City, who belied their underdog status to dominate the opening period.
Matt Smith was a particular threat and he twice saw headers cleared off the goalline.West Ham improved after the break, though, and Sakho hit the crossbar before his decisive strike.
That meant Sam Allardyce's side avoided the same fate as Chelsea and Manchester City - eliminated by Bradford City and Middlesbrough respectively on Saturday.
City started on the front and Smith was at the centre of the first clear opening in the sixth minute when a Luke Freeman corner caused chaos in the penalty area and led to the Fulham loanee's looping header being cleared off the line by Mark Noble.
West Ham continued to struggle against a dynamic City attack led by the lively Freeman and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.Emmanuel-Thomas combined with Joe Bryan to carve open the West Ham defence soon afterwards, in a move that led to the latter flashing an effort across the face of goal from a tight angle.
City's pressure was relentless and another looping Smith header was denied on the goalline, this time striker Andy Carroll doing his defensive duties with a headed clearance, although there were suspicions of handball against the former Liverpool man.
West Ham were being limited to shots from distance, but Carroll will feel he could have done better with a tame volley from Carl Jenkinson's cross that failed to trouble City goalkeeper Frank Fielding in the 38th minute.
The tempo dropped in the second half, leading Allardyce to haul off Alex Song and Enner Valencia in the 57th minute to be replaced by Morgan Amalfitano and Sakho.West Ham's ball retention improved, but chances remained at a premium, with Stewart Downing firing an edge-of-the-box shot over the crossbar.
At the other end, City continued to probe and Smith spurned a good chance with 20 minutes remaining when he headed Mark Little's accurate delivery over the crossbar from near the penalty spot.City were handed a reprieve soon afterwards when the Senegal striker showed expert skill to cut in from the left and unleashed a fierce half-volley that skimmed the crossbar.
However, with nine minutes remaining, Sakho had the decisive say when he stretched to meet Carroll's cross and headed into the roof of the net.
Inter 0-1 Torino: Moretti late show stuns Nerazzurri
Inter's revival under Roberto Mancini stalled as Emiliano Moretti's injury-time goal saw Torino snatch a shock 1-0 win at San Siro.
The centre-back pounced from close range in the 94th minute to head the visitors to a second successive top-flight away victory - the first time they have achieved the feat since April 1995.Lukas Podolski and Nemanja Vidic were the only players to threaten either goal in the first half, the former bring a good save out of Daniele Padelli.
Torino offered more in the final third after the break and brought the first save out of Samir Handanovic after 72 minutes, Cristian Molinaro having his side's first shot on target.Inter wasted late chances courtesy of Mauro Icardi and Rodrigo Palacio, which they were left to rue as Moretti nodded home in stoppage time.The win lifts Torino to within a point of Inter, who saw their hopes of a top-four finish dented.
Inter coach Roberto Mancini recalled Joel Obi for his sixth start of the season in place of Hugo Campagnaro at full-back, while Mateo Kovacic returned as part of an attacking trio in support of Icardi.The visitors made two changes from their victory over Cesena, but were unable to build any momentum as Inter dominated proceedings.
Inter may have been dictating the play, but their final ball lacked quality and chances were at a premium, with only Podolski and Vidic posing any sort of threat to Padelli.Palacio created the game's opening chance after 13 minutes for Podolski, but the Germany international's low shot was parried by the Torino goalkeeper.
With the visitors restricted to rare counter attacks, Inter continued to look more threatening and Vidic should have done better with a looping header from a left-wing corner.Inter were forced into a change before the break as Marco Andreolli suffered a hamstring injury and they were lucky not to suffer further misery when
Torino's best opening arrived, Josef Martinez inexplicably leaving a Marco Benassi cross from the right when unmarked in the penalty area.
Little changed after the break as both sides wasted promising opportunities, Martinez particularly guilty of directing a free header wide from a corner.
The introduction of Xherdan Shaqiri and Maxi Lopez early in the second half gave the two teams increased attacking impetus, and it was again Torino who looked more likely, only for Alexander Farnerud to blaze over.Handanovic was finally called into action with 18 minutes remaining, the Slovenia international getting down well to hold Molinaro's speculative effort.
Icardi wasted the chance to become Inter's hero in the final 15 minutes as he missed Palacio's low cross and Torino eventually cleared to safety.And the home side were made to pay as the visitors finally broke the deadlock when Moretti struck at the death.
Lopez's front-post flick found the 33-year-old unmarked six yards from goal and he made no mistake, much to the frustration of the home fans.
Inter's revival under Roberto Mancini stalled as Emiliano Moretti's injury-time goal saw Torino snatch a shock 1-0 win at San Siro.
The centre-back pounced from close range in the 94th minute to head the visitors to a second successive top-flight away victory - the first time they have achieved the feat since April 1995.Lukas Podolski and Nemanja Vidic were the only players to threaten either goal in the first half, the former bring a good save out of Daniele Padelli.
Torino offered more in the final third after the break and brought the first save out of Samir Handanovic after 72 minutes, Cristian Molinaro having his side's first shot on target.Inter wasted late chances courtesy of Mauro Icardi and Rodrigo Palacio, which they were left to rue as Moretti nodded home in stoppage time.The win lifts Torino to within a point of Inter, who saw their hopes of a top-four finish dented.
Inter coach Roberto Mancini recalled Joel Obi for his sixth start of the season in place of Hugo Campagnaro at full-back, while Mateo Kovacic returned as part of an attacking trio in support of Icardi.The visitors made two changes from their victory over Cesena, but were unable to build any momentum as Inter dominated proceedings.
Inter may have been dictating the play, but their final ball lacked quality and chances were at a premium, with only Podolski and Vidic posing any sort of threat to Padelli.Palacio created the game's opening chance after 13 minutes for Podolski, but the Germany international's low shot was parried by the Torino goalkeeper.
With the visitors restricted to rare counter attacks, Inter continued to look more threatening and Vidic should have done better with a looping header from a left-wing corner.Inter were forced into a change before the break as Marco Andreolli suffered a hamstring injury and they were lucky not to suffer further misery when
Torino's best opening arrived, Josef Martinez inexplicably leaving a Marco Benassi cross from the right when unmarked in the penalty area.
Little changed after the break as both sides wasted promising opportunities, Martinez particularly guilty of directing a free header wide from a corner.
The introduction of Xherdan Shaqiri and Maxi Lopez early in the second half gave the two teams increased attacking impetus, and it was again Torino who looked more likely, only for Alexander Farnerud to blaze over.Handanovic was finally called into action with 18 minutes remaining, the Slovenia international getting down well to hold Molinaro's speculative effort.
Icardi wasted the chance to become Inter's hero in the final 15 minutes as he missed Palacio's low cross and Torino eventually cleared to safety.And the home side were made to pay as the visitors finally broke the deadlock when Moretti struck at the death.
Lopez's front-post flick found the 33-year-old unmarked six yards from goal and he made no mistake, much to the frustration of the home fans.
Brighton 2-3 Arsenal: Ozil, Walcott & Rosicky strike as Gunners clinch tense win
Arsenal battled their way to a 3-2 win over Brighton to move one step closer to retaining the FA Cup.
England winger Walcott set the tone for a dominant first-half display from the holders with the opener in just the second minute, while Ozil - making his first start since October - added the second before half-time.
Having offered precious little in terms of an attacking threat prior to the break, Brighton reduced the arrears early in a much-improved second-half showing when Chris O'Grady capitalised on some poor Arsenal defending to score.
Hopes of a stirring comeback on a weekend of upsets appeared to be dashed when Tomas Rosicky volleyed in Olivier Giroud's chipped pass from the edge of the box.There was still time for Sam Baldock to set up a nervy finish with a measured 75th-minute finish, but Arsene Wenger's men held firm.
Arsenal started with the confidence of a side enjoying a three-match winning run without conceding a goal, their most recent triumph having come against Premier League champions Manchester City.
Walcott and Ozil were unused substitutes in that game but came to the fore at the Amex Stadium, the former opening the scoring inside 90 seconds with his first goal in more than a year.
When the sides last met at the same stage in 2013, Walcott broke Brighton hearts with an 85th-minute winner in a game that also ended 3-2, but he was much quicker off the mark this time around, collecting Calum Chambers' right-wing cross with his first touch and steering home with his second.
Brighton struggled to stem the flow of attacks and fell two behind midway through the half as Ozil turned neatly in the box and swept a precise finish beyond David Stockdale following Rosicky's neat pass into feet.
A rare foray forward from Chris Hughton's side saw Baldock fire high and wide from 12 yards just before the half-hour mark, but when Brighton finally did manage a shot on target it changed the complexion of the match.
It came five minutes into the second half when Rosicky's poor clearance allowed O'Grady to seize possession in the box and he showed excellent composure to fire a low shot past the flat-footed Wojciech Szczesny.The goal energised the home fans and suddenly Brighton seemed to harbour hopes of matching Bradford City's stunning FA Cup turnaround against Chelsea on Saturday, with Phil Parkinson's side having come from 2-0 down to win 4-2.
That notion was soon dispelled, though, as Rosicky scored the pick of the bunch in the 59th minute. The Czech looked one way and played a pass the other before volleying the return ball from Giroud beyond Stockdale.
Baldock's chipped finish gave Brighton a glimmer of hope, but a record home crowd were denied the equaliser that would have forced an unlikely replay as Arsenal - who saw Alexis Sanchez clip the crossbar with a late free-kick - marched on to round five.
Arsenal battled their way to a 3-2 win over Brighton to move one step closer to retaining the FA Cup.
England winger Walcott set the tone for a dominant first-half display from the holders with the opener in just the second minute, while Ozil - making his first start since October - added the second before half-time.
Having offered precious little in terms of an attacking threat prior to the break, Brighton reduced the arrears early in a much-improved second-half showing when Chris O'Grady capitalised on some poor Arsenal defending to score.
Hopes of a stirring comeback on a weekend of upsets appeared to be dashed when Tomas Rosicky volleyed in Olivier Giroud's chipped pass from the edge of the box.There was still time for Sam Baldock to set up a nervy finish with a measured 75th-minute finish, but Arsene Wenger's men held firm.
Arsenal started with the confidence of a side enjoying a three-match winning run without conceding a goal, their most recent triumph having come against Premier League champions Manchester City.
Walcott and Ozil were unused substitutes in that game but came to the fore at the Amex Stadium, the former opening the scoring inside 90 seconds with his first goal in more than a year.
When the sides last met at the same stage in 2013, Walcott broke Brighton hearts with an 85th-minute winner in a game that also ended 3-2, but he was much quicker off the mark this time around, collecting Calum Chambers' right-wing cross with his first touch and steering home with his second.
Brighton struggled to stem the flow of attacks and fell two behind midway through the half as Ozil turned neatly in the box and swept a precise finish beyond David Stockdale following Rosicky's neat pass into feet.
A rare foray forward from Chris Hughton's side saw Baldock fire high and wide from 12 yards just before the half-hour mark, but when Brighton finally did manage a shot on target it changed the complexion of the match.
It came five minutes into the second half when Rosicky's poor clearance allowed O'Grady to seize possession in the box and he showed excellent composure to fire a low shot past the flat-footed Wojciech Szczesny.The goal energised the home fans and suddenly Brighton seemed to harbour hopes of matching Bradford City's stunning FA Cup turnaround against Chelsea on Saturday, with Phil Parkinson's side having come from 2-0 down to win 4-2.
That notion was soon dispelled, though, as Rosicky scored the pick of the bunch in the 59th minute. The Czech looked one way and played a pass the other before volleying the return ball from Giroud beyond Stockdale.
Baldock's chipped finish gave Brighton a glimmer of hope, but a record home crowd were denied the equaliser that would have forced an unlikely replay as Arsenal - who saw Alexis Sanchez clip the crossbar with a late free-kick - marched on to round five.
Fiorentina 1-1 Roma: Ljajic cancels out Gomez opener
Fiorentina held Roma to a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Sunday evening's Serie A encounter.
Mario Gomez opened the scoring after reacting well to a David Pizarro shot, but Adem Ljajic would eventually restore parity after the break.
The hosts started the match brightly and came close to opening the scoring through Gonzalo Rodriguez after 14 minutes of play, only for Daniele De Rossi to clear his attempt off the line with Morgan De Sanctis already beaten.
Fiorentina would continue to dominate, though, and got their goal after all in the 19th minute. David Pizarro took aim from outside the area after the Roma defence failed to clear the ball and Gomez reacted well to deflect the ball past De Sanctis for the 1-0.
The away side nearly levelled the scoring at the half-hour mark when Radja Nainggolan met a Ljajic corner, but Ciprian Tatarusanu pulled off a great save to deny the Belgium international.
Nenad Tomovic then threatened for Fiorentina once more with a good shot after a quick turn, yet his attempt went inches wide as Roma escaped a second goal.
Ljajic tried his luck with a powerful long-range strike in the closing stages of the first half, but Tatarusanu was well placed and calmly collected.
The Serbian was not to be denied in the 49th minute, however, as he restored parity after a superb Roma move. Francesco Totti found Juan Iturbe, who set up Ljajic and the 23-year-old hurt his former team with a composed finish.
Totti once more reached Iturbe in a dangerous position shortly after the equaliser, but the Argentine failed to beat the Fiorentina goalkeeper.
La Viola slowly grew back into the game from there on and Jasmin Kurtic could have restored his side's lead halfway through the second half, only to see his shot blocked by Mapou Yangou-Mbiwa.
Ljajic continued to cause the hosts' defence all kinds of trouble and he got a good chance to double his personal tally after being set up by Iturbe in the 72nd minute, but he blasted his attempt over the bar.
Roma remain second in Serie A, but have fallen seven points behind leaders Juventus.
Fiorentina, meanwhile, sit sixth in the table with 31 points from 20 games.
Fiorentina held Roma to a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Sunday evening's Serie A encounter.
Mario Gomez opened the scoring after reacting well to a David Pizarro shot, but Adem Ljajic would eventually restore parity after the break.
The hosts started the match brightly and came close to opening the scoring through Gonzalo Rodriguez after 14 minutes of play, only for Daniele De Rossi to clear his attempt off the line with Morgan De Sanctis already beaten.
Fiorentina would continue to dominate, though, and got their goal after all in the 19th minute. David Pizarro took aim from outside the area after the Roma defence failed to clear the ball and Gomez reacted well to deflect the ball past De Sanctis for the 1-0.
The away side nearly levelled the scoring at the half-hour mark when Radja Nainggolan met a Ljajic corner, but Ciprian Tatarusanu pulled off a great save to deny the Belgium international.
Nenad Tomovic then threatened for Fiorentina once more with a good shot after a quick turn, yet his attempt went inches wide as Roma escaped a second goal.
Ljajic tried his luck with a powerful long-range strike in the closing stages of the first half, but Tatarusanu was well placed and calmly collected.
The Serbian was not to be denied in the 49th minute, however, as he restored parity after a superb Roma move. Francesco Totti found Juan Iturbe, who set up Ljajic and the 23-year-old hurt his former team with a composed finish.
Totti once more reached Iturbe in a dangerous position shortly after the equaliser, but the Argentine failed to beat the Fiorentina goalkeeper.
La Viola slowly grew back into the game from there on and Jasmin Kurtic could have restored his side's lead halfway through the second half, only to see his shot blocked by Mapou Yangou-Mbiwa.
Ljajic continued to cause the hosts' defence all kinds of trouble and he got a good chance to double his personal tally after being set up by Iturbe in the 72nd minute, but he blasted his attempt over the bar.
Roma remain second in Serie A, but have fallen seven points behind leaders Juventus.
Fiorentina, meanwhile, sit sixth in the table with 31 points from 20 games.
Saint-Etienne 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain: Ibrahimovic penalty steals the win
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the only goal as Paris Saint-Germain claimed a 1-0 victory at Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
PSG won by the same scoreline when the teams met at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in the Coupe de la Ligue earlier this month and the Sweden international was on hand to net the winner again, as he had done in that encounter.Ibrahimovic had to rely on a penalty to register his ninth league goal of the season, though, as PSG struggled to turn possession into goalscoring opportunities.
The first half passed almost entirely without incident, but there was an open nature to the beginning of the second half that hinted that the three points were there for the taking.
However, it took a handball on the line from Jeremy Clement to provide PSG with a chance to break the deadlock, and Ibrahimovic made no mistake from 12 yards.
Edinson Cavani sent a delightful chip onto the crossbar 15 minutes from time, but PSG will be delighted to have pulled four points clear of their fourth-placed opponents, while they remain the same distance behind leaders Lyon, who beat Metz 2-0 earlier in the day.
Fabien Lemoine was included for Saint-Etienne despite concerns over his fitness, and the midfielder required treatment with less than a minute on the clock when he landed awkwardly after an an aerial challenge with Blaise Matuidi.
Laurent Blanc brought Cavani and Marquinhos into his starting XI as the only two changes from PSG's last league outing, while Gregory van der Wiel – scorer of an own goal in the 4-2 win over Evian last weekend – was absent from the matchday squad, although a foot injury is said to be behind his omission.Chances were few and far between in the opening stages, with Yohan Mollo blazing high and wide from 20 yards after 13 minutes.
PSG dominated possession but did not test Stephane Ruffier until the 24th minute, when Matuidi forced the goalkeeper into a diving save with a close-range header, although the flag had already been raised for offside.
The game opened up somewhat at the beginning of the second half, with Edinson Cavani sending a low shot straight at Ruffier before straying into an offside position as he looked to latch on to a Matuidi throughball.
Ibrahimovic broke the defensive line in the 58th minute only to see a soft effort saved by Ruffier, but had the chance to break the deadlock from the spot on the hour mark after Clement was deemed to have used an arm to block a shot on the line.
The striker made no mistake in dispatching to the bottom left-hand corner, but his spot-kick was delayed momentarily after an object appeared to be thrown onto the pitch, evoking memories of the cup clash between the sides at this ground, when play had to be suspended in similar circumstances.The Swede should have doubled his tally soon after, but saw an effort blocked by Paul Baysse before Marco Verratti headed wide from the rebound.
PSG missed another chance to make sure of the win 15 minutes from time when Cavani's delicate chip caught the underside of the crossbar and bounced to safety, and Ibrahimovic was lucky to avoid a red card for a studs-up challenge on Romain Hamouma in stoppage time.However, the visitors held on for an important win in their quest to retain the Ligue 1 title.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the only goal as Paris Saint-Germain claimed a 1-0 victory at Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
PSG won by the same scoreline when the teams met at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in the Coupe de la Ligue earlier this month and the Sweden international was on hand to net the winner again, as he had done in that encounter.Ibrahimovic had to rely on a penalty to register his ninth league goal of the season, though, as PSG struggled to turn possession into goalscoring opportunities.
The first half passed almost entirely without incident, but there was an open nature to the beginning of the second half that hinted that the three points were there for the taking.
However, it took a handball on the line from Jeremy Clement to provide PSG with a chance to break the deadlock, and Ibrahimovic made no mistake from 12 yards.
Edinson Cavani sent a delightful chip onto the crossbar 15 minutes from time, but PSG will be delighted to have pulled four points clear of their fourth-placed opponents, while they remain the same distance behind leaders Lyon, who beat Metz 2-0 earlier in the day.
Fabien Lemoine was included for Saint-Etienne despite concerns over his fitness, and the midfielder required treatment with less than a minute on the clock when he landed awkwardly after an an aerial challenge with Blaise Matuidi.
Laurent Blanc brought Cavani and Marquinhos into his starting XI as the only two changes from PSG's last league outing, while Gregory van der Wiel – scorer of an own goal in the 4-2 win over Evian last weekend – was absent from the matchday squad, although a foot injury is said to be behind his omission.Chances were few and far between in the opening stages, with Yohan Mollo blazing high and wide from 20 yards after 13 minutes.
PSG dominated possession but did not test Stephane Ruffier until the 24th minute, when Matuidi forced the goalkeeper into a diving save with a close-range header, although the flag had already been raised for offside.
The game opened up somewhat at the beginning of the second half, with Edinson Cavani sending a low shot straight at Ruffier before straying into an offside position as he looked to latch on to a Matuidi throughball.
Ibrahimovic broke the defensive line in the 58th minute only to see a soft effort saved by Ruffier, but had the chance to break the deadlock from the spot on the hour mark after Clement was deemed to have used an arm to block a shot on the line.
The striker made no mistake in dispatching to the bottom left-hand corner, but his spot-kick was delayed momentarily after an object appeared to be thrown onto the pitch, evoking memories of the cup clash between the sides at this ground, when play had to be suspended in similar circumstances.The Swede should have doubled his tally soon after, but saw an effort blocked by Paul Baysse before Marco Verratti headed wide from the rebound.
PSG missed another chance to make sure of the win 15 minutes from time when Cavani's delicate chip caught the underside of the crossbar and bounced to safety, and Ibrahimovic was lucky to avoid a red card for a studs-up challenge on Romain Hamouma in stoppage time.However, the visitors held on for an important win in their quest to retain the Ligue 1 title.
West Ham push for Darren Fletcher deal
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is attempting to push through a deal to sign Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher ahead of the January transfer deadline.
Allardyce has prioritised a move for the 30-year-old, despite the club’s policy of signing players aged 27 and under, and the Hammers manager is keen to acquire Fletcher on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
The player’s injury record is understood to worry insiders at the club, though, due to the furore surrounding Andy Carroll’s time on the sidelines following his permanent move from Liverpool.
Fletcher battled back from ulcerative colitis to return to the United starting XI but has completed 90 minutes just twice in the Premier League under Louis van Gaal this season.
West Brom have also tabled a proposal as they look to sign the Scotland international, while Valencia are reportedly keeping an eye on negotiations.
Allardyce confirmed West Ham’s interest in Fletcher earlier this week, confirming that he is currently waiting to hear back from the player over the club’s proposal.
"When he makes his mind up everyone will know," he told reporters.
"I don't know what the timeline is. If any of the other packages offered to him are accepted then we would accept that.
"Or if they hadn't made their mind up or were negotiating somewhere else that would be it. We can't wait forever.
"I always think at this stage of the window, if you do get something nailed on you have to take it because you might end up with nothing if you don't."
Fletcher has spent his entire career at United since joining the club at the age of 11 in 1995.
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is attempting to push through a deal to sign Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher ahead of the January transfer deadline.
Allardyce has prioritised a move for the 30-year-old, despite the club’s policy of signing players aged 27 and under, and the Hammers manager is keen to acquire Fletcher on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
The player’s injury record is understood to worry insiders at the club, though, due to the furore surrounding Andy Carroll’s time on the sidelines following his permanent move from Liverpool.
Fletcher battled back from ulcerative colitis to return to the United starting XI but has completed 90 minutes just twice in the Premier League under Louis van Gaal this season.
West Brom have also tabled a proposal as they look to sign the Scotland international, while Valencia are reportedly keeping an eye on negotiations.
Allardyce confirmed West Ham’s interest in Fletcher earlier this week, confirming that he is currently waiting to hear back from the player over the club’s proposal.
"When he makes his mind up everyone will know," he told reporters.
"I don't know what the timeline is. If any of the other packages offered to him are accepted then we would accept that.
"Or if they hadn't made their mind up or were negotiating somewhere else that would be it. We can't wait forever.
"I always think at this stage of the window, if you do get something nailed on you have to take it because you might end up with nothing if you don't."
Fletcher has spent his entire career at United since joining the club at the age of 11 in 1995.
PSG deserved the win - Blanc
Laurent Blanc has praised his Paris Saint-Germain side for getting all three points from Sunday's clash with Saint-Etienne.
A second half penalty from Zlatan Ibrahimovic was enough for PSG to win the game and pull level with Marseille in second place in the table.
Blanc admitted that his side had a poor start to the game, but was pleased with the way they played after the restart.
"We are pleased with the win and I think the performance was good," he told reporters. "I think the team played at a good level.
"We were not dangerous in the first half but in the second half we knew we needed to be dangerous.
"We made some opportunities that could have hurt Saint-Etienne. We came with the intention of winning and the victory was deserved.
"You must always be demanding. I am. If you win all of your away games 1-0 then it will all be well. We will stay focused on our journey. We needed to take points against Saint-Etienne, where it's hard to win."
Laurent Blanc has praised his Paris Saint-Germain side for getting all three points from Sunday's clash with Saint-Etienne.
A second half penalty from Zlatan Ibrahimovic was enough for PSG to win the game and pull level with Marseille in second place in the table.
Blanc admitted that his side had a poor start to the game, but was pleased with the way they played after the restart.
"We are pleased with the win and I think the performance was good," he told reporters. "I think the team played at a good level.
"We were not dangerous in the first half but in the second half we knew we needed to be dangerous.
"We made some opportunities that could have hurt Saint-Etienne. We came with the intention of winning and the victory was deserved.
"You must always be demanding. I am. If you win all of your away games 1-0 then it will all be well. We will stay focused on our journey. We needed to take points against Saint-Etienne, where it's hard to win."
Trezeguet to retire
Former France and Juventus star David Trezeguet has confirmed that he will hang up his boots.
The 37-year-old made his name at Monaco during the 1990s and his form won him a move to Turin, where he spent a whole decade, in 2000.
Since leaving Serie A, he enjoyed brief spells in La Liga and the United Arab Emirates before playing for River Plate and Newell's Old Boys in Argentina.
More recently, he has plied his trade in the Indian Super League, with FC Pune City and he is now hoping to return to Juve in an ambassadorial role.
"Before going out to play in India, I had the idea to move on," he told L'Equipe.
"The idea is that I will participate in the promoition of Juventus' image in the world. The France team still has a place in my heart."
Trezeguet was part of his nation's 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000-winning teams, won two Ligue 1 titles and two Scudetti.
Former France and Juventus star David Trezeguet has confirmed that he will hang up his boots.
The 37-year-old made his name at Monaco during the 1990s and his form won him a move to Turin, where he spent a whole decade, in 2000.
Since leaving Serie A, he enjoyed brief spells in La Liga and the United Arab Emirates before playing for River Plate and Newell's Old Boys in Argentina.
More recently, he has plied his trade in the Indian Super League, with FC Pune City and he is now hoping to return to Juve in an ambassadorial role.
"Before going out to play in India, I had the idea to move on," he told L'Equipe.
"The idea is that I will participate in the promoition of Juventus' image in the world. The France team still has a place in my heart."
Trezeguet was part of his nation's 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000-winning teams, won two Ligue 1 titles and two Scudetti.
Walcott delighted to score after painful year
After more than a year of frustration, Theo Walcott was happy to finally get his name back on the scoresheet in Arsenal's 3-2 FA Cup win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.
The England winger made just his second start of the campaign and put the disappointment of an injury-hit 12 months behind him by opening the scoring inside 90 seconds at the Amex Stadium.
It was Walcott's first strike since New Year's Day 2014 and he admitted his relief at ending the goal drought after the game.
"It's been a long time coming," he told Arsenal's official website. "I had a lot of chances since I have been back, but I have been out for a year so it is still going to take time.
"It is just nice to get some match fitness back. I was very pleased with the finish and there will definitely be many more.
"People will be expecting me to score every game now but it’s all about getting the match fitness, sharpness and the goals back. The goal was a bonus.
"The goals will come but I'm just enjoying being back with the guys and working on my fitness, getting the sharpness right. I was blowing quite heavily towards the end but I was very pleased with the finish.
"The most important thing is that the team got through."
The result saw Arsenal take another step towards defending the FA Cup crown they won back in May with a 3-2 Wembley win over Hull City.
After more than a year of frustration, Theo Walcott was happy to finally get his name back on the scoresheet in Arsenal's 3-2 FA Cup win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.
The England winger made just his second start of the campaign and put the disappointment of an injury-hit 12 months behind him by opening the scoring inside 90 seconds at the Amex Stadium.
It was Walcott's first strike since New Year's Day 2014 and he admitted his relief at ending the goal drought after the game.
"It's been a long time coming," he told Arsenal's official website. "I had a lot of chances since I have been back, but I have been out for a year so it is still going to take time.
"It is just nice to get some match fitness back. I was very pleased with the finish and there will definitely be many more.
"People will be expecting me to score every game now but it’s all about getting the match fitness, sharpness and the goals back. The goal was a bonus.
"The goals will come but I'm just enjoying being back with the guys and working on my fitness, getting the sharpness right. I was blowing quite heavily towards the end but I was very pleased with the finish.
"The most important thing is that the team got through."
The result saw Arsenal take another step towards defending the FA Cup crown they won back in May with a 3-2 Wembley win over Hull City.
There isn't much difference between Bayern and Real Madrid - Kroos
Toni Kroos believes there is not a great difference in quality between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
The midfielder joined the Spanish giants from Bayern in the summer after the Blancos won the Champions League, demolishing the Bundesliga side 5-0 on aggregate.
Kroos has already won the Uefa Supercup and the Club World Cup in his first season with Carlo Ancelotti's men and is targeting more success this term, but admits he has not made a massive step up in moving from Bavaria to the Spanish capital.
"Playing with stars like Cristiano Ronaldo has been brilliant," he told the DFB website. "But at Bayern I also shared a dressing room with world class players.
"As for the sporting level there is not much difference between the clubs. Both are top teams. So far I'm having a great time. The first half of the season was good, but I hope we have a very successful season finale.
"I feel very comfortable here. Of course I had to adapt to some things. The mentality and way of life here are very different than in Germany, but I get along very well with everyone and I am very happy.
"I am very pleased with the signing."
Toni Kroos believes there is not a great difference in quality between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
The midfielder joined the Spanish giants from Bayern in the summer after the Blancos won the Champions League, demolishing the Bundesliga side 5-0 on aggregate.
Kroos has already won the Uefa Supercup and the Club World Cup in his first season with Carlo Ancelotti's men and is targeting more success this term, but admits he has not made a massive step up in moving from Bavaria to the Spanish capital.
"Playing with stars like Cristiano Ronaldo has been brilliant," he told the DFB website. "But at Bayern I also shared a dressing room with world class players.
"As for the sporting level there is not much difference between the clubs. Both are top teams. So far I'm having a great time. The first half of the season was good, but I hope we have a very successful season finale.
"I feel very comfortable here. Of course I had to adapt to some things. The mentality and way of life here are very different than in Germany, but I get along very well with everyone and I am very happy.
"I am very pleased with the signing."
Strootman injury not serious - Garcia
Rudi Garcia says he is not worried about Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman's latest injury scare, stating that it does not look serious.
The Dutch midfielder, who has only made six league appearances this term following his return from a knee injury picked up in March 2014, was substituted 34 minutes into Roma's 1-1 draw with Fiorentina on Sunday after damaging his knee.
However, Garcia said he was taken off as a precaution and does not believe the injury to be a serious one.
"The doctor has seen it and it seems that it isn't a serious injury," he told reporters. "But with a knee we must always be careful.
"Let's see what happens in the next few hours, he has already suffered so much with knee injuries."
The Giallorossi came from behind to draw with Fiorentina, with Adem Ljajic cancelling out Mario Gomez's opener and Garcia was delighted with the response his side showed.
"The reaction was important," he added. "We had an excellent second half, but we could have been better in the first. Unfortunately, we came up against a Fiorentina side who had great qualities.
"We were forced back, but we expected the opposite. We wanted to win, it was not desire that we were missing.
"We drew thanks to Ljajic scoring from a great assist from Iturbe, who proved today that he is a very talented player."
Rudi Garcia says he is not worried about Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman's latest injury scare, stating that it does not look serious.
The Dutch midfielder, who has only made six league appearances this term following his return from a knee injury picked up in March 2014, was substituted 34 minutes into Roma's 1-1 draw with Fiorentina on Sunday after damaging his knee.
However, Garcia said he was taken off as a precaution and does not believe the injury to be a serious one.
"The doctor has seen it and it seems that it isn't a serious injury," he told reporters. "But with a knee we must always be careful.
"Let's see what happens in the next few hours, he has already suffered so much with knee injuries."
The Giallorossi came from behind to draw with Fiorentina, with Adem Ljajic cancelling out Mario Gomez's opener and Garcia was delighted with the response his side showed.
"The reaction was important," he added. "We had an excellent second half, but we could have been better in the first. Unfortunately, we came up against a Fiorentina side who had great qualities.
"We were forced back, but we expected the opposite. We wanted to win, it was not desire that we were missing.
"We drew thanks to Ljajic scoring from a great assist from Iturbe, who proved today that he is a very talented player."
Chelsea consider options after Cuadrado & Douglas bids rejected
Chelsea are considering alternative potential signings to Juan Cuadrado and Douglas Costa after having approaches for both rejected.
Fiorentina and Shakhtar Donetsk are both seeking transfer fees in excess of €29.5 million for the Colombia and Brazil internationals respectively.
And while Chelsea remain confident of securing a deal for one of their two overseas-based targets before the January transfer window closes, they are looking at alternatives, mindful that there is only a week left to run before the deadline.
One such alternative is Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko, who has emerged as an alternative January signing should the club prove unable to agree a fee for either Cuadrado or Douglas.
Jose Mourinho is a long standing admirer of the Newcastle United midfielder, identifying the France international as a suitable reinforcement for a squad competing for silverware on three fronts.
With Newcastle owner Mike Ashley open to selling any of the club's players at a reasonable profit, Sissoko, 25, represents a lower-cost alternative to Cuadrado and Douglas.
To raise funds for the new signing, Mourinho is prepared to sacrifice both Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah.
Schurrle joined Chelsea in the summer of 2013 in a deal put in place before the Portuguese coach returned to Stamford Bridge. The attacking midfielder's status as one of Germany's World Cup winners offers a profitable market for his services in the Bundesliga.
Salah arrived from Basel in the last winter window, but has failed to impress the Chelsea manager with his efforts to win a place in the first team. The Egypt international has made just one substitute's appearance during the current Premier League campaign and is set to be loaned to Roma with an option to buy.
Between them, Schurrle and Salah have played a sparse 463 minutes of Premier League football this season.
"I don't know if a deal is to happen," said Mourinho on Friday. "If my club tells me we have a certain offer for a certain player we think is a good movement for us, because we work in the rules of Financial Fair Play sometimes we have needs, like we had in the past transfer windows where we sold some players.
"The question is to have a phenomenal offer and a player to be super keen of accept a new challenge in his career. We don't want to sell our players. If one player moves, then we will bring somebody in, internationals."
Despite Mourinho's comments, Chelsea remain hopeful of securing a deal for one of their two primary targets this week.
Chelsea are considering alternative potential signings to Juan Cuadrado and Douglas Costa after having approaches for both rejected.
Fiorentina and Shakhtar Donetsk are both seeking transfer fees in excess of €29.5 million for the Colombia and Brazil internationals respectively.
And while Chelsea remain confident of securing a deal for one of their two overseas-based targets before the January transfer window closes, they are looking at alternatives, mindful that there is only a week left to run before the deadline.
One such alternative is Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko, who has emerged as an alternative January signing should the club prove unable to agree a fee for either Cuadrado or Douglas.
Jose Mourinho is a long standing admirer of the Newcastle United midfielder, identifying the France international as a suitable reinforcement for a squad competing for silverware on three fronts.
With Newcastle owner Mike Ashley open to selling any of the club's players at a reasonable profit, Sissoko, 25, represents a lower-cost alternative to Cuadrado and Douglas.
To raise funds for the new signing, Mourinho is prepared to sacrifice both Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah.
Schurrle joined Chelsea in the summer of 2013 in a deal put in place before the Portuguese coach returned to Stamford Bridge. The attacking midfielder's status as one of Germany's World Cup winners offers a profitable market for his services in the Bundesliga.
Salah arrived from Basel in the last winter window, but has failed to impress the Chelsea manager with his efforts to win a place in the first team. The Egypt international has made just one substitute's appearance during the current Premier League campaign and is set to be loaned to Roma with an option to buy.
Between them, Schurrle and Salah have played a sparse 463 minutes of Premier League football this season.
"I don't know if a deal is to happen," said Mourinho on Friday. "If my club tells me we have a certain offer for a certain player we think is a good movement for us, because we work in the rules of Financial Fair Play sometimes we have needs, like we had in the past transfer windows where we sold some players.
"The question is to have a phenomenal offer and a player to be super keen of accept a new challenge in his career. We don't want to sell our players. If one player moves, then we will bring somebody in, internationals."
Despite Mourinho's comments, Chelsea remain hopeful of securing a deal for one of their two primary targets this week.
Eto'o unveiled at Sampdoria
Samuel Eto'o was presented to Sampdoria's fans on Sunday, with his move back to Serie A on the brink of being officially finalised.
The 33-year-old was paraded on the pitch by club president Massimo Ferrero alongside fellow new recruit Luis Muriel following the 1-1 draw with Palermo.
The Cameroonian had earlier taken his place in the stands to watch his new side, who were pegged back after Eder's sixth-minute opener.Eto'o also posted a picture of himself wearing a Sampdoria training top on Twitter on Sunday morning, adding the message: "Successful medical. Thank you Dr Parfait Ondo. Ready for a new challenge!!!"
And the striker also appeared in a selfie alongside Ferrero and Muriel which was posted on Twitter by the club's official account.
The four-time African Player of the Year only joined previous club Everton in August after his contract at Chelsea expired. He made 14 Premier League appearances this season, scoring three goals.
The move will herald a second spell in Serie A for Eto'o, who spent two years with Inter from 2009, during which time he scored 53 times in all competitions.Everton duly posted a statement on their official website on Sunday, confirming Eto'o has undergone a medical and is set to officially complete his switch to Sampdoria on Monday.
Samuel Eto'o was presented to Sampdoria's fans on Sunday, with his move back to Serie A on the brink of being officially finalised.
The 33-year-old was paraded on the pitch by club president Massimo Ferrero alongside fellow new recruit Luis Muriel following the 1-1 draw with Palermo.
The Cameroonian had earlier taken his place in the stands to watch his new side, who were pegged back after Eder's sixth-minute opener.Eto'o also posted a picture of himself wearing a Sampdoria training top on Twitter on Sunday morning, adding the message: "Successful medical. Thank you Dr Parfait Ondo. Ready for a new challenge!!!"
And the striker also appeared in a selfie alongside Ferrero and Muriel which was posted on Twitter by the club's official account.
The four-time African Player of the Year only joined previous club Everton in August after his contract at Chelsea expired. He made 14 Premier League appearances this season, scoring three goals.
The move will herald a second spell in Serie A for Eto'o, who spent two years with Inter from 2009, during which time he scored 53 times in all competitions.Everton duly posted a statement on their official website on Sunday, confirming Eto'o has undergone a medical and is set to officially complete his switch to Sampdoria on Monday.
Juventus star Pogba: I have improved my finishing
Paul Pogba is determined to continue his purple patch after inspiring Juventus to a 2-0 victory over struggling Chievo on Sunday.The France midfielder scored his fourth goal in as many games with a wonderful left-footed drive from long range on the hour mark.
Pogba then had a hand in his side's second goal, as he showed great technique to control a cross and unleash a first-time volley that was saved by Albano Bizzarri, with Stephan Lichtsteiner tucking home the rebound.
"I need to keep on working and doing what I'm doing for the fans and the club," Pogba, who has been heavily linked recently with a future transfer to Real Madrid, told Sky Sport at full time."I'm more clinical this year. I'm fortunate enough to get off a few more shots and thankfully the ball is going in."
Juve endured a frustrating first half as Chievo battled to keep them at bay and Pogba gave credit to the Verona outfit, who are in the relegation zone following Cagliari's win over Sassuolo on Saturday.He said: "Chievo defended very well but perhaps tailed off a bit after the first goal. It wasn't an easy game for us."
Victory for the champions extended their lead at the top of the table to eight points ahead of Roma's trip to Fiorentina later in the day.
Paul Pogba is determined to continue his purple patch after inspiring Juventus to a 2-0 victory over struggling Chievo on Sunday.The France midfielder scored his fourth goal in as many games with a wonderful left-footed drive from long range on the hour mark.
Pogba then had a hand in his side's second goal, as he showed great technique to control a cross and unleash a first-time volley that was saved by Albano Bizzarri, with Stephan Lichtsteiner tucking home the rebound.
"I need to keep on working and doing what I'm doing for the fans and the club," Pogba, who has been heavily linked recently with a future transfer to Real Madrid, told Sky Sport at full time."I'm more clinical this year. I'm fortunate enough to get off a few more shots and thankfully the ball is going in."
Juve endured a frustrating first half as Chievo battled to keep them at bay and Pogba gave credit to the Verona outfit, who are in the relegation zone following Cagliari's win over Sassuolo on Saturday.He said: "Chievo defended very well but perhaps tailed off a bit after the first goal. It wasn't an easy game for us."
Victory for the champions extended their lead at the top of the table to eight points ahead of Roma's trip to Fiorentina later in the day.
Sturridge returns to full Liverpool training
Daniel Sturridge has returned to training with his Liverpool team-mates after completing his recovery from injury.
The striker has not featured for the club since August 31, initially breaking down while on international duty with England before suffering a succession of setbacks and fresh niggling injuries,
But, after Liverpool's 0-0 draw with Bolton in the FA Cup fourth round, Brendan Rodgers revealed Sturridge was set to train with the rest of the squad on Sunday - and the striker confirmed the news on Twitter.
Liverpool face Chelsea in the second leg of their League Cup semi-final on Tuesday and Rodgers will assess Sturridge's fitness ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge.
Rodgers told reporters: "[Sturridge is] in his final rehabilitation with the medical and sports science guys [on Saturday] and joins in with the group from now.
"It's just about getting football and game fitness. We'll see how he is for Tuesday. If he's not ready for Tuesday, then he'll be back, for sure, against West Ham next weekend."
Daniel Sturridge has returned to training with his Liverpool team-mates after completing his recovery from injury.
The striker has not featured for the club since August 31, initially breaking down while on international duty with England before suffering a succession of setbacks and fresh niggling injuries,
But, after Liverpool's 0-0 draw with Bolton in the FA Cup fourth round, Brendan Rodgers revealed Sturridge was set to train with the rest of the squad on Sunday - and the striker confirmed the news on Twitter.
Liverpool face Chelsea in the second leg of their League Cup semi-final on Tuesday and Rodgers will assess Sturridge's fitness ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge.
Rodgers told reporters: "[Sturridge is] in his final rehabilitation with the medical and sports science guys [on Saturday] and joins in with the group from now.
"It's just about getting football and game fitness. We'll see how he is for Tuesday. If he's not ready for Tuesday, then he'll be back, for sure, against West Ham next weekend."
'Barcelona's attack is the best in the world'
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says his club have the best attack in world football after their 6-0 thrashing of Elche in La Liga on Saturday.
Lionel Messi and Neymar scored twice, while there were also goals for Pedro and Gerard Pique as the Catalans put their hosts to the sword.
There was no place for Luis Suarez in Luis Enrique's starting XI but it mattered little as Barca ensured the gap between themselves and leaders Real Madrid remains at just a single point.
"We have the best attack in the world," Bartomeu said after the game. "We demonstrated that again in this game. We have a very powerful attack."
Messi's two goals took his tally for the season to 31 strikes in 31 games for club and country, but the Barca chief is adamant the Argentine isn't motivated by personal statistics.
"Messi plays for the team, he doesn't look at statistics or goals," he added.
"We are improving in the second half of the season and we are growing in confidence at an important part of the campaign."
Barca are back in action again on Wednesday when they face Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final tie having won the first leg 1-0 at Camp Nou last week.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says his club have the best attack in world football after their 6-0 thrashing of Elche in La Liga on Saturday.
Lionel Messi and Neymar scored twice, while there were also goals for Pedro and Gerard Pique as the Catalans put their hosts to the sword.
There was no place for Luis Suarez in Luis Enrique's starting XI but it mattered little as Barca ensured the gap between themselves and leaders Real Madrid remains at just a single point.
"We have the best attack in the world," Bartomeu said after the game. "We demonstrated that again in this game. We have a very powerful attack."
Messi's two goals took his tally for the season to 31 strikes in 31 games for club and country, but the Barca chief is adamant the Argentine isn't motivated by personal statistics.
"Messi plays for the team, he doesn't look at statistics or goals," he added.
"We are improving in the second half of the season and we are growing in confidence at an important part of the campaign."
Barca are back in action again on Wednesday when they face Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final tie having won the first leg 1-0 at Camp Nou last week.
Casillas: Madrid proved title-winning credentials
Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas believes the spirit his side displayed in their hard-fought 2-1 victory over Cordoba on Saturday proved they have what it takes to reclaim the Liga crown.
The reigning European champions needed a late penalty from Gareth Bale to secure a vital three points in a tense game in Andalusia that saw Cristiano Ronaldo sent off for aiming a kick at Cordoba defender Edimar.
And Casillas, who was reinstalled as Madrid's outright No.1 at the start of the season, believes their showing proved they are ready to end a three-year wait for the Spanish title.
“Perhaps it wasn't our best performance of the season but we took all three points," the Blancos captain told reporters. "The pitch was very tough to play on, it was very dry.
“We like to pass the ball around, with lots of movement; we were made to work today but we got the win.
“No one was at their best in this game and we got through this more with character than with good play. These are the types of games that win league titles and we had no choice but to win.”
It was Real Madrid’s third straight victory in La Liga following defeat to Valencia earlier this month, although this month has seen their Copa del Rey hops crumble as they were knocked out by Atletico.
The victory leaves Carlo Ancelotti’s side one point clear at the top of the Liga table with a game in hand over second-placed Barcelona.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas believes the spirit his side displayed in their hard-fought 2-1 victory over Cordoba on Saturday proved they have what it takes to reclaim the Liga crown.
The reigning European champions needed a late penalty from Gareth Bale to secure a vital three points in a tense game in Andalusia that saw Cristiano Ronaldo sent off for aiming a kick at Cordoba defender Edimar.
And Casillas, who was reinstalled as Madrid's outright No.1 at the start of the season, believes their showing proved they are ready to end a three-year wait for the Spanish title.
“Perhaps it wasn't our best performance of the season but we took all three points," the Blancos captain told reporters. "The pitch was very tough to play on, it was very dry.
“We like to pass the ball around, with lots of movement; we were made to work today but we got the win.
“No one was at their best in this game and we got through this more with character than with good play. These are the types of games that win league titles and we had no choice but to win.”
It was Real Madrid’s third straight victory in La Liga following defeat to Valencia earlier this month, although this month has seen their Copa del Rey hops crumble as they were knocked out by Atletico.
The victory leaves Carlo Ancelotti’s side one point clear at the top of the Liga table with a game in hand over second-placed Barcelona.
Hummels: There's no guarantee I can get back to my best
Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels says he cannot guarantee he will return to the form that saw him rated as one of Europe’s best central defenders.
The 2011 and 2012 German champions have endured a woeful first half of the Bundesliga season and sit second-from-bottom at the halfway stage.
And as they prepare to return from the winter break, Hummels says he will do all he can to ensure the club steer clear of relegation and salvage something from a dismal start to the campaign.
“I’m in a much better shape than in the first half of the season,” the 26-year-old told the club website. “In the 90 minutes [in the friendly] against Utrecht I felt, despite the tough training sessions before, in top shape.
“I felt better than in any of the games in the first half of the season and that’s an important step.
“However, it’s no guarantee that I will play the way I expect myself to play, but it’s a good basis to start from.”
BVB drew 1-1 with Fortuna Dusseldorf on Saturday in a friendly and return to domestic action next week against Bayer Leverkusen when Hummels hopes for a much-improved showing.
“We definitely still have to work on some things, but we also had a tough week with two games”, he said.
“We will be much fitter when we face Leverkusen next week. We were a bit better against Utrecht, but I’m confident that we will play much better next Saturday.”
Dortmund sit 12 points off Germany’s final Champions League place.
Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels says he cannot guarantee he will return to the form that saw him rated as one of Europe’s best central defenders.
The 2011 and 2012 German champions have endured a woeful first half of the Bundesliga season and sit second-from-bottom at the halfway stage.
And as they prepare to return from the winter break, Hummels says he will do all he can to ensure the club steer clear of relegation and salvage something from a dismal start to the campaign.
“I’m in a much better shape than in the first half of the season,” the 26-year-old told the club website. “In the 90 minutes [in the friendly] against Utrecht I felt, despite the tough training sessions before, in top shape.
“I felt better than in any of the games in the first half of the season and that’s an important step.
“However, it’s no guarantee that I will play the way I expect myself to play, but it’s a good basis to start from.”
BVB drew 1-1 with Fortuna Dusseldorf on Saturday in a friendly and return to domestic action next week against Bayer Leverkusen when Hummels hopes for a much-improved showing.
“We definitely still have to work on some things, but we also had a tough week with two games”, he said.
“We will be much fitter when we face Leverkusen next week. We were a bit better against Utrecht, but I’m confident that we will play much better next Saturday.”
Dortmund sit 12 points off Germany’s final Champions League place.
- Status
