..::Football II::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Wigan 0-1 Arsenal: Arteta penalty keeps Gunners in Champions League picture

Mikel Arteta coolly slotted home a second-half penalty to send Arsenal third in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Wigan, which leaves Roberto Martinez's men stuck in the relegation zone for Christmas.

The Spanish midfielder sent Ali Al Habsi the wrong way from the spot on 60 minutes following Jean Beausejour's clumsy foul on Theo Walcott after neat work between the England striker and Santi Cazorla.

Wigan was the better team for long spells, but wasteful crossing from the wings and poor finishing from Aroune Kone left the Latics frustrated and winless in five league games.

Arsene Wenger gave Walcott was given his preferred starting role up front backed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla and Lukas Podolski.

Wigan won 2-1 at the Emirates the last time the sides met and showed no fear in the first half, but it was Arsenal which had the first real chance.

Cazorla turned James McArthur easily and found Mikel Arteta in space. The Spaniard fed Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right, who forced Ali Al Habsi into a fine one-handed stop from 16 yards.

Wigan should have taken the lead after 24 minutes as Di Santo put Kone clean through on goal, but with just Wojciech Szczesny to beat, the Ivory Coast striker dragged his shot wide from eight yards.

The second half began much as the first with both teams breaking forward looking for an early goal, and Al Habsi was forced into a great stop on 48 minutes. Oxlade-Chamberlain found space on the right wing and pulled the ball back for Walcott, whose finish was close enough for the Wigan keeper to get down to and tip away well.

However, the game turned with half an hour to go as Arsenal found the breakthrough, with the danger again coming from the right.

Walcott and Cazorla's link-up play on the wing was too intricate for Beausejour, and referee Jonathan Moss blew for a penalty as the striker was felled by the defender. Arteta found the bottom left-hand corner of Al Habsi's net with his penalty kick.

Wigan kept coming though, and Kone did well to work the ball from the left before forcing a fine low stop from Szczesny with 20 minutes remaining, while Jones could only crack an effort narrowly wide two minutes later.

Mertesacker had to be alert to deny Kone late on in the area, while McArthur dragged a shot wide late in injury time as Wenger's side saw the game out for a much-needed victory.

 

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Valladolid 1-3 Barcelona: Blaugrana battle past plucky Pucela

Barcelona made it 16 wins from 17 Liga games this season as it survived a late comeback from Valladolid to come out on top 3-1 at the Jose Zorilla stadium.

With Tito Vilanova recovering from surgery, Jordi Roura took charge of first team affairs for the Catalan giant and there was little chance of an upset as the visitors dominated throughout.

Xavi opened the scoring in the first half before yet another goal for Lionel Messi on the hour mark. Javi Guerra set up a tense ending with a late strike but Christian Tello secured all three points with a stoppage-time winner.

Roura's temporary reign at the Barca helm almost got off to the perfect start as Dani Alves centered the ball after a great through-pass from Messi. Alexis Sanchez was in plenty of space in the area but despite stretching he was unable to meet the ball for a simple finish.

The hosts were keeping every man behind the ball and squeezing the space in which the Barcelona forwards could operate. This meant that despite dominating possession, the Blaugrana were finding it difficult to work opportunities to score.

Nevertheless Messi continued to eke out opportunities and after having a weak header saved by Dani Hernandez, he came even closer in the 36th minute. A well-struck free kick curled around the outside of the wall but cracked off the post and back across the goal mouth before being cleared away.

It was the best chance of the game but just seven minutes later Barca was finally in front with a goal that embodied the club's philosophy.

After biding his time, Messi surged forward and after a quick exchange of passes with Xavi he laid the ball off the ball for the overlapping Jordi Alba. His low cross found the captain at the back post to slide in the opener.

The Catalan side showed no signs of stepping off the gas in the second half and it continued to force Valladolid back. Three minutes after the restart, Alves rounded the keeper but could only cross for Pedro, whose header clipped the outside of the post.

Messi was next to spurn a chance to put the visitors two up as he dragged a shot horribly wide after a mistake from Henrique Sereno, but he atoned two minutes later on the hour mark.

The Argentine received the ball from Xavi and jinked past a defender before guiding a low shot across goal that went in off the post for his 91st strike of 2012.

Barca was almost gifted another in the 63rd minute as Antonio Rukavina's headed pass back to Dani caught the keeper out of position and forced him to race back and claw the ball away from the goal line.

The Blaugrana took their foot off the gas and Pucela managed to grab a consolation in the 89th minute as Guerra swept into an open net after Victor Valdes had done superbly to keep out his original header.

But Barcelona restored its two-goal cushion as Tello raced through the defense and slotted home an accomplished finish to secure a victory that sends the Catalans into the winter break with an impressive nine-point lead at the summit of the league.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester City 1-0 Reading: Barry grabs dramatic late win for champions

Manchester City kept pace with title rival Manchester United as it claimed a last-gasp victory over Reading thanks to an injury-time header from Gareth Barry.

The Premier League champion was in command for the vast majority of the game but was only able to make its advantage tell when the England midfielder headed in David Silva's left-wing cross in added time.

City boss Roberto Mancini made two changes to the side that won at Newcastle last weekend, with 18-year-old defender Karim Rekik making his full debut in place of Gael Clichy, and Gareth Barry coming in for Samir Nasri. Reading meanwhile, made four changes from its heavy defeat against Arsenal, as Chris Gunter, Alex Pearce, Jem Karacan, and Ian Harte were all named in the starting eleven.

The hosts made the brighter start to proceedings and after half-chances from Carlos Tevez and Matija Nastasic, Mancini's men should have taken the lead but were denied by Adam Federici, who produced a superb close range save from Tevez after the Argentinian had latched on to compatriot Sergio Aguero's fine flick-on.

Reading defended resolutely following that early opening, and frustrated City for much of the first half, however the champion was able to create some opportunities, most notably when Gareth Barry powered a header towards goal from a Tevez cross, only to see his effort comfortably held by Federici.

City continued to pile the pressure on the Reading goal, but the opener continued to elude it; Yaya Toure had a claim for a penalty turned down after Tevez and David Silva combined beautifully on the right, and Pablo Zabaleta was also unlucky not to have netted when his deflected shot looped just over Federici's bar.

The Royals had been on the back-foot for the entirety of the opening period, but they almost grabbed the advantage early in the second as Pearce headed just over from a Harte corner.

Still it was the home side which carried the much greater threat, and will have wondered just how it had not taken the lead when Pablo Zabaleta's ball evaded both Tevez and substitute Dzeko with the goal gaping. The introduction of Dzeko appeared to galvanize City and he was at the hub of another attack minutes later, heading inches above the bar from a Tevez corner.

The visiting defense remained stern in spite of City's dominance however and although Mancini's men dictated the play, Reading could perhaps have taken all three points had it been more clinical on the counter. Indeed, Brian McDermott's side again went close as Pearce directed another header just wide from a fine set piece delivery from Harte.

Sergio Aguero, the hero of City's title winning campaign last season, almost gave the home fans another late showing as he broke free before firing into the side netting. However it was Barry who delivered the finale when he powered a header into the net with just minutes to play to maintain the Citizens' title tilt.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

West Ham 1-2 Everton: Anichebe and Pienaar capitalize on controversial Cole red card

Everton clinched a deserved win after a battling display earned a 2-1 victory against West Ham at Upton Park on Saturday.

The hosts took the lead in the 13th minute after Carlton Cole took a pass in his stride before spinning his marker and burying a vicious effort into the bottom corner, before Everton equalized in the second half through a delicately glanced header by Victor Anichebe.

After Carlton Cole was sent off for a high boot after his clumsy challenge felled Leighton Baines, Everton took the lead after a superb move saw Steven Pienaar get the final touch inside the box, with Darron Gibson seeing red in stoppage time for a very similar foul to Cole's.

The hosts started the brighter of the two sides but it was Everton that went closest to opening the scoring, after Leon Osman was adjudged to have used his elbow before nodding home a Baines corner in the 11th minute.

Everton was made to pay just moments later, though, when Cole put West Ham ahead after shrugging off the attentions of Heitinga before drilling an effort into the bottom left-hand corner past the despairing Howard.

David Moyes' side raced out of the traps in the second half and went close as Baines curled an exquisite effort just wide of the goal.

West Ham should have extended the lead just after the hour mark when Cole's decent low cross found substitute Modibo Maiga unmarked in the box, but his touch was heavy and he was only able to scuff an effort wide of the post.

The visitors equalized in the 64th minute through a glanced header from Anichebe after a concerted spell of pressure, with Pienaar's ball into the ball from the left proving too good as the ball nestled in the bottom far corner.

Referee Anthony Taylor then made his second questionable call of the day after the earlier disallowed goal when he gave Cole a straight red card for a high boot on Baines, when a yellow looked the correct decision.

With a man advantage, Everton took the lead for the first time in the 73rd minute through Pienaar, after a beautiful flowing move down the left saw Tomkins clear the ball onto the South African before it inadvertently rolled past Jaaskelainen.

Gibson was giving his marching orders in stoppage time by Taylor after a high challenge, very similar to the one that saw Cole dismissed, but Everton managed to hold on to clinch an important three points.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Tottenham 0-0 Stoke: Spurs frustrated by resolute Potters

Tottenham and Stoke played out a dull 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane on Saturday afternoon, stalling Spurs’ pursuit of a place in the top four.

In a game of few chances, the home side struggled to break down the Potters’ organized, regimented defense, which has now kept nine clean sheets this year and conceded just 13 goals.

Andre Villas-Boas made three changes to the team that beat Swansea, with the fit again Gareth Bale restored to the left flank and Michael Dawson and Steven Caulker brought in to add height and strength at the back. Clint Dempsey missed out with an injury.

The away side could have opened the scoring in the opening minute, as Kyle Walker carelessly gifted the ball to Kenwyne Jones on the edge of the box, but he blasted the ball over the bar.

Walker’s loose pass rather typified the opening exchanges, with Spurs stifled in their attempts to play attractive, possession football by Stoke’s relentless closing down.

Defending manfully, Pulis’ side also looked dangerous on the break; Jones’ deflected shot appeared to be rolling into the path of Matthew Etherington, but Sandro managed to clear the ball off the line.

The returning Gareth Bale grew into the match, overawing Geoff Cameron with his pace and delivery; a low, drilled cross was diverted marginally over the bar by Robert Huth before the Welshman picked out Emmanuel Adebayor at the far post, who headed over.

The second half continued in much the same vein, with both sides scrapping and battling for superiority. Bale, switching between flanks, was an invigorating presence once again, and rose to head just over at the back post.

Tottenham struggled to break down the visitors, devoid of a playmaker to unlock the defense. Limited to half-chances and optimistic shots from range, its Portuguese boss cut a forlorn and perplexed figure on the sidelines.

Stoke had the best chance of a dull and insipid second half, when Cameron found Ryan Shotton unmarked in the box, but Lloris caught his tame shot with ease. Shotton was dragged off by Pulis not long after.

Spurs continued to huff and puff to little avail, with Dembele’s deflected shot from 25-yards representing their best effort of normal time.

There was a late moment of controversy though, as Bale appeared to be bundled over by Jerome inside the box, and the decision riled the home support.

Cheered on by the White Hart Lane crowd, Spurs poured forward with greater abandon as the match entered injury time, and Gylfi Sigurdsson, on in place of Lennon, almost grabbed a winner but for a great save from Asmir Begovic.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Newcastle 1-0 QPR: Super-sub Ameobi plunges Rangers into deeper trouble

Newcastle snatched a 1-0 victory over QPR to inflict a first defeat for the Hoops under Harry Redknapp.

Substitute Shola Ameobi curled a fine effort past Rob Green in the 81st minute to settle a scrappy game, played in torrential rain at St James' Park.

Alan Pardew kept faith with his starting XI that had gone down 3-1 to Manchester City the previous week, but Harry Redknapp made three alterations to the side that picked up a first league win of the season against Fulham: Fabio and Anton Ferdinand came into the defense, while Esteban Granero replaced Shaun Wright-Phillips in midfield.

In sodden conditions at St James' Park, both sides failed to create chances in a poor first half.

Adel Taarabt went closest for the visitors, latching onto Granero's clever scoop pass, but firing a shot from a tight angle straight at Tim Krul.

The hosts got themselves into several good positions down the left but were routinely let down by atrocious crossing from Jonas Gutierrez.

Papiss Cisse should have made more of a one-on-one chance, but his halfhearted effort, under pressure from Clint Hill, bobbled wide and Davide Santon unleashed a shot that flew high and wide.

The teams went in at the break deservedly goalless to rumblings of discontent from the home support.

The rumblings became full-on boos early in the second half as Papiss Cisse was hooked shortly after heading over the bar, the Senegalese striker, who has featured on the right wing recently, was visibly upset at the decision and refused to shake Alan Pardew's hand as he came off.

Harry Redknapp also made changes to his side, bringing off the quiet Esteban Granero and the frustrated Djibril Cisse in place of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Junior Hoilett.

The hosts almost took a fortuitous lead just after the hour mark as Vurnon Anita's corner almost crept in at the near post, but Green recovered well to scramble it away.

Ameobi then had a gilt-edged chance to score on 66 minutes, latching on to Vurnon Anita's cross eight yards out, but only getting a feather touch on the ball, and seeing it drift harmlessly wide.

The Magpies' tails were up and substitute Gabriel Obertan skipped down the left flank before cutting back onto his right foot and crossing for Demba Ba, who muffed his header, giving Green an easy save.

Newcastle finally snatched the lead with 10 minutes remaining, after some one-touch passing on the right, Ameobi was found in the box, before cutting inside and curling an unstoppable finish past Green.

The lead could have been doubled soon after as QPR committed men forward for a corner, but it broke down, giving Obertan and Sylvain Marveaux a chance to break. The latter carried the ball through the Hoops' half before firing a low shot that Green did well to save.

Marveaux also flashed a free kick just wide, and the visitors failed to muster a late challenge as they remain rooted in the relegation mire.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Southampton 0-1 Sunderland: Fletcher fires O'Neill's strugglers to three points

SOUTHAMPTON, England -- Steven Fletcher ended Sunderland's dismal run of away form to record all three points against Southampton on Saturday, giving the club some breathing space from the Premier League relegation zone.

In what was a huge game at the lower end of the table, both teams took a while to get going, aside from a splendid early effort from Stephane Sessegnon. The visitors took the lead through a fortunate Fletcher goal just before the break, and held on after it to secure three huge points.

Nigel Adkins made two changes from their last league match, Gaston Ramirez and Emmanuel Mayuka replacing injured Adam Lallana and dropped Jay Rodriguez. Martin O'Neill made just the one change, Titus Bramble making way for Danny Rose with Steven Fletcher fit to start.

Sessegnon nearly opened the scoring with just seconds gone in the game, but his powerful long-range effort was tipped expertly wide by Kelvin Davis.

The action was a lot less frequent thereafter, though. Jason Puncheon wasted a decent Saints opening when he missed the ball completely, before Rickie Lambert's free-kick was deflected just wide. Meanwhile, Sebastian Larsson forced a much more straight forward save from Davis, after neat work with Adam Johnson.

With just over half of the first period elapsed, Ramirez began to pull some strings in the hosts' midfield. The Uruguayan firstly forced Simon Mignolet to parry away hastily, before firing just over with another vicious left-footed effort.

It was O'Neill's side that opened the scoring just before the half-time break, though. Johnson delivered a dangerous low cross from the left, which intended target Sessegnon sliced horribly. However, fortunately for the visitors, it fell to Fletcher's feet and the Scot had no trouble tucking it away.

The second half started with a decent chance - Lambert shooting just over for Saints - however it was, again, uninspiring from both teams. Half chances saw Johnson blaze over for the visors and Jose Fonte's header deflect wide for Adkins men, but there was little cutting edge.

Things got scrappy as the half proceeded, Johnson being forced off after receiving a tough tackle and other small fouls breaking up play, with both sides' forwards feeding on scraps, too.

Sunderland, however, didn't mind one bit and held on to a crucial victory that pushes them further away from the drop-zone, while condemning Saints to the opposite, despite late chances for Ramirez and Guly do Prado going close and keeper Davis venturing forward for one last corner.

 

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Barclays Premier League 2012.12.23 Fixtures

Barclays Premier League 2012.12.23 Fixtures

Swansea Vs Manchester United

Chelsea Vs Aston Villa

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Roma 4-2 AC Milan: Ragged Rossoneri leave it too late against 10-man Giallorossi

A desperately poor AC Milan side was given a torrid evening as it suffered a 4-2 reverse at the hands of Roma.

The Giallorossi's Argentine contingent were the architects of the visitors' downfall, as goals from Nicolas Burdisso and Pablo Osvaldo were added to by an impressive double by Erik Lamela.

Late strikes from Giampaolo Pazzini and Bojan Krkic gave the scoreline a more flattering appearance, but could not hide what was an extremely disappointing 90 minutes for Massimiliano Allegri's charges.

Saturday's clash at the Stadio Olimpico began at a frenetic pace; Milan was threatening after a matter of seconds through Stephan El Shaarawy, the Serie A top scorer advancing on goal and firing just wide from the edge of the area.

Roma forced Marco Amelia into action through Daniele De Rossi's decent effort from distance, and the keeper did fantastically to make an acrobatic save from Pablo Osvaldo, tipping the Argentine-Italian's effort over the crossbar. Osvaldo took the corner kick himself, and his cross found Burdisso who headed perfectly to open the scoring early on in favour of the home team.

Milan searched for an instant reply, and should have leveled when El Shaarawy broke through; the youngster was denied his 15th goal of the season by an excellent save from Mauro Goicoechea. The Rossoneri would pay dearly for that miss, as Roma doubled its advantage just moments later.

Federico Balzaretti and Francesco Totti combined well on the left, leaving the veteran club icon to put in the cross. His center was perfectly placed for Osvaldo, who got the better of Mario Yepes to leave the Colombian flailing and head past Amelia. Massimiliano Allegri's men were shell-shocked at having fallen two goals behind in the opening exchanges of the match, but it was only to get worse.

The visitors were slack with possession following a Giallorossi cross, and Daniele De Rossi was left with time on the edge of the area. Lamela was unmarked and picked out with a delightful reverse pass, and youngster became the third Argentine on the Roma scoresheet as he converted with ease past the hapless Milan keeper.

Having played such a key part in Roma's outstanding first-half performance, Totti was handed a clear opportunity to put the game definitively out of Milan's reach just four minutes after the interval. The playmaker was played clean through against Amelia, but amazingly scuffed his effort and sent the ball agonizingly past the post.

Milan had been shambolic all evening from crosses, and it was once more aerially that it conceded the fourth. Lamela won the ball with ease six yards out after being located by Balzaretti's centre, and Amelia's despairing dive was in vain as the ex-River Plate wonderkid marked his 10th goal of the season.

From that point onward the Rossoneri had little more than pride to play for, but still could not find a way past Goicoechea; the Uruguayan promise coming up big to deny both Robinho and Boateng in a great double stop. He would then top that effort with three great saves in quick succession, proving that it just was not going to be Milan's day in the Italian capital.

The Roma victory was marred slightly by a bizarre incident involving Marquinhos towards the end. The Brazilian defender was given a straight red card for an innocuous use of the arm 30 meters from his own goal that merited no more than a booking. Goicoechea then handed Milan the chance for a consolation, conceding a penalty in the dying minutes converted by substitute Pazzini. The goal sparked a revival for the visitors, who added a second through Bojan who converted against his former club.

It was all too late, however, and the 10-man hosts held firm to record a memorable victory against their rival.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Malaga 3-2 Real Madrid: Casillas dropped as beleaguered Blancos succumb to Santa Cruz double

Real Madrid's Liga woes continued after falling to a 3-2 defeat against Malaga in a thrilling clash at La Rosaleda on Saturday.

Roque Santa Cruz was the match winner off the bench for the home side, scoring twice in the second half to heap more pressure on Jose Mourinho, who now sees his team fall 16 points behind league leader Barcelona.

Isco fired Malaga into a deserved lead four minutes into the second half, but a scramble in the box saw Madrid draw level in the 69th minute through a Sergio Sanchez own goal.

But Santa Cruz would make the difference for the Andalusians, scoring twice in three minutes from a pair of Joaquin assists to put los Blancos to the sword, rendering Karim Benzema's 82nd minute strike nothing but mere consolation.

Third-placed Madrid now sees its title hopes all but disappear, and must now cast wary glances over its shoulders as Malaga, with the victory, moves two points behind the capital outfit.

Mourinho surprised everyone by dropping captain Iker Casillas to the bench, giving Antonio Adan the unlikeliest of starts between the posts for the Spanish champions.But it was Malaga keeper Wily Caballero who was called into action first, the Argentine showing excellent reflexes to thwart Cristiano Ronaldo’s free kick from 30 yards out only a few minutes into the game.

The match proceeded at a frantic pace, with both teams not shying away from contact in midfield, though the best chances would continue to fall Madrid’s way throughout the first half.

The capital outfit should have been ahead with 24 minutes on the clock, but Ronaldo, after slipping in Angel Di Maria on the right, blasted the return ball over the bar from a gilt-edged position at the far post.The pair would combine again almost immediately on a scintillating Madrid break. From the left flank, the Portuguese played in Di Maria between the center backs with a fantastic pass, but the winger’s clever dink over Caballero was hacked off the line by Nacho Monreal.

Halftime was a welcome respite for Malaga, which was forced increasingly onto the ropes coming up to the interval. But it emerged from the break firing on all cylinders, and four minutes after the restart, stormed into the lead.

Joaquin did well to manufacture space on the left flank and pick out Isco just inside the area, and the 20-year-old took one touch before finishing superbly into the bottom corner across the body of Adan.

Malaga was creating all the danger in the second half, and Joaquin fired just wide after an inspired run down the wing, before Javier Saviola brushed the frame of the goal with an attempt from the edge of the box.But Madrid rode its luck at both ends of the pitch, and found a way back into the match with 21 minutes remaining. Ronaldo’s cross to the far post sparked an almighty scramble, which ended when Sanchez’s outstretched leg sent the ball trickling past the wrong-footed Caballero.

The Malaga defender would atone for his mishap within moments of the restart though, as he threw himself at Mesut Ozil, who was primed to score from point blank range after a marauding run.

And in the 73rd minute, the home side would be back in front, as a low cross from Gamez was flicked by Joaquin into the path of Santa Cruz, who tapped into an empty net at the far post.Within minutes, Malaga was 3-1 ahead, with Joaquin again pulling the strings in attack. The winger played in Santa Cruz with a lovely reverse pass, and the substitute’s finish into the bottom corner was equally sublime.

But just when the hosts looked assured of victory, Ozil picked out Benzema on the counter, and the Frenchman finished calmly to mark a nervy end to the game with eight minutes remaining.

There was nothing left from Madrid though, as Malga defended superbly in the time that remained to clinch a priceless scalp, and move to within two points of third place.

 

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'It is Liverpool or nothing for me' - Carragher contemplates retirement

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has suggested that he could retire from the game at the end of the Premier League season.

The 34-year-old joined the Merseyside outfit as a schoolboy and has made over 700 appearances for the club.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has played Carragher in a bit-part role this season, with the Northern Irishman preferring Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger in central defense.

Carragher has not held talks over a new deal with the club and has accepted that his contract is unlikely to be renewed in the summer.

"There is a chance that I will retire at the end of the season," he told the Daily Express. "It is the last season of my contract and the club have not said anything to me yet.

"I am open-minded, but I would not play on if I was killing the team when I played. I would not be hanging on for money or anything.

"And I would not go anywhere else. It is Liverpool or nothing for me."

 

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'Mourinho was showing his power' - Valdano

Former Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano has claimed that Jose Mourinho dropped Iker Casillas for the 3-2 loss to Malaga as a means of stamping his authority.

The Portuguese coach is rumored to have a bad relationship with the Spain skipper, and left him out of the starting lineup in favor of Antonio Adan for the trip to La Rosaleda, a move which ultimately backfired.

"Mourinho has a peculiar relationship with his squad but this is really upping the stakes," he told Cadena SER. "This was a show of power; he was wielding his authority on a club legend."

Mourinho claimed that the decision was due to the impression Adan had made on him, but the Argentine feels the former Chelsea boss was punishing the team.

"I imagine it was a technical decision, that he trusted a lot in Adan's ability, because it doesn't make sense to bring disciplinary decisions into the starting lineup," he added.

"If you do that, you punish the team. It was a big decision and I imagine he had thought about it for a long time, even though I don't know the true reasons behind it."

 

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Rodgers praises 'brilliant' Downing after Liverpool rout

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers hailed Stewart Downing after the winger played a vital role in Saturday afternoon's 4-0 win over Fulham.

The Englishman posted both his first Premier League assist and goal since his 2011 summer move to Anfield as the Reds ran riot at Anfield, with Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez also on the score sheet.

And, having largely relegated the former Middlesbrough wide player to the bench since arriving at the club, Rodgers praised Downing's eagerness to fight for his place.

"I thought he was brilliant today in every aspect of the game," he told reporters. "He’s in his late 20s, an England international a few years ago and he wasn’t playing so we spoke about how he could get into the team and if he wasn’t playing then we would’ve looked at it in January.

"I think his reaction from that moment - like it has been for Jose Enrique and one or two of the others - has been outstanding. His goal today was a fantastic strike.

"His pass for Steven [Gerrard]’s goal was superb so if he keeps playing like that he’ll be going nowhere."

The Northern Irishman went on to laud the reaction of his players following a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa last time out.

"Last week we disappointed [but] this week [has] been our first week we’ve been able to work right the way through from Saturday to Saturday," he added. "And you could see the reaction of the players. Their pressing was outstanding and the quality of their football and goals was brilliant, so it was a great three points for us and terrific performance."

Rodgers also expressed satisfaction with the season so far and looked ahead to a packed festive schedule in which he believes the Reds can kick on.

He continued: "We know the [festive fixtures will] be tough games but our only focus is the next game.

"Obviously Stoke will be difficult but over this period there are four games in quick succession so we’ll recover the players well and make sure our focus is right because it’s a great opportunity to pick up points and keep moving forward."

Meanwhile, Fulham boss Martin Jol lamented the absence of several key players as his makeshift side suffered a drubbing.

He said: "If you get goals like we conceded today you’re almost playing against yourself. That is what we did after the second goal.

"We had a problem in the midfield and Damien [Duff] was not there, [Mladen] Petric was injured, [Mahamadou] Diarra was injured and they all will come back next week hopefully.

"We said we wanted to put [Liverpool] under pressure and then get support to Berbatov, but we didn’t do that the first half."

The Dutchman also dismissed talk of relegation, adding: "We still have a good cushion with 20 points but if you look at the teams we had before, it’s totally different. I feel that if everyone is back then we’ll be fine."

 

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Mourinho defends decision to drop Casillas

Jose Mourinho has defended his decision to drop Iker Casillas for Antonio Adan in Real Madrid's 3-2 defeat at Malaga.

Many eyebrows were raised before the game had even begun when it had been revealed that the Portuguese coach was choosing to favor the inexperienced backup shot-stopper.

But the ex-Chelsea and Inter boss insisted that Adan is performing better than Casillas at the moment, in his opinion, and insisted that there was no other motive than form in his selection.

"It was a technical decision, the coach’s decision," Mourinho told reporters after the match. "It is the coach who analyses the situation and the players that are available, and then the coach chooses his team to play. It is a purely technical decision. You can invent the stories you want, but it is a technical decision, nothing more. My opinion counts and no others.

"In my opinion, Adan is better than Iker at the moment. As it's the coach who chooses, and as I have only as valid opinions of my assistants, we have decided so."

Mourinho believes that the fortnight off will be invaluable for his players, who he has accepted are unhappy with results and tired from a busy first half to the 2012-13 season.

"This [winter break] comes at an ideal moment. The players are sad and empty of energy," the Santiago Bernabeu boss added. "If we think of the point it is no motivation, but if we think of what Real Madrid means, then we have motivation.

"Losing always hurts, but especially when you don’t give 100 percent, but today we gave everything we had. As I said to the players afterwards: they can go with the sadness of losing, but they have the right to relax because they gave all they had tonight."

 

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Ramos admits winning La Liga 'almost impossible' for Madrid

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos believes winning La Liga is “almost impossible” after Saturday night’s 3-2 defeat at Malaga.



The surprise victory for Manuel Pellegrini’s side came courtesy of one goal from Isco and two from on-loan Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz, with an own goal by Sergio Sanchez and a Karim Benzema strike not being enough for Jose Mourinho’s men."When you don't win you draw many conclusions, we must keep calm and not to say anything wrong... we were unlucky," Ramos reporters after the game.

"It is not the moment to think of the leaders... we must keep on fighting, this is Real Madrid. "Now La Liga is almost impossible but we must keep on fighting."

The defeat at La Rosaleda leaves Madrid 16 points behind leader Barcelona going into the winter break and the pressure will mount on Mourinho, who made the shock decision to drop captain Iker Casillas.

However, Ramos backed the Spain international to force his way back into the team, adding: "Yes, he is our captain, I think he'll keep on being it, as he's an excellent keeper."

 

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Cavani admits 'worst' period of his career at Napoli

Napoli's highly-rated forward Edinson Cavani has said he is enduring the 'worst' spell since his arrival at the club, but hopes his side can improve and end 2012 on a high with a win in their final game.

The Azzurri's hopes of challenging for the title have been dealt big blows recently with losses to Inter and Bologna, but the 25-year-old is hoping his side can get back on track by claiming victory at Siena on Saturday.

"It's the worst moment during my time in Napoli. We want to win the last 2012 match in order to have a happy Christmas, for us, our fans and for [Gianluca] Grava and [Paolo] Cannavaro," he said.

Walter Mazzarri's men were dealt further blows in their quest for the title this week after becoming the latest Italian team to be punished in the country's match-fixing scandal. The club have been hit with a two-point deduction, as well as having Cannavaro and Grava banned for six months for failing to report the fix.

However the Napoli boss is confident he will see a reaction from his side in Saturday's fixture.

"It's a difficult moment, but I'm certain that the team will get back on the right path," Mazzarri said.

He added, "We've identified the reasons behind our dip. We'll see against Siena if the things we have discussed are applied.

"I don't have a magic wand, but I can guarantee that the squad will give everything that it has," he added.

Napoli has had a poor run in December, losing all four games in all competitions, the latest being a defeat at home to Bologna. However despite the deduction which saw it drop from third to fifth, Mazzarri is proud of what his players have achieved in the season so far.

"Despite the points penalty, we have more points now than at the same stage last season," he insisted.

 

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Wenger wants more from Arsenal despite Wigan victory

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger praised his side after it moved into third place in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Wigan, but admitted that he feels it still has more to give.

The Gunners recorded their fourth away win of the season after Theo Walcott was brought down by Jean Beausejour on the hour, and Mikel Arteta converted from the spot.

Despite the win, however, Wenger called for more from his players as they continue to recover from a damaging run of results that threatened their place in the top four.

"It's good, but not enough, we want more," he told reporters. "I hope that it gives us a bit more belief and confidence and that we can play with a much more positive environment. "It's an important part of the season, I would prefer to play [on Boxing Day], when the team is on a roll you want them to go out and play."

Despite taking all three points, Arsenal was not at its fluent best on a rain-soaked Saturday afternoon as Wigan restricted their play in midfield.

"They organized to stop us playing and did that very well in the middle of the park," Wenger admitted. "We didn't find the same fluency going forward and it was much more a win because we wanted the result than because we dominated the game.

"We had chances but, especially in the final parts of the game, it was difficult for us to master possession."

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, meanwhile, was disappointed with the penalty awarded against his side and suggested that Walcott may have gone to ground easily.

"I've seen the replay, when I saw it live it looked very soft because if there is contact it's difficult to tell," he said. "If there is contact that doesn't mean it's a penalty, it has to be contact that stops you from staying on your feet and stopping you from finishing the attacking move.

"I thought it was very soft. If it's contact I doubt that contact would bring the player down. The player's got experience and he knew a penalty would change the game and I thought he bought the decision."

Martinez was equally aggrieved that later in the game his side were not awarded a penalty of their own for what looked to be a clear handball from Kieran Gibbs after a Jordi Gomez shot.

"Whether it's a soft penalty or not [for Arsenal], the disappointment is that in the other box you've got a clear handball," he complained.

"The ball travels a long distance and the arms are not in a natural position and that's a penalty. We're disappointed you don't see that consistency."

 

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Isco wins Tuttosport's Golden Boy award

Malaga attacking midfielder Isco has won the prestigious Golden Boy prize, which is awarded to Europe's best under-21 player by Italian newspaper Tuttosport.


The 20-year-old was selected by a panel of 30 journalists working for the most influential publications from 20 nations around the Continent.

The Spanish midfielder became the 10th player to receive the award after seeing off the 39 other nominees who were initially selected.

"I'm overjoyed. It is a wonderful thing. I see the past winners and it almost makes me shiver, names of the highest prestige, like Messi," Isco told Tuttosport.

"This Golden Boy [award] will be an incentive for me to become a real star of international football, like those who have gone before me."

Isco accumulated 137 votes to win the prize, beating off competition from AC Milan's Stephan El Shaarawy - who came in second with 125 votes - and Atletico Madrid's shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois, on loan from Chelsea, who came third with 116 votes.

"When I read that I was one of three candidates for the title a I dribbled a little, I thought it was a joke," Isco explained. "When I knew that El Shaarawy and Courtois were the other candidates, I didn't expect to win."

Previous winners of the accolade include the likes of Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney, while the 2011 winner was Borussia Dortmund's Mario Gotze, who picked up the award at 19 years of age.

Isco has been in excellent form for his club so far this season, scoring six times and assisting on another eight occasions in his 25 appearances.

His performances in the Champions League in particular have drawn praise, particularly from the media in his native Spain.

But he insisted that he is only focusing on establishing his place in the national side, and played down comparisons to Andres Iniesta.

"So far I have been called up once for the Spain national team. I want to convince coach [Vicente] Del Bosque to call me up as soon as possible. Wearing the Roja jersey is a dream for all Spaniards.

"The Spanish press say that I am Iniesta's heir, but a comparison is wrong because Don Andres is one of the strongest midfielders in the world, our World Cup hero, the player who deserves to win this year's Ballon d'Or. However, my idol is Ronaldinho."

Isco, who will be presented with the award before kickoff in Saturday's clash with Real Madrid, also said he was happy to stay at Malaga for the foreseeable future, despite rumored interest from los Blancos and English Premier League champions Manchester City.

"I'm fine here," he explained. "I have a contract until 2016 and a buyout clause of 21 million euros. I am 20 years old and that does not mean that I should leave soon. It is a decision that has to be carefully considered with the club, with my agent Jose Segui and with my family."

Malaga currently lies in fourth place in the Liga table, just five points behind Jose Mourinho's men after amassing 28 points from 16 games.

 

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Congratulations Isco!

Isco nam Patta!

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Barcelona confirms Vilanova has been released from hospital

Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova has been released from hospital, the club confirmed on its official website.

The Spanish coach underwent surgery on Thursday after he suffered a cancer relapse only a year after he underwent a procedure on his parotid gland.

Following the successful operation, Vilanova was transferred from the intensive care unit on Friday, and has been now cleared to return home.

The coach will have a six-week session of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in early January, and it remains to be seen whether he will return at the helm at Barcelona.

His assistant Jordi Roura will be taking control of all first-team duties, while Vilanova undergoes a period of recuperation.