..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Atletico confirm Torres ankle injury

Fernando Torres' long wait for his 100th Atletico Madrid goal is set to continue, with the striker facing a spell on the sidelines due to an ankle injury.Torres damaged his right ankle in training and is expected to miss Atletico's Copa del Rey second leg against Rayo Vallecano on Thursday.

Atletico revealed in a statement that Torres has undergone an MRI scan on the injured ankle, with no schedule yet set for his return to the squad.

"The striker will undergo physical therapy and perform alternative training in the gym, pending the evolution of his injury," the club said.

Torres has scored just two La Liga goals in 16 appearances for Diego Simeone's men this season, the last of which came in a 2-0 win at Eibar in September. Atletico have a two-point lead at the top of La Liga, although nearest rivals Barcelona have a game in hand.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Del Bosque: David Villa could return for Euro 2016

Spain head coach Vicente del Bosque says he will not rule out veteran striker David Villa forcing his way into the Euro 2016 squad.

The New York City forward, who is his country's leading goalscorer with 59 in 97 appearances, has not played for the national team since the dismal defence of their World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

Villa himself said last month that he remains optimistic of regaining his place and surpassing the 100-cap mark, and Del Bosque has left the door open to a place at the finals in France for one of the few players who remain from the victorious Euro 2008 squad."Nobody is excluded," he told Radio Marca when asked about Villa's chances.

"Only five or six players from 2008 are still going. I like the term 'quiet revolution'."
Del Bosque has also backed Diego Costa to keep his spot if he maintains form and fitness for Chelsea in the coming months and suggested that Atletico Madrid prospect Saul Niguez could also earn a place.

"If Costa looks good, he'll go to the Euros," he said. "We'll see what happens with Saul."

Del Bosque stated in December that he does not intend to stay in his post beyond the 2016 finals and he has stressed that his plan remains to allow a successor to take charge for the 2018 World Cup in Russia."At the moment I don't see myself on the bench at the World Cup in Russia, but there's a lot of time to arrange a possible natural replacement," he added.

"I have an excellent relationship with all the people in the Spanish Football Federation. I'll be where they ask me to be."I don't want to go against a majority opinion. I'm 65 and I'm not going to spend my life on the bench."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Aston Villa 1-0 Crystal Palace: Lescott fires hosts to much needed win

A terrible Wayne Hennessey error gave Aston Villa their first win in 20 Premier League matches, as the goalkeeper fumbled Joleon Lescott's header over the line to gift Remi Garde's men a 1-0 home victory over Crystal Palace on Tuesday.

Villa had not tasted success in the Premier League since beating Bournemouth on the opening day of the season, but the league's bottom club held on for a narrow win on Tuesday.

Wilfried Zaha had hit the outside of the post in the opening minute of the game after swapping passes with Jason Puncheon but both teams struggled for a cutting edge in the final third.

And it was an awful mistake from Hennessey that gifted Villa the lead on 58 minutes. Lescott's header had power but was straight at the goalkeeper, who contrived to bundle the ball over the line via his left knee and right ankle.

Palace's woes in front of goal continued, with Alan Pardew's men now having failed to score in four successive Premier League games.The win means Villa are eight points from safety at the foot of the table, while Palace remain seventh.

Garde dropped goalkeeper Brad Guzan and handed Mark Bunn his first Premier League start in over two years, while captain Micah Richards was fit only for the bench due to a foot injury.

And it was almost a nightmare start for Bunn as Palace went close after just 42 seconds. Zaha played a one-two with Puncheon that split the Villa defence with ease, but Zaha's shot clipped the outside of the post.Villa rallied, and Ashley Westwood flashed a drive just wide before Jordan Veretout shot straight at Hennessey from 30 yards.

Bakary Sako scored a late winning goal when Palace beat Villa 2-1 at Selhurst Park in August and he fired a viciously swerving strike just over Bunn's crossbar on 20 minutes.

Jordan Ayew then burst into the box but hit the side netting with his shot, before Damien Delaney's effort from Yohan Cabaye's cross drifted just wide of the post.
Libor Kozak, on his first Premier League start since Boxing Day 2013, almost found the bottom corner with a deflected shot six minutes after the break but Hennessey was equal to the effort.

But the Wales goalkeeper then made a terrible mistake to hand Villa the lead.Lescott firmly headed a corner straight at Hennessey, who got two hands to the ball but somehow let it squirm from his grasp and over the line.

Ayew jinked into the box and fired over with five minutes to go, while the closest Palace came to an equaliser was when Scott Dann's header flew over the crossbar.

Prior to this game, Villa had only kept two clean sheets in the Premier League all season but Palace, who had only lost twice away from home, rarely threatened and Garde's side held firm for a potentially vital victory.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Bournemouth 1-3 West Ham: Bilic's men keep unbeaten record going

Stunning free-kicks from Dimitri Payet and Enner Valencia helped West Ham rally from a goal down to record a 3-1 win over AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

Frenchman Payet, starting for the first time since November 7, curled home a set-piece after 68 minutes to cancel out Harry Arter's maiden top-flight goal, then provided the assist for Valencia to put the visitors in front.

Valencia wrapped up the three points with a free-kick that bettered his team-mate's effort, the Ecuadorian's dipping attempt from a tight angle leaving home goalkeeper Artur Boruc rooted to the spot.

The comeback by Slaven Bilic's side extends their unbeaten Premier League run to a club-record eight games, while it also lifts them to within a point of a top-four spot.Bournemouth, who fielded January recruits Benik Afobe, Juan Iturbe and Lewis Grabban, were made to pay for not taking their chances during the first half.

There was no sign of what was to come when the away side suffered a double blow in the space of two first-half minutes.

Soon after Andy Carroll was forced off through injury, Arter's right-footed drive from distance caught out Adrian to give the hosts the lead. The West Ham goalkeeper seemed to misread the flight of the shot, as it struck him on the wrist before going into the net.Boosted by breaking the deadlock, Bournemouth created a plethora of chances to double their advantage.

Afobe – the only one of Eddie Howe's three recent signings to start - wastefully headed over from close range, while Adrian made a better job of dealing with left-back Charlie Daniels' crisp strike, getting a strong hand to deflect the effort away.
Junior Stanislas' well-weighted pass in behind West Ham's defence offered Afobe another sight of goal, only for the forward to leave the ball behind as he looked to round Adrian.The missed opportunities nearly came back to haunt Bournemouth before the break, with West Ham twice denied by Boruc.

West Ham pushed their hosts back after the break, yet despite controlling possession and territory, they still needed a set-piece to draw level. A free-kick on the left side of the area allowed Payet to curl an attempt over the wall and into the top left corner, the ball clipping the bar on the way in.

Just seven minutes later and the former Marseille man turned from scorer to provider, making the most of a slip by a Bournemouth player to wriggle free on the right and send over a cross that Valencia converted first time.

The victory was wrapped up when Valencia grabbed his second of the night, with a fizzing dead-ball effort appearing to take Boruc by surprise as it flew into the net at his near post as Bournemouth and their new faces failed to pull away from the danger zone.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Newcastle United 3-3 Manchester United: Last-gasp Dummett salvages draw in St James's Park thriller

Paul Dummett scored a last-gasp equaliser to deny Manchester United victory against Newcastle United in a thrilling 3-3 draw at St James's Park.

In a controversial and captivating contest, Wayne Rooney's penalty and a Jesse Lingard strike had the visitors two goals ahead but Georginio Wijnaldum got one back prior to half-time.

Newcastle dominated the second period and Aleksandar Mitrovic won a penalty after tussling with Chris Smalling, converting it himself.

Rooney produced a stunning finish with 11 minutes remaining but that would not be enough for victory, with Dummett's deflected effort at the death earning Steve McClaren's side a crucial point.

The result sees Newcastle, who stay in the bottom three, end a losing run of three Premier League matches without scoring, while Louis van Gaal's fifth-placed side have now only won one of their last eight.

Rooney's ninth-minute penalty was the first major incident of the game, with Marouane Fellaini meeting a corner and heading into the hand of Chancel Mbemba, who was only a yard away but did have his arm raised.

Referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot despite Newcastle protests and Rooney stepped up to confidently send Rob Elliot the wrong way.

Rooney could have had a second midway through the half when Lingard's accurate pass sent him through on goal but he shot inches wide with his left foot.

Newcastle went straight up the other end and forced David de Gea, making his 200th appearance for the Red Devils, into a crucial save from Wijnaldum after a superb one-two with Ayoze Perez.

The hosts then wanted a penalty of their own when Daryl Janmaat charged into the box and was stopped by a clumsy Lingard challenge, but Dean was unmoved.

Van Gaal's men doubled their lead on 38 minutes when a quick counter-attack saw Ander Herrera release Rooney. The England striker took his time before reversing a clever pass into path of Lingard, who finished through the legs of Elliot from a tight angle.

That two-goal cushion lasted only four minutes. Fabricio Coloccini's high pass was headed down by Mitrovic and this time the onrushing Wijnaldum made no mistake, netting with an impressive first-time volley.

De Gea saved from Moussa Sissoko early in the second half before Lingard missed the target with an excellent opportunity at the other end after good work from Anthony Martial and Herrera, leaving Van Gaal visibly annoyed.

Jack Colback's claims for a spot-kick after a challenge by Fellaini were ignored but the home side did get a penalty when Mitrovic was wrestled to the ground by Smalling. The Serbian stepped up to beat De Gea himself.

Rooney responded by unleashing an unstoppable finish into the top-left corner when substitute Memphis Depay's shot deflected into his path 20 yards from goal.

Elliot then made a key save from Fellaini's late header, meaning Dummett's powerful strike - which deflected off Smalling out of the reach of De Gea - sealed a precious point after an epic battle.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barcelona fail in appeal against Suarez ban

Luis Suarez's two-game Copa del Rey ban has been upheld by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), after an appeal from Barcelona failed.The Uruguay striker was sanctioned for his part in a post-match altercation following Barca's 4-1 Copa win over Espanyol last week.

Barca overturned an early strike from Felipe Caicedo in the first leg of the last-16 tie at Camp Nou thanks to a Lionel Messi brace and goals from Gerard Pique and Neymar.

But derby-day tensions threatened to boil over during the second half as Espanyol duo Hernan Perez and Pape Diop were sent off.

In referee Juan Martinez Munuera's report, Suarez was accused of provoking a confrontation between players from both clubs in the tunnel.Suarez will miss Wednesday's second leg, along with an anticipated quarter-final first leg tie.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Van Gaal bemoans Man Utd collapse: We threw it away!

Louis van Gaal admitted Manchester United "threw away" their lead against Newcastle United but expressed his disappointment with the penalty given against Chris Smalling.

Wayne Rooney and Jesse Lingard gave the Red Devils a 2-0 lead but Steve McClaren's side fought back courtesy of goals from Georginio Wijnaldum and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Mitrovic converted from the spot after wrestling with Smalling in the box and after a second goal from Rooney, Paul Dummett provided another twist in added time to make it 3-3.

"We threw it away," Van Gaal told BT Sport. "You have to finish the game much earlier.

"In spite of that, the referee gives a penalty. I think it's a duel. You see that Mitrovic is pushing with his hand the head of Smalling. When you both do that, you cannot decide which is the worst.

"The referee is not losing our game. We are losing by ourselves."

Van Gaal acknowledged there was an element of misfortune to Dummett's equaliser, with the left-back's shot deflecting in off Smalling, but criticised his team's approach after they had restored their lead.

"It was unlucky," he added. "But before that, we are running behind. You have to push forward. We didn't do that. They have to finish [the game with a win].

"It's always difficult. Rooney had a big chance in the first half. We could have made six goals here. There were big possibilities.

"When you lose two points that's very sad and everybody knows it's our own fault. It's not the referee or the opponent. We did it by ourselves."

The Dutchman did believe, however, that his side had offered a response to critics labelling them unexciting to watch this season.

"I don't agree with the analysis of many people," Van Gaal said. "We are always attacking. We are always attacking also away.

"But I have to live with it. I have to cope with it. My players have to cope with it. That's very difficult. But now we've given two points away."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Silva sets sights on Champions League glory

Manchester City midfielder David Silva has set his sights on winning the Champions League before he calls time on his career.

Silva celebrated his 30th birthday on January 8 and has taken some time to reflect on what has been a successful spell in English football with City, the club he joined in 2010 as a new era in Manchester hit full swing.

The Spaniard has no plans to hang up his boots any time soon, though, and says that he still has aspirations to claim European glory before he brings the curtain down on his playing career.

"I think I've said on a few occasions that the thing that's still missing, that I haven't got my hands on, is the Champions League," he told reporters. "That's something I'd still love to be able to do.

"The main thing is to still have that hunger. I still have that same desire and same hunger to keep winning trophies and more than anything to keep improving.

"I still consider it a work in progress, with constantly striving to get better and hopefully achieving more with the team."

Silva, who has previously admitted that he would like to retire at Las Palmas, his hometown club, says he could never have imagined what he would go on to achieve in the game.

"I don't think that little boy would have expected to go so far," he added. "You never know where you're going to end up in life and even to play at a professional level would maybe have been a surprise at that age.

"Now, to have had the chance to play at a great level and win plenty of trophies, I don't think that little boy would have ever imagined such a successful career."

The playmaker, dubbed 'Merlin' by Manchester City fans thanks to his creative talents, has been forced to watch the action from the sidelines for much of the season but after another ankle knock kept him out of Saturday's FA Cup victory at Norwich City he is ready to make a contribution once again.

"It's been tough," he said of his injury troubles this term. "It's been a pretty frustrating period especially when I had a decent start to the season.

"I've just been held back by this ankle injury but hopefully I can get some form back, get fit and be ready to do my bit to help the team."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Scholes backs Man Utd to make top four but rules out title win

Paul Scholes has backed former club Manchester United to make it into the top four, but doesn't feel the club have what it takes to win the Premier League title.

The Red Devils faced Newcastle on Tuesday night and struggled to kill off their opponents in a 3-3 draw, despite taking the lead twice over the course of the 90 minutes.

Nevertheless, United - and especially Wayne Rooney - looked bright enough at times to warrant the backing of the club icon.

"They looked a real threat," Scholes told BT Sport. "There was an intent to score goals. Every fixture feels like a tricky fixture. You're not sure what United you're going to get.

"At home they've struggled. The last eight results haven't been good enough. You're playing against a team second bottom here, confidence is really low, and they've not won that game as well.

"Is it a team that can go on to win the league? I don't think so. Top four? That's a definite possibility. They should be good enough for top four without a shadow of a doubt."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Scholes: THIS is the Rooney we love

Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has heaped praise on club skipper Wayne Rooney as he netted twice in the the Red Devils' 3-3 draw with Newcastle on Tuesday.

The captain opened the scoring at St. James' Park before his clever pass set Jesse Lingard up to add a second, but United were forced to fight back for the lead after goals from Georginio Wijnaldum and Aleksandar Mitrovic restored parity.

Rooney then found the net in the last ten minutes with what looked to be the winner, but a late strike from Paul Dummett ensured a share of the spoils for the hosts in a 3-3 draw.

Regardless, Scholes feels Rooney's display shows that he is returning to his brilliant best after having been criticised for most of the season.

"Everything he did was brilliant," he told BT Sport.

"That second goal was sensational. He's been on the brink of looking like the Wayne Rooney of old in the last two or three weeks.

"This is the Rooney we love. It's great to have him back. I just hope this carries on."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Rooney slams Man Utd defence after conceding 'silly' goals against Newcastle

Wayne Rooney expressed his frustration with the "silly" and "avoidable" goals Manchester United conceded in their 3-3 draw against Newcastle United.

Rooney turned in arguably his best performance of the season at St James's Park, scoring two goals and creating another to twice put Louis van Gaal's side ahead.

But Newcastle battled back from two goals down to level the score at 2-2 and then responded again when the England captain seemed to have won the game late on.

And Rooney feels his side made it easy for their hosts, insisting they should have held out for the three points.

"I think after going 2-0 up we were in control of the game, and then we've let them back into it," Rooney told MUTV. "To then get our third goal and concede again was disappointing from us.

"I think they were silly goals to concede on our behalf and they were avoidable. They have cost us two points so we're disappointed.

"We can't keep going on conceding three goals every game so we have to work on that and create the chances without giving goals away.

"You can score as many goals as you want, but if you keep conceding goals then it's a problem.

"We have to keep trying to get that balance right and keep creating chances, scoring goals and keeping them out."

Rooney admitted that United had been working hard to improve their disappointing goalscoring record, with all five of the sides now above them having found the net at least six more times than the Red Devils.

"I think we're always trying to create chances," he added. "Obviously we know that's our aim, that's what we work on everyday at the training ground.

"Sometimes it's difficult but on nights like tonight we did it so we need to keep working and keep trying to improve."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Origi undergoes knee surgery as Sakho, Milner & Henderson train

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that striker Divock Origi has undergone surgery on a knee injury.

The Belgium international has scored four goals in all competitions for the Reds this season but has not played since December 26, when he suffered a hamstring injury against Leicester City.

Klopp revealed Liverpool opted to use his recovery time to clear up another problem the 20-year-old had, with his first-team return still pencilled in for February."It was not really surgery, it was a clean-up of his knee," said the former Borussia Dortmund boss.

"It was a little thing to do and we thought it was a good moment to do it – not the best of course, but because of his other injury we took the time."Now he is back [at Melwood] and everything is okay. He is on time and hopefully we can use him in a few weeks."

Klopp is encouraged to see Liverpool's injury crisis starting to ease ahead of Wednesday's crunch Premier League clash against Arsenal.He added: "The rest are looking better, fitness-wise. All of the other guys trained.

"Divock could not train, but we had Mama [Mamadou Sakho] in training and he looked good. We had Millie [James Milner] in training and he looked good. Hendo [Jordan Henderson] in training, very good.

"Our options are now more than they were a few days ago. Hopefully we can build a good squad [for the Arsenal game]."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mistakes godai.
Proffesional widihata hodata play karapu dennai man dakke.
Rooney & De Gea
Anith okkoma podi babala wage. Second half new castle goal ekak gahapu welawe idanma hadissi wela anagannawa. Midfield sauththui.
Fellani melo wedak ne. hema thissema pass karanne anith team ekata.
eyalath ehemai.
Fellani header, lingaard open chance eka.. sahenna aparade..
Shweinsteiger, Mata denna essential midfield ekata.
Habai rooneyge last goal eken passe man hithuwe dinna thamai kiyala

Ow bro MID nam anthimai.Specially Schneiderlin/Fellaini gen nam deyak wennama naha team 1kata.godak miss place passes & mamath hithuwe bro Rooney ge 2nd goal 1ken passe win kala thamai kiyala match 1ka.ath ithin 90 minute wala goal 1ka wadunane​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barclays Premier League 2016.01.13 Fixtures

Barclays Premier League 2016.01.13 Fixtures

Chelsea Vs WBA

Manchester City Vs Everton

Southampton Vs Watford

Stoke City Vs Norwich City

Swansea Vs Sunderland

Liverpool Vs Arsenal

Tottenham Vs Leicester City

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Copa Del Rey 2nd Leg Fixtures 2016.01.13

Copa Del Rey 2nd Leg Fixtures 2016.01.13

Celta Vigo Vs Cadiz

Villareal Vs Athletic Bilbao

Espanyol Vs Barcelona

Las Palmas Vs Eibar
​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Coppa Italia Fixture 2016.01.13

Coppa Italia Fixture 2016.01.13

AC Milan Vs Carpi
​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Roma sack Rudi Garcia

Roma have parted company with head coach Rudi Garcia, the club announced in a statement on Wednesday.

The Giallorossi had begun the Serie A season with hopes of claiming the title from Juventus, but a poor start hampered their progress, falling behind Napoli, Inter and the Bianconeri.

With their form failing to pick up, the former Lille boss has now left Rome, and, in a statement on the club's official website, president James Pallotta suggested it is "the right time for a change".

"On behalf of myself and everyone at AS Roma, I’d like to thank Rudi Garcia for all of his hard work since joining the club," the statement read.

"We’ve all enjoyed some great moments during his time at Roma but we believe that this is the right time for a change."

Former Roma coach Luciano Spalletti is widely expected to succeed Garcia, who leaves with the club fifth in the Serie A standings and seven points off table-topping Napoli.

Spaletti spent four years at the Stadio Olimpico, winning the Coppa Italia twice and Supercoppa Italiana once.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Rafa ta ayeth Italian job 1kakata chance 1ka set wela thiyenne.​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Arsenal set to sign Nigerian wonderkids

Arsenal are set to sign Nigerian youngsters Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze, Goal can confirm

Sources have told Goal that Nwakali and Chukwueze are expected to complete their transfers this month after the Gunners beat off competition from leading clubs across Europe.

The duo were key members of the Nigeria team that won the under-17 World Cup in Chile in November are are currently at the Diamond Football Academy in Umuahia, Nigeria.

Chukwueze scored three goals and provided three assists in the tournament while Nwakali, 17, was voted as the best player and has chosen to move to Arsenal despite his brother playing for Manchester City.

They will join Arsenal’s youth set up and sign professional contracts when they turn 18.

Arsene Wenger has predicted a busy transfer window, with Arsenal expected to finally complete the signing of Basel midfielder Mohamed Elneny on Wednesday.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Smalling slams inconsistent refereeing over penalty call

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has hit out at referee Mike Dean for his decision to award Newcastle United a penalty in Tuesday's 3-3 Premier League draw.

Dean pointed to the spot after a duel between Smalling and Aleksandar Mitrovic, though Louis van Gaal insisted both players were responsible for the tussle, insisting the referee had declared the Red Devils defender the "heavyweight champion" by awarding the spot kick.And Smalling was also critical of what he perceived to be inconsistent decision making by the official.

"We were both jostling for positions throughout the game," Smalling told the official United website."The referee said we were both at it so he didn't give anything and I think there needs to be that consistency with the decisions.

"You can see my shirt was clearly pulled as well, so it's just about consistency.
"If you're going to give them, fair enough, but you need to be giving them on a regular basis."

United will be looking to return to winning ways when they take on Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday and Smalling is optimistic about his side's chances of getting a good result.

"I think in recent times we’ve done very well against them," he added."Obviously this year at Old Trafford and last season we've got very good results, so we're very confident of going there and causing them a>