..::Football III::..

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Inter appeal Belfodil suspension

Inter have appealed against the two-match ban handed to Ishak Belfodil following his dismissal against Verona.

The match ended in controversial circumstances when Belfodil and Verona's Vangelis Moras were sent off for an off-the-ball altercation.Inter have now lodged an appeal against that decision to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), while Verona have also announced their intention to challenge the punishment against Moras.

A statement on Inter's official website read: "Inter have appealed the two-match ban issued to Ishak Belfodil by the FIGC's disciplinary committee following Inter v Verona."Belfodil, 21, will miss Inter's clash away at Atalanta later on Tuesday.

Walter Mazzarri's side ended a run of three Serie A fixtures without a win when they triumphed 4-2 on Saturday and have amassed 18 points from their nine games to put them fourth in the league.

 

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Fernandinho backs Brazil for World Cup glory

Fernandinho says Brazil are favourites to lift the World Cup, with the Manchester City man desperate to play a part in the showpiece.

His move this summer to the Premier League from Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk was taken in part to boost the midfielder's chances of forcing his way into the national set-up, with Brazil set to host the event in 2014.And the 28-year-old feels that home advantage puts his country in a strong position to win the tournament."I believe Brazil are the major favourites," he told Perform. "We'll be playing at home with the crowd support. It is something we Brazilians haven’t seen in a long time.

"Brazil had great performances and played good football during the Confederations Cup. Obviously there are other teams in good shape as well who are well prepared, but I believe Brazil are strong contenders to win the title."With the World Cup less than a year away, Fernandinho is keen to give national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari plenty to think about as the hosts continue their build-up to the showpiece.

The Brazilian has been asked to play a deeper role since his move to City, but says he does not mind where he plays."Perhaps Big Phil (Scolari) is watching and if I have the opportunity to play for the Selecao doing this role I would be extremely happy," he continued.

"I'm working hard each day in every match with that in mind. I watched many interviews with Scolari and he said there are still some available spots, and he is watching all players.

"I honestly believe that I'm doing everything I can to make it happen."

 

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Wenger welcomes Mourinho reunion

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits that he was unsurprised to see Jose Mourinho return to Chelsea in the summer as the pair prepare to face up in the Capital One Cup clash at the Emirates tonight.

The Gunners have won nine of their last ten games at home in the competition but Wenger is yet to beat a side managed by Mourinho – who won back-to-back Premier League titles in his first spell at Stamford Bridge.

During that period the Frenchman endured a competitive relationship with the Portuguese manager but insists that is no longer the case, and is happy to see the ‘Special’ return after spells at Inter and Real Madrid.

“It was not a big surprise [that Mourinho returned] because there was talk about it many times," Wenger told the club’s official website.

“When he left Madrid, it looked to be one of his best opportunities to come back.

“What the Premier League wants first is the quality of the games and his teams give you always a tough game. That is what you want."

Despite previous disagreements, Wenger is happy to be reunited against Mourinho and insists the pair have moved on.

“With all competitors there are ups and downs," he added. "You could see that again yesterday between [Manuel] Pellegrini and Mourinho, because we put our whole heart into every single game.

"Sometimes we go overboard and that is part of the job. With the distance after, it always settles."

Both mangers are set to rotate with Chelsea playing their second game in three days and Wenger using the competition to give his youngsters first-team opportunities.

 

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Van Persie hails 'special' talent Januzaj

Manchester United striker Robin van Persie believes team-mate Adnan Januzaj has the ability to be a world-class player and has paid tribute to the youngster’s talents.

The 18-year-old has made a strong start to the season this year, inspiring United to a comeback win against Sunderland earlier this month and has recently committed his future to the club by signing a new five-year contract.

With United trailing Stoke 2-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday, Januzaj came off the bench to inspire the Reds to a 3-2 win - and Van Persie believes the Belgian possesses all the attributes to be a ‘special’ player.

"He's a great player and I'm a great fan of his," Van Persie told reporters. "I thought earlier in pre-season that he has something special.

"Over the years I've seen so many young players and I can honestly say that of all the young players I've seen he is right up there in the top one or two.

"He's a special player. He will give Manchester United a great bunch of goals and great games."

Januzaj’s potential has drawn comparisons with Van Persie himself, but the Dutch all-time top goalscorer insists the Belgian is unique in his own right rather than the new ‘Van Persie’.

He added: “He’s confident in a good way. He’s not too bothered with the whole occasion or the pressure of the games.

"When I go back 10 years when I was quite young I see similar attributes.

"I was very confident as well and I see some stuff in him and the choices he makes that I made when I was younger as well.

"He's a very big talent and he will be looked after by the staff and players here.

Januzaj is expected to start Tuesday night when Manchester United host Norwich City in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup.

 

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Fletcher thrilled to be back for Manchester United

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher was delighted to take another step forward in his recovery from a bowel condition.The Sweeper revealed on Sunday that Fletcher had been considered for a surprise appearance in the Capital One Cup tie with Norwich following two weeks of training, but he was given a more gentle game for United's youth team against Fulham on Monday in a 2-2 draw at Salford City Stadium.

The 29-year-old Scot has only appeared 13 times for United in almost two years, but was relieved to move a step closer to regaining a first-team spot under a manager he has not played for yet, David Moyes.

"It's been a long time so it's good to get back tonight," Fletcher told MUTV.

"I've been training for a few weeks now and the next progression is to get some match time. I enjoyed it."The plan was to get to half-time and see how I felt.

"Then get to 60 minutes and take it from there and, although I felt I could have gone on a bit longer, the plan was not to play more than that so I'm better sticking to the plan and not upsetting the sports science lads."Fletcher hailed his support crew - both the club and his family - for helping him through his time off the field with ulcerative colitis."They've been great, especially the doc Steve McNally," Fletcher said.

"He's worked closely with me, getting myself right and back and the support from the club has been fantastic - from Sir Alex Ferguson to the new manager and David Gill. Everyone at the club. I couldn't ask for anything better."It's been tough. Luckily, I've got a great family around me - my wife, children, mum, dad and sisters.

"It's a great family and, if it was not for them, I wouldn't be standing here today.
"They keep me going, keep me motivated and lift me when I'm down. All these factors contributed to me standing here today on the road to recovery."

 

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Welcome back Fletch!

 

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Referee made a mistake, admits Martino

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino admits the referee probably made a mistake in not awarding Real Madrid a penalty in his side's 2-1 Clasico win.

Alberto Undiano twice waved away ardent appeals for a spot-kick from the visitors at Camp Nou, firstly for a perceived handball against Adriano and later for a push on Cristiano Ronaldo from Javier Mascherano.

Martino concedes the official may have made the incorrect call but insists that should not detract from his side's impressive win on Saturday.

"There was probably a mistake from the referee, but a match was also played and we have to concentrate on that," he told reporters.

"Barcelona were the better side in the first half, Madrid were better in the first 25 minutes of the second and then the end of the match was fairly even.

"To respond to what the Madrid players have said would be taking advantage of the situation.

"It's fine for them to say the referee made a mistake if they think he did.

"I find it hard to accuse a referee of that so easily. It's possible that he made a mistake, and that's all."

Barcelona face Celta Vigo on Tuesday in their next Liga encounter and Martino has warned his side to be wary of any hangovers from the weekend win.

"It's always dangerous after a Clasico. We had to think about Osasuna, Milan, then Madrid and now we're looking to [the game against] Celta. There's no room to get comfortable.

"Winning a Clasico is always a psychological boost. I said before the game that this [mental] effect would be greater than the points. What’s more, we won a very hard game in which there were spells that we were better and spells that we were second best."

The win propelled Barcelona six points clear of Real Madrid, and a point ahead of Atletico Madrid for first place in La Liga, and Martino believes his side are proving themselves as worthy favourites to defend their title.

"Barca were already favourites when they beat Levante [on the opening day of the season], and the same was true in the fifth game or the 1oth," added the Argentine. "The club's status and history make it a favourite, whatever competition it plays in."

 

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Moyes backs Nani despite Old Trafford boos

Manchester United manager David Moyes has backed Nani after the winger was booed off the field during Saturday’s Premier League victory over Stoke.

Nani was taken off in the 58th minute after a largely unimpressive display and replaced by Adnan Januzaj with United 2-1 down.

The Old Trafford crowd made their displeasure well known to the Portuguese winger as he went off, but Moyes remains supportive of his player.

"He is a regular and captain for Portugal so he is very talented," Moyes told reporters.

"There were one or two decisions he might have made better, but he got us the [first] goal with a lovely ball.

"We have a lot of competition for places in the wide areas, incredible competition, and that is what we're
looking for."

United eventually won the match 3-2 thanks to late strikes from Wayne Rooney and Chicharito, and Moyes admitted he was relieved to have snatched the three points.

"It was a win in the Premier League,” he added. “They are hard to come by and they are not easy.

"It was a big moment to win the game and hopefully we will continue to win games. If it's in the same fashion then we'll take it, but if we can make it a bit easier it will be great for the old ticker.”

 

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Reus keen to 'raise limit'

Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus says he is eager to "keep on raising his limit" as he seeks to fulfill his potential.

The Germany international assisted Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's opener during the 3-1 Ruhr derby win over Schalke on Saturday.

And having already scored five goals and assisted a further four in 10 Bundesliga games so far this season, the attacker believes there is still room for improvement in his game.

"I want to keep on raising my limit," the 24-year-old told Kicker, adding: "And with this process, I've not yet reached the end."

Reus also feels BVB have become stronger as a whole after they lost the Bundesliga and Champions League to Bayern Munich last season.

"As a team, we've made enormous progress. We have become stronger mentally.

"We know that when we play at our full potential, we win the games.

"If we play at a 100 per cent, which the coach demands from us, we are really tough to beat."

Die Schwarzgelben, who will meet Stuttgart on November 1, currently trail Bundesliga leaders Bayern by a point.

 

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Mysterious figures at Juventus

Eleven mysterious figures were spotted at Juventus Stadium in the latest of a bizarre sequence of unexplained football-related incidents across the world.

Dressed in black robes with intriguing symbols on their chests, the conspicuous figures sat behind the goal at the north end of the stadium in Turin during Juventus' 2-0 victory over Genoa on Sunday.

The gang made signals in unison during the match and they were also seen standing up in unison on several random occasions before returning to their seats.

Turin crowd | Fans were alarmed by the presence of 11 robed men

The latest sighting comes after 11 other figures, also in the mysterious black robes, were seen making similar movements in the crowd at Bayern Munich's 3-2 win over Hertha Berlin at the Allianz Arena on Saturday and at Chelsea's win over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The insignia on the chests of the cloaks matches the symbols seen in various landmarks around the world. Franz Beckenbauer, the former Germany captain and coach, was photographed seated close to a robed figure at the Chelsea game and has since released a video providing his explanation of the sightings.

New signings | The men held up banners revealing a mysterious message

Juventus supporter Franco Losito explained how the latest appearance of mysterious visitors caused some concern among the crowd near him.

"The guy next to me alerted them to me," he said. "He had an ashen face and I don't really blame him. They were extraordinary really.

"I don't know who on earth they are, but I know I've never seen anything like it before either at a football match or in normal day-to-day life."

The symbols seen in Rio last week were also in evidence on the digital billboards of Times Square in New York a few days later, while a three-metre football displaying the sign, gouged a huge hole in the turf at Hackney Marshes in London last Monday.

Further sightings came at Copacabana and Santa Marta hill in Rio, but it is the appearance of these mysterious figures at football matches that has social media buzzing using the hastag: #WINNERTAKESEARTH

 

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Mun nathi thanak nahane

 

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Capital One Cup 2013.10.29 Fixtures

Capital One Cup 2013.10.29 Fixtures

Arsenal Vs Chelsea

Birmingham City Vs Stoke City

Burnley Vs West Ham

Leicester City Vs Fulham

Manchester United Vs Norwich City

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La Liga 2013.10.29 Fixtures

La Liga 2013.10.29 Fixtures

Espanyol Vs Malaga

Celta Vigo Vs Barcelona​

 

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Serie A 2013.10.29 Fixtures

Serie A 2013.10.29 Fixtures

Atalanta Vs Inter​

 

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Messi, Ribery & Ronaldo on 23-man Ballon d'Or shortlist

Fifa and France Football have revealed the 23-man shortlist for the 2013 Fifa Ballon d'Or, with title-holder Lionel Messi, Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery and Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo among the candidates to win the individual award.

Ribery is accompanied by five Bayern Munich team-mates following the Bundesliga giants' impressive 2012-13 campaign.

Furthermore, usual suspects such as Andres Iniesta and Xavi have made the cut, as well as Paris Saint-Germain star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The final decisions will be made by the captains and head coaches of the men’s national teams as well as international media representatives selected by France Football.

In early December 2013, Fifa and France Football will announce the names of the three men who have received the most votes, without revealing the winner.

The winners of the award will be revealed at the Fifa Ballon d’Or gala as part of a televised show at the Zurich Kongresshaus on 13 January 2014.

Last year's podium was made up of Messi, Ronaldo and Iniesta.

SHORTLIST IN FULL:

Franck Ribery /Bayern Munich /France
Arjen Robben /Bayern Munich /Netherlands
Thomas Muller /Bayern Munich /Germany
Manuel Neuer /Bayern Munich /Germany
Philipp Lahm /Bayern Munich /Germany
Bastian Schweinsteiger /Bayern Munich /Germany
Lionel Messi /Barcelona /Argentina
Andres Iniesta /Barcelona /Spain
Xavi /Barcelona /Spain
Neymar /Barcelona /Brazil
Zlatan Ibrahimovic /Paris Saint-Germain /Sweden
Edinson Cavani /Paris Saint-Germain /Uruguay
Thiago Silva /Paris Saint-Germain /Brazil
Cristiano Ronaldo /Real Madrid /Portugal
Gareth Bale /Real Madrid /Wales
Mesut Ozil /Arsenal /Germany
Robin van Persie /Manchester United /Netherlands
Yaya Toure /Manchester City /Cote d'Ivoire
Luis Suarez /Liverpool /Uruguay
Andrea Pirlo /Juventus /Italy
Radamel Falcao /Monaco /Colombia
Eden Hazard /Chelsea /Belgium
Robert Lewandowski /Borussia Dortmund /Poland​

 

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Mysterious figures at Juventus

Eleven mysterious figures were spotted at Juventus Stadium in the latest of a bizarre sequence of unexplained football-related incidents across the world.

Dressed in black robes with intriguing symbols on their chests, the conspicuous figures sat behind the goal at the north end of the stadium in Turin during Juventus' 2-0 victory over Genoa on Sunday.

The gang made signals in unison during the match and they were also seen standing up in unison on several random occasions before returning to their seats.

Turin crowd | Fans were alarmed by the presence of 11 robed men

The latest sighting comes after 11 other figures, also in the mysterious black robes, were seen making similar movements in the crowd at Bayern Munich's 3-2 win over Hertha Berlin at the Allianz Arena on Saturday and at Chelsea's win over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The insignia on the chests of the cloaks matches the symbols seen in various landmarks around the world. Franz Beckenbauer, the former Germany captain and coach, was photographed seated close to a robed figure at the Chelsea game and has since released a video providing his explanation of the sightings.

 

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Half Time

Manchester United 1 Vs 0 Norwich City


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Congratulations Manchester United

Full Time

Manchester United 4 Vs 0 Norwich City

Manchester United Goal(s)

Chicharito 20'(PEN),54'
Phil Jones 88'
Fabio 90+5'

Congratulations Manchester United
Chicha,Januzaj & Zaha niyamai

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Manchester United 4-0 Norwich: Chicharito double books Capital One Cup quarter-final spot

Chicharito netted twice as Manchester United cruised into the Capital One Cup quarter-finals with a comfortable victory over Norwich.After opening the scoring from the spot after 20 minutes following a Leroy Fer foul on Adnan Januzaj, the 25-year-old reacted quickly to a Mark Bunn parry to double the hosts’ advantage with a header early in the second half.



Phil Jones made sure of the victory with a late volley, before Fabio prodded home a fourth in stoppage time in a game marred by a serious-looking head injury to Norwich's Robert Snodgrass.

David Moyes made wholesale changes from the United side that came from behind twice to beat Stoke City 3-2 on Saturday, with Phil Jones and Tom Cleverley the only survivors.Wilfried Zaha was given a first start since August’s Community Shield win over Wigan Athletic, while Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand were also among those to come in.

Norwich were similarly unrecognisable from the weekend, with Fer, Bassong and Snodgrass the only players to line up at Old Trafford who started Saturday’s goalless draw with Cardiff.

Nathan Redmond was the first to get a sight of goal for the visitors, creating the angle for himself at the edge of the penalty area before drilling wide of the left-hand post after 10 minutes.At the other end, Chicharito twice went close to giving United the lead in quick succession, but it wasn’t long before the Mexican broke the deadlock.

Norwich’s Fer, who has been under the spotlight since a display of unsporting behaviour in the Premier League clash with Cardiff, attracted more unwanted attention in the 19th minute as he left a lazy leg in the path of Januzaj inside the box to concede a penalty.

Chicharito stepped up and duly dispatched the spot-kick into the bottom left-hand corner of Mark Bunn’s net, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to put United ahead.

Five minutes into the second half, Johan Elmander outmuscled Vidic to nudge the ball narrowly wide of the right-hand post from a Redmond cross as Norwich went in search of an equaliser.But moments later, the hosts were two up. Chicharito got his head to an Alexander Buttner cross from the left to force a parry from Bunn, but the striker was alert and nodded the ball into the back of the net at the second attempt for his third goal of the competition.

Snodgrass drew a save from Anders Lindegaard in the 56th minute with a header, but picked up a head injury in the process, resulting in a nine-minute stoppage before he was replaced by Anthony Pilkington.

Things went from bad to worse for Norwich as Redmond was forced from the field with an apparent muscle injury, before Jones put the result beyond doubt in the 86th minute with a volley from a poor headed clearance by Bassong.

And full-back Fabio then tapped home a fourth, four minutes into 11 of injury time, following a wonderful pass from substitute Wayne Rooney.

 

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Celta 0-3 Barcelona: Alexis & Fabregas help Catalans ease to win

Barcelona eased to a 3-0 win over Celta on Tuesday, at least temporarily extending the gap between them and Real Madrid to nine points.

Leaders Barca opened up a four-point lead ahead of Atletico Madrid as Gerardo Martino's men followed up their 2-1 success against bitter rivals Real Madrid in the first Clasico of the season last Saturday with a routine victory.

Celta are still searching for their first home win of the season as, despite a spirited performance, they were outgunned by a Barca side in rampant form at Estadio Municipal de Balaidos.

Alexis, on his 100th Barca appearance, opened the scoring inside the first 10 minutes, the Chile international scoring from close range after Gustavo Cabral had been dispossessed in midfield.

The hosts contributed much to an open encounter, but Martino's side took command early in the second half as goalkeeper Yoel unfortunately turned a Cesc Fabregas strike into his own net following neat work from Lionel Messi and Alex Song.And it was former Arsenal man Fabregas who rounded things off with a well-placed drive to maintain Barca's unbeaten start to the campaign.

Captain Carles Puyol came into the side for Barca due to Gerard Pique's hamstring injury, while Clasico goalscorer Neymar, Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Javier Mascherano were all left on the bench as part of five changes by Martino.Celta, by contrast, made only one change from the side that beat Malaga 5-0, Brazilian midfielder Rafinha replacing Santiago Mina.

Barca needed just nine minutes to break the deadlock as Alexis tapped in the rebound after Fabregas' shot had been well saved by Yoel following poor work from Cabral.Both sides began to create chances as the play became more stretched, Messi curling wide at the end of a free-flowing Barca move, before Rafinha fired just past the post for Celta.

Celta enjoyed a good spell of pressure midway through the first half, and they were denied a leveller after 31 minutes as on-loan Barca forward Nolito's strike was ruled out after striker Charles was adjudged to have impeded Victor Valdes.
The visitors made an enforced change seconds later, left-back Adriano limping off and replaced by Martin Montoya.

Celta had shown great ambition in the first half, but their task was made even harder three minutes into the second period as Fabregas' curling effort crashed off the bar before deflecting off Yoel and into the net.And Barca all but ended the game as a contest six minutes later, as Fabregas converted emphatically after at the near post after being played in by Messi.

Former Barca star Luis Enrique's side continued to search for a way back into the contest and they were almost rewarded for their enterprise when Nolito's free kick cannoned off the crossbar.

Pedro then clipped the bar before Yoel prevented Messi from netting a fine individual goal in the closing stages, but Celta were left to rue their missed opportunities as Barca underlined their title credentials once more.