..::Football III::..

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Pellegrini miscalculates goal difference as Manchester City miss out on top spot

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini appeared not to realise that his side could have topped Champions League Group D had they scored one more goal in Tuesday's 3-2 win over Bayern Munich.

City went into the game three points behind Pep Guardiola's side and fell behind to early goals from Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze.

However, the visitors recovered to secure a 3-2 win at the Allianz Arena, with James Milner scoring the winner to finish level on points with Bayern, but in second place in the group.

One more goal would have seen the visitors leapfrog Bayern and finish as group winners, with away goals between the sides deciding the final positions, however Pellegrini appeared to think his side needed to win 5-2 to finish top.

“I was tempted [to bring on Aguero] if we scored a fourth goal of course, that’s why I sent Aguero to warm up,” he told Sky Sports.

"But I think it was a risk to continue with David Silva, he could not play more than 70 minutes. It was important to be top of group but not the most important thing.

“It’s very difficult to score two [more] goals.”

The Chilean also admitted he was delighted to have triumphed over Guardiola’s side to make amends for being beaten by the Champions League holders at the start of the season.

"We wanted revenge for the first game [which Bayern won 3-1] and to show it was not that different between Bayern and our team,” he added.

"To win here and score three goals without Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, Alvaro Negredo and Sergio Aguero shows we have a very good squad also, so it's a very important victory."

 

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Ribery stunned at Bayern Munich collapse

Franck Ribery was left stunned as Bayern Munich surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to Manchester City on Tuesday.

Strikes from Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze in the opening 12 minutes put the holders in complete control, but die Roten capitulated to allow the Premier League side to secure the win thanks to David Silva, an Aleksandar Kolarov penalty and James Milner.

"I honestly do not know what happened," Ribery told BeIn Sport. "We started well in the game, but after that we took this team lightly. There was a loosening up and ultimately the game is lost.

"We are pleased with first place [in the group], but upset regarding the result. We made a lot of mistakes due to our lack of concentration. We hope to respond this weekend."

Captain Philipp Lahm admitted his side were fortunate to keep their place at the top of the group on a narrow head-to-head record after their poor second-half showing at the Allianz Arena.

"If you are two goals up front you need to play it better than today," he told Sky Deutschland. "The good thing is that we can live with the loss because we are first in the group. You would rather win, but if you lose it should be a loss like this."

Both Muller and defender Dante were left aggrieved at the decision to award a spot-kick following the Brazilian's trip on Milner.

"It was a bit strange in the second half. I don't know if that was a penalty. In the end we have to be satisfied that it was enough for winning the group," said Muller, before Dante added: "I was sure that was not a penalty."

 

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Klopp: Marseille game will be like a final

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp says the clash against Olympique de Marseille on matchday six in the Champions League will be treated like a final.

Klopp's men are second on nine points in Group F following a 3-1 victory over Napoli in the last round of action, and know a win in the south of France will secure their place in the last 16.

"We qualified for this final-of-sorts 14 days ago against Napoli - it was very difficult to beat the Italian team, who only needed a draw to qualify, which would have been hard for any team in the world. But we got it right," he told reporters.

"We were proud that we did it. [Reaching the last 16] is a great opportunity that looked out of sight after the defeat against Arsenal, but now we have the chance to qualify to reach the next round. This is a very difficult group and getting out of it would make us very happy. We are very positive going into this game."

Dortmund's injury problems have yet to subside and will be without several key players for Wednesday's encounter against the Ligue 1 outfit, who are currently without a coach and already eliminated from the competition.

Klopp has revealed he will not risk playing Nuri Sahin if he is not fit, while defenders Mats Hummels, Neven Subotic and Marcel Schmelzer and midfielders Ilkay Gundogan and Sven Bender have been ruled out.

The coach said of Sahin's setback: "The injury is not a problem, the problem is the time. We will look at it in training, but we will not risk anything tomorrow, but if he does play, it would be good..."

 

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Aubameyang: We want to take advantage of Marseille

Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is eager to heap more misery on Olympique de Marseille when the two sides meet on Wednesday.

The French giants dispensed with the services of coach Elie Baup following Friday's 1-0 loss to Nantes and have failed to take a point from any of their five Champions League group games thus far.

Jurgen Klopp's men need victory at Stade Velodrome to guarantee progression to the knockout stages of the competition and the Gabon international is hoping to heap more misery on l'OM.

"Marseille are in a bad phase. It is up to us to take advantage of this," he was quoted as saying by Uefa.com.

"This will be difficult but we are confident and determined. We are motivated to play and qualify. This game is crucial in the qualifying run.

"Despite the injuries I trust our defence and I am sure tomorrow will be a good game. Our game is an attacking one, we play with a lot of intensity, this is our strength."

BVB overcame Marseille 3-0 on matchday 2 of the competition over in Germany, with Robert Lewandowski scoring twice and Marco Reus netting the other goal.

 

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Liverpool midfielder Allen not haunted by Merseyside derby miss

Joe Allen is determined to nail down a place in the Liverpool starting line-up after putting his glaring Merseyside derby miss behind him.

The Wales international had a golden opportunity to put Brendan Rodgers' side 3-1 up at Goodison Park last month, but inexplicably fired wide of the target.
Liverpool needed a late Daniel Sturridge goal to salvage a point against their neighbours after Romelu Lukaku's double had put Everton ahead.

Allen was dropped to the bench for the defeat at Hull City the following weekend, but the former Swansea made earned a recall for recent resounding victories over Norwich City and West Ham.

And the 23-year-old knows there is no point in thinking about what might of been if he had found the back of the net against Roberto Martinez's charges.He told Liverpool's official website: "Everyone knows the disappointment and there's been a lot of talk about the miss.

"It was disappointing, but that's football and these things happen. I moved on straight away and got back to working hard, looking for the next opportunity to come.

"Obviously I had the chance to start against Norwich, which was the first start I've had at Anfield in the league for almost a year. So it was great to be back out there and be a part of a winning performance.

"I've struggled with different injury problems, but you'd hope that they're behind me now and I can focus on getting out there and playing more and more.

"The manager has just told me to be ready for when my opportunity comes and to get back to my best. That will come with game time. Nothing has changed really.
"But everything comes together with playing time, so I'm looking to getting a string of games and showing what I can do."

 

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Barcelona starlet Deulofeu in no rush over future

Everton loanee Gerard Deulofeu insists he has not considered his future beyond the end of the season.

The 19-year-old has been eased into action by Roberto Martinez since joining on a season-long loan from Barcelona in the close-season, starting just one Premier League game - a 4-0 rout of Stoke City.

However, the forward has caught the eye with a series of impressive cameo displays, including coming off the bench to score Everton's equaliser in a deserved 1-1 draw at Arsenal.Reports suggest Everton could look to extend Deulofeu's loan for another season, but he insists any decision is dependent upon his parent club.

Speaking to radio station RAC 1, he sad: "Now I am in Everton and after that I am a Barcelona player."My objective is to enjoy this experience and the future will arrive in that moment and for now I am happy in the Premier League.

"Those [loan extension] are only rumours - at the end of the season Barcelona will decide."Deulofeu has featured regularly from the bench for Everton this term and has no issue with only making one start to date.

"I have spoken with the coach and Roberto has explained his intentions with me," he added.

"I am loaned here and it is difficult to get a place in the starting XI because I am young and with many things to learn. The coach offers me a lot of confidence."

 

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Dortmund clash crucial for Marseille's future - Anigo

Olympique de Marseille boss Jose Anigo believes his side can lay down a marker for the near future with a positive result against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.

The Ligue 1 outfit parted company with former coach Elie Baup last week after a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Nantes saw them drop to fifth in the league, with les Phoceens also having failed to gain a single point from their opening five Champions League games.

L'OM take on Dortmund on Wednesday with nothing but pride to play for, but Anigo - who has taken temporary charge of the team until the winter break - believes a victory could serve as a huge boost heading into the second half of the season.

"We will see tomorrow whether the spirit has changed. The group might have changed," he was quoted as saying by Uefa's official website.

"The players have not been up to the right standard. We will have to go into this game with a different spirit in mind. With zero points we have not done our job properly, though we have played good games except in Arsenal.

"Tomorrow against Dortmund – a real reference in Europe – we will have to give more, but I think that the players have understood that they need to change something. We will give our all in order to help decide the outcome of this group. What we put into this game will be crucial to our preparation for the future."

 

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Strootman wants to stay at Roma - agent

Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman is happy to stay at the club despite reported interest from Manchester United, according to the player's agent.

The 23-year-old has made a flying start to his Serie A career as Rudi Garcia's men have emerged as surprise challengers to Juventus' league title defence.

United, meanwhile, have laboured this season with obvious weaknesses in the centre of the pitch, despite the £27.5 million signing of Marouane Fellaini from Everton in the summer.

But Strootman's agent Chiel Dekker insists his client has no desire to leave the Italian capital anytime soon.

"Kevin is very happy in Rome and his intention is to stay here for a long time," Dekker told Sky Sports.

"They have started a project and a new team and he has adapted well to his new club."

Strootman has managed three goals and five assists in 14 Serie A appearances for Roma this season, with the Giallorossi yet to lose a game in the Italian top flight.

 

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Mourinho expects Cole to sign new Chelsea deal

Jose Mourinho has hailed Ashley Cole as a model professional and expects the long-serving Chelsea defender to be offered a new deal.

The England left-back will make his first appearance for the London club for over a month in Wednesday night's Champions League Group E clash with Steaua Bucharest at Stamford Bridge.

Cole, who turns 33 next week, has been forced to watch from the substitutes' bench as Mourinho has preferred Cesar Azpilicueta at left-back.

The former Arsenal man's contract is due to expire at the end of the season, but Mourinho has no doubt Cole still has a future at the club.He said: "I know him well, it’s easy to feel he’s not happy with the situation but the way he trains and behaves, he's a super professional.

"He’s a fantastic guy, full of respect of me and the players and he will start tomorrow [against Steaua].

"Naturally with the evolution of the season, he will play in matches, Can he recover or not 100 per cent his position? I don't know. But he will always play and he will always be a good player.

"I think sometimes even if you are not playing every game and not first choice player like he was always, I don't think it means you are not well and not deserving a new contract and tomorrow he will show he is fine.

"Naturally he will get his contract because he is a valuable player for us."

 

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Neymar should score more goals, says Martino

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has challenged Neymar to improve his goal tally in the continued absence of Lionel Messi.

The Brazilian has managed just five goals in 20 competitive appearances for the Blaugrana since his €57 million move from Santos during the summer, though he has notched nine assists.

With Messi still sidelined with a hamstring problem, Martino has called on Neymar to step up his strike rate despite his all-round contribution to the side - although he acknowledges the Brazilian is unlikely to match his team-mate's scoring record.

"He should score more goals than he has so far," the Barca boss said.

"We don't analyse any player simply by the goals he scores and lays on - it is a question of all facets of a player's game.

"But at the moment the only question about Neymar is his finishing.

"Neymar is a player who fills all facets of play. He's not a goalscorer with the characteristics of Leo, but he'll give us the same sort of goal return as Pedro, Alexis [Sanchez] and Cesc [Fabregas]."

Barcelona take on Celtic on Tuesday knowing a positive result will see them top the group and Martino has urged his side to fight for the win following a disappointing recent run of results.

"We have to finish first in the group. We must get away from the idea of a comfortable game - every game is uncomfortable, and has consequences," said the Argentine.

"What we need is to be precise, we imagine we'll play a game 30 metres from goal and we'll have to be precise to avoid the counterattacks which Celtic will surely use."

 

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Kaka targets 100th Milan goal after 'difficult' time at Real Madrid

Kaka wants to lead AC Milan in the Champions League knockout stage by netting his 100th goal for the club in Wednesday's crucial Champions League against Ajax encounter, admitting that he wants to repay the fans for welcoming him back to San Siro after his "difficult" spell at Real Madrid.

The Brazilian left the Rossoneri for Los Blancos for a world-record €70 million in 2009 but struggled to reproduce his best form at the Santiago Bernabeu through a combination of injury and loss of confidence.

However, he is thriving again having returned to the Giuseppe Meazza on a free transfer this summer and, having taken his goals tally for Milan to 99 in their 3-1 win over Catania earlier this month, is eager to add to rack up his century in a game that Massimiliano Allegri's men need only a point from to progress to the last 16.

"I hope to score my 100th goal as soon as possible and it would be great to do so against Ajax on Wednesday," Kaka told reporters.

"The Milan shirt is like a second skin to me. I used to dream of wearing this shirt and I hope to continue doing so for many years.

"In Madrid I had a nice experience, but it was difficult as well. I’ve grown a lot professionally but I needed the warmth and faith of the Milan fans. I missed the Milanello atmosphere, the history of the club."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Sagna ruled out of Arsenal's showdowns with Napoli & Manchester City

Bacary Sagna will miss Arsenal's crunch clashes against Napoli and Manchester City.

The defender's hamstring injury, which has kept him out of the Gunners' last two matches, is believed to be worse than originally feared.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger initially claimed Sagna had "a slight hamstring problem" but Goal understands the Frenchman is not expected to play any part in this week's key clashes.

Carl Jenkinson will keep his place in the team for Wednesday night's decisive Champions League trip to Napoli, where Arsenal only need to avoid a three-goal defeat to reach the knockout stages. Victory would guarantee top spot in the highly competitive Group F.

Arsenal then travel to title rivals City on Saturday lunchtime to end a congested programme that has infuriated Wenger.

The likely absence of Sagna is a blow for the Premier League leaders, even though Jenkinson has proved himself an increasingly able deputy at right-back over the last two seasons.

Sagna has been a key figure in an Arsenal defence that has looked more solid this season than at any point in the eight years since the club last won a trophy.

In the final year of a contract that is due to expire next summer, the 30-year-old has made 19 appearances, starting all seven of the club's Champions League matches and 11 out of 15 Premier League games.

 

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Ranieri: No problem with Falcao

Monaco coach Claudio Ranieri has insisted that he does not have a problem with Radamel Falcao amidst rumours of a falling-out between the pair.

The 27-year-old striker has not featured for Les Rouge et Blanc since being substituted in the Ligue 1 win over Nantes on November 24, leading to speculation that the Colombia international is trying to force through a winter transfer only six months after arriving at the Stade Louis II from Atletico Madrid.

However, Ranieri has insisted that Falcao has missed the Ligue 1 side's last three games through injury before adding that the attacker could return to action at Guingamp on Saturday.

"There is absolutely no problem with Radamel," the former Chelsea boss said at a press conference.

"But even if I say that there's no problem, some people will still write the exact opposite, so everybody should write whatever they want.

"He should resume regular training on Wednesday and might play again at the weekend. We'll see."

Falcao has netted nine goals in 14 Ligue 1 appearances so far this season.

 

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UEFA Champions League 2013.12.11 Final Group Stage Fixtures

UEFA Champions League 2013.12.11 Final Group Stage Fixtures

Chelsea Vs Steaua

Schalke Vs Basel

OM Vs Dortmund

Napoli Vs Arsenal

Austria Vs Zenit

Atletico Madrd Vs Porto

AC Milan Vs Ajax

Barcelona Vs Celtic

​

 

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UEFA Champions League 2013.12.11 Final Group Stage Fixtures

Napoli Vs Arsenal

Barcelona Vs Celtic

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#Halamadrid

 

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#Halamadrid

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Ada Group F 1ke 2nd place 1kata pattama gemak yaiBVB or Napoli da kiyala thama unsure neh

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Congratzzzzzzzzz

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