..::Football III::..

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Martino 'worried' by Levante tie

Barcelona boss Gerardo Martino has urged his side to focus on finishing off their Copa del Rey quarter-final with Levante ahead of Wednesday’s second leg.
The Blaugrana fell 1-0 down in the first instalment of the last-eight tie, but recovered to run out 4-1 winners and put one foot in the semi-finals, though the Argentine says their place in the next round is far from guaranteed.“These are the games that worry me,” the 51-year-old told reporters. “I always have the feeling that the match is thought to be all over when actually you have another 90 minutes ahead.

“The match against Levante deserves all of our concentration as we cannot let our opponent get back in the tie."Martino is also hoping that his team will make headlines for their on-field performances after the continued controversy surrounding the summer signing of Neymar ended with the resignation of president Sandro Rosell last week.

"The people of Barcelona are still supporting us in the same manner as they have done in recent years. At the moment the team is playing well and people will come to support us because we are playing at a high level and can offer a good show.
“Hopefully, our good performances can get everybody talking only about football [and not about behind-the-scenes situations].

“These players have experienced in recent years very serious difficulties, this situation has also been difficult," admitted the Barca coach.The 51-year-old also dismissed concerns over Lionel Messi’s lack of goals in his last few matches.

The Argentina international, who has scored eight goals in 14 Primera Division appearances this season, has failed to find the net in his last three games, but Martino is adamant that there is no need for Barca fans to worry about the 26-year-old’s goalscoring form.

“I really do not care [that Messi isn’t scoring every match],” Martino added. “Leo always produces match changing moments. He is capable of providing four assists in one game and on another day he could score a goal to eliminate a rival from a competition.

“He is an important player. I do not care if people are saying he has lost the scoring touch."

 

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Barclays Premier League 2014.01.29 Fixtures

Barclays Premier League 2014.01.29 Fixtures

Aston Villa Vs WBA

Chelsea Vs West Ham

Sunderland Vs Stoke City

Tottenham Vs Manchester City

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Copa Del Rey 2014.01.29 Fixtures

Copa Del Rey 2014.01.29 Fixtures

Athletic Bilbao Vs Atletico Madrid

Barcelona Vs Levante​

 

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Coppa Italia 2014.01.29 Fixture

Coppa Italia 2014.01.29 Fixture

Napoli Vs Lazio​

 

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Arsenal in talks over Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler

It is thought discussions are ongoing over a fee between the two clubs.
Draxler's buy-out clause is £37million, but we understand Arsenal are reluctant to pay more than £30million for the Germany international.
Draxler currently has four years left on his contract, which he signed last summer.

Arsene Wenger confirmed on Tuesday after Arsenal's draw at Southampton that he could be forced to bring in reinforcements ahead of Friday's transfer deadline."I hope we have something to tell you because we lost a few players now," Wenger said when asked about the prospect of new signings.Earlier this month, Schalke chairman Clemens Tonnies urged Draxler to stay at the Bundesliga club in order to further his career.

"I am of the opinion he should also be with us next season," Tonnies told BILD."It would be my personal advice. He can play his best football without any big pressure and at our club he would have a clear mind.

"He is very much in good hands playing for Schalke 04. My general advice for everyone would be to stop making Julian mad."Tonnies also dismissed suggestions that failure to secure Champions League football for next season could leave the club with no choice but to sell Draxler.

"We would not be forced to sell Julian if we fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League of next season," he said."Our financial plans are not based on taking part in that competition. We could still sleep easy."

 

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Draxler Arsenal join wei

 

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Full Time

Chelsea 0 Vs 0 West Ham

Shots 39(9) Vs 1(1)
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Full Time

Tottenham 1 Vs 5 Manchester City

City la pattama form 1kaka inne
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Barcelona 5-1 Levante (agg. 9-2): Alexis double sees Catalans stroll into semis

Barcelona recovered from going behind early on to stroll past Levante 5-1 to qualify for the last four of the Copa del Rey 9-2 on aggregate.

Loukas Vyntra nodded on to the back Sergi Roberto to hand the visitors a shock lead at Camp Nou, but les Granotes were the inferior side throughout and Adriano levelled on the night with a sweetly-hit curler from 25 yards out.

Barca skipper Carles Puyol scored his first goal of the season on the brink of half-time to restore order in Catalunya before Alexis Sanchez tapped in twice immediately after the break as the visitors crumbled.

The hosts entered cruise control as Levante put on a brave face, with Cesc Fabregas - one of the top performers on the night - adding a fifth before being substituted late in the game.

The Catalans will face either Real Sociedad or Racing Santander in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, with a final against either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid the reward of further qualification.

Gerardo Martino opted to drop Lionel Messi to the bench to give the Argentine a rest from first-team action, with a 4-1 win in the first leg having put the Blaugrana in considerable control of the quarter-final tie.

Despite facing a mammoth task, Levante unexpectedly grabbed a foothold in the tie in the pouring rain at Camp Nou after nine minutes.

Vyntra shook off marker Marc Bartra to rise highest following the visitors' first corner of the match and his header careered off Sergi Roberto's back and past a motionless Jose Pinto.

An almost empty Camp Nou was momentarily muted, but some relentless attacks soon after paid off when, on 28 minutes, Adriano took a touch outside the area before curling nicely inside Javi Jimenez's right post.

Joaquin Caparros' side showed little ability to retaliate and were punished with a second goal with half-time two minutes away. Cristian Tello - who scored a hat-trick in the first leg - swept a pinpoint corner on to Puyol's head, whose nodded effort skimmed into the back of the net.

Martino's attackers showed no desire of letting Levante off with a one-goal defeat. With 50 minutes gone, Tello played a precise ball through to the on-rushing Martin Montoya, whose acutely-angled strike was feebly saved by Jimenez. Alexis, reacting faster than the Granotes' defence, sneaked behind the goalkeeper to tap in.

Two minutes later, Alexis scored a second straightforward goal, getting to the ball before Jimenez after Adriano's shot deflected off Vyntra and on to the crossbar.

Pedro Rios should have grabbed a second-half consolation goal but spooned a simple effort over the crossbar from 10 yards, summing up the disappointment of the travelling Levante faithful.

Fabregas added insult to injury before being brought off, cutting on to his left foot inside the area and sliding his shot past a helpless Jimenez, and the Catalans eased off the gas as they approached the inevitable finish line.

 

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Napoli 1-0 Lazio: Higuain snatches semi-final spot

Gonzalo Higuain snatched a late 1-0 win for Napoli as they dumped Coppa Italia holders Lazio out of the competition on Wednesday.

A tepid quarter-final affair at the Stadio San Paolo looked to be meandering towards extra-time before the former Real Madrid man showed neat reactions to divert an off-target shot past Etrit Berisha.Despite a semi-final meeting with Roma being up for grabs, Lazio never looked like getting through, with Pepe Reina in the Napoli goal rarely tested.

Both sides struggled to create chances throughout much of the first half, but Gokhan Inler should have put the hosts ahead 25 minutes in, but he could only scuff his six-yard effort and Lazio cleared.Napoli took the impetus on and Jorginho ended the first half with a curling effort from 30 yards that clipped the post on its way wide.

The second half continued in a similar vein with much of Napoli's good play coming through January signing Jorginho, although Lazio stood firm at the back and repelled their attacks well.Former Verona playmaker Jorginho went close to snatching a win with 10 minutes of normal time to go, but his rasping drive from the edge of the area flew over the crossbar.

But Napoli grabbed a deserved spot in the last four just two minutes later as Higuain flicked in Jose Callejon's scuffed effort - the Argentinian played onside by Mickael Ciani despite visiting appeals for the flag to be raised.

A listless Lazio were unable to work their way back into the game and were consigned to a first defeat since Edoardo Reja's return to the capital, while Napoli head on to their last four encounter with Roma.

 

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Chelsea 0-0 West Ham: Hammers frustrate blunt Blues

West Ham held out for a 0-0 draw as Chelseahad their Premier League title ambitions checked on a frustrating night at Stamford Bridge.Adrian produced a stunning early save, touching Oscar's shot against the crossbar, but the busy night the visiting goalkeeper might have expected never truly materialised.

Chelsea dominated the play and Demba Ba was also denied by the woodwork late on, but the home side were persistently thwarted by a West Ham defence as tenacious as it was deep-lying.

Andy Carroll also provided a muscular outlet in attack on an evening only soured by events elsewhere for manager Sam Allardyce, as Sunderland's win over Stoke City left them two points from safety.Chelsea are three points shy of the Premier League summit after Manchester City claimed top spot with victory at Tottenham Hotspur.

John Obi Mikel replaced David Luiz in the Chelsea midfield – Jose Mourinho's only alteration to the XI that beat Manchester United 3-1. Carroll's inclusion was one of five changes made by West Ham boss Allardyce.Carroll appeared eager to make up for time lost in an injury-ravaged campaign and was a handful throughout the opening period. The former Liverpool forward had a penalty claim rejected when he tangled with Cesar Azpilicueta in the sixth minute.

Adrian made a magnificent fingertip save in the ninth minute, touching Oscar's arching strike on to the crossbar.The visitors served warning of their set-piece threat when Petr Cech plunged to his right to keep out a header from the recalled James Tomkins and Kevin Nolan was unable to readjust and convert the rebound.

Tomkins was called into action at the other end in the 15th minute, successfully coaxing Samuel Eto'o into blazing over after Eden Hazard deftly nodded Branislav Ivanovic's searching ball backing into the former Barcelona striker's path.

West Ham frustrated their hosts admirably for the majority of the half, but Adrian was forced into a brace of sharp saves on the stroke of the interval from John Terry and Eto'o.Carroll once again found referee Neil Swarbrick uninterested in a penalty shout when he appeared to be struck by Terry's flailing arm – an incident that punctuated sustained Chelsea pressure in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Adrian and the massed defensive ranks before him held firm in the face of speculative efforts and when Ramires found space in the box he badly miscued his half-volley.The Brazilian was outdone in the blooper stakes by Carroll's wretched 60th-minute air shot, but the attack buoyed West Ham, briefly sparking them as an attacking force.

Frank Lampard, who netted in Chelsea's 3-0 win over his former club in November, was introduced in place of Azpilicueta and almost had an immediate 64th-minute impact as Tomkins and Matt Taylor sprawled to block a trademark drive.It was then Hazard's turn to flash wide and Lampard found himself crowded out by Taylor once more - Chelsea's evening descending into one of repetitive disappointment.

Frustratingly for Mourinho, his men waited until stoppage time to genuinely rally – Ba prodding against the post and Lampard drawing a stunning save either side of Eto'o slamming home amid confusion after a free-kick had already been awarded in the West Ham box.

 

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Tottenham 1-5 Manchester City: Pellegrini's men go top after eighth straight win

Sergio Aguero scored his 50th Premier League goal as Manchester City beat Tottenham 5-1 to go top of the Premier League.


Aguero's neat finish after 15 minutes set City on their way during an impressive first half, which was dampened somewhat when the forward limped off.

But the visitors put the game to bed with a blistering second half.

Danny Rose was sent off after he was adjudged to have fouled Edin Dzeko and Yaya Toure slotted in the spot kick six minutes after the restart.

Dzeko then got in on the act himself from close range and though Etienne Capoue pulled on back for Tottenham, Stevan Jovetic's first league goal for City and Vincent Kompany's late effort confirmed their eighth successive league win and condemned Tottenham to their first Premier League defeat under Tim Sherwood.

Sherwood made one change from the victory at Swansea, with Gylfi Sigurdsson replacing Nacer Chadli.

Manuel Pellegrini made five alterations to his City side after the FA Cup scare against Watford, including recalls for captain Kompany and David Silva.

Aguero had scored six times in his previous four games following his injury lay-off and almost added another early on when he rattled the post from a tight angle.

City's early dominance was rewarded four minutes later, though, when Silva slipped in a perfect ball for Aguero and he delicately stroked his shot past the onrushing Hugo Lloris from 10 yards.

Emmanuel Adebayor's curling effort was deflected wide soon afterwards, but Spurs were indebted to Lloris after 20 minutes when he made a stunning one-handed save to keep out Aguero's pin-point header.

Michael Dawson thought he had brought Tottenham level after 36 minutes when he prodded in a fantastic Christian Eriksen free-kick, but he was ruled marginally offside.

There was controversy a few moments after half-time when Dzeko was played in on goal, only to be thwarted by Rose, and even though the Tottenham man appeared to win the ball, referee Andre Marriner awarded a penalty and sent the defender off.

Toure dispatched the penalty into the corner for his 15th goal of the season.

City ensured an 18th win from their last 20 games after 53 minutes when Silva's rasping drive was brilliantly tipped onto the post by Lloris, only for the ball to eventually fall to Dzeko, who slotted home with ease.

Tottenham did pull one back six minutes later when City failed to deal with a corner and Capoue latched onto the loose ball to hammer home from six yards.

But a perfect night was rounded off late on when Jovetic found space in the area to thump beyond Lloris via a deflection, and Kompany's late effort rounded off a five-star performance.

 

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Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Atletico Madrid (agg 1-3): Garcia and Costa strike to set up Madrid meeting

Atletico Madrid reached the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday after Raul Garcia and Diego Costa sealed a 3-1 aggregate win over Athletic Bilbao.

The midfielder turned home a fine finish from 12 yards early in the second half after Aritz Aduriz had drawn the hosts level in the tie with a header shortly before the break.

Costa beat the offside trap in the closing minutes before rounding the keeper and slotting home to ensure the holders' place in the last four.

Atletico started the game brightly and had the chance to double their aggregate advantage with just a minute on the clock as Costa raced clear on goal but his side-footed effort was tame and Iago Herrerin saved.

Filipe Luis had to be stretchered off a few minutes later, and as Atletico lost their early momentum, Athletic took control of the match.

Iker Muniain tried a half-volley from the edge of the area but fired straight at Thibaut Courtois, before Mikel Rico fizzed a low shot just wide.

Athletic continued to pour forward but Atletico's defence looked likely to hold firm until the break - but the home side got the goal their play deserved.

Muniain slipped it wide to Mikel Balenziaga and his teasing cross was met powerfully by Aduriz, whose header left Courtois with no chance.

Atletico had their Belgian keeper to thank for keeping the scores at 1-0 until the break, as he first pulled off a terrific double-save to deny Iraola and Aduriz before leaping to his left to claim Rico's effort.

Diego Simeone's side came charging out of the blocks in the second half and quickly restored their aggregate advantage, with Raul Garcia on hand to sweep home from close range following another good save from Herrerin.

Both goalkeepers were then called into action again, with Courtois denying Ander Herrera well after Athletic broke from Herrerin's save.

The high tempo of the first 50 minutes stuttered to a halt as Athletic lost their momentum, while Atletico set themselves up to contain and counterattack efficiently in the pouring rain at the San Mames.

As Athletic continued to push forwards for an equaliser, the visitors took full advantage of a failed offside trap, allowing Costa to stroll clean through on goal and round Herrerin before slotting home.

Atletico will now face bitter rivals Real Madrid in the semi-final in a repeat of last season's final, with the first leg to be played next week.

 

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Stuttgart 1-2 Bayern Munich: Last-gasp Thiago puts Bavarians 13 points clear

Bayern Munich extended their lead at the summit of the Bundesliga to 13 points as they were forced to come from behind to win 2-1 in Stuttgart thanks to Thiago Alcantara's stoppage-time strike.

The home side opened the scoring just before half an hour had been played thanks to Vedad Ibisevic, but the guests threw players forward in the second period and eventually snatched a levelling goal through Claudio Pizarro before the Spaniard's late winner.

Bayern's win extends their lead at the top of the table, and ensures their 43-game unbeaten run in the league continues. The visitors named an unchanged side for the first time in Pep Guardiola's reign, with rumoured Juventus target Mario Mandzukic among the substitutes.
Stuttgart brought Rani Khedira and Timo Werner into their starting line-up and the latter should have opened the scoring in the eighth minute.

After Mohammed Abdellaoue lost possession inside the penalty area, the loose ball fell for the 17-year-old but he blazed over the crossbar without testing Manuel Neuer.Bayern survived a penalty shout against Rafinha four minutes later as Werner's header struck the right-back's arm inside the area, with referee Manuel Grafe not convinced as he waved home appeals away.

Guardiola's side were far from their normal fluent self and were punished in the 29th minute as Ibisevic netted his 10th league goal of the season.Werner's deflected shot from the edge of the area dropped to the Bosnian striker via the boot of Abdellaoue, who looked offside, and he calmly fired past Neuer from 10 yards to give the hosts a deserved lead.

Thiago and Xherdan Shaqiri both went close to levelling for Bayern in the closing minutes of the first half but were unable to beat Sven Ulreich.Ibisevic had a chance to double his tally, and Stuttgart's lead, early in the second half but he fired wide of goal after a mistake from Rafinha.

With 54 minutes played, the hosts had another chance to score, and they would have made it 2-0 had it not been for a goalline clearance from Jerome Boateng.
Former Barcelona man Thiago and Thomas Muller were denied by Ulreich but substitute Pizarro had no problems beating the goalkeeper with a well-placed header in the 76th minute.

Fellow substitute Mandzukic had a chance to win the game in the closing minutes but Thiago spared Bayern's blushes with an acrobatic volley in the last seconds of the match.

 

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Tottenham eye late move for Liverpool target Konoplyanka

Tottenham have shown a late interest in hijacking Liverpool's €19.4 million move for Ukrainian forward Yevhen Konoplyanka.

Spurs have made contact with Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and the player's representatives in recent days and are ready to make a move before the transfer window closes on Friday.

The pacey 24-year-old plays on the left side of attack and is highly rated by Tottenham technical director Franco Baldini.

But the Londoners will have to make their move for Konoplyanka quickly as he is Liverpool's top target for the remainder of the transfer window as the Reds also look to boost their Champions League ambitions.

Liverpool are attempting to force through the move in good time after being gazumped by Chelsea in their atempts to sign Mohamed Salah from Basel, much to the frustration of manager Brendan Rodgers.

Konoplyanka is eager to move to England and has been tracked by a number of Premier League clubs including Manchester United since his impressive displays at Euro 2012.

Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood was coy on Wednesday night when asked about Konoplyanka following his side's 5-1 defeat to Manchester City - and played down the club’s chances of landing the Ukrainian.

"Yeah he plays off the left," said Sherwood. "I know him but nothing looks like happening. We'd have to do it now because we've only got two days left.

"I don't see it happening but that's why we've got people working with us.

"The chairman here is always asking me if there's anyone we need but I need to make sure they are of the quality we need and not just a body for the sake of it.

"It's very difficult to change clubs and settle. I would be very cautious if we did anything."

 

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Higuain: I'm truly happy at Napoli

Gonzalo Higuain says he is "truly happy" at Napoli after firing the club past Coppa Italia holders Lazio and into the semi-finals on Wednesday.

The match was heading towards extra-time at the Stadio San Paolo before the Argentine knocked in the only goal in the 1-0 win with eight minutes to go.

Higuain, who moved from Real Madrid to the Partenopei at the start of the season, says he is loving life under Rafa Benitez's tutelage and suggested the Naples-based club can continue their run further than the last four.

"It was an important game, we're in the Coppa semi-final and this is an important title for us," the 26-year-old, who scored his 15th goal of the season against Lazio, told Rai Sport. "Thanks to the efforts of the whole team, we are in the semi-final.

"I am truly happy here. The team and the city are fantastic, I feel the love every day and, I'll be honest, I am happy here.

"The important thing was to win. Fortunately, we can go further in this competition."

Napoli, who visit Atalanta at the weekend, will face last year's Coppa Italia runners-up Roma in the semi-final stage.

 

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Barca & PSG considering Pjanic summer swoop

Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are eyeing Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic as a future signing.

Yohan Cabaye's move from Newcastle United to Paris Saint-Germain for €24 million ensured that les Parisiens will call off their pursuit in the current transfer window.

PSG prioritised the signing of Cabaye to shore up their midfield after the Giallorossi demanded an eye-watering €55m for Pjanic following his impressive Serie A form, but Laurent Blanc is expected to return with a new offer later this year.

The 23-year-old has also been targeted as a potential successor to Xavi at Camp Nou by Barca, who are considering a summer swoop for the in-demand central midfielder.

Xavi, now 34, has been linked with a move to MLS either in 2014 or next year and Pjanic is seen as a player in the mould of the Spain veteran.

The arrival of Radja Nainggolan from Cagliari triggered suggestions that Rudi Garcia could offload Pjanic the same way the Stadio Olimpico side sold Marquinhos, Pablo Osvaldo and Erik Lamela for large sums of money last summer.

Regardless of whether Roma qualify for the Champions League next season, the capital-based club would have every intention of investing the €35-40m they believe they can get for Pjanic, who is primed to feature prominently at the World Cup for Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Before any potential sale, Roma intend to give Pjanic a four-year extension on his current deal - which expires in 2015 - to boost his value, but will ensure that there is a release clause on the €3m-a-year they are willing to offer him.

 

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'They're on a different planet' - Sherwood backs Manchester City to win the Premier League

Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood admitted Manchester City are on a "different planet" to everyone else in the Premier League after seeing his side thrashed 5-1 at White Hart Lane.

Sergio Aguero was forced off with a hamstring injury after giving City the lead on 15 minutes, but Yaya Toure, Edin Dzeko, Stevan Jovetic and Vincent Kompany also found the net for the visitors.

Substitute Etienne Capoue grabbed a consolation on 59 minutes for Spurs, who also saw Danny Rose dismissed for bringing down Dzeko in the penalty area.

"This team are the best team in the league by a country mile," Sherwood told reporters. "I just think these guys are on a different planet to anything else in the league.

"Without question, these are the champions of the league. Unfortunately for everyone they play, they don't just score one and shut up shop, they keep coming at you.

"You want someone like this team to go on and win it because they entertain. It's not good for an opposition manager, believe me, but they put you to the sword and that's how football should be played."

As he digested his first league defeat as Spurs boss, Sherwood also revealed the club will appeal the red card shown to Rose by referee Andre Marriner.

"I think Andre Marriner got it right initially when he called it as a corner," he added. "I think Danny's lunging in and it's a last ditch tackle but he clearly wins the ball. I think we will appeal it."

After City jumped above Arsenal to take top spot in the table, the only down note was the hamstring injury that forced off Aguero just before half-time.

City boss Manuel Pellegrini said he will consult with the club’s doctors on Thursday to assess the extent of the striker's problem but the Chilean was delighted with his side's display, claiming they could have scored another five goals.

"I don't think the red card was the big decision because we missed at least five clear chances just in the first 45 minutes alone," Pellegrini said.

"It's not easy to score five goals here and we missed five or six more clear chances.

"The penalty made no difference because our performance was complete from start to finish.

"We are not thinking about the title. It's important to be top of the table because you can depend only on what you can do yourself. We still have 45 points to fight for."

 

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Winning with a wondergoal felt fantastic - Thiago

Thiago Alcantara expressed his delight after his wondergoal gave Bayern Munich a stoppage-time 2-1 win over Stuttgart on Wednesday.

The Spaniard sealed the result in the 93rd minute after Claudio Pizarro equalised for the Bavarians with 14 minutes to go, following Vedad Ibisevic's unlikely opener for the hosts.

Thiago's acrobatic volley continued the Roten's brilliant run of results as they look well on their way to defending their Bundesliga title this season, though the 22-year-old insisted that Stuttgart put in a solid shift en route to almost snatching a point from Pep Guardiola's men.

"We tried to get this win right to the very end," the former Barcelona star told reporters. "It was fantastic to score such a wondergoal.

"I think teams tend to give their all when they play against Bayern and do everything to get a win. Stuttgart have a very strong team and made life very difficult for us, but this was a great chance to extend our lead over the teams in second and third, and we managed to take it."

Philipp Lahm, who played in the defensive midfield role on Wednesday that he has made his own this campaign, thought the victory was fortunate and suggested teams are keen to become the first ones to beat Bayern in the 2013-14 league campaign.

"When it's 1-1 just a few minutes from time, then of course it's a lucky win," the club captain said. "We were not as clinical as usual.

"We showed in the second half how we can play patiently. Stuttgart did a good job. Now everybody wants to be the first opponents to beat us."

The victory leaves Bayern 17 points clear of third-placed Borussia Dortmund and 13 points adrift of nearest rivals Bayer Leverkusen.

 

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Berbatov-Holtby swap depends on Fulham's Mitroglou deal

Dimitar Berbatov and Lewis Holtby will only be involved in a swap deal if Fulham can finalise a move for striker Kostas Mitroglou. Fulham are content for Berbatov to leave Craven Cottage in the next 48 hours for a cut-price fee of around £1.5 million, but only if they can secure a replacement forward.

The west Londoners have been in talks with Olympiakos for Mitroglou but they are still working towards an agreement with the Greek club.Fulham will continue to negotiate for the prolific centre-forward on Thursday as they assess Tottenham's interest in a swap involving Berbatov and Holtby.

Goal understands Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is open to a return for former White Hart Lane favourite Berbatov, but his enthusiasm is not matched by new manager Tim Sherwood.

Negotiations to take the Bulgarian back to north London stalled on Wednesday, which could partly be explained by the frosty relations between Tottenham and Fulham.Nevertheless, the Cottagers have registered their interest in taking Holtby on loan until the end of the season.

Holtby’s former club Schalke are also interested in re-signing the midfielder, who is a target for the Bundesliga club as they attempt to bolster their team before giving the green light for Julian Draxler to move to Arsenal."I'm happy to keep everyone we've got, and if they do move it would be my decision," Spurs manager Tim Sherwood said on Wednesday night.

"[Holtby] comes into that category. I've heard a lot of speculation about him and obviously with the World Cup coming these guys want to play. We won't do anything that isn't right for the club."

Berbatov is settled in London and has privately ruled out a switch to anywhere outside of the capital. However, it is believed that neither Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger or Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho are interested in the Bulgarian, who turns 33 on Thursday, despite their stated need for fresh blood up front.

Tottenham are looking for a replacement for Toronto-bound Jermain Defoe, who will make his White Hart Lane exit on February 28, leaving Sherwood with just two senior strikers in Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado.

Levy was angered at the manner in which Berbatov engineered his £30.75m exit to Manchester United in 2008 but tried to re-sign the striker on deadline day in August 2012 before he committed to Fulham.

Berbatov has not been quite as effective in his second season at Fulham and the west Londoners are keen to sign a more mobile front man.They have been negotiating for Mitroglou but are unwilling to pay €13m for the 25-year-old, who has scored 23 goals in 25 matches for club and country this season.

Meanwhile, Fulham will allow Adel Taarabt to join AC Milan on loan before the window closes. The playmaker is on loan from QPR but is surplus to requirements at Craven Cottage and a deal has been agreed for him to move to the San Siro.
Taarabt is set to undergo a medical with Milan on Thursday, freeing up a loan space in the Fulham squad for Holtby.