..::Football III::..

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Gomez to make Fiorentina comeback against Inter

Fiorentina striker Mario Gomez is set to make his return from injury against Inter, according to coach Vincenzo Montella.The Germany international has been sidelined since September with a knee injury but made the bench for his club's Coppa Italia semi-final win over Udinese in midweek.

Gomez, who joined the Viola from Bayern Munich in the summer, is now in line to make his eagerly-awaited comeback in Saturday's Serie A clash with Inter at the Artemio Franchi."Mario is training well. He's enthusiastic about playing, but he's still not physically in top condition," Montella told a press conference on Friday.

"Hopefully he'll be able to play a little part tomorrow [Saturday], but we'll have to wait and see."This game's a game in and of itself. It's a whole different story to the match last year."Fiorentina's 2-0 win over Udinese on Tuesday saw them book a place in the Coppa Italia final against Napoli.

Montella said his side were feeling the effects of the victory and warned his players that they need to remain grounded."The team is a bit tired, but it will be essential to restore our physical and mental well-being," he said.

"It's going to be a difficult game though because Inter have some great players who can really damage us."Hernanes has come in and has improved them already. He's a strong player and brings an element of unpredictability.

"Of course, we're on a high after the cup win, but we can't be too euphoric. We want to play with confidence, but we can't be overconfident."

 

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Verratti: I'll never get to play with anyone like Ibrahimovic again

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti admits he is "honoured" to play alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic, claiming the striker is one of the world's top three players.

The Sweden international has scored a remarkable 32 goals in 34 appearances so far this season, helping PSG to the top of Ligue 1 and into the last 16 of the Champions League.

Verratti is only 21 but he believes he is unlikely to ever come across anyone quite like Ibrahimovic again.

"I've never played with someone so strong and I probably never will again in my career. Zlatan is one of the best three in the world, it's an honour to have him at PSG," Verratti told Corriere dello Sport.

Verratti joined PSG from Pescara in 2012 but had been expected to move to Juventus instead, having been hailed as the 'new Andrea Pirlo'.

However, the playmaker says he does not regret his decision to choose Paris over Turin.

"I made the best choice coming to PSG, and after almost two years I have no doubts about it. I've been very well received, I'm playing and wearing the jersey of a side that can win it all," Verratti enthused.

"I've made progress in every point of view, because the players teach me many things, on and off the field. But the greatest growth was in mentality: here you play to win and you cannot ever give up.

"If I could go back, I would make the same choice. Profesionally, this is the best: they are one of the five biggest clubs in the world.

"I don't know when [I would return to Italy] as right now it's unlikely I would want to change."

Meanwhile, Verratti is eager for PSG to learn from last season's experience in the Champions League, when they lost on away goals to Barcelona, as they prepare for next week's encounter with Bayer Leverkusen.

"The Champions League is not easy, as we learned to our cost last year when we went out without losing," he said.

"Bayern [Munich] are the team to beat but [coach Carlo] Ancelotti has found great balance at Real Madrid.

"Anything can happen in the second round. Bayer are strong, but we have to think of ourselves, and not make mistakes."

As for the constant comparisons with Pirlo, Verratti says he welcomes the pressure on him to emulate the 2006 World Cup winner.

"They don't weigh [heavily] on me; I'm quite pleased," he insisted. "I prefer to play with pressure rather than being relaxed. Pirlo has had a great career, I would be happy to win half of what he has won.

"First I have to earn the call-up, which has been a dream since I was a child. Then it's up to [Italy coach Cesare] Prandelli.

"It would be fantastic [to win the World Cup in Brazil this summer]."

 

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'Emotional' Adriano plays for first time in two years

Former Brazil international Adriano described his first game for almost two years as "emotional", after making a late substitute appearance for Atletico Paranaense on Thursday.

The ex-Inter striker last played a professional game on March 4 2012, for Corinthians, with the 31-year-old having been beset by problems off the pitch during an ill-fated spell with Flamengo in which he failed to make a single competitive appearance for the club.

However, Adriano, who was top scorer at the Copa America in 2004 and at the Confederations Cup a year later, came on in the 86th minute as Paranaense defeated Bolivia's The Strongest 1-0 in the Copa Libertardores.Unsurprisingly, the four-time Italian Serie A winner was thrilled to finally get back out on the pitch.

"I've been battling every day to reach my target," Adriano told reporters.
"I've gone through so many things in my life and taking part in an important competition such as the Libertardores makes me happy and emotional."

 

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AC Milan 1-0 Bologna: Balotelli screamer fails to drown out San Siro alarm bells

Mario Balotelli's late wonder goal helped AC Milan overcome a resilient Bologna outfit on Friday but the lacklustre performance will raise concerns heading into the Champions League last-16 clash with Atletico Madrid.

Clarence Seedorf's charges had struggled to create clear-cut chances against the stubborn visitors, but a moment of magic worthy of winning any game from Balotelli four minutes from time snatched all three points.

The Italy international collected the ball and found the top corner with a superb strike from fully 35 yards, leaving visiting keeper Gianluca Curci with no chance, but it is clear the attacker was less than happy with the performance as he looked away in disgust, despite the unearthly effort.

Bologna twice came close to breaking the deadlock with Jonathan Cristaldo's half-volley going narrowly wide before Christian Abbiati's fine stop denied Lazaros Christodoulopoulos.

But it was Balotelli who delighted the home crowd after a below-par Milan performance, with his 10th league goal of season enough to lift them to ninth in the table, while 16th-placed Bologna remain four points above the drop zone.

The hosts looked to dictate the tempo in the early stages and fashioned the first chance in the fourth minute when captain Riccardo Montolivo's effort stung the palms of Curci.

Montolivo was involved again 10 minutes later with a sweetly struck half-volley from 25 yards that Curci could only parry into the path of Balotelli, who could only scuff the rebound into the ground.

Tangible evidence of Milan's domination proved difficult to find and they were almost caught cold when Andrea Mantovani's teasing cross from the left was met by the head of Rene Krhin, with the former Inter midfielder forcing a fine diving stop from Abbiati.

Having survived that scare, Milan had an opportunity just after the half-hour mark when Curci spilled Balotelli's weak free kick from the left touchline.

Cristian Zaccardo - who came in for Cristian Zapata, who got injured in the warm up - reacted quickest, but his effort was blocked with the defender adjudged offside anyway.

There was a delay to the second half as referee Mauro Bergonzi needed treatment on a cut lip sustained when the ball struck him in the face in the opening period.

When play resumed, Milan continued to see the majority of the ball without showing any cutting edge in the final third.

And their inability to force opportunities twice nearly cost them dear just after the hour mark.

First Cristaldo stretched to meet Gyorgy Garics' cross from deep on the half-volley and guided his shot just wide of the post before Christodoulopoulos' shot on the turn from the edge of the box looked destined for the top corner but Abbiati flung himself to the left to keep the scores level.

However, just when it looked like Milan would remain frustrated, Balotelli unleashed an unstoppable strike from the right to claim an unlikely win.

 

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Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 Valenciennes: Lavezzi stars as Blanc's men cruise

Paris Saint-Germain prepared perfectly for their Champions League last-16 first leg with Bayer Leverkusen as they defeated Valenciennes 3-0 at Parc des Princes to extend their lead of Ligue 1 to eight points.

Ezequiel Lavezzi, whose uncle was shot dead earlier this week, opened the scoring with a predatory finish after Zlatan Ibrahimovic's free kick had been deflected into his path.

In the second period the hosts added to their lead, with the Swede volleying home before a Gary Kagelmacher put the home side firmly in control.

The defeat is Valenciennes' 14th of the Ligue 1 season and leaves the side in the bottom three.

PSG, who gave a first start to Yohan Cabaye, started with real attacking intent and should have been two goals ahead inside the opening 10 minutes as Valenciennes struggled to contain them.

Ibrahimovic saw a flicked effort cleared off the line by Kagelmacher in the fourth minute and Nicolas Penneteau then made a fine save to deny Thiago Silva five minutes later.

With pressure beginning to build on the Valenciennes' goal, it was unsurprising that PSG's bright start paid dividends as Lavezzi plundered his fourth goal of the season in the 18th minute.

An Ibrahimovic free kick squeezed through the wall and dropped at the feet of the Argentine, who calmly fired low past Penneteau from eight yards.

The 28-year-old could have had a hat-trick before the half hour, but he wasted two excellent chances, while Lucas Digne saw a low shot go just wide.

Valenciennes' only sight of goal in the first half came in the 31st minute as PSG failed to clear a left-wing cross, the ball fell to David Ducourtioux, but he dragged his shot wide after controlling the ball with his chest.

Ibrahimovic, having been denied in the first half, got his goal five minutes into the second period after some slack defending from the visitors.

Having failed to clear Digne's cross, Valenciennes allowed Menez the chance to volley towards goal. He failed to connect properly, but the ball bounced to the Sweden international and he nonchalantly fired home his 19th league goal of the season from 12 yards.

It was 3-0 two minutes later as Kagelmacher got himself into a tangle trying to clear Menez's cross and the Uruguayan inadvertently turned the ball into his own goal.

With the game won, Blanc began to think about the first leg of PSG's Champions League tie with Leverkusen on Tuesday as Ibrahimovic, Lavezzi and Thiago Motta were all substituted as the hosts coasted to victory.

 

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Meulensteen: Fulham owners hit panic button

Rene Meulensteen has accused Fulham's owners of "hitting the panic button" after he was replaced by Felix Magath on Friday.

Magath has been installed as first team manager with immediate effect at Craven Cottage, as owner Shahid Khan, who is yet to speak to Meulensteen following his dismissal, looks to turn the club's fortunes around.

Fulham are bottom of the Premier League having not won a league fixture since New Year's Day, but Meulensteen, who revealed it was chief executive Alistair Mackintosh who informed him of the decision, admitted he was shocked at having been sacked after just over two months in his job as head coach.

"[I'm] Very, very surprised, [it's] very, very frustrating because you're trying to do something about it, but you haven't been given time to make it work," the Dutchman told BBC Radio Five Live.

"I haven't had a lot of time. I think people were starting to see what I was trying to put in place, I think that the two performances against Manchester United [a 2-2 away draw last Sunday] and Liverpool [a 3-2 home defeat last Wednesday] showed that.

"We were going back to playing some good football. I'm sure we would have turned it around.

"Hey, ho, that’s what happens in football. It’s not always fair. It is the story of my life with these management jobs."

Meulensteen, who replaced compatriot Martin Jol in the Fulham hot seat in December, insisted he had a strong rapport with Khan, but was aware of the owner's fear of Premier League relegation.

"I’ve had a really good relationship with him and good communication with him," he continued. "They are very, very scared of being relegated and that is why they have made the decision.

"I knew that the owners were freaking about a bit because Fulham could be relegated, but they’ve already had that attitude 10 games back.

"Fulham have been in the Premier League a long time and I think that it is going down to the wire.

"They have hit the panic button on emotions of fear, but that's what happens in football.

"It was a situation where I had to clear up the mess of someone else before I could building something of my own."

Meulensteen was not aware of what the future held for members of his backroom staff, including assistant Ray Wilkins, but expressed his disappointment at not having the chance to work with players he brought to the club in the January transfer window, including club-record signing Konstantinos Mitroglou.

"I feel really, really sorry for those guys," he added. "I still hope that they’ve got a future at Fulham."

 

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Arsenal announce pre-tax losses of €2.7 million

Arsenal have announced an overall loss before tax of €2.7 million in the six months to the end of November.

Arsene Wenger's side are mounting a concerted Premier League title push this season, but off the field the club have suffered a €24.4m decline in pre-tax profits compared to the same period in 2012.Turnover from football rose from €129.5m to €166m thanks to increases in match-day income and broadcasting revenues, but significant reductions elsewhere resulted in the overall loss.

Profits on player sales were reduced by €44.8m compared to 2012, while revenue related to property owned by the club also fell by €38m.Despite the results, chairman Chips Keswick remains positive about the future of the club both on and off the pitch.

"When I was appointed chairman last summer, there was good reason to believe that the hard work which has been put in, by many people across the club, over recent years had created the momentum for a successful season in every aspect of our activities," he said in a statement on the club's official website."Thus far that optimism has been well-founded. We believe we are in a strong position to take the club forward both in the short-term and beyond and to deliver future on-field success."

Arsenal have no concerns regarding Uefas Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations and expect to meet the requirements for both the Premier League and the European governing body.

 

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Seedorf: Wondergoal proves Balotelli's mental strength

AC Milan boss Clarence Seedorf was unsurprised by Mario Balotelli's stunning winner in his side's 1-0 victory over Bologna on Friday.

The Italy international earned his side three precious points with a sensational 40-yard strike in the 86th minute of an otherwise dour Serie A clash at San Siro, with his coach arguing that the goal merely served to underline the forward's remarkable faith in his own ability."It's the kind of goal Mario knows how to score, as he has these weapons in his armoury," Seedorf told Sky Sport Italia."The great thing is that the team continues to believe in the result, as you don't score goals like that unless you believe in yourself."

The goal came during a week in which Seedorf, whose side are now 10th in the league, said that Balotelli still had work to do to be considered a "champion" in the game - and just six days after the 23-year-old broke down in tears after being subbed in a 3-1 defeat at Napoli.But the Dutchman insists that he has never doubted that the former Manchester City man will prove himself a top player.

"People like to take my words out of context. I didn't say Mario isn't a champion, but that he will become a champion. I believe in him a great deal and I believe in the man he is becoming," Seedorf stated."I only think positive things towards him. What position do I like him best in? I like Balotelli, full stop. He can play on the right or the left."

Seedorf praised his team's fight against Bologna, but expects Atletico Madrid to pose an entirely different challenge when they visit San Siro on Wednesday for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie."The team fought hard. It wasn't a great game, but it's not easy when your opponents sit and wait for 90 minutes. Atletico do not play the same way as Bologna, who defend very deep," he said.

"Michael Essien has to play against Atletico, so I decided not to risk him tonight [Friday]."

 

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Manchester City stadium plans approved

Manchester City have received planning permission to increase the capacity of the Etihad Stadium to over 60,000.

The proposed expansion will make the Etihad the second largest ground in England's top flight, with only Old Trafford - home of City's fierce rivals Manchester United - holding more.

City intend to initially redevelop the South Stand, by adding an initial 6,250 seats, while permission has been granted to do the same to the North Stand and to add a further 2,000 at pitch-side.

The plans will bump the Etihad's capacity from 48,000 to approximately 62,000.

A statement on the club's official website read: "Manchester City Football Club has today [Friday] received formal notification of the granting of planning permission to expand the Etihad Stadium.

"It is the club's current intention to first proceed with the development of the South Stand.

 

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Tottenham keen on Inter defender Nagatomo, claims agent

Tottenham are keeping tabs on Inter defender Yuto Nagatomo, according to the player's agent.

The 27-year-old Japan international has become a key part of Walter Mazzarri's back four at the San Siro, having made 95 appearances since joining from Cesena in 2011.

Spurs boss Tim Sherwood is reported to be offering Jan Vertonghen a new contract but clearly wants more extensive cover at full-back, and Nagatomo's agent Roberto Tukada claims the north Londoners are interested in his client, although he says the player is perfectly happy with life in Serie A.

"Tottenham have been following him for a while but there is nothing more than that," Tukada told Calciomercato. "He still has more than two years left on his contract with Inter and we want to renew.

"I think we will talk during the summer. The player is happy at Inter and there is no reason to think he will change teams."

Tottenham currently sit fifth in the Premier League table but next turn their attention to the Europa League, where they take on Dnipro in the last 32.

 

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Rooney calls for patience with Mata

Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney believes record signing Juan Mata will need time to settle at Old Trafford.

Mata has started four games since making the move from Premier League rivals Chelsea but has tasted victory for his new side only once. In the middle of what has been a rocky season for the champions under the stewardship of David Moyes, Rooney has been impressed by the Spaniard. However, he warned Mata will need time to find his best form alongside himself and fellow striker Robin van Persie.

"It's exciting. Juan has come in and it's another world-class player to have in the squad," he told the club's official website."It'll take time - it can always take a little bit of time for every player to gel and to bond but we really hope we can all start scoring goals and help the team be successful."

After Wednesday's goalless draw with Arsenal, United sit seventh in the Premier League - 15 points adrift of leaders Chelsea. Rooney has previously stated that the title is likely a bridge too far for the reigning champions, but the England international was encouraged by United's performance at the Emirates Stadium.

"I thought we did alright," he added. "It was a decent point. Arsenal are obviously a good team but we defended really well and maybe could have nicked it with the couple of chances we had."Coming to Arsenal any time and getting a point is always a good result. You have to take confidence from it. We've been stop-start for most of the season, but we hope we can build on this.

"We have a bit of a break before our next game now and hopefully we can prepare well and kick on for the big matches coming up."

 

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Liverpool scout Udinese forward Muriel

Liverpool are keeping tabs on long-term transfer target Luis Muriel and have sent scouts to watch the Udinese striker twice in recent weeks.

The Anfield club had identified the Colombia international as a potential replacement for Luis Suarez last summer, who was the subject of two failed bids from Arsenal.

Liverpool rejected Suarez's transfer request and the Uruguayan has subsequently formed a devastating partnership with Daniel Sturridge that has fired Brendan Rodgers' side into Premier League title-winning contention.

Suarez appears happy at Anfield and recently signed a new contract - though it contains a buyout clause, which can be triggered by a foreign club willing to pay between €72-85 million.

Regardless of the 27-year-old's future, however, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to add to his forward options - as evidenced by recent failed pursuits of the likes of Willian and Yevhen Konoplyanka - and is weighing up a summer offer.

Muriel, 22, has struggled to recapture the form that alerted Liverpool to his potential last season and has scored just three times in 14 appearances for a side that is entrenched in mid-table in Serie A.

Liverpool could face competition for Muriel who attracted interest from Wolfsburg in the January transfer window, while Juventus are also understood to be monitoring the forward’s situation.

Aside from Suarez and Sturridge, Liverpool's forward options are severely limited with Iago Aspas - who has found it tough to acclimatise since his summer move from Celta Vigo - the only other recognised senior striker on the club's books.

 

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Atletico fined €600 after Ronaldo was hit by lighter

Atletico Madrid have been fined €600 by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) after one of their fans threw a cigarette lighter at Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese was leaving the pitch after scoring both goals in a 2-0 Copa del Rey derby win for Real Madrid over their city rivals on Tuesday, which booked his side's place in the final of the competition.

He was pelted by missiles as made his way to the tunnel at half-time and was struck on the head with the lighter when talking to team-mate Sergio Ramos.

Both Iker Casillas and Atletico spokesman Clemente Villaverde were quick to condemn those responsible for their actions and the club have now been slapped with a fine plus a warning over further incidents.

"It's reprehensible behaviour on the part of the spectator," the RFEF's judge said.

Ronaldo had been involved in an aerial challenge with Atleti's Javier Manquillo just prior to the incident, which saw the 19-year-old taken to hospital with a neck injury.

The Portugal captain, who went to the aid of the teenager after the accidental collision, was booked for his part in the challenge.

 

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FA Cup Fixtures 2014.02.15

FA Cup Fixtures 2014.02.15

Sunderland Vs Southampton

Cardiff City Vs Wigan

Manchester City Vs Chelsea​

 

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La Liga 2014.02.15 Fixtures

La Liga 2014.02.15 Fixtures

Atletico Madrid Vs Real Valladoid

Levante Vs Almeria

Barcelona Vs Rayo Vallecano

Villareal Vs Celta Vigo​

 

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Serie A 2014.02.15 Fixture

Serie A 2014.02.15 Fixture

Fiorentina Vs Inter​

 

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