..::Football III::..

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Ronaldo's goal keeps us in title race, says Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti believes Cristiano Ronaldo's injury-time equaliser in Real Madrid's 2-2 draw against Valencia on Sunday keeps his side alive in the title race.

Los Blancos looked set to suffer a massive upset as Valencia led 2-1 until the Portugal star's magnificent backheel volley late in the 92nd minute ensured his side took a point from the game, even if they failed to capitalise on the slip-ups of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona earlier in the weekend.

Madrid are now five points behind league leaders Atletico with a game in hand over their rivals, and the Italian coach believes that, had it not been for Ronaldo's goal, the Spanish giants would have crashed out of contention altogether. "Ronaldo’s goal is very important because losing this game would have meant that we lost the league," he told reporters after the game.

"Like I’ve said before, the league will be decided in the last game. It was a tough week for all the three teams. "The team started the match well but it became more difficult to play with the same intensity.

"We lost a good chance to advance in the league but it’s not over yet."It’s normal that the team is not happy because we tried to win and we couldn’t do it. We will fight until the end.

"Chelsea, Atletico and my team weren’t at their top physical shape and we paid the price for that."

 

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Simeone: Losing the best thing to happen to Atletico

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says losing to Levante on Sunday evening is the best thing that could have happened to his team.

Los Rojiblancos entered Sunday's match looking to capitalise on Barcelona's draw with Getafe a day earlier and stretch their lead at the top of La Liga to six points.However, Simeone's men were stunned by Levante, as a Filipe Luis own goal gave the hosts the lead before David Barral killed the game off in the second half.

The result means Atletico are now three points clear of Barca and six ahead of their Champions League final opponents Real Madrid, who have two games in hand over them, with just two matches remaining.Simeone, though, believes a defeat is the best result as it will inspire his side to finish the campaing strongly.

"The defeat was the best thing that could happen to us," he told reporters. "That leads us to three weeks of high intensity and great emotion, it is the ideal moment for the players, they will surely have a fantastic three weeks."The team tried and had several chances. Their goalkeeper had a great game. Levante did very well.

"Now we have to focus in the first final we have: Malaga [at the Vicente Calderon on May 11]."

 

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Wenger: I'm staying and so should Sagna

Arsene Wenger has reiterated his intention to extend his contract at Arsenal and spoke of his hope to see Bacary Sagna follow suit.

The Gunners faithful were vociferous in their desire for the right-back to sign a new contract during Sunday's 1-0 win over West Brom, with the 31-year-old's current contract deal to expire at the end of the season.

Arsenal have €120 million to spend over the summer, with the club identifying transfer targets to boost the squad and pre-empt possible departures such as Sagna, but Wenger is keen to see him stay.

"I want him to stay," he said at the post-match press conference. "There are two players at the end of their contracts, Sagna and [Lukasz] Fabianski. If it's down to me, they both stay."

Asked if it might have been his final home game in charge of the club, Wenger replied adamantly: "No, no. Don't be impatient; my last game will come. Don't worry.

"Yes, [I will be here next season]. I have told you many times, my word is my word," he added, also noting that his delay in signing a new contract had nothing to do with waiting until after the FA Cup final.

With Arsenal's top-four place guaranteed before the game, Wenger reflected on the failure of their challenge for the Premier League title.

"I am happy with the attitude, behaviour and consistency of my players and frustrated, as well, because we had 120 days at the top of the league. When you look at it today, it's very tight - and then it comes into your mind, the points you dropped," he said.

"We had injuries - three or four players who missed too many games - and, in some games, at the start away from home, we were caught by surprise. We were perhaps too cautious and not confident enough. We paid a heavy price for it."

 

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Barclays Premier League 2014.05.05 Fixture

Barclays Premier League 2014.05.05 Fixture

Crystal Palace Vs Liverpool

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La Liga 2014.05.05 Fixture

La Liga 2014.05.05 Fixture

Real Sociedad Vs Granada​

 

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Serie A 2014.05.05 Fixture

Serie A 2014.05.05 Fixture

Lazio Vs Hellas

Juventus Vs Atalanta​

 

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Valencia match 1ke Ronaldo ge backheel goal 1ka patta

 

[rcccc]

Aniwa broSunderland big teams 1kka play karana widiya dakkhama EPL points table 1ke inna position 1ka gananam pudumai bro& anith team 1ka thamai Stoke City.Agolloth godak matches elata play karanawa mid table team 1kak unath​

ow. Sunderland la cup walath hodatama kala ne (capital one cup final, FA Cup quarter-final)

 

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ow. Sunderland la cup walath hodatama kala ne (capital one cup final, FA Cup quarter-final)

Aniwa

 

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Juventus 1-0 Atalanta: Champions' party continues with another win

Simone Padoin scored the only goal of the game against his former club Atalanta as Juventus celebrated sealing the Serie A title with a win.

Roma's defeat to Catania on Sunday secured Juve's third consecutive league crown, and the 30th in their history, without Antonio Conte's men even having to play.In their first game since their latest title was sealed, Padoin netted his first goal for the club to secure a 31st league victory of the season four days after Thursday's Europa League semi-final exit at the hands of Benfica.

After a sluggish opening hour that saw Pablo Osvaldo waste three chances, Juventus were sparked into life by the introduction of Fabio Quagliarella and Carlos Tevez.The former had two chances soon after coming on at half-time, and his Argentine team-mate could have netted with his first touch in the 69th minute but it fell to Padoin to strike the decisive blow with a well-taken low finish.

One goal was enough for the home fans to raise the volume up another notch as yet another win move Turin giants on to 96 points and well on course to break the 100-point barrier with two games remaining, while the visitors remain 11th.
With the title in the bag Conte rested the majority of his first team regulars and lined up with nine Italian players in his starting line-up, including goalkeeper Marco Storari coming in for Gianluigi Buffon.

Sebastian Giovinco was also given a rare start and the striker wasted two early chances to put the champions in front.On both occasions the former Parma man was able to find space on the edge of the penalty area, but dragged his shots wide of Andrea Consigli's goal.

Osvaldo sent a long-range effort over the crossbar as the hosts applied pressure, but were unable to find a way through and Atalanta were equally as wasteful on their rare counter-attacks.Claudio Marchisio and Osvaldo had further openings to break the deadlock before the break, but were unable to find the back of the net.

Quagliarella was introduced at the break at the expense of the wasteful Giovinco and he had a chance to spark the party into life in the opening minutes of the second half.An intricate passing move on the edge of the penalty area found the substitute with a clear sight of goal, but he blasted over the crossbar - much to the frustration of the home support.

After intense pressure from the hosts that saw Tevez and Quagliarella go close, Juve finally found the back of the net through former Atalanta midfielder Padoin in the 72nd minute.

Quagliarella let a pass from the left run across his body and the 30-year-old fired low into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area to seal all three points.

 

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Crystal Palace 3-3 Liverpool: Reds' title hopes in tatters after incredible Eagles comeback

Liverpool handed Manchester City a potentially decisive advantage in the Premier League title race after losing a three-goal lead on their way to a 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace.

Brendan Rodgers's men knew that only a victory would suffice at Selhurst Park after City, who now sit one point behind the Reds with a game in hand, edged to a seemingly crucial 3-2 triumph at Everton on Saturday. That result left Manuel Pellegrini's men, who wrap up their season with home games versus Aston Villa and West Ham, at the summit thanks to goal difference.

For large parts of the game against Palace, it appeared merely a question of how much Liverpool could eat into City's nine-goal lead after Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez added to Joe Allen's first league goal for the club.

But, having been cruising at 3-0 after 55 minutes, the visitors had to endure a chastening finish as Damien Delaney's deflected 79th-minute strike was immediately added to when Dwight Gayle capped a smart counterattack with a cool finish two minutes later.

Liverpool tried desperately to defend but were hit with a sucker-punch with two minutes remaining when Gayle finished powerfully.

An incredible finish at Palace has left the Reds, who end the season at home against Newcastle on Sunday, hoping that Villa and West Ham can do them favours to revive their hopes of landing a first top-flight title since 1990.

Liverpool began in typically quick fashion and had a strong penalty appeal turned down after Glen Johnson went down under a clumsy challenge from Yannick Bolasie.

Undeterred, the visitors continued to press forward and almost took the lead in the 16th minute. Allen delivered a glorious ball over the centre-backs but Johnson, having made a fine diagonal run behind Joel Ward, nodded just over the crossbar.

Palace were to rue their failure to heed the lesson from Steven Gerrard's first corner as they conceded via a set-piece for the first time under Tony Pulis two minutes later. Allen was the beneficiary of some lacklustre defending, marking his 50th league appearance for Liverpool by nodding across Julian Speroni and into the net, having found space at the back post with a clever run.

Jason Puncheon then forced a good save from Simon Mignolet with a powerful effort from distance and the Belgian goalkeeper had to be on a high alert again moments later, producing an even better save when turning Mile Jedinak's thunderbolt over.

Any momentum that Pulis's men had built before the break was quickly extinguished afterwards as Liverpool attacked with verve.

Sturridge was the main threat, seeing an effort tipped on to the post by Speroni before strike partner Suarez, rumoured to be playing despite illness and having added the Football Writers' Player of the Year award to the PFA gong earlier in the day, uncharacteristically fired over with the goal gaping.

However, Sturridge doubled the advantage moments later, his deflected effort trickling beyond Speroni. Suarez soon got in on the act, sliding coolly under the goalkeeper following a fine one-two with Raheem Sterling.

Liverpool piled forward with similar intent thereafter yet quickly found themselves defending for their lives as Palace flipped the narrative.

Delaney was the first to strike, his pot-shot taking a wicked deflection and beating Mignolet. Suddenly Palace had hope, which was only added to as Bolasie surged forward on the break and slid in Gayle - who made no mistake.

And Gayle was not finished there, breaking Liverpool hearts with a thunderous left-footed strike after Glenn Murray's chested pass.

Both sides tried for an unlikely winner without avail, meaning that Liverpool now require a City slip-up and victory on Sunday to have any hope of lifting the Premier League title.

 

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End of the season hithapu nathi dewal neh wenneCrystal Palace lagen pattama comeback 1kak

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Conte still unsure of Juve future despite 'historic' Scudetto

Antonio Conte says will hold talks in the summer about staying at Juventus next season after securing a "historic" Serie A title.

As a result of Roma's 4-1 defeat to Catania on Sunday, the Bianconeri were confirmed champions for the third consecutive time before Monday's 1-0 win over Atalanta.Conte praised his team for their magnificent achievements over the last few years, but hinted that he is still unsure if he will remain with the club beyond 2013-14.

"I’d call this a historic Scudetto. That's the most suitable word for what this team has done over the last three years, especially after finishing seventh twice in a row," he told reporters."What this team has done in Italy can't be improved upon. Those close to me know what I put into the team and what the players have put into it with me.

"We have always said, along with the club, that we’ll talk it over when the situation calms down and analyse every aspect. These have been three very intense and stressful years."We need to sit down, confront our opinions on matters and, in a relaxed manner, see what the situation is.“I don’t want to say I need reassurances. I will say what I need to say with the club, so together we can evaluate what is best for Juventus. I want what is best for Juventus, in every way."

Conte was then asked if he could take a sabbatical from coaching this summer and he pressed the point that he loved the club without committing either way."No, I just need to talk to the club and we’ll make the necessary evaluations," he said. "I am a Juventino, I was even when I went around the country to work as a coach and learn.

"I am now that I am the Juventus coach and will be in the future. It is my family."

 

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'We want to break 100 points' - Giovinco

Sebastian Giovinco says winning the Scudetto is not enough for Juventus and has set his sights on finishing the season with at least 100 points.Roma's loss at Catania on Sunday guaranteed Juve a third-successive Scudetto before Monday's victory over Atalanta.

Antonio Conte's men now sit on 96 points with two games remaining and Giovinco says the squad are now focused on becoming the first Serie A side to reach three figures for the campaign."Celebrating with a victory makes it even sweeter," he told the club's official website after the win.

"We're now going for our other objective, a 100-point finish."We always believed we could win the Scudetto, even though Roma had a fine season.

"It's a title victory we've fully deserved."

 

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Barcelona: Madrid trying to sign Neymar hurt our stability

Barcelona were financially rocked because Real Madrid forced them to sign Neymar a year earlier than planned, according to vice-president Carles Vilarrubi.
The Spanish giants locked horns in a lengthy transfer saga which lead to the Catalans confirming the signing of the Brazilian starlet from Santos a year before he made the move for €57 million officially - although later revelations showed that the actual payments rose to an estimated €87m.

Vilarrubi admits that Barca's urgency in beating their arch-rivals to securing Neymar left them in a bad position economically, but suggested their hand was forced by the Blancos."The club signed a pre-agreement for Neymar to join the following season [2014-15]," the Barca chief told reporters. "Pressure from another club led us to sign him a year earlier. This fact has affected the club's financial stability."

He added that such “surrounding pressure” can sometimes force a club to make a move which is motivated by “not necessarily sporting” circumstances.

 

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Noel Gallagher tells Suarez: Stop crying your heart out

Former Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher told Luis Suarez to stop crying his heart out after Liverpool drew 3-3 with Crystal Palace, giving his beloved Manchester City a huge boost in the title race.

The Reds led by three goals at Selhurst Park but relinquished their lead in a frantic final 15 minutes, leaving Manuel Pellegrini's side trailing the Merseyside club by a point but with two games in hand.

Gallagher voiced his disapproval of Luis Suarez, who was in tears after the dramatic draw shortly after the game, and some might say he was thrilled as he watched the Reds' title challenge slide away on Monday.

"It was nice to see Suarez in tears at the end because he is a blatant cheat," Gallagher said to talkSPORT. "It was an endearing image, Gerrard too.

"I can't believe he [Suarez] won the Football Writers' Award. They went 3-0 and got caught up in the emotion.

"Nobody wins by six or seven in the Premier League - unless you're playing Tottenham or Arsenal."

 

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Suarez ta henama awl wage Yesterday Crystal Palace draw 1ka nisa.

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Rodgers: Manchester City will be champions

Brendan Rodgers believes that Liverpool's Premier League title challenge is over and expects Manchester City to be crowned champions after the Reds slipped to an incredible 3-3 draw against Crystal Palace on Monday.

The visitors were three goals up with less than 15 minutes to play at Selhurst Park thanks to finishes from Joe Allen, Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez.

But an unbelievable comeback from the hosts, who pulled level through Damien Delaney and a Dwight Gayle double, saw the points shared, with Rodgers predicting Manuel Pellegrini's side to wrap up the title with two home wins.

"I think that we needed to win tonight, that was the simplicity of it, to keep the pressure on Manchester City," he told Sky Sports after the game.

"They've got two home games now, even if they're two tough games, but we needed to win tonight so I think Manchester City will go on and win the two games and they'll be champions.

"But for us, it has been an outstanding season up until now. For us to get to 81 points is a great achievement for where we're at.

"We're obviously disappointed now but we'll go again. We've got a great game at Anfield now to finish the season and keep looking to build and develop what we're doing."

Rodgers was left to rue his side's "poor" defending after they surrendered a three-goal lead whilst aiming to reduce the goal-difference deficit on City.

He said: "As you can imagine it's very quiet [in the dressing room] and for 75 minutes it was an outstanding performance.

"We got the goals and the important thing was to win the game, to at least put some pressure on Manchester City but [I'm] very disappointed we conceded the three goals.

"It was real poor defending that cost us. They showed great spirit to come back into it. Even at 3-0 in the modern game it's always a difficult score but, really, with the comfort we had in the game and the quality we showed to get 3-0 up ... you've got to manage the game better than that."

 

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'Atletico are favourites to win La Liga' - Villa

Atletico Madrid are in a better to win the league title this season than their rivals Real and Barcelona, according to David Villa.Los Rojiblancos fell to a 2-0 defeat in Valencia on Sunday but Diego Simeone's men were let off the hook as both Barcelona and Real were held to draws.

They remain in the driving seat, leading the league by three points with just two matches to play, and Villa is confident his side can end their campaign, which they end with games against Malaga and Barca, with the league trophy."For us there are no surprises," Villa said.

"The only reality is that if we win the last two matches we are champions."I imagine that the thinking of Barcelona will be the same. Out of the three teams, we are the best placed because our destiny is in our own hands.

"We know it is very difficult to win a league championship. We knew it would be difficult right until the last minute, so our idea of working and just winning the next match has not changed. Nothing else matters.

"We need to win on Sunday and, depending on other results, set out to win at Camp Nou. That's the only thought we have on our minds."

 

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Dan thiyana widiyatanam Atletico Madrid lata advantage 1kak thiyanawa La Liga 1ka ganna.​