..::Football III::..

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Arsenal line up Bacca bid

Arsene Wenger is poised to make a bid for Sevilla star Carlos Bacca in an attempt to ease Arsenal’s striker problems before the transfer window closes.

Goal understands the Gunners have turned their attention to the Colombia international after Loic Remy joined Chelsea.

The Sevilla striker has a €35 million release clause in his contract but the Spanish club, who bought Bacca for €7m last summer, would be willing to allow him to leave for around €16m.

The 27-year-old is a proven goalscorer and, with Olivier Giroud sidelined for three months with an ankle injury, Bacca would provide a superb option for Wenger.

The South American netted 21 times for Sevilla last season, having moved to the La Liga club 12 months ago from Club Brugge, where he scored an impressive 28 goals in 45 appearances.

Bacca, who came on as a substitute against Brazil in Colombia's World Cup quarter-final elimination, is now thought to be Wenger’s primary target after a deal for Remy collapsed over the weekend.

Sevilla are understood to have turned down a bid of €8m for Bacca from Everton earlier in the summer.

Bacca was on target for Sevilla in a 2-1 win over Espanyol on Saturday.

 

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Bacca ge last season performance hodai​

 

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Balotelli never marked for a corner in his life until now - Rodgers

Mario Balotelli had never marked for a defensive corner in his life before joining Liverpool this week, according to his new manager Brendan Rodgers.

The Italian returned to the Premier League, having left Manchester City 20 months ago, in a €20 million move from AC Milan this week and made his debut in his new club's 3-0 thrashing of Tottenham on Sunday.

Although he failed to score - and his shooting was certainly rusty - he put in a lively performance at White Hart Lane and Rodgers was elated with Balotelli's efforts, revealing that he is giving the 24-year-old more responsibility in a bid to maximise the striker's talent.

"I thought the two boys up front with Raheem in behind worked really well," the Northern Irishman told reporters after the game.

"He was very good. I think you all saw Mario’s workrate, pressing and effort out there today. He was disappointed not to score.

"He’s a good guy and a good man. If you take away the circus around him, control the background noise and get him to solely focus on football, you can see his quality.

"It’s the first time ever he’s marked at a corner. I’m being serious - and he's an international player. We were working on corners in training and he said ‘I’ve not marked at a corner before’. I said ‘you do now’. You need to treat him as an adult."

Liverpool sit fifth in the Premier League after three games, having won two and lost one, as they look to go one better than last season's second-place finish.

 

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AC Milan 3-1 Lazio: Inzaghi era starts with a bang

Filippo Inzaghi's competitive debut as AC Milan boss started in style as they comfortably defeated Lazio 3-1 in their Serie A opener on Sunday.

A legend at Milan, Inzaghi was appointed as Clarence Seedorf's replacement in June and the Italian is tasked with returning the club to their former glories after a dismal 2013-14 campaign.

Keisuke Honda gave Milan an early lead at San Siro, before second-half strikes from Sulley Muntari and new arrival Jeremy Menez ensured the hosts began the new season in ideal fashion.

Alex, another new signing for Milan, turned the ball into his own net midway through the second half as Lazio reduced the deficit, but the visitors' evening was summed up when Antonio Candreva won and then missed an injury-time penalty as Milan debutant Diego Lopez denied him with an excellent save
Like their hosts, Lazio are also under new management, but Stefano Pioli was unable to garner anything from his first Serie A match in charge.The result means Lazio's long wait for a league win at San Siro goes in, with their last triumph coming back in 1989, when Paolo Maldini's own goal secured a 1-0 victory.

Inzaghi included three debutants in his starting XI as Lopez, Alex and Menez all featured, while Lazio's new signings Dusan Basta, Stefan de Vrij and Marco Parolo made their league bows.

Milan made a bright start and were ahead as early as the seventh minute courtesy of a fine counter-attacking goal.Stephan El Shaarawy outpaced De Vrij down the left-hand side and delivered a low ball across the box to Honda, who finished first time through the legs of Etrit Berisha.

The remainder of the first half was less eventful than the all-action opening and Lazio threatened briefly in the 37th minute when a fine flowing move was brought to an end by Cristian Zapata's timely challenge on Basta.Lazio made a positive start to the second period, Miroslav Klose seeing a shot blocked before Alex had to be alert to clear Basta's dangerous cross from the right.

De Vrij then fizzed a 30-yard strike narrowly over the crossbar, but Lazio's hopes of an equaliser were dashed as Muntari doubled Milan's lead in the 56th minute.
The Ghana international threw himself at Ignazio Abate's right-wing delivery and prodded the ball home from six yards.Milan looked to have put the result beyond doubt eight minutes later when Menez converted a penalty after referee Nicola Rizzoli adjudged he had been felled by De Vrij inside the area.

Shortly afterwards, Alex deflected Candreva's cross into his own net under pressure from Lazio substitute Filip Djordjevic.As Lazio pressed for a second, Lopez reacted smartly to keep out Candreva's powerful volley at his near post five minutes from time, before the winger was fouled in the area, leading to Rizzoli pointing to the spot.

However, Lopez made a superb save low down to his left to deny the Italy international and round off a positive start to the Inzaghi era.

 

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Bayern wouldn't let me go - Shaqiri

Bayern Munich attacker Xherdan Shaqiri has claimed that his club have refused to let him leave the club on a transfer this summer.

The Switzerland international has been strongly linked Juventus, Liverpool and - most recently - Spartak Moscow this summer as he continues to struggle making his mark on the first team, being mostly restricted to cameos off the bench.

Shaqiri, 22, admitted that he requested a transfer due to a desire to play consistently and was turned down, but he is promising to give his all for the Bavarians in 2014-15 regardless.

"I asked to leave in order to play more regularly, but the club wanted me to stay," Shaqiri, who joined Bayern two years ago from Basel for a reported €11.6 million, told Sky Sport.

"So now I must remain here, at Bayern, and I will give my best for them."

Shaqiri faces competition at the Allianz Arena from some of the best attackers on the planet, including Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller and Franck Ribery.

Despite his complaints about gametime under Pep Guardiola in 2013-14, Shaqiri played all 90 minutes in the reigning German champions' 1-1 draw with Schalke on Saturday.

 

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Pochettino: Slow start cost Tottenham in Liverpool loss

Mauricio Pochettino was left frustrated after Tottenham were caught cold by Liverpool early on in each half of a 3-0 defeat on Sunday.

Raheem Sterling put the visitors in front in the eighth minute at White Hart Lane after Mario Balotelli had almost headed in a debut goal even before that, and Steven Gerrard struck from the penalty four minutes into the second period of the Premier League encounter.

Eric Dier pulled back Joe Allen for that spot-kick and Andros Townsend was then guilty of losing the ball to Alberto Moreno soon after coming off the bench to allow the Spaniard to race away and score a sensational third.

"It's a very disappointing result and two key moments at the start of each half cost us," bemoaned Pochettino.

"After we went 1-0 down, we stayed in the game and created chances, but in football you need luck at key moments and [it] was difficult."

Tottenham should have had a penalty themselves in the closing stages when Emmanuel Adebayor had his shirt pulled by Dejan Lovren, but it would have only given them the chance to net a consolation score.

Having struggled against the top teams last term, including 4-0 and 5-0 losses to Liverpool, this result burst their early-season bubble following league wins over West Ham and QPR.

However, Pochettino insists it is too early to tell if it will be the same story throughout this campaign, adding: "We need to improve and look forward. It's the beginning of the season and only three games in."

Striker Adebayor echoed his manager's thoughts and expressed a desire to respond.

"We have to find a way to correct the mistakes and move forward. It's very important to bounce back from this," he added.

"We are all disappointed but the season has a long way to go and we have to learn from our mistakes."

 

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Tottenham close in on Welbeck signing

Tottenham are closing in on the season-long loan signing of Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck, Goal understands.

The clubs are in advanced negotiations over a loan fee of around €2.5 million and Spurs have agreed to pay the 23-year-old’s salary in full, with the deal likely to be completed on deadline day on Monday.

Welbeck came close to leaving United at the end of last season, but opted to try to force his way back into the first team when Louis van Gaal took over following the World Cup.

However, the player and manager have been speaking over the last few weeks as to Welbeck’s future at the club – and following the arrival of Angel Di Maria, the England international has found himself even further from first-team reckoning.

With United willing to let him go, Newcastle, Sunderland and Hull all enquired after Welbeck, with Arsenal also monitoring the situationl, but Tottenham were always Welbeck’s preferred option and an agreement is now close between the two clubs.

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino values the England international’s pace and versatility as a player who can play either centrally or from a wide position.

Welbeck’s arrival could spell the end of Roberto Soldado’s stay at White Hart Lane, with the Spaniard drawing interest from Italy and Spain.

Atletico Madrid have retained their interest from earlier in the summer but are so far only proposing a loan deal, with Tottenham preferring a permanent transfer.

The 29-year-old has failed to live up to expectations following his arrival from Valencia for over €30m last summer, scoring just six goals in 29 Tottenham appearances.

He has found himself out of the side again at the start of the new season, with Emmanuel Adebayor preferred to lead the attack in Tottenham’s opening three league fixtures.

 

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Welbeck wa sell kaloth striker kenekuth ganna wenawa Deadline day 1kediChicharito ge United future 1kath sure nahane​

 

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Official: Kagawa returns to Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund have confirmed that Manchester United attacking midfielder Shinji Kagawa is returning to the Bundesliga club on a four-year deal.

The Japan international failed to thrive at Old Trafford since his €22 million move from Signal Iduna Park to the Premier League two years ago and rumours have been rife all summer that he would be returning to the Bundesliga.

Dortmund confirmed the move for an undisclosed fee - reported to be €8m - with one day until the closing of the transfer window and BVB sporting director Michael Zorc admits the club leapt at the opportunity to bring the player back.

"The chance presented itself in the past few days to sign Kagawa from Manchester United for the first time ever," Zorc told the club's official website on Sunday. "Of course we opted to bring the enormous talent back to us to win more trophies."

Dortmund chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke was equally thrilled to bring back the 25-year-old to the club where he made his name, winning back-to-back Bundesliga titles and a DFB-Pokal during his two-year stay with Jurgen Klopp's men.

"Shinji Kagawa is a technically gifted creative player who can determine the match in an instant," Watzke said.

"He wanted to return to Borussia Dortmund and we are sure that - given the right rest, time and appreciation - he will get back to the level he was at two years ago."

Kagawa, who follows in Nuri Sahin's footsteps as a player who has returned to Signal Iduna Park after a failed transfer abroad, is delighted to be back at last season's Bundesliga runners up.

"I already said on the day of my departure that the chapter Borussia Dortmund is not over for me," he said. "I wanted to make a dream come true by going to the Premier League.

"But now I am glad to be back in Dortmund with this great team, this unbelievable environment and these unique fans. BVB's like a family. I am proud they didn’t forget me and I can be part of it again."

 

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Congratulations & Good Luck Kagawa!!!

Aparade Kagawa sell karapu 1kanammeh season 1keth chance 1ka denna thibba​

 

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Official: Remy signs for Chelsea

QPR striker Loic Remy has signed a four-year deal with Chelsea after the west Londoners met his £8.5 million buyout clause.

As revealed by Goal on Friday, the Blues reignited their interest in the France international after reaching a deal to loan Fernando Torres to AC Milan.

Arsenal made a late move to hijack Remy's move to Chelsea, but soon dropped their interest to pave the way for the striker to move to Stamford Bridge.

"I feel very happy and very proud," he told Chelsea's official website. "When I heard Chelsea wanted to sign me I said 'let's go' straight away because they are one of the best clubs in the world.

"I remember the amazing atmosphere at Stamford Bridge when I played there for Marseille and I can't wait to play for the first time in front of my new fans."

Remy came close to joining Liverpool earlier in the summer only for concerns during his medical to prompt the Anfield outfit to back out of the deal, and instead he becomes Chelsea's sixth signing of a busy.

The 27-year-old, who scored 14 Premier League goals while on loan at Newcastle last season, will compete for a place in the starting XI against in-form Diego Costa and Didier Drogba.

 

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Congratulations Remy!

Chelsea attaking dan thawath stronge​

 

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Official: Torres joins AC Milan on loan

Fernando Torres has completed his move from Chelsea to AC Milan on a two-year loan deal after passing a medical on Sunday, with the two clubs having agreed terms on Friday.

The Spain international has endured a troubled career at Stamford Bridge, struggling for form following his then British record-breaking €63 million move from Liverpool, but will now stay with the Rossoneri until 2016.

Goal reported the San Siro outfit's interest earlier this week, though there had been fears that the deal could collapse over the 30-year-old's €214,000-a-week wages, but the two sides have worked hard to reach an agreement.

Chelsea completed their hunt for a replacement moments earlier, with the club confirming the signing of QPR striker Loic Remy.

Milan, meanwhile, had been looking for a new No.9 following the sale of Mario Balotelli to Liverpool earlier this week.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Torres!

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Leicester City 1-1 Arsenal: Sanchez strikes again but Ulloa secures point for Foxes

Sanogo ge finishing anthimayi

 

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Genoa 1-2 Napoli: Dramatic De Guzman strike seals victory

Napoli scored a dramatic last-minute goal to take all three points at Stadio Luigi Ferraris with a 2-1 win over Genoa on the opening day of the new Serie A season.

With the game seemingly destined to end all square, Dutchman Jonathan de Guzman ghosted into the box to turn the ball past Matia Perin from close range to secure a hard-fought win for coach Rafael Benitez.

After missing out on the chance of Champions League qualification in midweek, it took Napoli only two minutes to put the disappointment of that loss to Athletic Bilbao behind them.

Napoli attacked down the left, Lorenzo Insigne feeding Gonzalo Higain, who struck a swinging centre that met Jose Callejon arriving at the far post and his low right-footed volley beat Perin's outstretched right hand.

Genoa appeared stunned by that early strike and began to create several opportunities off crosses whipped in from both flanks.

After 19 minutes, it took a wonderful save by Rafael, down to his left, to keep out a glancing header from Chilean striker Mauricio Pinilla from Giovanni Marchese's accurate centre.

From the resulting corner on the right, Pinilla rose above everyone to flash another header just wide of Rafael's left-hand post.

The Brazilian keeper – now installed as first-choice following the departure of Pepe Reina – was in inspired form, bettering his earlier stop to again deny Pinilla who met Edenilson's lofted pass with a full-blooded header.

On the half-hour Insigne broke away on his own in a counterattack, He stopped in the box, looking for support but appeared to be felled by Stefano Sturaro, but no penalty was given.

Handed that lifeline, Genoa struck almost immediately with a well-worked equaliser. Yet again it was a cross ball which picked out Pinilla, who outjumped Kalidou Koulibaly and Camilo Zuniga to power his header high to the right of the diving Rafael.

With Benitez pacing the touchline, Napoli made the brighter start to the second period, and when Burdisso's wayward defensive header arrived at Higuain, the Argentina international controlled and turned beautifully to shoot just wide of the target.

In general, the second half missed the quality of the first 45 minutes, but Perin was forced into his first real save of the game just after the hour mark when he dived at the feet of Zuniga, while Jorginho went just too high with his shot from distance.

Substitute Dries Mertens attempted a looping first-time shot which didn't really threaten the home goal as the game entered the closing moments, and then produced a magnificent through ball for Insigne to run on to. However, with only the keeper to beat, the diminutive Italian only managed to send his shot rebounding off the advancing Perin, and a glorious opportunity to score the winner.

Then, in stoppage time, Mertens had a low diagonal shot turned wide, then watched as first Perin saved his close-range attempt before Higuain rolled the rebound straight across the face of goal.

A point apiece looked on the cards, until summer arrival De Guzman knocked home the winner, arriving late to seal maximum points for the Partenopei.

 

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Paris Saint-Germain 5-0 Saint-Etienne: Ibrahimovic hits hat-trick in inspired comeback

Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit a hat-trick on his return from injury as Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Saint-Etienne 5-0 on Sunday.

Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier miscontrolled a simple back pass from Jeremy Clement in the 24th minute and was unable to prevent it from crossing the line before he desperately hacked it away, with only a sympathetic handshake from Ibrahimovic to console him.

And that set the tone for a miserable night for the visitors, who were completely outplayed in the French capital.

Ibrahimovic opened his account shortly before half-time with a thumping header and the Sweden international – returning from a rib muscle injury – added two more goals in the second half to take his league tally to five for the campaign.

Those goals after the interval sandwiched a spectacular Edinson Cavani strike as the hosts cruised to a resounding victory.

Defending champions PSG had struggled to recreate their dominant form of 2013-14 in the opening weeks of the new season, winning just one of their first three league matches, but a triumph of this nature is sure to fill coach Laurent Blanc with confidence.

Making PSG's win more impressive was the absence of key men Thiago Silva and Yohan Cabaye, through injury and suspension respectively, while for Saint-Etienne, the result ended their unbeaten start to the campaign.

Blanc made four changes from last week's goalless draw at Evian, as Thiago Motta featured for the first time since Bastia striker Brandao broke his nose with a headbutt in the aftermath of PSG's 2-0 win earlier this month.

Ricky van Wolfswinkel headlined Saint-Etienne's three alterations but predictably it was PSG and Ibrahimovic who threatened first, with the forward testing Ruffier with a low 30-yard free-kick in the 11th minute.

With the game devoid of any real pattern, PSG suddenly took the lead thanks to Ruffier's glaring error.

PSG were indebted to keeper Salvatore Sirigu for maintaining their advantage as the Italian tipped Mevlut Erdinc's well-hit volley over the crossbar 10 minutes before the break.

And the save proved crucial six minutes later as Ibrahimovic met Maxwell's left-wing cross and buried a powerful header past a helpless Ruffier.

Cavani, who had been quiet throughout much of the opening period, stung the palms of Ruffier with a thumping shot from distance three minutes after the interval.

After missing the target with a trademark acrobatic volley, Ibrahimovic capitalised on a woefully short backpass to round Ruffier and poke the ball home in the 62nd minute.

Cavani then made it four with a stunning curling effort from 25 yards which flew in off the right-hand post with Ruffier motionless once again.

The keeper ought to have been sent off 20 minutes from time when he tripped Ibrahimovic inside the area, but referee Clement Turpin inexplicably awarded only a corner after the loose ball was cleared by a defender.

Ibrahimovic got his hat-trick just two minutes later, though, as he ran onto Marco Verratti's pass and slotted a low finish under the hapless Ruffier, before being withdrawn by Blanc to a rapturous reception from the home fans.

 

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Ibra is back!​

 

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Torino 0-0 Inter: Vidic sees red as Mazzarri's men are held

Inter were left frustrated in their opening game of the Serie A season as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Torino on Sunday, with Nemanja Vidic receiving a red card.

Vidic, signed from Manchester United, conceded a first-half penalty that Samir Handanovic kept out before he was given his marching orders in the 92nd minute for dissent.

Handanovic saved Marcelo Larrondo's poor spot-kick in Sunday's clash in what was a lacklustre display from Walter Mazzarri's men.

Torino, in contrast, will rue what could have been after Fabio Quagliarella wasted a golden opportunity to end the club's 20-year wait for a win over Inter, but he dragged his shot wide.

Inter had chances of their own, with substitute Pablo Daniel Osvaldo denied by the impressive Daniele Padelli on a frustrating night for Mazzarri's team.

Vidic was one of three close-season signings handed their first Serie A starts by Mazzarri, who watched as his side dominated possession in the opening exchanges.

Yann M'Vila nearly opened his Inter account after just two minutes, drilling wide from the edge of the area after Torino failed to clear their lines.

There was little sign of a repeat of last season's stunning 3-3 draw in the corresponding fixture during a cagey opening 15 minutes, with the hosts content to pile men behind the ball before attempting to supply new signings Quagliarella and Antonio Nocerino on the break.

That gameplan was nearly rewarded after 20 minutes, when Quagliarella was brought down in the area by Vidic, only for Handanovic to parry away Larrondo's resulting penalty.

Torino, who were hit by the news of Alessio Cerci's derparture to Atletico Madrid before the game, continued to look dangerous, despite not having as much of the ball as their opponents.

A lively Quagliarella should have hit the target after 32 minutes, powering a header over following a well-worked corner, before Inter's Mauro Icardi steered a teasing Dodo free kick well wide.

But that was as close as either side came during a closely-fought first half, with neither goalkeeper really tested.

That changed seven minutes after the break, when Cesare Bovo's curling 25-yard strike was smartly saved by Handanovic.

Handanovic breathed a sigh of relief just a minute later, when some good work from Matteo Darmian saw Larrondo set up Quagliarella, who poked an awkward shot just wide from close range.

Mazzarri threw on another new signing in Osvaldo in an attempt to settle his side and the Italy international nearly found a breakthrough after 68 minutes.

A defence-splitting pass from Hernanes saw Osvaldo clean through on goal, only to be expertly thwarted by goalkeeper Padelli inside the area.

Having already conceded a penalty, Vidic's debut to forget was compounded when he was shown a straight red card for sarcastically applauding referee Daniele Doveri deep into stoppage time.

 

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Vidic ge Serie A debut 1kema red card​