..::Football III::..

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Ronaldo wants Manchester United return - but only after becoming Real Madrid's record goalscorer

Cristiano Ronaldo wants to leave Real Madrid and secure a remarkable return to Manchester United, Goal has learned – but only after he has become the all-time record goalscorer for the Spanish side.Ronaldo only signed a new long-term contract last September, with the new deal running until 2018.“I'll be here five more years,” he said at the time. “I just want to win trophies for this club.

“I will be honest with you – everyone knows I was in Manchester for six years, but Manchester is in the past. Now my club is Real Madrid. This is my home, my family is here and I'm really happy here.”

His stance has changed in recent months, however, largely due to the club’s transfer policy, and in particular the summer sales of Angel Di Maria, whom he tried to keep at the club until the very last minute, and Xabi Alonso.

And Ronaldo is now eyeing an emotional return to Old Trafford."Cristiano talks about United all the time," a source close to the player told Goal. "The club had a difficult time last season, but he expects them to return to the top very soon. He is seduced by the idea of finishing his career at Old Trafford. He has great memories - it was his happiest time as a footballer."

Ronaldo broke ranks to criticise the departures of Di Maria and Alonso last month, fuelling the belief all is not well with the Portuguese.“I have an opinion and it's very clear," he said. "I can't always say what I want, but if I were in charge [at Madrid], I wouldn't have done things the way they were done...”

He later rectified the remarks on Twitter and said he was “100 per cent behind my president”, but that statement was put out at the request of the club and Florentino Perez.

Mesut Ozil departed for Arsenal in similar circumstances to Di Maria last year and although Madrid went on to enjoy a successful season, Ronaldo feels the club could have achieved more during his time in Spain, believing the current policy for signing players has restricted Madrid both at home and in Europe.

Since moving from United for a record €94m deal in 2009, the forward has won one Liga title, two Copas del Rey, one Spanish Supercopa, one Champions League title and a Uefa Super Cup.

He is eager to add December’s Club World Cup to that tally and remains hopeful the club can compete for the top titles this term following their shaky start to the current campaign.However, he has had to work extremely hard for recognition in Spain and was even jeered by Madrid fans during the Jose Mourinho era.

At United, he joined as a teenager and developed as a player in more of a family environment, experiencing a greater connection with the fans and enjoying himself in a more relaxed atmosphere.

The Portuguese looks back on those years as the happiest of his career and also retains strong ties at the Premier League club, where he won nine trophies as part of Sir Alex Ferguson's side.Nevertheless, Ronaldo has fulfilled a dream in playing for Madrid and is now keen to be remembered as the greatest player in the club’s history.

"Cristiano loves Madrid and always dreamed of playing for Real," the source said. "Now he wants to go down in history as their greatest-ever player. And he can do that by scoring more goals than anyone else - and in fewer games as well."

With 257 goals in 252 games for Los Blancos, Ronaldo is already within sight of the club’s all-time top goalscorer: Raul.The former Spain striker netted 323 times for the Spanish side and at his current rate, Ronaldo will overtake his former team-mate early in 2015-16.

Madrid would be unwilling to part with their prized asset before then anyway, meaning a deal could be struck for the Portuguese to potentially return to Old Trafford in the summer of 2016 - at the age of 31.

 

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Varane: Real Madrid can retain Champions League

Raphael Varane promptly set his sights on winning the Champions League again after penning a contract extension with Real Madrid.

The Frenchman signed a new deal on Tuesday that binds him to the Los Blancos until the summer of 2020 on Thursday and he is looking forward to winning more silverware after playing his part in last season's Decima success."We are going to try to win the European Cup again as well as other titles. We have a fantastic squad and I think we can succeed," Varane told the official Madrid website.

"I have experienced a lot of enjoyable moments, as well as bad ones, and it fills me with pride. I think there will be more good times ahead in the future and I am going to be happy here."I'm really happy that I'm staying here. I thought about continuing with this club and with this contract I am now able to do that. I feel great and everyone has treated me very well.

“This contract shows the confidence the club has in me and I want to continue growing. I have progressed a lot since I came here as an 18-year-old but I want to keep growing with this great club. I am more mature now and I have learned a lot."
Varane, 21, joined Madrid from Lens in the summer of 2011 and has since made over 70 official appearances in all competitions for the Spanish club.

 

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Drogba: I can help Hazard become an all-time great

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is relishing the prospect of mentoring Eden Hazard and helping his team-mate to become an all-time great.

As revealed by Goal and subsequently confirmed by Jose Mourinho, the Belgium international is, despite not always seeing eye-to-eye with his manager, set to sign a new long-term contract.

Mourinho believes that Hazard is capable of becoming "one of the greats of his generation" and Drogba, who returned to Stamford Bridge this summer, is confident that he can play a leading role in helping the former Lille star to realise his true potential by giving him guidance both on and off the pitch.

Asked by reporters if he now has an important off-field role, Drogba said: "Yes, I think so. Even if the team is young, you can see we have quite a lot of qualities and experience in the game as well.

"Yes, I'm here to help but I'm also here to show, if I can say that, to show them the spirit.

"Even if I don't have any doubt about their desire to win, I'm here to help and I will give what I can.

"I'm preparing myself to give something extra to the team and achieve what we want to achieve."

 

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Robben: Van Gaal will guide Manchester United back into Champions League

Arjen Robben is "very confident" that Louis van Gaal will guide Manchester United back into the Champions League.

The former Netherlands boss has just one competitive win to his name since taking charge at Old Trafford but heavy investment late in the transfer window has seen the likes of Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao arrive.

And Robben, who played under Van Gaal at Bayern Munich and for Oranje, has no doubts that the 63-year-old will bring the best out of his squad, especially the young talent at his disposal.

"I haven't spoken to him recently but I was very happy for him that he won the game against QPR," Robben told reporters. "Hopefully now he can show that he will do very well but he needs time.

"I know how it works - if you are not winning, you get the pressure but the management at United know what sort of coach they have got and I am very confident he will be successful there.

"I have worked with Van Gaal at Bayern as well as with Holland so I have known him for a very long time. He is one of the few coaches, I think, who can make teams play better. He makes players better.

"United have some young, talented players and I have no doubts that he will do well at Old Trafford. He will get United back into the Champions League next season, where they belong. They are such a big club and that is where they belong."

Robben was a late substitute as Bayern beat Manchester City on Tuesday night but is cautious of predicting how well the German giants will fair in the Champions League.

"It's hard to say. We are only thinking about ourselves and we want to go through, we want to win our games and be top of the group," he remarked. "That is our target and we will give everything to do that.

"Roma had a big win and it was a surprise. I looked up at the scoreboard after 20 minutes and saw it was already 3-0, so they are flying.

"It will be disappointing and frustrating for City, to lose 1-0 just a minute before the end, but they have a very good team.

"We have done well to get the victory. We could have scored earlier because we had the better opportunities but, overall, it was a good game between two very good teams."

 

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Arsenal announce €2.5m profit drop in latest financial figures

Arsenal have announced a €6 million [£4.7m] profit in their latest financial figures, a €2.5m [£2m] drop from the club's results from 2013.

The financial results, which covered the year ending on May 31, 2014, also revealed a €27m [£21.5m] increase in turnover from 2013 to €383.5m [£301.9m] due to increased broadcasting income from the Premier League, last season’s FA Cup run and commercial deals.

Wages have also risen from €196m [£154.5m] in 2013 to €211.3m [£166.4m] and represent 55.7 per cent of Arsenal’s football revenue.

Having spent just over €95m [£75m] on Alexis Sanchez, Calum Chambers, Mathieu Debuchy, David Ospina and Danny Welbeck this summer, Arsenal confirmed that profit made on sales of player registration was reduced to €8.7m [£6.9m] from €60m [£47m].

A statement from Arsenal claimed that the club “continues to be in a robust financial position” and has a cash balance of €220m [£173.3m], an increase from €152m [£119.6m] in 2013.

“The club is in excellent shape, both on and off the pitch,” said chief executive Ivan Gazidis.

“There is always more to do and, whether investing in the team or in training facilities which will provide long-term benefit to the club, our guiding principles are the same and our focus is clear - on delivering more on-field success.

“This remains the shared ambition of our majority shareholder, Stan Kroenke, the board and everyone connected with the club.

“We are well-placed to deliver against those ambitions.”

 

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Assou-Ekotto fined and suspended by FA over quenelle tweets

Benoit Assou-Ekotto has been suspended for three matches and fined €63,500 [£50,000] by the English Football Association after being found guilty of improper conduct in relation to a tweet about Nicolas Anelka's quenelle gesture.

The 30-year-old, who has not been included in Tottenham’s squad this season, has also been ordered to complete a compulsory education course.

Anelka was banned by the FA for performing the quenelle gesture after scoring against West Ham last December, and after the incident Assou-Ekotto posted on Twitter: "jte fellicite man belle keunel epaule," which, translated into English, reads: "I congratulate you on the beautiful quenelle."

Mr Peter Griffiths QC said when delivering the decision: "Even though we have found that there was an aggravated breach of FA Rule E3 we are satisfied that when the player sent the tweet on the 28th December 2013 congratulating Anelka, in his mind he believed he was congratulating Anelka on what he perceived to be an anti-establishment gesture as opposed to one associated with anti-Semitism."

Assou-Ekotto has seven days to appeal the decision.

The left-back spent last season on loan at QPR but failed to secure a move away in the summer and has yet to make an appearance for Tottenham this term.

 

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Manchester United signing Ronaldo from Real Madrid 'possible' but 'unlikely' - Van Gaal

Louis van Gaal says Manchester United signing Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid next summer is 'possible' but 'unlikely'.

Reports have suggested that the Portugal international will push for a move back to Old Trafford at the end of the season.

But while the United boss concedes the club would always explore the possibility of a deal, he believes the European champions are unlikely to allow the forward to leave.

“It’s always a discussion in the papers. I don’t think the media will buy Ronaldo,” said Van Gaal.

“When it is possible, it is what I have always said with Falcao, players like Ronaldo give a lot extra to selection, to the team, but I don't think Real Madrid will sell him.”

Earlier this month, Ronaldo admitted that he would be keen to return to Old Trafford, but insisted he was happy at Madrid.

"I love Manchester. Everyone knows that - I have said it many times. Manchester is in my heart," said the Portugal international.

"I left many good friends there, the supporters are amazing and I hope I can come back one day."

 

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Barclays Premier League 2014.09.20 Fixtures

Barclays Premier League 2014.09.20 Fixtures

QPR Vs Stoke City

Aston Villa Vs Arsenal

Burnley Vs Sunderland

Newcastle United Vs Hull City

Swansea Vs Southampton

West Ham Vs Liverpool

​

 

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La Liga 2014.09.20 Fixtures

La Liga 2014.09.20 Fixtures

Deporivo Vs Real Madrid

Athletic Bilbao Vs Granada

Espanyol Vs Malaga

Atletico Madrid Vs Celta Vigo​

 

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Serie A 2014.09.20 Fixtures

Serie A 2014.09.20 Fixtures

Cesena Vs Empoli

AC Milan Vs Juventus​

 

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Mainz 2-0 Borussia Dortmund: BVB pay penalty for Immobile's profligacy

Jurgen Klopp's winning run against former club Mainz came to an end as Borussia Dortmund slumped to a 2-0 defeat at the Coface Arena.

The visitors dominated Saturday's opening hour, before Jairo created the opener for Okazaki, the Japan striker scoring a sixth goal in seven games this season, in what was his 100th Bundesliga appearance.

Then, after Loris Karius had saved a Ciro Immobile penalty, Jairo was again the architect as Matthias Ginter put through his own net to make sure of the points, which lifted Mainz to second in the table.

Klopp, a Mainz legend as both player and coach, could only look on as his side spurned several presentable chances - striker Adrian Ramos particularly guilty - in a week in which they had demonstrated strong credentials in the Champions League with a comprehensive win over Arsenal.

Mainz are yet to taste defeat in the league this season, but a second loss of the season for Dortmund presents Klopp with a major issue as they look to assert domestic dominance.

The hosts fielded Jonas Hofmann against his parent club and although Dortmund welcomed Lukasz Piszczek back into their starting XI, but their mounting injury problems saw Klopp start 20-year-old Ginter in defence and Milos Jojc in midfield, while he also replaced Immobile with Ramos as the spearhead of the attack.

And it was the latter who spurned the game's first meaningful opportunity after 13 minutes, the Colombia striker nodding Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's right-wing cross wide from seven yards.

Shinji Kagawa's lost control at the vital moment after some spellbinding footwork and Mainz's own Shinji then threatened, Okazaki pouncing on a loose ball and stabbing the ball goalwards, only for Roman Weidenfeller to make a fine save low to his right.

Ramos' woes went on shortly before half-time as he slammed Piszczek inviting low cross from the right onto the post.

The Colombian was again denied as Dortmund began the second half on the front foot, Junior Diaz's outstreched leg saved Mainz after good work from Kevin Grosskreutz, with the Costa Rican hacking a deflected Aubameyang strike off the line from the resulting corner.

Against the run of play, Mainz took the lead. Substitute Jairo did well to keep the move alive down the right and cross for Ozakazi, who escaped Ginter’s attention and slotted home.

Yet minutes later hero almost turned villain. Immobile, on for Ramos, unleashed a shot inside a crowded area, which hit a sliding Okazaki on the arm and prompted referee Gunter Perl to award a penalty.

The Italy striker stepped up himself, but his firm strike was superbly kept out by the diving Karius.

It got worse for Dortmund in the 73rd minute.

Jairo’s pace got him clear of the defence and he cut the ball across the penalty area towards Hofmann. Ginter slid in to intercept the ball, but could only manage to divert it into the back of his own net.

 

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Swansea 0-1 Southampton: Wanyama wins it after Bony red

Substitute Victor Wanyama's first Southampton goal was enough to record a 1-0 victory over 10-man Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.

The Kenya international prodded the ball home from inside the area with 10 minutes remaining as Swansea were left to rue Wilfried Bony's first-half dismissal.

Bony was restored to the starting XI as one of two changes that also included a full debut for Federico Fernandez, but while the striker's full-blooded approach initially posed Southampton problems, his enthusiasm got the better of him as he was shown two bookings before the break for fouls on Maya Yoshida.

The Japanese centre-back had come into the Saints side in place of Toby Alderweireld, while James Ward-Prowse also replaced Steven Davis, and the Japan international twice bore the brunt of poor challenges from Bony.

Without their topscorer from last season, Garry Monk's side were made to toil after the break and as Ronald Koeman's visitors piled the pressure on, Wanyama struck the crucial blow to make it three Premier League wins in a row for Southampton as Swansea followed up their defeat to Chelsea with another loss.

After a tentative start, the hosts could have taken the lead after 11 minutes when in-form Nathan Dyer almost connected with Wayne Routledge’s delivery from the left.

Bony initially failed to meet the ball as it flashed across the box before it also evaded Dyer – with England manager Roy Hodgson watching on from the stands.

Routledge then fired a swerving effort off target before Neil Taylor was required to go to ground to prevent Dusan Tadic from getting a shot away.

Bony was at the centre of things for Swansea as the game burst to life, his physical presence posing a problem for Southampton's backline and Yoshida in particular.

The Japanese was bundled over early on by Bony, which earned the former Vitesse striker his first yellow card.

Routledge then clipped the crossbar, following Gylfi Sigurdsson's well-timed throughball, before Graziano Pelle had Southampton's first effort on target just after the half-hour mark.

Ryan Bertrand denied Bony a first goal of the season, clearing the Ivorian's header off the line, before the striker's bustling approach cost him dearly six minutes before the break.

His aggressive tackle through the back of Yoshida earned him a second yellow card, giving Monk a half-time headache.

It was Koeman who opted for a half-time switch, however, replacing the cautioned Yoshida with Florin Gardos, and the Dutchman saw his side dominate possession for much of the second period.

Tadic had an effort deflected over the crossbar with Lukasz Fabianski helpless, before Pelle's header also found the roof of the net.

But just when Swansea appeared set for a hard-earned point, Wanyama - on in the 69th minute for Ward-Prowse - powered into the box before firing past Fabianski to claim all three points and take Southampton up to second in the table.

 

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Burnley 0-0 Sunderland: All square in low-quality clash

Burnley and Sunderland remain without a Premier League win this season after a cagey 0-0 draw at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon.

Both sides will have viewed the clash as a prime opportunity to claim maximum points for the first time this term, but a closely fought encounter lacked any genuine quality in the final third as promising positions went to waste at both ends.

Marvin Sordell, replacing the injured Danny Ings in the starting line-up for Burnley, spurned the best opportunity of the game in the fifth minute, while substitute Ashley Barnes saw a deflected effort come back off the crossbar with three minutes remaining.
There was another close call in the first minute of stoppage time as Tom Heaton brilliantly tipped Patrick van Aanholt's thumping drive onto the post.

It was a third consecutive goalless draw for Sean Dyche's men, who have now gone five matches in all competitions without finding the net.

For Sunderland, a fourth draw in five league outings this season means Gus Poyet's side remain at the wrong end of the early Premier League table, a point better off than their opponents.

Burnley did at least climb out of the bottom three with this result, but their lack of potency in front of goal may continue to worry Dyche.

Sordell came in for Ings in the hosts' only change, and the former Bolton Wanderers man ought to have put Burnley ahead when he missed his kick from close range after being teed up by Lukas Jutkiewicz.

Emanuele Giaccherini, replacing Ricky Alvarez, represented Sunderland's solitary alteration from the 2-2 draw with Tottenham, and the Italy international tested Heaton with a firm shot in the 11th minute.

Burnley's David Jones had the next opening in the 19th minute but the midfielder fired straight at Vito Mannone from just inside the area after exchanging passes with George Boyd.

Santiago Vergini flicked a header narrowly wide and Connor Wickham - appearing at Turf Moor for his third different club this year - shot at Heaton as the visitors established a foothold on proceedings.

Heaton was forced to gather Jack Rodwell's strike from distance at the second attempt after the interval, and only Jason Shackell's last-ditch interception denied the former Manchester City man from converting Giaccherini's cut-back in the 55th minute.

Wickham fired narrowly wide from 20 yards nine minutes later as Sunderland began to make inroads, although Mannone had to be alert to keep out Scott Arfield's low cross at his near post soon afterwards.

Jones played in Jutkiewicz in the 77th minute but the striker, after a slight shirt tug from John O'Shea, shot too close to Mannone, who was able to palm away to safety.

Right at the death, Barnes' strike took a wicked deflection and looped over a stranded Mannone only to bounce off the bar, before Heaton and the woodwork denied Van Aanholt as both sides were forced to settle for a point.

 

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Newcastle 2-2 Hull City: Pardew clings on as Cisse inspires fightback

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was spared a damaging defeat as substitute Papiss Cisse pulled his side back from two down to draw 2-2 with Hull City in the Premier League.

With widespread fan demonstrations against the Magpies manager before the game, the atmosphere at St James's Park was not boosted by Nikica Jelavic's opening the scoring just after half-time.

Mohamed Diame made it two on 68 minutes with an excellent left-footed effort and, despite substitute Papiss Cisse's reply only five minutes later, Newcastle were unable to summon sufficient resistance.

Pardew was greeted by huge boos when he emerged from the dugout on the kick-off and Newcastle looked to be in for a difficult afternoon on the pitch as an unchanged Hull made a brighter start to the opening minutes.

The protest planned for the fifth minute did not materialise as expected as the home crowd seemingly opted to support the team rather than voice their disapproval at the manager.

And Newcastle appeared to respond to that encouragement, Remy Cabella and Jack Colback bringing Allan McGregor into action before the whole stadium rose to pay tribute to Jonas Gutierrez – the midfielder revealed to be suffering from testicular cancer earlier this week - by applauding after the 18th minute.

Newcastle will have been disappointed not to have made more of their first-half dominance and they were made to pay for not doing so when Jelavic netted his third goal of the campaign in spectacular style. The Croatia international met an Ahmed Elmohamady cross with a magnificent acrobatic effort that left goalkeeper Tim Krul with no chance.

Cabella was twice denied by McGregor as Newcastle sought a quick response and Stephen Quinn wasted a gilt-edged chance from close range to extend Hull's advantage after winning a free kick from Cheikh Tiote.

Diame atoned for Quinn's profligacy in the 68th minute with a vicious strike into the top corner about which Krul could do nothing, securing his second goal in as many outings for the Tigers.

That goal predictably saw the supporters return to venting their fury at Pardew but Newcastle were offered a glimmer hope by substitute Cisse's low shot under McGregor at the near post following good work from Tiote.

Newcastle poured forward and secured a share of the spoils with just three minutes to go, Cisse slamming Yoan Gouffran's knock-down home from inside the six-yard box.

The Senegal striker's goal could save Pardew's skin for now, the 53-year-old punching the air with obvious delight at Cisse's late intervention, although sporadic protests against the manager's reign continued after the final whistle.

 

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Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal: Ozil stars as Welbeck bags first Gunners goal

A three-minute blitz from Arsenal took Aston Villa to pieces in the Premier League on Saturday.

Mesut Ozil, the subject of much criticism before the game, scored one and then assisted Danny Welbeck's first Gunners goal before Aly Cissokho put a third into his own net.

Paul Lambert's side had previously been one of the division's best defences but had no answer to Arsenal's incredible flurry.

Villa's preparations had been hampered by a virus hitting Lambert's squad and the Scot was forced into a late change when Ashley Westwood pulled out of the warm-up to join Nathan Baker as one of two players absent from the XI that had defeated Liverpool at Anfield.

Arsenal were also required to change their team before kick-off, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain starting and Alexis Sanchez named on the bench.

It was Villa who appeared least affected by their enforced switch as they quickly claimed the initiative. Fabian Delph forced Wojciech Szczesny into a smart save early on with a fine effort from the edge of the area before Arsenal had to defend two corners to keep themselves level.

Welbeck wasted the visitors' most presentable opportunity of the opening exchanges, firing over from 25 yards with the Villa defence backpedalling.

Alan Hutton and Aaron Ramsey then traded harmless long-distance efforts but it was Ciaran Clark who failed to take a golden opportunity when he headed straight at Szczesny after meeting a curling free kick delivery from the left.

And Villa were left to rue that miss just past the half-hour mark, as Arsenal forged ahead in some style.

A fantastic Welbeck through-ball allowed Ozil to escape the hosts' defence for the first time in the match and he made no mistake in side-footing the ball past Brad Guzan.

Welbeck and Ozil then reversed roles, the German sliding a perfect pass across the box after being released on the left-hand side, which the forward gleefully smashed home.

Incredibly, Arsenal were not done there and Cissokho made it three goals in three minutes when he inadvertently turned home another low ball from out wide while attempting to clear.

The goals took the sting out of a previously buoyant home crowd, allowing Arsenal to cruise into the break 3-0 up and, though Lambert looked to turn the tide of the match at half-time by introducing youngster Jack Grealish in place of Andreas Weimann, Arsenal continued to control possession.

Chances were few and far between in the second period, with Villa looking to limit the damage and the visitors happy to hold onto a comfortable lead.

Arsenal did just that in the end, earning their first league win in over a month to move within three points of leaders Chelsea ahead of their clash with Manchester City on Sunday.

 

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Hamburg 0-0 Bayern Munich: Sluggish Bavarians forced to settle for a point

A sluggish performance from Bayern Munich saw them held to a 0-0 draw away to Hamburg on Saturday afternoon.The home side appointed the club's former under-23 coach Josef Zinnbauer in place of Mirko Slomka this week and his arrival made an instant impact at the Bundesliga's basement club.

Nicolai Muller came close for the hosts shortly after half-time, beating an onrushing Manuel Neuer to a high ball before guiding his shot just wide of the post, while Philipp Lahm spurned Bayern's best chance shortly afterwards.

The visitors, who recorded an impressive 1-0 Champions League over Manchester City in midweek, struggled to assert any form of dominance for much of the game, despite enjoying the vast majority of possession against a resolute Hamburg side.

Zinnbauer was quick to make his mark after being appointed as he stated that he would not be afraid to drop any players judged not to be pulling their weight, but he had little cause to complain on Saturday.

Having conceded more goals than any other Bundesliga side last season, the hosts were widely tipped to be steamrollered by Pep Guardiola's team, but did well to restrict the attacking talents of the visitors, who were rocked by an injury to Arjen Robben during the warm-up.A much-changed Bayern came into the game having only tasted defeat once on the road in their last 37 attempts, but struggled to turn a lion's share of possession into any sort of attacking coherence.

Guardiola's men had to wait until the 20th minute for their first genuine opening, with Claudio Pizarro steering a volley wide from eight yards after a well-worked Rafinha cross.

Juan Bernat did manage to hit the target 13 minutes later, stinging the palms of Hamburg goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny with an angled 30-yard drive, but that was as good as it got for Bayern during a frustrating opening 45 minutes.The hosts nearly took an unlikely lead five minutes after the restart, as Muller beat both Jerome Boateng and Neuer to a high ball just outside the area, before diverting his effort agonisingly wide of the open goal.

Bayern predictably responded six minutes later, with Drobny on hand to deny Lahm after some good work from Xherdan Shaqiri inside the area.

Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze were thrown on midway through the second half as Guardiola sought to overload the Hamburg defence, and he nearly reaped the rewards 15 minutes from time.A great touch form Thomas Muller inside the area allowed the forward to find enough space for a half-volley, only for Johan Djourou to deflect wide with a great last-ditch block.

Lewis Holtby could have won it for Hamburg five minutes before the end, but could only fire over after a bursting run following Bayern loanee Julian Green's lay-off.

Neuer survived a late scare when he appeared to handle the ball a long way outside of his area following a heavy touch, but he escaped with only a yellow as the spoils were shared.

 

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QPR 2-2 Stoke City: Kranjcar stunner rescues point for QPR

QPR recovered a Premier League point thanks to Niko Kranjcar's late free kick that secured a 2-2 draw with Stoke City.

Mark Hughes's side took the lead through Mame Biram Diouf early in the first half and should have put daylight between themselves and the hosts before Steven Caulker headed home just before the break.

Peter Crouch restored their lead moments after half-time, however, by putting away a Victor Moses cross from 12 yards, but the Potters paid for earlier missed chances when Kranjcar buried a fantastic free kick right at the end of normal time.

Harry Redknapp looked set to endure a miserable day, with a lacklustre performance capped off by captain Joey Barton and midfielder Jordon Mutch having to be substituted with injuries, but Kranjcar intervened late on to earn the ex-Tottenham boss a valuable point.

Stoke showcased their counterattacking prowess in a shock 1-0 win at champions Manchester City in their previous away game and QPR failed to heed that warning as Hughes's men - inspired by the outstanding Moses - hurt the Londoners on the break throughout and were unfortunate not to take all three points.

QPR controlled the opening stages without really threatening Asmir Begovic's goal and Stoke punished them after 11 minutes when Diouf broke the deadlock. Moses bamboozled Mauricio Isla before sending in a quality lofted delivery from the left and the former Hannover man was on hand to nod home Crouch's towering knock-down from three yards.

Barton's enforced substitution appeared to have made QPR's task even tougher but Caulker's first goal for the club drew Redknapp's side level shortly before half-time. Mutch sent in a corner to the back post, which the centre-back headed across goal and into the net via a wild attempted clearance from Charlie Adam.

QPR failed to build on their equaliser after the interval, though, and Crouch - a player whom Redknapp admitted that he wanted to sign in the transfer window in the build-up to this match - restored Stoke's lead six minutes into the second half.

The hapless Isla was robbed in possession by Moses, who picked out Crouch with a low cross that the 33-year-old fired unerringly beyond Robert Green from 12 yards.

Erik Pieters - who overcame a knock to start for Stoke - should have given the visitors some breathing space shortly after following more good work from Moses but could only scuff his shot at Green from just inside the area.

QPR laboured in their attempts to get back into the match but Stoke's defensive resilience - and their ever-present threat on the break - meant that they struggled to get a clear sight of Begovic's goal.

That was until Kranjcar stepped up from 25 yards to arc the ball over the wall and beyond Begovic's despairing dive.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

West Ham 3-1 Liverpool: Third Premier League defeat in four matches for the Reds

Liverpool went down 3-1 to West Ham at Upton Park to make it three defeats from four Premier League matches.

Winston Reid and Diafra Sakho capitalised on some poor defending to give the hosts a surprise lead just seven minutes in to Saturday's game at Upton Park.

And, although Raheem Sterling provided hope for the visitors with a 26th-minute screamer, West Ham defended admirably to secure all three points, with substitute Morgan Amalfitano making the game safe late on.

The Frenchman guided the ball into the far corner with two minutes left to score his first goal since joining West Ham from Marseille in the summer.

The result marked the Londoners' first home Premier League win of the campaign, while Liverpool's early title ambitions were once again exposed following their defeat at home to Aston Villa on their last Premier League outing.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce made just one change from the side that drew 2-2 with Hull, handing a full debut to former Barcelona midfielder Alex Song in the centre of midfield.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, meanwhile, made three alterations from the midweek Uefa Champions League win over Ludogorets, with Martin Skrtel, Lucas Leiva and Fabio Borini all coming in.

Rodgers once again named three close-season signings in the shape of Alberto Moreno, Dejan Lovren and Javier Manquillo at the back, but that trio could not prevent the visitors from making a shambolic start in defence.

With just two minutes gone, a West Ham set-piece caused chaos in the area and allowed James Tomkins to nod the ball back into the middle, where Reid was on hand unmarked to bundle home.

It went from bad to worse for Liverpool a few moments later, as Sakho's chipped cross-cum-shot from the right found the far corner of the net, with goalkeeper Simon Mignolet flailing.

Rodgers had clearly seen enough and soon withdrew Manquillo for Mamadou Sakho in order to switch to a 3-5-2 formation more suited to negating West Ham's threat in the air.

But it was at the other end of the pitch where Liverpool were given brief hope of a turnaround.

Mario Balotelli produced a fine piece of control in the box after 26 minutes before his shot was blocked, but Sterling was on hand to smash home the rebound from the edge of the area.

West Ham continued to threaten despite that goal and soon caused more disarray in the Liverpool defence that led to Lovren and Sakho clashing heads in the air.

The Croatian appeared to come off worse but he managed to continue after a spell of treatment.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Liverpool made a further change after hanging on until the break as Adam Lallana replaced the ineffective Lucas.

And the £25 million man's introduction almost paid immediate dividends as he set up Sterling for a shot from the edge of the box, but it trickled wide.

Lallana proved to be a catalyst for an improvement in Liverpool's previously ragged attacking play, although West Ham remained a real threat on the counter-attack.

The England international set up Borini to drive a shot just wide before, at the other end, the hosts broke at pace and Sakho chipped onto the roof of the net.

Rodgers threw on Rickie Lambert 15 minutes from time in an attempt to find an equaliser, but West Ham killed the game off when Amalfitano toe-poked home at the end of a flowing move.

The defeat leaves Liverpool 10th in the Premier League table, six points behind leaders Chelsea having played a game more. West Ham also leapfrogged the Reds into eighth, with seven points.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Deportivo 2-8 Real Madrid: Ronaldo hits hat-trick in devastating Blancos display

Cristiano Ronaldo struck a hat-trick as Real Madrid produced a stunning 8-2 demolition of Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga.

Carlo Ancelotti's side were at their devastating attacking best at the Riazor, with a Gareth Bale double, James Rodriguez's first Liga goal and a late brace from Javier Hernandez supplementing Ronaldo's treble.

Defeats to Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid had put Ancelotti under some pressure, but after a morale-boosting 5-1 Champions League win over Basel on Wednesday, Real never looked like falling to a third straight domestic reverse this weekend.They went in three to the good at half-time courtesy of two goals from Ronaldo that sandwiched Rodriguez's superb strike.

Deportivo were given a way back into the contest right after the break as Haris Medunjanin confidently converted a penalty following handball by Sergio Ramos, but Bale restored the three-goal cushion with 24 minutes to go.

Bale doubled his tally in the 74th minute and Ronaldo completed his hat-trick soon after, before on-loan Manchester United striker Hernandez came off the bench to add further gloss to the scoreline after Toche had grabbed a consolation for the hosts.

Deportivo coach Victor Fernandez was wary about reading too much into Real's poor Liga form before Saturday's meeting, but it took the away side 29 minutes to go in front. Alvaro Arbeloa fired an inviting cross in from the right and, although the delivery forced Ronaldo away from goal, the Portuguese sent a fine looping header over German Lux.

Real's second followed just seven minutes later as Rodriguez opened his Liga account in style, curling an unstoppable drive into the top-right corner from 20 yards, before Ronaldo effectively wrapped up the win with his second before half-time.

Benzema found himself felled by Lux about 30 yards from goal and, with Deportivo expecting a free-kick to be awarded, Ronaldo coolly stroked into an empty net to give Real a commanding lead at the break.Deportivo were given a lifeline right at the start of the second half as Ramos appeared to handle an Isaac Cuenca header in the area and Medunjanin nonchalantly dispatched the resulting penalty.

The hosts looked inspired during in a 15-minute spell immediately after half-time, yet they were unable to make the most of their improvement as Bale squeezed an effort past Lux following a clever pass by Marcelo.

Bale added the fifth from a similar position in the left side of the area after a good run from Isco, and Ronaldo grabbed the sixth and his hat-trick with 12 minutes to go, hammering home after Rodriguez pounced on sloppy defending by Sidnei.
Deportivo grabbed a late consolation as Toche nodded in at the near post, but Real were still not done.

Hernandez, who replaced Bale with 13 minutes to go, first scored a ferocious half-volley from the edge of the area before seeing another long-range effort deflect beyond Lux to make it the first time in Real’s illustrious history that they have scored eight away from home in a La Liga fixture.