..::Football III::..

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Ramos backs Benitez despite Clasico hammering

Sergio Ramos has urged everybody at Real Madrid to stick together and support head coach Rafael Benitez in the wake of their 4-0 Clasico defeat to Barcelona.

Benitez's position at Madrid has come under scrutiny in recent weeks, with some reports earlier this week suggesting the players had approached their coach with a request to change his tactics.

Madrid's fans made their unrest known during Saturday's chastening loss to their arch-rivals, but captain Ramos has backed Benitez and says there have been no complaints by the players.

"We must support Benitez. We never had any meeting with him and we did not ask him to play more attacking against Barcelona," Ramos told reporters.

"I don't like to single out any individuals and I don't want to look for a guilty party. We have to stick together.


"When you lose to Barcelona, the fans feel hurt and they want an explanation. But I don't have words at this point.

"We have to keep working hard. It is a tough night, a difficult night for all of us."

 

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Messi delighted with 'great victory' over Real Madrid

Lionel Messi was delighted to return to action in Barcelona's 4-0 win over Real Madrid on Saturday, following a spell on the sidelines.

The Argentine star had been out of action since late September with an injury, but emerged from the bench in the second half of the Clasico in the Santiago Bernabeu as his side strolled to victory.

And while Messi did not have a decisive role in the derby win, he was elated to get back into the team and was impressed with his side's display.

"A great victory in the Clasico and a feeling good on my return to the pitch," he wrote on Facebook.
"There's a long way to go, but we'll keep fighting to win every game we play in."

The victory sees Barcelona go six points clear of Rafael Benitez's men at the top of La Liga.

 

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Barcelona are always confident of beating Madrid - Busquets

Sergio Busquets feels Barcelona have changed the landscape of Spanish football in recent years as they no longer fear Real Madrid.

The Catalans beat their arch-rivals 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday thanks to a double from Luis Suarez and goals from Neymar and Andres Iniesta.

And Busquets says Barca are always confident of getting three points when they travel to the Spanish capital to face their fierce rivals.

"Years ago, it was difficult to come here and win but now any Barcelona fan can come with optimism to the Bernabeu," he told reporters.

"We have changed the history of the club in the last few Clasico games and I'm very happy to experience it first hand. Hopefully the run continues.

"It's a historic night. I am very happy with the team’s exhibition. We leave here with a very high morale. We won on a very difficult ground against a team we are sure to fight for the league title."

The Blaugrana's win at the Bernabeu saw them go six points clear of Madrid in the table, but the returns from injury of Lionel Messi and Ivan Rakitic was even more important to Busquets.

"The six-point difference and the image of the team are very important, but getting Rakitic and Messi back strengthens us a lot as a team."

 

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Van Gaal: Man Utd want to sign Ronaldo

Louis van Gaal has revealed that Manchester United are interested in signing Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid .

The Portuguese forward has been continually linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu and both United and PSG, with Ronaldo having reportedly told Laurent Blanc he would "love" to join them , have been mooted as potential destinations.

Van Gaal's side, who beat Watford 2-1 at Vicarage Road on Saturday, have struggled for consistency on the wings, with the Dutchman himself having bemoaned his side's lack of pace in attack.
And the Red Devils boss has now revealed for the first time that he would love to welcome Ronaldo back to Old Trafford. He told reporters: "Ronaldo plays on the wings and he is fast and scores goals.

"There is no trainer in the world that doesn’t like him.

"Of course we are looking - but we are looking at all players, not just Ronaldo. But these players are mostly ungettable.

"With Ronaldo, let's wait and hope."

 

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Coquelin injury could spell disaster for Arsenal & Wenger

http://www.elakiri.com//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/

 

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Barclays Premier League 2015.11.22 Fixture

Barclays Premier League 2015.11.22 Fixture

Tottenham Vs West Ham

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LA Liga 2015.11.22 Fixtures

LA Liga 2015.11.22 Fixtures

Sporting Gijon Vs Levante

Villareal Vs Eibar

Granada Vs Athletic Bilbao

Real Betis Vs Atletico Madrid​

 

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Serie A 2015.11.22 Fixtures

Serie A 2015.11.22 Fixtures

Hellas Verona Vs Napoli

Atalanta Vs Torino

Carpi Vs Chievo

Fiorentina Vs Empoli

Genoa Vs Sassuolo

Lazio Vs Palermo

Udinese Vs Sampdoria

Inter Vs Frosione​

 

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Mourinho: Costa goal a weight off his shoulders

Jose Mourinho believes Diego Costa's goal in Chelsea's 1-0 Premier League victory over Norwich City will lift a huge weight off the striker's shoulders.

The Spain international failed to find the net in 603 minutes in all competitions before scoring the winner after 64 minutes at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

But Mourinho has sympathy with the player and is backing Costa - who scored 20 league goals last season - to put his uncharacteristic dry spell behind him.

"With so many pundits in the papers, on the television and on the radio, some of them are strikers and know the feeling," he said.

"You don't score goals, you get heavier. Every game that you don't score goals, you have five kilos more.

"You get heavy and the pressure is there.

"First half he misses two chances - the second one in the last minute is really a big one - so it was important for him [to score], important for us.

"He's working well, he's a happy guy. He tries everything, he's positive.

"If I had to choose somebody to score the winning goal, I would go exactly with him."

 

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Benitez: Real Madrid players were angry

Rafael Benitez says his Real Madrid were angry at half-time in their 4-0 defeat to Barcelona after rejecting suggestions a lack of desire was behind the shock result.

Goals from Luis Suarez and Neymar saw Madrid trailing by two goals at half-time, before Andres Iniesta and again Suarez piled even more misery on the home side after the interval.

"Whenever you lose it's always bad and especially against Barcelona. We've paid for our mistakes. We've made mistakes and against a team like Barca you pay for those dearly," Benitez said at a news conference.

"We wanted to attack and win back the ball high up the field but it didn't come off. We're all responsible for it not going well, now we look for unity in the group and to try and sort this out in the next game.

"Now we have to train hard and work hard to improve. I hope the team can recover quickly. When you lose in this way there is a worry as to how the players will react.

"At half-time they were angry and at the end of the game there was little to say. I won’t talk about a lack of desire in my team."

Madrid trail La Liga leaders Barcelona by six points following the Clasico.

 

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Depay hails Giggs guidance after Watford goal

Manchester United attacker Memphis Depay has hailed Ryan Giggs' role in his recent return to form after a difficult spell.

Depay impressed in his first few weeks at Old Trafford after joining the club from PSV, but had recently lost his spot in the starting XI as he struggled to find his best form.

The Netherlands international featured from the start in Saturday's 2-1 win over Watford, though, and he was quick to thank assistant manager Giggs after his return.

"I think every young player goes through things but I keep training and enjoy the training sessions," Depay told MUTV .

"The stuff [I am learning] has stuck with me and Giggs has given me good advice. I've been working on some things with him.

"You need that backing and you need to back yourself and train well, and of course all the help is great to get through difficult times.

"I’m happy to get the help of everyone and happy to play to show that I can be important."

Depay was employed in a central role rather than out on the left wing against Watford and flourished at Vicarage Road as he scored his second league goal of the season.

"The system was different, but we have a little bit more freedom and there was space in behind which we took advantage of. I think we did it well and I enjoyed the game," he added.

"It was a difficult game in the end. We started well in the first half but the second half was a little bit difficult. But to get three points out of it was good.

"I enjoyed the goal a lot, of course. I like to score goals. It was important for me to score a goal when I got a chance. I was happy."

The 21-year-old has scored five goals in 17 appearances in all competitions for United.

 

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Gotze targets January comeback for Bayern

Bayern Munich attacker Mario Gotze is hopeful of joining his team-mates for the restart of the Bundesliga in January after a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury.

The 23-year-old sustained a groin injury in Germany's 1-0 Euro 2016 qualifying defeat at the hands of Ireland in October and has been out of action since then.

"Right now I am feeling fine, everything is going as planned," Gotze told reporters.

"The rehab is now starting and the muscle has healed. So I hope I will be back for the second half of the season and start with the team like the other players in January.

Bayern have put in a string of impressive performances in Gotze's absence and the former Borussia Dortmund man is optimistic about his side's chances of winning silverware.

"The team is playing pretty good. We are getting the points we need and are winning the important games," he added.

"It isn't easy to do that over a whole season but we are on the right path. We have very good chances in all competitions."

Gotze has netted four goals in 11 appearances in all competitions for Bayern so far this campaign.

 

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Tottenham 4-1 West Ham: Kane at the double as Spurs cruise

Harry Kane made it eight goals in his last five games as his double helped Tottenham to an impressive 4-1 Premier League victory against London rivals West Ham on Sunday.

Kane's turn and finish put Spurs in front midway through the first half, before Cheikhou Kouyate struck the crossbar for West Ham with an acrobatic effort.

Toby Alderweireld headed in a second and Dele Alli hit the bar in a frantic end to the first half, before Kane netted with a shot from the edge of the box and Kyle Walker produced a fine finish after the break.

Manuel Lanzini contributed an impressive consolation goal for the visitors, before substitute Ryan Mason smashed an effort against the post as a great day for the hosts was almsot rounded off by a fifth goal.

The convincing win at White Hart Lane pulls Tottenham to within two points of the top four and extends their unbeaten league run to 12 games since their loss to Manchester United on the opening day.

West Ham, meanwhile, miss the chance to move above Spurs in the table and have now picked up only one point from their last three matches.

Both sides made one change, with Spurs bringing in Son Heung-min for the suspended Erik Lamela, while the visitors started Diafra Sakho in place of the injured Dimitri Payet.

Tottenham dominated the early possession and went ahead in the 23rd minute.

Son found Alli, whose shot deflected into the path of Kane inside the box and the England striker turned Carl Jenkinson easily before firing in a powerful finish.

West Ham came so close to a spectacular equaliser when Kouyate crashed a brilliant overhead kick off the crossbar, although he should have been flagged for offside after Mark Noble's blocked shot had looped into his path.

The visitors' task became even tougher in the 33rd minute - Christian Eriksen's corner finding Alderweireld, who had lost his marker Winston Reid, allowing the defender to head in simply from six yards out.

It could have been game over before half-time. Son worked space for himself at the edge of the area and when his shot was parried by Adrian, Alli's looping header from the rebound hit the bar.

It was one-way traffic and Kane should have scored when he was sent clean through by Alli, but he scuffed a left-footed effort terribly wide.

The third goal did arrive five minutes into the second half. James Tomkins gave away possession in an awful area deep inside his own half, allowing Eriksen to find Kane, who rifled in a shot under Adrian from the edge of the area, with the keeper making a poor attempt to save.

Adrian atoned for his mistake with an excellent double save moments later. Son's effort from an angle was blocked, before he made an acrobatic stop to deny Eriksen's goal-bound follow-up strike.

West Ham's first attempt of a poor second half in which tempers flared did not come until the final 20 minutes when Reid headed straight at Hugo Lloris.

After playing his part earlier in a move that involved Eriksen, Walker played a neat one-two with Son and then found the far corner with the outside of his foot for a fine finish.

The England international was beaten by some brilliant skill from Lanzini with three minutes remaining, though, as he powered a shot into the roof of the net for a late consolation.

That was not the end of the drama, however, as Mason smashed a shot against the post from long range in the final moments as Spurs came close to a fifth.

 

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Van Gaal confident Manchester United will progress in Champions League

Louis van Gaal is optimistic about Manchester United's chances of confirming a spot in the the knockout stages of the Champions League with victory over PSV in midweek.

The Old Trafford side sit top of Group B ahead of Wednesday's match with seven points from four games and victory over the Eredivisie champions will secure their progression.

The Red Devils go into the game on the back of a 2-1 win over Watford on Saturday and Van Gaal says it is important his side pick up all three points.

"You always have to win your home matches and that point in Moscow is very important for us," Van Gaal told reporters.

"I said after the away draw against CSKA Moscow that we are on schedule and I still think I am right about that.

"If we beat PSV, then we will have qualified.

"It is very important to win, but it is not easy because every game you have to play you cannot say we will beat them.

"PSV also beat Wolfsburg and I think that they are a very good team. They also beat Manchester United of course."

United were beaten 2-1 by PSV in the reverse fixture in Eindhoven, with Hector Moreno and Luciano Narsingh cancelling out Memphis Depay's opener.

 

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Van Gaal confident Manchester United will progress in Champions League

PSV match 1ka win karannama one.Ethakota sure 1kak thiyanawa next round 1ka gana​

 

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Chelsea never doubted Diego Costa, insists Terry

John Terry insists Chelsea never had any doubts about Diego Costa in the wake of the striker's winning goal in the 1-0 win over Norwich City on Saturday.

The Spain international has been struggling to find his best form this campaign and had scored just three goals in 15 appearances in all competitions ahead of this weekend's Premier League encounter.

Nevertheless, Terry has made it clear he never worried about the striker as he continued to put himself in dangerous positions on a regular basis, even when he was not scoring.

"Pressure was not building on Diego Costa. Not when strikers are getting into those positions to score goals," Terry told the Chelsea website.

"Diego is a great finisher and it will always come. If he is not getting in those positions for the chances, then I think it is a problem. But he was there on Saturday.

"He was unlucky with a couple in the first half, but it was a great finish from him in the second half."

The 27-year-old will be looking to add to his tally when Chelsea travel to Maccabi Tel Aviv on Wednesday. He got his only Champions League goal so far this campaign in a 4-0 win in the reverse fixture.

 

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Betis 0-1 Atletico Madrid: Koke makes the difference for Simeone's men

An early goal from Koke was enough for Atletico Madrid to secure a battling 1-0 win at Real Betis and climb above rivals Real Madrid into second place in La Liga.

Rafael Benitez's side were put to the sword 4-0 by Barcelona in Saturday's Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu and they now suffer the added humiliation of slipping below their near neighbours in the standings.Koke's first goal since August's 3-0 win at Sevilla was just reward from an enterprising start by Atletico and Antoine Griezmann and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco might have extended their advantage before the break.

The second half was more attritional in nature, although Diego Godin led by example with some brave defending that left the hosts frustrated.Atletico are four points behind Barcelona on 26 and two better off than Real, who drop to third.

Players and fans paid tribute to the victims of the Paris terror attacks ahead of kick-off and an Atletico starting XI featuring Griezmann, the France forward whose sister survived the siege at the Bataclan theatre last Friday, went ahead after seven minutes.Recalled Betis midfielder Xavi Torres was hustled out of possession dangerously close to his own penalty area and Atleti striker Fernando Torres fired in a low shot that Antonio Adan saved but Koke dispatched the rebound.

Betis looked to press their opponents back but the confident swagger of Atletico's play was evident when Torres exquisitely chipped a pass over the home defence with the outside of his boot and Griezmann crashed a volley over.

Alfred N'Diaye sought to drive Betis forward from midfield and sent a speculative drive over, although Pepe Mel's team were unable to craft clear-cut chances before half-time.

They should have been further behind when Koke played Carrasco in behind the Betis defence, only for the Belgium international to fire into the side-netting.

Xavi Torres made way for Dani Ceballos at the break and his namesake Fernando was denied by a timely Heiko Westermann challenge having made a mazy run into the box.A sickening clash of heads between Godin and Adan left the both men bloodied and the goalkeeper was eventually forced off having landed awkwardly in the challenge.

Atletico keeper Jan Oblak was at full stretch in the 59th minute to tip a vicious swerving strike from Alvaro Cejudo over before Godin received another heavy blow to the head as N'Diaye tried to convert at the back post.Griezmann had a chance to settle Atletico nerves in the 73rd minute but spurned time and space inside the Betis area to lift a shot over.

The Frenchman had a strong penalty claim waved away when Westermann slid in clumsily before he clipped the post with stoppage time approaching, but Griezmann's personal frustrations in front of goal were soothed by three hard-earned points.

 

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Inter 4-0 Frosinone: Mancini's men go top with simple win

Inter moved back to the top of Serie A on Sunday courtesy of a 4-0 thrashing of Frosinone at San Siro.

Respective 2-2 draws for Fiorentina and Roma over the weekend opened the door for Roberto Mancini's side to reclaim top spot and they were in control throughout against the top-flight newcomers.

The home side were in charge right from the start and eventually turned first-half dominance into the lead when Jonathan Biabiany fired home on the rebound.All eight of Inter's league wins this term had been by a single goal before Sunday, but Mauro Icardi's well-worked effort after the break gave them a healthy advantage.

And the result was capped late on as Jeison Murillo bundled home his first Inter goal and Marcelo Brozovic found the net in stoppage time, putting a skip in Mancini's step ahead of next week's showdown with second-placed Napoli.

Inter have been accused of stodgy play this term, but they dominated from the off and Adem Ljajic was tantalisingly close to turning Alex Telles' left-wing cross home before Frosinone goalkeeper Nicola Leali came off his line to punch clear.

Icardi nearly tapped home a delivery from Yuto Nagatomo, but his attempt hit a defender before bouncing just wide, however, Inter's pressure told in the 29th minute.

Leali did well to keep out Ljajic's powerful shot from just outside the area, but Biabiany was the quickest to react and fire home his first goal of the season as he buried the rebound.

Stevan Jovetic could have doubled Inter's lead in the dying second of the first half after a great run through the middle, but his shot lacked the power to beat Leali.
Biabiany came close to netting his second immediately after the restart, playing a quick one-two with Icardi, only to blast his shot over the crossbar from close range.

Mancini's men would eventually get their second goal in the 54th minute after a sublime team move. Jovetic teed up Ljajic, who exchanged passes with Icardi inside the area before returning the ball to the Argentine again for a simple finish from close range.

Ljajic seemed desperate to add his name to the scoresheet after playing a role in Inter's two goals, but the winger blasted over from 20 yards out after being set up by Jovetic.Murillo made it 3-0 in the closing stages of the game with a calm finish after a brilliant backheel from Jovetic opened the door.

And Ljajic could at least console himself with another assist in stoppage time as his pass found Brozovic in the penalty area and the Croatia playmaker clipped beyond Leali to put the icing on a dominant home showing.

 

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Bale: I'd never say never to Premier League return

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale failed to rule out a return to the Premier League but insists he is happy at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Wales international has been linked with a move to Manchester United over the past year despite only joining the Spanish outfit in the summer of 2013.

And he admits that he would "never say never" to a move back to the English top flight, though Rafa Benitez's willingness to play him in a central role has made him happier with Los Blancos.

"My plan when I first started playing football was to try to reach the pinnacle – and Real Madrid is the pinnacle," he told the Daily Mirror.

"Now I’m here, I want to win trophies and titles, and just do the best I can for my career.

"I will never say never when it comes to going back to the Premier League, because you don’t know what the future holds. But I am enjoying my time here. I am very happy.

"I had conversations with Rafa in the summer and I am delighted about where I am going to be playing this season," he added.

"I like the role behind the striker and feel that’s my position. I can drift into areas, find the space and, when I get the ball, I can attack. It’s my best position – and I think this year is going to be a great season."

 

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Bale: I can be as good as Ronaldo & Messi

Gareth Bale believes he has what it takes to reach the same level as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

The Real Madrid attacker came under heavy criticism last season for some underwhelming displays, while he has had a slow start to the current campaign, having scored just twice in eight games.

Messi and Ronaldo remain the pinnacle of the world game, as one of them has won the Ballon d'Or in each of the last seven years - with Messi collecting it four times and Ronaldo three.However, the 26-year-old Wales international is confident that he can match his current Madrid team-mate as well as the Barcelona star in the coming years, though he maintains winning the Ballon d'Or is not a huge deal to him.

"I feel like I am capable of achieving that because I know my ability," he told the Daily Mirror.

“I wouldn’t say winning the Ballon d’Or is my aim or my goal because, for me, it isn’t really about individual awards. It is about winning the Champions League and La Liga – and when you do that, the other things come.“When I won the PFA Player of the Year award at Spurs, I never thought at the start of the season that I wanted to win that trophy.

"It was just play, play, play, do as well as you can for the team, try to score goals and make assists, and whatever happens at the end of the season happens.

“The award is an obsession for some players. That might work for them, but I just want to score and create goals and win trophies."If individual awards come they are just a big bonus.”