..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Xavi: Of course Guardiola will be a success in the Premier League!

Xavi has backed Pep Guardiola to be a certain success in the Premier League after the Bayern Munich coach confirmed he would join an English club.

Guardiola is out of contract at the end of the season and has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester City, admitting on Tuesday that his desire for a new challenge was behind his decision to leave Germany.

Xavi, who won three Spanish league titles as well as two Champions League crowns under the Catalan at Barcelona, believes Guardiola will be a hit wherever he goes."I don't think it is even a question if he will be a success in England or not," he told the Daily Mirror. "Of course he will be, like he is a success everywhere.

"From the way his Barcelona and Bayern teams have played football, it is clear he plays a philosophy of football the fans will enjoy, but Pep is so much more than that."

Xavi revealed that coaching in the Premier League had long been an ambition of Guardiola's, recalling their conversations about the English top flight at Barcelona.

"There was never a question of if Pep was going to manage in England - the only question would be when," he added."When I was at Barcelona we would always be talking about the Premier League, and our respect for the quality of the teams, the players, and the pace the game was played at.

"Even when he was at Barcelona, you could see it was his dream to one day manage in England."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Martinez: Top four more important than cups

Everton manager Roberto Martinez insists that qualifying for the Champions League is more important than winning a trophy, as the club aim to keep their best players.

John Stones, Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley have all been linked with moves away from the club in recent months, with a host of elite European clubs reported to be interested in acquiring their services.

Everton take on Manchester City in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final on Wednesday but Martinez says that he would rather manage the Toffees in Europe's top club competition than end a 21-year trophy drought.

"I don’t think winning a cup will keep the young players, I think qualifying for the Champions League could help to keep young players," Martinez said.

"The reality is that we have taken a very different approach to what we are as a team than we took at this club three years ago. Three years ago it was a very experienced team who knew how to win games but had some sort of ceiling.

"Now we have gone very young with immense potential to go beyond that ceiling, and there has been investment in that potential so we will get the rewards from it."

Martinez maintains that silverware is still a priority, but he says the club must focus on keeping their best young talent in order to keep Everton on track for greater glory in the future.

"I wouldn’t say I don’t want to win silverware, because that is what this club is about and our aim is to have that drive and ambition to do that, but the aim is to get into the top four and that is what we have set out to achieve," the Spaniard said.

"How long that is going to take I don’t know, but I don’t think winning a cup will help us to keep players. What will make it easier in the modern game is to fight for the top four positions in the league."

Midfielder Gareth Barry, meanwhile, says he is desperate to win a trophy in the next two years before calling time on his career.

"This club is waiting to make the step to Wembley. The players are aware of that. I am," said Barry.

"They are similar fans. We never seem to make things easy for ourselves at Everton and at City it was the same.

"Manchester City are just another team that need to be beaten and standing in our way of achieving the ambition of lifting a trophy for Everton. The last two years of my career at Everton, I want to win a trophy. I managed to do it at City, being part of a group that ended a long wait for a trophy, and to do it here would be fantastic.

"We have got belief. We have shown this season in some of our performances that we can beat anyone. We have got some young players but there is a lot of experience too that can see us through. It all comes down to belief and we believe we can get to the final this time."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Neville: Valencia job is not a PR stunt

Gary Neville has branded a report claiming his appointment at Valencia was a PR stunt as "ludicrous" and a "fantasy story".

The former Manchester United defender was named the surprise successor to Nuno Espirito Santo in December, having worked as a TV punding and coach for England since his retirement.

A newspaper in Spain claimed Valencia owner Peter Lim told agent Jorge Mendes to find a coach the Portuguese didn't represent to dispel suggestions he had too much influence at the club.

But Neville, who has already revealed he has no interest in staying in football management beyond his current job, is adamant this is not the case.

"I've never heard anything so ludicrous in my lie," he said at a press conference. "It's a fantasy story with absolutely no truth whatsoever."I don't really know what to say, to be honest with you. It's just nonsense.

"In England I would use a swear word, but I'm not quite sure the translator will be able to get it in the correct context.Neville also touched on Madrid's sacking of Rafael Benitez, just a day after the club drew 2-2 against his side, admitting he was disappointed to hear the news.

"Having been in the media of football and broadcasting for the last four-and-a-half years, I'm never surprised by anything I see in respect of managers losing their jobs."It's never something I wanted when I wasn't a coach, and it's not something I want to see when I am a coach.

"But I'm not surprised by anything I see in football any more. The average tenure of manager and coach is getting shorter, unfortunately, but we have to accept it."Zinedine Zidane has replaced the outgoing Spaniard, despite having no first-team coaching experience, which Neville believes is similar to his own situation.

"I did not shy away from fact I had not coached before as a head coach. It is a very difficult job," he said. "Everybody has to coach their first game once: even the more experienced coaches did that.

"The idea there is a perfect, template coach does not exist. Experienced coaches fail, young coaches succeed, and vice-versa. Everybody needs an opportunity, like I got here."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Guardiola exit won't stop Bayern from treble win - Boateng


Jerome Boateng says Bayern Munich will not be affected by Pep Guardiola impending exit, insisting they are aiming for the perfect farewell by winning the treble.

The Bundesliga champions announced last month that Guardiola is leaving at the end of the season, with Carlo Ancelotti comeing in to replace him in the summer.

Guardiola confirmed on Tuesday that he wants to manage in the Premier League, and Boateng is determined to give the Spaniard the best possible leaving present - just as Bayern did when they won the treble before Jupp Heynckes' departure in 2013.

"He wants a new challenge in England, that's the way it is," Boateng was quoted as saying by TZ ."We will try to win all the titles we can win. It will not be easy, but we will all go for it. Guardiola's exit will not affect the team.

"The way we dealt with Jupp Heynckes' exit was the right example. We knew he would leave at the end of the season as well."Everybody should act like a professional just like we did then."

Captain Philipp Lahm, meanwhile, was not surprised by Guardiola's decision to move on and is equally determined to ensure his reign ends on a high.

"I knew what he was thinking and knew the reasons behind his decision," Lahm added."It is not like his exit serves as extra motivation. We always want to achieve>

 

[Wolverine GTR]

De Gea wants Europa League glory

David De Gea has set his sights on Europa League glory after Manchester United's unsuccessful Champions League campaign.

Louis van Gaal's men crashed out of European club football's elite competition at the group stage, as they finished third in a group also featuring Wolfsburg, PSV Eindhoven and CSKA Moscow.

De Gea is ready to move on swiftly, however, and insists he is keen to win the secondary European competition.

"The Europa League is an enjoyable competition to play in. Naturally I have great memories of when I won in the final [with Atletico Madrid in 2010]," De Gea told United's official website.

"But this is Manchester United and while we've been knocked out of the Champions League, we are now in another competition and we will be trying to win it in just the same way.

"It's a long competition and a bit different to what we are used to playing in, with the games on a Thursday instead of a Tuesday or a Wednesday, and that can change your regime a little bit. But I think we are prepared and we will be having a real go at winning it."

United meet Midtjylland in the round of 32 and De Gea expects a tough tie against the team that eliminated Southampton earlier this season.

"We've got a tricky tie, but then any opponent at this stage of this competition is going to be a difficult one," he added."Obviously, we want to win both legs and hopefully that's what we'll do."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Juventus 3-0 Hellas Verona: Champions move second with convincing win

Paulo Dybala, Leonardo Bonucci and Simone Zaza stepped up to an eighth consecutive league win for resurgent Serie A holders Juventus, who overcame Verona 3-0 to move briefly up to joint-second place.

After a faltering start to the season, Massimiliano Allegri's champions have surged up the table and this latest triumph will only serve to increase the pressure on early pacesetters Inter, Fiorentina and Napoli.

Paulo Dybala broke the deadlock from a free-kick after just eight minutes as Juve dominated the early exchanges against winless Verona – coached by former Bianconeri boss Luigi Delneri.

The hosts' second came courtesy of a powerful Leonardo Bonucci header before half-time, while Verona were restricted to a Giampaolo Pazzini effort that was kept out by Gianluigi Buffon.Simone Zaza came off the bench to round off the scoring eight minutes from time, wrapping up the three points in convincing fashion.

Juve could probably have won by a bigger margin, but their bottom-placed visitors posed little threat throughout and Allegri's attentions will now turn to Sunday's trip to Sampdoria.

The home side started brightly and could have been ahead inside the opening three minutes as Stephan Lichtsteiner dragged just wide of the right-hand post from a Dybala cutback.

The full-back's participation looked to be in doubt when he went down holding his knee following a challenge from Samuel Souprayen, but the Swiss soon returned to the action and Dybala curled home a wonderful effort from the resulting free-kick.
The goal was just reward for an utterly dominant first eight minutes from the home side, but Pazzini almost netted a leveller out of the blue five minutes later with an improvised effort that forced Buffon into a diving save.

Paul Pogba pulled wide with a chance to make it 2-0 from 20 yards, before Alvaro Morata had a shot turned around the post by goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini.

Juve remained in control and Claudio Marchisio tested Gollini with a low drive, while Souprayen produced a goal-saving interception to clear over the crossbar with Lichtsteiner and Morata ready to pounce in the six-yard box.Having scored the opener, Dybala was on hand to provide the assist for Juve's second.

A whipped free-kick from the left was met with a bullet header by Bonucci that sailed beyond a flat-footed Gollini.Alex Sandro skewed wide early in the second half, but Juve were happy to sit on their advantage and committed fewer men to attacking moves as the half progressed.

Pogba was denied a penalty when he went down softly in the box, before Buffon faced a rare threat to his goal as he expertly tipped over a looping Pazzini header that looked destined for the top corner.But Zaza made absolutely certain of the win in the 82nd minute, slotting home after latching onto a wonderful throughball from Pogba.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Henry reveals Wenger management talks

Thierry Henry has discussed a future in management with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger as he works to complete his coaching badges.

The club legend, who scored 228 goals in 377 appearances for the Gunners, has worked as a television pundit since retiring as a player in 2014 but has designs on a move into the dugout.

And, as he spends time with Arsenal's youth squads, Henry - tipped by some to eventually succeed Wenger at the Emirates Stadium - says the wisdom imparted on him by the long-serving coach has proved invaluable.

"[Wenger and I] sit sometimes, obviously he has a lot on his plate," Henry told Arsenal Magazine. "We speak about training youngsters and how it's different to training senior players. We talk about being a manager, we talk about players from the academy.

"I will ask him questions on how to deal with certain situations.

"I'm obtaining my badges right now with the Welsh FA and looking to gain the A-licence. It goes without saying that I asked Arsenal if I could do that with them and be involved with the team.

"I asked the boss and he said to come, train with the Under-18s and 19s and help conduct sessions. I'm just an assistant at the minute, I'm not a coach but it's great, as you can imagine.

"It's the place I love, there's so much emotion for me here so this was always going to be where I wanted to start my coaching.

"I have a certain view of how I would like teams to play but it's one thing to have a view and another to try and execute it. For example, are you still going to maintain that philosophy if you've lost two or three games, while fans are upset, the press is having a go and players are storming into your office?

"It's all stuff I'm learning. How to stay strong, how to remain in the same direction despite enduring problems."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Klopp challenges Grujic to make the grade at Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp is “very pleased” to make Marko Grujic his first signing as Liverpool manager on a five-year deal, and said it was up to the young Sebian to fulfil his potential when he arrives at Anfield.

The Reds paid £5.1 million to Red Star Belgrade for the 19-year-old, who will remain with the SuperLiga leaders on loan until the end of the season.

There were several European sides tracking the talented teenager, but the Merseysiders sent representatives to hold talks with Grujic in early December.

Klopp spoke with him following the meeting and that conversation convinced the Under-20 World Cup winner that Liverpool should be his next destination.
When asked about his thoughts following the announcement of the transfer on Wednesday, the German said: “Very pleased because Marko is a big talent and we’ve seen him a lot of times. When I came here, our scouts showed me some footage of a very skilled player from Red Star Belgrade.

“We watched it, we spoke to him, we met each other – he’s a good boy, a young boy but plays an important role at the moment at Red Star, who are the best team in Serbia. It’s a country where a lot of good football players have come from in the last 20-30 years.

“Always, there are big players coming from there because they have a good mentality, good technical skills, are open for tactical advice and things like this. To describe him, I would say he’s a tall boy, but quick and good at technical things. He can play passes and can dribble. But he is young, so he has to develop. He will do this, so everything is okay.”

Klopp also revealed aspects of his conversation with Grujic. “He’s impressed because Liverpool FC is a big club and for a young player like this, if you are smart enough so you don’t think, ‘I can conquer the world in one day’ and know you have to learn – that’s what he has asked me for and what our plans are with him,” explained the 48-year-old.“I spoke with him and it’s up to him, but when he signed a contract with us then I feel a big responsibility for his improvement and his development.

“He was impressed and is now looking forward to it. He’s watched all of our last few games and will watch the next games. At this moment, they have a winter break so he has a little bit of time, but at the end of the season he will come here well prepared and start pre-season with us and then we’ll see.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ronaldo must realise he is not the boss at Real Madrid - Luxemburgo

Cristiano Ronaldo has to realise he is not the boss at Real Madrid following the appointment of Zinedine Zidane as the club's new coach, Vanderlei Luxemburgo insists.

Zidane was confirmed as Rafa Benitez's replacement on Monday after the Spaniard was sacked less than seven months into a three-year deal, amid rumours of disputes with key players including the Portuguese star.

Former Blancos boss Luxemburgo, though, has told Madrid's talisman that he must not attempt to over exert his influence in the dressing room."Zinedine Zidane was a leader in the dressing room when he was a player," he said.

"Cristiano Ronaldo will have to understand that there will be a person with leadership and great knowledge of football in there."The dressing room belongs to a player up to a certain point but then it belongs to a coach.

"If Ronaldo thinks he's the coach it will be difficult. He has to understand he's a player and not a coach. Zidane is a coach. If you can make that clear - it doesn't matter if it's Ronaldo or Messi."At Barcelona, Messi is a great example. Under Guardiola he was just a player. With Neymar, he's just a player.

"He's a star but he's a player, that's his limit."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

AC Milan 0-1 Bologna: Giaccherini stuns Rossoneri

Emanuele Giaccherini scored an 82nd minute winner as Bologna stunned AC Milan 1-0 at San Siro to leave Rossoneri boss Sinisa Mihajlovic's future firmly in doubt.

Milan boasted an 11-game unbeaten run against their opponents heading into the clash and goalkeeper Antonio Mirante made three good saves to deny the hosts a first-half advantage.

Bologna, who could have seen Amadou Diawara sent off for an elbow early on, have sharpened up their away form under Milan legend Roberto Donadoni and almost snatched the lead through Giaccherini as they maintained their bold attacking approach.

Carlos Bacca had the ball in the net in the closing stages only to be denied by the offside flag as Milan pressed for a winner, but it was Giaccherini who found the breakthrough as he buried a finish from close range with 10 minutes left.

Mihajlovic insisted prior to the match that he did not fear the sack, despite ending 2015 eight points behind Serie A leaders Inter, but pressure will only mount on the Serb as Milan lost ground on the top three.

Bologna served Milan enough warnings of their ability on the break and only a smart intervention from Alex early on denied former Milan striker Mattia Destro a certain goal after Gianluigi Donnarumma had faltered.The visitors' poor start was almost undone as Diawara was fortunate not to see red on 21 minutes for landing a forearm on the side of Andrea Bertolacci's head.

Milan finally called Mirante into action as he parried Ignazio Abate's cross into M'Baye Niang's path before scrambling to his feet to stop the rebound. He then reacted smartly to tip Giacomo Bonaventura's effort over the bar from close range after good work from Keisuke Honda.

Carlos Bacca spurned the best opportunity of the half just before the whistle as Abate's long pass sent him clean through in the area only to shoot straight at Mirante, before Niang blazed the rebound over.

Giaccherini was inches from snatching the lead for Bologna as he just failed to connect with Matteo Brighi's clip across goal and Niang slipped at the worst possible moment with the goal gaping just five minutes later in an end-to-end start to the second period.

Substitute Alessio Cerci wasted a glorious opening to break the deadlock as he raced into the area unmarked, but his attempt to round Mirante took him too close to the byline and the chance went begging.

Bacca turned a header into the far corner only to see the assistant referee correctly raise his flag for offside, and Milan were dealt the ultimate sucker-punch with less than 10 minutes to play.Anthony Mounier clipped a fine cross to the far post to Giaccherini who, having evaded the offside trap, brought the ball down before firing beneath Donnarumma from close range to silence the sparse San Siro crowd.

A shell-shocked Milan upped the tempo in search of a leveller but Bologna held out to end their dismal run against the Rossoneri and leave Mihajlovic feeling the heat.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Lukaku: My mother told me to join Everton

Romelu Lukaku has revealed that his mother persuaded him to join Everton after he ignored phone calls from Roberto Martinez.

The Belgium international initially joined Everton on loan from Chelsea in 2013 before making the move permanent in a £28 million deal the following summer.

Lukaku, who has scored 15 Premier League goals season, admits he does not regret his decision to join Everton but admits he took some persuading.

“He [Martinez] actually called me three times and I didn’t pick up on the first two, so I’m glad I answered eventually,” Lukaku told FourFourTwo magazine.

“I discussed it with him, I spoke to Chelsea, I spoke to my mother, and eventually she said: ‘Go to Everton.’ I haven’t regretted it.

"Right from the very first training session it has been great. He took me aside and we worked on movement, my hold-up play, everything. With all the good young players coming through, it felt like something good was happening.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Juventus admit defeat in Gundogan chase

Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta insists the club do not want to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, despite having a €30 million bid for the Germany international rejected.

Goal understands that the Serie A champions had identified the 25-year-old as their priority transfer target and were keen to strengthen in the January window.

However, Dortmund are understood to have no intention of allowing Gundogan to leave midway through the season and Marotta has now moved to distance the club from their pursuit of the midfielder.

"Why would we go after Gundogan if we already have Marchisio?" Marotta was quoted as saying by Tuttosport.

"We have a number of solutions in the area of the pitch, but Gundogan is not one of the names we have been discussing. Others have been linking him with Juventus.

"Plus I believe Dortmund do not want to sell him anyway."

Gundogan's contract expires in 2017 and it is understood that Dortmund are keen to extend his deal.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United delayed in Felipe Anderson move

Manchester United’s £35 million chase for Felipe Anderson has been delayed by a wrangle over bonuses between the player and Lazio.

Goal understands that the Brazilian has been identified by United as one of their key targets in the January transfer window, and negotiations involving executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward began in December.

But it has now emerged that the 22-year-old is in no rush to leave the Stadio Olimpico without a bonus payment promised to him as part of his buyout clause.

Anderson has a stipulation within his contract which compels Lazio to accept any bid over £35m, and he is due a small percentage of the fee as part of an agreement made with the club.

However, initial indications from Lazio have suggested they would not be willing to immediately hand over the severance package, with the player deciding to wait before making a decision on the United transfer until his current club have made a final decision relating to the payment.

Lazio sporting director Igli Tare admitted on Wednesday that his club will “evaluate every offer” for their players during January, giving United a clear run at Anderson.

The Brazilian was then substituted at half-time of the disappointing 0-0 Serie A draw at home to Carpi on Wednesday afternoon following an underwhelming first 45 minutes.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Empoli 0-1 Inter: Icardi nets again to keep Mancini's men top

Mauro Icardi's goal on the stroke of half-time was enough for Inter to see off Empoli and remain top of Serie A.

Inter had been deposed by Fiorentina at the league summit earlier on Wednesday courtesy of their 3-1 away win over Palermo, while defending champions Juve had also leapfrogged Roberto Mancini's men by claiming their eighth straight league victory, defeating Verona 3-0.

And for much of the encounter at the Stadio Carlo Castellani it appeared as if Empoli – fresh from setting a club record of four consecutive top-flight wins – would do their neighbours Fiorentina a favour.

The hosts had the better chances in the opening 45 minutes but were undone in first-half stoppage time by Icardi.

The striker broke the deadlock with a simple finish that marked his eighth goal in all competitions this campaign.

Opportunities proved harder to come by in the second half and Inter did not have much difficulty in closing out a victory that keeps them a point ahead of Fiorentina in the race for the Scudetto, while Empoli stay eighth.

Both teams played with an excellent tempo in the early stages but it was Empoli who had the first real chance.

Massimo Maccarone's low free-kick was beaten away by Samir Handanovic after Jeison Murillo's foul on the striker was adjudged to have occurred just outside the box.

Empoli continued to be the more threatening side in the first half and went close again in the 25th minute when Manuel Pucciarelli teed up Piotr Zielinski only for the Pole to shoot narrowly wide.

Handanovic was tested again 12 minutes later by a long-range effort from Marcel Buchel but the hosts failed to take advantage of their long periods of superiority and were punished before the break.

Icardi turned home Ivan Perisic's cut-back from point-blank range at the near post following the Croatian's excellent run down the left.

Empoli did not appear to lose confidence despite going behind and could have levelled had Riccardo Saponara not fired straight at Handanovic after racing through on goal.

Geoffrey Kondogbia saw a left-footed strike fly wide before Empoli had a hopeful claim for a penalty turned down when Pucciarelli was clipped inside the area in the 71st minute.

Referee Domenico Celi waved away the appeals and that proved to be Empoli came no closer to an equaliser as Inter bounced back from their 2-1 loss to Lazio before the mid-season break.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Januzaj to return to Manchester United after Borussia Dortmund terminate loan deal

Adnan Januzaj is set to return to Manchester United after Borussia Dortmund agreed to terminate his season-long loan.

The 20-year-old joined Dortmund on a temporary deal at the end of August but has made only 12 appearances for the club, including just 160 minutes in the Bundesliga.

United have been unhappy with Januzaj’s lack of playing time and have now moved to bring him back to Old Trafford, which should be finalised within the next 24 hours.

The request comes as Louis van Gaal looks to bolster his attacking options in the January transfer window. Goal also understands that Felipe Anderson remains a priority target, although the £35 million deal has been stalled as the Brazilian is involved in a dispute with Lazio over his bonuses.

Dortmund begin their warm-weather training camp in Dubai on Thursday but could not confirm that Januzaj had been included in the travelling squad.

At the end of November, Van Gaal revealed that he had warned Januzaj about the risks involved with a move to Dortmund.

“I said in advance that’s a big risk, because you have to compete with other players of a higher level and that’s not so easy,” said the Dutchman.

“It’s the same as at Manchester United. He has to compete with higher-level players. I want him to play all the matches, and that’s why I wanted to play him in the Premier League, but he chose Borussia Dortmund.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Welcome back Januzaj!​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barcelona 4-1 Espanyol: Messi double helps hosts to comeback win

Barcelona opened up a comfortable lead in their Copa del Rey last-16 clash with Espanyol after winning the first leg 4-1 against nine men at Camp Nou.

After falling behind early on, thanks to Felipe Caicedo’s goal, holders Barca retaliated within four minutes thanks to Lionel Messi and went on to dominate proceedings.

Messi added his 241st goal in 241 home matches for the hosts with a sensational free-kick just before half-time and then teed up Gerard Pique in the early stages of the second period for Barcelona's third as Espanyol were unable to handle Luis Enrique's men.

The away side were reduced to 10 men with 18 minutes left following the dismissal of Hernan Perez and then saw Pape Diop handed a straight red – apparently for a comment made in the direction of Luis Suarez – as Espanyol lost all discipline late on.Neymar rubbed salt into their wounds with an excellent fourth at the end of Messi's second assist of the night in the 88th minute.

The evening started in a very different fashion for Espanyol, however.Having soaked up early Barca pressure, they took the lead against the run of play in the ninth minute. Marco Asensio dispossessed Dani Alves inside the visitors' half and broke 60 yards before playing in Caicedo, who beat Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to his bottom left-hand corner.

Pau Lopez had to be alert when Messi broke through, with the Espanyol goalkeeper again leaping at the feet of a Barcelona forward to maintain his clean sheet, but his goal was breached soon after.Andreas Iniesta's throughball picked out Messi and the Argentina star fired beyond Lopez.

Ter Stegen tipped over Abraham Gonzalez's free-kick as Espanyol maintained the rapid pace of the game after the Barcelona equaliser, while Neymar dragged narrowly wide as the visitors struggled to contain Barca's front three.

Messi put the hosts in front in stunning style two minutes before half-time. After being chopped down 25 yards from goal, the Camp Nou darling dusted himself down and curled and exquisite free-kick past Lopez, diving to his left.

Barca added a third inside four second-half minutes. Iniesta and Messi combined down the left, with the latter crossing for Pique to slide home from close range.

Messi came within a foot of completing his hat-trick on the hour mark, as he fired narrowly wide from 20 yards out, and then failed to tap home Neymar’s cross under pressure from two defenders, while Arda Turan was denied a debut goal by Lopez at his near post.Lopez leapt to his left to turn Neymar’s 65th-minute free-kick to safety, while Espanyol's difficult night was made even harder by the dismissal of Perez in the 72nd minute for a second bookable offence.

Suarez was denied by Lopez with 15 minutes remaining and was then at the epicentre of the incident which saw Diop handed his marching orders. Referee Juan Martinez Munuera was stood within 10 yards of the pair and was quick to reach for his red card following a comment made by Diop to the Uruguayan.

Barca made the most of their two-man advantage with a fourth goal in the closing stages as Neymar exchanged passes with Messi and produced a sensational volley to wrap up a first-leg thumping.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Everton 2-1 Manchester City: Lukaku gives Toffees League Cup advantage

Romelu Lukaku scored the winner for Everton as they beat Manchester City 2-1 in the League Cup semi-final first leg to take a slender advantage to the Etihad Stadium.

Aiming to reach the final for the first time since 1984, Everton took the lead in Wednesday's clash at Goodison Park through Ramiro Funes Mori.

The defender hit home in first-half stoppage time, pouncing on a rebound from a Ross Barkley shot that was well saved by Willy Caballero.

However, 2014 winners City began to fashion more clear-cut opportunities in the second half and eventually levelled thanks to winger Jesus Navas.

Navas slotted in the equaliser in the 76th minute, finishing confidently after latching on to a perfectly weighted throughball from Sergio Aguero.

Yet there was to be one final twist in the tale as Lukaku met Gareth Barry's fine cross two minutes later to nod home his 12th goal in as many games before limping off with an injury sustained in scoring.

Everton looked to have taken the lead in the 36th minute when John Stones turned home after Barry had knocked Leighton Baines' free-kick into his path.

However, Everton's celebrations were short-lived as Barry was correctly adjudged to have been in an offside position.

The hosts were then grateful to Joel Robles for keeping the scores level, the Spaniard parrying Aguero's powerful near-post effort, with the Argentina international's follow-up blocked by compatriot Funes Mori.

And it was the centre-back who made a telling impact at the other end as he lashed home the rebound after Caballero had made a fine save to keep out Barkley's low drive, although Lukaku did appear to be offside in front of the goalkeeper when Barkley fired towards goal.

Martin Demichelis was brought on at centre-back in place of Eliaquim Mangala at half-time, while Leon Osman came on for Tom Cleverley in the Everton midfield.
Everton carried the momentum from taking the lead into the second half but would have been pegged back had Aguero not surprisingly spurned what looked a simple chance in the 62nd minute.

Aguero failed to reward the persistence of David Silva when the ball broke to him in the box, slicing well wide with the goal seemingly at his mercy.

Caballero then denied Barkley at the other end before Robles did brilliantly to turn Kevin De Bruyne's curling effort round the post following neat link-up play with Aguero.

Aguero's good play did pay dividends soon afterwards as Navas tucked his excellent pass into the bottom-right corner to give City an away goal.

But City could not maintain parity, Lukaku continuing his stunning run of form to ensure Everton go into the second leg with a lead, although injuries to the Belgian and Seamus Coleman - whose withdrawal left them down to 10 men - will provide some concern for Roberto Martinez.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Atletico Madrid: Saul denies hosts victory

Saul Niguez came off the bench to earn Atletico Madrid a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 tie against Rayo Vallecano.

Rayo have endured considerable suffering in local matches against the Madrid heavyweights of late, losing 10-2 at Real Madrid before Christmas and suffering a last-gasp 2-0 defeat to Atletico at the Estadio de Vallecas last week.

Both sides were much changed as they resumed hostilities at the same venue but Paco Jemez's hosts played like a team with a point to prove and they deservedly led at the break through Nacho Martinez's fabulous opener.

Atletico struggled for clear-cut chances until Diego Simeone brought on Luciano Vietto and Saul, who finished from inside the box against a club he played for on loan after good work from his fellow substitute.

Simeone's men pushed hard for a second away goal during the closing stages, with Vietto denied by the post, and they will enter next week's return leg as firm favourites.

Recent arrivals Augusto Fernandez and Matias Kranevitter made debuts in midfield for Atletico, with centre-back Stefan Savic the only player retained from Saturday's win over Levante in La Liga.

Thomas Partey came off the bench to score the winner for Atleti on that occasion but sliced his first attempt of this match out for a throw-in.

Rayo forward Miku should have worked Miguel Angel Moya when he blasted into the side-netting in the 17th minute, although the Atletico goalkeeper was called into action shortly afterwards to keep out Nacho's free-kick.

Rayo continue to have the better of the action and Nacho spectacularly beat Moya 10 minutes before half-time.

The full-back reacted quickest to a loose ball 30 yards from goal and produced a sweetly struck low drive that the keeper could only touch into his bottom-left corner.

Conceding belatedly stirred Simeone's side, with Juan Carlos making a sharp close-range stop to deny Yannick Ferreira Carrasco before Jose Gimenez headed wide at the back post from the resulting corner.

Atletico returned after the break with the same intent but their opponents stood firm and Simeone sent on Saul and Vietto in place of Oliver Torres and Fernandez before the hour.

Manucho sent a header over and the striker then blasted over from the edge of the box as Rayo tried to reassert themselves as an attacking force.

The former Manchester United man lacked the clinical composure that Saul showed when he hauled Atleti level in the 67th minute, firing in a first-time shot after Vietto had jinked past Nacho and picked him out.

Confronted with further derby heartache, Rayo managed to hold on to parity ahead of next Thursday's return leg.

They rode their luck as Juan Carlos pushed Vietto's back-post volley onto the upright and Ferreira Carrasco had an attempt scrambled behind at the end of a storming run.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

OFFICIAL: Januzaj returns to Manchester United

Adnan Januzaj has returned to Manchester United after Borussia Dortmund agreed to terminate his season-long loan with the Bundesliga club.

The 20-year-old only made 12 appearances for Dortmund after joining on a temporary deal at the end of August, racking up just 160 minutes of league action.

As reported by Goal, United were uhappy with Januzaj's lack of playing time and decided to bring him back to Old Trafford as Louis van Gaal looks to refresh his attacking options in January.

On Thursday, the club tweeted: "[Manchester United] confirms Adnan Januzaj will rejoin the squad, after Borussia Dortmund agreed to cancel his loan deal."

As well as bringing the Belgian youngster back to the club, Van Gaal has also made Lazio star Felipe Anderson a priority target - though a £35 million deal has stalled over a bonuses dispute.

Januzaj could even feature against Sheffield United in the FA Cup on Saturday, as long as he is registered to play before 5pm on Friday.

Given that he has not played since December 10, however, it is perhaps more likely that Januzaj will be eased back to full fitness first and could make an appearance for the Under-21s on Monday against Reading.
At the end of November, Van Gaal revealed that he had warned Januzaj about the risks involved with a move to Dortmund.

“I said in advance that’s a big risk, because you have to compete with other players of a higher level and that’s not so easy,” said the Dutchman.

“It’s the same as at Manchester United. He has to compete with higher-level players. I want him to play all the matches, and that’s why I wanted to play him in the Premier League, but he chose Borussia Dortmund.”