..::Football IV::..

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Dybala: I never doubted Juventus, even when we were far behind

Paulo Dybala says he never doubted that Juventus would win the Serie A title this season, despite their tough start to the campaign.Dybala has starred with 20 goals in all competitions for Massimiliano Allegri's side following a close-season switch from Palermo.

Juve were off the pace during the opening weeks of the season as they adapted to life without key men Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal, who moved on after the Champions League final defeat to Barcelona at the end of last season.

Dybala and his team-mates were confirmed as champions this week - Juventus's fifth successive Scudetto - and the Argentina forward reflected on their era of dominance, hailing the latest triumph "extraordinary".

"It was an extraordinary season for how we won the Scudetto and the way we won it made it even more joyful," he told Tuttosport."It's been what I expected because, in my three years in Italy I realised that there was no team as strong as Juventus. A stadium like ours frightens opponents. There is nowhere else like it.

"Even in the worst moment, when we were 12 points behind Inter, I was aware that we had changed a lot and many of us still had to understand what Juventus really was.

"Above all, I knew it was still in our hands, We just have to win the games - and that's what we did. Winning it with this comeback was even more exciting."
The champions host relegation-threatened Carpi in Serie A on Sunday.

 

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Juventus 2-0 Carpi: Hosts cruise to victory

Serie A champions Juventus continued their incredible form with a 2-0 victory at home to Carpi on Sunday, sealed by Hernanes' first-half strike and Simone Zaza's late header.

Napoli's defeat at Roma on Monday handed Juventus their fifth successive league title and Massimiliano Allegri's men brushed relegation-threatened Carpi aside comfortably.

Hernanes gave Juve the lead shortly before half-time with a neat finish from outside the box and substitute Zaza made sure of the points with a header that floated into the far corner.

Carpi battled hard but were unable to seriously test Juve's veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and they remain three points above the Serie A relegation zone.
Victory means Juve have now won 25 of their last 26 games in Serie A, taking maximum points from their last 10 league fixtures.

Juve also extended their club record to 10 successive home clean sheets in the league, becoming the first team to go so long without conceding at home in Serie A since Empoli in 1987.Paul Pogba had the champions' first sight of goal after five minutes but Carpi goalkeeper Vid Belec tipped his effort around the post.

Juve continued to probe and Alvaro Morata, starting up front in place of Paulo Dybala, flashed a header wide from Alex Sandro's cross after 14 minutes.

Simone Verdi then raced onto a throughball by Marco Crimi but Buffon thrust out his right leg to make a fine save.

Juve were struggling to find their rhythm due to Carpi's energetic pressing but Daniele Rugani almost opened the scoring after 31 minutes, his header from Juan Cuadrado's free-kick narrowly clearing the crossbar.

Carpi had previously kept back-to-back clean sheets for the first time in Serie A, but their resistance was broken by Juve after 41 minutes.

Hernanes opened the scoring by finding the bottom corner from 20 yards, beating an unsighted Belec, and celebrated his first goal for the club with a backflip.Verdi went close from a free-kick after 53 minutes as Carpi, unbeaten in their last three league games, pushed for an equaliser.

Substitute Filippo Porcari hit the side-netting after 76 minutes with a viciously swerving long-range strike, before Mario Mandzukic bundled a cross wide at the back post.

Zaza added gloss to the scoreline for Juve with 11 minutes to go by rising highest in the box to flick Pogba's cross into Belec's net to kick off the champions' party.

 

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Swansea 3-1 Liverpool: Ayew double sinks sloppy Reds

Andre Ayew scored twice as Swansea City eased past an inexperienced Liverpool side 3-1 to bring an end to their recent poor run against the Merseysiders.

The visitors – who had won their last four in a row against Swansea – arrived in south Wales upset about the scheduling of the clash given they played their Europa League semi-final, first leg in Villarreal on Thursday, and looked sluggish despite a raft of changes from Jurgen Klopp.Swansea dominated the opening half with Ayew and Jack Cork profiting from sloppy Liverpool defending.

Ayew ended a goal drought that stretched back to late January as he netted the opener, before Cork scored for the first time in over a year with a well-placed finish.

Substitute Christian Benteke gave Liverpool hope after replacing Philippe Coutinho with a neat header, but Ayew took himself into double figures for the season to restore Swansea's two-goal cushion and move them into the safety of mid-table.

Brad Smith's late sending off completed a miserable day for Klopp as their hopes of a top-six finish were dented, placing more emphasis on their Anfield return against Villarreal on Thursday.

With that European clash in mind, Klopp named Liverpool's youngest starting line-up in the Premier League, their midfield – which included Pedro Chirivella for his first league appearance – showing an average age of under 20.

Klopp's youthful quartet took time to settle as Swansea – who welcomed back Jefferson Montero – started brightly; Ayew wasting two half-chances in the opening stages. He was not to be denied after 20 minutes, though, Ayew evading the attention of Dejan Lovren to head home Gylfi Sigurdsson's left-wing corner.

Buoyed by the opening goal Swansea continued to threaten and, after wasting a glorious chance, Cork doubled their advantage with a curling effort that evaded the dive of Daniel Ward.Daniel Sturridge went agonisingly close to halving Liverpool's deficit before the break, but the forward's deft chip drifted just wide of Lukasz Fabianski's goal.

Klopp introduced Lucas Leiva and Benteke at the break and the latter gave Liverpool a lifeline just after the hour, the Belgium international nodding home his 50th Premier League goal from six yards.

Any hope of a comeback was quickly dashed, though, as more terrible defending gifted Ayew his second, the Ghana international pouncing as Liverpool failed to clear.

And a disappointing trip for the visitors ended with Smith's red card in only his second league start, the young defender shown a second yellow for a challenge on Kyle Naughton with 14 minutes to play.

 

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Atletico duo Godin & Carrasco fit for Bayern clash

Diego Godin and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco have been passed fit to travel for the second leg of Atletico Madrid's Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.Diego Simeone's side hold a 1-0 aggregate lead from the first leg at Vicente Calderon, thanks to Saul Niguez's wonderful solo goal, and will be boosted by Godin's return in particular.

Centre-back Godin has missed the Liga title contenders' last three games with a hamstring injury, while winger Carrasco has recovered from an ankle problem.

Atletico confirmed in a statement Godin and Carrasco have been "medically discharged" and will travel with the rest of the squad to Munich.

"Tiago [Mendes] also travels with the team, despite not having been medically discharged. And goalkeeper Bernabe travels too," the club added.

 

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Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City: Champagne on ice as Foxes draw

Leicester City will have to wait to be crowned Premier League champions after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Needing a win to be crowned champions with two matches to spare, the magnitude of what Claudio Ranieri 's unchanged side were trying to achieve appeared to weigh heavily during a passive start and Anthony Martial capitalised by opening the scoring.

But captain Wes Morgan, one of the symbols of Leicester's unlikely charge, headed a 16th-minute equaliser and the visitors will be disappointment not to have further punished a United side whose set-piece defending was flimsy throughout.

Leicester will emerge as champions at home to Everton next weekend if Tottenh
am fail to beat Chelsea on Monday, while any victory from the Foxes or slip up by Spurs will complete the remarkable story that Sunday's action in Stretford left tantalisingly dangling.

United, who could not capitalise on a late red card for Danny Drinkwater, lost ground on Arsenal and Manchester City in the race for a top-four spot but edged ahead of West Ham into fifth.

The visitors barely ventured beyond their own half before United took an eighth-minute lead – Antonio Valencia, in for Timothy Fosu-Mensah at right-back, picking out Martial for the unmarked France international to thump his ninth league goal of the season through Kasper Schmeichel’s legs.

Shinji Okazaki headed over at the near post from a Riyad Mahrez cross following a Leicester set piece and United did not heed the warning as Morgan muscled past Marcos Rojo to plant a header beyond David De Gea from Drinkwater's floated free-kick.

Schmeichel, playing on the ground where his father Peter became a United icon for the first time, denied Jesse Lingard with sharp saves either side of the equaliser as Leicester's defence lacked the solidity of recent months.

City right-back Danny Simpson - notable by his absence on the United opener - escaped punishment for grappling with Lingard as the United star bore down on goal.

But Leicester ended the half strongly, as Drinkwater had an effort deflected behind before Morgan, again making a mockery of Rojo's attempts to mark him, headed over.

Okazaki just failed to get a decisive touch after Simpson burst forward to cut the ball across the six-yard box and Leonardo Ulloa had a low drive deflected behind amid an excellent start to the second period from Leicester.PFA Player of the Year Mahrez embarked on a trademark jinking run in the 71st minute and De Gea awkwardly punched his resulting shot to safety.

United belatedly posed some second-half questions as the livewire Martial almost saw his low cross turned in by a sprawling Morgan, while Chris Smalling headed against the outside of the post from a deep Wayne Rooney cross.Ranieri's side finished with 10 men as Drinkwater collected a second booking for bringing down United sub Memphis Depay on the edge of the box.

The England midfielder will miss out next Saturday, when Jamie Vardy is expected to return from a ban of his own and by which time a memorable piece of history might already belong to Leicester.

 

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AC Milan 3-3 Frosinone: Menez penalty saves Rossoneri from damaging loss

AC Milan avoided an embarrassing home defeat and damaged Frosinone's survival hopes in a dramatic 3-3 draw at San Siro on Sunday.

Despite his team mounting a comeback from 2-0 down, Cristian Brocchi has still tasted victory only once since taking charge of the 18-time Italian champions, who are six points outside the Europa League qualification places with only two matches of the Serie A season remaining.The visitors scored twice in the first half, through Luca Paganini and Oliver Kragl, but also relied heavily on the excellence of goalkeeper Francesco Bardi.

He saved a Mario Balotelli penalty, and, though Carlos Bacca soon pulled a goal back early in the second half, Federico Dionisi restored the advantage.But Luca Antonelli made a fight of it again for Milan, and Jeremy Menez prospered where Balotelli had not to equalise with a late spot-kick.

The result left Frosinone second from bottom, four points from safety, while Milan may have to beat Juventus in the final of the Coppa Italia if they are to earn a route into European competition.

The away side started in superb fashion, netting inside two minutes, as a flowing move from the left ended with Paganini's shot flying past a helpless Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Two minutes before the break, Milan were 2-0 down to another sensational strike.
There had been little hint of a Frosinone attack, let alone a goal, but Kragl thumped a low free-kick into the net from more than 30 yards out.

The second half began at an equally frantic pace, with Francesco Bardi immediately involved again.When Adriano Russo's arm diverted Mattia de Sciglio's shot, the referee had no hesitation in awarding Milan a penalty.

Balotelli, though, was brilliantly denied by the goalkeeper from 12 yards, with the rebound smuggled clear.

But Bardi then granted the hosts a route back into the game.Keisuke Honda's low centre squeezed between the 24-year-old and his near post, squirming free for Bacca to poke home from close range in the 50th minute.Within four minutes, the visitors were two goals clear once again.

Alex failed in his attempts to clear the ball, instead presenting a clear chance to Dionisi, who gleefully finished beyond Donnarumma and into the corner.

After 20 minutes of toil, Antonelli came off the bench to put Milan back in the picture.Balotelli's delivery was nodded back into the middle by Alex, and, with his first touch, the substitute controlled on his chest to set up a glorious over-head kick.

Frosinone, having held off the onslaught for much of the second half, must have thought they were set to claim three vital points in their bid to avoid the drop.Instead, there was a reprieve for the hosts, as another handball led to a spot-kick in the 91st minute.

This time Menez punished Vasyl Pryima's error, Bardi unable to deny him.
And Balotelli could even haven stolen all three points, battering against the bar in the final minute of a thrilling contest.

 

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Ronaldo wants Zidane to stay at Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo has backed Zinedine Zidane to continue as head coach at Real Madrid beyond this season.

The former France international replaced Rafael Benitez in January and has helped to sustain their push for a Liga and Champions League double heading into the final month of the campaign.

Speculation persists that Zidane could depart the club in June, however, with the 43-year-old unable to give any guarantees over his future when questioned on rumours in March.

Ronaldo has spoken in the past of how the Madrid squad have felt more at ease under Zidane than Benitez and he has called for the coach to be given more time at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"I think we feel more valued with Zidane," he told Madrid's official website. "We feel his affection, we know it's a process of adapting but things have flowed very quickly and I'm very happy for him.

"I already admired him as a player and now as a coach for his manner and his way of selecting the players. He's a coach who I would like to continue at Real Madrid."

Ronaldo returned to training on Sunday after missing Madrid's Champions League semi-final first-leg draw with Manchester City, and the 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad.

The Portugal star is vying to be fit for City's visit to the capital on Wednesday but he warned that they must not underestimate Manuel Pellegrini's side.

"If Manchester City are in the semi-finals, it's because they're an excellent team," he said. "Knocking out Paris Saint-Germain is no easy task, but they managed it. They are a team who have very few defects."Ronaldo hit a hat-trick to secure Madrid's quarter-final win over Wolfsburg, despite them having been beaten 2-0 in the first leg in Germany.

The ex-Manchester United forward has described that victory as "a magical moment" and hopes Madrid will be inspired to go all the way and win the trophy they last lifted two years ago.

"To win it with Real Madrid was a beautiful, spectacular feeling, because the Champions League is always a special competition and to win it in Lisbon, in front of the Portuguese, was also special," he added.

"We had to win [against Wolfsburg] by three goals and I scored the three, so it was a special night. We had to have a perfect night and that's what happened - not only for my goals, but I think for everything. I think the team did well."Also, our fans played a very important role in the comeback. It was a magical moment."

 

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Montella open to replacing Conte as Italy boss

Vincenzo Montella has thrown his hat into the ring to become Antonio Conte's replacement as Italy coach after Euro 2016.

Conte announced in February his intention to leave the national team after the European Championship in France, the former Juventus boss then being confirmed as Chelsea's next permanent manager on a three-year deal.

Montella may not be considered an option by some given Sampdoria are struggling under his leadership in Serie A this season, but the 41-year-old would be keen to step up to the challenge.

Claudio Ranieri, Roberto Donadoni, Fabio Capello and Walter Mazzarri have all been linked with the role, and Montella has confirmed his interest.

Speaking after Samp's 2-0 defeat to Palermo on Sunday, he said: "The national team is the highest possible achievement for a coach and I've already said that if I got an offer I would consider it."

Samp have yet to confirm their Serie A safety with two games of the 2015-16 campaign remaining following the reverse in Sicily, Franco Vazquez and an Nenad Krsticic own goal sealing their fate.Donadoni meanwhile has signalled his intention to stay in club management with Bologna.

"Italy? I'm not talking about this again," he said after Sunday's 0-0 draw with Empoli. "My contract is with Bologna and I intend to stay here."

 

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Southampton 4-2 Manchester City: Mane hat-trick blows top-four race open

Manchester City suffered a big blow ahead of an important week as a Sadio Mane hat-trick inspired Southampton to a 4-2 Premier League win at St Mary's Stadium.

Manuel Pellegrini had complained pre-match about having to play on Sunday ahead of Wednesday's Champions League semi-final trip to Real Madrid, and the Chilean duly omitted a number of first-team regulars from his starting line-up.Sergio Aguero, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and Fernando watched the entire game from the bench, while Kevin De Bruyne was left out entirely.

Southampton sensed the chance of an upset and deservedly took the lead through Shane Long, before Mane scored a fine effort three minutes later to cap their first-half dominance.

Kelechi Iheanacho grabbed a lifeline just before the break and City responded well early in the second half, but Mane bundled the ball home after a scramble in the penalty area to restore Saints' two-goal lead before completing his treble with a good low finish 10 minutes later.

Iheanacho bent in a fine consolation, but Southampton move to within two points of the top six, while City - who host third-placed Arsenal next Sunday - must continue to look over their shoulders towards Manchester United, who could close to within a point of fourth if they win their game in hand.

Southampton set about pressing Pellegrini's much-changed line-up from the outset, with Mane testing Joe Hart from 25 yards out with just two minutes on the clock.

Long rippled the side-netting from distance and Raheem Sterling shot straight at Fraser Forster from 10 yards after Iheanacho had robbed Virgil van Dijk and teed up the England winger.

That stop proved pivotal as Southampton took the lead midway through the half. Cuco Martina's ball over the top was hooked towards the penalty spot by Dusan Tadic, and Long arrived ahead of Nicolas Otamendi to prod low past Hart.

Saints were in complete control and doubled their lead three minutes later with an outstanding counter-attack goal. Victor Wanyama released Tadic down the right, and his perfectly weighted through-ball between City's static defenders allowed Mane time and space to sweep low past Hart.

City had barely mustered a threat but they grabbed a lifeline a minute before half-time, as Iheanacho nodded past Forster from close range after Southampton had failed to clear Samir Nasri's low cross.

Iheanacho was undoubtedly City's brightest player and he brought another low save from Forster early in the second half after combining well with strike partner Wilfried Bony on the edge of the area.

But City were dealt a killer blow on 57 minutes as Mane restored Southampton's two-goal cushion, reacting quickest at the far post after Hart had just managed to keep Van Dijk's header from crossing the line.

Hart tipped Van Dijk's overhead kick just over the crossbar but he could do nothing to deny Mane his hat-trick. The Saints winger bagged his 10th league goal of the season as he raced onto Tadic's low pass before slotting into the corner at the near post.

Iheanacho curled a brilliant strike beyond Forster in the closing stages but the game was up for City, who now turn their attentions to a Champions League showdown in the Spanish capital.

 

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Lazio 2-0 Inter: Klose ends Champions League hopes for Mancini's men

An early Miroslav Klose strike put Lazio on the path to a 2-0 victory over Inter on Sunday, ending the visitors' hopes of making the Champions League in the process.

Roberto Mancini's side needed a win to keep the pressure on third-placed Roma in Serie A, but Miroslav Klose's eighth-minute goal set them back in the capital.

Inter turned on the style to put three goals past Udinese last time out but they were sluggish and short of ideas against Lazio, with Ivan Perisic and Stevan Jovetic coming closest to finding an equaliser.

Lazio were likewise unadventurous in attack once they had their advantage, although Keita Balde felt aggrieved to be booked for simulation rather than see a penalty awarded midway through the second period.

Inter turned up the heat a little late on but an equaliser never looked likely to materialise, and Antonio Candreva settled the contest seven minutes from time from the penalty spot after Jeison Murillo earned a second booking for felling Keita.The result means Juventus, Napoli and Roma are now assured of finishing in the Champions League places this season.

Lazio may have little but a top-half finish to play for, but they seized the initiative early on. Senad Lulic slipped the ball through to Klose, who waited for Samir Handanovic to go to ground before lifting the ball expertly into the net from point-blank range.

Inter looked unsettled by the early goal but almost snatched an equaliser when Geoffrey Kondogbia chipped a fine pass to Jovetic, who was denied by a sprawling save from Federico Marchetti.

Candreva stung the fingertips of Handanovic from 30 yards, and the Slovenian saved superbly moments later as Keita burst into the area and aimed a low shot at the far corner.

Inter showed something of an improvement early in the second half but Lazio were frustrated not to be given a chance to extend their lead when Keita was booked for diving after going to ground under pressure from Miranda in the penalty area.

Roberto Mancini introduced Jonathan Biabiany for Gary Medel in an effort to give more support to the frustrated Mauro Icardi in attack, but too often the final pass let them down as Lazio looked content to sit deeper and hit on the break.

Perisic dragged a promising opening wide of Marchetti's left-hand post before Jovetic came within inches of prodding home following a corner, as Inter at last began to apply consistent pressure with 20 minutes to play.

Perisic tested Marchetti with a decent free-kick and Miranda turned Marcelo Brozovic's resulting corner over the bar, but that was as good as it got for the visitors in attack.

Keita finally earned a spot-kick as he twisted and turned away from Murillo, who was given a second yellow card for the foul, and Candreva picked out the top corner from 12 yards to seal the win which means Inter must now focus on securing a Europa League spot.

 

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Fonte: Hat-trick hero Mane was on fire against Man City

Southampton captain Jose Fonte described his side's showing as "commanding" and admitted it was part of their plan to exploit Sadio Mane's pace against a makeshift Manchester City defence.

Shane Long opened the scoring at St Mary's Stadium before Mane struck three times in a dominant 4-2 win for the hosts against a City side who made a number of changes ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg with Real Madrid on Wednesday.

Fonte believes his side were the better side and deserved their win to move above Liverpool and into seventh in the standings.

"It was a commanding performance, we were superior and we're very pleased," the Portuguese said. "We knew they could have started quickly in the second half but we were prepared for it."The game plan was to explore the pace up front, the willingness to run and chase the ball and exploit the space.

"We were very confident on the ball and Mane was on fire today."Southampton are now two points behind sixth-placed West Ham in the Premier League table and Fonte is eager to keep fighting for a Europa League spot, with Ronald Koeman's side heading to title-chasing Tottenham next week.

"It's important to be in the fight - you never know what can happen in the Premier League," he added. "We look forward to the Spurs game now."

Hat-trick hero Sadio Mane hailed Southampton's all-round performance in their enthralling victory over Manuel Pellegrini's men."The three points was the important thing," Mane told Sky Sports. "I'm happy to score the goals for my team and I hope we keep it going.

"I think all four goals - we're happy with that! We played fantastic football today and we try to work hard for the next games now."

 

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Hazard: If I have a good Euro 2016 my bad season will be forgotten

Chelsea star Eden Hazard believes his poor domestic season will be forgotten if he stars with Belgium at Euro 2016.Hazard, 25, has endured a difficult campaign, scoring an underwhelming two Premier League goals to go with just three assists.

However, the midfielder feels he can erase that by starring for Belgium, who are considered one of the threats to win the European Championship in France."I hope to return to top form," Hazard told Canal+ ."I know that if I have a good Euros, my bad season will be forgotten."

Hazard has struggled with injuries this season and his first league goals of the campaign came against AFC Bournemouth last time out.The midfielder says he is not yet at full fitness and would only get better to close out the campaign."I am at 80-85 per cent of my abilities," Hazard said. "Physical fitness comes with games."

Hazard and Belgium are in Group E at Euro 2016, taking on Italy, the Republic of Ireland and Sweden.

 

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Van Gaal calls for video referees after Drinkwater decision

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal reiterated his call for the introduction of a video referee after his side prevented Leicester City from claiming the Premier League title with a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

Anthony Martial fired United in front early in the game but Wes Morgan levelled with a header, before Danny Drinkwater was shown a second yellow card in the closing minutes for pulling back Memphis Depay on the edge of the penalty area.

United's players protested against referee Michael Oliver's decision to give a free-kick, insisting the contact was inside the box, but Van Gaal stressed how hard it was for the officials to see exactly where the offence had taken place.

"It is difficult. I also said it last week that it's so difficult nowadays for the referee to decide," Van Gaal said."For more than 20, 30 years I've been in this profession, we need video because the referee cannot do it by himself.

"I think [Oliver] is one of the best referees in England but yes, difficult."Van Gaal felt a video referee could have helped with another key moment in the game when Danny Simpson collided with Jesse Lingard, who was through on goal, but Oliver gave no foul.

"We also have the red card maybe, for Simpson on Lingard," the Dutchman told MUTV."I can see why you wouldn't whistle, because it was not a heavy foul, but he grabbed him, so he could have given it.”

 

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Barclays Premier League Fixture 2016.05.02

Barclays Premier League Fixture 2016.05.02

Chelsea Vs Tottenham

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LA Liga Fixture 2016.05.02

LA Liga Fixture 2016.05.02

Malaga Vs Levante​

 

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Serie A Fixtures 2016.05.02

Serie A Fixtures 2016.05.02

Genoa Vs Roma

Napoli Vs Atalanta​

 

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Stankovic: Simeone will coach Inter, but not now

Inter director Dejan Stankovic believes Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone will return to coach the Italian club - but he will have to wait until Roberto Mancini departs.

The former midfielder hinted at a return to the San Siro last month, sparking discussion about the possibility of the move.

Stankovic, however, is not expecting to see Simeone back in Milan anytime soon, despite Mancini's failure to secure Champions League football."This is already the fourth time we've talked about this," Stankovic told Mediaset Premium.

Inter director Dejan Stankovic believes Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone will return to coach the Italian club - but he will have to wait until Roberto Mancini departs.The former midfielder hinted at a return to the San Siro last month, sparking discussion about the possibility of the move.

Stankovic, however, is not expecting to see Simeone back in Milan anytime soon, despite Mancini's failure to secure Champions League football."This is already the fourth time we've talked about this," Stankovic told Mediaset Premium.

 

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Welbeck looks a different animal again, says Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Danny Welbeck is like "a different animal" again after recovering from his lengthy injury lay-off.

Welbeck came off the bench to score the winner in Saturday's 1-0 Premier League victory over Norwich City and the England forward looks to be approaching full fitness after a knee problem that kept him out for nine months.And Wenger feels the former Manchester United man will continue to improve before the end of the season.

"Welbeck came in and played very well [on his comeback], like the players who have been out for nine months always do," Wenger told reporters.

"You have to trust me on that, I know that well. After they come in they are super sharp and then after, against Crystal Palace, he had a very average game and looked a bit for one or two games that he paid for the physical energy he had given.

"So you let them rest one or two games and you bring them back in. Against Norwich, when he came on, you could see he is a different animal again."

 

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Vardy named FWA Footballer of the Year

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has been named the Football Writers' Association's Footballer of the Year for the 2015-16 season, it was announced on Monday. The England international picks up the award after team-mate Riyad Mahrez was named the PFA Player of the Year last week.

Vardy, who has scored 22 goals this season to help put Leicester on the brink of a first Premier League title, scooped the award ahead of team-mates N'Golo Kante and Mahrez.

There were a total of seven Leicester players nominated for the award including Danny Drinkwater, Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan and Kasper Schmeichel while Vardy becomes the first Foxes player to win the accolade.

"It’s a great honour to win such a prestigious award and to have my name added to a list of previous winners that includes some unbelievable players. Thank you to the Football Writers’ Association and to everyone that voted," Vardy said. "Thank you also to my team-mates, who are the reason I’ve been able to achieve anything.

"It’s been an amazing season for all of us at Leicester, based on the team-work not individuals, which you can see in the voting. Thanks also to the manager, all the staff and the fans for their support.

"We’re all totally focused on getting over the line in the final two weeks of the season and turning a great season into one we’ll never forget. Hopefully I can contribute to that and, if selected, carry some good form into the Euros this summer."

 

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Congratulations Vardy!​