..::Football IV::..

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Chievo 1-2 Juventus: Pjanic free-kick gives champions the win

Miralem Pjanic brought out his free-kick expertise to maintain Juventus' five-point advantage over AC Milan at the top of Serie A with a 2-1 win at Chievo.

Juve lost Andrea Barzagli to an early injury but slowly cranked up the pressure towards the end of a bruising first-half, before Mario Mandzukic broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute.

After playing a 100th Champions League match for Juve against Lyon in midweek, Gianluigi Buffon strode out for a 600th appearance in Italy's top flight at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, but the 38-year-old was beaten by a 66th-minute penalty from fellow veteran Sergio Pellissier.

Parity only lasted for nine minutes as Pjanic took advantage of prime position just outside the Chievo box to send a sumptuous strike flying into the top-right corner – the Bosnian's fourth in Juventus colours.

AC Milan's victory by the same scoreline at Palermo means Massimiliano Allegri's defending champions needed the win to preserve their cushion at the summit, although Roma will close to within four points if they beat Bologna in Sunday's late kick-off.

There was an early setback for Juventus when their veteran former Chievo defender Barzagli landed awkwardly defending a first-minute corner and appeared to injure his shoulder.

He left the field on a stretcher to a warm ovation from the home supporters, meaning Leonardo Bonucci's return from a thigh problem would be a more extensive substitute outing than Allegri envisaged.

Gonzalo Higuain burst into space down the left in the 11th minute but Chievo streamed back in numbers and shots from the Argentina striker and Juan Cuadrado were blocked.

Such tireless workrate was a prominent feature from Rolando Maran's men early on and midway through the half Nicolas Spolli powered a header narrowly wide from their latest attacking set-piece.

Mandzukic almost netted a superb opener for Juve in the 28th minute as he collected Pjanic's raking crossfield pass, lobbed the ball over Spolli but volleyed beyond the crossbar.

The Croatia international then headed a more straightforward chance wide, Cuadrado flashed a long-range drive just past the post and Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino stood firm to deny Higuain at close quarters and keep the deadlock intact at the break.

Chievo looked to reassert themselves as an attacking force in the opening stages of the second period but they were ruthlessly punished for ceding possession in their own half after 53 minutes.

Defender Massimo Gobbi slipped and gave the ball away, with Cuadrado alert to thread a perfectly weighted throughball for Mandzukic to clip a low finish beyond Sorrentino.

Higuain rounded Sorrentino after the hour but Dario Dainelli got back to scramble behind and Chievo made the most of that escape.

Buffon had been a virtual spectator on his landmark appearance but reacted magnificently in the 64th minute, saving low down to his left when Lucas Castro smashed a loose ball goalwards before Rolando Maran's men levelled from the spot two minutes later.Stephan Lichtsteiner played Pellissier onside and brought the veteran striker to ground as he bore down on goal.

Chievo's record appearance-maker and goalscorer picked himself up to coolly send Buffon the wrong way and mark his first start since September with a maiden Serie A goal this term.

But Pjanic imitated Pellissier in drawing a foul - Spolli the guilty party - and stepped up to score, stealing the points in picturebook fashion.

Juve should have added a third in the closing minutes, with Stefano Sturaro blazing wastefully over and the excellent Cuadrado slotting wide at the end of a spellbinding solo run, but there were no more alarms at the other end.

 

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Liverpool 6-1 Watford: Devastating Reds stun Hornets to go top

Liverpool's devastating front three of Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino were all on target as the Reds battered Watford 6-1 to go top of the Premier League.

Chelsea ran riot in a 5-0 hammering of Everton on Saturday to reach the summit, but Liverpool responded in kind with a slick, incisive display at Anfield to displace Antonio Conte's men.

Unsurprisingly, it was Coutinho, Firmino and Mane that proved the Hornets' tormentors in chief and the latter met Coutinho's cross to open the scoring.

Coutinho drilled home from Firmino's pass to double the lead and there was a simple elegance about the third as Emre Can nodded in Adam Lallana's cross before half-time for his second goal in as many games.

Liverpool were equally impressive after the break. Lallana teed up Firmino to make it four and the Brazilian turned provider for Mane to score his second.
Daryl Janmaat grabbed a consolation for Watford, but Georginio Wijnaldum rounded off the rout in injury-time.

It was a huge statement of intent from Jurgen Klopp's men who are now unbeaten in nine top-flight games, while Watford - who had kept three straight clean sheets prior to the rout - must lick their wounds over the international break.

Liverpool were bright from the off and Firmino volleyed Adam Lallana's cross at Heurelho Gomes before Lucas Leiva drove straight at the Watford goalkeeper from point-blank range.

The Reds continued to pour forward in numbers and Mane broke at pace to tee up Coutinho, who took a great touch inside before drilling wide of the near post.

Liverpool's football was scintillating and Firmino wastefully poked wide when slipped in by Coutinho.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 27th minute, though. Coutinho worked a short corner with James Milner before delivering for Mane to glance his header past Gomes.

It was 2-0 three minutes later. A slick move led to Firmino picking out Coutinho, who took a touch out of feet and drilled into the bottom-left corner from the edge of the box, before Gomes was taken off injured.

And the game was put beyond doubt shortly before the break. Lallana crossed from deep on the right and the unmarked Can guided a simple header past substitute goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.

There was no let-up after the interval and there was little surprise when Liverpool made it 4-0 in the 57th minute. Klopp’s side carved open the visiting defence and Lallana's brilliant low ball was turned home by Firmino.By the hour it was 5-0. This time Firmino slipped in a wonderful pass to Mane, who clinically finished past Pantilimon.

The game was well beyond Watford, but Etienne Capoue was twice denied by Loris Karius before their brief spell of pressure yielded a goal back when Janmaat coolly finished past Karius.

Liverpool remained in control, though, with substitute Daniel Sturridge twice rattling the crossbar, and it was from his saved shot that Wijnaldum turned in the rebound to get off the mark for the hosts.

 

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Inter set to announce De Boer replacement & 'change in structure'

Inter have announced they are set to confirm the appointment of a new head coach to replace the sacked Frank de Boer.The Dutchman, who had been hired in August, was dismissed on Tuesday after just 85 days in charge.

He left with the team 12th in the Serie A table having recorded four wins from 11 league matches."F.C. Internazionale wishes to confirm that our new head coach will be announced in the next 48 hours," the club said in a statement on Sunday.

"Various meeting have been held over the last few days as the club has sought to identify the right man to take the team forward.

"A change within the club's management structure is also due to be announced.
"In the meantime we are focusing all our attention on winning an important football match against Crotone this afternoon."Forza Inter!"

Youth team coach Stefano Vecchi was placed in temporary charge following De Boer's departure, overseeing a 2-1 Europa League loss at Southampton on Thursday.

Former Lazio boss Stefano Pioli has been linked with the vacancy.

 

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Buffon becomes fourth player in Serie A history to make 600 appearances

Gianluigi Buffon has become the fourth player in Serie A history to make 600 appearances in Italy's top flight after starting Juventus' match at Chievo.

The 38-year-old joins former Milan great Paolo Maldini, ex-Inter defender Javier Zanetti and evergreen Roma veteran Francesco Totti in the 600 club.

Maldini leads the way with 647 appearances, while Totti (607) is likely to join Buffon in surpassing Zanetti's mark of 615 games during the current season.

He played 168 times for former employers Parma, with Sunday's match at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi marking a 432nd outing in Juventus colours.
The match is Buffon's 23rd versus Chievo – he has only faced seven Serie A opponents with greater frequency - and comes hot on the heels of the Italy goalkeeper's last career landmark in midweek.Wednesday's 1-1 Champions League draw against Lyon was his 100th in Europe's premier competition.

In September, Buffon outstripped Gianluca Pagliuca (592) in becoming the goalkeeper with the most Serie A matches under his belt, while his 973 consecutive minutes without conceding between January and March this year represents another league record.

 

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Pochettino sets unbeaten derby record for Spurs

Mauricio Pochettino is the first Tottenham manager ever to remain unbeaten after his first five top-flight matches against North London rivals Arsenal.

Kevin Wimmer headed into his own net in the first half to give Arsenal a 1-0 lead at the Emirates Stadium, but Harry Kane slotted home a second-half penalty to earn a 1-1 draw for Spurs.

Pochettino has received plenty of plaudits for the way he has been improving Tottenham over the last couple of years, and his unbeaten run against Arsene Wenger sums up his impact at White Hart Lane.

No Spurs manager in history has managed to get through his first five games with their fiercest rivals without tasting defeat, but Pochettino has managed just that.

 

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Ibrahimovic scores 25,000th Premier League goal

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored the 25,000th goal in Premier League history.
The English top flight began Sunday just eight goals away from the milestone, but strikes in Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Tottenham as well as Southampton's game against Hull and Liverpool vs Watford saw the division edge closer to the figure.

However, after Paul Pogba put Manchester United 1-0 up against Swansea City on Sunday, Ibrahimovic was able to grab the commemorative goal for his side.
After Wayne Rooney collected the ball, he charged down the left flank and cut inside to find the former Sweden star, who beat a defender before smashing it into the net.

The goal is Ibra's fifth in 12 Premier League appearances, but is the first he has scored in the competition since his strike against Manchester City in September.

 

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Ibra ayeth form 1kata apu 1kanam loku deyak ath next match 1ka miss wenawa ada match 1keth yellow gattha nisa​

 

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Swansea City 1-3 Manchester United: Zlatan at the double as Red Devils take win

Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted two milestone goals as Manchester United ended their four-match winless run in the Premier League with a comfortable 3-1 victory at Swansea City.

After Paul Pogba had opened the scoring with a sweetly struck half-volley, Ibrahimovic scored the Premier League's 25,000th goal before making it 3-0 with the 400th of his club career.

The nature of the victory will have pleased manager Jose Mourinho, who watched from the stands as he served a one-match touchline ban, although Mike van der Hoorn's late consolation robbed David de Gea of a clean sheet.

Swansea boss Bob Bradley, by contrast, remains without a win in charge of the Welsh club, who were poor throughout and scored with their only effort on target.
The result lifts United to sixth, while Van der Hoorn's header keeps Swansea off the foot of the table on goal difference.

Wayne Rooney was included in a United starting XI that also featured the unfamiliar backline of Matteo Darmian, Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones and Ashley Young, and it was the England captain who had the first sight of goal, curling just wide after beating Angel Rangel on the edge of the box.

Luke Shaw was a late withdrawal and Daley Blind was only fit enough for the bench following Thursday's Europa League defeat at Fenerbahce, but Pogba's swift recovery from a knock picked up in Turkey soon paid dividends.The French midfielder rifled home a wonderful strike from 20 yards out following a chipped Rooney ball back to the edge of the box in the 15th minute.

Bradley's hunt for a first win as Swansea boss prompted him to switch to a 4-4-2 formation for the visit of United, pairing Borja Baston with Fernando Llorente in attack.However, the hosts were ineffective and took just six minutes to concede a second.

Rooney played the ball inside to Ibrahimovic, who left Ki Sung-yueng for dead before sending a low drive beyond Lukasz Fabianski. United were tearing Swansea apart and, as home fans directed chants of 'We want our club back' at the directors' box, Ibrahimovic added the visitors' third.

Played into the box by Rooney, who became only the third player to assist 100 Premier League goals, the former Paris Saint-Germain forward shrugged off the weak challenge of Rangel to double his personal tally.

Bradley introduced Modou Barrow and Jefferson Montero for the second half as Swansea reverted to a more familiar 4-2-3-1 shape and, while the changes did not make an immediate difference, the home side did pull a goal back in the 69th minute.De Gea got a hand to De Hoorn's header from a Gylfi Sigurdsson free-kick, but it was not enough to keep out the Dutchman's effort.

That, and a tame Barrow effort that looked to be heading for the right-hand upright when it was intercepted by De Gea late on, was the sum of Swansea's response as United held on for a convincing win, although a late Ibrahimovic booking means he will miss next week's clash with Arsenal.

 

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OFFICIAL: Ronaldo to renew Real Madrid contract until 2021

Cristiano Ronaldo will renew his Real Madrid contract at a special event on Monday afternoon, the club has announced.

The Portugal star has agreed terms to extend his stay at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2021, when he will be 36. His current deal was due to expire in 2018.

A club statement reads: "The official event for the renewal of Cristiano Ronaldo's contract will take place tomorrow, Monday 7 November at 1:30pm in the presidential box at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.

"The Portuguese forward will extend his contract until 30 June 2021 at the event attended by club president Florentino Pérez and the player himself."Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in 2009 for a then-world-record fee and has gone on to win La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League during his time in the Spanish capital.On a personal basis, he has won a second and third Ballon d'Or and been La Liga's top scorer three times.

 

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Congratulations C.Ronaldo!​

 

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Cristiano Ronaldo is a machine - Morata

Alvaro Morata defended Cristiano Ronaldo in the wake of his underwhelming performance in Real Madrid's 3-0 La Liga win over Leganes on Sunday.

The Portugal international endured a match to forget as he only managed three attempts on goal during 90 minutes, with none of them hitting the target.

Ronaldo has now failed to find the net in four of his last five appearances in all competitions, although he did score a hat-trick against Alaves last weekend.

Morata is not worried about his team-mate's relatively poor run of form, though, telling reporters: "Cristiano is a machine and a fantastic player who can score five goals in a game."He is the best in the world for me."It is obvious that when someone scores so many goals he always wants to score more.

"The important thing is that the team keeps winning."Morata started for Madrid in Karim Benzema's absence and capped a fine outing with a goal and an assist, but he was in no mood to discuss Zinedine Zidane's choices regarding the number nine position this campaign."I am tired of all the questions about playing time and, if I do not play, my mood," he added.

"I am a team player and I am happy to be at Madrid. I have to keep working, I dream of being successful at Real Madrid and I have to improve a lot."I am here to help the team and if that comes by scoring goals then it is great."

 

[Alucard_SxE]

RVP suffers horrific eye injury Seems like his eye is permanantly damaged and his career is over. What a player he is!!! So sadning to hear this​

 

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Leicester City 1-2 West Brom: Phillips downs struggling champions

Matt Phillips pounced on Danny Drinkwater's poor backpass and netted a second-half winner to help West Brom beat Leicester City 2-1 in Sunday's Premier League encounter at the King Power Stadium as the reigning champions' difficult start to the season continues.

Leicester have won just three out of their opening 11 league fixtures and are already trailing leaders Liverpool by 14 points following this weekend's results.
Albion, who ended a five-game winless streak, took a 52nd-minute lead through James Morrison, only for Islam Slimani to almost immediately restore parity.

But the impressive Phillips made sure Tony Pulis' men clinched a third league victory of 2016-17 - and Leicester's first home defeat in the Premier League since September 2015 - when he latched on to Drinkwater's wayward pass with 18 minutes remaining and coolly found a way past Ron-Robert Zieler.

The visitors made a strong start to the game and nearly went a goal up after just three minutes when Phillips almost made the most of a poor defensive header from Christian Fuchs, with goalkeeper Zieler only narrowly managing to push the low shot toward the far corner wide of the target.

Phillips continued to cause the Leicester defence all kinds of problems in the opening stages and he found Salomon Rondon with a sublime cross from the left in the 15th minute, but the striker aimed his header just wide.

Leicester, meanwhile, struggled offensively before the break and failed to record a single shot on goal as the Albion defence did well to keep Shinji Okazaki and Slimani quiet.

Claudio Ranieri consequently opted to replace Okazaki with Jamie Vardy at half-time, but West Brom continued to dominate after the break and they deservedly went a goal up via Morrison.

Rondon stopped a Leicester counterattack in midfield before setting up Phillips down the right, who in turn reached Morrison with a sublime cross and the attacking midfielder beat Zieler with a superb header.

Leicester immediately started pushing for an equaliser and they got what they were after just three minutes after the opener when Slimani found the net. Riyad Mahrez curled in a dangerous cross from the right and Slimani lost his marker before heading home from close range.

The visitors remained unperturbed by the quick leveller and Phillips restored his side's lead in the 72nd minute after a huge error from Drinkwater. The Leicester midfielder's poor pass backwards was easily intercepted by Phillips and the winger capped a fine outing with a delicate finish.

 

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Inter 3-0 Crotone: Icardi nets two as hosts leave it late

A late double from Mauro Icardi helped Stefano Vecchi sign off on his temporary spell in charge of Inter with a 3-0 victory over Serie A's bottom side Crotone.

Inter Primavera coach Vecchi was handed the first-team reins for two matches following the dismissal of Frank de Boer last week, and, after overseeing a 2-1 Europa League defeat at Southampton on Thursday, at least departed on the back of a victory.

Inter announced prior to kick-off that a permanent replacement for De Boer would be confirmed in the next 48 hours, with former Lazio boss Stefano Pioli and ex-Villarreal coach Marcelino believed to be leading the race, and whoever takes charge may now find a more confident set of players than originally anticipated.Goalkeeper Alex Cordaz impressed against his former club as Crotone defended stoically, but he was finally beaten in the 84th minute when he failed to stop Ivan Perisic's late strike slipping beneath him.

Icardi supplied the assist for Perisic and then got on the scoresheet himself, drawing a foul from Gianmarco Ferrari inside the box and slamming the resultant penalty into the bottom-left corner.

Inter captain Icardi completed the scoring when he volleyed home his fifth goal in his last four outings in all competitions from substitute Eder's cross as the Nerazzurri returned to winning ways.

After Banega forced an early save from Cordaz, Inter lost Andrea Ranocchia to a thigh injury in the 20th minute following a collision with Marcello Trotta and Vecchi sent Jeison Murillo on in his place.

Crotone's counter-attacking focus failed to produce a serious threat in the first half, and they could have been behind had Danilo D'Ambrosio's goal not been chalked off for a marginal offside decision.

A blistering 25-yard strike from Antonio Candreva was parried back into danger by Cordaz, but D'Ambrosio was deemed to have tucked the rebound home from an illegal position.

Cordaz produced a far better save in the 32nd minute when he got down to his left and turned Miranda's powerful header behind for a corner, while Marcelo Brozovic curled wide from 20 yards before the break.

Inter started the second half positively and Murillo spurned a great opportunity when he appeared to send Banega's free-kick over with the back of his neck.Banega had an effort from the edge of the box deflected narrowly wide in the 50th minute and then saw his 25-yard free-kick clawed away by Cordaz.

Inter struggled to create chances to score until Icardi's raking cross-field ball found Perisic in space on the right, and the Croatian raced into the area to fire home the pivotal opener.

Icardi made sure of the three points when he won and converted a penalty with two minutes of normal time remaining, relieving the pressure that had been building around San Siro.

There was further reason to cheer in the third minute of stoppage-time, when Icardi was found in space on the penalty spot to round off an ultimately comfortable victory that ensures Inter head into the international break in the top half of the table.

 

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Sevilla 1-2 Barcelona: Messi & Suarez fire Catalan comeback

Lionel Messi scored once and created another to help Barcelona to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Sevilla in Sunday's La Liga encounter at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, with Luis Suarez netting the winner in the 61st minute.

Second-placed Barcelona narrowed the gap with leaders Real Madrid to two points heading into the international break and went some way to restoring confidence having been beaten 3-1 by Manchester City in the Champions League earlier this week.

It was Jorge Sampaoli's men who enjoyed the better start, though, and deservedly went 1-0 ahead when Vitolo punished a defensive mistake from Sergi Roberto.
But it was not meant to be for Sevilla as Messi levelled the scoring in the closing stages of the first half - his 27th goal against Sevilla, his favourite opponent - before the Argentine set up Luis Suarez for the winner after the break.

Sevilla started the match with attacking intentions and got their first chance after just 30 seconds, Luciano Vietto shrugging off Javier Mascherano on the edge of the box before unleashing a tame shot towards the far post that was easily saved by goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Barca could have opened the scoring just minutes later after a rapid counterattack involving their illustrious attacking trio. Messi cut inside from the right before playing in Neymar down the middle, who in turn set up Luis Suarez on the left-hand side of the area, but Sergio Rico did well to keep out the Uruguay international's low shot.

The home side continued to cause the Barcelona backline all kinds of trouble and Vitolo handed them the lead after 15 minutes to punish poor defending from Sergi Roberto. The right-back allowed Vitolo straight through on goal after failing to intercept Pablo Sarabia's throughball and the winger kept his cool in front of Ter Stegen to break the deadlock.

Sevilla got chances to add a second via Vietto and again Vitolo, but yet another quick Barca break in the closing stages of the first half saw Messi level somewhat against the run of play. Denis Suarez set up Neymar down the left, with the Brazilian dancing past two opponents before finding Messi and the Argentine coolly slotted home from just outside the box.

Messi threatened for Barcelona on a number of occasions early in the second half as the Catalans went in search of a winner, but the Argentine had a shot blocked by Adil Rami, before Sergio Rico tipped a volley over the crossbar after some good work from Luis Suarez.

The visitors slowly took control of the game after the break and they went 2-1 up at the hour mark via Luis Suarez. Messi carved open the Sevilla defence with a mazy dribble through the middle before setting up his team-mate and the striker beat Sergio Rico with a powerful low shot.

Steven N'Zonzi came close to equalising after a corner kick, while Luis Suarez - who picked up a late yellow card that means he will miss Barca's next game against Malaga through suspension -and Neymar could have added a third for the champions, but it ended 2-1.

 

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PSG 4-0 Rennes: Emery's men close gap on leaders Nice but suffer Cavani blow

Edinson Cavani's first-half performance inspired Paris Saint-Germain to a 4-0 win over Rennes, but he injured himself in the process as the champions extended their unbeaten run to five Ligue 1 matches.

The Uruguayan striker had a hand in PSG's first two goals, heading against the crossbar before Rennes' Gelson Fernandes put the ball into his own net and lobbing in the second himself, but he had to be substituted after straining himself in the process of scoring.

Cavani's injury was the only blot on a very impressive performance from Unai Emery's team, and Adrien Rabiot delighted the home crowd with a spectacular third goal in his 100th Ligue 1 game before Marco Verratti volleyed in a fourth.
The result moved PSG level on points with second-placed Monaco and three behind leaders Nice - who were beaten by Caen earlier in the day - in Ligue 1, while Rennes are fifth after sustaining their first defeat in five league games.

Emery will hope the international break will give Cavani the chance to recover from his injury before PSG return to Ligue 1 and Champions League action later in November.

Kevin Trapp replaced the injured Alphonse Areola in goal for PSG and he was tested early on, saving a fierce shot by Paul-Georges Ntep after the Rennes winger linked up well with Yoann Gourcuff.

Rennes dominated the first 10 minutes, but the champions worked their way into the game and Angel Di Maria was at his incisive best, firing just wide after 12 minutes.

A corner from Di Maria allowed Thiago Silva to power a header towards goal that PSG claimed was blocked by the arm of Fernandes, but referee Amaury Delerue waved play on.

Justice was done in the eyes of the PSG players when Cavani slammed a header onto the crossbar and Fernandes bundled the ball into his own net as it fell, giving the home side a lead they deserved after a sustained period of pressure.

Cavani made it 2-0 just before half-time when he intercepted a clearance by Fernandes and found the net with a wonderful looping shot on the turn that sailed over Rennes goalkeeper Benoit Costil, but the marksman injured himself in the process.

Blaise Matuidi was calling for a penalty when Pedro Mendes brought him down on the edge of the box early in the second half, but PSG had to settle for a free-kick that Di Maria sent wide via a deflection.

The home crowd gasped when Serge Aurier hit the crossbar with an audacious long-range shot after 67 minutes, but moments later they were celebrating once again.

Di Maria fed Rabiot and the young midfielder launched a powerful shot that swerved past Costil to put the result beyond doubt.

Aurier hit the crossbar for the second time in five minutes after Di Maria sent over a dangerous cross, but nothing could stop Verratti from finding the net when Hatem Ben Arfa's cross picked him out 11 minutes from time and his volley wrapped up an easy win for PSG.

 

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Mourinho: It doesn't matter if Ibrahimovic scores!

Jose Mourinho has insisted that it "doesn't matter" if Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores or not after he tore apart Swansea City in Sunday's 3-1.

The veteran Swede, 35, scored a double after Paul Pogba had opened the scoring for the Red Devils, leaving Mike van der Hoorn's second-half goal to be just a consolation.

Ibrahimovic's goals ended a run of six matches without a goal for the United forward and took him to 400 in his club career, though Mourinho played down his team's dependence on the forward.

"He's a great player for the team," Mourinho, who served his one-match touchline ban in the stands, told MUTV. "Okay today he scored goals, he didn't in the past few matches, but that doesn't matter at all.

"One thing is a striker who doesn't score goals and doesn't do anything else.Another thing is a striker that doesn't score goals but does everything else."During this period where he was not scoring goals he did everything else for the team. So I'm very happy that he's back to scoring."

Injuries to Antonio Valencia, Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw left Mourinho short of options at the back, while Daley Blind was only fit enough for the bench.

United played with a back four of Phil Jones, Ashley Young, Matteo Darmian and Marcos Rojo in south Wales, only conceding once the three points were all but secured.

"I'm really pleased," Mourinho added. "I think for all of us from the United side it was a calm day."I think since the first minute we felt that we were in the game, that we were stable and that we were in control.

"The players were really good in their focus, in their effort, in their concentration.
"Following the gameplan I think they were really good and I'm very happy for all of them, but especially for people like Ashley Young, playing outside his position, and Phil Jones - brave guy to say 'I'm ready for the team' when he wasn't ready."After two or three months without kicking a ball he was ready only [in the head], but [in the head] is where it matters.

"I'm happy for Marcos playing his third consecutive match as a central defender, I'm happy for Matteo because left-back is not his position, so the defensive line showed great personality. I'm pleased for them."

 

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Leicester need break to recharge – Ranieri

Claudio Ranieri conceded the international break has come at a good time for Leicester City after they were beaten 2-1 at home by West Bromwich Albion.

James Morrison and Matt Phillips scored either side of an Islam Slimani equaliser to end a West Brom winless run that stretched back to September and condemn Leicester to their first defeat at King Power stadium in 14 months.

The result means Leicester have won just one of their last six Premier League games, and Ranieri admitted that his players - who are are also competing in the Champions League - are in need of respite.

He said: "It was not such a good match for us. We were a little unlucky, but that's football. We need to recharge during the break."We wanted to switch play because they're so big and strong. We created chances doing that, but not as many as I imagined.

"We tried to play our game, but were not fluid and found it difficult to move the ball. We must find a solution together."

Leicester's form in Europe has been in stark contrast to their domestic fortunes, having won three and drawn one of their four Group G games in the Champions League.But the defending champions sit 14th in the Premier League and Ranieri said he would be speaking to his players about the problems they face.

He told BBC Sport: "We tried to do our match. The first half wasn't so good, the second was better. Today it wasn't so easy. We maybe played too much in the Champions League.

"For the first time we were not fluid and it was very tough. It is strange for us. We have to speak to find solution together. I am unhappy because we lost our home record."We have to stay together as we did last season when everything was right."

 

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Falcao finding his best form - Pekerman

Colombia coach Jose Pekerman is excited to see striker Radamel Falcao finding his best form for Monaco.

Falcao is back in the Colombia squad thanks to his fine start to the Ligue 1 season with Monaco, have struggled for form and fitness during loan spells at Manchester United and Chelsea.

The 30-year-old scored twice in Friday's 6-0 demolition of Nancy on Saturday, having also bagged a brace in Wednesday's Champions League match against CSKA Moscow, taking his total to eight for the season.

And as Falcao prepares to return to the international fold for Colombia's World Cup qualifiers, Pekerman has heaped praise on the 62-cap veteran.

"Falcao has always been a key player in the national team," said Pekerman via FIFA.com."Unfortunately his injury kept him out of the last World Cup. Now we're in another stage and, after a timeout, he is finding his best form.

"You have to start from bottom to top. Hopefully he can find his best form and realise his highest expectations."Colombia host Chile on Thursday before travelling to Argentina on November 15.

 

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Gundogan: Manchester City are bigger than Bayern Munich

Manchester City have made a huge impression on Ilkay Gundogan, who is confident he is at a bigger club than Bayern Munich.

Gundogan joined City for a fee reported to be in the region of £20million from Borussia Dortmund in June, though a knee injury delayed his first-team debut until September.

The Germany international has since firmly established himself in Pep Guardiola's midfield, the highlight of his time at the club being a double in the 3-1 Champions League victory over Barcelona last week.

Having settled in to his new surroundings, Gundogan feels the scale of ambition on show at the Etihad Stadium is unmatched in the Bundesliga."When I come to the training centre by car, it's already very impressive. Not even Bayern can compare with this, it's in a different league," he said in an interview with Kicker.

"You can see that you have arrived at a worldwide club that wants big things and wants to develop great things in the next few years."Accordingly, the pressure and responsibility on individual players is profound. It's something different to Dortmund.

"It is clear here that you are striving for the supreme. The expectation is extremely high because of the transfers and because of Pep, who is the personification of success."

Gundogan missed Germany's triumphant 2014 World Cup campaign due to a back injury, but with Joachim Low having extended his contract with the national team until 2018 he is optimistic over future chances of success.

He added: "It is a great sign. I believe that he has done extremely successful work in the past years and I hope there are many more successful years to come."The team is undergoing a little change, there are new talents and it's extremely exciting."