..::Football IV::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Klopp slams Sturridge rumours and insists Liverpool won't sell in January

Jurgen Klopp has dismissed fictitious reports over Daniel Sturridge's future and made it evident that Liverpool will not sell a member of their first-team squad in January.

The England international, currently nursing a calf complaint, has started just five games this season with Roberto Firmino preferred as the focal point of the club's front three. That has led to heightened speculation around the 27-year-old's standing at Anfield, with West Ham the latest side to be linked with the striker.

Klopp, however, ridiculed suggestions that Liverpool would entertain offers for Sturridge or any other player who has contributed to their sensational start to 2016-17 in the winter window."I think you and your colleagues create stories where there is no story and then ask me about the story, which is no story," he told reporters.

"There is absolutely no idea or no thoughts to sell any player of the first-team squad. I don't think it would make sense."Unfortunately, Daniel is not in training until now and that's the thing I'm more concerned about than any transfer rumours.

"I'm prepared for January and all the things you could ask - it will be funny, I'm sure."Sturridge will sit out Liverpool's trip to Bournemouth on Sunday, having missed the 2-0 victories over Sunderland and Leeds United.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Diego Costa's dark side 'in the past', says Conte

Antonio Conte believes that Diego Costa is a changed man after he was told by his boss to reform his ways following four bookings in his first six league games of the season.

Costa has gone eight games without a yellow card in all competitions and is also leading the Premier League scoring charts with 10 goals - the same tally as Man City's Sergio Aguero.

The Blues boss is pleased that he no longer has to answer questions about the Spain international striker's discipline and hailed the change in his player's behaviour ahead of the top-of-the-table clash.

"I am pleased for him, for Diego," Conte told a news conference at Stamford Bridge. "He is showing a great respect, great passion in the right way during these games. It is fantastic for him, for me, his team-mates and the club.

"Also it is great to talk about Diego in a positive way and not a bad way. At the start of the season, the questions about Diego were about how his passion was not good and that we should try to change his behaviours. I think Diego is playing very well and we are happy that this [bad] behaviour is in the past."

Chelsea fans had begun a hashtag entitled #CostaCrimes as they felt their striker was unfairly targeted by referees and the media. Costa hadn't done himself any favours, however, having been involved in several high-profile incidents during his time at Stamford Bridge.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mourinho: Schweinsteiger can stay at Man Utd

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho says Bastian Schweinsteiger could remain at the club beyond January.

Mourinho stressed Schweinsteiger holds the power given he is under contract at Old Trafford until 2018, but praised the midfielder's attitude since returning to first-team contention.

The 32-year-old made his first United appearance since March as a late substitute in Wednesday's 4-1 EFL Cup win over West Ham at Old Trafford, one month after returning to training having been exiled by the manager at the start of the season.Mourinho has now suggested there is every chance he could stay until the end of the campaign.

"Of course he can [stay]," Mourinho said ahead of Sunday's Premier League trip to Everton."In the summer we tried to make something happen for Bastian to get a different future. "If you have a contract with the club you are the powerful one that can decide your future.

"He decided to stay even in difficult circumstances. He worked for that and deserved that little happiness of the last month."In January again he is the powerful one - and probably with better feelings than before because now he is working with the team.

"He understands our dynamics, philosophy and you can see the happiness he showed the other day is from somebody who is so happy and so proud with his efforts and his determination. I like people with determination."

Mourinho felt Schweinsteiger deserved his rousing ovation from the home support.
He continued: "Everybody was happy. I was happy because when he was not training with the team he did it in a professional way.

"When he started training with the team he was struggling a little bit because it's not easy, but he fought a lot against that and he managed to do that without injuries and without the need to stop. "He was continuously working for a month so we thought it would be an option for him to play a little bit.

"He is another one who can help us. During the season you have injuries and suspensions. For example Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini were suspended in that match - two less - and he was ready.

"Of course it was only 10 minutes and the score was 3-1 [when he came on], but if we had needed him before then he was ready."He is another in the squad who is working to try to have more chances."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Nobody had heard of Payet before West Ham move'

Paul Merson has claimed that "nobody would have heard of" Dimitri Payet if he had not joined West Ham.

The midfielder is a cult hero among Hammers fans following a stunning debut campaign that saw him notch nine goals, 12 assists and bettered only by Mesut Ozil for chances created, but has struggled this term as West Ham lie 16th.

Payet, who has 32 caps for France after making his debut in 2010, has drawn criticism for his attitude during the midweek 4-1 loss to Manchester United, and Merson feels the 29-year-old owes West Ham an improvement in form after turning him into a superstar.

"I was impressed with Manchester United in midweek, but it was against a poor West Ham team, who were virtually playing with 10-men - Dimitri Payet doesn't look interested - at all," Merson told Sky Sports.

"I would advise him to knuckle down and help get West Ham out of this relegation battle. He looks like someone that wants to be moving on his way. If it wasn't for West Ham nobody would have ever heard of Payet - he wouldn't even be playing for France."

Merson believes West Ham took a chance on Payet, twice named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Season, after a final campaign with Marseille which saw him top the Ligue 1 assist charts with 17 and make twice as many key passes as any other player."He owes West Ham, who took a big chance on him and got him out of French football. West Ham made him a superstar," he said.

"He needs to make sure West Ham have a good season. Then, at the end of the season, he could get his move. He looks like he's putting himself first rather above West Ham Football Club.

"Look at him the other day when Ashley Fletcher scored at Old Trafford. He didn't look happy. He should start running around and winning points for the club."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Real Madrid must win La Liga and end Barca dominance - Roberto Carlos

Real Madrid great Roberto Carlos believes the club's main focus this season should be to end their Liga drought ahead of Saturday's Clasico showdown with Barcelona.

Madrid have emerged as Europe's dominant force in recent seasons, winning the Champions League twice in the past three years, each time at the expense of Atletico Madrid, but have won the domestic title just once since 2008.In the meantime, arch rivals and two-time defending champions Barca have gained a stranglehold in Spain, claiming three of the last four La Liga trophies.

Madrid's league record remains formidable – they have finished outside the top two positions just once in the last 12 seasons - and they head to Camp Nou top of the table and six points ahead of Barca.

And former left-back Roberto Carlos feels claiming that piece of silverware ought to be the priority, although he did not talk down the prospect of Zinedine Zidane leading them to the treble.

Speaking exclusively to Omnisport, the Brazilian, winner of four Liga crowns and three Champions League titles during his illustrious career at the Santiago Bernabeu, said: "Madrid recently have entered into a dynamic of winning the Champions League.

"If Madrid can successfully juggle the league as well as the Champions League and the cups then I think we could win all three."I think the most important thing this year is to win the league as it has been too long since we have been champions."

It has been an ideal start to the season for Madrid, who are unbeaten in 32 games across all competitions.Last week's 2-1 win at home to Sporting Gijon, on the back of their Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired 3-0 victory over Atletico, means the capital club have won 10 of their opening 13 league matches.

"Everybody is playing well so far. Six points ahead gives you a bit of breathing space but not too much," Roberto Carlos said. "It's a very difficult and long season. The gap allows the team to push on in search of the title." Known for their goalscoring exploits, it has been at the other end of the field where the Bernabeu side have impressed this season.

While they have scored a division-high 36 goals, they have the look of a more balanced side under Zidane's guidance, possessing the second-best defensive record in the league, having conceded just 11 goals.

"Obviously it has a big part to do with Zidane but also the entire technical staff," Roberto Carlos added. "Madrid are now a very well organised team in attack and defence, and that's the reason why the team has gone so long without losing a match.

"Even though the atmosphere was good under the previous manager [Rafael Benitez], the results weren't coming. With the arrival of Zidane the team evolved a lot and that's why I think the team has got this advantage so early in the season over its competitors. "From the beginning of the season the team has shown a very positive growth."

Barca go into the Clasico on the back of consecutive draws against Malaga and Real Sociedad, but Roberto Carlos is under no illusion as to the challenge facing Madrid in Catalonia.
"Playing at Camp Nou is always very difficult. If we can get a win like we did last year, it will give even more confidence to the team and help us distance ourselves even more from our rivals, because to be the champions of La Liga you have to win away at the hardest of stadiums - one of those is Camp Nou," he said. "It's not that Barcelona are playing badly, the other teams playing against them have been playing very well.

"It's obvious that if we win at Camp Nou we stretch the lead to nine points.
"It's not that the league is decided but it will be a very big statement and it will provide a nice buffer for the team. I played so many Clasicos but the feeling of when you lose is the same as losing the World Cup final. No one ever likes to lose matches of that magnitude."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Pogba: Man Utd is my house, I was always going to return

Paul Pogba has described Manchester United as his "house" and always expected to come return.

The 23-year-old moved back to Old Trafford for a world-record fee during the summer, four years after leaving for Juventus for a nominal fee after struggling to break into the first team under Sir Alex Ferguson.

"I have United in my heart," he told Sky Sports. "It's my house. When I left I always knew that I would come back. For me, it's just normal. It's like I went on holiday and just came back. Seriously. Nothing really changed. I'm the same person."

Pogba featured in the EFL Cup quarter-final victory over West Ham in midweek and hopes to face Hull City in the semi-finals on the way his first piece of silverware in the United first team.

"I'm looking forward to the semi-final against Hull," he added. "Hopefully we can get to Wembley." But there are bigger prizes on his radar in the long term."Pogba won Serie A four times with Juventus, adding a further two Coppa Italia trophies as well, but understandably considers the 2015 Champions League final loss as the biggest game of his fledgling career.

"I saw the trophy next to me and we were close to winning and didn't so it makes me more hungry, you know," he said. "It gives me more motivation to win it."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'I don't care about age' - Klopp committed to promoting youngsters

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has vowed to not let a player's age influence him in his team selection as he continues to encourage youth progression at the club.

Klopp possesses a young squad at Liverpool and Tuesday's 2-0 EFL Cup win over Leeds United saw the German play several of his less experienced contingent, with Kevin Stewart, Ovie Ejaria and Trent Arnold all starting.

But 17-year-old substitute Ben Woodburn stole the show, netting Liverpool's second to become the club's youngest goalscorer and Klopp will be happy to continue blooding youth players.

"No, as long as the player develops, I don't care about the age," he said on Friday.
"They're all younger than me. They're all young lads, some at a very young age, some at the best age and some where we can really use their experience."Everything is good. I enjoy working with these guys. I don't compare how old you are.

"If you start really early, you have a long time to have a career. I think in this moment we are the right club for boys to develop and improve and get the best player they can get.

"They are involved in all our plans, not only the three lads now. I don't know when you stop being a young player; 22, 23 is still young."We need to give them a situation where they can come through and they're ready when we use them.

"A few ups and downs, but as long as you are under the right circumstances and at the right club, we have no doubt about the potential of these boys."A little bit of luck, right attitude, [then] we have a decent player I think."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Pogba: I was most excited to see Lingard again

Paul Pogba has revealed that Jesse Lingard was the one Manchester United player he was most looking forward to seeing upon his return.

The 23-year-old moved back to Old Trafford for a world-record fee during the summer, four years after leaving for Juventus for a nominal fee.

Pogba has described United as his "house", joking that his spell with Juventus was like going "on holiday" before returnin to Old Trafford and is delighted at his progress Lingard has made in his absence.

"When Jesse saw me, I was really happy to see him," he told Sky Sports . "We grew up together. To see him in the first-team, I'm very happy and very proud."

Pogba also spoke about his upbringing, with his two older brothers also professional footballers, with Florentine Pogba at Saint-Etienne and Mathias Pogba at Sparta Rotterdam.

"I'm always in touch with my brothers ... I always follow them," he added. "I always trained with them and played with them because they were bigger than me and older than me. They told me it was better for me.

"Sometimes I played with my brothers but I liked to play against them as well. They didn't want me to hang out with them and their friends but when it came to football they were always with me."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mainz 1-3 Bayern Munich: Bavarians battle back for victory

Robert Lewandowski inspired Bayern Munich with a well-taken double as the champions came from behind to beat Mainz 3-1 away from home in the Bundesliga on Friday.

The Poland international was in lethal form as he spearheaded the Bayern attack, while Arjen Robben co-starred with a goal and an assist of his own in his 150th Bundesliga appearance, helping Carlo Ancelotti's men put the pressure back on RB Leipzig at the summit.

Bayern looked to be in a spot of bother early on, though, as Jhon Cordoba – the scorer of a late winner in Munich in March – produced a clinical finish with just four minutes gone.

But the away side did not need long to turn the score on its head, as Lewandowski equalised shortly after and Robben – the architect of the striker's leveller – put the visitors ahead in the 21st minute.

Goalscoring opportunities were generally more scarce from thereon in, with Thomas Muller – passing the 15-hour mark without a Bundesliga goal – continuing to toil without reward.

But Bayern eventually wrapped things up in second-half stoppage time thanks to Lewandowski's precise free-kick, moving them level on 30 points with Leipzig, who host in-form Schalke on Saturday.

Cordoba underlined the high-tempo start to proceedings when he spun away from Mats Hummels and beat Manuel Neuer from a tight angle after racing on to Yunus Malli's throughball.

Bayern hit back swiftly, though, as Robben ran at the Mainz defence and fed Lewandowski into the area for an easy finish.The visitors began to exert control after equalising and it came as little surprise when they took the lead.

Muller supplied a brilliant cross from the right flank and, although Lewandowski was not quite able to reach it, the ball came down nicely for Robben to meet it with a diving header.

Bayern remained the dominant force for the remainder of the first half, but chances at either end were infrequent as the match became bogged down in midfield.

The visitors continued to see more of the ball after the break, but Mainz's insistence on sitting back in numbers prevented Ancelotti's charges from breaking through.

Bayern eventually carved open an opportunity just after the hour mark, but Robben's first touch proved heavy when through on goal and goalkeeper Jonas Lossl rushed out to tackle him.

Mainz became more purposeful in attack as the full-time whistle approached, but in the end Bayern dealt the hammer blow.

Lewandowski stepped up to a free-kick on the edge of the area and coolly carresed it into the top-left corner, leaving Lossl with no chance.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Napoli 3-0 Inter: Hamsik and Insigne on target as Pioli's men flounder

Stefano Pioli suffered his first Serie A defeat as Inter coach as they were put to the sword in a 3-0 loss at Napoli on Friday.

Tasked with overseeing a recovery following the end of Frank de Boer's brief and underwhelming stint at San Siro, former Lazio boss Pioli picked up his first victory in Inter's 4-2 triumph over Fiorentina on Monday.

But he and Inter were emphatically brought back down to earth at the Stadio San Paolo, as two goals in the opening five minutes effectively put the game beyond their reach.

Piotr Zielinski opened the scoring inside two minutes and then set up Napoli captain Marek Hamsik to double the hosts' advantage.

Napoli had been held to a 1-1 draw by Sassuolo last time out, but there was never any danger of an Inter comeback and Lorenzo Insigne's 51st-minute volley made sure of the points.

Samir Handanovic performed heroics in the Inter goal to limit Napoli's margin of victory as Maurizio Sarri's men moved up to fifth in the table, just a point behind second-placed Roma.

The deadlock was broken after 107 seconds when Jose Callejon nodded Hamsik's lofted ball across the box back to Zielinksi, whose first-time shot found the bottom-left corner.

Zielinksi then turned creator as Napoli quickly doubled their lead, Hamsik beating Handanovic at the near post with a precise low after being brilliantly played in by the Pole.

Napoli continued to dominate and pressed to try to put the game to bed early, Manolo Gabbiadini heading narrowly wide of the right-hand post from Insigne's left-wing cross.Inter did finally manage to craft an opportunity and it unsurprisingly came through Mauro Icardi, who fired high and wide on the turn.

Possession was squandered by Napoli immediately from the resulting goal-kick, but Pepe Reina raced off his line to prevent Icardi from pulling one back for Inter.

Eder replaced Ever Banega – who had been struggling with an injury – for Inter at the start of the second half.But that change did little to alter to Inter's fortunes as Napoli made it 3-0 six minutes after the restart.

Faouzi Ghoulam saw a curling effort turned over by Handanovic, yet hewas helpless as Insigne capitalised on the Inter goalkeeper's failure to successfully clear Ghoulam's inswinging coner by looping a snapshot volley into the bottom-right corner Handanovic was called on again to Hamsik from close range after the Slovakian played a neat one-two with Insigne, and he continued to be the only thing stopping from the game from developing into a rout, thwarting Gabbiadini at the near post.Not to outdone, Napoli keeper Reina produced a fine fingertip save to stop Antonio Candreva giving Inter a glimmer of hope.

Napoli evidently took their foot off the gas in the closing stages, but there is no time to relax for Pioli, who has plenty to think about with Inter remaining eight points adrift of the Champions League places.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ronaldo's lawyers deny €150m tax evasion claims

Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho are "fully compliant with their tax obligations", their agent Jorge Mendes' company has insisted, amid allegations of tax evasion against the pair.

A consortium of 12 European newspapers has said it will publish the findings of what is described as "the largest leak in the history of sport" under the banner 'Football Leaks' over the next three weeks.

As part of that leak, several media outlets have alleged that Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo and Manchester United manager Mourinho avoided taxes using tax havens through structures set up by Mendes' company, Gestifute.According to the report, the Portugal international has allegedly evaded €150 million in taxes since 2009, prior to his arrival at Madrid.

He is accused of using companies based in the British Virgin Islands tax haven to avoid tax obligations related to image rights, with Road Town-registered Tollin Associates looking after €74.8m in revenue over the first six years. In 2015, it is claimed, Ronaldo's image rights were purchased by two further Caribbean enterprises until 2020, to administer a sum worth another €75m.

Reports assert that the operations were carried out through Mint Capital, a company linked with businessman and current Valencia president Peter Lim, and directed to a Swiss bank account in the player's name.

In total, Ronaldo allegedly paid just 4 per cent of his income to the Spanish treasury, while an investigation into his financial affairs opened in December 2015.
As well as the Madrid star, Mourinho and Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil are named in the leaks as using similar measures to evade tax obligations.

However, in a statement, Gestifute described the accusations as "unfounded".
The statement read: "Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho are fully compliant with their tax obligations with the Spanish and British tax authorities."Neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Jose Mourinho have ever been involved in legal proceedings regarding the commission of a tax offense.

"Any insinuation or accusation made to Cristiano Ronaldo or Jose Mourinho over the commission of a tax offense will be reported to the legal authorities and prosecuted."

It added: "We always act with the highest level of professionalism in our relationships with our clients and the authorities in all those countries in which we operate."We will not hesitate to take legal action to defend ourselves and our clients over any untrue and unlawful allegations published about us."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2016.12.03

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2016.12.03

Manchester City Vs Chelsea

Crystal Palace Vs Southampton

Stoke City Vs Burnley

Sunderland Vs Leicester City

Tottenham Vs Swansea

WBA Vs Watford

West Ham Vs Arsenal

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

La Liga Fixtures 2016.12.03

La Liga Fixtures 2016.12.03

Granada Vs Sevilla

Barcelona Vs Real Madrid

Leganes Vs Villareal

Atletico Madrid Vs Espanyol​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Serie A Fixture 2016.12.03

Serie A Fixture 2016.12.03

Juventus Vs Atalanta​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Bundesliga Fixtures 2016.12.03

Bundesliga Fixtures 2016.12.03

Leverkusen Vs Freidburg

Dortmund Vs Monchengladbach

Hoffenheim Vs Cologne

Werder Bremen Vs Ingolstadt

Wolfsburg Vs Hertha Berlin

Leipzig Vs Schalke​

 

[sri D]

Barcelona 1 - Real Mad. 1
Suarez 52'
Ramos 90'

 

[Alucard_SxE]

 

[Ysa Karu]

අඩේ මැච් එක බලන්ඩ කියලා හිටියේ අමතක උනානේ...

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester City 1-3 Chelsea: Costa & co. strike to spare Cahill blushes

Diego Costa, Willian and Eden Hazard struck for Chelsea to fire them to a 3-1 Premier League win at Manchester City on Saturday, cancelling out Gary Cahill's spectacular own goal in the first half.

The 30-year-old had unwittingly opened the scoring for Pep Guardiola's men right on the stroke of half-time, acrobatically vollying Jesus Navas's cross into his own net.

Cesc Fabregas, starting a league match for just the second time this season in the absence of the injured Nemanja Matic, evoked memories of Chelsea's title-winning 2014-15 season when he played a stunning long ball from which Costa scored his 11th league goal of the campaign to restore parity.Chelsea then completed the turnaround with 20 minutes remaining thanks to Willian's cool finish from a brilliant Blues counter-attack.

Hazard then added late gloss to the scoreline for Chelsea, before the contest ended in ugly circumstances as Sergio Aguero saw red for a dreadful lunge on David Luiz, with Fernandinho also dismissed for his role in the resulting melee.

In a high-octane opening David Silva saw a penalty claim for handball against a sliding Cahill waved away, while at the other end Eden Hazard bent a shot just past the right post from 20 yards after good work from Pedro.

City had the ball in the net when Fernandinho headed home David Silva's free-kick, only to be rightly flagged for offside.

The hosts began to gain a foothold and David Silva's sumptuous ball was knocked across goal by Leroy Sane to Aguero, whose shot was brilliantly blocked by Cahill.

But Cahill had his head in the turf in disappointment on the stroke of half-time when he stretched to clear Jesus Navas' cross and succeeded only in flicking the ball into the top-left corner.

Chelsea almost shot themselves in the foot again after the restart, Aguero stealing in between Courtois and Cahill to intercept Marcos Alonso's sloppy backpass, only to see his shot was blocked on the line by Cahill.

It should have been 2-0 shortly before the hour. Silva set Aguero free on the right flank and his pin-point low cross picked out De Bruyne, who somehow hit the woodwork from point-blank range with the goal gaping.

And that proved costly just before the hour. Fabregas pinged a brilliant long ball towards Costa, who shrugged off Nicolas Otamendi and drilled his shot under Claudio Bravo.City sought to quickly regain the lead and Aguero forced a smart stop from Courtois, but the travelling supporters were celebrating again in the 70th minute.

A lightning counter involving Fabregas and Hazard ended with Costa finding Willian, who calmly slotted into the bottom left-hand corner and paid tribute to the victims of the Chapecoense plane crash by holding up his black armband that read "Forca Chape".

City brought on Yaya Toure and Kelechi Iheanacho in a bid to find an equaliser, and Navas saw another penalty appeal for handball against David Luiz dismissed.
Chelsea's mood was dampened slightly when Costa was replaced in the closing stages after sustaining a knock, but they rounded off the win in the 90th minute as Alonso's brilliant lofted pass found Hazard, who clinically drilled past Bravo.

The match ended on a sour note when Aguero was rightfully sent off for an ugly two-footed challenge on David Luiz, similar to an offence he committed on the Brazilian in the 2013 FA Cup semi-final.

That led to a fracas between the two teams and Fernandinho was also given his marching orders for grabbing Fabregas – who appeared to have slapped the City midfielder - by the neck and pushing the Spaniard over the advertising hoardings.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Chelsea duo Diego Costa and Willian pay tribute to Chapecoense in celebrations

Brazilian duo Diego Costa and Willian both paid tribute to the Chapecoense players and staff who died in a plane crash this week during their celebrations against Manchester City.

The football world was shaken when a flight carrying the Brazilian squad to their Copa Sudamericana final clash against Atletico Nacional plummeted to the ground, leaving 71 dead including the coach and the majority of the squad.

The praise and respect of the fallen victims have been flooding in across the world in the wake of the tragedy and they were evident in Saturday's Premier League encounter.

A minute's silence preceded kick-off in the Etihad Stadium to honour the deceased, but it was not the only time attention was turned to Chapecoense in the game.

After seeing Gary Cahill put Pep Guardiola's men in the lead, Costa pulled Chelsea level in the second half.

The Spain international, who was born in Brazil and has two caps with the Selecao, pointed to the black armband all players wore in the game, which had a message of support for the club written on it.

Later in the game, fellow Brazilian Willian put the Blues ahead and followed it up by taking the armband off and holding it up to the crowd.Chapecoense were in the minds of the fans, too, as a Brazil flag was spotted waving in the stands.