..::Football IV::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Pochettino: Tottenham bigger than City

Mauricio Pochettino believes Tottenham are a bigger club than Manchester City, as the sides gear up for Saturday's clash at the Etihad Stadium.Guardiola reveals Aguero contract extensionSpurs are again in Premier League title contention, sitting second and seven points behind Chelsea, while City have slipped to fifth.

Pochettino and City boss Pep Guardiola went head-to-head numerous times in La Liga, when the former's Espanyol came up against Barcelona.But the Argentine feels their meetings in England are different, with Tottenham – who last won a league title in 1961 – the bigger club.

"[In Spain] the gap was massive, massive. Now, historically Tottenham is bigger than Manchester City. The fans are bigger at Tottenham," Pochettino said.

"You can compare in Spain. Between Espanyol and Barcelona, you can measure the gap. Here, it's too difficult to measure the gap. It's a completely different world."

Guardiola has faced criticism to begin life in England, and City were thrashed 4-0 by Everton last time out.But Pochettino said the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach had nothing to prove, given his previous successes.

"It means nothing for City to lose to Everton. It does not change my admiration or my thoughts about him. Sometimes you can win, you can lose. That is the game," he said.

"He needs time. He's in a position that is still that they can win titles. And he only has to wait."He doesn't need to show his quality, his real quality as a coach and how he manages the team. He's shown enough at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

"Sometimes it's about managing expectations. You cannot win titles after a few months. You need to wait until the end. And I'm sure Guardiola will fight with Manchester City at the end for big things."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Klopp: I could kick Mane in the... lower back

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits he has mixed emotions after watching Sadio Mane fire Senegal into the knockout phase of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The 24-year-old scored his second goal of the tournament in Thursday's 2-0 win over Zimbabwe to secure Senegal's second win in a row and a place in the second round.

Klopp is thrilled to see the pacy forward continue his excellent form for this season but could not hide his frustration that he will remain unavailable for Liverpool for at least a little longer."I wrote to him and said 'I'm happy for you, but on the other hand, I could really kick your... lower back," Klopp told a news conference on Friday.

"Of course, they're through, it's good, he scored again and played good again.Mixed emotions would be the best description. As long as he's fit, we'll take it like it is and support Senegal."

Joel Matip also remains unavailable for selection as FIFA has yet to decide on whether the defender should be allowed to play for his club while the finals in Gabon are ongoing, after having rejected a call-up from Cameroon."No, I don't have an update. FIFA mentioned it would be a kind of D-Day. But nothing yet," Klopp said.

"We knew about the Africa Cup of Nations before. All teams knew about it. The Matip case is special for us and of course we don't think it's fair. It's another experience, actually, which we don't need. But you have to learn from it.

"I have respect for all they're doing there under most difficult circumstances. It's a great tournament. In the middle of our season makes it not too cool but I don't think too much about it."

Liverpool take on Swansea City at Anfield on Saturday looking to halt a run of two straight draws in the Premier League and Klopp admits that media scrutiny on every match is beginning to increase the pressure on all teams.

"The interesting thing about the Premier League - and I don't know when it started - is that there are only finals," he said. "Swansea are already playing to stay in the league. We play for whatever.

"But each game, especially in your opinion, decides the whole season. That's really intense. But we're really looking forward to this opportunity. We're still in the race and that's really good."

Philippe Coutinho made his first start since injuring his ankle in November in the 1-0 FA Cup replay win over Plymouth Argyle on Wednesday and Klopp believes he is regaining some of his sharpness.

"You saw it already, in the few minutes he had in the last games," he said. "We were happy to have the opportunity at Plymouth to give him 60 minutes because even Coutinho can't come back on the pitch at immediately 100 per cent."It helps the whole team when Phil is in, everybody can benefit from Phil's skills."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'I'll see out my contract' - Di Maria vows to stay at PSG amid interest from China

Angel Di Maria has no intention of departing Paris Saint-Germain to become the latest high-profile name to join the lucrative Chinese Super League.

The Argentina international enjoyed a fine debut campaign at Parc des Princes, but has struggled to hit those same standards in Ligue 1 this season.

Consequently, Di Maria is the subject of reported interest from China, with the likes of Axel Witsel, Carlos Tevez and Oscar among those to have made big-money moves to the CSL in January.

However, Di Maria remains focused on fulfilling his goals in the French capital, including winning the Champions League with PSG."I am very happy here and I have two years of my contract left," the 28-year-old told ESPN.

"My family is happy here. There have been rumours, of course, but this is the first chance I have had to address the subject. But I am happy here and I will stay here until the end of my contract.

"Everybody has their own different way of thinking. People can have the desire to go and play in China. It is obvious that with the amounts of money on offer that some people can be attracted to that.

"However, not in my case, I prefer to stay here, be happy and reach the objective I set for myself, to come to Paris and win the Champions League."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Man City as sharp as Barca and Bayern but lacking consistency, says Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola defended his squad on the eve of the crucial Premier League showdown with Tottenham - insisting they have absorbed his tactical ideas more quickly than Barcelona or Bayern Munich.

Guardiola won 18 major honours, including six league championships and two Champions League titles, during his time in charge of the two European giants.

He made a flying start at the Etihad Stadium, as City won their first 10 competitive games this season, but a 2-0 loss at Spurs prompted a prolonged and ongoing period of indifference.

Upon coming face-to-face with Mauricio Pochettino once more - a manager for whom he voiced his admiration - Guardiola defended a City squad that appears aged and imbalanced in key defensive areas.

When discussing a squad thrashed 4-0 at Everton for a fourth Premier League defeat in eight outings, leaving them 10 points adrift of leaders Chelsea, Guardiola said: "When you say that they don't have the same quality as Bayern Munich and Barcelona...

"The times we played well, the passing was much quicker than both teams [Barcelona and Bayern], but we are not consistent."We win three games and we arrive at the fourth game and we are not sure if we are going to win and that is a big problem.

"In my point of view, it is now because we arrive in a situation and we don't score and the big teams they score - they have the quality and they are machines, but that is the most difficult thing to achieve.

"They are good players. I have respect for the guys, so why would I say the guys are not good?"

Guardiola insisted his reputation for success in the game should not absolve him from criticism at the expense of his players."I don't understand the lack of respect for the professionals when they are amazing players and they are not good enough for me," he said.

"Maybe I am not good enough for them."They are Manchester City players, top players, they have a lot of quality. They showed that many times in the past and this season.

"I like to work with them and I want to help them and I am going to until my last day here and I want to stay as long as possible, more than ever."I want to stay and help them and [close] the gap between the top and the excellent teams.

"It's hard to achieve to get to the top four, but it's harder to achieve to go from fourth to first. I want to stay here for a long time and help them."Guardiola's reputation was forged as a developer of youth talent at Barcelona, having helmed the B team at Camp Nou.

His reluctance to throw youngsters such as Aleix Garcia and Tosin Adarabioyo into an ageing first team this season has been noted as a contrast, but Guardiola believes reserve teams in England are at a disadvantage when compared with their Spanish counterparts, who play a full part in Spanish football's professional pyramid.

"The atmosphere in the [U23s] and the Premier League, why we cannot create Man City or Man United second team and not play in the Championship against Newcastle?" he added."They would play the second team for United, City, Tottenham and they compete with Newcastle - playing in front of these huge fans.

"That is the future of English football. But they play in this stadium [City's academy ground] and sometimes there is nobody unless it is on a Champions League night."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2017.01.21

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2017.01.21

Liverpool Vs Swansea

Bournemouth Vs Watford

Crystal Palace Vs Everton

Middlesbrough Vs West Ham

Stoke City Vs Manchester United

WBA Vs Sunderland

Manchester City Vs Tottenham

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Good Luck Manchester United!​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

LA Liga Fixtures 2017.01.21

LA Liga Fixtures 2017.01.21​

Espanyol Vs Granada​

Real Madrid Vs Malaga​

Alaves Vs Leganes​

Villareal Vs Valencia​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Serie A Fixtures 2017.01.21

Serie A Fixtures 2017.01.21

Chievo Vs Fiorentina

AC Milan Vs Napoli​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Bundesliga Fixtures 2017.01.21

Bundesliga Fixtures 2017.01.21

Augsburg Vs Hoffenheim

Darmstadt Vs Monchengladbach

Schalke Vs Ingolstadt

Werder Bremen Vs Dortmund

Wolfsburg Vs Hamburg

Leipzig Vs Frankfurt​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Half Time

Stoke City 1 Vs 0 Manchester United

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

OG 1kak giyane...shik

Common Manchester UnitedGood luck for the 2nd half
​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Full Time

Stoke City 1 Vs 1 Manchester United

Stoke City Goal(s)

J.Mata 19(OG)'

&

Manchester United Goal(s)

W.Rooney 90+4'

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Manchester United!

& Congratulations Rooney!Our all time top goal scorer

Rooney ge free kick 1ka patta

Anyway match draw 1kanam aparade.Onama karana points 2kak miss unascore karanna set wechcha chances godak miss una

Good luck for the next fixtures Manchester United!
​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Liverpool 2-3 Swansea City: Sigurdsson sinks Reds in Anfield thriller

Fernando Llorente and Gylfi Sigurdsson dealt a blow to Liverpool's Premier League title chances as Swansea City edged a five-goal thriller 3-2 at Anfield on Saturday.

Sigurdsson proved Swansea's matchwinner as he pounced on a poor defensive clearance from Ragnar Klavan, the Iceland international securing Paul Clement's maiden win and Liverpool's first league loss at home since January 2016.Adam Lallana and Tom Carroll had the best chances of a lacklustre opening half, but that all changed after the restart as the game burst into life.

Llorente struck his first goals away from the Liberty Stadium to put Swansea 2-0 ahead before Roberto Firmino lifted some of the gloom with his seventh in the league this season.

And the Brazilian dragged his side level with 21 minutes to play with a fine finish as Swansea's defensive frailties reared their head once again.A dramatic second half had one final twist, though, as Sigurdsson ensured a crucial three points that lifts Swansea out of the bottom three, while leaving Liverpool seven points adrift of Chelsea having played a game more.

Given their imperious home record it was no surprise to see Liverpool dominate possession in the early stages and Emre Can should have got them off the mark from Jordan Henderson's ninth-minute cross.

Liverpool continued to press and Lallana saw an overhead kick clear the crossbar from Firmino's cross, the Brazilian having superbly spun away from Alfie Mawson.

Despite the hosts' control of proceedings it was Swansea who came closest to breaking the deadlock as Carroll’s deflected cross thudded against Simon Mignolet’s right-hand post.

It was a rare threat on the Liverpool goal, though, and the hosts resumed control leading up to the break but a resolute Swansea were able to get crucial blocks in to frustrate them and the Anfield crowd.

And the visitors built on their foundation three minutes into the second half as Llorente poked home from six yards after Federico Fernandez's header had been controlled by Wayne Routledge.The Spaniard then doubled his tally moments later with a towering heading from Carroll's sensational left-wing cross.

Anfield was not silent for long, though, as Firmino halved the deficit to end a crazy seven-minute spell with a bullet header of his own after Martin Olsson had misjudged James Milner's cross.

It came as no surprise that Liverpool duly equalised after 69 minutes as Firmino got in on the act again, this time the forward chesting a Georginio Wijnaldum cross before lashing past Lukasz Fabianski as Olsson and Jack Cork watched on.However, the game's next key moment was something of a surprise as Sigurdsson ghosted in at the back post to slide home Swansea's third.

Desperate for another equaliser Liverpool piled the pressure on in the closing minutes, with Fabianski saving from Divock Origi and Dejan Lovren before a late melee saw Lallana's looping effort hit the crossbar as Swansea clung on to their first Premier League win at Anfield.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Swansea were worthy winners at Anfield, claims Clement

Paul Clement says Swansea City's stoic defending and character made them worthy winners in the surprise 3-2 success over Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.
Liverpool had not lost a Premier League match on home turf in 12 months, but Fernando Llorente's double left the Reds facing an uphill task.

Roberto Firmino scored twice himself to level the scores and it appeared as though the momentum was with the home side until Gylfi Sigurdsson's goal on the counter-attack in the 74th minute earned Swansea a crucial three points that moves them off the bottom of the table.

And head coach Paul Clement was delighted with the way Swansea stuck to the shape he had set out in training this week to stifle Liverpool's dangerous attack."I'm obviously very pleased not just with the result but the performance, we defended very well in the first half," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Our shape was good, we frustrated Liverpool and made it difficult for them to get through us, we had a couple of balls out wide into our box which we ended up dealing with as well. "We had a very good start to the second half with the set play but yeah, it was a really good second half.

"I was disappointed to concede two quickly and there was a lot of time left, it would have been easy for the team to capitulate at that point but we went on, got another goal and saw the game out."It will give everyone a big boost, this victory."Clement admitted he feared the worst when Liverpool brought the match back to 2-2.

He added: "The crowd really erupted at that moment and the momentum was with Liverpool, but football is a strange game and we got that counter-attack against the run of play.

"We had to soak up a lot of pressure this afternoon but we knew that was going to be the case and that's what we worked at in training in the week and I think we deserved to win, even for just how we defended and from a character point of view."

Asked what the win will do for Swansea's battle against relegation, Clement said: "It's very good for the confidence and for me as a coach it reinforces the hard work we've done on the training ground, we had a really good week of training."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Werder Bremen 1-2 Borussia Dortmund: Piszczek strike seals BVB win

Borussia Dortmund made a winning start to 2017 with a 2-1 victory over 10-man Werder Bremen in a tempestuous match at Weserstadion.

Thomas Tuchel's side arrived in Bremen hoping to end a run of three straight draws in the Bundesliga and Andre Schurrle scored his first league goal for the club to put them ahead after just five minutes.

Werder were unbeaten in five matches going into the game and did their best to contain Dortmund until the 38th minute, when goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny was shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Marco Reus as the Germany international raced through on goal.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Bremen levelled the match after an hour when Fin Bartels raced clear of the Dortmund defence to score, but the visitors were rewarded for their constant industry in attack when Lukas Piszczek scored their second goal after 70 minutes.

Tuchel might have been concerned about Dortmund's firepower in the absence of leading goalscorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is on Africa Cup of Nations duty for Gabon, but the performances of Schurrle, Reus and Shinji Kagawa proved that his side are not overly reliant on the talented 27-year-old.

Reus took the earliest opportunity to play Schurrle in behind the Bremen defence and the Germany international rounded goalkeeper Drobny before finding the net.

Schurrle almost doubled Dortmund's lead when he connected with a Kagawa cross after 10 minutes but Drobny made a fingertip save as Bremen struggled to contain the visitors.

Bremen lost their top goalscorer when Serge Gnabry was substituted after just 25 minutes and they were denied an equaliser when Niklas Moisander blazed an effort over after Thomas Delaney's shot was saved.

Disaster struck for Bremen after 38 minutes with a rash decision from Drobny, who – sensing he was going to concede - committed a professional foul to stop Reus on his seemingly clear path to goal and was shown a straight red card.

Clemens Fritz hit the crossbar with a brilliant solo effort just before the break, but Dortmund cleared their lines and the home side were left with a mountain to climb in the second half.

Substitute goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald could only stand and watch as Gonzalo Castro curled a free-kick just wide of his goal early in the second half and Dortmund began to dominate the game.Kagawa's throughball created a great chance for Reus to make it 2-0 but Wiedwald saved with his feet and moments later Bremen were level.

Fritz won an aerial battle and headed the ball to Bartels, who outpaced Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Matthias Ginter before drilling a low shot into the corner of the net past Roman Weidenfeller.

It was a brave fightback by the hosts but parity lasted just 12 minutes before Dortmund substitute Raphael Guerreiro lobbed a pass into the penalty area and Piszczek deftly poked it beyond Wiedwald to make it 2-1.

Christian Pulisic should have put the game out of Bremen's reach when he met Erik Durm's cross with a poorly aimed diving header but Dortmund were not punished for his wastefulness as they ran the clock down to clinch a valuable three points.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Stoke 1-1 Manchester United: Record-breaking Rooney rescues Mourinho's men

Wayne Rooney finally became Manchester United's all-time top scorer with a late goal to rescue a point against Stoke City in a 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium.
The captain's emphatic free-kick in the fourth minute of injury time took him to 250 goals for the club, one clear of previous record scorer Sir Bobby Charlton, and salvaged a point to extend United's unbeaten run to 17 games in all competitions.

A first-half own goal from Juan Mata had looked enough to give Mark Hughes' side a third win in their last four league encounters at home to United and inflict a damaging blow on the visitors' top-four chances.

Mata missed a golden chance to equalise in the first half, while Paul Pogba also came close, but an organised defensive performance from Stoke kept them at arm's length for much of the contest.

United rescued a late draw against Liverpool at Old Trafford last Sunday but they looked insipid in attack before Rooney, on as a substitute, curled in from 20 yards out moments before the final whistle.

The result lifts Stoke onto 28 points while United move on to 41, three behind fourth-place Arsenal, having played a game more.

Stoke, who showed off new signing Saido Berahino to the bet365 Stadium crowd before kick-off, started brightly but Lee Grant was fortunate to escape a nervy moment as he fumbled a cross from Daley Blind, only for the home side to clear their lines under pressure.

Chances were limited in the early stages but it was Stoke who benefited from a stroke of luck to take the lead in the 19th minute. Marko Arnautovic picked out Erik Pieters' run inside the penalty area, and his low cross clipped the foot of Mata and the leg of David de Gea before nestling in the net.

United at last mustered an effort on target after 27 minutes but Marouane Fellaini's header was comfortably dealt with by Grant, before Mata ballooned the ball over the crossbar with the goal gaping after Zlatan Ibrahimovic picked him out at the far post.

Ibrahimovic himself should have done more when played through by Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Chris Smalling nodded over from close range as United began to build some sustained pressure.

Grant was twice called into action to preserve the half-time advantage, tipping Fellaini's scuffed volley over the bar before beating away Pogba's first-time strike from a corner, and United's dominance showed little let-up after the break.

Referee Mark Clattenburg dismissed penalty appeals from Mata after the ball struck the arm of the sliding Pieters but the visitors' efforts continued to yield little by way of chances as the Stoke rearguard stood firm.

Substitute Marcus Rashford curled a good effort narrowly wide of the top corner and Pogba blasted beyond Grant's right-hand post, but there remained a stark lack of attacking inspiration and the Stoke goalkeeper remained largely untroubled.

Rooney headed a half-chance over and Jesse Lingard crashed a shot off the top of the crossbar, but Stoke's resistance was finally ended when Rooney whipped a stunning effort into Grant's top-left corner from a tight angle to earn a dramatic point and a slice of United history.

Chances were limited in the early stages but it was Stoke who benefited from a stroke of luck to take the lead in the 19th minute. Marko Arnautovic picked out Erik Pieters' run inside the penalty area, and his low cross clipped the foot of Mata and the leg of David de Gea before nestling in the net.

United at last mustered an effort on target after 27 minutes but Marouane Fellaini's header was comfortably dealt with by Grant, before Mata ballooned the ball over the crossbar with the goal gaping after Zlatan Ibrahimovic picked him out at the far post.

Ibrahimovic himself should have done more when played through by Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Chris Smalling nodded over from close range as United began to build some sustained pressure.

Grant was twice called into action to preserve the half-time advantage, tipping Fellaini's scuffed volley over the bar before beating away Pogba's first-time strike from a corner, and United's dominance showed little let-up after the break.

Referee Mark Clattenburg dismissed penalty appeals from Mata after the ball struck the arm of the sliding Pieters but the visitors' efforts continued to yield little by way of chances as the Stoke rearguard stood firm.

Substitute Marcus Rashford curled a good effort narrowly wide of the top corner and Pogba blasted beyond Grant's right-hand post, but there remained a stark lack of attacking inspiration and the Stoke goalkeeper remained largely untroubled.

Rooney headed a half-chance over and Jesse Lingard crashed a shot off the top of the crossbar, but Stoke's resistance was finally ended when Rooney whipped a stunning effort into Grant's top-left corner from a tight angle to earn a dramatic point and a slice of United history.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Middlesbrough 1-3 West Ham: Carroll double sinks Karanka's Boro

Andy Carroll was once again West Ham's inspiration in the absence of Dimitri Payet, scoring twice to secure a 3-1 win at Middlesbrough.

Carroll lit up last weekend's Premier League action with a stunning bicycle kick in the 3-0 win over Crystal Palace and he was equally impressive at the Riverside on Saturday.

The England striker's goals were the product of brawn and brain, thundering in a header from a corner before neat movement helped him convert a spilled shot from distance.

Carroll has now scored in consecutive league games for the first time since April last year, but typical concerns clouded his performance - an apparent groin injury ending his match early, after a week spent recovering from whiplash sustained scoring his stunner a week ago.

Christhian Stuani had equalised Carroll's first strike and the Uruguay striker hit the bar in the second half, but Boro's fightback was stifled and Aitor Karanka's unwillingness to divert from Plan A - a growing concern on Teesside - perhaps cost them here.

Jonathan Calleri's deflected effort in stoppage time wrapped up a victory for West Ham that lifts them into the top 10 and will also ease the pressure on Slaven Bilic as the Hammers boss plots what to do with the disgruntled Payet amid reports of a fresh bid from Marseille for the want-away winger.There was no discontent for Bilic on the pitch though.

Michail Antonio glanced wide from six yards as the visitors started on the front foot and they took a deserved lead in the ninth minute.Bernardo completely lost Carroll, allowing the striker to power unchallenged into the six-yard box and plant a header beyond Victor Valdes.Boro's initial attempts at a response were sloppy, with aimless passing routinely letting them down until they equalised in superb fashion.

One-touch play between Marten de Roon and Alvaro Negredo freed Adama Traore on the right and he released Calum Chambers, whose low cross was perfect for Stuani to steal in at the back post and finish.

Boro's advances fell short as they looked to get ahead and West Ham retook the lead prior to the break, Carroll smartly bending his run to finish on the rebound after Valdes spilled Antonio's shot.

Antonio headed over and Manuel Lanzini finished weakly when one-on-one as Bilic's side once again flew out of the traps in the second period, but De Roon brought a fine sprawling save out of Darren Randolph after Traore found space down the left.

More fine work from Traore opened up a gap for Negredo to cross and it almost paid dividends as Aaron Cresswell's clearance ricocheted off Stuani and hit the bar.

But the game was in the 80th minute when Karanka made his first change - Patrick Bamford making his second Boro debut in place of Stuani.

Fellow substitute Rudy Gestede was another late throw of the dice for Boro and he hit an acrobatic shot wide, but Boro's late charge for a goal cost them as Antonio led a four-on-two counter and Calleri's first Hammers goal wrapped up a deserved win.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Real Madrid 2-1 Malaga: Zidane's men bounce back through Ramos' double

Sergio Ramos scored twice as Real Madrid got back on track with a 2-1 La Liga win over Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid had lost their previous two games in all competitions but have now extended their lead at the top of the table to four points over Sevilla and five on Barcelona, with their two closest title rivals not playing until Sunday.Ramos scored twice in the final 10 minutes of the first half having been set up by two Toni Kroos set pieces. That moved the defender on to six league goals, already his best return in a league season.

Juanpi grabbed a goal back for Malaga in the second half to set up an exciting finish, but Madrid held on despite Cristiano Ronaldo squandering chances to put the result beyond doubt.Malaga stay 13th after their fourth consecutive La Liga defeat. They have not won an away top-flight match since March, a run spanning 13 games.

Karim Benzema – in as one of three Madrid changes – missed two early chances created by Lucas Vazquez, his header bouncing over before he attempted an ill-advised flick from a good shooting opportunity.Ronaldo was also guilty of a poor finish, Kroos' through ball sending the forward racing clear, but he could not beat goalkeeper Carlos Kameni with a tame strike.

Malaga almost punished those misses, with Chory Castro collecting Adalberto Penaranda's pass and firing an impressive strike against the post from 18 yards, with Keylor Navas well beaten.

Zidane had to make a tactical reshuffle when Marcelo suffered an injury, with Isco coming on, but that did not stop Madrid from taking the lead on 35 minutes.Kroos – La Liga's top assist-maker – floated in a corner that was powerfully headed in by Ramos from 12 yards.

And that duo combined again three minutes before the break, Kroos' inswinging free-kick touched in by a stretching Ramos from inside the six-yard box, despite Malaga claiming for offside.

It could have been three before half-time, with Malaga defender Mikel Villanueva relieved after he deflected Benzema's cut-back against his own crossbar.

But the visitors got one back in the 63rd minute. Juankar drove inside from the left and forced Navas to parry, with Juanpi staying cool to pick his spot from the rebound and claim his first league goal since August.Malaga almost grabbed an immediate equaliser in their next attack, Castro bursting through to force a good diving save from Navas.

Madrid could have sealed the victory in bizarre fashion when Kameni completely missed Martín Demichelis' backpass and frantically slid to stop the ball crossing the line, before saving a follow-up effort from the onrushing Ronaldo.

Ronaldo's frustrating afternoon continued when he chested down Isco's pass and fired an effort against the post.

Kameni again kept out the Portugal international from a tight angle in Madrid's next attack as the hosts settled for a narrow - but important - victory.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Verratti gets strangest yellow card you'll see in 2017

Marco Verratti might just have been given a yellow card that won't be beaten for strangeness in 2017.

During PSG's encounter with Nantes in Ligue 1 on Saturday, Verratti was booked for getting on his knees and heading the ball back to his own goalkeeper!The incensed referee deemed the action to be unsportsmanlike and subsequently punished the Italy international.

In England, the FA's rules state that referees can penalise a player if he "uses a deliberate trick to pass the ball (including from a free kick) to the goalkeeper with the head, chest, knee etc. to circumvent the law, whether or not the goalkeeper touches the ball with the hands".