..::Football IV::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Pogba beats Ozil, Silva & Henderson to impressive passing milestone

Paul Pogba is the first Premier League player to complete 1,000 passes in the opposition half this season.

The French midfielder, who rejoined Manchester United for a record-breaking £89 million in the summer, beat Liverpool rival Jordan Henderson, who is ranked second in the standings, to the landmark.

Arsenal's Mesut Ozil and Manchester City's David Silva are the only two players to have surpassed the 900-pass mark in opposition halves, with Eden Hazard, Ander Herrera and N'Golo Kante the only three players in the 800-bracket.

Pogba has been instrumental in United's recent success having initially struggled to live up to his price tag at Old Trafford.


The former Juventus powerhouse now has four goals and three assists and is second to only David De Gea in the number of Premier League appearances for the club this season.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Liverpool target Leipzig’s dynamo Keita to energise midfield

Liverpool are considering RB Leipzig lynchpin Naby Keita as one of the options to dynamise their midfield in the summer.

The 22-year-old possesses the perfect mix of discipline, anticipation and offensive brilliance to execute Jurgen Klopp’s demands in the centre of the park.

Hugely effective in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s intensive pressing system, which is proactive and direct, having already spent two seasons developing under the same tenets at Red Bull Salzburg, Keita is one of the most explosive prospects in Europe.

The Guinea international, who progressed from Ligue 2 outfit FC Istres, can operate as a holding midfielder or as an attacking one with equal adeptness.

He averages 3.23 tackles per game in the Bundesliga, with 3.29 interceptions and 10.13 recoveries per 90. Keita has directly contributed 10 goals in Germany’s top-flight this season, despite being stationed in front of the centre-backs for the bulk of his appearances.

What is most impressive and attractive for Liverpool though, given their emphasis on speedy ball progression, is the diminutive player’s ability to carry possession so effectively.

Only Borussia Dortmund’s Ousmane Dembele has completed more dribbles than Keita in the league this season, with the Reds’ top target Julian Brandt having managed seven fewer.

His pace, agility, sharp changes in direction and expertise in transitional play further underline his status as the ideal target for Liverpool.

But, while the dynamo undoubtedly fits the club’s profile, Keita is an ambitious option given the level of interest in him from Europe’s elite.

Dortmund, Arsenal and Bayern Munich have all been circling, while Leipzig are in negotiations to extend and improve his contract to make him the highest earner at the club.

Keita could opt to continue his development at the Red Bull Arena for another season, with Champions League football on the table.Die Bullen would prove problematic for any side to further discussions with, given their financial muscle.

Perhaps slightly in Liverpool’s favour is the fact the box-to-box talent is represented by the same agency as Sadio Mane, who have been hugely pleased with the way the Senegal international has been treated personally and professionally by the Merseysiders.

They are centred on making the right choices for their clients, rather than plumping for the biggest offer. With Liverpool so heavily reliant on Jordan Henderson as their No.6, Keita would provide the kind of quality and competition needed at Anfield.Landing such a sought-after player, however, would be far from seamless.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ronaldinho: I must teach Messi a bit more

Ronaldinho has joked he wants to make good use of his ambassadorial role at Barcelona by teaching Lionel Messi a few things.

The Brazilian icon was one of the best players in the world during his time at Barca when Messi burst into the first-team, striking up a close relationship with him before leaving for AC Milan in 2008.

Since then, Messi has taken over as the new elite, becoming the first ever player to win five Ballons d'Or as he and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo compete exclusively for the top individual accolades.

Despite Messi reaching the top of the game, Ronaldinho still feels he can help him improve, having been recently been given a role at the club."I have to teach him a little bit more," he told UOL, before insisting that he is not ready to start focusing on such coaching responsibilities.

When asked if the fact he has not been at a club since a short spell at Fluminense in 2015 means he has retired, Ronaldinho rejected the idea.

"No, calm down, I'm alright. Thank God I'm blessed for everything he gave me and the clubs I played for, but I have to go step by step."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Niort 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain: Pastore & Cavani snatch late Coupe de France win

Paris Saint-Germain needed late goals from substitutes Javier Pastore and Edinson Cavani to see off Ligue 2 side Niort in the Coupe de France and book their spot in the quarter-finals.

The visitors, seeking a third consecutive tournament triumph, were kept out by a resolute defensive display until Pastore struck 12 minutes from time.Fellow sub Cavani then sealed the victory in stoppage time, just after Lucas Moura – the other man to come on – was thwarted by a patch of mud in the six-yard box.

Unai Emery made eight changes, including giving Grzegorz Krychowiak his first appearance of 2017, but ultimately needed to bring on Pastore and Cavani from the bench to settle the last-16 tie.
PSG are now 15 games unbeaten across all competitions after edging past the side who sit 12th in the second tier.

Two PSG defenders came close in the early stages of a match which kicked off in extreme wet conditions.

Thomas Meunier forced a save from home goalkeeper Arthur Desmas, while Marquinhos sent a flying header just over, with Christopher Nkunku creating both chances.

Desmas had to react quickly when Niort defender Jeremy Choplin deflected Goncalo Guedes' cross towards his own goal, before the January signing – making his first PSG start – blazed over from a good shooting opportunity.

Guedes poorly scuffed wide from a close-range chance early in the second half, before the visitors survived a scare at the other end when keeper Alphonse Areola completely missed a high free-kick, Blaise Matuidi hacking clear.

Desmas rushed out to save from Jean-Kevin Augustin, while the striker – making only his third start of the season – was denied by a key block from Choplin from his next effort.That was Augustin's last action as Emery called for Cavani from just before the hour.

Nkunku had a penalty claim denied after going down under Dylan Bronn's challenge, Cavani fired wide from a 30-yard free-kick and Marquinhos was just off target with another headed effort as PSG continued to toil.

With the tie drifting towards extra-time, Pastore was Emery's next big name to come off the bench just after Presnel Kimpembe's acrobatic effort from a corner had been cleared off the line by a combination of team-mate Matuidi and defender Salomon Sambia.

And Pastore found a breakthrough under five minutes after his arrival, sliding in to convert Nkunku's excellent free-kick from inside the six-yard box.Niort came closest to a response when Areola made a key save from Enangon Kiki following a goalmouth scramble that had seen Desmas come up for a late corner.

With Desmas out of position, PSG were somehow denied on the counterattack when Lucas rolled a strike towards goal which stopped inches before the line on the sodden pitch, allowing Jimmy Roye to clear.

But PSG did strike again, Cavani converting from a few yards out four minutes into added time after latching on to Pastore's low cross as Emery's men kept their hopes of another domestic clean sweep alive.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Hiddink won't rule out interest in Leicester job

Former Netherlands boss Guus Hiddink has admitted that he would be open to managing Leicester City following the sacking of Claudio Ranieri.

Reports have claimed that Hiddink's representatives were approached by the Foxes over the weekend, with Leicester officials keen to discover whether the 70-year-old could be tempted by another spell in the Premier League.

Former manager Nigel Pearson, Nantes boss Sergio Conceicao, ex-England coach Roy Hodgson and Huddersfield Town's David Wagner have also been linked with a move to the King Power Stadium as successor to Premier League title winner Ranieri, who was sacked last week.

Hiddink, whose last job was as interim boss of Chelsea last season, has denied any formal contact with the English champions but he has refused to rule out the prospect of taking the post."I have no had contact with Leicester," he told De Telegraaf.

“I think Leicester have done very well by going with the assistant manager after Ranieri's dismissal. They proved themselves against Liverpool."I have so much love for football that I do not exclude it. I never go to a club for several years, but I think it's great to be working with young people."

Leicester have placed Craig Shakespeare, who was assistant under Ranieri, in temporary charge of the first team while they pursue a long-term replacement.
Shakespeare's first match in charge saw Leicester defeat Liverpool 3-1 on Monday.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barcelona 6-1 Sporting Gijon: Rakitic completes rout as hosts cruise

Barcelona maintained momentum in the title race in La Liga, hammering Sporting Gijon 6-1 at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

Playing a couple of hours before Real Madrid took on Las Palmas, Luis Enrique's side proved far too strong against his hometown club to move top of the standings, at least momentarily.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez netted either side of a Juan Rodriguez own-goal, although Barca's recent dalliance with a confusing set up at the back led to a disjointed defensive display, which opened up space for Carlos Castro to score.

Barca's backline routinely transitioned between a three-man and four-man assembly, with Sergio Busquets particularly being found out for the Sporting goal.
Suarez's bulleted finish put the strugglers back in their place however, with Paco Alcacer, Neymar and Ivan Rakitic finding the net in the second half as Barcelona cruised to victory.

Barca have now won five home games on the spin in La Liga - their best run in a year - and their surge in form bears similar hallmarks of the title win in Luis Enrique's tumultuous first season in charge.

Sporting set up to frustrate with a five-man midfield, but they were largely obliging for Barca's opening two goals, scored within two minutes of each other.

Messi flicked a superb header over the leaping Ivan Cuellar on the end of a long Javier Mascherano pass over Sporting's faulty offside trap, which again failed as Neymar slipped in Suarez and his cross-shot was shanked into the Sporting net by Rodriguez in the 11th minute.

Busquets was tasked with a role transitioning from midfield to defence as Barcelona went in and out of possession and his positioning was off as Burgui slipped Sergio Alvarez into the area and Castro converted on the rebound after his colleague hit the post.

Suarez soon restored the two-goal cushion, however, blasting home a volley after Jean-Sylvain Babin's headed clearance went up in the air, rather than away from danger.

The penetrative runs of Burgui and Neymar on opposite flanks gave the game a sharp feel and each player tested their opposition goalkeeper within a minute of each other.

But the second half began in familiar fashion as Babin dwelled on the ball and Messi pounced to set up Alcacer for a goal four minutes after replacing Suarez.

Following Suarez's half-time withdrawal, Messi was taken off on the hour in the first of three home games in a week, with Celta Vigo visiting on Saturday before the midweek mission impossible against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League follows.

Neymar remained in the hunt, though, and he curled a superb free-kick in at the near post to score, quite remarkably, his first league goal of the season at Camp Nou.

Barca were jeered on their last home outing - a narrow win over Leganes - but they roared with approval when Rakitic slammed home a late sixth as the Catalans' return to bulldozing brilliance suggests the title race really is one that will run right to the finish line.

Sporting set up to frustrate with a five-man midfield, but they were largely obliging for Barca's opening two goals, scored within two minutes of each other.

Messi flicked a superb header over the leaping Ivan Cuellar on the end of a long Javier Mascherano pass over Sporting's faulty offside trap, which again failed as Neymar slipped in Suarez and his cross-shot was shanked into the Sporting net by Rodriguez in the 11th minute.

Busquets was tasked with a role transitioning from midfield to defence as Barcelona went in and out of possession and his positioning was off as Burgui slipped Sergio Alvarez into the area and Castro converted on the rebound after his colleague hit the post.

Suarez soon restored the two-goal cushion, however, blasting home a volley after Jean-Sylvain Babin's headed clearance went up in the air, rather than away from danger.

The penetrative runs of Burgui and Neymar on opposite flanks gave the game a sharp feel and each player tested their opposition goalkeeper within a minute of each other.

But the second half began in familiar fashion as Babin dwelled on the ball and Messi pounced to set up Alcacer for a goal four minutes after replacing Suarez.
Following Suarez's half-time withdrawal, Messi was taken off on the hour in the first of three home games in a week, with Celta Vigo visiting on Saturday before the midweek mission impossible against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League follows.

Neymar remained in the hunt, though, and he curled a superb free-kick in at the near post to score, quite remarkably, his first league goal of the season at Camp Nou.

Barca were jeered on their last home outing - a narrow win over Leganes - but they roared with approval when Rakitic slammed home a late sixth as the Catalans' return to bulldozing brilliance suggests the title race really is one that will run right to the finish line.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Bayern Munich 3-0 Schalke: Lewandowski brace leads Bayern to semi-finals

Robert Lewandowski struck twice as Bayern Munich cruised into the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal with a 3-0 win against Schalke at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

Bayern, cup champions in three of the last four seasons, led in the third minute of the game when Lewandowski lifted a shot over goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann after timing his run onto Franck Ribery's perfect pass.

Lewandowski turned provider for the second Bayern goal with Ribery again involved, Thiago Alcantara beating an out-of-position Fahrmann with a cute header into his bottom-left corner.

A third goal arrived before half-time as Bayern continued to dominate, with Lewandowski tucking home another Ribery assist to extend their unbeaten run to 15 matches, while defender Holger Badstuber saw red late on against his parent club.

Bayern set a new record after reaching the DFB-Pokal semi-finals for the eighth successive season and they have not lost to Schalke in the last 14 meetings between the sides.

Schalke had been unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions prior to the defeat and they drew 1-1 at the Allianz Arena on February 4, but they were roundly outplayed by Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Bayern smashed eight goals past Hamburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday and the fine form of the 18-time Pokal winners continued with the opener inside three minutes.

Schalke had barely had a kick of the ball when Ribery slipped a defence-splitting pass through to Lewandowski, the Pole clipping a gorgeous left-footed finish over the helpless Fahrmann.

The second goal arrived after 16 minutes, Lewandowski racing onto another Ribery pass as he turned provider to set up Thiago, who flicked a header home from eight yards.
Leon Goretzka bent a shot narrowly over as Schalke sought to get a foothold in the game, but Bayern's dominance continued with their third goal before the half-hour mark.

Schalke could not cope with Ribery, the winger involved in a one-two with Lewandowski, who squeezed a low shot underneath Fahrmann to score his 30th goal of the season.

Juan Bernat replaced Mats Hummels at half-time and the substitute made an immediate impact on his 24th birthday, Fahrmann smothering the full-back's close-range effort.

Goretzka sent another ambitious strike over the crossbar after an hour as Schalke awaited their first shot on target of the match.

Bayern settled for three after their weekend goalfest, with Arturo Vidal and Ribery replaced by Ancelotti with an eye on the games to come.

Schalke's misery was complete when Badstuber was dismissed against his own club after 77 minutes, a clumsy challenge on Javi Martinez earning him a second yellow after an earlier booking for a foul on Arjen Robben.

Bayern join Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Monchengladbach in the semi-finals, while Borussia Dortmund are still to face third-tier side Sportfreunde Lotte after heavy snow postponed Tuesday's quarter-final tie.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester City 5-1 Huddersfield Town: Citizens rally to move onto the quarter-finals

Manchester City survived a scare from Championship high-flyers Huddersfield Town to progress to the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 5-1 victory in a replay at the Etihad Stadium.

City had been held to a 0-0 draw at Huddersfield in the first meeting last month and stunningly fell behind early on through Harry Bunn's shock opener, which arrived via another Claudio Bravo blunder.But quickfire treble just after the half-hour from Leroy Sane, Sergio Aguero and Pablo Zabaleta put City in command.

It was another rousing evening's entertainment at the Etihad, the first half reminiscent of last week's pulsating 5-3 City victory over Monaco in the Champions League.

Aguero's second killed off any lingering hope of a remarkable comeback from Huddersfield, before a late Kelechi Iheanacho tap-in completed a convincing triumph.City now face Middlesbrough in the next round, though their attention turns back to the Premier League and a trip to Sunderland on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola's men were denied an opener by the woodwork in the early stages as Sane unleashed a thunderous fourth-minute shot from the left-hand edge of the penalty area that cannoned back off the far post too quickly for Fernandinho to convert the rebound.But it was the visitors who took a surprise seventh-minute lead through Bunn, as the spotlight was once again on Bravo for all the wrong reasons.

Bunn found space on the left-hand side of the penalty area during a rapid Huddersfield counter to meet Philip Billing's superbly weighted pass, with Bravo making a tame attempt to save by allowing the firm strike to slip through his legs.

Huddersfield looked comfortable after taking the lead, though the hosts had a penalty appeal turned down after Jon Gorenc Stankovic appeared to handle in the area, but a magnificent eight-minute burst from City effectively shattered their hopes of progressing further.First, Raheem Sterling dazzled two Huddersfield defenders with his fleet footwork on the right-wing before squaring to Sane for a two yard tap-in.

The turnaround was complete five minutes minutes later, as Aguero powered a penalty into the roof of the net for his 21st goal of the season after Stankovic had bundled over Nicolas Otamendi.Aguero – who was then denied by the post – turned provider in the 38th minute, collecting the rebound after being denied by Joel Coleman to cut back and provide Zabaleta with a simple task.

Huddersfield continued to bother City after the break, and Joe Lolley was the next to waste the chance to pull it back to 3-2, skewing his header over in the 55th minute. Collin Quaner then appeared to be clipped by John Stones in the box, but no penalty was forthcoming.However, the visitors tired as the second half went on, and only a smart save by Coleman from Kevin De Bruyne's free-kick prevented City taking a 4-1 lead.


Aguero did add further gloss to the scoreline with 16 minutes left with a fierce snapshot at the near post following another pinpoint Sterling cross, before Iheanacho turned a deflected Jesus Navas delivery into the bottom-left corner in stoppage time.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Lazio 2-0 Roma: Hosts grab big advantage in semi-final first leg

Lazio claimed their first win over Roma in four years and put one foot in the Coppa Italia final with a 2-0 victory at the Stadio Olimpico.

Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic struck after 29 minutes of a tightly contested derby and Ciro Immobile scored his fourth goal in five games to ensure Lazio upset the odds by beating Serie A's second-placed team.

Roma went into the game in fine form, having won 11 of their previous 13 games, and with local bragging rights firmly in their hands after seven games against Lazio without defeat.

The result was a repeat of the Coppa Italia final in 2012-13 – Lazio's most recent victory over their arch-rivals – and Simone Inzaghi's side worked hard to keep Roma's star striker Edin Dzeko at bay.

Roma lacked the fluency that has taken them to within seven points of Serie A leaders Juventus in recent weeks, but there is little danger of coach Luciano Spalletti writing off the second leg of the semi-final as the club seek a first trophy since winning the Coppa crown in 2008.

As early as the second minute, Dzeko volleyed over the crossbar as Roma settled quickly into their stride.

It took Lazio 20 minutes to muster a meaningful attack and Milinkovic-Savic's headed attempt drew a good save from Alisson, but the designated hosts struggled to retain enough possession in midfield to apply any sustained pressure early on.

When Inzaghi's men did get the ball to target man Immobile, the Italy international unleashed a fierce drive that Alisson could only parry, and the attempt seemed to embolden Lazio.

Moments later they were ahead, when Felipe Anderson's run took him all the way to the by-line and he cut the ball back to Milinkovic-Savic, who slid in and lifted a finish high into the net.

Dzeko headed over the crossbar as Roma quickly sought to level matters, but the first half ended with Lazio deservedly ahead having grown in confidence throughout the game.

Anderson and Immobile were more involved in the second half and they linked up well to create a chance for Marco Parolo, whose thunderous 20-yard shot whistled just wide of Alisson's goal.

The game swung from end to end and Mohamed Salah lashed a shot over the target from an angle after he was put through by Radja Nainggolan, before Immobile had a well-taken goal ruled out for offside.

Inzaghi's side continued to probe for a second goal and Immobile was tantalisingly close to reaching Jordan Lukaku's cross after he was released down the wing by Milinkovic-Savic.

With 12 minutes left on the clock, substitute Keita beat Kostas Manolas for pace and his cross evaded Antonio Rudiger before Immobile made no mistake from close range, putting Lazio firmly in the driving seat.

The late introduction of Roma veteran Francesco Totti, eyeing one last shot at silverware, had little effect and Spalletti's charges have it all to do in the second leg.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Real Madrid 3-3 Las Palmas: Late show Ronaldo rescues point for 10-man Madrid

Ten-man Real Madrid rescued a 3-3 draw at home to Las Palmas on Wednesday thanks to a late double from Cristiano Ronaldo.

Goals from Tana, Jonathan Viera and Kevin-Prince Boateng overturned an early opener from Isco and looked set to give the visitors a shock three points, especially after Gareth Bale's red card early in the second half.

But Ronaldo struck twice in three minutes in the closing stages to salvage a point for Zinedine Zidane's side that could yet prove important in the LaLiga title race, though it was not enough to take them back above Barcelona, who earlier thrashed Sporting Gijon 6-1.

Isco, rewarded with a start for his performance off the bench in the 3-2 win at Villarreal, opened the scoring after eight minutes, but a fine solo goal from Tana drew the visitors level almost immediately.

Las Palmas displayed composure on the ball that belied the form they have shown in a run of four consecutive defeats and Bale's frustrations got the better of him early in the second half as he picked up two bookings for fouling Viera before pushing him to ground.

Viera compounded Madrid's anger when he made it 2-1 from the penalty spot and Boateng netted his seventh goal of the season before the hour mark following a Keylor Navas error.

Ronaldo proved the salvation with a late penalty and a thumping header, but although Madrid can consider the result a point gained, both Barca and Sevilla have nonetheless been handed a major boost.

Alvaro Morata had the ball in the net with just 30 seconds played, only to see the offside flag raised, but Isco exploited the visitors' uncertain defence to put Madrid ahead after eight minutes.

Mateo Kovacic threaded a fine throughball into Isco's path, with Dani Castellano failing to step up in time, allowing the midfielder to slot beyond Javi Varas from 12 yards.

Las Palmas needed only two minutes to level the scores, though, as Tana left Sergio Ramos for dead with a brilliant turn before charging into the box from the right and blasting high past Navas.

The visitors looked impressive on the ball without causing further undue problems for Navas, and it was Madrid who came closest to a third goal, with Ramos heading straight at Varas from close range.

A sense of dissatisfaction was beginning to build around the Santiago Bernabeu as Madrid struggled to create attacking inroads, but Bale made matters considerably harder for his side with two quick-fire yellow cards just two minutes into the second half, with a petulant kick and subsequent shove of Viera earning the Wales star an early bath.

It went from bad to worse before the hour mark, with Ramos penalised for blocking David Simon's shot with his arms after winning a tackle in the area, allowing Viera to make it 2-1 from 12 yards despite Navas getting a leg to the spot-kick.

Navas' annoyance was clear, but he was culpable for Las Palmas' third just three minutes later. Viera sent a simple long pass over Marcelo and into Boateng's path, and when Madrid's goalkeeper rushed off his line and failed to connect with the ball, Boateng had an easy finish.
Zidane's side sought an instant response and Ramos clattered the crossbar following Isco's free-kick, but Navas was called upon to twice thwart Jese Rodriguez from making it 4-1 on his Bernabeu return.Ronaldo picked up a booking for simulation and had a goal-bound shot cleared off the line, but he handed Madrid a lifeline when he fired a penalty into the top-right corner after Castellano was penalised for handball.

And Ronaldo completed the scoring in a remarkable game in the 89th minute, powering James Rodriguez's corner through the grasp of Varas to secure a share of the spoils, leaving Madrid a point behind Barca with a game in hand.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Marseille 3-4 Monaco (aet): Lemar settles Coupe de France classic

Substitute Thomas Lemar scored a dramatic extra-time winner as Monaco won 4-3 at Marseille in a classic Coupe de France last-16 tie.

Monaco took the lead on three occasions but were pegged back every time in an enthralling match at Stade Velodrome, before Lemar's 113th-minute strike finally proved decisive.

The visitors led for the first time midway through the first half when Joao Moutinho's deflected free kick bounced off the post and in off the chest of goalkeeper Yohann Pele, who was credited with an own goal.But Dimitri Payet scored the goal of the night - an exquisite left-footed strike into the bottom corner from Florian Thauvin's cross – just before the interval.

Monaco restored their lead through Kylian Mbappe's deft finish on 65 minutes, but Remy Cabella tapped in after a cutback from Hiroki Sakai with six minutes to play, sending the tie to extra-time.

The additional period was no less dramatic, Monaco striking first when a fast break cut open the Marseille defence, leading to Mbappe squaring for Benjamin Mendy to convert.

Cabella raced on to Gregory Sertic's flick-on and found the bottom corner to grab his second of the night and seemingly send the tie towards penalties.But Lemar had the final word just 142 seconds later, sealing the most remarkable of victories when he found the top corner from Mendy's delivery.

Ligue 1 leaders Monaco subsequently see their bid for a first Coupe de France crown since 1991 continue, while Marseille – who were runners up last year – crash out to cap a miserable four days that also saw them thrashed 5-1 by Classique rivals Paris Saint-Germain.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Navas accepts blame for latest error as Real Madrid held

Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas took responsibility for his mistake against Las Palmas, but is eager to improve despite his uncertain future.

Cristiano Ronaldo rescued Madrid with a late double, seeing the 10-man hosts play out a 3-3 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

Navas, who has regularly been linked with a move away, was at fault for the visitors' third.The Costa Rica international was beaten to a pass by Kevin-Prince Boateng, who placed a finish into an open goal."I am calm. I am aware I made a mistake," Navas said, via Marca.

"I think in the overall game I didn't play badly, but it is true that I made a mistake.
"I don't know if I'm going to be in Madrid and I will defend my position until the end, and I will continue to work so the fans can trust me again."

A red card to Gareth Bale shortly after half-time hurt Madrid, who quickly fell behind 3-1 before Ronaldo's heroics.

While they have a game in hand, Zinedine Zidane's side slipped behind La Liga leaders Barcelona – who had earlier thrashed Sporting Gijon.Navas said: "I just want to help the team because La Liga is still very alive, many matches remain."

"There are always good times and bad times."We are aware that things are not going good right now, but I'm sure good times will come."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Zidane: Bale apologised to Real Madrid after red card

Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane said Gareth Bale asked for forgiveness after the Welsh star was sent off in Wednesday's thrilling draw against Las Palmas.

Bale saw red early in the second half as Madrid overcame their numerical disadvantage to salvage a 3-3 draw in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu.

A pair of yellow cards within two minutes of the restart gave Las Palmas the momentum with two goals and a 3-1 lead approaching the hour-mark before Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice inside the final four minutes of regulation to earn a point.

Asked about Bale's red card post-match, Zidane told reporters: "He has apologised. He is not happy with the expulsion."This can happen, it is a fact of the game and we cannot change it."I used to be happy after the matches and now I cannot be happy lately, but this is a very long season and we are going to change it."

Referees had been in the spotlight heading into the clash following Madrid's come-from-behind 3-2 win at Villarreal last time out.Madrid were awarded a controversial penalty as they rallied to beat Villarreal, with outspoken Barcelona defender Gerard Pique suggesting the Spanish capital club continue to benefit from contentious decisions in the league.

Zidane, however, refused to blame the officials for the draw as Madrid lost top spot to Barca by a point, though they have a match in hand."As always I will not get into the subject of the referees. We do not have to look for excuses of that," the Frenchman said.

"I look at what we can do, and I think we can do better. With what we are doing. There are times of the season that are like this, already three or four games, but we cannot look for excuses with the referee."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Real Madrid break La Liga scoring record against Las Palmas

Real Madrid have broken a Spanish scoring record by netting in their last 45 consecutive games in all competitions, a record for a Liga team.

Alvaro Morata thought he had opened the scoring, finding the back of the net after just 30 seconds, however his effort was ruled out for offside.

However, Isco made no mistake, firing home on eight minutes after a good ball from Mateo Kovacic.Madrid did not have it all their own way, Tana grabbing one back for Las Palmas just two minutes later.

The goal means Madrid are now on the longest scoring streak ever by a La Liga side, beating the previous record held by Barcelona at 44 games.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Our mouths left open' - Luis Enrique shocks Barcelona players with departure announcement

Luis Enrique left his players speechless after announcing he would be leaving Barcelona following the season.

The 46-year-old manager decided to reveal his plans following a 6-1 win over Sporting Gijon on Wednesday at Camp Nou.Ivan Rakitic says the news came as a huge shock and admits he had been expecting Enrique to remain at the club."Luis Enrique told us his decision first," Rakitic told reporters.

"He came into the dressing-room and told us that he will leave the team. We were all shocked. We didn't know anything."I wasn't expecting it, I thought he was going to stay. But the squad accept it and we wish him all the best.

​"We want to finish the season successfully, enjoy what is left of it and bring him the most possible titles."He has all of our support and hopefully he has a happy conclusion to his time here."

Barcelona's win over Sporting, coupled with Madrid's draw at Las Palmas means that the Catalan giants now top the Liga table by a point.Rakitic says the team are now determined to end the season well and ensure their manager goes out on a high.

"Now, calmly and with everyone together, we are going to work so that he finishes in the best way possible," he added."His decision is clear and now there is peace of mind. We really are with the boss completely."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Luis Enrique yai wage end of the season.​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

LA Liga Fixtures 2017.03.02

LA Liga Fixtures 2017.03.02

Deportivo Vs Atletico Madrid

Sevilla Vs Athletic Bilbao​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Man Utd and Real Madrid target Aubameyang admits future comments have made life 'difficult'

Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has rejected the opportunity to discuss his future again after admitting his previous comments made life "difficult".

The Gabon international incurred the wrath of club chiefs last month after claiming he may have to leave Signal Iduna Park to achieve his career goals, while he has repeatedly talked of his desire to one day play for Real Madrid to fulfil a promise made to his grandfather.

Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc ordered Aubameyang to concentrate on his football and it seems the 27-year-old has taken his words on board.When asked about the options open to him in the coming years, Aubameyang told DAZN: "I really don't know, I'm just focused on this season and I don't want to think too much about that right now."

He added with a smile: "The last weeks were difficult after my last words so I don't want to talk about that."

Dortmund are third in the Bundesliga, 13 points behind Bayern Munich, and will hope to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit in the Champions League last-16 against Benfica next week.

Thomas Tuchel's men are also in the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal but saw their last-eight tie at Sportfreunde Lotte postponed on Tuesday due to the state of pitch.

Bayern await the winner in the semi-finals and Aubameyang is aware of the importance of the Pokal to Dortmund this season.

He said: "I think we can reach some goals this year. For sure the DFB-Pokal is important for us, like the Bundesliga, but we know the Bundesliga will be difficult. The Pokal is a chance for us.

"For the Champions League we'll see, we have to fight in the next game against Benfica to reach the next round. We can do something very good this year."

Dortmund's policy of buying young talent and developing them sits well with Aubameyang, who is happy to be a mentor to the likes of 19-year-old French forward Ousmane Dembele."I try to speak with them because they are young but they are great guys and they are intelligent, so when I speak they hear," he said.

"I think they will reach a few goals in their career."I try to speak with them a lot and, of course, with Dembele I try to keep him with me and work with him in front of goal."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Scholes, Giggs, Gerrard and Lampard to grace Carrick's Manchester United testimonial

Michael Carrick has been awarded a testimonial by Manchester United in recognition of his 11 years of loyal service at the club.The England international joined the Red Devils from Tottenham in 2006 and has gone on to make almost 450 appearances.

During that time he has won five Premier League titles, two League Cups, the FA Cup, the Champions League and Club World Cup.He is now vice-captain and a key figure in Jose Mourinho’s plans at 35 years of age.

Carrick will now see his performances and professionalism acknowledged by a match between a United 2008 XI and an All-Stars side on June 4 – with all monies raised distributed through the Michael Carrick Foundation.

Among the stars on show at Old Trafford will be United legends Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville, along with Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Michael Owen.

Carrick told United’s official website: "To have played for the greatest football club for 11 years is something that I'm very proud of and it is an honour to have been given a testimonial.

“The game will be very special for myself and my family and I hope it will also be a memorable day of celebration for all involved."It is such a privilege to have this amazing opportunity and I'm excited at the prospect of bringing together some former team-mates as well as some of the best players I've played against.

“The incredible support I've received over the years is something I'm very grateful for and I could never thank you, the fans, enough. As much as the occasion is about football, I also see this as a chance to give something back.

"All the proceeds from the game are going to charity. I hope to raise as much money as possible for my Foundation to help make a difference to children's lives. It’s something I'm very passionate about and I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to making this testimonial possible."Mourinho said: "I am delighted Michael has been awarded a testimonial.

“Michael is a phenomenal person and a true professional. He gives stability in our game and mental freedom to the other guys around him to be more attacking. He has a big understanding of the game and is a great role model for our younger players.


“This will be a fitting way for Michael and his family to celebrate his achievements over the past 11 years and for Michael to create a lasting legacy through his foundation."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'I'm not looking for other jobs' - Arsenal boss Wenger plays down Barcelona talk

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has sought to distance himself from reports suggesting that he could be a contender to succeed Luis Enrique at Barcelona.
A managerial vacancy at Camp Nou will open up this summer, with Enrique announcing on Wednesday that he is to stand down at Barca.His future had been the subject of intense speculation in much the same way Wenger’s has been at Emirates Stadium this season.

The Frenchman's current contract expire at Arsenal will expire at the end of the 2016-17 campaign, with no extension agreed as yet.

A failure to push Arsenal back into title contention, while enduring a 5-1 humbling away at Bayern Munich in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie, has sparked talk of an imminent exit.

Wenger, though, has always maintained that his preference is to remain in north London, and that stance has not wavered despite the Barca links.

He said on Thursday when pressed on the latest rumours: “No, my preference [staying at Arsenal] is always the same, it will remain the same.“I am not looking for jobs at other clubs or jobs of other people. I am just focusing on getting to the next level and try to improve.

“Competent managers always try to get better, to reinvent themselves.”Wenger also brushed off questions regarding his reported snubbing of a £30 million offer from China.He added: “This press conference is about the Liverpool game. Not about my future or what I turned down or did not turn down.”

The quizzing regarding his future did not end there, though, with Wenger having to fend off further suggestions that his time at Arsenal may be coming to a close.

He remains adamant that any departure from the club will be driven by a decision from the board, with his commitment to the post highlighted by his longevity and willingness to reject the advances of others in the past.

Wenger added: “I’ve been here 20 years and many times had the opportunity to leave.“I don’t have to convince you my preference has always been Arsenal, but I am objective enough to make the right decision for myself and the club itself.
“The club can also make their decision if it wants and I will respect that.”