..::Football IV::..

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    Paris Saint-Germain 1 Caen 1: Rodelin staves off relegation play-off with equaliser

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    A dramatic change of fortunes for Ronny Rodelin saw him respond to a saved penalty with a 91st-minute equaliser to earn Caen a 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain and secure their place in Ligue 1 next season.

    After failing to convert from the spot with his side trailing with 15 minutes remaining, Rodelin made amends with a crucial late strike after Adrien Rabiot's effort looked set to force the visitors into a relegation play-off against Ligue 2 side Troyes.

    Rabiot's 13th-minute strike – his third of the league campaign – seemed to lack the power to find the net but caught the Caen defence napping and beat goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre at his far post to give the hosts the lead.

    Patrice Garande's side went into the game just one point clear of the relegation zone and, with rivals Lorient picking up a 1-1 draw against Bordeaux, they could not afford to lose.

    Following Presnel Kimpembe's foul on Jonathan Delaplace, Rodelin had a 75th-minute penalty saved by Kevin Trapp. However, the striker pounced in injury time to earn a precious point for his side that kept them out of the bottom three.

    The result means PSG end the season with a record of 27 wins, six draws and five defeats as Unai Emery's men paid the price for their slow start to the 2016-17 campaign, failing to make up the ground they lost to champions Monaco.

    Despite the title being out of their reach, PSG pressed from kick-off and Cavani had the chance to open the scoring inside the second minute but failed to connect cleanly with Angel Di Maria's dangerous cross.Lucas Moura scampered into the box and squared to Cavani two minutes later, but the Uruguayan's effort was blocked and Serge Aurier shot wide from the rebound.

    The visitors could ill afford a mistake but suffered a lapse in concentration after 13 minutes when Cavani fed Rabiot and the midfielder struck a tame shot that sailed through the static Caen defence before beating goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre, who stood and watched as the ball hit the net.Keen to atone, Vercoutre made a strong save from Giovani Lo Celso six minutes later, diving to his left to punch a powerful 25-yard drive around the post.

    Despite their desperate plight, Caen struggled to compete and their only goal threat in a tepid first half came when Yann Karamoh broke clear and turned Lo Celso on the edge of the box before dragging off target.

    Cavani almost had the ball in the net after 56 minutes but his header was cleared off the line by the foot of Syam Ben Youssef, before Kimpembe had a strong 25-yard strike saved by Vercoutre.Caen were handed a potential lifeline when Delaplace went down under a challenge from Kimpembe in the area, but Trapp guessed correctly and dived to his right to save Rodelin's spot-kick.

    Rodelin had a chance to make amends two minutes later as Caen surged forward in search of a precious equaliser but the striker's acrobatic scissor kick flew over the crossbar, and there was further concern when Julien Feret had a late goal ruled out for a marginal offside decision.



    But Rodelin turned from villain to hero for Caen in stoppage time when he timed his run to perfection and guided Delaplace's cross home to keep his team in the top flight next season.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Napoli 4 Fiorentina 1: Mertens brace paves the way for new record points tally

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    A Dries Mertens double enabled Napoli to defeat Fiorentina 4-1 and set a new club record Serie A points total with one game of the 2016-17 season to go.

    The routine success on Saturday at Stadio San Paolo edged Napoli back to within a point of Roma – 5-3 victors over Chievo earlier in the day – and kept alive hopes of leapfrogging them on the final weekend and finishing second behind Juventus, who need one win from their final two games to reclaim the title.

    Victory moved Napoli on to 83 points, surpassing the 82 amassed in the 2015-16 campaign. Kalidou Koulibaly put the hosts ahead after just eight minutes, making no mistake when Ciprian Tatarusanu could only parry a Marek Hamsik header into his path.

    It should have been 2-0 when Mertens beat the offside trap to bear down on goal, but he left it a fraction too late to get his shot away as he skipped past onrushing goalkeeper Tatarusanu and hit the side netting.

    Mertens then curled a 25-yard shot against the post, but Napoli were not to be denied a second when Lorenzo Insigne wrong-footed Tatarusanu with his shot after Fiorentina surrendered possession cheaply in midfield.

    Tatarusanu gifted Mertens his first of the night when he came off his line and attempted to punch clear in a crowded penalty area, but instead the ball spun awkwardly and allowed the Belgium international to prod home from a narrow angle.

    Josip Ilicic pulled one back for Fiorentina three minutes later when he neatly tucked away Cristian Tello's cross, but it proved a consolation goal as Mertens added further gloss to the scoreline.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Aubameyang: Future will be decided next week

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    Speculation over Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's future will soon come to an end as the Borussia Dortmund star says a decision will be made next week.The Gabon international scored twice to secure the Bundesliga top goalscorer award as Dortmund closed the season with a 4-3 win over Werder Bremen.

    Aubameyang has long been linked to Real Madrid, while Chinese club Tianjin Quanjian, where he could reportedly earn around €500,000 per week, have emerged as a possible destination. Paris Saint-Germain have also been credited with an interest.The 27-year-old is contracted to Dortmund until 2020, but he suggested there is a chance he will not be there next season.

    "We will see. I have to decide next week," he told Sky. "Say what you want. I have to talk to the club. Then we'll see what we're doing."He later told Bild: "Nothing has been decided yet. We agreed that we should get together after the match and see how it goes."

    Aubameyang finished the season with 31 goals in 32 Bundesliga games, with a further seven in nine Champions League appearances.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Lacazette has agreed to join Atletico Madrid but move not certain, says Aulas

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    Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has revealed Alexandre Lacazette has reached a verbal agreement to join Atletico Madrid.

    The 25-year-old confirmed he will leave the Ligue 1 club this week and said he had spoken to Atletico and would like to team up with Antoine Griezmann .
    Although the France international said an answer would come "in a few months", Aulas has put an end to the speculation by admitting that an agreement is in place.However, the move is far from certain, as Atletico are waiting on an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against their transfer ban.

    Madrid were punished by FIFA for breaking regulations on signing youth players but are hoping to have it reduced to allow them to sign players this summer."Alex has a verbal agreement with a club, Atletico, but there is no certainty, since we have to wait for CAS to lift the ban," he told L'Equipe .

    "We accepted Alex's request to discuss exclusively with this club, but the other side of that is that this transfer is made on our terms."Lacazette scored twice as Lyon finished the season with a 3-3 draw against Nice on Saturday. He scored 28 goals in 30 Ligue 1 games.

    The striker has been at the club since 2003, having risen through their youth system to become a star in the first team.He is currently contracted to the club until 2019, but told L'Equipe it is "the right time" to move.

    "I want to discover something else and to play at a different level. I know very well that on a European scale I am not yet well recognised."I want to see if I can answer the questions that people are asking, and to make further progress."
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    'I will miss it' - Lahm says emotional goodbye to Bayern Munich

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    The retiring Philipp Lahm admitted to experiencing "mixed feelings" after his final match for Bayern Munich on Saturday.

    The 33-year-old played 87 minutes of the champions' 4-1 victory over Freiburg in what was his 517th competitive appearance for the club.

    Bayern turned their last Bundesliga match of the campaign into something of a tribute show for Lahm, as well as Xabi Alonso and Tom Starke, who are also retiring.

    Past greats of the club lined up on the pitch to welcome the players, who walked out with their children as matchday mascots.

    Alonso and Lahm were given special presentations before kick-off and both were substituted in the closing stages to give the Allianz Arena crowd one more chance to show their appreciation, after American pop star Anastacia had given a special half-time performance wearing a Bayern shirt with Lahm's number.

    Having celebrated his 250th Bundesliga win by lifting the trophy for the eighth time, Lahm conceded that it was an emotional moment to bid farewell to the club he first joined as an 11-year-old.

    "Mixed feelings. When you're celebrating for the last time with the guys there," he said after the match, before being interrupted by a shower of beer from assistant coach Hermann Gerland and team-mate David Alaba.

    Continuing, Lahm said: "It's emotional. What I've experienced with the fans, the team and my friends here was for the last time."Being on this pitch with the team and the coaches was my life. The club is like one great community. I will miss that.

    "I have experienced so many wonderful moments with everyone here. My team-mates, the fans, everyone. All the best to everyone."
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Xabi Alonso sees difficult gap to fill after retirement from football

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    Xabi Alonso says he will find it difficult to find a new challenge to replace football as he ends a glittering playing career.

    The midfielder played his last professional game as Bayern Munich beat Freiburg 4-1 at the Allianz Arena on Saturday before celebrating their Bundesliga title win.

    It is his final in a long list of trophies, which include two Champions League crowns and five league titles acros spells at Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern, as well as the World Cup and two European Championships with Spain.

    The 35-year-old will now have to get used to a relatively quieter life as his playing days end."I´m very satisfied to close my time as footballer," he told reporters. "Inside there is a lot of emotion. There were moments [in the game] I was about to break.

    "The sensation I had today was a mix of emotion, nostalgia, melancholy and sadness, but at the same time happiness, it´s a lot of stuff and I don´t know how to process it."

    He added: "I accept I am going to miss playing because it's such an important part in my life. It's going to be difficult to fill that gap. Life goes on. New challenges for me, it's time to try it."It's a beautiful feeling. These memories will stay in our mind forever. I remember playing with my dad, and my kids will remember this as well."

    As well as Alonso, Philipp Lahm brought his career to a close on Saturday, and despite the iconic figures departing, the midfielder believes things will get even better in Bavaria."The future is good, the future is bright. Even with two big players leaving the club, they shouldn't have problems.

    "There are still players in the team with experience and still young. For sure we are going to see Bayern next year fighting for everything."
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Sidelined Manchester United star Ibrahimovic still making a splash

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    Zlatan Ibrahimovic insists he is ready for Manchester United's appearance in the Europa League final – but he will probably have to towel off first.

    Ibrahimovic will be a spectator when United take on Ajax in Stockholm next week, with the former Sweden great missing out on an appearance in his homeland after rupturing his right anterior cruciate ligament during the quarter-final second leg victory over Anderlecht.

    On Friday, United manager Jose Mourinho confirmed the 35-year-old would travel with his team-mates to watch the game, having returned to England earlier in the week following knee surgery in the United States And Ibrahimovic posted a short video on his Instagram page captioned "Ready for the final", showing him walking in a swimming pool wearing a United training top as part of his rehabilitation.

    Ibrahimovic topped the Old Trafford scoring charts with 28 goals in 46 appearances this season but his future is in limbo due to the long-term nature of his injury and the fact his one-year deal is set to expire.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Barclays Premier League Final Matchday Fixtures 2017.05.21

    Barclays Premier League Final Matchday Fixtures 2017.05.21

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    Arsenal Vs Everton
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    Burnley Vs West Ham
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    Chelsea Vs Sunderland
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    Hull City Vs Tottenham
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    Leicester City Vs Bournemouth
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    Liverpool Vs Middlesbrough
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    Manchester United Vs Crystal Palace
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    Southampton Vs Stoke City
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    Swansea Vs WBA
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    Watford Vs Manchester City
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    Wolverine GTR

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    i
    Manchester United Vs Crystal Palace
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    Manchester United Starting Line-up

    Joel Castro
    Phil Jones
    Eric Bailly
    Demetri Mitchell
    Timothy Fosu-Mensah
    Axel Tuanzebe
    Paul Pogba
    Scott McTominay
    Wayne Rooney
    Josh Harrop
    Jesse Lingard

    &

    Crystal Palace Starting Line-up

    Wayne Hennessey
    James Tomkins
    Martin Kelly
    Jeff Schlupp
    Joel Ward
    Luka Milivojevic
    Jason Puncheon
    James McArthur
    Christian Benteke
    Patrick van Aanholt
    Wilfried Zaha
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Congratulations Manchester United!
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    Well played!
    :cool:
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    Youngstars la hodatama play kala:yes::cool:Harrop,Mitchell,McTominay,Fosu-Mensah,Tuanzebe,Angel Gomes hoda future 1kak thiyanawa:yes::
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    Ewagema thamai meh season 1ke godak mistakes una:(hadaganna ona dewal godak thiyanawa so wechcha mistakes hadagena next season 1ka hodatama play karamu:yes:
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    Good Luck Manchester United!:love:


    GGMU!:love::love::love:
     

    Tharuroxforjustice

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    යාලුවේ යෝජනාවක් තියනවා :)
    Foot Ball වලට මේ විදියට mega thread දානවා වගේම Rugby වලටත් දාන්න එකක්. :)
    මගේ කැමතිම Team එක WALES Rugby Union.:love::love:

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    දිනුවත් පැරදුනත් එයාලා සෙල්ලම් කරන විදිය නියමයි. :):)
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Record-breaking Juventus win sixth straight Serie A title

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    Juventus have made history by becoming the first club to win six successive Serie A titles.

    The Bianconeri had seen their lead at the summit of the standings cut to a single point following Roma's win at Chievo on Saturday but a 3-0 victory over Crotone less than 24 hours later saw Massimiliano Allegri's men restore their four-point advantage with just one round of the season remaining, thus ending the title race.

    Juve had last week blown the chance to seal the deal at the Stadio Olimpico, where they were beaten 3-1 by the Giallorossi. However, after returning to the same ground on Wednesday to lift the Coppa Italia courtesy of a 2-0 win over Lazio, a clearly reinvigorated Bianconeri were in no mood for another slip-up when they took to the field in Turin to face Crotone.

    The relegation-threatened visitors desperately needed a positive result themselves but the Old Lady prevailed thanks to goals from Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala and Alex Sandro, sparking wild celebrations at the Juventus Stadium.

    A sixth consecutive title caps a remarkable turnaround in Juve's fortunes. Indeed, when Antonio Conte took charge of the club in 2011, the Bianconeri were coming off the back of two successive seventh-placed finishes.

    However, the former Juve midfielder won the title in his first season at the helm - and without losing a single game, thus making the Bianconeri the first side to go through an entire league campaign undefeated since the switch back to 20 teams, in 2004.Conte won two more titles (his third with a record haul of 102 points) before surprisingly parting company with the club during the summer of 2014.

    As a result, Juve turned to Allegri and, although that decision was not initially well-received by the Bianconeri faithful due to the coach's past association with Milan, he quickly won over the doubters.

    The Tuscan immediately led the Old Lady to a domestic double, as well as a place in the Champions League final in Berlin, where they were beaten by Barcelona.
    Allegri's Juve won Serie A and the Coppa Italia again last season - thus becoming the first side to claim back-to-back doubles - and are now in a position to go one better this term.


    Indeed, with the Coppa Italia and now the Scudetto already in the bag, the Bianconeri will bid to win their third European Cup when they meet Real Madrid in Cardiff on June 3.